Living in a Caravan Vs Living in a house
Have decided to start a new thread so not to take over the what your doing discussion.
The question / discussion is the benefit of living in a caravan on a club site and moving every 21 days to living in a brick built solid home.
For me apart from the investment angle is -Holidays away in the van, if you lived in one then it's no longer a mobile holiday home.
What do others think.
Comments
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Unless there is no other means of living, bricks and morter for those who have no morgage left because of previose frugal living during their working life ,is by far the cheapest and most secure lifestyle,with the freedom to do as you please in later life in a building that can normally be adapted as age catches up,
whereas the "mobile" way of living is a constant relativly high base cost,of site fees and the short life of the accomodation,in comparison,and the older the occupants the more the downsides crop up,,in the "few" years we have been touring,it is becoming more obviose we, as most, have more security for the future
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In my mind it's not an alternative lifestyle choice, just a time limited adventure. It's only viable if you have sufficient savings to afford to live this way and more importantly your health and mobility allows you to lead such an existence. In this day and age it's never been more important to have something to fall back on. i.e. somewhere to live permanently. You only have to watch the news, read the papers to see how the nanny state is being taken back under control to stop the abuse that has taken place over the years.
It's about time society realise that the system in the country is for emergency support not an alternative to not taking responsibility for your own needs.
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We're not typical home owners, as our house is part and parcel of the farm. My husband's family have lived in it since 1875 and it's full of memories and reminders of his ancestors.
You could say it's too big for two but it's just about big enough for when everyone comes home. And it's wonderful for parties.
The caravan is means of getting away, and short (very short) term living.
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I prefer the ever increasing asset of a house to the ever depreciation of a caravan. Love living the van when on a break but enjoy the solidity and comfort of the house. The thing is whatever your lifestyle you should ask the ‘what if’ questions.
My brother lives full time in his MH and generally has a great life meeting up with all sort of friends all over including spending winters in Sciliy. This year he has been stuck on a site in Northern Germany due to various health issues so change for him may not be too far off.
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Never mind the pros and cons of costs etc - what about us hoarders? When we go away on the caravan I take a few books (plus Kindle) and music on my Ipad. Where would I keep all the books. CD's records etc in a one room home?
Plus all the stuff I don't really need but could never get rid of! And thirteen pairs of shoes at the last count.
Sorry - that's not really a sensible argument in favour of a house.
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If most women are the same as my Wife then as well as the shoes (way more than 13 pairs) then there are the matching hand bags to take in to account as well
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If full timing as an alternative to a house near to where I live it would certainly be more expensive for me if using a CC site without seasonal pitches rather than renting locally. Average CC pitch fees for us would be over £800 a month plus £60 for our second car. I can get a 1 bedroom furnished apartment with a very nice separate kitchen for £450 a month or a mid terrace 2 bed house for £400 with separate garage, on road parking all bills except gas and electric. Convenient for shops (5mins), libraries (10 mins), Doctors (5 mins) etc and also on a bus route (5 mins to bus stop) 8 miles from Chester. I could not get non facility sites (if there were one locally) and local CLs any cheaper.
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No it cannot be classed as residential because you are only allowed a temporary stay of a maximum 21 nights even on a seasonal pitch.
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The ever increasing asset value of a house is not useful to me when I need the money today to finance my semi-retirement. I need money while I'm alive and not when I'm dead and gone. You can't take the house or its value with you when you go!
You can be lucky enough to enjoy good health and fitmess when you're over ninety years old. You've only got to look at the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to see that!
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If it changed then we would adapt to that change accordingly!
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We are for ever being inundated with "junk" about equity release on our house,but as we do not need the latest amount on "offer" of £230,000 we ignore it as we have as most ,a very supportive Family that can have the Money out of the house when we go,as we tell them the money is ours the house is yours to "fight" over when we have gone
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Depends on the location and you still have the bills on top!
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You're less tempted to buy things when you have no place to store them which would be another huge cost saving for you, Goldie!
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We live in a very high priced area ,and no matter which way we have tried ,it works out much cheaper per year to live in our house with all the local facilities than it would to stay and move every 21nights at our three local club sites even if we used the subsidised part seasonal that is available at one of them ,and be away from friends and family
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Are they living in a caravan Malcolm, I don't recall that news?
My 95 year old mother has occasionally visited our van with help but she needs assistance to visit and can only sit and chat. She would not be able to run a van as we do now, no strength to do the usual tasks.
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As the terraced property includes rates the only bills on top of £400 rent is probably around £100 for gas and electric. Oh, it also includes free broadband!
As for location it is about 100 yds from a main village on a pleasant well kept residential street. fridge cooker, washing machine. simply furnished. 4 charity shops on main street including one selling furnishings.
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I believe they have a daily in to do the dusting.
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It's surprising the number who live in vans full time but I think some tour with them rather than attempt to stay in one area? I don't know how many permanent users are around who try to stay put and go to work. With sites closing in the winter and some closing down this is quite a tricky policy to pursue.
Personally, if I didn't own a home I'd still prefer a cheaper rental in a less expensive area and take advantage of any benefits available for low income.
In Malcolm's case, if this is correct, he has to declare an income of over £18000 to support a non national spouse.
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For a couple of years in the late 1960's and before I got married I lived in a touring caravan. This was on the site of the company where I worked. It was a suggestion from the company's directors as they needed someone on site 24 hours a day. This was rent free with free electricity and, because of the nature of the site, was like living in a big garden. I even had a big vegetable garden. Financially it was a win/ win situation for all concerned.
However, looking at the same four walls every day became very tedious and I couldn't wait for the time when I knew I would be buying my first house before getting married. Storage became more and more of a problem as, like most of us I would suggest, I didn't get rid of an equivalent amount of 'stuff' when I acquired more. These of course were also in the days when many things were a lot bigger, the TV for example and there was obviously no room for a washing machine or similar essentials of today's living.
Whilst the idea of touring full time may have it's apparent merits, the practicalities of living in a tin box looking at the same four walls 365 days a year and not going stir crazy is probably the reason why I wouldn't do it again.
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The last time I took my mum to visit our caravan when we were at Baltic Wharf , she was 87. She managed to fall over in one of the toilet cubicals. We had all on rescuing her as she had fallen against the door. It is perhaps a bit different accessing facilities on a site than in house.
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Personally the lack of any fall back plan. Such as a let out property or significant savings would be a constant worry. There is no way even at the age of 79 that my dad could have emptied and filled the water and toilet cassette, in all but the kindest of weather. If he had tried in the middle of winter it would have been a case of Titus Oates, I may be some time.☹️
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