How do folks afford motorhomes

[JinxJetJock]

I think I must be in a different world than some on here, we have had various threads recently of people buying motorhomes for over a hundred grand and having all sorts of problems, and recently in a current thread someone breaking down in France and it's going to cost 11 grand to put it right, these figures are totally alien to me, I couldn't afford more than £5000 to either buy or repair a van , where do these amounts of money come from.

Worked all my life but couldn't afford a decent m/home. My partner sold her house so we lashed out on a 1999 Hymer 680 Starline. Cracking piece of kit but it's showing it's age in so many ways (patina?) but we don't care - we see it as a m/home with character. It was 3rd hand when we bought it but we are making it 'our' 'home. Not interested in the new expensive whizz bang hi-tech do-it-all type as they are all much of a muchness in our book - couldn't afford one anyway. I had a brush with the big 'C' some years ago so everyday i wake up, count my blessings & feeling very grateful to be able to enjoy the motorhoming experience with what we have.

 

[Tonks]

Somewhere along the line, in the future, a generation of family will sell the farm at great profit. Money usually talks.

It isn’t law or some unwritten rule that you have to pass the farm down, my dad would say”If you you haven’t much cash, sell the bleeder and enjoy it”

Anyway I’m off to get the tea bags off the washing line, kettle has nearly boiled.

Not necessarily quite that straightforward, though 'on paper' it could be. Many farmers have farming in the blood, and don't want to sell.
My friends family were farmers for about six generations. They ran a dairy farm in Dorset. The Tesco milk price wars meant that it reached the point where they were barely breaking even. They diversified into also running a livery yard for horses. But even with two businesses they couldn't survive and lost their farm. The loss was not just their home and chosen life, but also generations of top breeding of their cattle. It was a devastating blow. My friend worked for several years for the Farm Crisis Network, and it was absolutely shocking how many farming families were living on or below the breadline.
Their whole family still loathes Tesco and everything to do with them.
Another farming family I know locally run an organic dairy farm, but again, even with a long established farm and herd current economics mean they can't make a viable living just from the farm and to survive they converted three of their barns into holiday lets. They've managed to get through F&M and Covid crises but it's certainly not an easy or rich road.

 

[Sundowners]

Whether you work hard or are on good salaries, it all depends on what you do with that money. A successful business man gave us a good tip when we started our business. He said, “it’s not about how much money you make, it’s about how much money you spend.” Always kept that mantra.

We always remember a couple who sold their house and bought a new 100k American RV to fulltime in, she sat all day, on her own, on a campsite while he went out truck driving to be able to live.

 

[nicholsong]

Reading through this thread I have realised that I come off well on all points.

I have a house in London let out.

Mortgage free

Pensions that pay the basics in life and rental income that pays the luxuries and saving some.

Other pension funds and ISA

Live in a nice apartment rent free with beautiful garden and garages and yard.

Comfortable 'A' Class MH for last 11 years

Enough cash in the bank to pay for several engines, holidays, ferries, flights without thinking.

And my Darling Basia.



Thank you everyone for making me feel really blessed.

Geoff

 

[Gents]

We all play the hand we are dealt with, & every hand is different.
I was v unfortunate as a kid , won’t expand, but grew up early & fast.
learnt to listen to everyone, who was willing to give advice, also learnt to sift through it to pick out the good bits.
I could go on for hours but , just a few nuggets that I picked up along the way,
Every thing, and I mean every thing, comes at a price. There is no sutch thing as win win. Each decision made brings a consequence, which you have little or no control of. Each £ can only be spent once.
You can only ever earn wages ,( how ever good we consider them to be),with your hands!
Money, is made with your head!
Focus on what is important to you, don’t look sideways, at what you think someone else is getting that you are not. That will only distract you from your goal.
Play every hand like your life depends on it, and never look back (what is done is done).
Learn from your mistakes, & move on, & the best gem, I was ever given, ( & adapted my life to it ever since)
“RICH IS HE WHO IS CONTENT”!
I have many associates that are wealthy beyond belief, but, still want more, & will never find that contentment. That is sad because it brings so much peace of mind, leaving you to get on with enjoying what you have.
I love that people have different amounts of money, ambitions, etc, we all feed of the crumbs from someone else’s table, and although starting in a council run institution , way up’s North, I try to live by the advice I have picked up, along the way. 72 next birthday.
Sorry, got carried away.
This will be my last post on this thread .
JG

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[The Wino]

Not necessarily quite that straightforward, though 'on paper' it could be. Many farmers have farming in the blood, and don't want to sell.
My friends family were farmers for about six generations. They ran a dairy farm in Dorset. The Tesco milk price wars meant that it reached the point where they were barely breaking even. They diversified into also running a livery yard for horses. But even with two businesses they couldn't survive and lost their farm. The loss was not just their home and chosen life, but also generations of top breeding of their cattle. It was a devastating blow. My friend worked for several years for the Farm Crisis Network, and it was absolutely shocking how many farming families were living on or below the breadline.
Their whole family still loathes Tesco and everything to do with them.
Another farming family I know locally run an organic dairy farm, but again, even with a long established farm and herd current economics mean they can't make a viable living just from the farm and to survive they converted three of their barns into holiday lets. They've managed to get through F&M and Covid crises but it's certainly not an easy or rich road.

