We’re saving THOUSANDS by living in a van – £6,000 is saved on bills ALONE

A SAVVY saving couple are on track to save thousands of pounds by ditching a house for a caravan to live in.

Ceri Winfield, 32 and her partner Dwayne Greenway, 34 have turned a big Mercedes van into a new home.

This year alone, they are set to save £6,000 on bills alone, the couple claim.

Although they spent £16,000 in total turning the van into a home, that means they could pay off this investment in under three years from the bill savings they are making.

The van itself was £7,500, and a further £8,500 was spent on renovations - the biggest cost being a solar-powered electrical system.

This solar-panelled system, which cost £3,000, allows them to save even more on their energy bills, as they can make electricity for free.

Ceri told the : "It feels good to not have to stress over energy bills and the ridiculous amount they may end up rising too, our only main concern is finding water for the van which can sometimes be difficult."

But the one thing that is proving pricey is fuel.

This has soared in recent months, driven by the Russia-Ukraine crisis - that's because supply issue concerns are sparking a rise in prices.

Ceri said: "The only thing affecting us right now is fuel costs, as prices are going through the roof – although it’s nothing compared to what we’d be paying bill wise in a stationary home."

Swapping a house for a van helps the couple save on soaring energy bill and rent rates - which are battering other households' finances.

Millions saw their bills DOUBLE to an average of £1,971 from April 1 when the new price cap - which limits how much suppliers can charge customers for energy - rolled out.

It means that hundreds of households are choosing between paying their energy bills or paying for food, with not enough money to afford both.

While earlier this year, the average monthly bill for rent soared to £1,060.

Nearly half a million families have fallen behind on paying their rent, with the average amount owed standing at £1,270.

Ceri and Dwayne aren't the only ones making cash out of their van.

The Sun spoke to savvy saver Holly Hutchinson who spent £50 only doing up a £1,000 caravan to go on cheap holidays.

Now it's worth £4,000 - meaning she'll cash in on the investment when she sells it.