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Hi all, I've been reading your posts about fulltiming... and I have to say I feel a bit deflated!
You see, I was getting really excited about the possibility of buying me a nicely proportioned MH to live in, where I could give up my freezing cold rented flat and get out the system to a degree. Now I understand the market is flooded with various different models, specs, sizes and types of MH, and that I have to spend a fair bit on the purchase... I'm well aware of batteries, gas bottles, expensive insurance, tax, MOTs, maintenance funds and alot more fuel usage than my 55mpg car. What I didn't realise is just how much some of you spend on 'rent' - that amounts to alot on top of your other bills each year doesn't it?
I pay out about £650 pm on rent & bills for my flat, I want any alternative to be alot cheaper! (I am the Queen of Cheap!) I intend (if I go ahead with my plan) to buy or rent a small plot of hardstanding and not do too much driving, (I want to keep my car for practical purposes), & be close to work; and when I need (or want) to take the MH away I never thought of anything other than finding an out-the-way spot and just parking up (or a quiet lay-by even). I don't drink or do anything expensive when I go out, and my food bill is about £30 p/w. I'm not fussed about being around people so I don't mind a bit of remoteness. (I'm not a sociopath, lol, I just don't rely on people in that way).
Are there any legal implications of living, literally, on the road or do you use sites purely for convenience, (security?) & sociability?
Oh, and well done if you've managed to get through that and stay awake!!
Keep reading, you will find out about CLs, which are less complicated, cheaper sites for a few pounds a night. No doubt you may be able to do a deal for a longer stay. Really, if you are fulltiming you will need electricity at least for for the winter. So, read on.
Aha! I've already read about them - but it still means expense for me and I'd rather avoid it if possible... Thank you though Alan
Now, I know we all like our little luxuries (me included) but years ago in the days of lots of travellers doing it in buses, I knew a fair few of the decent ones, and never did they have electricity. OK, things were a little different then and they did live very frugally, but is it really necessary?
The other question I have is - ready built or DIY conversion? Anybody have ideas about costs and such? I'd be quite happy with a nice little wood-burner in a MH - I'm just not sure it'd be possible to fit one in a purpose built one, unless anyone can enlighten me?
The main difficulty I would see in living for longer periods in a motorhome off grid is - where do you dispose of your waste or take on fresh water? That's the reason many motorhomers pay to stay on a site or CL (at least every few days).
______________________________________________________________ Breathe in, breathe out, move on
I would say the lifestyle should appeal to you most of all not the saving in money. Otherwise you will soon get fed up and want your flat back.
If you are content to take the rough with the smooth and the planiing that goes with living fulltime then go for it.
I once and still do have a dream of retiring and living on a narrowboat 6 months of the year and also having a van and doing 6 months in that. Its an idyllic lifstyle but the reasearch i have done shows that its not a way to save much money. But those who do, do it say that the change in lifestyle is worth it.
I would beb tempted to keep the flat and rent it out for say 6 or 12 months if poss even to a relative and see how you get on. if you dont like it theres aways a bolt hole to go back to.
What about what happens as you get ooder. No one like to think about it but you have to plan for it. Can someone look after you if you fall ill, Doctors post insureance all have to be sorted
Phill
______________________________________________________________ Just when i found out my dad was right I had a son that thought I was wrong.....Henry winkler.
I would take on water from generous friends as I would have no plans to move far from work during the week - and I could get rid of waste there too... I've no objection to one night a week at a site though.
There would be no option of renting the flat out as it's not mine, but I have absolutely no objection to a life of non-housing
Phill I'm not the sort of person to plan for ill-health, I cross bridges when I come to them if need be - there's always a choice and I love change - I've moved house so many times and in so many different places I've lost count, lol!
I can heat with gas or paraffin, always have.
Looks like I'm talking myself into something here doesn't it - you lot are worth your weight in gold!!
Aha! I've already read about them - but it still means expense for me and I'd rather avoid it if possible... Thank you though Alan
Now, I know we all like our little luxuries (me included) but years ago in the days of lots of travellers doing it in buses, I knew a fair few of the decent ones, and never did they have electricity. OK, things were a little different then and they did live very frugally, but is it really necessary?
The other question I have is - ready built or DIY conversion? Anybody have ideas about costs and such? I'd be quite happy with a nice little wood-burner in a MH - I'm just not sure it'd be possible to fit one in a purpose built one, unless anyone can enlighten me?
Technically any Caravan in human habitation and that includes Motorhomes or campervans, must be on a Licenced caravan site or exempted Site or on private land that is unlicensed for a max of 28 days in a year with the owners permission (The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960)
Wild camping is only permitted in Scotland in a tent away from the highway and civilisation.
Yes people do park up in nice locations and laybys but they can be moved on and have no anti discrimination rights unlike the Gypsy and Irish Travelling community.
Full timing is not cheap as the only firm (Comfort Insurance), that does full timing insurance, charges about £1000 plus, a year. If the van habitually returns to the same site, it and the site become liable for council tax. As a result you need to keep moving. You need a contact address, not necessarily a residence, for your licence and vehicle documents. A TV licence is required for the vehicle if it is your only residence and you use a TV or anything capable of receiving a TV signal. This carries your vehicle registration instead of an address.
Full timing (in the UK) is not cheap! Why would it be.....? You still require all the services of a more conventional lifestyle such as water, electric, gas, ground rent etc.
A good motorhome that is up to being lived in full time and not fall apart is expensive, fuel (not just diesel) is expensive - the price of calor cyinders is horrible. We have a bluk gas tank but often struggle to find somewhere to fill it - just today the first garage we went to was out of gas so had to drive another 20 miles.
Of course, fulltiming in somewhere like Spain can be different as you don't need to heat so much and wildcamping is more frequent.
Laws of physics come in to play - you can't have something for nothing - sorry.
Good luck what ever you do.
______________________________________________________________ Everyone is entitled to my opinion!
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