It is getting to the point where I am about to throw in the towel. I am only 44 and have had my own business for a while, getting to the stage of it is getting way too much.
It's not a business that I can sell, just walk away, will have some debt but not 100's of 1000's.
We really would like to hit the road a see this great country before we are too much older.
Our ? is, how much do you need to live on the road comfortably & if we need to work to bring in income how hard is it to find some.
If we sell up all we own & pay off the debts it will give us about $100k to start with.
freehazzas said
12:58 PM Jan 26, 2014
It depends on where you stay, free camps or caravan parks. Some weeks our exp are only the food we eat, others it is fuel and parks.
If you have 100k left after set up you should be fine. Invest it and the interest will help a lot.
We dont work as we go but have met a lot that do and they dont seem to have any prob getting work.
Woolly said
01:13 PM Jan 26, 2014
Thanks Kerri & Paul,
should of added that we are hoping to mainly free camp & book in every now & then to do the washing & have a decent shower etc.
As the set up we have at the moment would mean using a camp shower & after the van completed it still wouldn't have a shower..
Big Gorilla said
01:37 PM Jan 26, 2014
You say you have $100K to start with, meaning you have to buy a Caravan or Motor Home. What you have left is after that purchase. Most on this Forum are Pensioners, so we have a regular source of income, although some prefer to find work, whether it for extra money or for something extra to do. In your case it might be wise to find work, firstly because you are relatively young and secondly if you use your capital to support yourself on the road, time will come when your Bank balance will be down to zero !!
If your Caravan/MH is set up for free camping, that's the way to go. Primary items you require are a complete solar system, batteries, refrigerator and a shower and toilet, whether you use internal or external shower/toilet facilities is a matter for you. Many free camp sites have toilets. Some have showers. When I'm on the road, I usually spend one night a week in a CP to do washing, take water on board, and use a dump point if one is available.
Woolly said
01:49 PM Jan 26, 2014
Hi BG,
The $100k is roughly what we would have after completing set up, currently have a Fiat Ducato which we are in the process of setting up, will have all the above when finished with external shower/toilet due to size restraints of vehicle. We would be looking at a similar timing thing as you, free camp 99% of time & using CP's to do the necessities.
I suppose the big ? is how hard is it to pick up casual work here & there, to top up bank account occasionally. Something we will have to investigate fairly thoroughly before making the final plunge.
Gerty Dancer said
02:08 PM Jan 26, 2014
There are jobs advertised at "Workabout Australia"
Also many other sites like this. Several forum members work as they go.
Cloak said
02:19 PM Jan 26, 2014
Woolly wrote:
I suppose the big ? is how hard is it to pick up casual work here & there, to top up bank account occasionally. Something we will have to investigate fairly thoroughly before making the final plunge.
As for work I'm sure others will pass on their findings but as for me I was offered to drive a Limo in Port Douglass. In Mildura I was offered to work on a grape farm and at the Harvey Norman, but not at the same time. In all cases I politely refused though....... lol But I got the impression remote and rural enterprises are / were quite desperate for reliable non back packer workers. I think you might find it easy to find regular work.
Cheers and best wishes.
native pepper said
03:31 PM Jan 26, 2014
Woolly wrote:
Hi BG, The $100k is roughly what we would have after completing set up, currently have a Fiat Ducato which we are in the process of setting up, will have all the above when finished with external shower/toilet due to size restraints of vehicle. We would be looking at a similar timing thing as you, free camp 99% of time & using CP's to do the necessities.
I suppose the big ? is how hard is it to pick up casual work here & there, to top up bank account occasionally. Something we will have to investigate fairly thoroughly before making the final plunge.
Depends on what you do, my trades a , that's how I started out travelling more than 46 years ago, building, driving trucks, farm and construction machinery. Sort of retired now, but still do a few odd building jobs and couple of times a year fill in for a mate on his road train when he wants a holiday. If you have a trade or skill they need in the bush, there's plenty of work around off the beaten track where tradies never go because of expense and distance. When got sick of trucking and building, played music and still do.
