Possible new full time home.

Pudsey Bear said:
Sadly I agree, that is a very low budget to start on, even if you had all the skills needed to keep it going parts are not cheap.

If this is your only option, I'd get a caravan, they're so much cheaper to buy but do still have similar issues with the kit inside, but if you already have a suitable car to tow it this is your cheapest option, there are loads on ebay.

Just an example, but you could if you did get a bad one I suppose PX or scrapping it and get another isn't so far out of the qaustion, not an option with a motorhome though.

www.ebay.co.uk

1995 Compass vantage 450/4 4 berth caravan | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1995 Compass vantage 450/4 4 berth caravan at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk
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But you can't wildcamp with caravan.
Could you get yourself to somewhere like Bristol where there's a big community of full timers ranging from the well heeled to those who can't afford rent? Talking to them about their experiences and costs should prove helpful...
Maybe buying a regular van and 'camping' in it. This would get you a much better van and you don't need to be very skilled to make it comfy. Wilding in winter will always be cold though.
 
Debroos said:
But you can't wildcamp with caravan.
Could you get yourself to somewhere like Bristol where there's a big community of full timers ranging from the well heeled to those who can't afford rent? Talking to them about their experiences and costs should prove helpful...
Maybe buying a regular van and 'camping' in it. This would get you a much better van and you don't need to be very skilled to make it comfy. Wilding in winter will always be cold though.
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Thats not a bad idea, talking to those that are out there doing it. As is getting a newer more roadworthy van thats not already converted. Solving the winter heating problem though is not going to be easy or cheap.
 
Wood burning stoves seem popular and you can cook and boil water on some of the better ones, there is a video of wrapping copper pipe around the chimney to get hot water, there are fans to spread the hot air, you could easily insulate a luton or box van with cellotex or similar, you could sleep in the luton where it's warmer.

I would NOT get a normal van of any description, nothing fits unless you make it, whereas a box van anything will fit and can be fixed in place, very difficult to insulate, a box shape just makes life easier.
 
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Pudsey Bear said:
Wood burning stoves seem popular and you can cook and boil water on some of the better ones, there is a video of wrapping copper pipe around the chimney to get hot water, there are fans to spread the hot air, you could easily insulate a luton or box van with cellotex or similar, you could sleep in the luton where it's warmer.
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Depends how fit and able you are, Kev, and where you go, and where/how you top up your supply of wood & fuel etc.

Wood burning stoves in vans can be a messy business and not always convenient - you have to faff about loading, cleaning and starting them. All very "romantic" I suppose 🙄, but for heat on a daily basis I think it would take a lot more forethought and planning to ensure you always had enough. Stoves eat solid fuel big time!

I remember Splitty carting a whole trailer rammed full of wood round with them when he went to meets etc. years ago - and that was normally only for a few days at a time and purely for leisure purposes - he had a bricks & mortar to go back to 🤷‍♀️

Diesel heaters seem to be a very popular choice these days? It's a much easier option I would think? And there's always good old gas for heating and cooking using various devices from small camping stoves upwards etc.

You could go the electric route, but that would probably involve some expensive set up costs - solar, batteries, inverters, power banks etc.

Debroos's idea of getting out there and talking to folk already doing it would definitely be a good place to start?
 
Just chucking ideas into the mix Marie, the OP isn't very forthcoming so I can only envisage what my own options would be, as for wood, I'd likely go with coal as it is easier to get, but not free, I have zero experience of wood burning stoves.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Just chucking ideas into the mix Marie, the OP isn't very forthcoming so I can only envisage what my own options would be, as for wood, I'd likely go with coal as it is easier to get, but not free, I have zero experience of wood burning stoves.
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If he's worried about housing he's probably got quite a lot on his plate at the moment.

He did come back with a budget figure though, and therein lies the rub... 🤔
 
@SaddleTank
You haven’t said what area of uk you are in or how your general mobility is or if you have a particular trade,Janet and I move around doing volunteer work in exchange for meals / parkup areas , quite a few of our contacts would be willing to have someone long term just to look after there land whilst they are away , a post with a few more details would help perhaps we could recommend an area ! We find ours on Facebook volunteer sites
 
Boris7 said:
Morning Saddle Tank,

Truth is you’ll not live free in a van, and truth be told you don’t actually want to live in a van and that van will simply make things worse.

