Is almost everyone on here loaded?

[Gina M]

Not exactly. I'm an impoverished student and very part time bar man. I was using the van to live in, until Hollie decided she wanted to get a house up here.

Rent isn't cheap, and as for actually paying for electric when I could get it for free from the sun in the van?!?! What's that about!!!

She does make me happy though.

Spent all the money I saved to fund the masters degree / van living on bills. The van is also off the road, with no money to fix it.

But the end is in sight. It's all over at the end of the month and I have interviews lined up for "proper jobs" in September.

Before hand I was a a general manager and deputy manager in pubs. Comfortable, but not well off! And certainly not happy, working 50+ hour weeks, every weekend and evening. I needed to get out. And so... masters degree.

I have never paid to park my van anywhere, and I don't plan on it, not matter how much money I have! I'd rather be out of the way, somewhere quiet than parked in a row with dozens of others! I'm a FL for life!

When I lived in the van I shared my park up twice! It's not crowded out there, and good spots can be had for free (or paid for on the spiritual level with a couple of minutes with a litter picker, as in the picture below).

Broken Link Removed

You are in love, that is all that matters. Stay that way. I envy you

Gina

 

[Northernraider]

Except for the dog on a rope brigade in their clapped out converted buses!

Those are often the best folks

 

[Northernraider]

Ah yes maybe but how much did you pay in cross channel fares and diesel to get to those aires?
Work it out over the holiday and the UK campsites are not a lot dearer.

It is if you do it smartly

 

[Northernraider]

I agree chaser. I really do worry that those who pay those high prices are making it the norm and thus those, like myself, who go without necessities to keep my van on the road, will soon be forced to sell.

That's always the way. When I first got in to vw campers I paid £675 for my first one ...then they got popular and yuppies started buying them to look cool ...by the time I stopped buying them split screen vws were fetching £30-40k .

Folk with money always ruin the fun. Camping was once a working man's holiday now many struggle to pay the highly inflated prices. Its often cheaper to go abroad . Outwith school holidays of course

 

[Northernraider]

Cornwall is not exactly on our doorstep, and we use Tesco vouchers to pay for our tunnel crossings, so in the general scheme of things, it was probably cheaper going to France and a bloody sight nicer and more welcoming.

I've only ever been to Cornwall once ...that was enough .

No desire to ever go back . Europe wins hands down

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[Northernraider]

I don’t really care what others have as always someone has better or worse than me.
I have a fairly nice van and do try to talk to anyone but find a lot of people with older vans don’t want to engage in conversation indeed surprised as this being my first van how unsociable a lot of people are be it in new or old vans

Have met some very nice people in the last 18 months but not many.

That's strange I usually find it's the folk with older vans and home conversions that are the friendliest. Can count the conversations I've had with newer van owners on one hand .

 

[Northernraider]

It's funny because someone recently said I must be loaded as I bugger off to Europe in the van for 5 or 6 months a year ....the crazy thing is it would cost me more to stay here. I never use sites or paid aires , I free camp all the time so my only expenses are fuel , ferry costs and food. I don't eat out much as I travel alone and its not the same eating out on your own. I work when I'm back in the UK but I don't earn enough to be liable for tax ....I park up on family owned land and the motorhome is self sufficient. My weekly expenses when home is approx £80 . Everything I earn over that gets banked to pay for my trip over winter . 1st November to 24th march last year travelling through 19 countries cost me under £4k all in. I have no private pensions, no house etc ....I do have a rainy day fund left over from my house sale that's squirelled away in case at some point I have to return to bricks and mortar but I've no plan to do that any time soon. My dream is still to move abroad before I'm old enough to retire but not sure if it will ever happen. I'm every accountants nightmare as I live for the moment rather than worrying about my future ...I figure it will just kind of work out and if it doesn't I'll have plenty memories to look back on . I've never been used to having money so I can survive on very little if required and if entirely honest I wouldn't thank you for being wealthy.

 

[olley]

Concierge Camping Sussex, December 28th £145 per night. But you will meet the "right" sort of people.

 

[winemart]

If it wasn't for getting involved with councils and h&s and other rubbish I would be glad to let folks park in my fields for a fiver, money for nowt.

That's not my point though, some people are managing on £20 aday others are paying three times this just to park a van

I'm just tight.
In my case it's a matter of how I was reared. My dad would hate to pay a penny for something he could spend all day making.
I'm not quite so bad but detest being ripped off. Went into a garden centre the other week for a cuppa and a slice of cake, saw the price and exited pdq even though I could afford many thousands of cuppa & cake. Same in supermarkets, see the price and would rather leave on the shelf. I have a few quid, I just squeak when I walk.
I need to learn how to spend it, my son will make short work of it when he gets the chance.

 

[winemart]

That's not my point though, some people are managing on £20 aday others are paying three times this just to park a van

I'm just tight.
In my case it's a matter of how I was reared. My dad would hate to pay a penny for something he could spend all day making.
I'm not quite so bad but detest being ripped off. Went into a garden centre the other week for a cuppa and a slice of cake, saw the price and exited pdq even though I could afford many thousands of cuppa & cake. Same in supermarkets, see the price and would rather leave on the shelf. I have a few quid, I just squeak when I walk.
I need to learn how to spend it, my son will make short work of it when he gets the chance.

