A man quit rat race to travel around the US and Canada in his van - and has saved $21,250.

Joe Bobbe, 24, started climbing the corporate ladder when he was 17.

He started working for a corporate property company before becoming a real estate agent in October 2021.

After a year and a half in the role, Joe's friend mentioned he was going to Canada for six months which inspired Joe to quit his job and he left for Whistler, Canada, in December 2022, to work as a housekeeper.

Then, in April 2024, Joe bought a 1999 Infiniti QX4 for $7.5k, fitted it with a bed and started traveling around Canada.

After nine months in the car, Joe upgraded to a Mitsubishi Delica and has been traveling non-stop around North America since.

Joe, 24, a content creator, originally from West Hampstead, London, said: "By living in my car, I have been able to save loads of money. "

"The rent over here is insane, in the mountain towns, it can be worse than London. "

"You can be paying $2k-a-month for a bed in a sauna – I am not even joking. "

"You save so much money, the only thing you need money for is fuel and food." "

After leaving school, aged 17, Joe went straight into the world of work.

He started working for a corporate property company and made his way up from making coffee to negotiating business deals.

Joe said: "I left school at 17, failed all my GCSEs and re-took them in college. "

"I had family connections in property and interviewed for a commercial real estate agent, which I did for three years. "

"I left that job and became a residential real estate agent. "

"After the glamour of working in the city with nice suits and shoes wore off, I realised it wasn't that nice. "

"As I got older, my priorities changed, and what was important to me changed." "

In early 2022, a friend of Joe's told him that he was packing up and moving to Canada for six months to work for the ski season.

After mulling it over, Joe decided to quit his job in a real estate agency and flew to Whistler, Canada in December 2022.

He said: "When my friend told me he was going for six months, I was like ‘what are you talking about, what about your job?' "

"From the age of 17 onwards my friends were partying, went to university and I would have had my head down in a suit working. "

"My friend convinced me to go with him, and I have never looked back." "

After working as a housekeeper for six months, Joe was able to buy a 1999 Infiniti QX4 for $7.5k.

He removed the chairs, added a bed and has been traveling around North America since.

Aftera few months in the car, Joe had to scrap it because the engine "gave up" and bought a Mitsubishi Delica for $12.5k and spent two weeks renovating it – adding a bed, kitchen and desk. "

He wasn'y able to add a shower into his van so will use gyms, truck stops and casinos when he needs to freshen up.

Joe said: "I spent two weeks making it livable. I removed all the back seats out and added insulation. "

"I added a sub floor that I could drill into, then built a pull out bed, a kitchen cabinet and desk." "

Joe has been living full time in his van since December 2024 and has visited every state on the US mainland and made his way around Canada.

He said that the negatives of the trip were breaking down in the van and being woken up by bears rocking the vehicle.

Joe said: "The lowest moments are always the breakdowns. "

"When you have a certain amount of money to last you to the end of the month ,and you have to spend $2k on the vehicle, it is not ideal. "

"That and I have been woken up by bears around five or six times rocking my car and playing on the bike rack. "

"That is always pretty scary." "

He said that the highlights of the trip have being able to explore different wildlife, and communities around the states.

Joe said: "This life isn't for everyone, but the freedom is insane. "

"It is not like you are in the UK, going between Bristol and London. I can drive 30 minutes to a nice blue lake with mountains, bears and moose. "

"Seeing the wildlife so up close, the natural beauty of Canada and the US is incredible. "

"A real highlight of mine was visiting Salmon Glacier on my way to Alaska – it was beautiful." "

Joe is sharing his journey around North America on: @joeremote