SELLING UP FOR VAN LIFE - Crazy Move or Best Decision Ever?
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- You're probably here because you're thinking of selling up for full time van life, and wondering if you're having a mid-life crisis, or you're just completely crazy.
But what if you're actually totally sane and just had the best idea of your entire life? What if selling up to live in a motorhome is a fantastic cost-effective way of seeing the world, finding freedom and shrugging off the shackles of everyday life?
We did just that over 5 years ago, and want to share with you everything we learned on that journey, to help you in the transition to full-time motorhome life.
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A very honest interview, thanks to both of you.
I have lived in my LWB sprinter for 5 years now and wouldn't change this life style.
I'm 70 years old and have my pensions so financially it's not too bad but I still do most of the repairs if needed and all the servicing on the van so that helps a great deal.
I am single now and I have my little dog for company so not many arguments and life is generally good.
Even cancer as not stopped my van life. I stayed at Leeds Hospital (Jimmy's) with the van and they even provided electric for the 4 weeks I was having treatment. So van life can be good even when the chips are down.
Thank you so much and for sharing this, I've just read it out loud to Izzy, and feel inspired.
I love the fact the hospital supported you throughout your treatment (despite today's bad NHS press).
Izzy's mum lives just outside Leeds so we're up there fairly regularly and always up for a coffee if you’re about.
Take care Phil and Izzy 🍷🙏
@@TheGapDecaders I was looked after by the nurses and Doctors with such care, I have a lot to thank them for. Love to meet you both and show you my van which I built myself.
You could come to Skipton they have a Council Aire. Don't know how you would let me know ? Anyway I am glad I have given you both encouragement.
All sounds good, we're deep into our new truck build right now but at some point later this year we'll be heading north and could possibly pass through Skipton for a view and cuppa, we've got lots of contact details on our website but we can make it work, there's always a way. 🙏☺@@pathfinder303
Good video guys. We have been on the road full-time for nearly four years. Our advice, NEVER talk to family/friends to ask their opinion, as you said, envy etc clouds them, and many will try and talk you out of it through that. TELL them what you are doing, made-up-minds and all that. Most important to stand the test of FT vanlife, is a strong relationship, and for you BOTH to want it. We separate two to three times a year, when Carolyn flys to visit family in Cyprus. I am them alone, no compromises, and I get on with working on our van, and doing EXACTLY as I want, and that break, is super healthy for our relationship. I do all our maintenance on our LWB Sprinter, so not fearful of big maintenance bills. We are both 71 this year, and now planning Africa, with gold prospecting in the High Atlas...We both do not let the old person in. We have our health, and that is the only true wealth, and whilst you have it, you can spend it. Happy miles ahead with your new conversion. Best wishes. Tony and Carolyn.
Hi Tony and Caroline,
Thank you for such an interesting reply.
We completely agree with the first part of your message.
There's no question that having time apart is healthy, it took us a little while to accept that, and even separate activities such as a days hiking can work wonders.
We've just bought a bigger motorbike and will enjoy extended trips touring together, but I (Phil) fully intend to solo for extended periods, which Izzy is happy with.
Age is but a number and love your attitude to this - yes, we're so incredibly fortunate to have our health.
Anyway, have a great time in the High Atlas, GOOD LUCK shamrock ☘ 🙏☺
@@TheGapDecaders through our own facebook group, we have experienced envy people, our true followers jumped right in to defend us, and so we get rid of the envy's from the group. The worst of non-violent human traits...Love your Morocco vids...We are off there end of April, gold prospecting in the High Atlas. Made a great friend there online. Aziz is a rock-hound and can guide us...Looking forward to sunshine climes again... :)
Thanks both, yes sadly we've encountered that green eyed monster too.
Good luck with the gold prospecting, sounds like a lot of fun and just love those wonderful colours as the sun shines, have fun 🙏 @@wheelyliving4093
@@TheGapDecaders Many thanks...
IMO never, ever sell your bricks and mortar. Downsize by all means, but always retain a property you would be happy to move back to. But if you do rent out a property be very careful not to overestimate the returns - property ownership costs a lot more than you think and there are always big gaps in rental cashflow. But at some point you will want to move back into a house, maybe not till you are 80, but at some point you will want a property that you own. Renting a property is such a stress, total lack of security, especially when you are in you 60’s, 70’s and 80’s!
