{"id":10685,"date":"2023-02-06T09:58:03","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T08:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viajerosactivos.com\/?p=10685"},"modified":"2025-01-18T17:59:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T16:59:26","slug":"interview-to-live-is-not-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/viajerosactivos.com\/en\/entrevista-a-vivir-no-es-caro\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Living is not Expensive"},"content":{"rendered":"

An interview with Living is Not Expensive with practical information for traveling or living in a caravan, fun anecdotes and safety tips.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a new section of the blog that I wanted to start for a long time, it is about interviews with travel blogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I interview Carol and Alex from Living is not expensive<\/a><\/strong>, a very nice couple who They embarked on the adventure of living in their own camper van.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the interview he has a lot of information that will help you if you have not yet decided to travel in this peculiar way or even change your life like they did.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the interview they also tell funny anecdotes<\/strong> and how they resolve some issues typical of living in a caravan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the article you have all their links to follow them and not miss all the information they share.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Iglesia_De_La_Almadraba_de_Monteleva_o_Iglesia-de-las_Salinas_Cabo_de_Gata_Almeria_vivirnoescaro\"
Carol and Alex from Living is not Expensive in Cabo de Gatas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Who are the creators of Vivir no es Caro?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We are Carol and Alex. So to define ourselves very quickly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex is 43 years old. He is from Castell\u00f3n. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has been a mechanic by profession (and vocation) for many years. His great passion is cars, fixing things and nature. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before changing his life, he became self-employed, rented a warehouse and began selling and delivering food to bars and restaurants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is the public relations of the project, because He loves meeting people and also talks a lot<\/strong>, he he.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I (Carol), am 36 years old. I am from madrid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I studied to be a librarian, but I ended up working on issues related to websites, content and now I work in a travel agency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My 4 great passions are traveling, reading, writing and drawing. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am the shy part of the project and the craziest and most creative part.<\/strong> I love looking for ideas and trying new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 How did the idea for this adventure come about?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

One day we started watching videos on YouTube of people who lived traveling and we thought: How cool! It would be cool to do it too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But at that moment we had many fears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day Alex fell while delivering and hurt his knee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They took x-rays and told him that he had a bone problem and that the job he had with so much physical effort was not good for him, and that if he continued like this, in a few years he would have pain everywhere (he already has a few now).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, around the same time, a good client of his had a driving accident due to overwork and died. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between that and some loved ones who have gone by our way before their time<\/strong>\u2026we realized that any day it could be our turn and we said to ourselves: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not try it? What if we don't get to retire? Or what if we arrive in bad condition?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we set a date, We started saving and in a very short time, we were already camperizing our van.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Does the van have a name?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The truth is that many times we have thought about giving it a name, but we couldn't find one that fits it, so We simply call it \u201cthe van.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suggestions are welcome, hehe.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"decoration-in-camper-van-plasticized-world-map-expensive
"The Van"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 How do you choose the places you are going to visit?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We improvised a lot, really \ud83d\ude00 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We get carried away. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes we have a specific place that we want to visit, but along the way we entertain ourselves with things that they recommend to us<\/strong>, or discoveries we make looking at points of interest that catch us along the way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, we take into account adjust to the income we have.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we are overspending due to any unforeseen event, we move slower, and we avoid destinations where the standard of living is very high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also we choose a lot based on time<\/strong>. We flee the rain and avoid crowded areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 What has been the best place you have visited? Why was it so special?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For me, The French Alps area was super special. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We did several routes that seemed spectacular to me: Lac Blanc, the Bossons glacier<\/strong>\u2026 AND The surroundings were wonderful, no matter where you looked.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Alex, He fell in love with Cantabria<\/strong> (me too :P). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were out of season and were practically alone anywhere. Nature, tranquility, beaches\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We stayed there for a month and a half and it was perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 During the time that you have been traveling in the van, was there any destination that you did not expect much from and that surprised you? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A lot of! In Spain It happened to us with Albacete<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We always had that saying \u201cAlbacete, shit and go\u201d in our heads, and We were very surprised by the number of routes and beautiful places it has.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Route-to-Los_Picarazos_vista_calares_mundo_sima_Albacete_vivirnoescaro\"
The Picarazos in Albacete<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In France, the Jura region<\/strong> we loved it too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is barely known in Spain and it is a shame because it is full of amazing places: lakes, pretty towns, castles\u2026 and very little crowded. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ideal destination for summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 How easy has it been for you to get teleworking (remote work) and be able to do it from the van?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The job I have is the same one I worked at before we went traveling: in a travel agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initial idea was to take a leave of absence for a year and see how things went, but in the end I managed to convince my boss to stay at a distance for a while<\/strong> Let's see how it goes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it has worked well and the work turns out the same, I have been able to maintain it until now. And it is great for us to not use up savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing it from the van, for me is the same as doing it from an office<\/strong>. I have a seat, I have a table, electricity and an Internet connection. I do not need anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Have you had any problems finding where to park to sleep?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It is usually easy thanks to applications like Park4Night<\/strong> that guides you with comments from other travelers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of corners, so we don't usually have problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 How about the security issue? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In general We felt pretty safe in the van.<\/strong>, but it is true that We choose the places to be very carefully. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we see something strange or we don't like the atmosphere somewhere, since we have wheels, we pack up and go just in case. It is better prevent. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a little common sense and are guided by instinct, you won't have big problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Would you recommend living in a camper to a single woman? Carol, would you feel safe traveling alone?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Before meeting Alex (and after too) I have traveled a lot with hostel and backpacking friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has never scared me, but it is true that we almost always went to big cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling by van alone or through more isolated places would be difficult for me. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the desire to travel would make me do it anyway, but I do think I would be afraid in certain situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, for example, very commonly We share time with other travelers. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We open the door of our wheeled house to them at the minimum and we go into their houses as soon as they invite us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summer we also have the side door open all day. I think if I were alone, I'd be more careful with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once while in Tuscany I went for a walk alone in nature because Alex's back hurt and a man who was driving his car reversed when he saw me alone and changed direction to follow me slowly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn't far from the van, so I went quickly towards it where Alex was and as soon as the man saw him, he went the other way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I had been alone, I don't know what would have happened. It scared me to think about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 What is the biggest challenge you have found about living in a caravan? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When something breaks in the van and we have to repair it on the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Alex is a mechanic, he always fixes it himself in any parking lot, but Sometimes it is difficult to find the parts, we do not always have the necessary tool<\/strong> or sometimes they are breakdowns that take time and when living in the van, it is difficult to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We always end up finding a solution<\/strong>, but they are a bit stressful times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 What trick do you have for when you need time alone? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Good question! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We talk a lot to each other, so We resolve arguments quickly and they don't last too long.<\/strong> They can be intense, but short, hehe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even so, if at any time we want to have our space, the good thing is that Although the van is small, the yard we have is huge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So from time to time, we go for a walk separately and that's enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The solution you created to go to the toilet inside the van was very ingenious (don't miss the video below). <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u00bfAny other similar ideas that you are especially proud of? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ha ha ha. The toilet video always makes people talk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing we are proud of is the table. we wanted a large table that could be dismantled and rotated<\/strong> to be able to get up even with the table set or with the computers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of tables with these features on the market, but they tend to be expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manage to make a custom one with leftovers, that is so comfortable for us and that it would cost us \u20ac0, It was something we are proud of.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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