Mortgage-free and thriving: 3 real stories of financial freedom

In the UK and Ireland, buying a house is regarded as the thing to aspire to. Having a bricks-and-mortar property, we’re told, means security, wealth and happiness – the pinnacle of success. However, with the property market remaining unpredictable – average UK house prices now sit at around £272,000, up 2.6% on last year, while average monthly rent has reached £1,337 – more people are beginning to rethink this long-held dream. Instead of the traditional two-up, two-down home, many are exploring alternative ways of living; some driven by the desire to save money, others in a bid to work less, travel further and enjoy life more.

Here, we talk to four people living rent- and mortgage-free, from a couple cruising the canals of the British countryside to a photographer living in her converted van and a pet-sitter setting up home in idyllic villages across the south-west. With all of them enjoying the freedom, adventure and low cost that their new lifestyles offer, it begs the question: why aren’t we all doing it?

The van-life lover

Heidi Elliott @heidijoannee is no stranger to life on the move. Over the past seven years, she’s lived in a narrowboat and in vans – this one, a converted Ford, is her third. ‘It suits my personality,’ says Heidi. ‘I’ve got ADHD, so I like the excitement of waking up in new places every day, and the spontaneity of being able to move with how I’m feeling.’

As a freelance photographer, being mobile enables Heidi to take on more work, as she can easily travel through the UK and abroad. ‘At the moment I’m busy with graduations,’ Heidi explains, ‘but when I’m concentrating on social media, I can park up anywhere. A typical day is walking my dog, Millie, doing some work and chilling in the van. Having a good work-life balance is really important to me.’

While Heidi has spent roughly £15,000 on her current van renovation, from next year she expects to be saving big. ‘My outgoings are only about £300 per month. That covers van, pet and camera insurance, plus tax. I pay for a Starlink, which means I get unlimited internet wherever I go, and I’ve also got a PureGym membership.’

Heidi can wash at any PureGym, but it isn’t completely necessary as she has a shower in the van. ‘I’ve even got a Dyson Airwrap,’ she adds. ‘I’d say I’m quite a boujee van-lifer. It’s like an apartment on wheels!’ For laundry, she visits friends and family or uses the Wash.ME services that are dotted across the UK.

Laundry aside, Heidi has adapted her van so that she’s as self-sufficient as possible. ‘It’s set up to be fully off-grid,’ she explains. ‘When I’m driving, it charges off my alternator and it’s solar. I never get cold. Sometimes it’s hotter than being in a house, because it’s so well insulated. I’ve also got a gas oven so I can bake.’

Though Heidi lives alone, she often bases herself around Manchester, where her boyfriend lives, or Surrey, close to her friends. She’s also made lots of connections within the van-life community. ‘I go to a lot of van-life festivals, where you tend to see the same people – everyone is so welcoming and friendly.’

The only downside to her current set-up, says Heidi, is there’s no bath. ‘I love baths!’ she says. But it’s a small price to pay for the lifestyle that has provided her with so much. ‘It’s made me more in-tune with myself, as I’m able to go with the seasons,’ she says. ‘I also love having that ability to be a “Yes” person, because I can pick up everything and just go.’

For 2026, Heidi’s plans are to drive Scotland’s NC500 route and then park up in south Wales for a while. ‘I’m going there to surf. I want to be in the mountains, in nature, and away from crowds of people, enjoying what’s on my doorstep,’ she smiles. ‘I love living in a van so much. I can’t see myself stopping any time soon.’

How to get started in… van life

1. Rent a van first. It’s a good opportunity to identify features you want or need, or if you even like the lifestyle. Ideally, try it out for a week or longer and in different weather conditions.
2. Go to van-life events to chat to like-minded people and see different van models. It’s a great way to make connections and get tips and advice for life on the road.
3. Plan and research what kind of van you want and work out a budget – factor in the vehicle cost, conversion price if necessary, and ongoing fees such as fuel, insurance and tax.
4. If you’re converting a vehicle, watch YouTube videos of other makeovers to get a better idea of what layout and style you want.
5. Declutter. Consider selling, donating, recycling or throwing away items you no longer need. There’s no room for stuff you don’t use in such a confined space.
6. When it’s time to hit the road, start small. Park up somewhere close to home or in a location you’re familiar with. That way, you can test everything out comfortably before embarking on a longer trip.

The boat dwellers

While out on a dog-walk along the canal, Paul and Anthony Smith-Storey had a chance encounter that changed their lives completely. ‘We met a lady who told us she’d sold her house and bought a boat, and it was the best thing she’d ever done,’ Paul explains. ‘That planted the seed for us.’