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[IPrinceB]

Just lately we have had numerous posts saying £30 upwards to £100 pounds a night is good value to just park a van up for a night, does anyone stop and think state pension is around £20 a day for everything, now I am not pleading poverty but does that sound like good value, it doesn't to me.
Have people today just got too much money , iv worked months for less than £20 , in a different time I know but it just makes me stop and think before shelling out these amounts, in fact I couldn't do it.
Has money just lost all value now?

Simple answer - no

 

[Mike Rivers]

I look at it this way. A Travelodge is £65 a night if you’re lucky so £20-£30 for a luxury site with decent facilities, hookup, restaurant perhaps and beautiful views is not unreasonable, in fact it’s a bargain! Equally, if you’re happy in a field on a CL then there are some gems about. You really do get what you pay for. Thankfully there’s enough choice to cater for all budgets.

 

[Minxy]

We are getting very side tracked now, my op was about paying £35 to park in a field, where you shop is up to you and you get something for it at the end of the day you get nothing out of a bit of grass.

This isn't side tracked, just slightly meandering, but if we started getting into the detail of the type of toilet amenities we'd want you can be sure it would be completely overrun by poo talkers!

 

[winemart]

Apologies if this is posted twice -

I'm just tight.
In my case it's a matter of how I was reared. My dad would hate to pay a penny for something he could spend all day/week making.
I'm not quite so bad but detest being ripped off. Went into a garden centre the other week for a cuppa and a slice of cake, saw the price and exited pdq even though I could afford many thousands of cuppa & cake. Same in supermarkets, see the price and would rather leave on the shelf. I have a few quid, I just squeak when I walk.
I need to learn how to spend it, my son will make short work of it when he gets the chance.

 

[Northernraider]

Apologies if this is posted twice -

I'm just tight.
In my case it's a matter of how I was reared. My dad would hate to pay a penny for something he could spend all day/week making.
I'm not quite so bad but detest being ripped off. Went into a garden centre the other week for a cuppa and a slice of cake, saw the price and exited pdq even though I could afford many thousands of cuppa & cake. Same in supermarkets, see the price and would rather leave on the shelf. I have a few quid, I just squeak when I walk.
I need to learn how to spend it, my son will make short work of it when he gets the chance.

3 times in fact

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[winemart]

3 times in fact

I consider myself severely reprimanded, I blame the falling over juice

 

[Lenny HB]

.

 

[jumar]

Having just had 5 fantastic weeks in Galicia we are going upmarket for the next two nights...
We are moving to an all-inclusive private site (Camperstop) 15€ we must be in the loaded league...never mind. I have to treat jumartoo occasionally...

 

[DDJC]

OK MY pension is bllody taxed because I saved for my old age the money was taxed before I saved and is now taxed again

I do not agree in paying a site more than a hotel
We spend 76 nights in France and Spain and spent a certain amount of money
We spent 21 nights in Devon and Cornwall and almost spent as much despite using ASCI for sites

SO we would rather drive through France to get to Spain as it's cheaper than Brittany Ferries (Without discount) as it's all part of the holiday and we tend to find aires that cost nothing or very little in Fact we've booked a 5* site for Christmas in Spain 17€00 a night

I like that. Never pay more than a hotel. But add the context of where and how many stars...?

F'rinstance. Today I'm leaving a 5 star site less than 20 yards from an Adriatic Sea sandy beach. The swimming pool complex is better fhan anything ive seen.

It costs... 101 euros a night. About eighty eight quid.

Now ask yourself. Would i get four people into a hotel round here for 88 quid?
Come to that, would i get hotel rooms for the family in Grimsby? (other grim North Sea towns are available)

And of course, hotel rooms arent yours. And in hotels you get the same view every boring day.

When we are retired we will likely be more careful (although still mostly going abroad to motorhome-friendly Europe). Until then, price is a very low consideration when determing where and when we travel.

 

[Camper Sue]

Except for the dog on a rope brigade in their clapped out converted buses!

Here we go! We didn't have the dog on a rope but we had a converted laundry van we bought from a scrape yard. YES we were DISLIKED and as we drove into Wales saw notices warning us off!! That was some 40 years ago. Sad to see the attitude is back.

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[maisie50]

I've always said that if a site / overnight is approaching the cost of a travelodge, then it's a no.

The fairly basic Travelodge near us is never anywhere near the old oft-quoted rate of £35 from years ago. A visiting relative was quoted online £110 per night, room only, this week.

 

[janeb]

Just lately we have had numerous posts saying £30 upwards to £100 pounds a night is good value to just park a van up for a night, does anyone stop and think state pension is around £20 a day for everything, now I am not pleading poverty but does that sound like good value, it doesn't to me.
Have people today just got too much money , iv worked months for less than £20 , in a different time I know but it just makes me stop and think before shelling out these amounts, in fact I couldn't do it.
Has money just lost all value now?

