A PENSIONER has saved hundreds of pounds a month living in a van – but says it’s not been worth it.
Homeless 66-year-old Lyn Pearson was kicked out of her flat five months ago and now survives on a meal deal and protein shake a day.
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The great grandma’s lips and fingers regularly turn blue after a night inside her old airport shuttle bus, which she parks up on side roads in Ramsgate, Kent.
Lyn spent the winter sofa surfing after she was kicked out of her one-bed flat with a Section 21 no fault eviction notice in November.
She couldn’t find anywhere to rent in Ramsgate, within her £473 housing benefit allowance, so moved into a van last month.
She told the Sun Online: “It was ridiculous. The couple that bought my flat wanted to raise my rent from £433 to £700. I don’t have the money to pay that much.”
The council offered Lyn temporary accommodation, but she didn’t want to have to move to another part of Kent.
So she sold her possessions for £4,000, borrowed £2,000 from a friend, and paid £6,000 for a van.
It was kitted out with a kitchen and bed, but didn’t connect to running water and had a broken fridge.
But she has cut her living costs down by almost £200.
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Lyn gets £750-a-month in pension.
She no longer has to pay rent or her gas and electric bill, which is an average monthly saving of £510.
She pays £180 a month for a lock up to store her things, a £30 gym membership and around £120 a month to run her diesel heater.
She says she eats a meal deal and a Huel drink every day – spending £6.50.
And with an average of 10 miles in diesel a day, her fuel costs are around £25 a month.
It means her total monthly costs have been shaved down to at least £361.50.
But it’s not all good.
“I feel exposed”
Lyn doesn’t sleep well, fearing her van could be broken into, and she’s so cold most nights her fingers and lips turn blue.
She added: “I haven’t been eating properly. Most days I have a protein shake and a supermarket meal deal.
“It’s so hard to cook. I was spending £8 on items for a meal and then throwing half of it away because I couldn’t keep it cold.”
Lyn wakes up early each morning before driving around Ramsgate in her van.
She spends her days visiting family and friends, goes to the gym to workout and shower and takes her bike out for a spin.
But when it comes to 5pm each day she has to find somewhere to park for the night.
She said: “If you’re in a house you’re safe, but a van is in the road. There’s drunks walking by. When I pull up I draw the curtains and turn the lights off so I’m not attracting attention to myself.”
She said she lies awake at night afraid she could be attacked, and doesn’t sleep well.
“I wake up with headaches. It’s so cold and unnerving. I feel exposed,” she added.
Although Lyn was previously a personal trainer and is fit and able to live in a van, she said she feels sorry for those with fewer options.
She added: “I’m resourceful and like to see the positive side. I’ve been thrown into this and will get on with it.
“But when I left my flat my downstairs neighbour had no choice, he’s been forced into temporary accommodation miles away from home. It’s not fair.”
Lyn’s family and friends have tried to offer her money to help but she’s too embarrassed to take it.
She said: “I’m independent. It’s embarrassing to ask for help. But my son set up a GoFundMe page and it’s raised £3,300 which has been a huge help.”
Now Lyn is recording her journey on her TikTok page @offtotravel, which has almost 40,000 followers.
She said: “I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m constantly on TikTok. People from all over the world want to know what I’m eating and doing every day.”
So far she’s made £34 on the app, but she hopes she can soon do more sponsored posts.
Anyone served a Section 21 no fault eviction notice should contact their local council for help.
The council will take steps to prevent homelessness if the notice is valid and ends in eight weeks or less.
It might then provide a loan or grant to pay off any rent arrears, help you stay in your home or find somewhere else to live.
A Thanet District Council spokesman said: “The Housing Benefit rate is based on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). It is set by central government.
“Anyone experiencing or under threat of homelessness should contact our Housing Options team. This year we have already prevented 192 households from becoming homeless.”
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
