I gave up my home to live in my work van full-time – I sold everything I own… & don’t buy anything as there’s no room
A MAN has revealed how he gave up his home and belongings to live in his work van full time.
Brad, who previously worked as a heating and cooling technician, converted his work van into a mini home as he got sick of paying bills.
The van-lifer decided to sell everything he owned six years ago, including his own home and all the belongings.
Brad, who runs a YouTube channel called Nomad Brad, said he worked longer hours to pay his utility bills.
He then decided to sell his house and buy a minivan instead which he could transform into his new house on wheels.
He said in a video: “Before I started out my van life journey, I had a house, mortgage, a full-time job everything a regular man has.
“But I was working so many hours I was barely home to enjoy the things I was working so hard for.
“And eventually I got sick of it and realised if I didn’t have all these bills I would not have to work so much.
“And that’s why I sold everything I owned and bought a cargo van.”
Brad, who now works as an electrical technician for other vehicles, revealed he got a 2007 Ford E450 box truck from eBay.
He then took it to his dad’s place in Arizona to convert it into his “house on wheels”.
He said in the YouTube video: “My favourite part of van life is that wherever you go, you are always home.
“You have everything you need – all your clothes, your food, your bed, everything.
“If you wanna make a meal or take a nap, you can do it anywhere you go if you live in a van.”
Giving a tour of his new house, the van-lifer showed around his cosy space – and revealed he uses stacked boxes and containers to store all his things as well as work tools.
He also showed several cabins he built above his table and bed where he stores all his clothes.
Brad also revealed how much it cost him to start his new life on four wheels.
He said he purchased the box van for £9,500 and transformed that using DIY methods.
After buying the van, he spent another £10,000 to redesign and build the interior.
Brad also revealed he purposefully designed a bigger kitchen area so that he could cook more often – something he really enjoys doing.
Brad said: “The great thing about building your own van is that you get to lay everything out as you like.
“I do a lot of my own cooking so I wanted to incorporate a large kitchen area so I was comfortable making a lot of meals.”
Speaking about his monthly outgoings, the van-lifer revealed he spends just £1,000 in a month living in his converted motorhome, which he says is way cheaper than what it costs to live in a house while paying all the bills.
Brad says his favourite part of living in a van is the minimalistic lifestyle that it brings into your life.
He said: “Living in a van makes you realise you really don’t need much to be happy in life. The key is just [having] fewer things and keeping things simple.
“You should still have nice things that you enjoy in life.”
It comes after an aspiring nurse revealed what he does on his off days while living in a van full-time.
Arslan from New Jersey started living in his converted micro-camper car a few years ago after being fed up with paying high rents.
He now travels around the US in his Chevrolet SUV all while saving money from rent to build his own house.
The vehicle is so cramped inside that he can “barely crouch” but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Meanwhile, another van-lifer who’s been living on the road for three years revealed how he gave up his house and mortgage to live a better life.
Ricky, who travels around the Peak District in his Ford Transit van, gave viewers a tour of his unique home on wheels on YouTube.