-- Edited by native pepper on Sunday 26th of January 2014 03:33:12 PM
Woolly said
03:40 PM Jan 26, 2014
I only wish I had been smart enough to get a trade, but back then went nah not enough money as an apprentice so will get a normal job, more fool me.
Have been in management for a while & have now got my own business, but don't think running golf & bowls tournaments is going to help me much on the road. My partner spent 25 years in the public service and can do anything clerical/ office management, but once again not sure if that will help us.
So in reality it looks like unskilled labour work but we could do anything in regards to tourism/customer service for that is a large part of what we do now & certainly know how to pull a beer after the years in club management.
Willing to turn our hands at anything once on the road though, that is part of the whole experience & will pay the expenses.
Bunkerbob said
03:51 PM Jan 26, 2014
I am 60, sold the lot but managed to have a couple of 100K in the bank for if something happens to me. At least SWMBO could get into a village somewhere. If the opposite happens I would need to find a new cook but I would keep going. SWMBO asked if she would have use of her golf clubs but I told her that she is left handed.
Lucky that I have a Road Train Licence so plenty of work for me. Speak to Dunmowin re the work during Grain Harvests. He has just done the Harvest in WA with CBH but Viterra in South Aus and Vic also use harvest workers. Use Mr Google. There are other places, see on this website, that offer accommodation, power, water, etc in exchange for minor duties.
We need about $1200 - $1500 per month if we stay in CP, a lot less when we free camp which up to this time has not been often enough. Still newbies on the road.
Bob
_wombat_ said
04:10 PM Jan 26, 2014
all I need to survive on the road is very quick legs, for when Dougwe comes along with his wombat scooper.
There could be work at country golf courses along the way.
Big Gorilla said
04:25 PM Jan 26, 2014
If you're on a Pension, there is no incentive to work unless you really want to. Income must be reported to Centrelink and if you earn too much, it means your Pension can be reduced. I know a few people including myself who wont work because of this, unless it's for cash in hand !!! . I'd like to digress slightly and talk about savings. It is relevant to some because if you have money in Deposits you need to earn the highest rate possible, especially if you need extra money living on the road, and this is a point Woolly raised.
Many Banks, foreign and overseas offer online banking, higher interest on savings for short terms, 3 to 6 months. At present I'm with ING and they pay 4.35% for 4 months. After 4 months the rate drops to 2.75%. What I do is after 4 months I close the account and withdraw all the funds. I then open another account, say with Bankwest who are currently offering 4.3% for 6 months thereafter reducing to 2.70%. At the end of 6 months I would close that account and withdraw the funds and go again with another online Bank, maybe open a new account with ING if the rate is good enough. You can check rates at this site:
The point of shuffling all this money around is the interest return. If you have $100K at 4.35%, that is $4,350.00 interest per year, or $83.65 a week. It might pay your fuel bill for a week, but it's not a lot of money. If you stay at the low rate of 2.75%, your interest income will be 2750 per annum or $52.88 a week. $30.00 a week difference... The actual interest income will be a cat's whisker more because of the compounding interest.
Woolly said
04:44 PM Jan 26, 2014
What you are saying BG is very relevant, that $30 a week could make a huge difference to some people living on very tight budgets & really how long does it take to open an account on the net every 4 or 6 months.
An extra say $1500 a year is not a bad return for an hour or so on the computer.
Big Gorilla said
06:08 PM Jan 26, 2014
Woolly wrote:
What you are saying BG is very relevant, that $30 a week could make a huge difference to some people living on very tight budgets & really how long does it take to open an account on the net every 4 or 6 months. An extra say $1500 a year is not a bad return for an hour or so on the computer.
Probably about 10 minutes. It may take a little longer first time. You need ID like a Passport or Medicare card. You input the Medicare or Passport info and some Banks verify it online. Others you might have to scan and e-mail or post it, so that can take a few days. Check out the link below for Mozo. Click on ING, which I use a lot, and check out the requirements. You also need another Bank account to "Link" to this special savings account. I use Commonwealth Bank. What that means is you transfer your funds from the linked account to the Online Bank. If you want to withdraw funds, you transfer funds from the online Bank back to your linked account. For example, if I wanted $1,000.00, I transfer that amount online from ING to Commonweath Bank. Then I withdraw the money from a CB ATM. No restriction on withdrawing funds. On the first day of every month, the interest is credited.
