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

Slithery

benbay001 wrote: »

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?)

There's no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing choices

markin

With a fully insulated van the biggest problem i would think is over heating in the summer, so roof fans and a small roof opening window. In the winter body heat and heat from the inverter, laptop and fridge would do a lot off the work.

Yalpsmol

Just lodge somewhere cheap and give up all your extras and get a Saturday job down the local supermarket. It'll be more tolerable than sleeping in a cold car. Lentils are your friend.

zagubov

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Houseboats (a boathouse is a shed where a boat is stored) are usually owned rather than rented (unless for holidays, which can be very expensive) and will be too expensive to buy/maintain/moor for your purposes.

The only viable "cheap" alternative living option would be a van/motorhome because you can theoretically easily move it. Not without its problems and I suggest you thoroughly research this with Youtube and user blogs

I know someone who's leaving their rented boat to move into a shared flat as it's just too expensive.

Save your money and skip this idea.

gettingtheresometime

We have pitched our tourer caravan at a site where the yearly fees are about £1500 and include electricity and the use of showers.

However technically you're not allowed to live there permanently but I doubt anyone would know you were there constantly.

However the biggest problem is that for 5 months of the year it's technically a caravan storage site as you're not allowed to stay overnight

mark55man

actually live with your parents?

if you do enough round the house to help, they may be so surprised you get free rent and free food and lend you a £10 now and again

jamesperrett

Someone I know became a warden at a student hall of residence - free (or very cheap) accommodation but with the risk of being woken up by rampaging students in the middle of the night.

mark55man

Squatting or house sitting?

Davesnave

I know of a family that live in a caravan in a large council lay-by just off a B class road. They've been there for 3 years now.

I dare say the council aren't happy, but the child attends the local school and the parents are employed, so at the moment they're living very cheaply and, no doubt, building-up funds.

There will come a time for enforcement, but each council has it's own policy on that, and mine is generally light touch. Last time they did an eviction around here, it turned messy and the caravan dweller ended up in prison.

Just over the border, another couple built a mud hut in a wood on their own land. They only lasted a couple of years, despite maximum media coverage.

It's a lottery.

gingercordial

How about being a property guardian?