can we afford to fulltime ? (1 Viewer)

canalboatjohn

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hello, this is the first time I have used one of these computerthings .apart from looking at things of interest so here we go .at the moment we, thats me and my better half live on a narrow boat full time but if we get another summer like last summer we will be thinking of motorhoming full-time in Europe. Does anybody know of a good site or blog that shows the cost of fulltiming? we dont have loads of that money stuff so it will be aires and wild camping,and no eating out every night. We are thinking of maybe a hymer A Class with fixed rear bed, costing about £25,000.
We would be interested also to know how much it would cost to run this vehicle? We don't intend to cover thousands of miles in a year.
How have I done in my first venture into anything other than browsing!!
 

vwalan

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loads of info on this site if you search .or go to the sister site motorhome 365.
lots do fulltime . lots long term in m,homes . lengthy discussions have been had . how much ,where etc .
i say get a truck do your own conversion . cheaper . and a bit more stealth sometimes . fire away any questions . welcome to the fun .
 

Mel

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Welcome to fun

:welcome:

Join for £10:00 It will be the best tener you could spend.
There is so mutch help on here its hard to believe.

You are doing ok :thumb:

Mel & Lieve

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Hollyberry

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I'd say first look at plenty of vans to see if you think you could live in one, layout you prefer, type of kitchen equipment you need ( oven, grill or not? Etc..)

I have a fitted bed and think now it was a mistake. Takes up a lot of space that could be better used, plus my pets can jump onto it. ( as far as I know they can't climb ladders so an over-cab bed would have been better for me)

Storage room. You need lots when you full time as you're carrying winter and summer clothes and footwear, bedding etc..

Go to a large dealer or a show and try out all the vans you can.

And although I wouldn't be able to start with my own conversion, it is an idea worth considering, especially as you can look less conspicuous.

In Europe it is also possible to swap your skills for accommodation. Look at helpx.net and http://www.workaway.info/. Having your own accommodation can be a benefit but you'd get free electric, water and meals in exchange for work.

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.
 

pappajohn

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depending on your expected lifestyle and how often you tour etc you can look at around £10000 to £14000 per year.

site fee's, fuel, food, drink, repairs, eating out etc
 

Carol

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Hello and welcome to motorhome fun, you have chosen the right site for answers to your questions, first of all we get between 24 and 30 miles to the gallon depending on road and driving,.

Most Hymers have very comfortable drop down beds, so why use up valuable space with a fixed bed, Keep asking the questions there are a lot more people out there fulltimeing than you might think. Great way to explore UK and Europe.

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Feb 27, 2011
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It's possible to fulltime from less than £8,000 a year. But realistically £10,000 is a good starting point. From then on it depends what you do and how. You could blow through my annual budget in a week if you wanted to :winky:

The vehicle really depends on what you want. I am in a self build that cost me £2,300 to buy then I spent about £2,000 to make it liveable and have been upgrading it ever since.

However it is very compact.
 
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canalboatjohn

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help !!

help . how do I reply ? my wife jac is sitting at the side of the canal [kennet and avon ] drinking wine and cant be bothered to help me :Angry:
 

Carol

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Underneath the post you will see post reply, click on that, a new window will open type your reply there, then scroll down to submit answer , hopefully that should do it. :Smile:
 

Terry

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Hi and welcome :thumb:Best to spend a tenner and become a full member then you get to ask as many questions as you like (probbaly the best tenner you will spend:thumb:) Layout is the most important thing as you will already know with the boat so get out there and look at as many vans and layouts as possible - rough idea a van with a luton will return aprox 20 to 24 mpg low profile around 26/30 van conversion 30 to 34 ish -yank rv 8 to 12 mpg::bigsmile:but lots of room :Smile:
terry
 

thehutchies

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Does anybody know of a good site or blog that shows the cost of fulltiming?

Fulltiming costs £40,000 a year.

Or it costs £2,000 a year.

Or £100,000 a year.

If you can afford to fulltime in a narrowboat, you can afford to fulltime in a van.

Some people choose to fulltime in a house :Eeek: but it is much cheaper to fulltime in a motorhome.

It costs as much as you choose to spend :Smile:

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PP Bear

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Welcome to the madhouse of Funsters::bigsmile:

You really can find any info you need right here on this site. As already mentioned, spend the ten quid and become a member and the rest will be much easier. Just ask the questions on here and you’ll soon get an answer:thumb:

As to what type of motorhome, you really do need to get out to a show and see all the different varieties that are available out there. Even if you decide to do a self build, a visit to a show is a must, just to give you the ideas and styles you can aim for, what type of kitchen, toilet, shower etc etc etc:Eeek:

Also, now your sussing these computer thingies, go onto Autotrader and eBay and just view what’s available along with the prices and pictures as you'll get a good idea from there, then decide whether you want to go new (not much for £25K new I’m afraid) or second hand, only watch out for scammers, I lost £5800 to a scammer and never got my money back:cry:

The next thing to do is get to a meeting as there’ll be lots of people eager to show you around their homes, give you guidance and advice and then you’ll get to see what’s available and gain experience and knowledge in the process:Smile:

Last option would be to hire one for a while and see if its what you want, like and need and then you’ll go in with your eyes wide open:Eeek:

Whatever you choice, welcome and good luck. Keep us posted as to your progress too:welcomefunster:::bigsmile:riving2:
 
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canalboatjohn

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thank you all .the better half will not let me spend 10 pounds today ,and asking me what I will get for the 10 pounds ,I guess that will be her scottish roots causing me problems again.
 

Wildman

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help . how do I reply ? my wife jac is sitting at the side of the canal [kennet and avon ] drinking wine and cant be bothered to help me :Angry:
err you just did, if you mean to a specific post in the thread hit quote post.

