at the moment we are doing that,only thinking about it.we have a lovely caravan which we love to bits.however it is only ever going to be used 4 or 5 times a year max which is a total waste.and we need to raise another 4k for our house purchase which we value our caravan at.
the downside as I said at the start we love it.it has everything we need a good layout and we have it in a good safe storage site.
so really torn atm suppose we could buy a cheaper house lol.
its the lack of use thats really getting to me though and it isnt through choice Im afraid its work commitments primarily which dictate to us how often we go away
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
This is a very bad position to be in, and a decision that I wouldn't like to make.
The danger is that you would sell up, miss caravanning greatly but not be in the financial position to start over again, I know we wouldn't be able to. Then again, just really enjoy those 4-5 times a year and work to keep the van. It all depends on how important those little breaks are to you. We would be devastated if we lost them.
if you can get £4k or more sell it don’t go short on the house. you can pick up a perfectly good unit for a quarter of that that will do for the present and in a couple of years get another better unit.
the house is more important that four trips away. so so many folk here spend out what in effect they cant afford or justify on units that when the sums are added up equal out at a cost of £500 each time they use it. its a form of keeping up with the Jones and in these times its daft. units depreciate as much as cars until they bottom out at around £1500 then they hold their value.
its a nice unit but is it nice enough to live in 365 ??? get the house. just tighten your belt its not for ever and you will look back and see the sense in a very short time
Quote: Originally posted by D Mansworth on 06/4/2011
if you can get £4k or more sell it dont go short on the house. you can pick up a perfectly good unit for a quater of that that will do for the present and in a couple of years get another better unit.
the house is more important that four trips away. so so many folk here spend out what in effect they can afford or justify on units that when the sums are added up equal out at a cost of £500 each time they use it. its a form of keeping up with the jones and in these times its daft. units depreciate as much as cars untill they bottem out at around £1500 then they hold their value.
its a nice unit but is it nice enough to live in 365 ??? get the house. just tighten your belt its not for ever and you will look back and see the sence in a very short time.
Yes I agree (begrudgingly as I would really hate to be in that position) but house does have to come first as its where you live for the other 47-48 weeks of the year. Get yourselves a good canvas frame tent (Cabanon I'm biased though) to tide you over until you are in a position to buy another caravan - as you will still need to holiday and there is no cheaper way - bargains on Ebay.
I come from the opposite direction. Our house is where we live to be able to work, our caravan is where we want to be whenever possible, wherever we feel like going. If we can't have that oh so important time as a couple or as a family, whats the point in working your butt off in the first place! Sorry that might not help FifeBloke, but my priorities have changed over the last 12 months.
Dan
I would think though can you use the caravan to save other money towards your new house. EG do you also have a holiday abroad each year and could you go without that and use the money having a break in your caravan instead. Also would you really get what you are expecting for your caravan and how easy would it be to sell. It may not be worth selling for what you get back in the end.
needs must so they say.the house is more important than a caravan,my daughter and hubby found a house that they must have now and i bought there newish car to help with the mortgage payments as they could not afford both.they got a nice house i got a nice car.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
stop wait ,
how much would 4 or 5 holidays a year cost with out the caravan.
depending on what you like . i think just keep the van or down size the van.
my van is my holiday home to where ever i want to go . and if i cant go with the van then i don't want to go.
we are trying to make our holidays cheaper due to coming up to retirement . but getting rid of the van will be a last resort. even then i would try a small mobile home .
so don,t do it there must be something else
people take loans for that much .
Hi fife-bloke, Sorry to hear you may have to sell your van,Hope it dose not come to that,If it dose the house and family come first,and you can always find an other van later on, hope it works out for you,good luck.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Oh dear what a decision. Nora has a good point as does Dan as does D Mansworth. It is a difficult one. My hubby is self employed and our short weekends have become such a top priority for getting away that we could not contemplate selling the van. On the other hand you need to live in a house and have a life and a home. May be downsizing the van is a plan and get the best of both worlds. I do not envy your decision and wish you the best luck in the world x x x
------------- Oh am loving the tin tent after campaining against it..........I was wrong.
are you a first time buyer? If so then I could see why selling the van to raise that money is so vital but in other ways I think not.
we are currently trying to sell to move up the property ladder and another friend who is also selling has been told people are putting in offers 20% less than the asking price and often being accepted.
To me I don't think I could bare selling, whilst you say it is only for 4-5 times a year how long are those times? At the mo we only use our about that many times, for 2 1 week hols and then weekends, but I also see it as a long term investment that when we have more money we can go away more. For us with out a van/tent we wouldn't be able to go on hols.
Sorry for rambling and good luck with what you chose
sorry to hear your van has to go but sometimes its for the best especially where the house is concearned ,we have beem there before as well but the house is the priority ,we sold our static for a new kitchen!!!!,that was one of the reasons ,cost was another ,but kitchen was a death trap in this new to us house so caravan had to go ,we now have our wee cheap and cheerfull and it does the job,
good luck with everything and hope you can get some funds for a wee van later
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Topic: thinking of selling up
