How much does it cost to fulltime ? Forums

davesport

Hi, this is my first post on the full timers part of this webby.

I've got round to thinking that full timing for Mrs Davesport & myself might be a viable option at some point in the future.

Taking capital expenditure out of the equation, would anyone like to put a figure on how much it costs PA to stay away from the UK, say on the European mainland ?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

artona · Moderator

Hi Dave

Depends of course where. Speaking to retired fulltimers they often leave the UK for places like spain for example when they get hard up so that they can save some of their pension money. Another chap told us of a site in France where you can camp ALL YEAR for 50 euros.

stew

dodgey

Interesting?

OK so it's a way off, ie probably 10 years if we can make it that long, but me and the missus have a serious notion along the lines of keep working for about 10 years ie I'll be early 50's, motgage etc all paid off so sell up house money in the bank, pensions available from 55, if they leave such things alone, and GO!

Probably along the lines of winters in the Med, though we've yet to explore there yet, summers in the UK with various 'interloods' between.

I suppose to expand on the origional question, what 'things' need to be considered in terms of expenses and practicalities in a broad sense, like I say we're a ways off at present.

ScotJimland

As mentioned before, the main thing and by far the most important factor is site fees.. after that fuel and food but the question is impossible to answer without asking what you expect, everyones lifestyle and aspirations are different ..

geraldandannie · Moderator

We've asked a few people that we've met who full time or at least part time full time (spend months on the road).

The rough idea we have at the moment is that a couple can live resonably, travelling around, for between £800 and £1000 a month. This doesn't take into account the cost of keeping a house (if you do).

These are obviously 'fag packet' figures, and as others have said ( including a couple of full timers) is so depends on how and where you live, whether you use campsites or wild camp, whether you eat out a lot or eat in - but I think they seem to be 'reasonable' figures.

Gerald

daichi

Hi dave, like the others have said it all depends on what you want from it, we take off in about a fortnight heading for northern spain down into portugal until feb-march then start heading slowly home taking a different route each time, aim to be home again by next may/june. Costs are considerably less than running a house,if you have a car then you pay roadtax and insurance anyway, you still have to eat and drink, usually cheaper abroad so your money actually goes a bit further, when we come home we stay with one or other of the kids (we have 5) they are all grown up and seem to enjoy having us around for a few weeks at a time, doing all the odd jobs they have saved up for me! Dont think about it too much whats the the worst that can happen?I would make it compulsory fo reveryone over the age of 60 to at least try it, dont wait too long , go for it!!! Laughing

Steph

We did 3 months in France this year and costs were:
Diesel £410
Campsite fees (70 nights) £886 - ranging from 1 to 4 star sites - although we preferred the 1 and 2 star sites
Meals out £1424
Drinks, snacks, entry fees etc £432
Toll roads £80 (we had to use these to come back quickly)
Food shopping £839
Top up mobile phones and phone cards £175 - high because of family problems at home - mobile phone calls are cheaper now

These costs could be reduced considerably if you used aires, didn't use tol roads or phone home much and didn't eat out too often

Hope this helps

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi, Steph

Thanks for posting those figures. Applying a level of 'reasonableness' to them (for example, trying to imagine a retired couple fulltiming), brings the figures down to around £900 a month - this is still allowing trips out, meals, etc etc.

Very interesting Smile

Gerald

kijana

£20kpa for us. And we don't smoke, or eat out very often.

Do about 6.5k miles @ 10mpg petrol. Almost never use toll roads. Tow a Smart.

Aires in France, longterm discounts on campsites in Spain over winter.

Bruce

artona · Moderator

Hi Bruce

20k - how does that break down. Best wishes to Marion, hope its going well for you both

stew