Saving enough to buy land while staying close as a unit, without going through the traditional rent route: that was the bet Freya Gill and Charlie Thackwray took. At 29, the couple were still living with their parents when they chose a radical option to finally have their own space, even if it meant shaking up a few norms.
Instead of an apartment, they chose to live in a caravan in the mother-in-law’s garden, on Charlie Thackwray’s mother’s land. A solution everyone pictured as temporary, the idea being to save money. Yet this interlude ended up changing their perspective on comfort, their relationship, and even happiness.
Living in the caravan in the mother-in-law’s garden: a plan B that became daily life
Everything began with an old caravan already on the site. “When Charlie’s mother bought the house, the caravan came with the 90s-era home, and it had been there for quite a while,” Freya Gill explains. To make it at least a modest cocoon, Charlie Thackwray redid the floor and repainted the interior for around 240 euros, thinking this DIY would suffice for a few months.
Very quickly, the setup showed its limits. The couple then invested in an Elddis Crusader around 4,800 euros, a newer model. Then, in June 2025, they took another step with an Adria Adora priced at 19,000 euros, featuring adjustable heating, towel-drying radiators, and an integrated water pump. Freya Gill even savors the sound of rain on the roof, which she finds soothing, proof that in the meantime the caravan has become a real home.
Record savings that strengthened Freya Gill and Charlie Thackwray
Financially, the math is impressive. By choosing to live in a caravan to save, the couple has already saved nearly 24,000 euros, earmarked for buying land to build their house and raise animals. “We’re saving to buy land because we want to create a field to cultivate. And anyone knows that purchasing land requires a considerably larger down payment,” Freya Gill explains. Their monthly budget revolves around:
- 180 euros for land rent;
- 65 euros for fuel;
- 155 euros for financing;
- 420 euros for groceries,
to which are added very modest charges. “We installed our solar energy system, and that has helped us save a lot. We don’t have to pay council tax or water bills.” A full gas bottle of around 95 euros suffices when needed. This material simplicity spills over into their life as a couple. “My friends always tell me this isn’t the typical life of a twenty-something. But we’re fairly introverted people. So we like that it’s just us and that we have our own space,” Freya Gill says. The compact space forces them to communicate, to organize themselves, and to share every daily action, without ever losing their privacy inside Charlie Thackwray’s mother’s house.
A lifestyle embraced, and rules to know if you want to follow suit
Freya Gill fully embraces this minimalist life. “Sometimes, people living in caravans have a misconception, which is simply wrong. We want this lifestyle and we love living this lifestyle.” The couple plans to spend about another year in the caravan, time to accumulate the capital to realize their project: “We intend to build our farm, and Charlie wants to build his own lake. We’re excited to see what comes next.” For them, comfort is no longer measured in square meters, but in a shared project and financial freedom.
For a French reader tempted to install a caravan in a family garden, the account shared by Marie France and The Sun is enticing, but the legal framework differs. The Urban Planning Code governs the parking and installation of mobile residences: staying less than three months on already-built land may be possible without formalities, depending on the communes, but beyond that a declaration or authorization may be required. The ALUR Law opened up possibilities for certain mobile habitats, while limiting them to specific zones. In case of installation without consent, a substantial fine remains possible. Before copying Freya Gill and Charlie Thackwray, a check with the town hall’s urban planning department is therefore essential.
Sources
- Marie France
“We thought we were simply saving money, but living in a caravan in my mother-in-law’s garden has reshaped our view of the couple, comfort, and happiness”
