To save on rent?

[fabrabbit]

Hello

Well its coming to the time of year again where we are due to renew the contract on our flat, or move and find a new place. We are currently looking for a Romahome to travel in, BUT I thought maybe we could just live in the Romahome for a couple of months through summer before we find a new flat. We live in London so this would save us quite bit of money. Some of the Money we thought we could put back into the Romahome, you know doing it up, buying awnings, new gadgety things etc.

A concern of ours is, What if it kills the romahome adventure before its even started? I mean it must be very different traveling around having a holiday in one / keeping up the day job and living in one.

Ive found a couple of campsites one in Greenwich and one in Potters Bar, which have good connections to the city for work and such.

What do you think? Is it a crazy idea? Does anyone have any advise, thoughts, tips?

[Graham]

I suppose its all down to personal preference and how you think you'd cope, we once met a couple who had lived in their C15 for a year! They weren't dainty people either.

Personally I think I would get cabin fever after a month or so and start to miss the home comforts and it would probably spoil that special holiday feeling you get when you go off for the weekend or a week or so.

Then again if you are saving a lot of money maybe it would be worth it, why not get the van and try a weeks holiday then see how you feel about living in it for a while?

Graham

[viv]

Not the same, but we did meet a couple of retired folk who had sold their house and banked the money in the hope of finding a suitable house to down size to later. They had bought one of those tiny towing Eriba caravans and had been living and travelling around in it for a year. they supplemented their stays with long weekends with friends and travelled around on bikes once they had camped up.

They said they missed their books and everything was in storage, their families thought they were mad. They were still enjoying themselves and the van was very very tiny although possibly a bit more room than a Romahome.

It would not suit me but each to their own and a couple of months in the Summer may not be too bad. Good luck.

[paul]

Apr 29, 2009 15:25:27 GMT fabrabbit said:

What do you think? Is it a crazy idea? Does anyone have any advise, thoughts, tips?

A year or two ago there was a series of programmes on R4 about alternative lifestyles. One of them featured a couple who did exactly what you're describing except that their vehicle was a converted ambulance.

After a while - I think it was about a year - they did start to feel the limitations so they gave up the ambulance. They didn't buy another flat though - they bought a proper campervan!

At the time of the broadcast they had been living in it for several years.

[fabrabbit]

Well, we managed to find a lovely flat, just near Alexandra palace, with private parking (for our Romahome when we get it) for a lot less than we are paying now, so we are going to go for that instead. We were worried that maybe it would be too much too soon. We will see how we get on with the Romahome, once we get it. Then maybe next year we can look towards going full time in it.

Thank you all for your comments

[martinw]

Hi fabrabbit, and welcome to the forum.

I could spit on Alexandra palace from the room I was born in, in Hornsey, quite a nice area then (1944) hope it's still OK.

I could watch the horse racing from my bedroom window, very exciting for a young kid, alas no longer there, the race track closed some years ago.

Moved to the Fens 25 years later and don't regret doing so.

Hope your new flat goes well

Martin

[fabrabbit]

May 2, 2009 7:01:16 GMT martinw said:

Hi fabrabbit, and welcome to the forum.

I could spit on Alexandra palace from the room I was born in, in Hornsey, quite a nice area then (1944) hope it's still OK.

Hi Martin, Thank you.
Yes, Its still nice around ALexandra palace, lots of nice green spaces Plus theres a great farmers market held on a sunday.

Im originally from Middlesbrough in the North East but I moved down to London for university. Im not sure if id move back up north, maybe one day, I rather like the idea Brighton though.

[marc4242]

Hi Fabrabbit

Brighton is a nice place, yes. We both work in London in the week, and Brighton, although lively and busy in its own right, doesn't have the haste and aggression of London.

Snowdrop (Bedford Rascal 2-berth Romahome) lives here, and we happily trundle off to festivals occasionally. Mind you, the countryside is not the same as say from Derby northwards! :-)

Marc