I think there's farmers and farmers. I'm pretty sure there are a lot ( Dyson Clarkson etc) in it largely to avoid inheritance tax.

 

[CaptainPaul]

 

[Spriddler]

“RICH IS HE WHO IS CONTENT”!
I have many associates that are wealthy beyond belief, but, still want more, & will never find that contentment. That is sad because it brings so much peace of mind, leaving you to get on with enjoying what you have.

As the old adage goes: 'My wealth is not in how much have, but in how little I need'.

I don't know any really poor people but it's the very wealthy ones that I know who seem to suffer the most stress about their money, investments and assets.

 

[bobnick]

Erm

 

[chaser]

Not necessarily quite that straightforward, though 'on paper' it could be. Many farmers have farming in the blood, and don't want to sell.
My friends family were farmers for about six generations. They ran a dairy farm in Dorset. The Tesco milk price wars meant that it reached the point where they were barely breaking even. They diversified into also running a livery yard for horses. But even with two businesses they couldn't survive and lost their farm. The loss was not just their home and chosen life, but also generations of top breeding of their cattle. It was a devastating blow. My friend worked for several years for the Farm Crisis Network, and it was absolutely shocking how many farming families were living on or below the breadline.
Their whole family still loathes Tesco and everything to do with them.
Another farming family I know locally run an organic dairy farm, but again, even with a long established farm and herd current economics mean they can't make a viable living just from the farm and to survive they converted three of their barns into holiday lets. They've managed to get through F&M and Covid crises but it's certainly not an easy or rich road.

Very few people who have nothing to do with farming can even come close to understanding what it entails, they see the clarksons and others who have millions to start with making it look easy with no commitment to the land and greens who are trying to preach what real farmers already know, but I honestly didn't start this thread to know what people have got or how they got it, all I asked was how to folks just find 11 grand out of the blue to repair an engine, which I could no way find.

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[DerryW]

I don't have a £100k motorhome. But I grew up poor. I saved about half my salary most of my working life - initially overpaying the mortgage, and then later into pensions. When my work colleagues were spending on expensive cars and holidays, I was content to bring in sandwiches from home. I gave about 10% of my income to charity.

Work colleagues told me I was 'lucky' to be able to retire at 55. But it was largely down to financial discipline.

I love the fact that (mostly) everyone on a campsite is equal. I don't care if you have £1 or £1m in the bank. Whether you're in a new or a very used motorhome. Indeed, the owners of the very used motorhomes often have the best tales to tell.

Your last paragraph couldn’t be truer. A few years ago (pre covid) we were on a site near St Omer when I got talking to an elderly gentleman with a K reg Hymer. One of the most enlightening conversations I think I’ve ever had with a fellow human being. Him and his lady wife had a yacht moored of Gibraltar for years, they traveled from the Midlands down to their yacht to spend the summer cruising, then return in the autumn. They had a large purpose made aluminium box fitted to the back of the Hymer, which he made himself. Turned out he had a very large and successful engineering business built up during the 60’s and 70’s and sold a large conglomerate in the early 20’s

 

[DerryW]

This thread has diverted a bit but when folks are going on about hard work and that doesn't always mean a lot of money and I wouldn't mention it if others hadn't and only saying , I worked farming at least 12 hours a day 365 days a year for thirty odd years and still got nowt apart from never doing a job I didn't love, never bored or fed up but never any money, some years did all those hours to end up with less than I started with, but always happy with my lot.
And I was always glad to work for other farmers for nowt of it was something I liked doing like driving tractors all day.
Now I might be crackers for not going for big money but I have never charged anyone more than I would like to pay myself, I have always been happy with my life and helping my kids any way I can.
But money, no I ain't got any.

