[Closed] Static caravan spreadsheet?

We’ve looked at owning one for a while, especially with The Wife working in school. But the only way to see the benefit would be to spend every school holiday from Easter to October, and nearly every weekend in it. That’s just not practical.

If you are planning to rent it out to anyone other than friends and family, and the novelty wears off after a few years for everyone else, then all you will do is spend time and money repairing it. That seems to be what a work colleague does. And does he ever moan!

I think it would be a great retirement place if you are able to split your time between it and a bricks and mortar house.

Anyone got one of these?

The caravan or the spreadsheet?

It would be cheaper to book into a five star hotel every weekend.
The site we used to be on the fees are now £3k, then there's fuel, sundries and initial caravan cost it's bloody expensive.
They are like conservatories, seem like a good idea at the time, although I've never been daft enough to buy a conservatory.

It depends how you look at it - we'd not do many many things if we purely looked at the financial side.
Do you have kids OP?
Having a static opens up the possibility of them spending weeks away having fun with the other kids on the same site.
It's hard to put a financial figure on experiences like this.

It would be cheaper to book into a five star hotel every weekend.

It may be cheaper, but a two year old little boy and two Labradors ain’t going to be much fun in a 5* hotel.
We’re waiting on delivery of a static, delayed to to cv-19. Can’t wait, we’ll use it the majority of weekends, most likely a week in spring and autumn and the no-mans land that is between Xmas and new year.
Little man will love it I suspect. Play ground, river to play in, tons of bike riding and a bouldering location just op the road.
We’ve not done a spreadsheet, but know it’s not cheap. I could do a sheet and apply man maths to make it a ‘cheap option’ if I was so inclined but I’d rather spend the time with the family. They are a bit like bikes, some less expensive and some more expensive. We’ve pushed the boat out a bit as we’ll be using it extensively we hope. Also helps that the vans are subject to 20%vat but if you spec residential spec the vat drops to 5% on the whole cost, this makes it completely useable through out winter without burning a ton of gas.
The one big obvious cost, but gets forgotten is filling it when you buy it. Bedding, plates, bowls, cups, pans, rug, storage, tv, spare wellingtons, boots, coat or two.
Whilst a one off in terms of buying all at once it soon mounts up. Spare bedroom looks like a department store at the moment whilst we wait for delivery of the van in October

I looked at one as I am looking for a holiday home to spend summer in the UK. The fees and purchase cost are just part of it, depreciate the caravan over 20 years to nothing and then replace it. Also every utility is paid to the site owner.

Also the 11 month occupancy clause, go for it if you Can make it work.

We took over the inlaws van probably about 8 years ago. We'd previously spent years going with our kids and looking after them.

Running costs, ground rent £3500 North Wales Coast, insurance £400, elec about £150, gas usually two big bottles a year £130.

Its a family holiday in cost per year. Ours is an hour and a quarter from home. Its a great base to get out from.

Lost half this season with covid though.

We go most weekends, and currently here for 10 days.

Our van is 20 years old, fully gas central heating and double glazed.

We've had a few minor repairs this year, but not normally like that.

Any questions ask.

I tend to have a couple of weekends with my mates MTBing, and my Mrs goes with a friend for a couple of long weekends. We don't rent out, as we have our stuff here. So up, off and out. Lots of great riding and access to most of North Wales within 90 mins on the van near Prestatyn.

Bare in mind the distance from home when considering use. Add in maintaining the garden (the site don't do ours)