I bought a 1989 rundown caravan for £500 & transformed it using DIY hacks & Poundland buys – it’s perfect for cheap hols
BUYING a rundown caravan on the cheap might not sound glamorous, but one couple has proven otherwise.
By using a bit of creativity and some clever bargain hacks, they have transformed a mouldy old trailer into a luxurious place to spend the night in.
Hayley Rubery did just that, turning a worn-out motor into a stunning tiny home using affordable finds from B&M, Poundland and Matalan.
Hayley, who bought the caravan for £500 with her partner, spent the year completely renovating it and it is now ready for lots of travels.
Sharing a video on her TikTok page, Hayley filmed herself decorating the caravan.
Speaking to her 42,000 followers, she said: “Would you believe we bought this 1989 Van Roys Caravan for just £500?
“It needed some TLC but we saw the potential. And the best part? We renovated it with only £500 more.”
In February this year, Hayley and her partner go to work on the caravan.
She said: “First we cleaned and stripped everything down. Goodbye years of grime and hello to a fresh start.
“We tackled the essentials, fixed what was broken, sanded and painted what we could. Who says you need a big budget to make big changes?
“From repurposed furniture to secondhand vines. We stretched every pound.”
The pair managed to transform the kitchen, living room and bedroom into a luxury pad.
She continued: “It’s amazing what you can do when you get creative.
“Scoured the charity shops and Facebook marketplace for budget buyers for Joyce.
“We also shopped at some of our favourite budget stores such as B&M, Poundland and Matalan.”
For the finishing touches, Hayley added cosy decor, with handmade details and fairy lights to make it feel like a home.
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WHEN I was a child, my mum used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers in The Sun.
She’d use them to book a couple of nights away at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult, I fully appreciate the convenience of a humble caravan holiday.
No faffing about with passports, no luggage limits and no bog-standard hotel breakfast of stale toast and grey eggs.
I still love caravan holidays as an adult.
In a world of doing everything for the ‘gram, a caravan park brings you back to basics.
There’s no obligation to get dressed up, no stress to fit a million picturesque excursions in one week and I don’t find myself flustered in tourist hot spots like abroad.
I love going to coastal caravan parks and strolling along the beach parade.
My highlight is always fresh mussels, ice-creams and classic pubs to grab an afternoon tipple in.
And then, of course, there’s the cost.
Staying in a caravan is definitely way cheaper than my international trips.
With no expensive hotel bills and the ability to cook my own meals, I’m spending hundreds less than I would abroad.
I’ve had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans. Maybe I’ll buy my own one day.
She added: “We even spray painted the outside of our £500 Caravan Joyce to make her feel more like ours.
“Now we’ve got our dream getaway on wheels, perfect for affordable holidays and all of this for under £1000.
“Who says you need luxury to make memories?”
In the caption of the video, Hayley added a bit more detail about her DIY journey.
She wrote: “For now – we’ll be enjoying cosy movie nights in Joyce until the weather warms up again and she’s ready for her first big adventure in the springtime and we can’t wait to hit the road with her.”
Many people rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts.
One wrote: “My toxic trait is believing I can do this.”
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To which Hayley replied: “You absolutely can. We’re just DIYers happy to give anything a try but not professionals in the trade!”
A second added: “That’s absolutely class.”
A third said: “It’s beautiful love your choice of colour on the caravan.”