was_butnotnow
Fulltime: Emery, SD
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Joined: 05/28/2003
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So you are planning to sell your house and go fulltime. What makes you think you can still do this in this economy?
Are you above 62 with SS or are you just cash rich? Some questions from us current fulltimers out there who are not just posting... "Ya go for it" every time we see that question come up in the forums. And we wonder if people have sat down and and done the math. Can you afford to do this and do you have a plan on how to come off the road when the time comes, as it will. So do you have funds set aside to even buy a park model trailer as an example when you just can't afford the price of fuel to drive to your dreams anymore.
I'm sorry but The American dream that we can do anything we want (in retirement) is no longer an option for a good portion of the so called middle class anymore.
If you are maybe retired military with health care, or get a pension with health Ins. and got out from under your house, and had a 401K that didn't get trashed in the tech bust a few years ago, then you might be able to go for it, and the rest of you get a life and plan, plan, plan.
If you sell your home and use all the funds to buy your RV and will have to work, more than just volunteering for a place to stay you just might be in trouble.
So the bottom line question here is do think you can still go fulltime? Tell us what makes you think you can afford to do it?
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bigbubba1959
Illinois
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Wife is a travel nurse that makes 100k per year plus a large housing stipend. Thats all I can tell you!! However one doesnt have to BE RETIRED to go fulltime!
if once you dont suuuceedd
If once you deont succeed
If once you dont succeed try tryyyy
If once you dont' succedd
Ok if once you dont succeed just freaking DO IT!!!!!!!!!!
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larry cad
Whatever.....
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So, is full-timing a more expensive way to live than in a stick built house, or is it cheaper? When you retire, you still have to live, somehow.
I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.....
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tandkj
Full timer
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Due to the taxes in northern VA, fed taxes, house payment, etc we could not afford to retire and live there. We are now on the road as full timers working when we want to off-set the additional costs. When we can no longer be on the road we are looking at a 55+ place.
08 Camelot
07 Ranger Toad
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ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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Rich Aunt...they really do exist and leave you in their will...
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
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READY TO ROLL!
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firedude
On the road
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Joined: 01/21/2003
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was_butnotnow wrote:So the bottom line question here is do think you can still go fulltime? Tell us what makes you think you can afford to do it?
I'd like to ask you the reverse here. Why do you think they could not?
Everyone is different with different needs, lifestyles, finances, ages, working or not working. I think the important thing is they do what they desire and yes of course plan and research by all means, but truthfully I don't think there is a single correct answer here since we are ALL different and in different status.
You have to live some place whether it be an RV or conventional home. For me anyway this lifestyle has proven and continues to be cheaper for me. Ask the same question to all those losing their homes right now to the economy. Look at the homes for sale and the amount of repos. The economy just doesn't apply to full-timers. It hits everyone, well at least middle class and below.
Bottom line there are folks on both sides of the river here.
Being a full-timer does NOT mean you MUST drive every day. There are no rules but your own. There are ways of circumventing fuel costs. I and many have done it through monthly rates, cutting back in other areas, not traveling as fast and often. Lots of ways to adjust, like you'd have to do in a conventional home. Owning and living in a conventional home doesn't make you exempt from all the ails of the economy. For me it would be more of a financial and emotional burden.
As far as health insurance? You either have it or you don't or afford it or you can't. What difference would it make where you live? you either have it or you don't whether you live in an RV, tent or conventional home.
I recently sat down with a friend for a couple hours and he in his case was shocked at how much cheaper he could live full-timing in his RV. Some surtely can as I am proof, and of course may not be the case for many.
It goes back to what I said in that what may be right for you may not suit me at all so is your question based on your standards, my standards or standards of others?
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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i think i could fulltime cheaper then liveing in our house, all the taxes here right now are sky high and still going up, we could stay full time in a site cheaper then what our taxes are and have all the utilys paid for besides,as long as we stay put for a while and didnt travel much we could save a lot.we have a free spot here for the summer months if we wanted saveing even more.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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CS_Grill Crew
Discovery Bay, Ca
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Good thread for some creative thoughts.
We are at least 7-10 years from going full time and the planning has started. Once the kids are off to college, plan is to go full time with a "virtual job" that would help offset some of the expenses. No shame in getting odd jobs/eBaying/etc either.
We hope to do that for at least 10 years and do it well visiting the Good Ol USA and our neighbors North and South of us for months at a time. This darned econony should be turned around by then dont you think?
Afterall, I am not going to take it with me. 
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ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
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2 difference scenarios I'd like to submit for anyone's examination:
Mine: We have a nice, 10 yr. old PAID FOR 5'er, new truck that is not paid for, but will be as soon as the house sells, then we will be debt free. Our house pmt. is currently over $1,200/mo., electricity averages $250/mo. I'm not even going into taxes. We are sitting stationary till the house sells and are paying $350/mo and that includes all the electricity we want. No yard work, no garbage fees, no part time maid work to help keep an almost 4,000 sq. ft. home clean. Cheaper? You do the math.
My friend: Was renting a 3/2 small home for $850/mo, plus gas, electric, garbage, renters insurance, etc. I encouraged her to get a trailer or 5'er and convinced her how much cheaper it would be. Because of a foreclosure and bad credit they can't buy an RV. I told her about workamping. Her husband is a chef and has a full time job, so it had to be within their city (San Antonio area). She found a workamping situation that gives her free rent for a year if she works the summer (16 wks./37 hrs. a wk.) The owners have a trailer that they are renting to her for $250/mo and that includes all electricity. She ends up working a bit more each week and that's taken off her rent. She said they're saving so much money it's ridiculous. It won't be long they can pay cash for their own RV. The one they're in now is a 2005, nice and newer than mine. She plans on doing this for 2 yrs. to get ahead of the ball game. Do they have the perfect lifestyle? No, but it ain't bad! All kids are grown, 1 in college and they can pay it off quick. They love their little trailer and the lifestyle and have discovered by DOING just how much it is THEM. They don't intend to own a stix and brix again.
Can you do it? If you want to...you just have to ask yourself how big your want to is and be willing to do what it takes and figure it out. Where there's a will, there's a way.
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bigeking
Arlington, Texas
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It always amazes me how quick the doom and gloomers come out. There are truly some people who are really hurting, but that is not everyone. I get so tired of hearing nothing but bad news, my gosh, the economy does this in in cycles just like the stock market. Certainly not all, but a majority of people who are loosing their houses, bought more than they should have. They let themselves be talked into arms, and when the payments went up they were in trouble. They could not make their payments,then the the lenders were in trouble. Oil prices going up so much has a trickle up effect, everything goes up. It has happened before and it will happen again, but do not stick your head in the sand and cry the sky is falling the sky is falling, adjust and rearrange your life, and do not do anything foolish that will get you in trouble and you will regret later.
Everett
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