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Wildman

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well for £10 you get the chance to see Jim smile. Apart from that you only have 5 posts free I think, you will also have access to the full search engine, admission to rallies cut price on lots of motorhome acessories savings on rally fees, cut price motorhome show fees etc. Access to the chatroom oh and you will make Jim smile did I mention that:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
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canalboatjohn

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Underneath the post you will see post reply, click on that, a new window will open type your reply there, then scroll down to submit answer , hopefully that should do it. :Smile:
thankyou ,now have Ijust replied to YOU or everybody ? will Iever get my head around this computerthing ,it usedto be so simple with a telephone

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Hollyberry

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You've posted your reply so we can all see it, therefore if you ask a question you'll get lots of replies.
Best £10 you'll spend, for the vast experience you'll benefit from and the daft humour.
 
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thankyou ,now have Ijust replied to YOU or everybody ? will Iever get my head around this computerthing ,it usedto be so simple with a telephone
You've replied to everyone . If you want to reply to Carol , click on her avatar, that's her name box pic at the left hand side. That way you can PM her . That's personal message.
You will get the hang of it. Hey , I can type with both hands now. Not just 1 finger :ROFLMAO:
 
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Sounds to me your other half, "the Boss " ain't to keen to leave the Water behind:Sad:

Would suggest you get her on board, before you make any decisions you might regret later

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vwalan

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strangely enough i know several folk with narrow boats and campers .
seems to be the way these days .
 
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What a silly question
Can you afford NOT too?

I started two years ago. Best thing I have ever done :thumb:::bigsmile:

Just sell your property like I did. Get a great RV. And don't look back
If all goes tits up you can always sell the RV. And go back to paying silly money
To an over charging authority and greedy bankers

:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: but you have to jump in first :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
So many talk the talk. But never walk the walk
Scaredy cats ::bigsmile:::bigsmile:::bigsmile:
Yours Ian
 

vwalan

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i find its not cheaper to live fulltime . far cheaper to keep the house and park in my drive in summer . far cheaper than campsites . i also rent a room to a lodger that pays for all the running costs of the house . mind depends where you live i suppose .
having tried fulltiming years ago long terming is much better. winter in the sun . then come home and have winter. ha ha .

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Jul 28, 2010
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i find its not cheaper to live fulltime . far cheaper to keep the house and park in my drive in summer . far cheaper than campsites . i also rent a room to a lodger that pays for all the running costs of the house . mind depends where you live i suppose .
having tried fulltiming years ago long terming is much better. winter in the sun . then come home and have winter. ha ha .

I do that too
Off to mojacar Spain in November for 18+ weeks :thumb:
Nice Private villa
Any one interested in sharing for winter own room private bath room share costs? pM me for details :thumb:
Maybe two ladies would like to share. Ok I live in hopes he he he
 
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Feb 27, 2011
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My living costs for the last 5 weeks have been £80 per week fully inclusive.
This includes literally everything I have spent. I have taken £80 cash out on the Sat and this has lasted me till the next saturday... Includes laundrette, beer, ciggies, food, lpg and diesel. The only extra that has come out of the bank account was my insurance....

No way could I have cut my costs that much if I still had a house. Best thing I ever did was sell it.
 

Bluemerle

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My living costs for the last 5 weeks have been £80 per week fully inclusive.
This includes literally everything I have spent. I have taken £80 cash out on the Sat and this has lasted me till the next saturday... Includes laundrette, beer, ciggies, food, lpg and diesel. The only extra that has come out of the bank account was my insurance....

No way could I have cut my costs that much if I still had a house. Best thing I ever did was sell it.

That is impressive budgetting. Are you wild camping, or have you found a very cheap CL? I have not bettered C@CC club, as I am old codger on My own. Have just spent some time in Minehead, £7.70 a night with EHU.::bigsmile:

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JJ

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£80 a week Gromett?

Throwing it around a bit aren't you?

You must be buying too many rounds down the pub!!!

:ROFLMAO:

JJ :Cool:

PS. Take away the cost of any long trips and I full time over here well for that sort of money. But very few site fees... no cigs... and very little beer... oh... and only me...
 
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vwalan

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hi gromett .thats about my weekly costs as well .
i find the lodgers money covers house costs and heating leccy etc .
in fact in summer i can gain as i use the solar from the truck to power items in the house.i do think that a m,home could lose money . new ones about 10grand a year . yet a house can gain that much in a good year.
plus you get extra storage for m,bikes and toys . ha ha .
 
Feb 27, 2011
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That is impressive budgetting. Are you wild camping, or have you found a very cheap CL? I have not bettered C@CC club, as I am old codger on My own. Have just spent some time in Minehead, £7.70 a night with EHU.::bigsmile:

Wild camping. Parked on the road near mums house while I look after her.
It does require plenty of solar power but it is doable. I could do this all summer but If I didn't have access to the manhole at the back of mums house I would need to stop on a campsite once a week to fill/empty.

£80 a week Gromett?

Throwing it around a bit aren't you?

You must be buying too many rounds down the pub!!!
:Cool:
Getting out to the pub every other night. 2 bottle of newcastle brown each time :thumb:

hi gromett .thats about my weekly costs as well .
i find the lodgers money covers house costs and heating leccy etc .
in fact in summer i can gain as i use the solar from the truck to power items in the house.i do think that a m,home could lose money . new ones about 10grand a year . yet a house can gain that much in a good year.
plus you get extra storage for m,bikes and toys . ha ha .

I tried renting my house out and it ended up costing me over £10,000.
The tenant wrecked my house big time. Plus I had a mortgage.

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