A couple has shared how they transformed a 22-year-old caravan into a mobile dream holiday their kids love – spending less than £2,500 on the purchase and renovations in total.
Martin and Xana Worthington said they made the “impulsive decision” to buy a caravan after realising family getaways abroad might be “out of reach” due to the rising cost of living.
The couple, from Swindon, Wiltshire, decided to keep costs as low as possible while creating memories with their three children – aged seven, five and one.
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One day they spotted a £1,800 caravan on Facebook Marketplace and thought, “Why not?”
“It felt like a fun project and a practical way to have lots of little affordable getaways instead of saving up for one big holiday,” Xana, 34, told What’s The Jam.
While the caravan was quite dated when they bought it, it was structurally sound, making their renovation mostly cosmetic.
Xana and Martin, 38, did most of the work themselves, saving further on costs.
Martin, who is a carpenter, said: “We focused on simple changes that would make a big visual difference.
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“In between work and looking after the kids, we completed the renovation in six weeks.“
Xana, a stay-at-home mum, says they brightened the space by painting the cupboards and walls using leftover paint from previous home projects.
She added: “We replaced the flooring ourselves for around £120 by making a paper stencil and cutting vinyl to fit, which instantly transformed the space.
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“Instead of expensive upholstery, we refreshed the seating with budget cushion covers and a simple elastic-band hack to keep the buttons visible, costing around £80.”
The couple incorporated decor such as wall art, furnishings, sticky tiles for the kitchen and bathroom, and even wallpaper from Temu – costing around £150.
Other decor and home furnishings, such as bedding was sourced from charity shops, outlet stores and budget stores like Home Bargains to “keep everything affordable”.
Along with keeping costs low, the two focused on creating a bright, airy space that would “put you in a good mood as soon as you step inside”.
Xana and Martin also decided to remove the oven and hob in the caravan and sell them.
They fitted a new worktop using a kitchen end-panel for £100 and replaced the oven with an airfryer.
Xana said: “In the back room, we ripped out the old bed and bunks and used a free carpet offcut from a local shop to create a cosier feel.
“My husband then built a raised bed frame for our two boys, and kept the sofa underneath as a bed for our little girl with space to play underneath too.
“There’s also a slim wall with an archway, which he panelled and painted.
“Materials for this part came to around £180.”
The couple estimates their renovation cost around £600-£700.
Martin added: “By doing all the DIY ourselves and shopping smart, we were able to completely refresh the caravan on a budget.
“Altogether including the caravan it cost under £2,500 – which is less than our last family holiday cost!”
The couple plan to swap out their usual expensive family holidays for regular caravan trips during weekends and school breaks.
Xana added: “The plan is to spend parts of the summer holidays in it and explore more places around the UK as a family.
“We’re honestly so happy with how it’s turned out.
“What started as a really impulsive purchase has already given us some amazing family memories.
“We both grew up with the best childhood moments on caravan holidays, so being able to give our kids that same experience feels really special.
“We hope it inspires other families not to feel put off by rising holiday prices; there are still ways to make great memories on a budget.
“Our kids already say they prefer caravan trips to any holidays we’ve taken abroad.”
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