|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 13:55:10 GMT
Our costs per night over last three years.
2011 73 nights £30 per night. 2012 72 nights £32 per night. 2013 67 nights £23 per night.
Costs include fuel, gas, sites, maintenance.
Yet to work out mileage per year and average mpg. Road tax and insurance not included. Just changed insurance company and saved £155 on insurance and breakdown recovery for 2014.
Insurance now with direct line same cover as last year. They use green flag for recovery same as last year.
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jan 10, 2014 14:46:52 GMT
Thanks for posting.
My main cost is fuel £2,200 Gas 12 x £9 on Autogas adapter £108 Sites (minimal) 20x£8 £160
£2468 / 365 = £6.76 a night
Road tax £220 Insurance £400 Repairs £1360 Maintenance £200
£2180 / 365 = £5.97 a night
Total = £12.73 a night
Would have been less than £10 a night but had some expensive repairs on clutch and brakes.
Edit: Added brake repairs
|
|
|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 15:06:38 GMT
Are you full time in van as you divided costs by 365? My costs are actual nights away in van.
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jan 10, 2014 15:12:50 GMT
Yes I live full time in van now, although I could live some of time in the house if I wanted. It just depends where one sleeps I guess, which at the end of the day, depends if I can be bothered to open the door and climb the stairs with which I never bother, it is more cosy in the van.
|
|
|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 15:13:22 GMT
Fuel costs.
2011 £1800 2012 £2032 2013 £1213
Will work out mileage from mot certs when back home.
|
|
|
Post by kangooroo on Jan 10, 2014 15:34:14 GMT
My costs for last year Fuel (approx) £1200 Insurance £270 Tax £220 Propane £16 MOT £30 Repairs £18 Camp sites - none Total £1754 Approx +70 nights = £25/night Fuel economy = 47mpg
|
|
|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 15:58:52 GMT
My costs for last year Fuel (approx) £1200 Insurance £270 Tax £220 Propane £16 MOT £30 Repairs £18 Camp sites - none Total £1754 Approx +70 nights = £25/night Fuel economy = 47mpg Good costs for gas. Thought I did well at £25 last year.
|
|
|
Post by kangooroo on Jan 10, 2014 16:00:57 GMT
I actually did better than this. I replaced the 3.9kg bottle before a trip to Cornwall then switched back on my return and it's still going strong so it's lasted 15 months so far!
|
|
|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 16:22:53 GMT
I actually did better than this. I replaced the 3.9kg bottle before a trip to Cornwall then switched back on my return and it's still going strong so it's lasted 15 months so far! Excellent. I just use gas for cooking and heat. Don't use fridge on gas. Buy fresh each day and red wine you dont chill. Really no need for fridge up north anyway.
|
|
|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 16:35:20 GMT
At the end of the day thinking about it cost doesn't really matter as you sre having fun and doing what you want to do. Did it really to try and forecast long trip to Europe in the future to see what sort of funds we would need and gas useage. Lookong at gas might have to go down the lpg route or risk getting continental bottles and adaptors etc.
|
|
|
Post by kangooroo on Jan 10, 2014 16:39:49 GMT
At the end of the day thinking about it cost doesn't really matter as you sre having fun and doing what you want to do. It matters if you're on a very tight budget and trying to pursue a very expensive interest!
|
|
|
Post by kangooroo on Jan 10, 2014 16:45:34 GMT
I actually did better than this. I replaced the 3.9kg bottle before a trip to Cornwall then switched back on my return and it's still going strong so it's lasted 15 months so far! Excellent. I just use gas for cooking and heat. Don't use fridge on gas. Buy fresh each day and red wine you dont chill. Really no need for fridge up north anyway. I'm the opposite. I pile my fridge high before any trips away so that once I've left home, I don't need to buy anything other than fresh bread and fuel. It helps a lot with budgeting and also means I can stay remote, far away from any shops knowing I'm self-sufficient for a couple of weeks. I normally visit just one shop per week when I also refill my 20l water tank to get through the following week. I think this year has been especially economical due to the heatwave when I couldn't camp for 2 months and now it's much cooler, the fridge can be on its lowest setting and remains at a fairly stable 1 degC.
|
|
|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 17:01:39 GMT
At the end of the day thinking about it cost doesn't really matter as you sre having fun and doing what you want to do. It matters if you're on a very tight budget and trying to pursue a very expensive interest! Yes I agree I think most of us have to keep an eye on the pennies. But having fun at the same time is what I was meaning to say.
