Worst financial decisions but best life investments.

moose074

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Jun 24, 2017
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So an almost storm has rolled in temperature drops from 80s to the mid 50s with a threat of rain. I am sitting in the RV windows open enjoying the cool breeze. This is the first time the RV has been out since July, but I have been making payments on it every month not small ones either. While I use my truck daily prior to owning a trailer I drove older trucks that just had to get me to work and back with occasional trips to hardware store. Even if I up graded to a new truck it wouldn’t be as nice or big as the one I have. I know RVing isn’t cheap and the way we buy makes it even more expensive each month. ( trade often no money down).
That said nothing recharges me like a few days in the RV. This trip just me and one dog rest of family backed out. Started thinking about things I do in RV I can’t do or won’t do in hotel.
Sleep with windows open having the two windows across bed makes for great breeze ( I even had AC on all night to help block possible noise from neighbors)
Sit in my site enjoying nature not a lot on this trip but just relaxing outdoors
Fire had a fire the first night a little windy last night
Family trips to National Parks with dogs ( not only is it hard in my area to find boarding for them they are my wife’s emotional support) we almost always travel with two the smallest being 65 pounds.
Sit and relax drink coffee with windows open in morning in my recliner. Sometimes outside in the zero gravity recliner enjoying the morning.
Having a place to really walk the dogs instead of a 20 by 20 spot if we can find a hotel that would take our dogs.
I know who slept in my bed I have the pillows I like the bedding I like and I know last time it was cleaned with the detergent I like.
Same with the shower and toilet seat.
So why my financial decisions will never make sense to anyone and sometimes prevent us from doing other things we want to do. I will rarely complain writing out the checks ( I’m sure we would find other junk to buy ). The rare occasions we get to use the RV are worth it to me.
 
I agree with what you said. We are in our early 50's and have decided to buy our RV while we are still working. Like you, payments and upkeep are not cheap. But, we want to enjoy life. Our plan is for both of us to do travel nursing, 5 years from now. By then, the RV is halfway done with the payment contract. We try to go at least once a month, even on short trips. Just to unwind, with our dog. Life is short. We enjoy it to the fullest.
 
So why my financial decisions will never make sense to anyone and sometimes prevent us from doing other things we want to do. I will rarely complain writing out the checks ( I’m sure we would find other junk to buy ). The rare occasions we get to use the RV are worth it to me.

You don't have to justify how you spend your money to anyone but yourself! That being said - I bought my 2020 F150 specifically to accommodate my camping lifestyle and so the dog has a dedicated space to ride in comfort.
 
We invest in memories rather than stuff these days. Our kids always talk about our camping trips. From tents to 5ers, they remember them all. They cannot remember what we got them for Xmas. But they do remember spending Xmas with the grandparents regardless of what they got.

And I'm with ya on enjoyment of camping. I will take ours out for a couple days during the week just to sit there and drink beer by myself. Wife thinks I'm nuts. She's probably right.
 
My departed grandfather had a take on life. He said " to live within your means and always pay yourself first. Enjoy life because you only get to do it once. It doesn't matter how much money you have because you can't hitch it to the hearse."

My TT is not an investment. It's more of a luxury item. I don't waste my money on new vehicles, I just maintain what I have until repairs are no longer cost effective.
 
I like RVs now, but use mine mostly in the shoulder seasons. In summer I go light and fast and sleep in the back of the truck or in the open.

It makes financial sense to own an RV if you value your recreation time. It makes more sense to use the unit a lot and buy a used one for cash. I store mine in the back yard. This is the time of year when I start sleeping in it the yard out by the backyard campsite.
 
RV is the best

Just got back from a 3 day trip, seems that just set up and then pack it up and go home, why? As for the payments, what would I spend that money on? It is in the budget so what. Retired and need to get out, spent last summer in MI taking care of death of brother, RV was handy no hotel and stayed in RV for that time. Going back this summer to finish up and sell his cabin and lots, so guess we shall hook up and go again. Not fun.
 
Retired twice here, soon to be 64 and still making payments and don't worry about it. Just gonna live as long as I can and have as much fun as we can doing it. Enjoy that coffee on those pleasant moments.
 
Thanks for all the responses, I agree if we weren’t paying on the rv then I would have to have a garage sale every few months sell things penny on the dollar. The daughter heads to college next year so I imagine that where I am camping/ glamping will pick up. As we come here to see her. Big trip this summer. As for beverages I am behind on the beer two nights 6 total but drinking that pot of coffee every morning enjoying before the grind starts again
 
I recently decided that all I was doing was sitting around between trips with my TT and making my kid's inheritance larger.

Decided to sell my house and hit the road until I get tired of it or check out of this life. Instead of waiting for the kids to visit me I'll just drop in on them between excursions.

Bought a new and bigger truck as I may decide I need a bigger trailer some day. For now it'll tow the existing trailer easily and very comfortably.

As it's been said before, it's my money, having worked hard for decades to accumulate, so I intend on using for my benefit.. It's not like the kids need it and when they inherit they'll probably just use the $$ to do things I wish I'd done.
 
