Couple ditches corporate grind as cost-of-living crisis leads to decade-long van travel

A couple swapped corporate careers and rent payments for a life of traveling the world - and say the move has hugely slashed their living costs. They're as surprised as anybody. 

Now they're traveling constantly with almost no added expense.

Before making the change, the pair said they were burned out from years of nonstop work.

Balancing multiple businesses and working seven days a week "nearly broke them," Karen Davies said - leaving them exhausted and unfulfilled.

"We had to make tough choices, and leaving wasn't easy, but it was necessary," she said.

Since hitting the road, the couple has traveled across much of Europe, from Norway to Portugal, as well as destinations in North Africa, including Morocco.

Karen Davies said the lifestyle has truly shifted their priorities.

"We live a simple life in a very small space, and simplicity has given us more meaningful moments, people and experiences," she said.

While the couple said the lifestyle has been rewarding, it has not been without challenges.

Popular destinations have become more crowded in recent years, pushing the couple to explore less-traveled areas.

"In our early years of traveling together, we drove like maniacs," Karen Davies said.

She added that they now take a slower approach, focusing less on checking off destinations and more on experiencing places more deeply.

Nearly 10 years in, they have zero plans to return to a traditional lifestyle, they say.