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jan 10, 2014 17:15:41 GMT
It doesn't have to be an expensive interest. Van living is the cheapest around, assuming you want as a basic somewhere dry, warm, and also to be mobile. I guess you can do the same with car and caravan, but a lot more restricted on park ups. You will incur park up costs although you can offset against cheaper fuel bills for car.
|
|
|
Post by Etienne Le Croq on Jan 10, 2014 18:45:01 GMT
My gas for the year was 9 pounds and 75 pence.Should be more once I fit the oven/grill.
|
|
|
Post by X on Jan 10, 2014 20:57:34 GMT
Do not have a clue ! Diesel=Fill if needed Gas Buy when needed Servicing = What is this ? Sites =What is this ? Repairs = Why bother sods law says it will only break again ! Life is too short I either have a quid or 2 in my pocket or go without ! All receipts binned glanced at to ensure no mistakes then in bin !
|
|
|
Post by phantomflyer on Jan 10, 2014 21:28:21 GMT
Do not have a clue !k Diesel=Fill if needed Gas Buy when needed Servicing = What is this ? Sites =What is this ? Repairs = Why bother sods law says it will only break again ! Life is too short I either have a quid or 2 in my pocket or go without ! All receipts binned glanced at to ensure no mistakes then in bin ! I am really thinking like you but shmbo is the money guru and likes to know where it is being spent. Typical tight Fifer. MOT due on Tuesday (booked), sevicing overdue, insurance and breakdown cover just renewed and tax due middle of year. Repairs I do mostly myself on the hab side but garage for mechanical stuff. Touch wood not a lot of mechanical problems with the van (bought new nearly six years ago now) and in use all year round away every two weeks for long week end. At the moment parked at the side of Loch Earn, bright moon hardly a cloud in the sky lots of twinkling stars and no wind. Cost priceless.
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jan 10, 2014 21:36:43 GMT
Fuel cost is easy. (Miles per year/ miles per gallon) x price of a gallon. I never bother keeping or even looking at receipts, life is too short
|
|
|
Post by X on Jan 10, 2014 22:04:39 GMT
Fuel cost is easy. (Miles per year/ miles per gallon) x price of a gallon. I never bother keeping or even looking at receipts, life is too short How ?? No idea how many miles done in a year and no idea how many times filled up or price paid ? Just fill at cheapest and never on motorways !
|
|
|
Post by n brown on Jan 10, 2014 22:18:17 GMT
I'm with Charlie,i don't care what it costs,if I've got some quids I do it,if not I do it slower .the way I look at it is the van costs about the same as a car,food and heating is the same as a house,the only real extra expense is ferries and diesel. no way round the ferry cost,but 5 litres of diesel will give me a change of scenery ! plus there's work to be found and things to sell-if it's not an adventure then it's just a holiday,and we've never done them really
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jan 10, 2014 22:25:22 GMT
Fuel cost is easy. (Miles per year/ miles per gallon) x price of a gallon. I never bother keeping or even looking at receipts, life is too short How ?? No idea how many miles done in a year and no idea how many times filled up or price paid ? Just fill at cheapest and never on motorways ! Easy, I know what the van had on it when I got it, and I can look at the mileometer any time, so provided I can remember when I got it I can work it out in 3 secs. Just use ave price per gallon for that year. Plus I used to tell them how many miles per year for insurance, but they got bored of asking last year or maybe it was new broker who thought life was too short. Same with all my other figures. They are thumbnail estimates not based on receipts etc.
