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Aussie family-of-five living mortgage-free as they trade it all in for life on the road

An Australian family with three young kids have managed to escape the country’s cost of living pressures - but their solution is a radical one.

On the road #VANLIFE

An Aussie family has been travelling all over the country for the past five years, and relying on the income from an investment property to make it possible.

Amy and Jack Bell, 30 and 31 respectively, and their three kids, originally from the Gold Coast, have been living the life for the last half a decade – all while escaping the rat race in which so many others around the country are currently stuck.

The Bells don’t work a stable job and are mortgage free, using the cash they make from renters in their investment property to fund their lifestyle. They also land odd jobs along the way to top up their bank accounts.

“As we work and travel, we pick up opportunities for work all across Australia,” Ms Bell said, according to 7 News.

“Instead of Jack needing separate accommodation for work, we all travel together in our caravan — eliminating the need for a mortgage payment. This new way of life has opened up incredible possibilities for our family.”

The family have no regrets about their nomadic lifestyle.
The family have no regrets about their nomadic lifestyle.
They have been living like this for five years.
They have been living like this for five years.

The couple have travelled more than 150,000 kilometres across Australia in their caravan, visiting every state and lapping the country.

Their three young kids have been in tow the whole time, aged seven, five and three.

The Bells share their nomad lifestyle with their 74,000 followers on Instagram.

It wasn’t always like this for the Bell couple, though.

They had been grinding away in their jobs for years and took a leap of faith to trade it all in for a life on the move.

“We had been managing a mortgage since we were 18, a full house renovation, working full-time, getting married, and raising two children. It was time for us to enjoy some quality family time after years of hard work,” Ms Bell said.

So they sold their primary home and took to a life on the road, and haven’t looked back since.

They have an investment property in Brisbane which they said is their “backup plan”.

They’ve travelled all over Australia.
They’ve travelled all over Australia.
The caravan is how they have been able to live mortgage-free.
The caravan is how they have been able to live mortgage-free.
The Izuzu truck with the caravan towed behind.
The Izuzu truck with the caravan towed behind.

Mr and Ms Bell have invested in better vehicles to make their new lifestyle more manageable.

As well as owning a caravan, they also have an Izuzu truck, which is filled with equipment they need for Jack’s work as a shopfitter, and a boat.

“We also upgraded our caravan to a spacious 23ft Lotus, which handles off-road adventures like a dream,” Ms Bell said.

“Downsizing to a caravan has changed our perspective on life.

“We have realised how little we actually need. When we eventually settle down, we plan to opt for a smaller property that requires less cleaning and maintenance.”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/aussie-familyoffive-living-mortgagefree-as-they-trade-it-all-in-for-life-on-the-road/news-story/0378ddc5cb15b5f5bab0259796afc7a0