Living in a motorhome
Someone somewhere must live full time 24/7 in a MH, I ask a few questions as to how easy it would be in practice to do !
If one sold up everything, could one just simply get insured and live in a MH and travel anywhere one pleased !
Would you have to inform insurance about it and whats the limit one can spend outside the UK if this is where its registered ?
What would you consider pitfalls against doing this ?
Also would one need an address for certain other purposes !
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You would need a permanent address for many things, including motor insurance.
There are other forums where fulltimers post. I don’t think we have many on CT.
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Thanks for the info, plenty to digest there.
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You probably have to make a list of all those mundane things that, as a house holder, you take for granted. Having an official abode is likely to be one of the stumbling blocks as so much of what we do, vehicle registration, insurance, having access to medical facilities seems to depend on having an address. Do you have a child/relative who would allow you to use their address for such things? Moving from a house to a motorhome is a bit more than decluttering!!! Do you need to make provision for a time when you may not be able sustain the travelling life? Like most things in life all that is required is a plan that takes into account the pros and cons. If the pros outnumber the cons you have your answer. Not an easy decision I imagine?
David
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Andy, full timing overseas in a Motorhome was popular for many years because one could stop free of charge in many places for much of the time. Many blogs were written describing the lifestyle. Magbaztravels.com was one such which you might like to look at.
Brexit arrangements have not yet been finalised but will drastically limit that sort of long term spent overseas - the present indication is a limit of 90 days in any period of 180 days.
Full time wandering across Europe is over. Times have changed.
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I am full of admiration for people who are brave enough to up sticks and go and live a different life style. Most of the pitfalls have already been mentioned; but I always wonder what the plan is when the motorhome decides it has had enough and goes wheels up!
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Albeit it's with a caravan, but where is Malcolm M when you need him?
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An awful lot to think through thoroughly, agree the brexit thing is a game changer in a lot of respects, shame we can't adopt that attitude (90days and off you pop) towards those coming in here anyway they can but thats a different matter.
Ive have a little read at the 2 websites above, just gaining as much info as possible but 3 months here and 3 months there is a start.
I have family as an address.
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WTG
I am a little puzzled why you have quote my post as surely we are all trying to help the OP? I am unable to offer advice from personally experience of having done it but surely I am able to offer a few suggestions/questions on practicalities?
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Long story short. My wife died when I was 42. Age 46 I decided that I would leave work at 53 and use my savings until I received a works pension at 60. My intention was to downsize and travel 10 months of the year. I always wanted a home base but less garden. I was planning swapping my place with eldest daughter (3 bed semi a £100,000 cheaper than mine) in return for £40k to youngest. . Remove shrubs from front and turf so a man could cut. To the rear 4'' of bark or slate around a few shrubs. The reason for wanting a home base was because life changes........ Mine did. One of my group of friends became an item when I was aged about 48. Age 53 she moved in with me. I could see a chance of retiring at 55 due to changes at work. I talked her into retiring at 55 as she already had a teachers pension when she was retired on ill health. She had money from house sale but also we were sharing outgoings. I did a year of 4 days a week (with 12 weeks holiday due to time owed followed by a year of working only 50 days because of time owed to me. and retired officially with a pension at 55.
Because life can change so quickly I would always wish to keep a base.
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The next hour is a gift to wake up in the morning and smile a gift more years behind us than in front lost so many friends just enjoy life and spend it with a loved one or best friends what more can we ask for and be grateful for xxx love to you all
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With due respect ET how does your story relate to HA’s request for info regarding full time van life/living?. HA I will endorse other suggestions of checking online-youtube has many full time vanlifers who tour & live they are from the U.K., Europe & further afield. They have Youtube channels plotting their life. Some for years going back. I hope you find a solution👍🏻
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Which isn’t relevant to someone seeking help/info re ‘full time van life’. You are no different to me-thought about it, played around the edges even considered it part time but chose to drop the idea. The level of freedom HA is looking at is superb for the free spirit. You & I obviously don’t have that level of bravery to jump into the void. We want to feel free with a safety net. There’s a huge difference👍🏻
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We have met 2 full timers in recent trips abroad. The first was a couple living in a motorhome, they had been doing so for 4 years.
Their travels were mostly in Spain/Portugal in the winter months and France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany the rest of the time. The had a home in UK which they had rented out, also family back in UK who received mail for them. Their MH was a Frankia about 7m long and registered in the UK I believe they went back yearly.
The other couple we met were caravaners and from Ireland (not travelling community) They had family back in Ireland and would take it in turns every couple of months to fly back to see them, while the other one would stay with the caravan where ever they were. They had been doing this I believe for a couple of years. We met them at St Jean de Luz last September, they were travelling to Spain/Portugal for the winter.
Both couples were very happy with what they were doing and didn't have any regrets about their decision.
After Brexit would it not be possible to apply for visa's to allow longer stays?
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Point proven-you nor i add nothing of help to HA👍🏻. This is Andy’s thread I don’t intend to continue it about you. Have a good one👍🏻
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We've been hearing about our daughters friend, she bought a motorhome and let out her home a few months ago (her home is local to us.) One of the lessons learned is expect the unexpected ie Covid and a problem with the tennants, plus a sick animal too. She also gave up her job but has the intention of picking up some outdoor work when she can, she's got an adaptable outlook.
I think you need resilience, a good bank balance and a practical disposition plus friends and family to fall back on epecially ones who have space for you and your van in an emergency.
People do it, some because that's all they've got and it's a bit of a knife edge existence others do it because they can afford the experience but I think you need a good dollop of realism and a "can do" mentality.
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Obviously, like me, you were wrong to do so
I have seen a former neighbour who is also a friend, get caught out. House prices fluctuate. He and his wife full timed for about 6 years after selling their home in about 2004 on his retirement. His former home had increased in value by a little under £35,000 and he had spent his pension lump sum and could not make up the difference to buy similar and we are not an expensive house price area.
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Neither retaining nor disposing of bricks and mortar preclude full-timing. It is the mindset "retain a bolt-hole" or "burn your boats" that is different.
It is the same as those who look both ways when crossing a one-way street.
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