A multimillionaire says selling her mansion and everything she owns to move into a van and live on $30 a day is the “best decision” she’s ever made.
Caitlin Pyle, 36, was worth $4 million, owned her own proofreading business and lived in an eight-storey house in Orlando, Florida, US, with her ex-husband – before deciding to give it all up to become a digital nomad.
Their luxurious property boasted 18 rooms – four bedrooms and three bathrooms – including ones dedicated to Nintendo gaming, as well as arts and crafts.
But after getting divorced in April 2019, selling her business for $4 million and suffering a “breakdown”, Caitlin decided to adopt a minimalist lifestyle.
She bought a Mercedes Sprinter van for $88,000.00, spent $102,000.00 on renovations – including a custom kitchen complete with large fridge, juicer and blender – and hit the road.
Caitlin has now travelled to eight states and loves spending her days trying new experiences such as mountain climbing.
Caitlin, who now works remotely as a life coach, from Orlando, US, said: “I went from living alone in a huge, empty house to travelling full-time.
“My life feels like a choose-your-own adventure.
“I’m doing all of this to please my inner-child.
“I love to travel – and this has been the best decision I’ve ever made.
“I’ve become so much more confident, I’ve made new friends – even gone on dates.
“Life is all about growth – and I believe this is what I’m doing.”
Throughout her twenties and early thirties, Caitlin built a successful proofreading business and made $100,000.00 in her first year.
By the age of 31, she was making $4 million-a-year – which enabled her to purchase a 4,000 square foot house in Orlando, Florida, with her ex.
She had a passion for interior design, so sent sketches to a designer and architect, who created every bespoke fixture and mural just as she wanted.
Caitlin and her husband separated after eight years of marriage and in April 2019, their divorce was finalized.
She sold her company for $4 million and had to dip into her “nest egg” just to pay off her bills – with $180,000.00 in mansion maintenance fees as she was the sole owner of the property.
Caitlin says money worries, her divorce and having to maintain a mansion on her own left her feeling depressed and burnt out – and she claims she suffered a breakdown in May 2022.
She said: “Looking after the house became a full-time job.
“We built it for us as a couple, we looked forward to entertaining people and maintaining it together.
“But being inside it all by myself was swallowing me whole.
“It was always something – you’d need someone to tend to the lawn, but the guy would cancel last-minute, or your mailbox would pile up and you couldn’t bring yourself to sort it.
“I was scrambling to pay my bills, and had my nest egg as a last resort. I had a total breakdown.
“Now, I had too much freedom and the emotional intensity hadn’t gone away.”
Caitlin began to feel constantly low and fatigued – and explored a number of possibilities with her GP, who ultimately diagnosed her with chronic stress and burnout.
She was told her brain needed a break and some “TLC” in the form of exercise, healthy food and rest – so she decided to spend four years in recovery, setting up a remote new business as a life coach in the meantime.
“My brain and body just ran out of resources,” she said.
“I needed to rest, eat some good food and increase my immune system – the stress wore me down so much.
“I started doing these daily affirmations to help with my financial situation – manifesting abundance and trying to figure out any sacrifices I could make.
“I’d been watching a lot of van transformation videos and I decided, maybe I could live and travel in one for a while.”
In April 2023, Caitlin bought an $88,000.00 Mercedes Sprinter, and spent an additional $102,000.00 ˚on renovations.
It took four months to get it ready – and she hired a PA to help take care of the house while she was away – and in August 2023, she began her new life on the road.
While she’s gone, Caitlin rents her house out on AirBnB for $25,000.00 a month.
“I set sail on the land yacht, as I like to call it,” she said.
“I’ve cruised up to Alabama, Florida, Nashville – even stayed in my mum’s backyard for a couple of nights.
“I’ve met so many interesting people, both on the road and on dating apps – I went on a date once with this guy called Jeff, who lives in a yurt.
“We’re still friends now, and we go mountain climbing together.
“I like to drive for three to four hours at a time, then I usually park up outside friends’ houses. I’ll work out, take a shower, use their wifi for a while to do some work.
“Then the next morning, I’ll take off.”
Caitlin says she also used a camping app to find the best spots to park – she uses picnic tables as a makeshift office space and solar panels for wifi.
She doesn’t have any plans to go home yet – and she’s been travelling for six months.
“This way of life is much more aligned with me,” Caitlin said.
“I used to go on multiple expensive vacations a year, but it wasn’t sustainable.
“Now, I’m living on $20.00 to $30.00 a night, and I’m leading a life I’ve always wanted to live.”
