What were you doing when you were eleven? You’re probably outside with your pals, creating stuff out of Legos, right?

Lauren Nelson, 11, had a much grander vision: she wanted to build her own little home out of a camper.

Lauren, from Attica, New York, was determined to have a fruitful summer when COVID caused the bulk of social activities to be canceled.

Lauren began to plan her quest after being inspired by an American Girl doll magazine.

Her objective was to acquire a van for as little money as possible, as there was a toy $650 Volkswagen bus on sale at American Girl.

Mom Aimee Nelson told WKBW about the moment her kid handed her parents the magazine:

“That’s insane; you could purchase your own camper for that money,” my husband said.

So the preteen determined she was going to do precisely that: buy her own camper for that sum.
Lauren set aside all of her pocket money and began looking for campers that would make ideal compact homes. Her mother, Aimee, told the New York Post:

“Lauren does, in fact, save money in an envelope. And it’s only a small amount from things like $5 at Easter or Tooth Fairy money. It all piled up.”

As it turned out, a neighbor just down the road was selling a 20-foot-long camper for a very reasonable price, and despite its battered look, Lauren fell in love at first sight.

The inventive 11-year-old had to do some haggling because the camper was priced above her means.

She confessed that lowering the price wasn’t difficult, adding:

“He said $500, and I responded with $400 because that was the amount of money in my bank account at the time, and he said sold.”

The restoration procedure itself was far from straightforward, especially for a pre-teen with no physical labor expertise.

Lauren, on the other hand, was willing to put in the effort and began deep cleaning her new little house.

Of course, the makeover cost money as well, so Lauren had to save even more. She spent roughly $400 on furniture and decorations for her boho-style hideaway.

Lauren was inspired by the HGTV show Tiny House Hunters, and she performed her own research and searched Pinterest to put her ideas together.

Her home is done simply in black, white, and grey, with the occasional potted plant and mandala design.

There’s everything you’d want in a house: a comfortable living room, a four-bed bedroom, a small bathroom, and a kitchen.

While space is restricted, there is a storage closet in the bedroom and extra storage in the kitchen and living room cabinets.

She confessed that lowering the price wasn’t difficult, adding:

“He said $500, and I responded with $400 because that was the amount of money in my bank account at the time, and he said sold.”

The 11-year-old enjoys being a member of the small home community and has motivated others to follow suit.

Lauren’s home is absolutely adorable, and it’s a credit to her parents for enabling her to explore her artistic side.

Not many parents would let their child buy a camper and refurbish it in their backyard, but Lauren’s parents recognized it for what it was: a harmless hobby that would teach Lauren many life skills.

Take a look around Lauren’s house and find out how she accomplished such an incredible feat.