A woman who swapped her apartment for life on a 57-foot canal boat has shared the ups and downs of this unique lifestyle choice.
Tish and her partner Josh made the move in 2024, motivated by the soaring cost of living in the UK, opting for a floating home instead of a traditional one.
At 36 and 35 years old, respectively, the couple now relocates every two weeks, likening their new way of life to an everlasting vacation.
Despite the allure of this lifestyle, Tish and Josh acknowledge that living on the water is not without its challenges.
They embarked on their boating adventure in early 2024, driven by high rental prices and an unpredictable housing market that prompted a reevaluation of their living situation.
Speaking to the news outlet What’s the Jam, Tish revealed, “Living on a boat had always been part of our long-term vision.”
‘We planned to retire to one, and then one day we asked ourselves why we were having the mindset that we needed to wait until our 60s to have the life we dreamed of.
‘Our rent was continually going up, and the goalposts for the housing market kept moving.
Tish and her partner Josh made the decision to leave their traditional abode for a home on the water in 2024 due to rising living costs in the UK
The pair, aged 36 and 35, sold their apartment and moved onto a 57-foot canal boat. They now move locations every two weeks, which they say feels a bit like a permanent ‘holiday’
‘We’d been saving for years and never stopped to think about whether we even really wanted to buy a house or if it was just something we were taught was the next thing you do.
‘When we really asked ourselves what we wanted out of a house, they were all things that a boat could provide us, with the added bonus of an adventure.’
Since the move, the couple said they save roughly $1,000 a month.
‘For us personally, when we moved out of renting, our outgoings went down by roughly $1,000 a month,’ Tish said.
‘Every boat is different [in terms of] how the running costs are. Our fire is connected to our diesel tank, so we spend a lot more on diesel than others, but we spend zero on coal.
‘But we have different costs to save for, like batteries, solar panels and blacking.
‘And our costs are determined by the weather; summer is much cheaper because of sunlight.
‘Winter is roughly $250 a month more for us because of the increase in diesel for running the fire and charging our batteries for electricity.
Join the debate
Would you give up modern comforts for a cheaper, slower life on a boat, or is it not worth the trade-offs?
Even though the lifestyle looks – and sounds – appealing, however, they admitted that it doesn’t come without its issues. Tish is seen on the boat with their cat
‘Some things are harder – it’s a more time-consuming way of life,’ Tish admitted
‘But when we lived in a house, we paid $200 a month in gas and electric. Now we have about eight months of electricity powered by sunlight.’
While saving money has been an immense benefit, Tish admitted that the change in pace has been even more rewarding.
She continued: ‘I’m asked a lot by people what it’s like to live on a boat, and it’s hard to put into words to someone because it’s a feeling more than anything, of peace.
‘It’s not just a place to live but an entirely different mindset to life. We felt quite held down by our belongings, and it was very liberating getting rid of 90 percent of the things we own.
‘What we hold value to now has changed; sunlight, water, nature and our loved ones are the most valuable things in our lives.’
However, there are downsides, such as not having places to dispose of their trash and the need to constantly plan ahead.
‘Some things are harder – it’s a more time-consuming way of life,’ Tish admitted.
‘I can’t pop my rubbish into my [garbage] bin. If I’m lucky, I’ll find a bin a mile’s walk away.
Since making the move, the couple said they save roughly $1,000 a month
Tish explained the impact the move has had on her mental health made it completely worth it
‘But, until then, it’s storing it until you pass a bin. If a fuel boat isn’t passing where I am, then we have to fetch fuel.
‘We don’t have room for a washing machine, so we have to leave our home to wash clothing. And it takes five hours to sail a 12-minute car journey.
‘It’s all things that take up more time – but, for me, the benefits far outweigh any negatives.’
Tish explained that the impact it has had on her mental health has made it completely worth it.
‘I’ve been a long-time sufferer of mental health [issues], and the changes were day and night, living on water just agrees with me,’ she said.
‘I have seen things some people will never see with their own eyes, and the closeness to nature gives you a totally new respect for it.
‘I’ve rescued a squirrel out of the canal, I’ve had ducklings asleep next to my front door, we saw a mole digging next to our window once, ducks and swans regularly knock on our boat asking for food.’
And while she noted that sounds ‘very appealing,’ she warned others not to rush into the nomadic lifestyle without recognizing the immense work it takes, too.
‘I know that sounds very appealing, and in a world where everything costs too much, it looks like a wonderful solution to a cost-of-living crisis,’ she concluded.
‘But batteries don’t last forever, blacking is done every few years, and there are lots of other costs to factor in.
‘So if it’s something you’d be considering, money is the wrong reason to do it; it’s a way of life, and that’s the main reason to do it.’