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Sunday 26th of January 2014 06:10:43 PM
Ontos45 said
11:54 AM Jan 27, 2014
Thanks for your advise BG and the link.
Dunmowin said
12:01 PM Jan 28, 2014
Check out the information posted recently on another thread:
We must be doing something terribly wrong, the caravan parks that we have been staying in cost that much on its own, then food, fuel, etc, please give me some hints on how to be more economical, thank you
Sherio said
08:37 AM Feb 3, 2014
With limited funds it wouldn't be possible for us to always stay in CP - altho we did at the start of our nomading becos we didn't really know about free camping. We prefer free camping anyway but we've got solar; we top up our water wherever we can and always use it frugally. We find that there's often notices on the shop windows in rural towns wanting people to work in the shops, Maccas, etc, and the employment agencies will often have work available, especially in the mining towns becos everyone prefers to take the mining jobs which leave the towns depleted of workers. We've come across quite a few people that do fruit picking and follow the harvest trail - if you check that out on the internet you can get an idea of the thousands of people needed in different places at different times.
Woolly said
09:17 AM Feb 3, 2014
Thanks all for your advice & input.
We think that we would be able to survive & now have given ourselves a time frame to work towards.
Wandwill, I think most of the above are people that free camp mostly & that is why they can do it on such a tight budget.
We are looking to free camp most if not all the time as well so it is good to know that we can do it on a very limited budget.
It is getting to the point where I am about to throw in the towel. I am only 44 and have had my own business for a while, getting to the stage of it is getting way too much.
It's not a business that I can sell, just walk away, will have some debt but not 100's of 1000's.
We really would like to hit the road a see this great country before we are too much older.
Our ? is, how much do you need to live on the road comfortably & if we need to work to bring in income how hard is it to find some.
If we sell up all we own & pay off the debts it will give us about $100k to start with.
If you have 100k left after set up you should be fine. Invest it and the interest will help a lot.
We dont work as we go but have met a lot that do and they dont seem to have any prob getting work.
should of added that we are hoping to mainly free camp & book in every now & then to do the washing & have a decent shower etc.
As the set up we have at the moment would mean using a camp shower & after the van completed it still wouldn't have a shower..
You say you have $100K to start with, meaning you have to buy a Caravan or Motor Home. What you have left is after that purchase. Most on this Forum are Pensioners, so we have a regular source of income, although some prefer to find work, whether it for extra money or for something extra to do. In your case it might be wise to find work, firstly because you are relatively young and secondly if you use your capital to support yourself on the road, time will come when your Bank balance will be down to zero !!
If your Caravan/MH is set up for free camping, that's the way to go. Primary items you require are a complete solar system, batteries, refrigerator and a shower and toilet, whether you use internal or external shower/toilet facilities is a matter for you. Many free camp sites have toilets. Some have showers. When I'm on the road, I usually spend one night a week in a CP to do washing, take water on board, and use a dump point if one is available.
The $100k is roughly what we would have after completing set up, currently have a Fiat Ducato which we are in the process of setting up, will have all the above when finished with external shower/toilet due to size restraints of vehicle. We would be looking at a similar timing thing as you, free camp 99% of time & using CP's to do the necessities.
I suppose the big ? is how hard is it to pick up casual work here & there, to top up bank account occasionally. Something we will have to investigate fairly thoroughly before making the final plunge.
There are jobs advertised at "Workabout Australia"
http://turu.com.au/parks/nsw/snowy-mountains/queanbeyan-riverside-tourist-park.aspx
Also many other sites like this. Several forum members work as they go.
As for work I'm sure others will pass on their findings but as for me I was offered to drive a Limo in Port Douglass. In Mildura I was offered to work on a grape farm and at the Harvey Norman, but not at the same time. In all cases I politely refused though....... lol But I got the impression remote and rural enterprises are / were quite desperate for reliable non back packer workers. I think you might find it easy to find regular work.
Cheers and best wishes.