Chaser. We’ve never met and are probably never likely too, but I always look out for your threads, always down to earth, interesting and like this very thread, thought provoking. You describe yourself exactly as I would imagine you to be, just from reading your numerous topics over the years. Good on ya. Look forward to many more years of reading the trials and tribulations of “Chaser”

 

[bobnick]

Very few people who have nothing to do with farming can even come close to understanding what it entails, they see the clarksons and others who have millions to start with making it look easy with no commitment to the land and greens who are trying to preach what real farmers already know, but I honestly didn't start this thread to know what people have got or how they got it, all I asked was how to folks just find 11 grand out of the blue to repair an engine, which I could no way find.

I think the simplest answer is savings. How they got those savings is another story.

 

[DerryW]

As U.K. sales manager for Duracell Batteries back in the 70's I frequently chatted with a young Stanley Kalms who took over running his father's couple of photographic shops (later Sir Stanley Kalms of Dixons Photographic, DSG International plc, Dixons Group, Dixons Carphone, Currys, P.C. World) at his couple of small Dixons Photo retail shops in London. On one occasion over a coffee after giving me and my salesman a very hard time he said to me: "I buy pound notes for seventeen shillings and sixpence sell them for eighteen and six", and "I make my profit when I buy, not when I sell". Some years later he also said that a large proportion of his profit came from selling extended warranties.
It's an approach that has stayed with me for over 50 years.

A few years ago when I was first thinking of starting out on my own, my then boss at the time gave me a bit of advice which has stuck with me “you need 2 bank books, 1 for paying in and 1 for paying out, as long as you have more going in than going out you’ll be fine” He also ask how much did I have in savings at the time, being truthful but a bit embarrassed I said “not a lot” His reply “ you’ve not a lot to loose then”
15 years later I was fortunate to start my own business, the only regret not taking the plunge 15 year’s sooner

 

[bobnick]

Late 1979 i went to Dubai to work for Al-Futtain-Tower Scaffolding. For 4 years i sussed it out then started my own Scaffolding company, the rest is history as they. Happy.

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[Lenny HB]

11k that's only for a new engine?
A like for like second hand engine or recon engine is likely to be 1k +1k fitting on an older x250 van??
Perhaps double for. 3.0 or x290 van??

That was a recon from Fiat so as good as new.
You hear so many horror stories about cheap recons think I would go with the Fiat option.

 

[The Wino]

Very few people who have nothing to do with farming can even come close to understanding what it entails, they see the clarksons and others who have millions to start with making it look easy with no commitment to the land and greens who are trying to preach what real farmers already know, but I honestly didn't start this thread to know what people have got or how they got it, all I asked was how to folks just find 11 grand out of the blue to repair an engine, which I could no way find.

I think it got around to that because some took you saying you couldn't find 11 grand to replace an engine to mean you didn't have that much wealth rather than ready cash then there was the farming/ money stuff. We're all different. We have a less than you in property and not a fortune in pensions but quite a lot in investments and cash. We all choose where we put our money but I do wonder when some who have the savings limit in a pension start to slag off others who have invested in property for their pension or have a lot in cash and say there ought to be a wealth tax with of course pensions (including some very generous final salary public sector pensions) being excempt!.

 

[Coolcats]

Very few people who have nothing to do with farming can even come close to understanding what it entails, they see the clarksons and others who have millions to start with making it look easy with no commitment to the land and greens who are trying to preach what real farmers already know, but I honestly didn't start this thread to know what people have got or how they got it, all I asked was how to folks just find 11 grand out of the blue to repair an engine, which I could no way find.

It may be ‘ phone a friend ‘ or friends who can help strip and rebuild an engine so that you wouldn’t have to fork out 11k or maybe a good 2nd hand one that is sitting in someone’s garage looking for a vehicle. Hopefully you will never have to do that but sometimes good fortune can happen.

 

[MacroMad]

My pholosophy and that of my wife is if you cant pay cash for it, dont buy it.
That does not work for some people or is not the best way for others, for some people it is better to buy on credit as the rate they pay back is LESS than what they earn on their savings/investment, in other words they make a profit by having it on credit, simple economics.
Me, i just pay cash, been brought up that way, coming from a (very) poor background and having to scrimp and save all our lives you get used to not wasting anything including money.
Spending my teens on the dole and begging drinks in the pub, to having to piss on my hands to warm them up while laying pipes in very cold winters just to earn a few bob to feed a wife and 3 kids.
Seeing an opportunity while in my late 20's to start a small business without any need for borrowing, growing the business by working long long hours and not spending the cash as it came in.
Investing in pensions when i could, buying the business premises when the opportunity arose, paying off the mortgage in 17 years so that
when i gave the business away (yes, gave, no money changed hands) i was free of worry and stress and having more money than i knew what to do with as well as having properties that bring in more money than i can spend.
So how do we afford these expensive vans, by working our balls off, taking a risk and not forgetting where we came from.

