[Jeremy]

Single empty nester looking to sell everything but essentials and purchase a travel trailer to live in. Tired of being a slave to debt and clutter. Who here has done it? What advice do you have?

[Coral]

Rent and try it out before you commit! Some people love it, some people don’t!

[Stacey]

What about mail? Most things can be online but if you have P.O. Box, a lot of places will not send there. And even if you tell them the P.O. Box address, s lot will insist on a physical address. Driver’s license? Tags? Not sure. It helps if you have a physical home base. (Got a cousin who will let you park there sometimes and use the address?)

[Gigi]

Rent an RV and travel some. It’s more expensive than you think.

[Bea]

I have been full time RV living since 2017. My best advice is to constantly educate yourself on RV fixes & repairs. A LOT of these RVs are built SO CHEAPLY and really slapped together. Be prepared to flushed yoir water heater yearly if not twice a year. Automatic jack stands and slideout break. Appliances break. Be sure to buy and use properly a water regulator. Be sure to buy and use a surge protector on your rv’s 30 or 50 amp plug. Really submerge yoirself in how to repair thing yourself because I am telling you calling out a monle mechanice gets very very pricey and that’s wven if they can fix the issue.

[Mary]

My good friend, female 65 did it. She stored her furniture. Made Florida her permanent residence. Had a mail service there.

She would ask to work at the campground or a museum on a short term basis for a few hours a day. Never had trouble finding these kinds of jobs.

She had a very small pull camper so she had transportation in addition to her bike.

[Sarina]

I agree more expensive than you might think. Rent one and research first. They are made so cheaply that they require a lot of maintenance, more than a house does. Leaks are a huge problem.

They weren’t made to be lived in permanently.

[Sue]

South or West in the winters ,east or north in the summers. If you plan on staying in campgrounds note that many will not take any travel trailers over 10 yrs old.

[Sonny]

My friend did it… he was struggling… he decided to get an tv to live in… put his stuff in storage… he managed to save enough for a home, now he owns two… it was a blessing for him.

[Paddy]

Look up workampers FB pages. You work 6 months at an RV resort for free site, electric etc and most pay hourly but it is very low wages it might be worth it. Then you go to another location for the other 6 months. Up north in summer when it is only open seasonally and then down south in winter with a warmer climate.

Also, I am an empty nester and sold my primary home and most everything in it. I live in my seasonal cottage 6 months and then winter rental for the other 6. Feels really good to get rid of all that “stuff”. Been looking into workamping for when I retire in 5-7 years, hopefully much sooner if I can figure out how.

[Darla]

I would spend 6 months researching and planning in your spare time.

I think that an RV/trailer, itself, is a bad investment as it’s a depreciating asset. Buy quality. Buy used. Do a thorough inspection.

For one person, I think it’s doable. As you add people, it can have its drawbacks.

YouTube. That is where I would begin. Listen. Research. Verify.

Understand rental leases and insurance.

Understand annual maintenance costs and repairs.

Create a punch list for maintenance. “I forgot” isn’t good enough. Be prepared so you aren’t caught off guard.

Safety first.

If you are going to do it, do it well, and with a strong knowledge base.

Create a sizable savings plan as a Plan B, in the event of a life event that changes your course. Job loss. Health issues. Significant other. Etc.

Always make sure you have access to cash.

[Linda]

My girlfriend has been doing this for a few years. It was fun in the beginning until she started asking friends in Michigan, during the summertime, if she could park at their residence. She used the water and electricity at the home and never offered to pay anything after camping out in my friends driveway for 3 months.

She was tired of living this way and it showed. Now she’s stuck. She’s retired and got rid of most everything she owned.

Now there’s no way going back due to funds. It would cost a fortune to set up residency in a home.

Think before you leap.

[Gail]

I’m doing something similar. Our sentiments are in our memories, exemplified by objects. I’m trying to keep the memories but not the objects. They will have no meaning to others.

[Sara]

there are many fb pages for full time rv-ers ..just as an FYI… My first piece of advice is to stay in a budget for your purchase and purchase it outright. That will be super helpful in the long run. We have been FT going on year 7.

We’ve learned a lot of frugal tips and tricks along the way.

[Melissa]

I am a traveler who has camped and traveled all my life. I currently have a base and travel in a minivan. I am now a retired senior.

My advice is to travel and camp, alot, before giving your possessions away.

I love traveling and have met many who sold everything, bought a Class A .

These are as expensive and glamorous as a small home. They hated it because it was a dream but never an experience. RVs depreciate fast and by alot. So they sold their houses making a good profit, bought another house but on wheels using that profit, sold the RV at a loss and are stuck in a small appt. or senior housing.

This does not happen to everyone and many love this life, but it is not as glamorous as it looks and it can be a very expensive way to live.

Not being a downer, just saying try this life first. It’s not for everyone.

I wish you well.

[Karley]

I didn’t mind it at all when I would live with my husband before we got married and he would on the road. I’d to spend 3 months with him during the summers. It’s not bad and definitely awesome because you can travel. Only thing I’d say though is the start up can be expensive. Plus if you don’t have land that your gunna have it staying on then your gunna have to pay for a rental spot and those can run up to $800 a month depending on location.

Spots to stay while traveling can be $50 a night. Etc

[Kim]

I had researched this lifestyle for many years. I sold or gave away all my furniture, put my other things in a storage unit, bought a trailer for $25k and paid it off in a year. Now I have only space rent in an RV park on the ocean.

It drastically reduced my living expenses and increased the quality of my life.

[Heather]

Make any of the few states with no state tax your permanent residence.. store your items for a bit and travel. See what state you love the most and do it! If you don’t like it you still have your things. If you do in a year or so sell your stuff.

Good luck!

There are many mixed reviews out there, but I think it depends on what “life” you live now.

I know I could be happy being a minimalist.

[Author]

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