|
|
|
Post by kangooroo on Jan 10, 2014 22:34:14 GMT
Fuel cost is easy. (Miles per year/ miles per gallon) x price of a gallon. I never bother keeping or even looking at receipts, life is too short I'm the opposite. Until June last year, I logged every expense on my spreadsheet as I have done since first owning a 'puter and before that I kept paper records with multiple columns for food, bills etc. We also have a 'big bad bill book' in which we calculate our various proportions of household bills and IOUs. It's a little OTT perhaps but it works for us and we haven't found a better way of doing it. For me it's a very necessary way of budgeting and managing my cash flow. If you have a regular income or salary coming in then it's probably not really necessary other than for general interest, but I'm not in such a fortunate position to not need to do this.
|
|
|
Post by Firefox on Jan 10, 2014 23:21:58 GMT
I don't think it always relates to salary. I can see your point on a small income, but I do know plenty of people on very large incomes who still love keeping receipts and spreadsheets and doing the books. They just like the paperwork and the "peace of mind" of knowing they aren't losing out on anything.
I admit I go to the opposite extreme of procrastinating, and ignoring everything until the bailiffs come round for the council tax, or they threaten to disconnect the supply. It has come back to bite me a few times, but then I haven't spent my life doing domestic paperwork, which has been a blessing for me.
|
|
|
Post by cardmaker on Jan 10, 2014 23:35:25 GMT
Ron does all the economy bit and paying bills and such and filling the van - I just say can we afford to go and if he says yes then we go, apart from my cardmaking I don't smoke or drink, we don't go out very often - or didn't until we got the van. Ron does all his bookwork (being an ex book-keeper) and knows to the last penny how much money he has and where it is - good job I would not have a clue - he is a good lad
|
|
|
Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Jan 11, 2014 9:58:42 GMT
I do all the bookkeeping in our house and we have a variable income, so money is something I'm aware of constantly.
I'm not quite as organised as Kangooroo, but I'm the only one who is counting the pennies and know where the next bill is coming from. Neil is oblivious to all running costs; house, vehicle, whatever.
Kangooroo is right; unless you have a steady income or a quick means of earning a buck, it's definitely not a free hobby.
|
|
|
Post by gaz on Jan 11, 2014 11:03:09 GMT
sod that.....earn it spend it ...i could get ran over by a bus tomorrow ...i aint gonna worry bout me council tax lying under a bus but it might bring a tear to me eye if ive still got a few quid left in me pocket i didnt squander on us to enjoy
|
|
|
Post by Etienne Le Croq on Jan 11, 2014 15:58:49 GMT
I'm in the Don't care! Camp. If I have money for fuel then the van gets used,only know how much I've spent on gas ,because I've only filled it once in a year.i wouldn't have a clue how much diesel it's used either.Still waiting for our first trip of the year.
|
|
|
Post by yorkieowl on Jan 13, 2014 21:03:59 GMT
Have kept a log book of all fuel put in the van, date, where, how much per litre, cost, and where we are going, not for any particular reason, (except in the beginning to get an idea of mpg and became a habit),but good to look back and remember the places you have been, not good when you see the price rise from under the £1 a litre mark to what it is now , we do have to factor fuel costs into some trips now, especially if they are just short weekend breaks.
|
|
|
Post by fletch on Apr 29, 2014 15:41:31 GMT
I haven't broken our costs down but I've been paying £200 a month into a dedicated account for the last 3 or 4 years. Tax, Insurance, MOT, Breakdown all happens in April, always an expensive month. Year on year come the end of April the account is always empty and I'm heavily subsidising it!
|
|
|
Post by goldfish on Apr 29, 2014 16:03:33 GMT
I am with Charlie too, once I am on the road ( not often enough), I just spend whatever necessary. however, I do limit my short outings (3/4 days) to a hundred miles radius because of fuel cost, Think of it,I suppose I do care subconciously
|
|