We no longer have a 5th wheel but over the 44 years we had trailers we enjoyed boondocking with our kids and friends. Now we have a small SUV that we're still getting used to. Anyway we were sitting in the parking lot where our grandson was in baseball school and it was raining. My wife looked at me and said does this bring back any memories...I looked at her with a strange look I guess and she said sitting in the trailer during a rain storm listening to the rain on the roof. We enjoyed all those years camping with our kids and friends, travelling across the northern US to get to Alberta where we camped in the Rocky Mountains with part of our family who live out there. Now as we have grown older and my DW was finding it hard to live that life style, we decided to sell our truck and trailer. We now enjoy seeing pictures of our adult kids and their families out there camping. Enjoy it while you can because all of a sudden age takes over and makes it difficult to be able to pack up, unpack, winterize, dewinterize, etc. Good luck to all.
 
You have to consider the value of your mental health, fun and adventure you get with an Rv.
 
We have been camping/RVing for about 12 years now. Started when our son was still young. We used tents the first few years. Then decided to get our first Travel Trailer, then to a motorhome. We have tons of memories traveling with our son while he was growing up. Drive to Canada 3x. Numerous cross country trips within the US. All with our son and our dog. Now that our son is in college, he cannot make it anymore to our most recent trips. Wife and I need to get used to travelling without him. This coming June, we will be heading back to Vancouver, BC. We asked our son to just fly and meet us there on the day of our arrival. He agreed. But he won’t be with us the entire trip. Just the Vancouver, BC part.

About 5 years ago, i had cancer. I underwent surgery and has been fine since. Everyday I pray that it does not come back somewhere else. That is another reason why we travel often. Life is unpredictable. We want to have memories together.
 
We invest in memories rather than stuff these days. Our kids always talk about our camping trips. From tents to 5ers, they remember them all. They cannot remember what we got them for Xmas. But they do remember spending Xmas with the grandparents regardless of what they got.

Can't tell you how many times the kids and grand-kids have repeated stories of our camping adventures. Brings joy to my heart every time they do.
 
Rv travel is comparatively inexpensive

So why my financial decisions will never make sense to anyone and sometimes prevent us from doing other things we want to do. I will rarely complain writing out the checks ( I’m sure we would find other junk to buy ). The rare occasions we get to use the RV are worth it to me.


My wife and I, both retired, own a 5th wheel and a diesel truck. We bought both slightly used and were able to pay cash. We took a three month trip to Alaska the spring of '22. The total cost of that trip would have bought us about two weeks flying, renting a car, staying in motels, eating in restaurants, and enjoying the same excursions. And that would not have given us the 11 days in Denali, with a moose grazing in our campsite.
 
Old truck and new(er) trailer...

...turned out to be a good deal. Had '94 Coachmen diesel pusher bought from roadside that was very old and lots of repairs, replacements and upgrades through some 10 years. Deer in the lights accident totaled it and cash out bought a 2021 21DS in great shape - just about an even swap. Actually shopped for a Class B+ but wait... I already have a 2005 Silverado 1/2T with a motor, transmission, etc... why get yet another one to maintain. Haven't looked back - fills a need/want, even if I just go out in the yard for a cold/hot (seasonal) drink to watch TV in it for a while and weekend tailgating in football season... Livin' the dream.
 
I recently decided that all I was doing was sitting around between trips with my TT and making my kid's inheritance larger.

Decided to sell my house and hit the road until I get tired of it or check out of this life. Instead of waiting for the kids to visit me I'll just drop in on them between excursions.

Bought a new and bigger truck as I may decide I need a bigger trailer some day. For now it'll tow the existing trailer easily and very comfortably.

As it's been said before, it's my money, having worked hard for decades to accumulate, so I intend on using for my benefit.. It's not like the kids need it and when they inherit they'll probably just use the $$ to do things I wish I'd done.

Love this! Our kids are busy living their lives now, so why shouldn't we be living our lives now!
 
Great post. We are also retired and lovin' life. Haven't been out much due to recent family issues, but things are better now and are planning longer trips once we upgrade the TV.

Lately, have found the TT is great when we visit our son in the FL panhandle - just park it in his yard and we have a place to escape to. MUCH easier than having them make room for us (and dealing with a 90 lb dog jumping on the bed in the middle of the night). ;)
 
Great post. We are also retired and lovin' life. Haven't been out much due to recent family issues, but things are better now and are planning longer trips once we upgrade the TV.

Lately, have found the TT is great when we visit our son in the FL panhandle - just park it in his yard and we have a place to escape to. MUCH easier than having them make room for us (and dealing with a 90 lb dog jumping on the bed in the middle of the night). ;)
We do this too when we visit my mom. She raises dogs and is not the cleanest person on the planet. Even if she were clean, it would never meet my wife's standards. So when we visit her, we bring the 5er and we stay in there along with our two dogs. Mixing the dogs doesn't work very well. We are happy and she is happy. Life is good.
 

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