 Flipping the image of a 'big white van' on its head, a woman is living and travelling in one, making it her haven. Ellen Green, 29, a freelance graphic designer from Northern Ireland, spends just £200 a month living this way. She began travelling around Ireland in a van with her dog, Max, a Staffordshire bull terrier, in 2019. After being in her van 'all the time', she decided to move into her new £5,000 Citroen Relay permanently. Ellen's loved ones thought her living choices were a 'bit weird' to begin with, but now she thinks 'people can just see that it works for her'. The 29-year-old has travelled to Snowdonia and Donegal, and has hiked all around the UK and Ireland. Last year, she 'climbed 52 peaks in 52 weeks' as the van has made it easier to explore the nation. Ellen has also saved a lot on monthly bills – now her outgoings are around £200 a month. She can also see herself staying in the van long-term, given how flexible her life can now be. The graphic designer said: 'I often just find the nearest beach and park there. It's so relaxing – I wake up, swim in the sea, do some work, and just chill out. 'I'd never be able to do that if I was renting. It's made me make the most out of life, and become a more adventurous person. 'I can't believe that showering in leisure centres is normal to me now – I love this lifestyle.' Ellen's family thought her living situation was a bit odd at first (Picture: PA Real Life) Ellen moved into her van full-time in 2023 (Picture: PA Real Life) She continued: 'I love how flexible it is and being able to park up anywhere, in such beautiful places. 'There's no point in me renting a flat because I'm always in the van, and everything's in here. 'It's a lot cheaper than having to spend money on rent on top of this.' But not all of her loved ones were on board with the idea at first – like her now ex-boyfriend, who said she needed to be more 'realistic'. 'Nobody understood it – everyone was a bit e){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Flipping the image of a ‘big white van’ on its head, a woman is living and travelling in one, making it her haven.
Ellen Green, 29, a freelance graphic designer from Northern Ireland, spends just £200 a month living this way.
She began travelling around Ireland in a van with her dog, Max, a Staffordshire bull terrier, in 2019.
After being in her van ‘all the time’, she decided to move into her new £5,000 Citroen Relay permanently.