The pros and cons of full-time motorhome living
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Do you dream of shutting up shop, selling your home and hitting the road for ever? Due to economic stress, rising house prices and a need to get away from the trappings of the modern world, ‘full-timing’ is becoming an increasingly popular trend in the USA, both for families and retirees.
Residents in the States are obviously helped by the fact they have a massive continent they are free to explore, but with no need for visas in the EU, there’s no reason why you couldn’t do it yourself.There is stigma attached to living in a motorhome in Europe, but as more people realise it is a valid way of achieving freedom and equity release you may not otherwise be able to attain, that stigma is disappearing.
Here are some of the pros and cons of living full-time in your motorhome.
The pros:
Home is where you areImagine the feeling of freedom you get whilst touring was with you every day of your life. Never having to go home, never having to unpack the ‘van. You can travel exactly as you please.
Chasing the weather
We have to face it, the weather in our beautiful little country is predominantly abysmal. If you live in your motorhome full-time you can pick and choose the best of the weather Europe has to offer. Winter in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece or even North Africa and head to cooler climes for summer if you wish.
Cost effectiveness
If you own a motorhome, you know how much less you can spend if you want to than living in a house. Now imagine you didn’t have the costs of a house tying you down. No council tax, no heating bills, no gas bills, no water bills. Of course, if you travel through France, often you don’t even have to pay for your pitch on aires. You can keep the cost minimal easily and free up equity from the sale of your home.
The cons:
Making money
If you aren’t retired, you need a job at which you can work on the road. Software engineer, journalist, photographer are just three of which you could consider.
Negative connotations
In Europe, we have a tradition of mistrust toward those who live outside a perceived community. Gypsies and tinkers have oft been seen as the only people who could live a life of freedom in a roving home.
With house prices as they are and more people taking to living (properly) in motorhomes, these prejudices are changing, slowly.
Voters' rights
With the freedom from council tax and a fixed home, it also makes it nigh-on impossible to vote. You have to ask yourself if it’s important to you.
Maintainance
You’ll all know, if you spend time in your motorhome and don’t want exorbitant bills for upkeep, you’ll have to be handy with the toolkit. Like on a house, things will go wrong.
If you want to discuss full-timing, why not head on over to our forums?
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