Posted on 07/06/2017 12:18:39 PM PDT by yetidog
The constant bombarding of the population with commercials is unrelenting.
Pretty much any hotel that has a spa, has room service.
I’m not talking the hot tub next to the pool. I’m talking about an all out spa, where you can get a facial, a massage, a mani-pedi, etc. Soft relaxing new age music, flowers, fancy bathrobes, cool interior architecture, etc.
Room service is fairly trivial compared to that.
The RV’s and travel trailers depreciate pretty quickly, maybe they’re not as new as you think. As far as the trucks pulling 5th wheel camper trailers, I’d assume they’re being written off/expensed as a business vehicle.
Then again a fair number of people are selling their houses and hitting the road, you’re looking at their primary residences. That’s how they paid for it.
My #1 advice is avoid debt, things can happen. Don't make any assumptions.
Debt is poison.
My wife loves to camp—Camp Hilton Garden Inn!
I’m not a “spa” person. I do love room service, a large room and a balcony with a fantastic view, though.
The Ten Commandments don’t say anything about my neighbor’s RV.
I had a classic ‘70’s GMC Royale motorhome basically fall in my lap, it has a few needs being largely original, one of the two roof A/C units needs replacing. The old 6000kw generator, “Onan The Barbarian,” is loud and vibrates but it’s a drawer model designed for the RV and it works so I’m going to just put up with it until it dies, besides the cost of a new Honda or whatever would be more than I have in it. Aside from this, I’m upgrading the brakes, have redone the rear airbag suspension, am going to put FiTech fuel injection on the 403 V8 so it’ll run well on modern fuel. The propane system has been checked over and it’s OK. Fire suppression systems for under the hood, behind the propane/electric fridge and in the generator bay would be a good idea and not too expensive, so I’m probably going to do that.
I’ll have less than $10,000 in it all said by the time I’m done. They’re selling in this condition for nearly twice that, collector vehicles now.
Not all of them are money pits, in other words. Not too many old ones are as esteemed as the old GMC’s, though. Some of the Airstreams, Travcos, Foretravels, Clark-Cortez, even the old Corvair-based UltraVans are. Very few others. Maybe Bluebird which are diesel pushers. These are worth rescuing and renovating if not too badly trashed or deteriorated.
Camping is a lifestyle choice for certain.
The depreciation alone for driving a new GMC Duramax and a big fifth wheel off the parking would pay for a year (or more) worth of nights in a $100/night motel.
When we faced this choice, we bought a lake house. It appreciates in value and allowed us to also get a boat and a Gator UTV to bop around in.
We never got on that “keep up with the Jones”
Never been “glamping” but I gotta admit it looks like fun.
I have a different story. We bought our motorhome in Texas, much cheaper than the midwest rate. After 5 years our Motorhome was flooded. We used the Motorhome for work and paid for it using travel money that would have been used for a hotel. The tax deduction was favorable. Our insurance payout was generous due to local pricing. We replaced it with a beautiful 42 ft repo. We will live out of this soon as we save to build our retirement home. This has been a great investment and will save us a lot in the coming years as we transition.
I have a different story. We bought our motorhome in Texas, much cheaper than the midwest rate. After 5 years our Motorhome was flooded. We used the Motorhome for work and paid for it using travel money that would have been used for a hotel. The tax deduction was favorable. Our insurance payout was generous due to local pricing. We replaced it with a beautiful 42 ft repo. We will live out of this soon as we save to build our retirement home. This has been a great investment and will save us a lot in the coming years as we transition.
Niece retired from her job about seven years ago - sold her home and about three acres of wooded land - not “rich” but probably got more than enough from the sale to buy the nice RV she now lives in permanently with her husband - Florida and parts south during the winter, brief trips up north to visit friends and relatives during the summer - living comfortably on their pensions and I’m guessing residuals from the sale......
I agree, Facebook has only amped up the “keeping up with the Joneses” mindset. Facebooks stokes what is referred to as FOMO, or Fear Of Missing Out.
It's staring you in the face. They can't afford it.
If your FICO credit score is average and your DTI (debt to income) ratio is less than 30%, you can easily afford a $70k RV. Go ask any RV salesman. They will shower you and your checkbook with love.
Thanks. I thought I was delusional. Don’t know how they do it
I had not seen the NADA Guide before but that range looks about right. Thanks for taking the time to send that along.
Those aren’t the big ones. New York state employees, teachers in many school districts. I have a cousin who will retire after 30 years at 54 with 8800/month pension. Illinois
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