Earlier this year a Queensland family sold their house, packed up their bags and hit the road travelling Australia in a caravan, after realising it would be “cheaper and more rewarding” to leave their traditional suburban lifestyle behind.
And they haven’t looked back.
Ipswich couple Jared Lowe and his partner Krystal were working long, backbreaking days at their family-run bricklaying business, while struggling with home renovations and raising three children during a cost-of-living crisis, when they decided they needed to make a change.
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“I spent long days at work and often felt like I was missing out on precious family moments,” Jared told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Then coming home on weekdays, and for most of the weekend, I was continuously putting time into finishing the house.”
Jared said the physical demands of his bricklaying business and working on the renovation led to an injury that left him unable to walk for two weeks.
“The physicality of both tasks actually took a huge toll on my back, and I ultimately herniated a disc and couldn’t walk for two weeks mid-renovation,” he said.
The demands of building their business had also meant missing important milestones with their children, between working long hours and six-day weeks “just to pay the bills”.
Jared’s back injury was the catalyst he and Krystal needed to “take the leap”, and move their three kids and two dogs into a caravan to embrace a “simpler and more meaningful life”.
“My back injury and the unpredictability of work gave us the push we needed to take the leap,” Jared said.
“We made the decision earlier this year when we sold our renovated home.
“We wanted to prioritise time with each other and our kids.”
In May the family hit the road to begin making the memories with their kids they felt had been “slipping away”, but the move also worked out to be a much cheaper way of life.
Today, Jared and Krystal said their lives have slowed down in a “great way”, and they are enjoying waking up every day to new adventures with their children.
“We’re no longer tied to a rigid work schedule, and we’ve seen an improvement in our mental and physical health, as well as in our family dynamics.”
The family have had their ups and downs since moving into the caravan, with occasional logistical challenges, such as finding stable Wi-Fi for their 12-year-old son’s online schooling, as well as managing finances and Jared’s ongoing work injuries.
However, despite the bumps along the way, Jared said the memories they were making together “far outweigh any challenges on the road”.
They managed to stabilise their Wi-Fi connection with a Starlink account, and are working towards an online business to help finance their travels.
“At this stage, we are living off the profits we have made from our business and house sale,” Jared said.
“Krystal manages the finances, without her, I’d definitely be broke right now.”
Jared said they used their Flybuys and Everyday Rewards points to track deals and discounts on groceries or fuel, as well as camping at free campgrounds or at cheap farm stays to help lower costs.
“This journey is not just about escaping a stressful lifestyle, but about rediscovering who we are as a family,” he said.
“Life is too short to continually wonder ‘what if’.”
Jared and Krystal said their advice for anyone thinking of switching to caravan life would be to “go for it!” and “embrace the unpredictability”.
“It may seem like such a stretch, or even scary to think about selling everything and leaving your hometown,” he said.
“But not knowing where you will be actually has a sense of suspenseful enjoyment, for example, always surprising the kids with a new beach or a new playground at the caravan park.”
While caravan life means they need to be ready to adapt to changes, including the possibility they may need to start up their old business, Jared said they remember that the biggest reward is the time they are gaining with their family.
“We hope to inspire others to create the life they truly want,” he said.
”We understand this lifestyle isn’t for everyone, however, if you are like how we used to be, and you just feel stuck, or you don’t know your next move — jump into the deep end and travel our beautiful country.
“There are so many other amazing families on the road doing the same thing, so you won’t be the only one.”