I suppose it really depends on how free you want to be, and of course hindsight’s a wonderful thing.
What the outright sale gave us was an opportunity, and we'll share more regarding our property/lifestyle choice later this year.
Very interesting, thanks for the insight ✅
Your opening comments are spot on Izzy and Kerry & myself often say this, the process you describe is exactly the same as us. We left the country and our house hadn’t exchanged 😂 we got so frustrated waiting (6 months in the end), we were 1 month in and in Greece when we got the news.
What are your guys next plans??
Hi guys, hope this finds you both well.
Stress, frustration, questioning yourselves... the list goes on, and what we should have said at the end of the video was - we love this lifestyle and we know we made the right decision.
Anyway, I guess you’re both working away, saving the pennies ready for the next adventure 🙏😘
That was a great video, very frank and honest, it’s good to see this way of life is working for you, not sure if I/we could do it but I do hope to sort out an over lander of some sort, for trips of a month at a time to test the theory 😊, all of your videos have given a good insight and there is so much to see in so many other countries, thanks for your content so far.
Very good advice. Thanks for your video. ❤
Hello we are early into full time in our Motorhome, it’s early days we are in Wales working a few hours a day as campsite wardens and renting out our home we thought we will just go with the flow our home is on a 6 months short term agreement to start with and our furniture is in storage it will become quite expensive after the first three months so a decision will be made to sell it or continue storing. Base plan is to work 6 months to finance 6 months off travelling but who knows, enjoyed your video I’ll stick around see what you guys are upto as they see you down the road 👍
So many excellent things covered in this. Thank you for a clear, real (not Instagram high gloss) discussion about transitioning. Inspiring and informative! (As per usual)
some great advice tank you !
thank you 😊
Thanks for presenting this information in such a clear way.
Though it seemed Izzy had a bit of hindsight is 20/20. The biggest and best take aways are that you both took action.
Though things might or could have been differently everything helped you both get to where you are now with some incredible adventures along the way.😊
Thanks, lots of good advice. Good luck with the van build. Great and very useful Morocco guide which I purchased recently.
Hi Andy, thank you and appreciate the feedback and support. 🙏😀
Great honest vid as always 😀🇬🇧👍❤
Hi Jason, thank you 🙏
Great to see you again with good advice from you both.
Proper vids one of the best on utube😊😊😊😊
Hi Mario,
Thank you, appreciate your feedback 🙏☺
What an excellent and informative video 👍
Hi Neil, really appreciate your feedback. 🙏☺
Always good to hear how it all started for you guys, way back when 👍
Hi P&A, thank you...loving the French exposure 🍷😀
Great video 👍
🙏☺
Great video and very open hearted ,great you share your trials and tribulations hats off to you both
We really enjoyed this
All the best from Fiona and Gordon fae bonnie Scotland
Hello Gordon & Fiona, good to hear from you as always and thank you. 🙏 P&I 🍷😀
Thanks for all your insights. I agree that the path to full time van/camper/skoolie life is not a straight line, even with planning. Hopefully the next 85 days (but who's counting...) will go smoothly and I'll be joining the ranks of the full timers!
Hi and thank you, I like your "straight line" description, enjoy the ride 👌🙏😀
That's a quick self build nice job 😂
Very interesting vid - we are right there, building the truck, selling up, see the world.
I have a slightly different approach based on mainly on “f**k, let’s do it!”
Wrong approach, should I be nervous about it, should I be concerned? Maybe I should - but I’m not. I’m not worried at all. I’m excited, inspired (by you guys, and others) and can’t wait.
I’ll let you know a couple of years if we went wrong. :)
Hi Rob, We're on the same page.
There's a lot of people (90%) who will question your thinking and maybe think your making a stupid decision.
We love our lifestyle and feel fortunate to have had the balls to "be different", you'll always get those who are either jealous or too afraid to step outside the norm, the norm that we've all been conditioned to adhere too.
Life is short and we have to grab it by the horns 🙏😀
The "don't have too much in your van" is a big thing for freedom. You want to explore and not be bothered about a scratch, and you want to be able to leave it. Some others I followed down the Pan American in an old 80 series, but then got a $140K Maltec for Europe/Asia/Africa but felt they couldn't be as adventurous, or even leave the vehicle while going to hike a mountain, or round a city - sold it and got a much cheaper vehicle.
