Cheapest way to live? Flat/Caravan/House-boat/Van ?

Finchy2018

We lived on a boat for 2 years. Only do it if you want to live on a boat. Not for cheap accommodation as it's constant upkeep and work. The lack of stress I feel now back on dry land in unbelievable. It was fun, but I don't think I'd so it again. Worrying that your house was sinking whilst trying to sleep during a storm. No fun.

JayRitchie

Which area of the country would you be based in?

eamon

A good friend lives on his barge on the Leeds Liverpool canal. He is a joiner (and very good) and is able to make some money that way. But his increasingly failing body makes working full time phsically impossible. I know that at times he has had to claim JSA just to make ends meet. He enjoys his current lifestyle even though he has to move every two weeks and some recent Winters have been very harsh.


Living in a van/caravan all year round in the UK is difficult and hard, seasoned folk from the Travelling community will tell you that. Our climate isn't right.

00ec25

Hectors_House wrote: »

Police would round the OP up every night and try to get them to go to the local hostel.

no idea where in the UK you live, but i can assure you that in Surrey the police would most certainly not do that.
The police have better things to do.

Hectors_House

00ec25 wrote: »

no idea where in the UK you live, but i can assure you that in Surrey the police would most certainly not do that.
The police have better things to do.

You probably don’t have the same level of drug and alcoholism problems there. They’re not going to know that someone wanting to live frugally in a tent isn’t another vulnerable person who needs the support a hostel can provide.

comedyseeker123

I’ve lived from a car whilst back packaging.

England/UK is too cold and you’ll miss your comforts.

zagubov

2-bed flat.

Contact local education authority, rent a room to a teacher.

They won't be there all year.

If they've family elsewhere they won't be there at the weekends.

Take your holidays cheaply during term-time.

[Deleted User]

I know someone who had homeless problems. He did actually live on a boat. It was a knackered thing and originally he was going to renovate it, but it was in pretty bad condition and let in water. As already mentioned, every time there was bad weather, something went wrong. There were no toilet facilities which is no fun middle of the night. His boat was broken into twice. Everything even mildly of value taken.Now he does have a reasonable job as a security guard which requires him to live on site most of the time. He has to have toilet facilities provided but lives in a van when at work (he has also got his own flat now).

The first van was quite small, he stripped it out, put electrics in so he could use a TV, microwave etc but only 12v things so that could be limiting. He now has a larger van, converted that. Probably for under £1k (he did it all himself) which includes an IKEA purchased kitchenette, he also boarded it out, but he still loves it when he's not working and he's back in his flat with all the facilities. When you are more remote (less likely to be moved on by police I imagine) you can't get mobile or TV signals reliably so its either one problem or the other. When it rains, its very loud. Same for the wind. And of course it can be quite cold, even with gas heaters (which can be quite dangerous). The vans cost quite a lot in maintenance to keep them going.

He is someone who is quite psychologically able to live 'out of society' but it still gets to him. Not a lifestyle I would choose. I have to be honest, he came round mine a lot and it did test our friendship.

I would look again at getting a cheap place but with facilities and economising as much as you can lifestyle wise. This friend lost everything a few times, because of living off the grid, either through floods or burgulary. It would actually have been cheaper for him to get a room somewhere. That's not counting how it felt psychologically. You know you are alone in circumstances like that, its not the glorious lifestyle its sometimes painted.

Schlepygirl102

Getting a van can be both comfortable and risky. You need to make sure the safety of you as well as the vehicle in your absence. So, better lookout all the possibilities explained above and decide on what to do further.

benbay001

Can you imagine getting out of bed in a caravan in the middle of a frosty January?
Neither can I.


And if I could, it would be because I had the heating on full chat. (and can you imagine how much that would cost to run?)