to think about living in a caravan in a field?

[OhLori]

I am on HB with one child. Been offered one flat that smells totally of piss, on a housing estate that looks like something out of the Soviet Union, circa 1959. I mean open-air prisons look more inviting: low-rise, green spaces, plenty of facilities. (Those architects should be serving life sentences, preferably living in the flats they designed).

At least I could do a nice fry-up outdoors in the morning, like the gypsies do.

[Flojobunny]

OP why are you being so hostile? I haven't the foggiest what I have said to offend you. My advice is genuine. Most people rule out private renting as they assume they can't get it when in fact they can. Very strange that you are so defensive when I was share a similar experience with you.
that I took the time to share such personal things and you use it against me.

[shockers]

I have to admit that I'm mystified by that too Flo.

I'm sure it could be done with enough research OP. I find yurts to be warmer than caravans in winter, although my experience doesn't go beyond a week at a time!

[Flojobunny]

I didn't put anything personal about OP neither has anyone else so can't have got me mixed up with another post.
Just so you know OP, I have been on MN for a few yrs and have many posts about my issues as a single parent so obviously genuine.

[ModernToss]

It was this:

with all the other money the government throw at single parents it more than covers the shortfall.

I don't know how you meant it to sound, but it didn't come over well.

[TiggyD]

Caravans (static) are freezing in the spring. I've borrowed one in April a couple of times. Goodness knows what they're like in the winter.

I want a narrowboat. A nice wide one parked ("Moored" I believe) on a canal in the country.

[GoSuckEggs]

tiggy, our narrowboat is for sale, buy it and you can moor it where ever you want!! ( you cant have a wide narrow boat they are called widebeams)

[TiggyD]

I knew about widebeams. I have window shopped for them before.

Does your boat come with a cap that says "Captain" on it?

[GoSuckEggs]

I will personally go and get you one if you buy it!

[Flojobunny]

Ah ok, tis true though. I know a lot of people don't view it that way. But I spent years struggling, scrimping and scraping then when I became a single parent I was shocked at how much better off I was with income support, child tax creds, HB and CTB, and all the little bits like school meals, milk vouchers and cold weather payments. But I know its all dependant on life style.
I didn't mean it arsey, I meant it to give OP a boost, not to be worried about making ends meet just because she's on benefits etc and to reassure her that not all LLs are discriminatory.

[Dominodonkey]

flojo You committed the MN cardinal sin of suggesting that some people on benefits aren't sitting in the dark with blankets around them eating 1/2 a cream cracker for lunch...

What you said made perfect sense to me but some people love to be offended.

[Flojobunny]

Ah, I've been here yrs but still manage to put my foot in it.

[LittleEdie]

The HB people don't tell your landlord that you're claiming - so how are they to know?

[GibberTheMonkey]

Gosuckeggs
How many berths/heads? What length?

[GoSuckEggs]

gibber - 70ft. 2 fixed berths, but room for another 4, perhaps more!

[GibberTheMonkey]

I can't afford a boat
I don't need a boat
I can't afford a boat
I don't need a boat
I can't afford a boat
I don't need a boat

[spottyblanket]

I lived in a caravan for 2 years. On a farm, a beautiful secenic spot with panoramic views, parked under a big oak tree next to a stream. It was plumbed in for water with a toilet in a little wooden shed at the top of the field. Loved it. Wood burner is a must-have. Get one and you'll spend winter in a tshirt with the door wide open it gets so hot. Quality caravan a must, mine was old & after 2 years suffered from condensation = damp, so left then. To avoid the 10 month rule the farmer would "move" my caravan by a foot.

I'd choose a caravan again rather than bring my children up in a bad place.

Problem with HB is that most letting agents want to know your finances, so you do have to declare if you are on IS etc. Best bet is to save if you can and offer, say, 3 months rent in advance. Money talks, always.

[ConfusedPixie]

spotty: how did you manage to find somebody to let you keep the caravan on their land?

[GoSuckEggs]

everyone needs a boat!!!! go on!!!!

[ConfusedPixie]

Gosuck: I've been looking at boats too actually, but there aren't many down here :( In fact, there are two, one at Brighton Marina and one in shoreham, both owned by the same person and they want you to 'co-own' but don't want you to pay for more than 50% of the boat And the toilets/showers are 50m away. No thank you! I'd totally go for a narrowboat, not sure where to start looking though

[shockers]

Spotty, that sounds idyllic. I secretly hanker after a life like that, but DH is a wimp.

[Lilly3000]

I used to live on boat. Best place I ever lived ( bearing in mind I now live in the equivalent of a Boden wet dream, that's saying something.) Bite the bullet and do it. You won't regret it.

[GoSuckEggs]

confusedpixie Have a look at our boat! Here she is!

You would have to move her down yourself, but it is a great way to get to know your boat! our boat come with everything to enable you to live-aboard straight away.

[VerySmallSqueak]

I would buy it like a shot if I had more than £8.74 precisely.
Can we do a deal??

I have a photo of a narrowboat in a frame that I keep by my desk.
I love to look and daydream.

One day.
One day......