Comments on: Our new 289 sqft home

By: galinaz

galinaz — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:15:14 +0000

Check out the Escapees forum. It’s chock full of info on living in an RV fulltime - and a nice bunch of folks, though most probably your parent’s age!

By: MoneyBlogga

MoneyBlogga — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:08:30 +0000

Hi Jacob I have enjoyed reading your site this morning. My partner and I moved into an RV some time back with 4 little kids It was great fun - we got to live at the beach for a fraction of the cost of buying a house AND we were closer to the sand so I guess we had some financial smarts somewhere! As the kids grew older, we had to buy another house and are currently living in a behemoth on 2.5 acres which we cannot wait to unload. We are moving into a smaller house because the kids are all going to be away at University and, from there, we’ll move back into an RV. For us, there’s nothing like it. Tremendous fun, constant change of scenery and ultra-mobile. We are bored to death with the house situation but we were never bored with our RV. Can’t wait to go the full circle because the RV lifestyle definitely worked for us.

By: DiaryofADink

DiaryofADink — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:48:45 +0000

Nice. Look forward to seeing how this works out for you. It may in fact be the best alternative for us. Heck, we already have enough in the bank to buy two (but not enough for 20% downpayment on a fixer upper house in our neighborhood). Isn’t there something terribly wrong with that??

By: Daizy

Daizy — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:19:02 +0000

Welcome to the RV world! I bought my 1992 35′ Hitchhiker 5th wheel with 2 slides in 2000. I don’t have a truck big enough to pull it but I usually stay stationary for many years. The first 6 years were spent in an RV park. It was nice but I didn’t really use the amenities. I must have swam in the pool twice in 6 years. Then I moved 3 hours away and paid someone to tow it to some property that I bought. Now everything is my responsiblity instead of the parks (that is a bummer sometimes) but I love the privacy (no golf carts riding around at 9am on Saturday announcing the weekend events). RV repair is horribly expensive because I am inept at it ($800 fridge repair). You sound a lot handier. I wish I had bought it from a private party. I think the dealer charged too much, plus tax, plus warranty, I paid $23,000 in 2000. It is now only worth $9k and declining.

I still love my RV though. It has enabled me to put my house up for rent and I am on my way to becoming financially independent in 2-3 years when my $600 of monthly expenses will be covered by my $600 rental income.

Your blog is inspiring!

By: Dody

Dody — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:15:12 +0000

Awesome. I had a camper bus that had room for 7. Turns out I now have a family of 7. I bought it for 1500 dollars. It had a 350 Chevy invader double carb. The carb died and replacing it was a pain. Anyway, love your smarts.

By: jane in sf

jane in sf — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:42:04 +0000

Toast to Jacob! Sounds as if a VERY good idea in right direction. Have you given notice at your apt? I would certainly want to get rid of a microwave. “Someday” I have got to start a real blog - so many ideas to share. I am putting my condo up for sale Sept. - way too big at approx. 750 sq. ft. My BF is going to let me do a remodel of his tiny place - we are talking 200 sq. ft. (as in boat size) - and I will try some housesitting - I have jumped the gun many times thinking I can quit my job (reasonable fear of financial not quite enoughness). Getting closer to the one suitcase ideal.

By: doubleourmoney

doubleourmoney — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:10:03 +0000

If you owned a home before that would be quite the downsize to 289 square feet. Good call looking into solar panels.

I had not given any thought of using an RV to live now or in retirement but it sure sounds like an good economical way to live.

By: Lorri

Lorri — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:30 +0000

Congrats on your new home. I am in the process of trying to sell my 1700 sq ft home and since I am now single I have thought about trying RV living on for size. I need to save more money and since I work 12 hour shifts, I just need a place to sleep. Have you checked out the cost of renting a parking space? I know that would be an added expense and wondering how economical it would be. thanks

By: Jacob

Jacob — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:01:24 +0000

@hank - According to the the IRS definition of a home, a home is a home when it has somewhere to sleep, water, and a toilet.

@J - Don’t know anyone (personally) who is more extreme than I am. She’s willing to try it out for several years though. I get the impression that the rapid rate by which she can pay off her student loans is fairly motivating. My “problem” is usually that the (should I say “my”) ideas are so far off the beaten path than they do not seem to make sense when viewed from the point of the beaten path. So I have to go by way of demonstration. People believe it when they see it. I guess I have demonstrated some credibility in her eyes by now (my parents too). Several readers too, actually. I get an occasional thank you mail from readers explaining how they made some big changes after reading the ERE blog. I’m not good at responding to praise, so I never get back. Sorry about that guys, but your letters are much appreciated!

@ bleh bleh - Nope! I think you mainly find those in the big diesel pushers. Even if they were optional I would probably opt out. We only do laundry once a week, so it’s easier just to haul a bag over to the laundry-mat (many camp sites have one onsite). If we had a baby and had to wash diapers daily, it might make sense, but otherwise I can’t justify the space and the cost (laundry machines break down too often).

By: bleh bleh

bleh bleh — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:30:07 +0000

Does it have a clothes washer?