A woman says she lives in one of Britain's priciest areas rent-free saving £22,000 after swapping four walls for a van.
Mal Jones quit her life renting in London and bought a Transit-style van which she has been living out of since the pandemic hit.
The 30-year-old enjoys a nomadic lifestyle and is currently parked up at Clifton Down in Bristol - an area regularly dubbed as one of the poshest in the country where houses regularly fetch well into the millions.
Mal, who works in the performing arts sector, took her on-the-road lifestyle in the job to the next level when she decided to live permanently on four wheels, and says she saves thousands by not paying rent, council tax or utilities.
Apart from the odd parking fee and Bristol's clean air zone costs, Mal says she can now spend her money on the things she wants - although hasn't taken a holiday in two years in order to further save cash for a deposit.
Mal's van has already been converted into a tiny living space on wheels, with a small kitchenette and bed.
She plans to return to living somewhere more permanent in the future, when she has enough for a down payment.
Mal said: "Financially it makes a lot of sense [to live in a van]. I was going to end it this summer but now I’m looking at going back out on tour.
"I think I’m going to have to go back to renting.
"Eventually I do want to buy somewhere and a big reason I did this was to save up some form of deposit.
"But I’m not paying council tax or utility bills so I have no real credit score.
"I would have to go back and rent just so I have some kind of record if I wanted to try and buy somewhere."
Mal added: "I very specifically live in a van for financial reasons. I live frugally, and I haven't been on holiday for two years.
"Now I’ve saved £22k - working in the arts that’s unheard of.
"I’m very, very lucky to be able to save that. I’m 30 and single - so why not do it now when I have freedom to move around and do what I like?"
Mal said her costs in the van were much lower than if she rented - but are not immune to all the other costs which are rapidly rising.
She said: "Sometimes I pay for parking every day which is still less than rent but my outgoings are going up.
"Clean air zones are making it more expensive, and parking is also getting more expensive.
"At the moment I spent £80 to £100 week on fuel and food but at rent alone I’m looking at £1,300 per month in London."
