GaryB, I like this thread as, I am now in this situation, when We retired we had a fairly new caravan and bought a new tow car. Since then the house has taken probably £40 k in upgrades, so now at 71 years old the cost of living has suddenly hit. We are asset rich, cash poor. So look at good caravan deals all the time. We are last caravan, last car. I can understand your folks very well.
Thanks, while finances and lifestyles are very personal, it's always interesting to hear how others manage their retirements. I'm only 53 but always looked forward to (and planned for) earlier retirement, the thought of working to 67 makes me shudder. As my dad died early at the age of 59 I'd like to try and secure SOME retirement years before it's my turn!!!
Just to bring some back ground to my mum & step-dads situation which kicked this off, (and the comment from elsewhere suggesting that any OAP with a caravan must have a few quid spare), the reasons for them looking at options:
Just to bring some back ground to my mum & step-dads situation which kicked this off, (and the comment from elsewhere suggesting that any OAP with a caravan must have a few quid spare), the reasons for them looking at options:
- Mum is 77, has arthritis in the hips & knees plus cataracts, step-dad is 89 and is dying slowly from COPD and prostate cancer. They both want to enjoy going away while they still can.
- Neither of them have any pension other than the state pension, my mum never really worked hence her state pension is very much reduced.
- Their caravan is a 2010 Coachman 380/2 purchased in 2019 to replace an ABI which had severe damp, this caravan was purchased using some savings that they'd scraped together over the years. The washroom is cramped but their storage space means they cannot have a caravan any bigger.
- Their car is a 2018 Seat Leon (hardly the big car suggested before) that was purchased using some inheritance my mum came into.
We use CLs almost all the time, the exceptions being commercials in Scotland - we don't need site toilets/showers and ignore them if they have them - but we do notice an increasing number of CLs do have them, without necessarily being expensive.
Most CLs are on https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/ and can be searched for by area and facilities - using this in conjunction with the reviews against each CL on the Caravan Club website should give a selection of suitable sites for your parents.
Two sites we have used in the general area are
https://harburyfields.co.uk/. Off the Fosse Way near Leamington. Convenient for Hilltop Farm breakfasts and lunch
http://www.highmeadowspark.co.uk/. Near Barrow on Soar. There is also another larger site by the river in Barrow
We have used both these sites and they were of good standard for facilities and peaceful.
https://harburyfields.co.uk/. Off the Fosse Way near Leamington. Convenient for Hilltop Farm breakfasts and lunch
http://www.highmeadowspark.co.uk/. Near Barrow on Soar. There is also another larger site by the river in Barrow
We have used both these sites and they were of good standard for facilities and peaceful.
Gary B, thanks for the "Back story" of your folks, and totally understand the situation, when I retired 8 years ago the income was great and the Cash pot was fantastic. But fixing the house ready to down size has taken a fair amount. Now we cannot find a decent downsize house. So it's maybe fit a stair lift and stay where we are . And now we reduce out caravan outings., to maybe 1 week a month, if we don't have health appointments.
So very interested in people's links to sites.
So very interested in people's links to sites.
A CL that we use a lot that has good onsite facilities is
Cost is £20, we are there about every 6 weeks when we visit MIL😱
Cost is £20, we are there about every 6 weeks when we visit MIL😱
Well done to your mum and step dad Gary.👏
A lot of us have mentioned some first class CLs and CSs so I would’t rule them out. Now there is a real wild card , probably too wild but one worth mentioning. During the high season the Clubs employ part time staff, mainly to help man the reception. In return you get a free pitch and full use of the facilities.
A lot of us have mentioned some first class CLs and CSs so I would’t rule them out. Now there is a real wild card , probably too wild but one worth mentioning. During the high season the Clubs employ part time staff, mainly to help man the reception. In return you get a free pitch and full use of the facilities.
I'm sorry my post offended you.
If you had given the first paragraph the same emphasis you would see I was in favour of seeking good deals.
I should have worded the second paragraph differently and added context of it being how site owners might view the value to their business of retired caravanners.
Life is too short to fall out with people on forums as the typed word offers no physical emotion to back it up, hence no offence was taken. We all type things to reflect what is in our head yet sometimes others eyes view it differently.
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