‘It became too much’: Adelaide family fed up with cost of living to call caravan home

Rising cost of living pressures have pushed one Adelaide family to the brink — they have packed up their lives and are hitting the road.

The Thompson family, parents Mick and Tye with children Lucy, 6, Ollie, 4, and Poppie, 2, are about to travel Australia because the cost of living and electricity prices are too high. Picture Emma Brasier

Cost of living spikes made Mick and Tye Thompson feel “trapped and bogged down” at their Lewiston property in Adelaide’s north.

So, the couple and their three children, Lucy, 6 Ollie, 4 and Poppie 2 sold their home of six years to permanently live on the road.

Mr Thompson said their mortgage alongside rising water, council and electricity bills “became too much”.

“I was working 50-60 hours just to make ends meet,” he said.

“This wasn’t the life wanted.”

The Lewiston property used solar power and shortly after moving into the home the Thompson’s received a solar feed credit of $29.

By the time the family moved out the bill had surpassed $400 per quarter.

“We hadn’t changed how we lived much … we anticipate it’ll be way cheaper on the road,” Mrs Thompson said.

The Thompson family have packed up their lives and are hitting the road because the cost of living and electricity prices are too high. Picture Emma Brasier

It took the family three years to make the big decision, but they kick start their travels on Wednesday and are not looking back.

“We’ll pick up work as we go,” Mr Thompson said.

“Our first stop is at the grandparents place before heading over to the Eyre Peninsula,” he said.

Lucy said she is most excited to visit her cousins in Queensland, while Ollie can’t wait to ride the BMX tracks across the country.

Noel’s Caravans owner Noel Faggotter said his business had seen a significant rise in shoppers looking for bigger vans to move into permanently in a bid to save money.

“Living in a caravan isn’t anything new, but over the past year or so we have definitely seen more and more people inquiring about living in a caravan,” he said.

SA Caravans owner Warren King confirmed the rise in South Australians looking to downsize because “it is a cheaper option”.

“We had someone come in just yesterday who was trying to sell their home and move into a van,” he said.

“With the costs of interest rates, electricity, and really everything at the moment, it is the best option for a lot of people.”

Shoppers can expect to wait up to 18 months for a caravan.