Family of six move into double decker bus to save £12k a year
A family of six have moved into a double decker bus to save £12,000 a year.
Conrad Kirk, 31, and his partner, Nicole McCarthy, 31, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, initially bought the vehicle to convert it into a mobile holiday home.
But after they renovated the double decker they loved it so much they left their three-bedroom rental house and moved into the bus full-time.
The couple now live on the bus with their four daughters: Luna, four; Poppy, seven; Summer, seven and Phoebe, eight.
Watch: Inside the double decker bus that is home to a family of six
They bought the 1978 Rod-Bodied Daimler Fleetline double decker bus in September 2021 for £2,000.
Initially, the idea of leaving their £1,300-per-month rental property and moving into the bus started as "a joke".
But when they realised they could save about £1,000 a month, it became a reality.
They move the bus around the Rotherham area, close to where their children attend school.
Following the refurbishment, which cost about £8,000, the bus has a bathroom, a living area, a separate kitchen, a small garage and an open plan bedroom with a double bed and two bunk beds.
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Kirk, a media business owner, said: “We sort of worked around what was disposable to us to keep costs down, like using recycled bits and reusing some items.
“Companies wanted an extra £6,000 to £7,000 to do our solar panels, but by watching videos and with the help of our electrician, we managed to get it done under £800.”
The couple's daughters helped out with tasks such as cutting wood and measuring.
“They’ve learned skills that normal kids wouldn’t get the opportunity to learn at school," said Kirk.
The family has more than 200,000 followers on TikTok, where they share their daily adventures.
“We don't lounge in front of the TV - we're out and about doing things with the kids," said Kirk.
“We have the freedom to actually go and experience things as a family that we didn't get to do before.
"Trying new things and spending time outdoors have become quite a big bit of our lifestyle now.
“It’s been great for us because we’ve been very anti-social before.”
The couple plan to save up to £10,000 in the next three to four years in order to buy some land and build their own home.
