A couple has successfully converted a double-decker bus into a home for their family of six, saving a remarkable £20,000 a year in the process. Conrad Kirk, 32, and Nicole McCarthy, 32, purchased their 1978 Rod-Bodied Daimler Fleetline bus in September 2021 for a mere £2,000. Initially, their plan was to convert the bus into a luxurious holiday home, eliminating the need for hotel stays during family vacations. However, upon completing the renovations, Conrad and Nicole realized they preferred their bus home to their previous £1,300-a-month three-bedroom rental house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. In October 2021, they made the decision to move into the bus full-time with their four daughters – Luna (6), Poppy (8), Summer (8), and Phoebe (10).
Since moving into the bus, the family has saved a total of £20,000 by eliminating expenses like gas, electric, water, and council tax. Conrad stated, “We have been saving around £2,000 a month, which has allowed us to improve our family lifestyle and give us financial freedom. I am not having to work a million hours to pay the bills.” The family now enjoys a savings pot and extra money to treat themselves, freeing them from the pressure of paycheck-to-paycheck living. “I don’t have to worry about bills,” Conrad shared. “I am self-employed, if I have a bad month I used to worry about bills but now if I have a bad month it doesn’t matter.”
The Kirk-McCarthy family uses their savings to fund family trips in their converted bus. They recently purchased a second bus for £5,000, a former tour bus owned by the rock band The Darkness. The couple plans to renovate this bus and move into it to provide more space for their growing family. They aim to complete the renovations for under £5,000 and live on the bus during the process. As Conrad explained, “The new coach will be 45ft which is 15ft longer than what we have now.” The extra space, he believes, will be essential as their daughters get older: “Four girls getting to a certain age – there needs to be more space.” The couple estimates the conversion of the new bus will take approximately a year, stating, “we want to get it to a stage where we can live on and convert it whilst we’re moving.”
Conrad emphasizes that living on a bus has positively impacted his and his family’s lives: “I feel healthier, my kids are happier and I am not as stressed as I used to be.” This unique family’s story demonstrates the power of resourcefulness and creative solutions to achieve financial stability and improved quality of life.
