Thanks! I was looking for encouragement this morning so it is timely. Decided yesterday morning to give up the full-timing idea since it does seem like everyone spends so much money full-timing and we'll just seem like the "po" relatives in the scheme of things more because of my concepts on "thrift" than anything else and my insistence that if we can't afford to pay cash (paying off credit cards monthly included as I love the premiums associated with the cards), we can't afford it. Got an email in the afternoon from one of the concessionaires for camp hosts and it included a photo of a beautiful place, looked out the window, looked at the stuff in the house, especially the antique piano (a true work of art from the old Sears catalog), looked out the window.......... I have lived without a penny coming in as income so I understand about what can be cut. I know it all comes down to trade offs. So, around and around we go but where we stop.........
PIEERE said
06:23 PM Dec 19, 2013
Cathy: I have always went on how my feelings were at the time the thought comes to mind! If what I'm doing feels iffy I do some more research and if still feels like it isn't the right thing to do; then I don't. It's like where I'm at right now; the majority of the people here at the RV park are great. The people in the community seem to be very friendly and NOT smile in your face while they are stabbing you in the back. Believe me i have been in areas like that! The VA Healthcare facility is close and how many health providers call and ask how you are! They do here. I also receive letters from them describing the results of my test results and their diagnoses.
You will know when it is the right move; you will feel it in your heart and mind! PIEERE
Merry Christmas and happy new year!
SnowGypsy said
06:47 PM Dec 19, 2013
Thank you PIEERE for your inspiring words. I know it but sometimes I need to be reminded. It sounds like you are in a good place with kind people. I am wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with nothing but good news about your health situation.
manycats said
07:32 PM Dec 19, 2013
Snowgypsy,
Twenty years ago, when fulltiming at 40 was unheard of, my husband and I did it. We knew nothing about workamping, we just decided we wanted to travel and, with no savings and no income, we took off. We had a mobile home we were still paying for and lot rent to be paid but we figured we could find enough work along the road that would provide enough income to make our payments and still make a living. Everybody thought we were nuts but we were determined.
To make a long story short, within a few days of arriving in the Valley in Texas both of us found work that paid better than what we were earning in Florida. When we discovered Workcamping News we applied for jobs in other states and spent five years traveling and enjoying life in new places. We returned to Florida for an even better job that provided housing, four weeks paid vacation and a decent salary.
My husband then started his own business and we continued to travel whenever we had some free time. The economy crashed, we had to lay off nine employees. closed the business and moved to Georgia. Now it's time to go on the road again. We are way older, with health issues, very small income but we'll do it again. As soon as some humongous medical bills are paid (or close to being paid) off we'll go.
Never let daily woes kill your dreams. If old geezers like us can do it, you can too..
Lucky Mike said
07:36 PM Dec 19, 2013
there will always will be 10 reasons why you can't............just remember your the main reason why you can!!!!
SnowGypsy said
07:49 PM Dec 19, 2013
manycats: "Old geezers"? We'll both be 60 this summer and with my computations, I'm guessing you are in that age group also. "Old geezer" is at least 35 years away for us! Funny, in another forum not rv related someone was asking what it felt like to be old and specified "must be over 40 to answer". I answered that we were 59 years old and making our next 20 year plan where we changed our entire lives. Silly kids!
LuckyMike: And the main reason I can and probably some others is because we are just stubborn enough to do something against all odds and in my case, when others disapprove, it makes it all the more appealing which is obviously something I didn't get over from my younger years. Actually I have an issue with wearing my "inner child" on the outside!
I told my husband tonight that I felt change coming again, didn't know what it was but that would come soon and fast. I scare myself sometimes and him even more often. Life is good, more or less.
It is always good to see the lower budget articles and websites because I can tell you that having looked at the lifestyle for a good 20 years now, those on the lower budget don't find a lot of encouragement. The articles are out there and the people having a great time with it. It is nice when Lucky Mike does the "leg work" on finding the articles since there is so much on the internet and weeding through it can take forever and without a little experience with RV living, it can be difficult to decide what articles/websites are most worthy.
-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Thursday 19th of December 2013 07:50:43 PM
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
07:01 AM Dec 20, 2013
Cathy- Write a plan down of what you want to do. Write down all the roadblocks you see, think you see, people tell you about, etc.
Then write a solution to each problem. Take the money aspect out of it. There's plenty of ways to put food on the table while on the road.
