Rents have become a luxury for today’s salaries. Many young people are looking for alternative solutions so as not to have to work for the sole purpose of being able to pay a monthly installment to the owner of the building where they live. A young New Zealander had a simple idea: she decided to live in a van so she could live freely and possibly save to buy his own property. Of course, you have to be able to adapt to life in a small space and to certain inconveniences. But the savings at the end of the month are truly amazing.
Brittany Cosgrove, 27, from Wellington, New Zealand, worked eight hours a day as a stylist, but much of her salary was spent renting a “damp, smelly and cramped” studio. How many people are in his situation? So she decided to do something to improve her financial situation. She has bought a van for £6000, fitted it out and started a new life in his vehicle.
It’s all about arranging a space where you can fit the bare minimum for living and that may seem small to many people. “Little ?” Brittany says, “You should see the size of some of the apartments that are being rented out. They are no bigger than a wardrobe, but they cost as much as pavilions. Space is, for me, above all a question of organization.”
Of course, all is not rosy. For example, there is no real comfortable bathroom. But our New Zealand designer also thought of that. “The problem only arises during the coldest winter months,” says Brittany. “During this period, you have to find a campsite or an area where you can use the sanitary facilities. I have to say that there are plenty of nice places where you can take a good shower!” In summer, the young woman uses a portable shower which allows her total autonomy.
Looking at the wallet, it’s easy to see the benefits of this lifestyle choice. The van costs Brittany about $50 a week, a sum in which we can include maintenance, gasoline and the cost of parking. That’s far less than rental prices, which in Wellington, Brittany’s hometown, can reach $100 a week just for a shared room.
“When I had this idea,” Brittany said, “I was hoping to buy a nice new vehicle. But when I saw this 1991 Nissan, I immediately fell in love with it. Today I feel really good in my own space, autonomous and independent. This is a solution that I recommend to all young people who want to better organize their lives.”
Now do the math: how much would you save without paying rent (with all associated costs) each month?