Depends on what you do, my trades a , that's how I started out travelling more than 46 years ago, building, driving trucks, farm and construction machinery. Sort of retired now, but still do a few odd building jobs and couple of times a year fill in for a mate on his road train when he wants a holiday. If you have a trade or skill they need in the bush, there's plenty of work around off the beaten track where tradies never go because of expense and distance. When got sick of trucking and building, played music and still do.
-- Edited by native pepper on Sunday 26th of January 2014 03:33:12 PM
Have been in management for a while & have now got my own business, but don't think running golf & bowls tournaments is going to help me much on the road. My partner spent 25 years in the public service and can do anything clerical/ office management, but once again not sure if that will help us.
So in reality it looks like unskilled labour work but we could do anything in regards to tourism/customer service for that is a large part of what we do now & certainly know how to pull a beer after the years in club management.
Willing to turn our hands at anything once on the road though, that is part of the whole experience & will pay the expenses.
Lucky that I have a Road Train Licence so plenty of work for me. Speak to Dunmowin re the work during Grain Harvests. He has just done the Harvest in WA with CBH but Viterra in South Aus and Vic also use harvest workers. Use Mr Google. There are other places, see on this website, that offer accommodation, power, water, etc in exchange for minor duties.
We need about $1200 - $1500 per month if we stay in CP, a lot less when we free camp which up to this time has not been often enough. Still newbies on the road.
Bob
all I need to survive on the road is very quick legs, for when Dougwe comes along with his wombat scooper.
There could be work at country golf courses along the way.
If you're on a Pension, there is no incentive to work unless you really want to. Income must be reported to Centrelink and if you earn too much, it means your Pension can be reduced. I know a few people including myself who wont work because of this, unless it's for cash in hand !!! . I'd like to digress slightly and talk about savings. It is relevant to some because if you have money in Deposits you need to earn the highest rate possible, especially if you need extra money living on the road, and this is a point Woolly raised.
Many Banks, foreign and overseas offer online banking, higher interest on savings for short terms, 3 to 6 months. At present I'm with ING and they pay 4.35% for 4 months. After 4 months the rate drops to 2.75%. What I do is after 4 months I close the account and withdraw all the funds. I then open another account, say with Bankwest who are currently offering 4.3% for 6 months thereafter reducing to 2.70%. At the end of 6 months I would close that account and withdraw the funds and go again with another online Bank, maybe open a new account with ING if the rate is good enough. You can check rates at this site:
http://mozo.com.au/savings-accounts
The point of shuffling all this money around is the interest return. If you have $100K at 4.35%, that is $4,350.00 interest per year, or $83.65 a week. It might pay your fuel bill for a week, but it's not a lot of money. If you stay at the low rate of 2.75%, your interest income will be 2750 per annum or $52.88 a week. $30.00 a week difference... The actual interest income will be a cat's whisker more because of the compounding interest.
An extra say $1500 a year is not a bad return for an hour or so on the computer.
Probably about 10 minutes. It may take a little longer first time. You need ID like a Passport or Medicare card. You input the Medicare or Passport info and some Banks verify it online. Others you might have to scan and e-mail or post it, so that can take a few days. Check out the link below for Mozo. Click on ING, which I use a lot, and check out the requirements. You also need another Bank account to "Link" to this special savings account. I use Commonwealth Bank. What that means is you transfer your funds from the linked account to the Online Bank. If you want to withdraw funds, you transfer funds from the online Bank back to your linked account. For example, if I wanted $1,000.00, I transfer that amount online from ING to Commonweath Bank. Then I withdraw the money from a CB ATM. No restriction on withdrawing funds. On the first day of every month, the interest is credited.
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Sunday 26th of January 2014 06:10:43 PM
Check out the information posted recently on another thread:
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=51933&p=3&topicID=56357519
We must be doing something terribly wrong, the caravan parks that we have been staying in cost that much on its own, then food, fuel, etc, please give me some hints on how to be more economical, thank you
We think that we would be able to survive & now have given ourselves a time frame to work towards.
Wandwill, I think most of the above are people that free camp mostly & that is why they can do it on such a tight budget.
We are looking to free camp most if not all the time as well so it is good to know that we can do it on a very limited budget.