Hi, we know where your're coming from. Went to the Western Motorhome show on Friday, as day visitors, we don't live far from the showground now, so relatively cheap entrance at £5 each. We have stayed previous years and thought it was reasonable value, free entertainment, etc. Talking on way home, thought about Peterborough next April, so checked it out yesterday. The charge for 4 nights is now in region of £95 ! We have seen it rise to £70, but that is a huge price increase for us to absorb. We know also that there are many folk who, for various reasons, cannot stay for the whole 4 nights. Personally, we liked to arrive on the Thursday and leave either Saturday or Sunday, so for 2 or 3 nights it is a lot. There is no option but to pay for 4 nights, so we shall not be going again. Shame, as lovely to meet people and to be able to amble around the show at your leisure, go back to your pitch and have a snack, drink and a rest, then go back in again. We could go in and out without fear of losing each other, too. (My husband never has his phone switched on!!) There must be many people who just cannot warrant spending this amount, on top of increased fuel charges, for a weekend away, no electric and sometimes very iffy showers !!

 

[Lenny HB]

Apologies if this is posted twice -

I'm just tight.
In my case it's a matter of how I was reared. My dad would hate to pay a penny for something he could spend all day/week making.
I'm not quite so bad but detest being ripped off. Went into a garden centre the other week for a cuppa and a slice of cake, saw the price and exited pdq even though I could afford many thousands of cuppa & cake. Same in supermarkets, see the price and would rather leave on the shelf. I have a few quid, I just squeak when I walk.
I need to learn how to spend it, my son will make short work of it when he gets the chance.

Their are far too many people on here just like me.

 

[mamaco]

Just lately we have had numerous posts saying £30 upwards to £100 pounds a night is good value to just park a van up for a night, does anyone stop and think state pension is around £20 a day for everything, now I am not pleading poverty but does that sound like good value, it doesn't to me.
Have people today just got too much money , iv worked months for less than £20 , in a different time I know but it just makes me stop and think before shelling out these amounts, in fact I couldn't do it.
Has money just lost all value now?

The exchange on this comment shows that there are still lots of options out there. I don’t have my van to save money on holiday I have it to be free to roam. I’m neither poor nor rich but I do like an electric hook up. The dog and me are going to Tiverton c&cc for five days over christmas for less than £20 a night (old lady rates). The cost will be less than the fuel it takes me to get there and back. Perhaps it’s less a question of how we value money more a question of how we prioritise our spending. And let’s be honest the cost of the campsite is not the major expense for this pastime.

 

[sallylillian]

Knowing the price of everything, does not demonstrate knowing the value of everything. Loaded is a relative thing, there was a statement which was particularly true to boating when that was my thing. "There is always someone with a bigger boat than yours - and always someone with a smaller one!"

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[Parrot Face]

Same old, same old...people with presumably very little money wondering why people with more money don't act like tight arses. Those with 'more money' will spend as they like and wouldn't dream of questioning why those with less money don't spend more. Its a constant worn out discussion point on here.

 

[NoName]

Just lately we have had numerous posts saying £30 upwards to £100 pounds a night is good value to just park a van up for a night, does anyone stop and think state pension is around £20 a day for everything, now I am not pleading poverty but does that sound like good value, it doesn't to me.
Have people today just got too much money , iv worked months for less than £20 , in a different time I know but it just makes me stop and think before shelling out these amounts, in fact I couldn't do it.
Has money just lost all value now?

During my recent 4 1/2 month tour around Europe and Turkiye I paid no more than € 10 per night with the exception of Austria at €30 per night. Some sites included EHU and in Turkiye the cost was even less, paying just over £109 for a week, including lunch and drinks at the on-site restaurant.

 

[chaser]

Same old, same old...people with presumably very little money wondering why people with more money don't act like tight arses. Those with 'more money' will spend as they like and wouldn't dream of questioning why those with less money don't spend more. Its a constant worn out discussion point on here.

My op was not really about how much anyone has got, but that they are so loaded that thinking anything upto £100 is good value to park a van, apparently according to a few posts on here, in jest I know, I am the wealthyist person on here, but I wouldn't be paying it.

 

[funflair]

My op was not really about how much anyone has got, but that they are so loaded that thinking anything upto £100 is good value to park a van, apparently according to a few posts on here, in jest I know, I am the wealthyist person on here, but I wouldn't be paying it.

That's why you are wealthy

 

[Mr porky]

Currently parked on a vineyard in France that is free although we have bought 2 cases of wine, no issues I love wine hic hic.
Yet last week in Catalonia we paid €42 a night, the most we have paid a night on this trip partly because it had great shade a pool and it was within walking distance of a historic town. The way I looked at it was for most of this trip we have had free overnight parking so a little splurge ain't going to break the bank.
Mind when we move on today it will be to a camping park destination for €10 a night.

Not retired yet semi retired so we can make the choice without worrying too much about finances.

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