Just a question with all the cost increases how many members are finding it harder to travel, I no in my situation I can no longer just up and go I have to work to and plain my next trip, do others find this also.
Fuel was the major cost in out of the way places but it has just gone crazy and will not get any better,interested to hear others in put.
Costs are certainly going up for fuel, and EVERYTHING... But I don't think it will stop the Grey Nomads, particularly those that have no place to go back to and live on the road permanently. Considering vehicle expenses, and free camping, it's still a cheap way to live. I read some statistics yesterday stating there were over 500,000 RVs registered in Australia, and another 20,000 will be constructed in the next 12 months. If of course you leave an unrented house behind with all the expense that entails, it might make living on the road a little more difficult.
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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
You pose a good question. I think there are, generally speaking, two Grey Nomad "types".
1) those who still have a 'home base'; and,
2) those who do not have a 'home base'.
I think those with a home base to maintain may find it difficult to travel as much as they have been able to. Given the the potential impact of the recent budget (if it all gets through the Senate) those who are retired and being supported primarily by the pension will find the increased cost of living draining.
Medical bills will increase (doctor visits, pharmaceuticals, blood tests, x-rays etc), utility bills will increase (no or reduced pensioner concessions available), personal fuel costs will increase marginally (but the flow-on cost of the increase in fuel excise will impact every product and service we purchase), potential for State and Local Govts to increase their 'charges' to offset reduced federal govt transfers to the States ... and it goes on. Oh, of course, when the carbon tax is repealed those of you with utilitiy bills will be $500 better off each year - that may help to offset the other contractions - if Mr Abbott is correct in his calculations and the utilities do actually pass the 'savings' onto the consumer.
Those with a home base to maintain will still travel, but it may be for less duration, or less distance.
Those who travel full-time, with no home base, will still continue to travel - but with a closer eye on their expenses. Perhaps doing less Km each year, less use of paid camp sites, and being more careful about saving for the 'unforeseen' repairs, replacements etc.
We are all in differing circumstances. Those of us who are totally dependent on the pension will find it more of a struggle irrespective of life-style. Those with some 'independent self-funding' may be better off but those investments that provide that 'independence' will more exposed to the level of 'confidence' of businesses and consumers in the stability of the economy. If consumer spending slows so will the overall economy which will impact small business and the level of employment - and so the circle begins.
Current low interest rates are being offset at the moment by the buoyancy of the share and property market, but if 'confidence' wanes, unemployment increases, consumer spending shrinks, then returns from 'share-based' investments will also ultimately not be as attractive, impacting on growth of the investment, and ultimately on the potential income stream they generate.
I believe the saving grace for most Grey Nomads (baby-boomers) is that it is our nature to work hard, save hard, be frugal and not wasteful and look forward predominantly with optimism. These traits are often tested but we tend to prevail.
Given all that, I think there will continue to be Grey Nomads wandering this great, beautiful, vast land for many years to come. Perhaps those who are yet to become Grey Nomads may not be as lucky as we have been - and hopefully will continue to be.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
You make some good points Rocky, I wonder how long it will be before some people decide to retire in places like Thailand. A lot of Aussies go to Bali for short term holidays as it is so cheap. Wonder if these young ones who have been there a few times and got to know the place will consider retiring there.
Larry
One thing that the baby boomer's are used to and very good at is change, just stop for a minute and think about the amazing changes that we have witnessed and often participated in during our lifetime, we will adapt and possibly modify our approach to travelling but I believe that the Grey Nomads will definitely still be out exploring the great playground and probably in increasing numbers.
I am one of those who maintains a home base and I am also one who could not sell my home and go on the road full time, so we will continue with probably a biannual extended trip and otherwise a month or two when we feel inclined to a destination closer to home where we don't get robbed at tourist attractions and don't consume the amount of fuel we do on longer trips but most importantly we will adapt and still enjoy out time in the playground.
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Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
Red Dog: Necessity is the mother of Invention. As things get tougher for everyone we work out ways and means to duck and weave our way around it. True, life is tough for most at the moment but we haven't got the time to wait until it comes good so we must think and improvise on how to keep costs to a minimum.
All the best mate, stay positive
B+E
It's not that long ago petrol was $1/litre and we thought we wouldn't travel if it got any dearer but we still do. I think once the 'bug' is in the blood it's hard to stop the 'travel bug'. As Rocky has said, we'll be frugal, we'll camp at cheaper places, we'll stay put longer, we'll do less kms a year BUT we'll still go. We have found we cope very well on our pensions if we're careful.
I have always believed that low cost camping will be available, through competition. Big4, Top Tourist and the other badge holders need to insist on standards being met and act upon those that will not or can not comply. The multiple park owners need to produce the standards charged for especially in peak times in peak locations, and we all know when these times and places are in play.
Like you costs affect decisions about where and when to go. I personally only want to free stay overnight on our way to a holiday destination, and the homework that saves us money is to pick, plan and prepay travel auctions. We secure offers in the $16 to $18 per night with conditions that don't affect us now we are on pensions.
So, like many we met while managing parks, we also take advantage of say Family Parks membership, Seniors Card, Travel Auctions, off peak pricing, bartering and the splitting of the 10 day packages with friends if need be. There are many parks trying their butts off to get your business but there are some that do not deserve to have a say in that industry because of the standards NOT met.
Yes, if free camping is what you want, good luck, but not every night everywhere.
The strong will survive but they must maintain the standards expected and monitored by authorities.
Some great points in your thread Rocky.
