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

[GotTheBug]

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?

Mad not to. Life is for living.

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.

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

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?

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

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!

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

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!)

Oh god this sounds amazing. Do it!

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?

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

YOLO

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

DH is a teacher so would be ok with findng another job on our return. My job is more niche (pays more as well) and I probably wouldn't be able to go back to it. That does worry me but equally I don't enjoy my job anyway!

There's a good bit of equity in the house so we could sell and downsize on return if required. Renting the house out does seem like a hassle though. Sell beforehand would be an option I guess?

Savings are in 5 figures but definitely the lower end of 5 figures!

They'll be earning money from renting the house out

Why would you not do it ?

enjoy

Please please do it. It was our plan all along until cancer struck aged 42. It'll never be possible now - PLEASE DO IT

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?

Well, as someone who rented until her late 40s I slightly resent the implication that renters are inevitably 'scumbags' but I take your point.

I'd definitely go for it. Could one or both of you get a small part time remote job to supplement your travel costs?

Do it !!! I think about this daily but I have young children

I’m now late fifties and feel a huge difference energy wise from 5 years ago. Also elderly parents needs have increased as you predict. If you can, I would go now

I did 3 months and it would have been very easy to never go back to “real” life, albeit I did it in spring/summer so only a few very cold nights.
Would it be worth asking for a sabbatical from work? Worst they can do is say no then you carry on anyway. Do think about how winter proof your van is, I stayed in mine in late November for a few nights when it was down to about 0/1 degree and it was bloody freezing and I had to have the heating on overnight- I was plugged in so ok but will eat gas if you rely on that.

Also think about where you would park up, campsites can get do £30 a night, is that ok budget wise, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to “wild camp” in vans , lots of car parks don’t allow them nowadays.

Iti is wonderful though, I had such an amazing time and gave me so much room for reflection and stopped me burning out completely.

Why not? You only get one life and you're not going to be on your deathbed thinking, oh yes,im glad we stayed in our unfulfilling jobs for the financial security rather than going on an adventure.

Even if it all goes terribly wrong, how wrong can it really go? Unless death is a risk then I'd say it was worth doing.

I think the adventure sounds amazing. But if you are going to downsize anyway I thoroughly endorse the idea of selling first. The costs of being a landlord will really eat into your savings and its hassle that could spoil your trip.

I would do it but look into holiday rental instead the same money but less risk. Research this first.

Start a YouTube change too.

Yes do it! Life is for living ❤️ Ask at your job to see if a career break is possible.