While I am somewhat computer literate, I used packs of legal pads so we could lay out the pages and see what we needed to work on next. Kinda like a big flowchart. I was part of a custom fiberglass boat business that for 7 years I put my heart and soul into. From 2009 to Feb 2013 I went to the shop everyday and very seldom received any compensation. When the time came to pull the plug, we sold everything we could to satisfy the bank debt, tools, building etc. We walked away with nothing after 7 years. Thats when my wife and I decided to go. We made our plan, changed it to fit the daily, weekly, monthly situation, and made it happen. We are currently sitting in Texas "Gate Guarding" its money and a free site, you both just can't leave to go site seeing, etc. We're going to work the winter and see where we are after the spring rally. We probably will return to continue gate guarding for at least 6 more months every year.
Hang in there, it does get better.
eadebeaux said
02:02 PM Jan 7, 2014
Thank you for sharing this Mike! I saved the websites mentioned in my Favs!
Very good article , It puts a few good pointers out there for those looking!!!!
http://www.doityourselfrv.com/cheap-rv-living-tips-discount/
Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry
You will know when it is the right move; you will feel it in your heart and mind! PIEERE
Merry Christmas and happy new year!
Twenty years ago, when fulltiming at 40 was unheard of, my husband and I did it. We knew nothing about workamping, we just decided we wanted to travel and, with no savings and no income, we took off. We had a mobile home we were still paying for and lot rent to be paid but we figured we could find enough work along the road that would provide enough income to make our payments and still make a living. Everybody thought we were nuts but we were determined.
To make a long story short, within a few days of arriving in the Valley in Texas both of us found work that paid better than what we were earning in Florida. When we discovered Workcamping News we applied for jobs in other states and spent five years traveling and enjoying life in new places. We returned to Florida for an even better job that provided housing, four weeks paid vacation and a decent salary.
My husband then started his own business and we continued to travel whenever we had some free time. The economy crashed, we had to lay off nine employees. closed the business and moved to Georgia. Now it's time to go on the road again. We are way older, with health issues, very small income but we'll do it again. As soon as some humongous medical bills are paid (or close to being paid) off we'll go.
Never let daily woes kill your dreams. If old geezers like us can do it, you can too..
manycats: "Old geezers"? We'll both be 60 this summer and with my computations, I'm guessing you are in that age group also. "Old geezer" is at least 35 years away for us! Funny, in another forum not rv related someone was asking what it felt like to be old and specified "must be over 40 to answer". I answered that we were 59 years old and making our next 20 year plan where we changed our entire lives. Silly kids!
LuckyMike: And the main reason I can and probably some others is because we are just stubborn enough to do something against all odds and in my case, when others disapprove, it makes it all the more appealing which is obviously something I didn't get over from my younger years. Actually I have an issue with wearing my "inner child" on the outside!
I told my husband tonight that I felt change coming again, didn't know what it was but that would come soon and fast. I scare myself sometimes and him even more often. Life is good, more or less.
It is always good to see the lower budget articles and websites because I can tell you that having looked at the lifestyle for a good 20 years now, those on the lower budget don't find a lot of encouragement. The articles are out there and the people having a great time with it. It is nice when Lucky Mike does the "leg work" on finding the articles since there is so much on the internet and weeding through it can take forever and without a little experience with RV living, it can be difficult to decide what articles/websites are most worthy.
-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Thursday 19th of December 2013 07:50:43 PM
Then write a solution to each problem. Take the money aspect out of it. There's plenty of ways to put food on the table while on the road.
While I am somewhat computer literate, I used packs of legal pads so we could lay out the pages and see what we needed to work on next. Kinda like a big flowchart. I was part of a custom fiberglass boat business that for 7 years I put my heart and soul into. From 2009 to Feb 2013 I went to the shop everyday and very seldom received any compensation. When the time came to pull the plug, we sold everything we could to satisfy the bank debt, tools, building etc. We walked away with nothing after 7 years. Thats when my wife and I decided to go. We made our plan, changed it to fit the daily, weekly, monthly situation, and made it happen. We are currently sitting in Texas "Gate Guarding" its money and a free site, you both just can't leave to go site seeing, etc. We're going to work the winter and see where we are after the spring rally. We probably will return to continue gate guarding for at least 6 more months every year.
Hang in there, it does get better.
Thank you for sharing this Mike! I saved the websites mentioned in my Favs!