Would this be a waste of money?

[Whu]

I recently inherited 20k. I didn’t previously have a great deal of savings (less than 5k).
I’ve had a pretty rough few years with bereavement, divorce and other smaller issues. I’ve now seen a campervan for £15k which I could spend the summer exploring the UK in (teacher, no kids). Am I being unreasonable/ insane to do this and leave my savings pot below 10k? Or do you think life is worth living and do it?

YABU - don’t buy the van, be responsible.

YANBU - buy it! Enjoy!

Oh this whole post has inspired me so much. @readingisgreat is right right right.

(I will add- should you start a blog to document your adventures so blogging loving me can follow it? yes)

then go for it! Enjoy

My first response was BUY BUY BUY (& ENJOY obvs !)
But then I remembered that I’m hiring a motor home worth about £65k for less than £300 for 4 nights, and this is a big thing less than a year old and includes insurance.

Why don’t you try hiring first ? See how you get on, if you use it loads then buy one x

A campervan for £15k is likely to be in poor nick and it doesn't sound like you've got the money to keep it going. What are the baseline costs assuming nothing goes wrong? What are the things that could go wrong and what would that cost?

I vote Hire and keep the money for a rainy day.

This.

£15k is a LOT of holidays!

We're on one right now... easyjet, £400 in Slovenia for two nights for two... round that up to 500 for food and enjoyment and you're set!

That's 30 holidays all in... ABROAD!

So 30 city breaks ... or cleaning out your own sh!t in some park in the middle of a field in some boring place in England. No brainer for me.

I thought the same

A £15k campervan isnt going to be great
How old?
Get an AA/RAC evaluation

Think about how many nights away and cost it would give you?
Pitch rates? petrol?

I get that but all have different preferences and enjoyments. I hired a van for a week and did snowdonia and N Wales and it was stunning, peaceful and I could take my dogs. We woke up to beaches and mountains and loved it. I
don’t want to be jetting off (not a fan of flying) and certainly don’t want to be putting my dogs in kennels - I want them to come with me. They already have a dog sitter weekdays so weekends and holidays we spend all our time together.
So really it’s a choice between camper or not and not between camper and flying to Europe for city breaks.

Not sure what sort of Camper you are looking at but if parting with 15k then need to know it is in good shape prior to buying as can be a money pit. A few things you can do is as follows:

1. a) Check on Gov MOT site it will tell you about any recent failure or concerns with any Van you are looking at all you need is Registration number, Gov website as follows:

www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

1. b) You can get someone to check Van over prior to buying or help you negotiate. If you have local gararge you intend to use to service your purchase then ask them if they will look at prospective purchase, if you are in AA or RAC they will do this service for a set fee, better to know what you are buying will be a good van.
2. What van are you looking at is it an old VW Camper?

What would the person who gifted you the money do or think. Try and use it in a way they would have wanted.
If the camper will make you happy, go for it. You can continue to save and add to your nest egg.

I don't know. Sorry to say, but if you are female and travelling alone it might be unsafe in certain areas that are not Aires or designated camper van stops like campgrounds. Personally I would be terrified, but I am not you.

I'd go along with a lot of other posters and say hire one for a longer Summer holiday which you can do as a teacher.

I follow a few camper van YouTubers and while it looks idyllic and they certainly get around, when things go wrong it can be a nightmare. These are couples, how would you feel if you broke down etc. in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night?

OK I sound very negative, because it would not be for me and sorry if I am putting you off. Anyway I'll be interested in what you decide to do, and best of luck with it whatever you do.

You have only one life, and none of us know how long we have.
Buy it and enjoy it

There are some useful Facebook groups worth investigating re your particular van type (eg VW / others). You can seek advice on the mileage and any potential issues - knowledgeable people on there.

Consider will you be running it as a second vehicle - with associated on-road costs / or as your primary means of transport - involving adding to the overall mileage on daily run arounds.

Had a VW camper for some fabulous years travelling around Europe - but when we cam back to the UK with it, the job demands here meant that for 2 years we had no time to make use of it - had to sell.

The thought of going right around the Brittany coast again with a bike on the back = fabulous. Cornwall roads in the school summer holidays = less so.

Fair point :). We have cats so know the commitment.

For the freedom around the UK, I'd say camper. I'm not a fan (as you can tell), but for your situation it's an ideal choice. But I would, as other have suggested, buy very carefully and probably put aside say 1k for emergencies specifically for the camper as they're notoriously unreliable and there's always something falling off somewhere.

Thanks!
Yes the thought of it going wrong is one of my biggest concerns at the min…

Really helpful thank you. I’m thinking I need to speak to a mechanic and get some advice.
Don’t laugh but it’s not a VW what I had seen but a transit van! However, it had been done up absolutely beautifully inside with a fixed double bed and full kitchen. Insta-ready on the inside if not the outside .

Do it! Just ensure you buy something which is mechanically sound. Ensure you get it checked over thoroughly before parting with any cash.
Happy Travels!

Where do you live?
We go the the quite site in the lakes which is wonderfully dog friendly- gingerbread house or hobbit hole (they have renamed them as Tolkien estate got arsey)

Do you know you can rent them?

I really wouldn't want the hassle of owning a campervan. Everyone I know who has had one/or a mobile home/caravan etc ends up getting rid because they are such a hassle to maintain (or they have been stolen). As a single person I already have the sole responsibility for a house, car, dog (and 99% responsibility for kids) - I cba adding to that!!

Transit vans can be a good option (assuming a ford transit) If Im buying house I get surveyor, if I buy car I get specilist to look it over, I have had VW camper and an old porche both times engaged help and paid for good advice, I HAD GOOD USE FROM BOT VEICHALS and sold both for a profit. Renting also a good option as advised by others. It is still a cost of INSURANCE TAX ETC TO KEEP ON ROAD WHEN YOU ARE NOT USING

You know multiple people who have had their van stolen?! I didn’t know this was a major concern to add to my ‘cons’ list.

I get what you mean about another hassle to add to the list when you are single, but I don’t have DC of my own (not entirely though choice) and the stress of looking after other people’s all year makes me want to disappear somewhere quiet and peaceful in the holidays!

Thank you really good advice. That’s good to hear, and yes it’s a ford transit with under 80k miles - don’t want to post the link as don’t want it swept away from me if I do decided to go for it . I am inclined to not rush though and maybe have a look at some during the Easter holidays.

go for it. If you hate it then campervans hold their value fairly well and you can just resell it.