An NHS worker who is "obsessed with nature" has revealed how moving onto a narrowboat has allowed him to save more than £300 a month on bills, while also turning to a new way of life.
Jordan Jackson had initially been looking to buy a house when he discovered the boat, which immediately reminded him of happy childhood memories from family boating holidays.
So, the 38-year-old decided to take the plunge, and now lives onboard a 51ft narrow boat with his cat, Bella on the Ashby canal.
Since being a child Jordan has loved sailing and being outdoors, but not only that, his new lifestyle has also given him to chance to save more than £350 a month on rent and other bills.
Jordan said: "I was looking at buying a house at first. The boat has given me an opportunities to buy somewhere to live for less than £40,000.
"In this area, it is difficult to find anything for less than 120,000 so this is a massive saving. It's a great way of living because there's less rent to pay.
"When I moor in a marina, my rent is only around £250 a month but when I'm continuously cruising in the canal, there is no mooring fee. When you compare that to renting a house that's a lot cheaper. Before this, I was spending £600 a month just on rent."
As well as this, Jordan's quirky lifestyle has helped him save half his cash on utility bills.
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He adds: "I pay £20 on electric but I plan on getting solar panels next year which will save me even more money. If you have solar panels, you hardly use any electric, so it'll go down basically zero."
By saving a mountain of cash, Jordan hopes that he can cut down his work hours and get more involved in activities that he loves.
Jordan said: "It will also give me the opportunity to perhaps work part-time in 10 years and concentrate more on contributing to ecological projects."
He also believes that this lifestyle as it has allowed him to meet like-minded people who share his love for nature.
Jordan said: "There's a community. Everyone helps each other and checks in on one another. You stop and talk to your neighbours. It reminds me of communities like in the old days where everyone spoke and hung out.
"Back in my flat, you might only say hello to your neighbour. Here, you cook with your neighbours and go to the pub together. Some people might think it's a lonely lifestyle, but I don't think it is at all."
Jordan praises the ecological side of canal-side living and tries to be as environmentally cautious as he can.
He said: "I try to live as eco-friendly as I can. - I don't drive, I cycle everywhere. There is a log burner on the boat, but I buy eco coal made out of olive stones.
"I don't use fossil fuels and any wood I burn is normally offcuts. In general, it's more eco-friendly you become more conscious of your footprints your making on planet."
Whilst Jordan enjoys spending his quaint lifestyle, there are a few modern-day problems that his lifestyle does not cater to.
Jordan said: "It is a bit difficult because you don't have a postal address living on a boat. If you want something from amazon you have to deliver to a pickup point."
However these are only minor problems for Jordan as he credits his lifestyle has worked wonders for his mental health. The narrowboat gives him the independence and freedom to travel whenever and wherever he chooses.
Jordan said, "I'm not tied down in one spot. You can take your house on holiday with your pets, and you don't have to pay a fortune to go away."
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