A couple from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, took an unconventional approach to family living by converting a double-decker bus into a mobile holiday home. Conrad Kirk, 31, and Nicole McCarthy, 31, initially intended to use the bus as a luxury vacation home, but after completing the renovations, they decided to move their family of six into it permanently. This decision has allowed them to save £12,000 annually.
In September 2021, the couple purchased a 1978 Rod-Bodied Daimler Fleetline double-decker bus for £2,000. Their motivation was to avoid the expense of booking two hotel rooms, costing £140 per night, for family vacations. The success of their initial renovation prompted them to leave their three-bedroom rental house and live in the bus full-time with their four daughters, Luna (four), Poppy and Summer (both seven), and Phoebe (eight). What started as a joke quickly became a reality when they realized they could save approximately £1,000 each month.
The bus remains stationed in Rotherham, as the children attend school in the area. However, it allows the family the freedom to explore nearby regions. The comprehensive conversion, which cost around £8,000, transformed the bus into a comfortable living space. It now features a bathroom, a separate kitchen, a small garage, and an open-plan bedroom with a double bed and two bunk beds.
During the renovation process, the family received invaluable support and advice from friends and relatives. This assistance, combined with their resourcefulness, enabled them to keep costs down by using recycled materials and repurposing items. Rather than spending an additional £6,000 to £7,000 on solar panels, they managed to complete the installation for under £800 by leveraging online resources and the expertise of an electrician.
The couple involved their children in various renovation tasks such as wood cutting and measuring, giving them valuable skills not typically taught in school. Conrad explained that his daughters have had unique learning experiences thanks to their involvement in the project. The family’s presence on TikTok has garnered them over 200,000 followers, where they document their daily adventures and share details about their unique lifestyle. Many viewers are curious about how they manage to accommodate six people in a bus, but the family clarifies that the children are at school during the day, and they prefer spending free time outdoors.
Conrad regards the bus as a central hub for their active and outdoor-oriented lifestyle, expressing that they don’t spend much time lounging in front of the TV. Instead, they constantly engage in activities with their children, such as paddleboarding and rock climbing. Living in the bus has exposed the children to many outdoor pursuits they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise, and it has allowed them to form new friendships and become more sociable.
The bus is equipped with modern amenities, including a bathroom, a living area, a separate kitchen, and a small garage. The open-plan bedroom features a double bed and two bunk beds to accommodate the entire family. The couple even installed a wall-mounted television to save space.
Conrad’s future plans include saving up to £10,000 over the next three to four years to purchase land and build a permanent home for their family. This move has given them the freedom to explore new activities and share quality time together in a way they never could before.
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