acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 (edited) Wow - its been a year already - time has flown by! A year ago I convinced of a property crash, and not willing to sign up to a mortgage of epic proportions to buy a slave box, but fed up of renting - I bought myself a 6 metre Nissan Civilian motorhome. I admit at the time I thought this is going to get old fast - I'd get claustrophobic living in such a small space - and would probably go back to renting after a couple of months of this adventure/experiment. Well - I'm still living in it - and loving it! I'm not claustrophobic in it at all - because its not made of immovable brick walls - I am surrounded by windows - and I can change the view at a whim. The freedom of just driving over to somewhere new when i feel like it - not having to plan or even pack is just great. I'm spending 4 nights a week at campsites for power - which costs £20 per week - thats all my bills and housing costs done (and no rates or council tax)! This also means I'm living at such a low cost - I'm also not a slave to my job - I can live for many years with the money I have at this rate no problem. I'm now watching the crash safe in the knowledge I'm crash proofed. However - I think now housing will have to fall a lot further than it would have had to before I got this way of life to tempt me back into the housing market. From where I am - housing looks 100X more overpriced to me than it was before. How are others in campers getting on? Homeless?? Edited November 5, 2008 by acidrob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepto Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Wow, congratulations on lasting so long. Isn't it getting a tad cold at night though? Do you have any sort of heating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
injustice Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Good on you acidrop. I would love to do the same. Question; What do you use for an address for official purposes, driving licence, insurance, vehicle registration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Wow, congratulations on lasting so long.Isn't it getting a tad cold at night though? Do you have any sort of heating? I have a cerimic electric heater for when Im plugged into 240 V at a campsite - and have a gas tent heater for when I'm away. I'm still on the first gas bottle for the gas heater after 1 year.. The walls and roof of the bus are carpetted - its pretty well insulated - and a space this size heats pretty much instantly with any kind of heater. Short answer - I'm very cosy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saving For a Space Ship Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 That's bigger than most new build 1 bed flats! Best keep it quiet about 'off-brick living' or the Gov will be around to censor you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 (edited) Good on you acidrop. I would love to do the same.Question; What do you use for an address for official purposes, driving licence, insurance, vehicle registration? I have a p/o box for my mail - but also use my parents address as my address for my bank - I do all my banking online anyway - but means I can fill in billing address for visa card for online purchase easily Edited November 5, 2008 by acidrob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
why me Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Leaving next month to spend a year or so travelling round Oz in a bushcamper. Going to spend my time surfing and gold fossicking. After that Ill be picking up my aussie passport. Can't wait to join you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 (edited) Leaving next month to spend a year or so travelling round Oz in a bushcamper.Going to spend my time surfing and gold fossicking. After that Ill be picking up my aussie passport. Can't wait to join you I expect a similar post from you 1 year on Edited November 5, 2008 by acidrob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Gypsys. Why are they so hated?. Know we know why. and now we know why they always have plenty of cash. Its a cheap way of living. Well done that man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashBear Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Bet that's chick magnet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 That's bigger than most new build 1 bed flats!Best keep it quiet about 'off-brick living' or the Gov will be around to censor you It is pretty much a studio apartment on wheels - except the money I save on not paying council tax/ rates = my total bills for the year - and of course - I have a much better view - and if I dont like the neighbours I can drive away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swipe Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Well done. That is great. And when you do buy a place you'll still have the camper van for short weekend breaks. How much did you pay for it and what does it do to the gallon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Live Peasant Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Intrigued. What about showering and laundry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Bet that's chick magnet! When the bus is a rockin' - don't come a knockin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normal Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I'm spending 4 nights a week at campsites for power - which costs £20 per week Where do you spend the other 3 nights? Is it just a case of putting up with being moved on, or is it easy /safe enough to find truck stops and lay-bys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashBear Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Leaving next month to spend a year or so travelling round Oz in a bushcamper.Going to spend my time surfing and gold fossicking. After that Ill be picking up my aussie passport. Can't wait to join you Good call! I went away to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America for two years.... I left in 2006 but wish I'd go in late 2008/early 2009! Spent about 16K (all savings)...probably could have spent less than 10k if I'd been on a budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Intrigued. What about showering and laundry? I do my laundry at the campsites when I stay for the night to charge my batteries. I have a full normal shower on the bus - with hot water, and a flush toilet. When I'm at a campsite I use their shower/toilets of course - have to get my £5 worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearing Up Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Good going Acidrob, I'm very impressed. Did you buy the bus new or second hand and how much did it cost? How far afield do you go? What are you doing for income? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashBear Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I do my laundry at the campsites when I stay for the night to charge my batteries. I have a full normal shower on the bus - with hot water, and a flush toilet. When I'm at a campsite I use their shower/toilets of course - have to get my £5 worth It's not as hard as it sounds really. I'd consider doing it if I were to travel around a country for 4 months + But how do you get an internet connection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotMyHouse Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Great post! Congratulations on jumping ship. If it wasn't for Mrs WHWL and the small WHWLs (aka the snot goblins) I'd do the same thing. Mind you, I'd probably want to be on a boat and I'd need decent 3G Internet access. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieChuck Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 What camp sites are you finding that charge £5 a night? most of the ones I've ever come accross (I tow a caravan) are upwards of a tenner a night, plus extra for hook up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Where do you spend the other 3 nights? Is it just a case of putting up with being moved on, or is it easy /safe enough to find truck stops and lay-bys? I actually could spend less nights at a campsite - my internal batteries have lasted over 3 nights in a row with heavy computer internet usage. The other nights you can spend anywhere you like - obviously people don't like you living outsode their house - go to the countryside - anywhere where your not in anyones way. If you really need to spend time in a town/city - supermarkety carpark is fine at night - your only there for the night then your away in the morning. But basically the places where your going to have problems - residential areas - are the last places you would want to stay - go find a the best view you can - and wake up to a million dollar view (except its free to you) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidrob Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 It's not as hard as it sounds really. I'd consider doing it if I were to travel around a country for 4 months + But how do you get an internet connection? Im using vodafone vodem mobile broadband attached to my desktop pc in the bed - on a wireless lan - so my whole bus is wireless for other things - like the playstaion 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotMyHouse Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I'm surprised you're not wardriving - there are loads of unsecured WiFi spots these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wait & See Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Thats a great way of living and one in the eye for the useless council. No tax for them, ever again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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