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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would this be a waste of money?

110 replies

Whu · 11/03/2023 19:38

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!

OP posts:
Justalittlebitduckling · 11/03/2023 22:23

I’m massively outnumbered on this thread, but I think having at least six months’ worth of salary equivalent in savings is so sensible if you can possibly manage it. Most people in the UK are not many decisions/months away from homelessness. I’m quite a cautious/pessimistic person, though.

Defender90 · 11/03/2023 22:27

I say do it.

My Mum passed away just before retirement and never got to enjoy her time. Sure we had holidays etc growing up but after loosing Mum I'm all for living life NOW.

Sounds like you would have many fabulous adventures with your dogs.

MacarenaMacarena · 11/03/2023 22:34

If you don't need the money as deposit for a house/repairs/pension top up/, I'd be tempted to save up a bit more money (get a lodger and do some tutoring) in order to get a better camper next year... A good one will hold its value. Check out some of the Facebook camper van groups - such adventures to have!

pattihews · 11/03/2023 22:35

nannynick · 11/03/2023 19:43

Don't buy the van.
Stay in hotels, rent a car. Rent a camper for a week or two if you really want to tour the Highlands or something like that... really decide if you like that enough to buy something that depreciates a lot.

Camper vans don't depreciate nearly as fast as cars. I bought a camper for £15k nearly 12 years ago and it seemed like a terrible extravagance, but we use it regularly from around Easter to November and during lockdown it became my office and accommodation for friends.

It's now 23 years old and others like it are snapped up at £12-15k.

OP, even if you decide after a summer on the road that vanning isn't for you, you should be able to sell the van for pretty much what you paid. It's not a £15k sunk cost. Hotels, rental cottages, care hire — you'll never get a penny back on them.

Tg2023 · 11/03/2023 22:38

Buy the van, enjoy your summers and when you aren't using it yourself rent it out.
Make money from it while you aren't using it to add back to your savings. Win win

Puffalicious · 11/03/2023 23:16

Justalittlebitduckling · 11/03/2023 22:23

I’m massively outnumbered on this thread, but I think having at least six months’ worth of salary equivalent in savings is so sensible if you can possibly manage it. Most people in the UK are not many decisions/months away from homelessness. I’m quite a cautious/pessimistic person, though.

Admirable, but living life is so much better for the soul. OP is a teacher, so has great job security. It's not as if it's a huge risk, they hold their value. Only savimg and never doing things we'd love with money just seems like such a small life. But then I've always loved my travels: it's where all my money has always gone (apart from mortgage/ bills).

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 11/03/2023 23:22

Do NOT buy it. It will be a money pit of upkeep and expense. And you really have very little fallback in terms of savings and security.

Allocate yourself something reasonable like 3-5K to tour around, using b&b, hostels, housesitting gigs, etc. to see the country. Do not saddle yourself with an expensive depreciating asset.

Seriously. It's understandable you would want freedom, adventure and indulgence but you do not have nearly enough in savings to risk this windfall.

Yulelogs · 11/03/2023 23:23

I would spend 600 quid renting a van for a weekend or so to begin with to be honest and see if u like it before buying one!

Wearingatshirt · 11/03/2023 23:34

For a fee, the AA will look over a vehicle for you and give advice. I've never used it for that but maybe someone else on here has? Or you could ask a mechanic that you use to check it over for you?

SlipperyLizard · 11/03/2023 23:36

We’ve had 2 campers, a transit and a Mazda bongo. The transit was by far the best in terms of size & facilities, but the bongo fitted into more car parks/spaces!

The great thing about campers is they hold their value - we sold the transit 12 yrs ago for 25k, and unbelievably I saw an identical one for sale last year at the same price! So it isn’t really a risky purchase.

AdoraBell · 11/03/2023 23:40

Buy it, enjoy using it and put the other 5K in savings then continue to save as you can.

PyongyangKipperbang · 12/03/2023 00:29

I wouldnt.

As someone who recently got 10k put into savings that were (on the day it went in) £50, I cant tell you how safe I feel having that safety net I didnt have before.

Its lovely having a camper (I would love one too) but 5k in savings aint much use if the clutch on the van goes, not least because you cant sell it on with a knackered clutch so you are losing money either way. Upkeep on a vehicle like that is high, I know as my BIL has one and is a member of an owners club, they all say the same....dont buy it if you cant afford to keep it. Most sell up again within the first two years. BIL's partner has horses and they both say that campers and horses are the same, affordable to buy but eye wateringly expensive to keep.

