Aussie family escape to life on the road for $500 a week

It's no secret that many young Australians are looking for a way to eschew the rat race and traditional life paths for something else – and for many this is increasingly the answer.

They've ditched the stressful housing market and opted for a nomadic lifestyle that offers flexibility and freedom – with a much more manageable weekly price tag.

Women’s health dietitian Maddison Milton, 27, partner Kyle Markham who is a stay-at-home dad, 29, and their son three-year-old son Reef decided to leave behind their home in Adelaide last year and join the ranks of those who extoll the virtues of so-called van life.

They're travelling – and living – across the country in their 2015 Mercedes Sprinter van which they originally bought for just under $40,000, before spending about the same amount renovating it to become a house on wheels.

"We really put all the extra touches in as we wanted it to feel as much like a home as possible," Maddison said.

"For us our biggest expenses are food and fuel. Our fuel expenses of course fluctuate and depend on whether we are travelling very far that week. We tend to travel quite slowly so we can really experience each place.

She estimates the young family spend about $500 to $600 each week in total expenses.

"That is typically $250-$300 in food, $100-$150 in petrol, $100 for phone bills, van insurance, subscriptions etcetera and then any extra is for eating out, booking a caravan park or a special event on the odd occasion.

"We are lucky enough to have an abundance of free camps in most areas that we visit," she added.

Life on the road means living expenses cut in half

With many Australians struggling to find ways to save money, their decision – albeit a bold one – has seen them dramatically reduce their weekly costs.

"We have managed to almost cut our living expenses in half by not having rent or utilities to pay. We don’t pay for electricity as we are completely solar powered.

"Our internet is just with our phone bills as we upped our data plans before we left and water is available at lots of camp sites or RV fill up points," Maddison explained.

Family's main weekly costs:

· $250 food

· $150 petrol

· $30 laundry

· $50 - $100 phone bills, subscriptions, insurance etc

· Total $480-$530 ish.

Now the family is living life to the fullest and giving their little boy a lifetime of incredible memories.

"The biggest reason we chose van life is due to the freedom it gives us,” she said. "Both my partner and myself have done a lot of travel and when we found out we were pregnant with our son, we wanted to find a way that our travel could continue."

Importantly, it also means more family time.

"We knew we wanted to spend as much time together as a family as possible. For us, these early years of our son's life are the most precious to us. We want to be there, as present as we can be for all of those incredible milestones. By moving into the van we reduced our living expenses to the point where Kyle could quit his job and be home with us while my work and business, which is completely online, keep us going."

Tips on how to join the van life club

Van life is not always easy but Maddison and Kyle love it and want to encourage others to try the lifestyle. If you are considering the van life she suggests doing some serious research before investing.

"I think the biggest piece of the puzzle is to start by choosing the right vehicle for you and your needs," she said. Different types of vehicles have different pros and cons and allow you to travel in different ways.

"For example, for some a 4WD might be better suited because they value being able to see more remote places. For others, they may prefer a caravan so they can leave it set up at camp and have the option of a FWD for day trips.

"I’d say take a look at all of the options and feel into what makes the most sense for you and your situation, as you’re going to be spending a lot of time in it so you want to be comfortable."

with Australscope

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