THIS NOT-SO-HAPPY homeowner made three major mistakes when renovating her perfect home. Elizabeth Earle, 36, thought she was getting her "dream" home for just £3,800 but it turned out be more of a nightmare. The self-employed writer and illustrator bought a boat with her overdraft, hoping to renovate it. After two years of revamps and upgrades, Elizabeth is finally happy but there are a few things she would have done differently.

Elizabeth was absolutely determined to get hold of her dream house - so much so that she even went without heating. While she doesn't advise going without warmth over the winter, she's is glad to be where she is now. "The way I did it was the dumbest, hardest way possible," she told Sky. "I was just so full of dreams and wanting to make it but I made it work. "I was okay with being cold.". Elizabeth acknowledges the challenging lifestyle and understands it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Especially during winter it can become incredibly tough and even dangerous. "If your fire goes out it is a huge deal or if you've run out of coal and you're two miles away, you have to carry 25kg of coal on your shoulder through the mud," she added. During her the cold seasons Elizabeth discovered the value of survival skills. Now she says she wouldn't even consider dating a man who couldn't stat a fire, saying "it's an immediate no.".

Owning a houseboat has so many perks but unfortunately luxurious bathroom facilities aren't one of them. Elizabeth said: "I wanted a boat so much that I was okay with living without a shower, I was okay with using a bucket for a toilet for the first few months.". Canal boats come with a few different toilet types including pump-out toilets, cassette toilets, and a compost toilet. Elizabeth bravely went without any of these for the first few months but insists the struggle was worth it.

By living frugally and redoing her boat she was able to upgrade to a compost toilet and is thrilled,. However, she does admit using an on-land loo does still feel like a treat. "When you get to use a toilet - it's fabulous," she added. "When you go round to your friend's house and you get to use their toilet you can't believe your luck. "You can go for a posh poo and it's fabulous.". She also has a shower but admits she washes at the gym to avoid having to refill her 700-litre tank too frequently.

In spring, Elizabeth says she gets to relax on her roof and watch the sunset - a picture of luxury. Unfortunately, with the nippy British weather, these days aren't too frequent and she spends a lot of time down below deck. For this reason, having enough living space is crucial. Even after two years of renovations, Elizabeth decided to upgrade to get a more comfortable 70ft 100-year-old narrowboat. After jazzing up her previous vessel and selling it for £20,000 she was able to splash out on a bigger model for £35,000.