Great honest no frills info guys. We are preparing for our life "on the road" - planning to overland from Australia to Dublin ( our home town)!
Thank you, fantastic - I'm already intrigued, what a fabulous journey. Will you ship to South America or South Africa?
We got a few options - ship to Indonesia and head up through Malaysia . Then into the "stan" countries and onwards!@@TheGapDecaders
Sounds good, we're really keen to do the Stan's but the land border into Azerbaijan is still closed, and we're not prepared to route through Russia (on principle) and hesitant about Iran as Brits who blog/vlog. @@cbw009
Everything is a compromise, even an ordinary lifestyle. We just don't think of it that way because it's the default for most people since childhood.
This is very true
Life is governed by circumstances. Within our individual circumstances we have choices. Those choices are not for others too criticise as long as those choices are not hurting anyone else, or tax payers, don't have to support your choices later in life in old age. Ultimately, that is the underlying point, with freedom comes responsibility and that requires sacrifice.
In Military terms, you need to do a Military Estimate process and understand the 7x P's. Responsibility is everyones responsibility.
The main points, concerns and worries most would have longterm is...
- What is your old age plan, not just early year retirement plan?
- What is your ill health plan?
- If your old age plan relies on benefitting from family passing away or tax payers supporting welfare, then that surely is not a plan?
- Have you paid all your National Insurance contributions to gain a full UK State Pension?
- If 55 yrs old and your Military Pension is not increasing with Inflation, why did you decide to become a Non UK Resident? Did not paying UK tax on earnings outweigh this benefit?
The list is endless. Wishing you both all the best.
Personally, I could not live a Gypsy lifestyle (Not being derogative, just a lifestyle fact). 30 years Military service, a Camper Van (Fiat Van Factory Built Camper Van) and a small downsized English Castle, as our base, our security and our old age plan, be it in sickness or health.
Life would be so boring if we all viewed it through the same lens. We pay UK tax, and are fully paid up with NI. Not yet 55, but we have a solid ill health and old age plan. Oh and we love our ‘gypsy’ lifestyle.
Hey Izzy & Phil, always loving your videos and thanks for your insights and Q&A! I'm looking forward to your adventures in the new truck too. Your website about van travels is just great. I would like to offer friendly feedback/advice. Your audio could be very much improved by using mics for your voices, and thus improve the number of views/subsribers on your channel, I'm sure. Personally, I especially struggled to follow you when you traveled in your truck with the airco on, the sound of which completely eclipsed your own audio. Budget option is the Comica vimo v3 set or the more expensive Rode wireless. It's a bit more hassle for you but these mics last for hours really so you can keep them on all day. The mics are so good that they can block ambient noise (like the wind in this video) and make your voices very clear. No problems when editing the videos, tracks are easily synced. I hope you're not offended by the feedback, I wish you both all the best!
Hi Anthony, very much appreciate the feedback and I'm not remotely offended and yes, the cab aircon and background cab noise doesn’t make for an easy watch.
I've tried to address the issue with a GoPro mod with sock and a Rode directional mic. Although it improved, I'd have to agree that the individual mic seems to be the better option.
Thanks for taking the time to message 🙏P&I 🍷
Some great advice as always, thought there for a minute you’d got a new vehicle 😉. We’re getting lots of practice at living together in a small space and taking some time to research as much as we can while we get ourselves into a position to take the plunge. I’ve been trying to think of something I can do whilst on the road (laptop based) but wasn’t sure if some of the things I found were a scam or not, so still looking. Always enjoy your video’s 👍
Hi Michael, always a pleasure hearing from you and thank you.
One thing I can offer advice on is my CZcams experience, it's the most work you'll do for the least financial reward, sadly.
Our website makes money but it took years before we made anything, and even then it was a couple of hundred pounds.
Some people are virtual assistants, data inputers (raw numbers into spreadsheets etc).
