I bought a narrowboat for £42k... I'll never live in a house again

• Daisy Wood, 25, bought the narrowboat after mould left her struggling to breath
• She said living on the boat has improved her quality of life ‘times a thousand’
• The West Midlands native used to pay £200 for electric – now she pays £50 
• READ MORE:  I ditched my house for life on a boat – it saves me £6k a year

A young woman decided to purchase a narrowboat from Facebook Marketplace after the mould in her previous flat impacted her health so severely it left her with breathing problems to this day.

Daisy Wood, 25, who has been living on her humble boat for the last four months, revealed her mental health has improved ‘times a thousand’ since embarking on her life on the water.

Sharing her frustrations, the West Midlands native confessed that the mould and damp in her old riverside flat had become so severe she would have to use an inhaler every morning.

‘I would wake up, and I would be like really struggling to breathe and then my mental health was going downhill because all my stuff was getting ruined,’ she said.

‘I would be scared to open my wardrobe because there would just be like black mould and all my clothes would just be covered.’

Daisy Wood opted to buy a 50ft narrowboat (pictured) from Facebook Marketplace after the damp and mould in her old flat left impacted both her physical and mental health

After only four months of life on the water, Daisy, 25, (pictured) said that her quality of life has improved ‘times a thousand’

The illustrator added: ‘I ended up having to throw away a load of my previous drawings and stuff.’

Detailing that she was often dismissed by the landlord and estate agent regarding her mould and health concerns, Daisy had the urge to do ‘something different’

With no desire to buy a house due to crippling house prices, Daisy opted for a slight change in pace.

Inspired by regular camping trips with family and videos on TikTok, the 25-year-old wanted to embark on a ‘hippy’-type lifestyle.

‘I always had [living in a boat] in the back of my mind after seeing other people’s TikToks about it.

‘Originally I wanted to buy a camper van. My stepdad is always talking about van life and how good it is and encouraging me to do it

‘So I was looking for camper vans on Facebook marketplace, but I was really struggling to find one that was right.

The West Midlands native felt frustrated after repeatedly raising the mould issue to her previous landlord and estate agent (pictured: mould underneath her bed frame in her old home)

The avid illustrator shared she would often wake up struggling to breathe in her previous home (pictured)

Crippling house prices, left Daisy with no desire to live on land – so she opted for ‘something different’

She continued: ‘Then [the narrowboat] just came up like on like the explore page and [she and her partner] were like “yeah, why not?”.’

Now Daisy could never imagine living on land again, she said: ‘I just feel like everyone should live on a boat it is so nice.’

‘I can’t imagine living in a house or a flat again, not for a long time anyway,’ she explained.

‘It’s just nice to be able to just move you home wherever you want, tomorrow, we’re moving to a different town for a few days and I don’t even have to pack.’

Comparing her cold rented flat to her new river home, she said: ‘I feel like this is my home, and I’m going to stay here for as long as I live.

‘Whereas before my flat felt like, because I was renting it off someone else I was sort of constantly thinking about the next step where I’m going to live next.’

‘I just look forward to coming home to the boat every day like, I’m just obsessed with it.’

However, a better quality of life isn’t the only advantage Daisy has reaped since moving on to her beloved boat ‘Clancey’ – she has managed to save quite a bit on bills.

Previously paying an eye-watering electric bill of £200 and £570 on rent, Daisy shared that she and her partner feel less stressed about finances.

Inspired by regular camping trips with family and videos on TikTok, the 25-year-old wanted to embark on a ¿hippy¿-type lifestyle

Daisy, who is in the middle of renovating her humble boat (pictured), thinks everyone should give boat life a go

The astronomical savings aren’t the only advantage of the boat, according to Daisy the ultimate pro is the sense of belonging and stability

Now couple paid their mooring for the entire year upfront because it was cheaper than paying monthly, dishing out £4,667 – which equates to £388 monthly – and have a miniscule electric bill of £50.

Factoring in their coal bags, gas bill, river licence, loan repayments and yearly insurance the pair dish out £442.32 a month each, based on her calculations.

Divulging on her financial situation living on land, she said: ‘It was ridiculous. I’d be going into my overdraft every month.

‘ [I would be] dipping into my savings every month as well, just to pay for just basic living costs. I wouldn’t be buying any extras or anything.

‘Now I have more disposable money and I can just buy things that I actually want and not feel stressed about money all the time.’

‘[But] I feel like the memories and like experience we’re getting from living – it will always be worth it.’

Although she may have to drive 45 minutes to her family’s home for her post Daisy revealed they were ‘buzzing’ about her unconventional move.

The narrowboat also allows Daisy to try new things – such as gardening – something she could not due in her last home due to a lack of greenery

The avid narrowboater is currently in the process of growing aubergines, cucumbers and even peppers

The avid narrowboater has developed quite the green thumb, growing aubergines, cucumbers and even peppers

‘I think my family would do the same if they didn’t have a massive great dame, another little dog and two cats,’ she raved

The West Midlands native also has more opportunities in her new unconventional home with a blossoming garden on the go.

Raving over the greenery on her roof, Daisy revealed she has aubergines, cucumbers and even peppers growing – something she wouldn’t have been able to do in her previous home.

I’m really excited to see if they actually grow and it’s just really nice to walk past every day, I’m like, “Oh, my little, my little plants growing!”‘

Even though she and her partner are exploring their area whilst they settle, Daisy does have big plans to set sail further afield to Llangollen, Wales and even Bridge in Scotland.

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