Does this sound crazy?

[AllysonB]

Thinking about using some of our savings to get a small camper/rv and live in it until finances improve. Is this feasible? We will soon be managing on half of our already super low income and need to do something, as we will not be able to afford living here.

[nd_deadhead]

So you're living in an apartment?

Do you have a place to put the camper?

How old are your children?

Do you have a place to store any stuff you want to keep, that won't fit in the camper?

How much togetherness can your family stand?

How much do you think you could save? How long would you plan to do this?

I've never used an RV, but the following things come to mind:
- Plumbing (water access/hookup and sewage drain)
- Electricity - might cost as much as in your apartment?
- storage, if you have to rent space for stuff
- storage - it would be tough to stock up on supplies on sale, increasing living expenses

Depending on where you live, and how big an issue weather might be, it could definitely work. It could also be a nightmare - you know yourselves better than I do! I don't think it sounds crazy, but it definitely sounds challenging.

If it were me, I'd get a large tent in addition to the camper, so you have some additional living/storage space.

[AllysonB]

Originally Posted by nd_deadhead

So you're living in an apartment?

Do you have a place to put the camper?

How old are your children?

Do you have a place to store any stuff you want to keep, that won't fit in the camper?

How much togetherness can your family stand?

How much do you think you could save? How long would you plan to do this?

I've never used an RV, but the following things come to mind:
- Plumbing (water access/hookup and sewage drain)
- Electricity - might cost as much as in your apartment?
- storage, if you have to rent space for stuff
- storage - it would be tough to stock up on supplies on sale, increasing living expenses

Depending on where you live, and how big an issue weather might be, it could definitely work. It could also be a nightmare - you know yourselves better than I do! I don't think it sounds crazy, but it definitely sounds challenging.

If it were me, I'd get a large tent in addition to the camper, so you have some additional living/storage space.

A place to put the camper could possibly be on my mother's land. It would be free and she has water running out where I would put it. I'm not sure how the sewage/toilet aspect works yet.

My children are 8 and 3, both boys.

I don't know how long I would expect to do this. I am in school for at least another year. I am thinking this would be our own "place" but, would likely be in and out of my mom's house. I just need to have the space that is just ours.

As far as storing our furniture and things, I don't know, that's something I'm trying to work out. Some I could sell, and some I could have family keep at their homes for a while.

This whole idea is really stressing me out and I feel powerless.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by AllysonB

A place to put the camper could possibly be on my mother's land. It would be free and she has water running out where I would put it. I'm not sure how the sewage/toilet aspect works yet.

My children are 8 and 3, both boys.

I don't know how long I would expect to do this. I am in school for at least another year. I am thinking this would be our own "place" but, would likely be in and out of my mom's house. I just need to have the space that is just ours.

As far as storing our furniture and things, I don't know, that's something I'm trying to work out. Some I could sell, and some I could have family keep at their homes for a while.

This whole idea is really stressing me out and I feel powerless.

Since you dont have definate answers I wouldnt do anything yet.
toilets and showers are very VERY important
a time frame is critical
in and out of moms house - ugh not so much

[Denvergirlie]

Originally Posted by AllysonB

A place to put the camper could possibly be on my mother's land. It would be free and she has water running out where I would put it. I'm not sure how the sewage/toilet aspect works yet.

So you will need to take the RV weekly or so to an RV black water dump site. Sounds like you can get water from mom's house via a hose ot the like, but you will still need to empty your holding tanks. As for how often, will depend on the size of your tanks and your use.

I would also make sure that your mom's area is zoned for having an RV parked and lived in, some communities have restrictions, better to find out now, than later.

Other than that, sure it's do-able, but it will be a learning process for you, but also an adventure.
What weather concerns will you be facing? Extreme cold in the winter? have to make sure your Rv will be insulated enough or add insulation (straw bales work in a pinch, stacked around the base) and heat tape to the pipes.

best of luck

[PenelopeJune]

How much of your savings are you talking about? Will you still have a good cushion? I assume you are talking about a used RV, since new ones can cost as much as a house!

As far as actually living in an RV, I don't think it's crazy. Will you all feasibly fit in one? Will there be a bed for everyone? How big is your current place? (It would be much harder to go from 2500 square feet to a camper, than from a tiny apartment to a camper.)

How is your relationship with your mom? You don't want to wear out your welcome, using her water and electricity. I'd want to work out a deal ahead of time so you can pay for that stuff.

[sugarlumpkin]

http://theboxcarkids.wordpress.com/

You need to read this blog. This woman did exactly what you are considering. Only she has 4 kids and lives in an RV park. She talks about it in detail. Perhaps she'd even correspond with you if you contacted her to ask for advice.

Good luck.

[p1gg1e]

Composting toilet..saw dust or compostable cat litter toilet ...LOL at least when I planned this vary thing out that was my idea...

Would you be doing this during hard winters? What about a tiny house? Id do it IF you think it would work out well..

Sometimes though its a budget issue and getting organised.

[AAK]

I would be more inclined to get a used double wide trailer. Some of them (around here anyway) are pretty cheap. And, they are meant to be lived in throughout a winter, and you don't go anywhere to empty your tanks. But, it might not work on your mom's land. However, if you were to use your mom's "facilities" for showers and such, you could live in the trailer simply for "your own space".

Amy

[Shellie]

I lived in an RV for a couple years as a child and a boat (floating RV) for a couple more. Depending on the size of the RV, it's totally do-able. It'd be more fun to spend time traveling, but for the most part, we were stationary. We had a fridge, toilets, showers, stove, micro...everything we needed. We also cooked out a lot. We did not have a washer/dryer on board though, we was a pain but not impossible.

Whether or not it's a good idea to take $$ out of savings to do it, that I don't know. If you can indeed park on your mom's land for free and can deal with weekly trips to dump your tanks, then you would basically be rent-free.