One of the HARDEST decisions of my life...
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- Опубліковано 25 лис 2024
- This was one of the hardest decisions of my life. It all started as a joke. A fly-away comment. When we bought a motorhome and set off on our first trip to Europe, we never expected to end up travelling full-time. After all, what sane person quits their job and loses financial stability to go travelling But we did.
Here's how we afford it, what steps we took to get there and hopefully some inspiration and ideas for you too.
If you'd like to download our FREE '5 Steps to Freedom' guide, which talks you through exactly what we did, you can grab it here: wandering-bird...
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#vanlife #fulltime #motorhome #UK #Europe
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Wandering Bird was created to help motorhomers and campervanners make the most of their time on the road. We share weekly tips, tricks and reviews to encourage and inspire your next adventure, whether you're a complete motorhoming newbie, or a more experienced owner looking for new ideas or places to visit.
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Thanks for watching!
Inspirational!
Good for you and for being so brave. Inspiring. I got to 55 was offered early retirement and voluntary redundancy and left after nearly 40 years of full time working in the public sector. At around the same time and after I’d waited 40 years, I got a dog, an 11 month old miniature schnauzer and after becoming a Christian at the age of 11, that’s the best decision I ever made. Took the irresponsible decision to waste a large for me sum on a second hand motorhome and me and my dog went for my longest ever holiday of 6 weeks touring Scotland. Heaven and life changing. I have never had the high pay so this was a huge decision for me especially as I’m single, no kids etc and my disposable capital is not large and my pension small given the level of council tax and other regular bills. However, despite the financial constraints, the day I left work is the day a weight lifted and now I’m free to travel although I still have to be careful financially to afford the motorhoming. I’ve met some fantastic people travelling around and frankly it’s fun.
Wow Kat, what a decision. Nice to know a little more about you. What did it for me was the death of my dog in 2017 and then 6 months later my Mum died and 6 months after that my brother died ( he was only 59 ). I realized that life is to short to be doing the same thing that doesn’t give you joy, so I retired from my teaching job, bought a camper van so my little dog Coco and I do whatever and go wherever we want. I’m so much happier now. Thanks for sharing your story.
I sold my custom built mid century modern home, lived in it 14.5 years, a couple months ago. I lost sleep like never before, I had problem eating a complete meal, prior to moving out of my house, didn't think I was going to miss it as much as I did. But then, buh-bye mortgage, property taxes, insurance, house and pool maintenance expenses and endless property chores. I'll be buying a new small, under 26 feet, Class C RV, it's got a very modern interior with great appliances. A full time nomad in 3-4 years, till then many weekend trips and week long vacations.
Fascinating. You should write a book
Yes. Write pretty much as you speak. It would be like listening to your tales by a pub fire with a couple of good beers in hand.
Fantastic video Kat, can’t believe we did pretty much the same thing as you…at the same time…and lived just down the road from you. Did it for a year thinking we would buy another house and go back to “normal life”.
Nearly 3 years later don’t regret our decision and couldn’t imagine going back, sure making money to live and travel is challenging but where there’s a will there’s a way.
If we hadn’t of done it, we would never have met you guys.
Well done you guys. Life is absolutely too short.Money is not the be all and end all. Life is, & you are doing it. Magic
I've been receiving you mails on tips and tricks for travelling and now this film, I take off my hat to you and your family, well done you put into real life what others and I included dream of, keep it up.
Wow..... inspiring to hear your story.
Now I understand why you're so passionate about what you're doing.
We are retired & been thinking of getting a van for years , one presented itself to us a few weeks back & we bought it .
Loving hearing all your stories & advice . Thanks 😎
WOW. what an amazing life story, we too are in the middle of making this choice. I have quit work , wife has only 7 months left to work, we have sold our business to finance our Adventure . our motor home is on order and should be ready by 2022 end of october. Thank you for this blog it has inspired me (us) to make this Mega step, before it to late. I loved tha Robin Sharma Quote and i will print this out and hang on the wall to keep us motiaved , letting us know the choice is the wright one too. I love your UA-cam blogs. thanks for sharing. For us its just the waiting game now.