In October 2020, the couple sold their house in St Helens, Merseyside, and moved into their new-build boat; a decision they’ve never regretted. ‘This morning, I was up early with our dog, Sebastian, there was mist on the water, the birds were singing, the sun was coming up… it’s so good for your mental health,’ says Paul.

Compared to when they were living in a bricks-and-mortar house, Paul and Anthony reckon they save around £1,500 a month. ‘Day-to-day living is cheap,’ Anthony explains. ‘We produce our own electricity and heating, and the water we get is part of the Canal and River Trust licence, which we pay £1,000 a year for. Some boaters forage for food and kindling ­– you can get by on very little.’

For work, Paul sells his art, which he promotes on the couple’s YouTube channel, NarrowboatLifeUnlocked, and Anthony works two days a week as a sonographer in Manchester. ‘I have a campervan, so I sleep in the van for two nights and then go back to the boat. That was the whole point of getting a van – it’s meant that work has never stopped us going further afield.’

Some back-and-forth travel is also required to pick up post, which gets delivered to Anthony’s mum or to Paul’s parents for doctor’s appointments. Other less-than-idyllic aspects include disposing of rubbish and toilet waste, and filling the boat up with water – both made trickier if the towpath is muddy. ‘You can lose your sense of humour when you’re traipsing through mud!’ laughs Paul.

But the couple maintains that the pros far outweigh the cons. Pinch-me moments have included seeing the Milky Way, cruising into Liverpool city centre, and going over the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, the world’s longest of its kind, and the highest in the UK. ‘That was incredible,’ Anthony remembers.

For anyone thinking of life on the water, the couple has some words of advice. ‘Go on a narrowboat holiday, out of season, to see if you like it,’ advises Anthony. ‘You’ve also got to be fit and able, and if you’re doing it with a partner, you need to have a strong relationship to live in such a confined space.’

Looking to the future, the pair realise they might have to adjust. ‘If we get to the point where we can’t operate the locks and do general boat things, we’d probably get a wide beam (a larger canal boat) and a linear mooring, so we’re at least still living on the water,’ says Paul. ‘I can’t imagine wanting to go back to living on land. Life would be easier, but nowhere near as exciting.’

‘Life feels more like an adventure now,’ Anthony agrees. ‘We can choose to be in the countryside, or close to a town or even a city. We’re out exploring new areas, and I love that you never know what’s around the corner.’

How to get started in… boat life

1. If buying a boat second-hand, request a hull survey. This will provide an overall assessment of the vessel, identifying any major repairs and providing peace of mind as you make an investment.
2. Do as much research as possible about the builders if you’re buying new, and obtain reviews from trusted sources. Visit as many brokers as possible to get inspiration for the boat design.
3. Take out insurance and a Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate. An assessment with an authorised examiner can be arranged via Boat Safety Scheme and entails a check of the boat’s gas, electrical and fuel systems.
4. Consider how you want to live on the boat, as this will determine what type of licence you need. Continuous cruisers, like Paul and Anthony, require a Canal and River Trust licence. This will be discounted if you have a home mooring, but for that you’ll need to pay a berth fee, which varies depending on the location. 
5. Complete a power audit to assess your likely power consumption and what battery bank you’ll need.
6. Before you set sail, see what day-to-day life on a boat looks like on YouTube. Paul and Anthony’s channel is @NarrowBoatlifeUnlocked.
7. Visit Canal & River Trust for a wealth of information.

The pet-sitter

Living alone in her rented flat in Bristol, Katie McArthur realised she didn’t enjoy city life like she used to. ‘I had noisy neighbours and the pressure of paying rent on my own was starting to get to me,’ Katie explains. ‘I wasn’t happy in my flat or my job. I was craving nature, and I was ready to try something new.’

Thinking back to when she’d been at her happiest, Katie recalled looking after her friend’s smallholding in the countryside. Soon after, she came across TrustedHousesitters, an online platform connecting homeowners with pet-sitters, and she began considering a whole new lifestyle. ‘I wanted to start my own business, but paying rent made that very difficult. I thought if I could house-sit, it would take that pressure off.’

While the original plan was to pet-sit for three months – enough time to get her business off the ground – Katie is still pet-sitting a year-and-a-half later. Currently in a cottage in Devon with a sausage dog called Molly, Katie says everything’s worked out better than she could have imagined. ‘I just really enjoy it. I’ve stayed in some lovely places and have had a lovely time. Running my business – kalmerwithkatie.co.uk – while pet-sitting is just perfect.’