Good luck with the prep and hopefully something suitable will pop up 🙏🍷☺
@@TheGapDecaders thanks, data input sounds good to me, something stresses. I’ll keep looking and hopefully find something 🤞
We are going though the same currently in spain
Sold up in uk our home is our van
We are both 67 years old and married for 47 years kathryn is also disabled
But life is for living and we
are running out of time
We came out to spain to buy a house but i want to carry on in the van
Biggest issue is how we stay out of uk with eu 90 day rule
Hi Paul & Kathryn, good for you.
We totally get it, you never know what's around the corner.
We love Spain and can't wait to get back... Lot's more to follow on Spain (watch this space).
Yeah, the 90 day rule is certainly a challenge, you can only dip into Morocco so many times. 👍🏻
Good advice. We did something similar. Had good jobs and friend but thought is this it thill we die. So quite our jobs moved to New Zealand and fairy quickly new we wanted a motorhome to see New Zealand (NZ). After 6 years of weekend worriers and holidays we sold everything and now live in our motorhome and travel NZ fulltime. Now been 4 years and we love it. Your advise is spot on. Like to add if you rent out your home you will not have total freedom and still worry about it especially when things go wrong with tenants ( which can be very costly too). Investing wisely is important so if necessary you can get back into a house, which will be much smaller as you will find out you do not need a lot of space or things. Make sure you know your budget to live the life you want. So make a realistic budget and stick to it. Do know finacial difficulties will make life a lot more stressful and kill relationships.
Hi and thank you, exploring NZ full time sounds fabulous and definitely on our list.
Our journey re property has been successful, but as you say it's not without it's stresses, we'll share more at a later date, regarding property and our workaround.
Fortunately, Izzy used to manage large budgets and she's a stickler for detail and planning, this definitely helps alleviate the stress.
Appreciate your thoughts 🙏☺
excellent to hear your experience with this, especially the decision to buy a cathargo (we're considering this style for the future). what was the second-hand a-class you used for morocco and what prompted you to go for the style of motorhome you are currently building? Also, how did you resolve the decision to sell your house and leave your kids with a less certain inheritance? I really appreciate your videos and honesty
Hi Ian, thanks for the feedback.
The second A-Class was a tag axle Knaus, solid in build quality and GVW of 5t with a big payload.
However, we found ourselves forever sitting on the edge of the desert or wanting to explore & remain in remote places for longer durations. We therefore felt the need for more capability and capacity, hence the overland rig.
We have three grown up kids and obviously our kids inheritance is important, but at only 47 (Phil) when we sold up, we were keen to invest and live off our earnings, we've continued to grow our business and certainly won't rely on our old age pension or inheritance to prop us up financially in our later years.
We'll buy another property in the UK at some point in the next few years, but will share more about our property/lifestyle later in the year 😉🙏
Interesting video ,we're just about to sell our house not because we need the money for the truck but we are just not using it and it's not an easy rental and we pay a lot of tax and insurance each year.
Interesting to hear you would have purchased another house to rent and not just invest the money.
Hi, we like property and have done well from it, having always developed property we were keen to have a rest, explore for a few years (invest our funds), then return & buy another doer upper, that obviously didn’t happen.
If we had of known we were going to travel for the foreseeable future, then we would have bought a rental property with a keen yield. lot's to think about, goog luck and enjoy your travels 👍🏻😀
We my wife and I are at that starting point in our later life.My gut instinct is to rent the house out and stay in the property market. What would you say is a realistic budget pa for this kind of lifestyle choice? Great video thanks.
Hi both,
Definitely rent the house if you can, in terms of budget - there’s so many variables hence the reason we've written an article on it (link below)
thegapdecaders.com/cost-of-touring-europe-in-a-motorhome/
But, ball park it's in the region on £18 - £20k all in annually.
Kind regards
P&I 🍷☺
Thanks for the reply. I have just come across your channel and working my way through your adventures, tips and tricks and excited to watch the progress of the new truck. Safe travels.@@TheGapDecaders
Hi Guys , my question is, how did you come up with the name of the channel ?
😀 We have socials and a website which all came before our CZcams channel so we've kept everything in the same name.
But to answer your question, neither of us did any social media until 3 months into our travels and even then, it was Insta to simply inform family and friends where we where, and that everything was ok.
It was a good friend who said, "you're not going to come back are you, forget gap year, you're going to be The Gap Decaders".
Thereafter, it kinda stuck... it was a bit different and funny enough, all the domain names were available.
Cheers P&I ☺