 

[chaser]

I am just at the stage where I wish had never posted now, I wasn't asking folks how much money they had got or how they had got it , I just asking how they suddenly found 11 grand out of the blue to fund something that a minute before they hadn't a clue it was coming and sympathizeing with them, but it seems to be chicken feed to some so obviously I am wrong.
Up until I sold up and retired I hadn't seen anywhere near that sort of spare money and even now I couldn't find it for repairs.

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[Peter and Julie]

I know many millionaires never spend there own money buying houses, yachts etc. They use other peoples money i.e. credit! Common sense, never lose your capital asset... You think Clarkson and the like own everything outright? think again.

 

[funflair]

I am just at the stage where I wish had never posted now, I wasn't asking folks how much money they had got or how they had got it , I just asking how they suddenly found 11 grand out of the blue to fund something that a minute before they hadn't a clue it was coming and sympathizeing with them, but it seems to be chicken feed to some so obviously I am wrong.
Up until I sold up and retired I hadn't seen anywhere near that sort of spare money and even now I couldn't find it for repairs.

Don't worry about it Chas, people are only telling what they want to tell as nobody is forcing them/us to divulge anything, I think you will find that people are proud of what they have and how they have achieved be it hard work, good business sense, good luck or a bit of all. It just shows how different we all are yet we are all linked by a common love of travel and exploration.

 

[bobnick]

I am just at the stage where I wish had never posted now, I wasn't asking folks how much money they had got or how they had got it , I just asking how they suddenly found 11 grand out of the blue to fund something that a minute before they hadn't a clue it was coming and sympathizeing with them, but it seems to be chicken feed to some so obviously I am wrong.
Up until I sold up and retired I hadn't seen anywhere near that sort of spare money and even now I couldn't find it for repairs.

Chaser mate, no use knocking if nobody in

 

[Landy Andy]

For many people they must have money to be available or some sort of finance as s##t (stuff) happens in life and you have to deal with it. For some, we are practical people so can sort a lot of our issues out, but many are not so just have a way to pay the money required. I’m a talking about cars dying, central heating failing, roofs that have deteriorated. The people who can not do, NEED a way to pay for this stuff so their life can continue. I don’t think any of this is personal it’s just different for different people, and certainly isn’t against you chaser, its interesting.

 

[dash300]

Chaser mate, no use knocking if nobody in

When I first read this posting I thought his ain't going anywhere. But how wrong was that! It has been compulsive amusing thread!! Cue a whole myriad of members posting how much or how little money they have and then go on to justify their wealth or lack of. Some pythonesque inverted wealth snobbery....


and then..

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[DerryW]

I am just at the stage where I wish had never posted now, I wasn't asking folks how much money they had got or how they had got it , I just asking how they suddenly found 11 grand out of the blue to fund something that a minute before they hadn't a clue it was coming and sympathizeing with them, but it seems to be chicken feed to some so obviously I am wrong.
Up until I sold up and retired I hadn't seen anywhere near that sort of spare money and even now I couldn't find it for repairs.

Chaser. Don’t be so daft, as mentioned in my earlier post, it’s great when threads provoke an healthy response, and your latest attempt has certainly done that, with over 9 pages of response, some varying slightly from the main subject, but that’s what makes this forum stand out from the rest. As the advert goes “if Carlsberg did forums ……..

 

[Baden87]

Work hard , pay extra off mortgage, be prudent
I’m a 63 year old , the younger ones CREDIT TRAP
simples

 

[Swifter]

I am just at the stage where I wish had never posted now, I wasn't asking folks how much money they had got or how they had got it , I just asking how they suddenly found 11 grand out of the blue to fund something that a minute before they hadn't a clue it was coming and sympathizeing with them, but it seems to be chicken feed to some so obviously I am wrong.
Up until I sold up and retired I hadn't seen anywhere near that sort of spare money and even now I couldn't find it for repairs.

I’ve totally enjoyed this thread so thank you for posting .If nobody asked these questions this forum would be dead. Keep posting

 

[TOT]

Ran away with the kids inheritance..

 

[Old Gibber]

I am just at the stage where I wish had never posted now, I wasn't asking folks how much money they had got or how they had got it , I just asking how they suddenly found 11 grand out of the blue to fund something that a minute before they hadn't a clue it was coming and sympathizeing with them, but it seems to be chicken feed to some so obviously I am wrong.
Up until I sold up and retired I hadn't seen anywhere near that sort of spare money and even now I couldn't find it for repairs.

Different lifestyles. For me it was important to have enough in the bank for a rainy day even if it meant not being able to go out for a drink with my mates or buy everything I wanted. Yes, I've been broke, and never wanted to be there again.

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