A VAN-lifer has revealed how he bought a used white Citreon van on Facebook Marketplace and moved in.
Harry Gilbert, 24, packed in his busy London life in exchange for a home on wheels to save thousands on rent.
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The Isle of Man native was living in Putney, London, when he started working remotely and decided to take the plunge. .
He told The Sun: “I started working remote and thought there’s no point me being here.”
So he packed his bags, moved home, and bought a Citroen Relay 06 on Facebook Marketplace for £1,600.
Over the course of a year, Harry built the bed and cupboards from scratch but used flatpack furniture for the rest of his home.
He shared the process via YouTube, and TikTok where he’s racked up 198,000 followers.
Harry also installed a gaming PC in his van, this is an internet satellite known as a Starlink, along with solar panels to enable him to work remotely.
The van is also equipped with a stove, fridge and a toilet/seating area.
In total, his tiny-home cost £10,000.
Harry spends around £1,000 a month – £400 on cash withdrawals, £220 on fuel, £200 on groceries and £180 on internet/subscriptions.
He brings in £1,200 from work.
The TikTokker says he’s now completed nine months of vanlife and visited 12 different countries.
He said: “For me, it’s just a different way of living.
“I know people talk about the rat race – but times are changing and a lot of people work remotely now.
“People can get so sucked up in it [London life] they kind of forget it [van life] is possible.
Harry believes people should take advantage of working remotely and that freedom is “the best thing”.
He said: “I get to go where I want, do what I want, work when I want. So, I think that’s rich in itself.”
But the TikToker admitted he does struggle – one downside, he claimed, is loneliness.
He explained: “For the first couple of weeks travelling around Europe I didn’t really have much contact with people.
“I was kind of by myself the whole time and there were times when that was very challenging.
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“I don’t really do many touristy things, or go to any touristy places, I like to distance myself and go to to places that not many tourists go.”
Harry doesn’t really plan his routes but uses an app called Park 4 Night to pick a nice spot for the night.
Another downside is “bad weather”, he says.
The TikToker recalled the night that led him to consider whether van life was for him.
During the early hours of the morning, on a stormy night on the Isle of Man, Harry’s Starlink flew off the van roof and smashed against the ground.
Feeling tired and unwell, Harry got up to retrieve the pieces.
He added: “That was probably the only time I have debated van life.”
On the other hand, there are many pros to van life.
He explained: “You can book a holiday and it not be nice but you’re stuck there because you booked the holiday.
“But with a van, you can go somewhere and if you aren’t feeling it or don’t really like it, you can just drive somewhere else.
“You can also visit more places, it really is the freedom of it.”
Harry isn’t thinking too deeply into the future just yet but hopes to find somewhere off-grid to live in.
His plan for now is just to “go with the flow”.
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