What I would do is put it into savings then take a bit out and rent a camper for the summer holidays, live the touring dream and then hand it back. You get all of the benefits but none of the ongoing costs.

Stompythedinosaur · 12/03/2023 00:35

Usually I'd support the plan, but it leaves you with not much in the way of savings if you have car or house problems, and because you won't be able to afford it when your camper inevitably breaks down.

Stompythedinosaur · 12/03/2023 00:37

I'd suggest a decent tent as a cheaper and more reliable alternative!

bridgetreilly · 12/03/2023 00:42

Do it. You can always sell it again at the end of the summer, if you want.

GameofPhones · 12/03/2023 01:29

More sensible to hire, but will they allow your dog? Being solo, you will have to overnight at camp sites. Many of these don't allow dogs into toilet blocks. My dog couldn't be left alone, and being solo I had no-one to leave him with. Mostly I did day trips, but in countryside places my dog was protective of the van and barked and lunged at passers-by so had to be on a short lead at all times. If you get a she-wee or something similar, you can toilet in the van, which though has the advantage of taking your own toilet with you when you travel. I added a tent because I found the van space restricting after a while. I found evenings were bleak in a restricted space, and it can be very cold at night. The dog limited the places I could go (being solo) but I guess you could research for dog-friendly places before you set off.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/03/2023 01:40

Have you got somewhere to park it that won;t inconvenience your neighbours

(Do I sound a bit tetchy here ? Hmmmmm . Maybe because I am ) Wink

helpfulperson · 12/03/2023 16:26

Why would she have you use campsites because she is alone? Many, many women wild camp solo. Just have a look on YouTube. And it must be very restricting having a dog that can't be left alone for the five minutes a loo trip takes especially as you normally tie them up outside the block rather than leave them in the van.

helpfulperson · 12/03/2023 16:40

redcoteleisure.co.uk/

Or trade your car in for something like this? I absolutely love mine.

midgemadgemodge · 12/03/2023 17:00

Rent for 6 weeks camper could be 6k?

If you buy it you can sell it again - they tend to hold value well

midgemadgemodge · 12/03/2023 17:01

And I can confirm there is no law compelling solo women to use a campsite 😂

LookingOldTheseDays · 12/03/2023 17:52

helpfulperson · 12/03/2023 16:26

Why would she have you use campsites because she is alone? Many, many women wild camp solo. Just have a look on YouTube. And it must be very restricting having a dog that can't be left alone for the five minutes a loo trip takes especially as you normally tie them up outside the block rather than leave them in the van.

I agree, women are not limited to sites at all.

And as a campsite user, I wouldn't want to see a dog in the loo! Dogs can be left in vans, it's perfectly safe.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 12/03/2023 18:08

Do it! Life is for living!

cocorico42 · 12/03/2023 18:15

Do it without hesitation. I have a lot of experience in this area and no, the van is unlikely to drastically depreciate. You state that you have tried the lifestyle and enjoy it. Too many people I know have waited until retirement to do this kind of thing- and ill health has not allowed them to follow their dream. Solo females in camper vans, with the correct precautions in place are not particularly at risk. My daughter has been doing this for over 18 months. If you want any advice please do not hesitate to contact me privately.

Puffalicious · 12/03/2023 18:16

GameofPhones · 12/03/2023 01:29

More sensible to hire, but will they allow your dog? Being solo, you will have to overnight at camp sites. Many of these don't allow dogs into toilet blocks. My dog couldn't be left alone, and being solo I had no-one to leave him with. Mostly I did day trips, but in countryside places my dog was protective of the van and barked and lunged at passers-by so had to be on a short lead at all times. If you get a she-wee or something similar, you can toilet in the van, which though has the advantage of taking your own toilet with you when you travel. I added a tent because I found the van space restricting after a while. I found evenings were bleak in a restricted space, and it can be very cold at night. The dog limited the places I could go (being solo) but I guess you could research for dog-friendly places before you set off.

How negative. If you're cold you're doing it wrong. I have one of these and it's divine- tested in Scotland in winter- together with a good quality portable mattress/ topper. We also have a mini portable heater which was cheap and toasty, but we often don't need it and can't use it wipf camping. Pooch also keeps you toasty.

www.finebedding.co.uk/collections/night-owl-the-coverless-duvet-natural-cotton-collection/products/night-owl-natural-cotton?variant=32694867230782