Katie says her day-to-day varies, depending on the animals she’s looking after – mostly it’s cats and dogs, but she’s cared for sheep and horses, too. ‘Usually, it’s just a couple of walks a day, making sure they’re fed and that they’ve got company. Cats are even easier, but I love the walks and getting out with the dogs. It makes you explore where you are. Knowing I have to get up and take the dog for a walk helps me start my day.’

Although Katie house-sits in and around the south-west, she says being in a different location every few weeks makes it hard to make plans and see friends. ‘I do love this life, but it’s not always easy,’ she says. ‘It can be difficult to keep connected. It’s probably the more difficult aspect of housesitting. Nobody really knows where I am half the time, so they end up not inviting me to things.’

Despite missing her friends, Katie says it’s worth it. ‘I’ve always wanted to run my own business and pet-sitting has enabled me to do that. I also spend more time outdoors now and doing things on my own. I feel I’m a lot braver.’

As much as Katie gets on with the pet-sitting lifestyle, it’s not a forever thing. ‘I’m going to give it another year,’ she says, ‘and then find somewhere to settle. By the end of next year, I’m hoping I’ll have a better idea of where I want to be, having explored all these places.’

Saving enough for a deposit was another reason Katie wanted to try pet-sitting – before this experience, putting down a deposit seemed out of reach. ‘Whenever I do settle down again, it can be more into the life that I want, rather than just finding somewhere I can afford right now,’ she says. ‘Pet-sitting has allowed me to set myself up for the future.’

How to get started in… pet-sitting

1. Set up a profile on a house-sitting platform. TrustedHousesitters, Nomador and MindMyHouse are popular options.
2. For your first sit, pick a location close to home. Being nearby to friends and family will be reassuring while you build up confidence in your new role. 
3. Do your research. Check reviews of the homeowners on the platform you’re using and be honest about which pets suit you. For example, caring for an energetic breed might not be a good match if you’ve got work commitments.
4. Have a backup plan. Line up a friend or family member you can stay with and keep a small fund aside for any emergency Airbnb stays. Gaps in between sits and last-minute cancellations happen.
5. Build strong reviews early ­– house-sitting for friends or acquaintances is a good way to do this initially. Having insurance and a DBS check also gives homeowners extra peace of mind.
6. Be set up to work on the move. Katie’s top work essentials are a screen extender, power banks and extension leads – handy when you discover the nearest plug is nowhere near your desk.
7. Get organised. A good suitcase and work bag make moving around full-time much easier. Know exactly where your chargers and daily essentials live, and keep a smaller bag that can be easily unpacked for shorter stays.

Alternative living

For sociologist Dr Paul Jones from University of Liverpool, the current rise in alternative living is no surprise. ‘The UK housing market is fundamentally broken. In short, too much space is concentrated in too few hands. Treating housing as an economic commodity has pushed up rents and house prices, while social housing becomes harder to find. As private landlords see their wealth grow dramatically, more and more people struggle to find secure, affordable housing.

Against this backdrop, it’s unsurprising that people have turned to new spaces to live in. But alternative housing isn't purely about lifestyle choices – people are being pushed out of traditional housing because they simply can't afford it.

This said, living on a boat, van or in house-sit all have potential as ways of thinking and acting differently. Embedding more environmentally sustainable lifestyles can go hand-in-hand with alternative housing. Things like cooperative housing, community land trusts, and shared ownership could offer real solutions, as they challenge the idea that housing must be about individual ownership and profit.

Treating property as an investment to make money from, rather than a home to live in, has been socially extremely damaging. Making housing to live in, rather than to profit from, is a serious alternative.’

Adventurous and adaptable

So, there’s no doubt about it: alternative living will save you money in the long run. But quite often, unconventional lifestyles will require a high upfront cost. Whether it’s a van conversion or a boat build, the price of a ready-to-go home will often set you back as much as a house deposit. Got the cash ready and waiting? Then you’re all set. But if not, you might have to fork out big in those initial stages.

Having heard three separate accounts of alternative living that boast of serious savings, extraordinary experiences and an appreciation of the everyday, you have to think: what’s the catch? There are a few. Last-minute moves, dealing with the gruelling grey and rainy British weather, income gaps, and not being able to sink into a hot bath, to name a few.

Also, it’s not a lifestyle suited to everyone. Only flexible, adventurous and adaptable candidates need apply. But if that’s you, then maybe life on a boat, in a van, or under someone else’s roof might be just the ticket. Whether it’s a temporary adventure or a long-term choice, embracing an alternative lifestyle is a sure way to save money, explore the world, and enjoy life at a slower, more fulfilling pace. Just look at what you can do when you don’t have to worry about paying the mortgage.

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