Our biggest concern is health as we continue on in the twilight years.
We will continue as we have, and so if spending the SKI $$$$ so be it.
But we will never be without our home base. The Castle.
Change is the most constant thing in life, and we have to go with the change or get left out in the Scrub, so to speak.
Hope to see you at our camp fire in a bush camp somewhere sometime.
jay&Dee
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I find all what is being said very interesting and am looking forward to more in put I also know free camps are shrinking also
as more and more folk require them, many are finding they cant live with out them, it is sad when it becomes so hard to travel in ones own country
Gday...
Despite the frequent reminders of "shrinking free camps" I remain confident there will always be places to camp at either low or no cost.
If the reports of "shrinking free camps" are read carefully, it usually the "wayside spot/rest area" stops that are constantly either under threat or being closed. These are particularly along the eastern seaboard, major highways or near big towns/tourist attractions ... notwithstanding the efforts apparently in WA.
As a full-time traveller I never use those anyway so I have little difficulty in finding and staying in camping spots .... emphasis on camping. I guess that is because I travel inland and stay near or in small towns - where they welcome the traveller.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Just a question with all the cost increases how many members are finding it harder to travel, I no in my situation I can no longer just up and go I have to work to and plain my next trip, do others find this also.
Fuel was the major cost in out of the way places but it has just gone crazy and will not get any better,interested to hear others in put.
Keep safe all Red Dog
Hi Red Dog, we travel a fair bit now since we gave up the house-owner bit and both on a pension. We manage as you do by planning ahead and working the "travel" bits in between pension days.
Not so bad when there is a couple on the pension - I imagine it would be slightly harder for single pensioners. We also do house-sitting around the country and have been quite successful these past few years. Also, coming from a farming youth era we also do farm-sitting. It's all a great way to see further into immediate surrounding areas as you go. This trip we have completed places in Penrith, Coominya, Victor Harbour and next will be in Tuart Hill WA and possibly another two jobs in Perth region. This will mean a 6 month stay in the Perth region before we head North. We also do free camps about 3 - 6 times a fortnight depending on the area.
I hope it wont fade away to a long lost forgotten trend we have only just startedhaving just finished our first 600 k loop, we arrived home yesterday and already planning the next run probably in the next couple of weeks. as some one said we will only travel shorter distances and stay longer
Look at it this way;; from the day you are born the price of every thing has been on the increase. We are still here a doing it; where there is a will there is a way.
JC.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
When you look at the Camps book and high light the pay something, they are increasing, are cheaper and at least offer an alternative. What park owners should recognise is that technology and the modern vans don't need parks as much.
We travel about 300Kms per trip, easy on the fuel and our bodies. If we have little left in the tank and the bank, we sit still and wait for the next pension payment, great way to chill and smell the coffee or roses, depending on the time of day. BTW there is always plenty of coffee.
For us the necessities are food, water and a fully charged battery OH nearly forgot. AND a place to empty the loo.
When the bank is refreshed so are we, the fuel gets a top up and we are off doing another 300Kms.
I do not believe grey nomads will die out, with the increases in utilities and other living expenses I am so pleased we have sold our home and live on the road. I also believe that "free camps" will burst out of designated areas and be wherever a caravan stops for the night (probably not a good thing) as more backpackers and nomads hit the roads and councils try to put the codwash on our exploring.
Safe travels
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
The live we know will change but never die.
The people who use the caravan jails will find the going tougher as the years go by but the ones that prefer to see Australia as it was meant to be seen there will always be places to go.
Many people think bush camping is packed into the FREE sites with many people around them and I think these sites will slowly die more will be closed down but if you look there are thousands of beautiful spots around and if you leave them as you found them or better no one will know you have been there and therefore there will not be the push to close it down.
The way I travel fuel is a minor cost as I spend more on food. I travel about 5 - 6K a year and have a ball.
I cant afford to have a house and live in a box and I love the wide open spaces where I can relax with few people around me and preferably no one just me and my shadow.
We all have different dreams so get out there while you can as you never know when it will be too late. Dont worry about saving that dollar for a rainy day as often peole drop dead and then the rellies get to fight over it. We are lucky our system will always look after you even though it moght not be to the level you want.
Regards
Brian
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
You make some valid points. We sold up everything and bought this box on wheels to live in. So far, touch wood, its been a hoot. I guess the only thing that concerns us at free camps is security and the odd alcohol fueled idiot who would ruin a peaceful night, from my reading they are far and few. I have an old cattle prod that may reduce their desire to disrupt us.
For the life of me I cant make a good argument to use a caravan park any more, beside washing clothes and emptying the loo. I have even used a way of collecting water from the awning valance, so there goes one vital necessity. This raises an enigma, why do councils frown on free camps yet build dump points around their towns?
OK that being said, we are living our dream and having a ball doing so. We are free of rates, utility bills, mortgage etc. The life we live is simple and full of joy.
If free camps stop, there will always be grassy areas beside a stream that we can use to park our caravan, if we get told to move on then we hitch up and go to the next town. I can not understand the conflict that has been going on between caravan parks and free campers. VIVA LA FREE CAMP!!!! LOL
You make a very solid point in your last statement, my Father in Law died a rich man, that money did zero for him, worked his butt off during his life for what?
We are very lucky to have a military disability pension and soon the aged pension, we have no hesitation using these gifts. Both of us have worked our backsides off during our lives, time we stopped by that stream and chilled out, for how much longer we dont know, but we are planning for a long time to come.
Cheers folks, travel safe
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
