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AIBU?

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Original poster

Pack in the job, rent out the house, get in the camper van, fuck off

337 replies

GotTheBug · 08/01/2025 07:49

WIBU to do the above?

We have a house with a small mortgage, stable but unfulfilling jobs, a camper van and itchy feet. Some savings (but not a huge amount!) No kids at home, one ageing but currently still independent parent nearby. Both of us early 50s and healthy.

We have talked about doing this for years and I'm increasingly starting to think that we should do it now before we get any older - also I'm aware that my DF may need us around more in the years to come. I guess I'm worrying that if we leave it another 10 years/wait until retirement we'll have missed the window.

Obviously leaving the job and renting out the house are massive steps and that scares me - so much to potentially go wrong. But at the same time, life is for living, right? We could rent out the house easily I think - seaside location, an hour from London on the train - and the rent would pretty much cover our travel expenses. DH could take a career break for a year or so much more easily than I could, though, and we'd be pretty skint on our return.

Would we be mad to do this, or mad not to?

OP posts:
batshitaboutcatshit · 08/01/2025 08:01

YOLO

Do it before some unexpected spanner in the works appears and then it'll be too late

Snowmanscarf · 08/01/2025 08:01

How big is your campervan? Could you comfortably live in it?

WiseLurker · 08/01/2025 07:59

GotTheBug · 08/01/2025 07:49

WIBU to do the above?

We have a house with a small mortgage, stable but unfulfilling jobs, a camper van and itchy feet. Some savings (but not a huge amount!) No kids at home, one ageing but currently still independent parent nearby. Both of us early 50s and healthy.

We have talked about doing this for years and I'm increasingly starting to think that we should do it now before we get any older - also I'm aware that my DF may need us around more in the years to come. I guess I'm worrying that if we leave it another 10 years/wait until retirement we'll have missed the window.

Obviously leaving the job and renting out the house are massive steps and that scares me - so much to potentially go wrong. But at the same time, life is for living, right? We could rent out the house easily I think - seaside location, an hour from London on the train - and the rent would pretty much cover our travel expenses. DH could take a career break for a year or so much more easily than I could, though, and we'd be pretty skint on our return.

Would we be mad to do this, or mad not to?

Have you accounted for tax properly in your calculations, and the inevitable costs when your house gets trashed and the scumbags who trashed it / stopped paying rent won't leave?

Bluebellyhedge · 08/01/2025 07:59

Oh god this sounds amazing. Do it!

DreamingforSoCal · 08/01/2025 07:58

Shirley Valentine: “I have allowed myself to lead this little life, when inside me there was so much more. And it's all gone unused”

You can either keep things as they are.
Make a half way change (go camping every weekend to begin with?)
or totally go for it

But don’t do a Shirley Valentine 😭 (I’m having my own “unused life” panic of my own at the moment!)

Maddy70 · 08/01/2025 07:55

Yes. A couple of friends have done this. Loving their lives. Do it

Pashazade · 08/01/2025 07:55

If you can fund it then what the hell go for it! Plus yes go now, don't wait, life is too short. Find a decent letting agent to look after your property. Maybe plan out your first couple of months so you know where you're going, plus you'll likely need to pre book during the summer months for pitches but sounds amazing, wish I was a bit more wired for adventure sometimes!

NeedToChangeName · 08/01/2025 07:54

Early 50s, small savings. I wouldn't do this. I'd focus on building savings. How will you support yourselves in retirement?

Perhaps you could negotiate eg a 3 month sabbatical from work to do a bit of travelling

Dobbythechristmaself · 08/01/2025 07:54

It doesn’t sound like you have enough money to do it? Will it not totally drain your small savings…. What then? What do you work as? Will it be easy to get jobs when you come back?

SeaShellsSanctuary180 · 08/01/2025 07:54

I wouldn't bother, solely based on the massive hassle of becoming a landlord

ilovemoney · 08/01/2025 07:53

I don’t think it sounds like a massive risk op. You have a house to rent and income, your dh has a job to return to. The only risk is your capacity to get a job on return etc. I would go for it and have a wonderful time.

Retrospeaker · 08/01/2025 07:50

Mad not to. Life is for living.

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