So, you’re seriously thinking about buying a caravan or motorhome? That’s a great idea if you are going on holiday a lot and want to save money on accommodation along the way. You will have the comfort of staying in a comfortable environment and taking to the road whenever you like. Here are a few tips to help you keep your finances under control as you embark on a new lifestyle you will enjoy, year after year.
What Sort of Caravan Should You Buy?
To answer this question, start by thinking about you and your travelling companions’ needs. If you are young and travel alone or with your partner, a simple two-berth caravan should provide enough room. However, a family with a kid and a dog should choose something larger so that none of you will feel constrained.
The next consideration is whether you ought to buy new or secondhand? A secondhand vehicle is usually cheaper than one that has never been used before, but you need to consider the wear-and-tear it has chalked up. The one you buy might need some repairs, plus you cannot always be sure how much life there is left in it.
A new caravan or motorhome will almost always cost more in comparison, but you don’t have to come up with all the money at once. A smart choice is getting a loan from a lending provider like Auto Finance.
Let’s say you need £10,000. For a seven-year contract, you will only have to pay £149.42 a month. Or, for a £15,000 loan – and you can get yourself an excellent brand new caravan for this price – you can opt for a 10-year financing plan and your monthly payment will be £171. When you read this guide, the financials will make more sense than ever.
Get a Club Membership
The nightly fees for a caravan pitch at one of the many camping sites around the UK vary with the services and utilities provided. The most basic pitch can cost only £5 but can go up to £12 to £15.
If you want to move around the country, think about getting a membership with a club that has sites in the places you’re planning to visit to reduce your overall costs. Look for a site that includes electricity and hot water in the nightly fee to get the most value for the price.
Find Free Parking
Making a caravan your main home implies changing your lifestyle and mindset. Look up all your friends around the country and ask them if you could park your caravan or motorhome on their property when you visit the area.
The old you might have been ashamed to ask for favours, but the new you has a better understanding of the value of money and wants to save cash whenever possible. You no longer need to impress people by pretending you can just carelessly throw away money. Your freedom is worth more!
And, who knows, you might be doing your friends a favour by introducing them to the idea of living on the road.
Remote Working Meets Mobile Working
If there’s a good thing that came out of the coronavirus pandemic, it is that it made remote working socially acceptable and employers more open to the idea. If all you need for your work is a laptop, then you can work that anywhere with an Internet connection.
Most camping sites around the UK offer high-speed Internet access. In some places, it’s free, while other sites offer very attractive packages if you plan to stay for a week or a month.
Look for Coupons and Discounts
One of the drawbacks of living on the road is that you cannot buy everyday items and groceries in bulk as you won’t have enough storage space for that onboard. However, you should look for coupons and discounts to help save money on items as you buy them, and you can find plenty of those deals online.
One of the advantages of living on the road is that you travel a lot, and many times you avoid going through the centre of the city. This means you’ll be less tempted to pop into a restaurant for a quick pizza or spend money at a fancy coffee shop.
Speaking of eating out, just the money you save on a burger and soda will be enough to pay for pitching your caravan on a scenic beach. How great does that sound?
Financing Your Caravan Life
With some planning, a cost-effective caravan lifestyle is one that you can look forward to this year. From looking for online discounts on groceries to finding free parking, and getting a caravan on an affordable plan, you can enjoy a satisfying life without accumulating debt.