I don’t know your personal circumstances but Age UK would be worth a call

Security for older private renters | Campaigns | Age UK

Home should be the place where we feel safest, the place we make our memories, and the place where we can grow old. Find more information from Age UK.
www.ageuk.org.uk www.ageuk.org.uk

Citizen advise would be the next call and then NRLA

www.nrla.org.uk

Why is there a growing demand for supported housing? | NRLA

Supported housing provides more than just shelter—it offers essential care and support to people who are struggling to maintain a home due to physical, mental, or social challenges. But why is the need for supported housing increasing? And who exactly benefits from it? In this article, NRLA...
www.nrla.org.uk www.nrla.org.uk

If you rent privately at the moment then you have rights and the government have a responsibility https://www.gov.uk/if-youre-homeless-at-risk-of-homelessness

Remember if you choose to buy and live in a van there will be complications and it will effect your access to social help, the need factor will be reduced.
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When i said live free i meant escape from the stress and anxiety,i am in poor health both physical and emotionally.Living with a paranoid schizophrenic who's stopped taking medication is killing me,i am trying to get help from the council but Rome wasn't built in a day.
 
SaddleTank said:
When i said live free i meant escape from the stress and anxiety,i am in poor health both physical and emotionally.Living with a paranoid schizophrenic who's stopped taking medication is killing me,i am trying to get help from the council but Rome wasn't built in a day.
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Oh dear. That doesn't sound good. So I take it you escaping is a solo venture? There must be help available for you in such a situation I would hope. Where in the country are you roughly?
 
barryd said:
Oh dear. That doesn't sound good. So I take it you escaping is a solo venture? There must be help available for you in such a situation I would hope. Where in the country are you roughly?
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We have a massively broken social care system at the moment, Barry, especially anything to do with mental health.
Care is pretty much a postcode lottery, and even then it's often far from perfect when (if!) it does arrive 🤷‍♀️ 🫤
 
mariesnowgoose said:
We have a massively broken social care system at the moment, Barry, especially anything to do with mental health.
Care is pretty much a postcode lottery, and even then it's often far from perfect when (if!) it does arrive 🤷‍♀️ 🫤
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Yes its not good. I was just wondering if we knew roughly where SaddleTank was there might be some local knowledge on here that could help him.
 
andyjanet said:
@SaddleTank
You haven’t said what area of uk you are in or how your general mobility is or if you have a particular trade,Janet and I move around doing volunteer work in exchange for meals / parkup areas , quite a few of our contacts would be willing to have someone long term just to look after there land whilst they are away , a post with a few more details would help perhaps we could recommend an area ! We find ours on Facebook volunteer sites
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Merseyside.but really can go anywhere,it would be good to have a reason to get up in a morning.
 
SaddleTank said:
When i said live free i meant escape from the stress and anxiety,i am in poor health both physical and emotionally.Living with a paranoid schizophrenic who's stopped taking medication is killing me,i am trying to get help from the council but Rome wasn't built in a day.
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Which council is that, SaddleTank? It will give us some idea of where you are in the country without giving away any of your personal details.
 
SaddleTank said:
When i said live free i meant escape from the stress and anxiety,i am in poor health both physical and emotionally.Living with a paranoid schizophrenic who's stopped taking medication is killing me,i am trying to get help from the council but Rome wasn't built in a day.
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thats a lot of health problems you have saddle tank....
i would have thought trying to live in a van with all the problems it would bring
would not ease your worries and anxiety etc. could well add to them.
but then again....i dont know...

have you thought about renting a room in someone house......
...look at .....spare rooms.com....in the area you wish to be. .....
all bills etc will probably be included in the rent.....
.if you keep looking each day ...hopefully one will come up
with a rent which suits you....

wishing you well...take care..look after yourself
 
mariesnowgoose said:
Which council is that, SaddleTank? It will give us some idea of where you are in the country without giving away any of your personal details.
Click to expand...
trixie88 said:
thats a lot of health problems you have saddle tank....
i would have thought trying to live in a van with all the problems it would bring
would not ease your worries and anxiety etc. could well add to them.
but then again....i dont know...

have you thought about renting a room in someone house......
...look at .....spare rooms.com....in the area you wish to be. .....
all bills etc will probably be included in the rent.....
.if you keep looking each day ...hopefully one will come up
with a rent which suits you....

wishing you well...take care..look after yourself
Click to expand...
mariesnowgoose said:
Which council is that, SaddleTank? It will give us some idea of where you are in the country without giving away any of your personal details.
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St Hellens,merseyside.
 
I know i'm not being realistic about living in a van,especially at my age and with an aching body but i do need to live alone.I could bite the bullet as they say and stay put,live away all summer and return for the winter.Saying that,i would be returning to the stress,anxiety and misery.Perhaps a camping holiday would do me no end of good.
 
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