So inspiring.I had a hard decision to make myself,although not as hard as yours.I lived in the uk and when I retired I decided to live in spain.A bit scarry at first as.i did not know anyone here but after 13 years I knew I made the right decision. Financially I was better off. Recently though a friend of mine said why don't you buy a motor home.I thought because of the pandemic it would.be.nice to travel around Spain as I was not very fond of staying in hotels.However pror to this thought I bought a motorbike new car moved into a new house renovated. Now I'm saving to buy my first motorhome. I am so excited I watch loads of videos and can't wait.The thought of traveling around in my motorhome is on my mind 24/7.
I know exactly where your coming from, at the ripe old age of 29 I left working at Rolls Royce to work as a contractor and people there thought I was crazy to leave such a secure roll, move on another 5 years and my wife and I quit our jobs, sold most of our stuff except for a half room of boxes and went travelling for one year, our daughter decided to take a gap year and we said Ok so will we. Its a tough decision, and we lived out of a rucksack for 12 months, it was the most liberating, enjoyable year of our lives. My only regret is were now 65 and 75 yrs old and we did not repeat the experience. The moral here is if you want to do something like this just do it, you most likely will never regret the decision.
Exactly true if you want to be happy it is a matter of choice money is not about everything live life to the full we dont know tomorrow. I quit my job at 40s and now im free from stress and do my campervanning whenever i can. Planning our big trip to europe too.
Good for you. We are f.i. here but left relatively low paid jobs. Having seen the tv show on air traffic controllers I remember what money they were on so you were brave to leave but your last 3 years seem to validate that money is not everything, you have the freedom instead. Also seen that 75 years quote before, very inspiring, thank you.
Thank you! ☺
Thanks for sharing. I'm at a time in my life, where I'm a couple of years from a decent occupational pension, but a long way from state pension. There are lots of things I would like to do and travel is a big part of that. Watching your video is very thought provoking, and it's hard right now, because I am working part-time for myself and still getting my head out of COVID mode. What I am aware of about myself, and I can't explain this, is how I feel when I'm in remote and wide open spaces. When I've been out in the Australian Outback or the Western Deserts in the US or up a mountain in Europe, I get this feeling of my mind and my senses firing up, as if they are normally switched off. It's exhilarating, invigorating and humbling, when you realise how small you really are and it's you that is keeping you safe. So, thanks for your words that are encouraging me to stick at what I want and to make it work. All the very best for following you and your family's dreams long into the future. I also find your other stuff interesting and informative, so thanks for that too!
Bloody Hell.. I had a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat at the end of this video! We are all so locked into our normal day to days chasing the big bucks. Little do we realise that we are becoming slaves to our perceived path in life and we should really consider at what cost?. All we have to do is get comfortable with the uncomfortable as far as I can see anyway. But I'm rabbling on.. My wife and I have just purchased a motorhome exactly the same as yours.. while we have no plans to ditch jobs and make spreadsheets.. we'll certainly be embarking on our own adventures as much as possible and look forward to seeing as much as we can, if only a fraction of what you lucky Wandering Birds have experienced. Great vids 🙂
Shame on the person with the thumbs down
Great honest Vlog loved it 😊❤️
That was Kat’s bank manager ha ha!… joking. Enjoyed the vid also!
You're so brave! I guess at my age (64) it's too late for me to change my life as i will be retiring in 2 years anyway... but when i was your age i had too many commitments to do what you did... we had 4 kids between us (2nd marriage) and elderly parents who relied on us.... but even if we hadn't had all that i don't think i could have walked away from that stability a job gives you.... i don't think i'm as brave or as driven as you.... BUT i am glad it's worked out for you... i really like you and i think you are doing a great job with the videos, and with your website etc. I envy you in a way, but i know it's not the life everyone would want.. freedom and travelling sounds so perfect but i guess even in that lifestyle there are stresses and strains to contend with as you never get an easy ride all of the time. Anyway well done to you, glad you got your dream 🙂
Good luck and all the best for the future.
What a lovely story Kat. You were very brave to take the decision you did, but it seems to of paid off. I just wish I had seen videos like yours 30 years ago. I think I would have done the same as you. 👍🏻
What an awe inspiring video. This is exactly what I want to do. I feel like life is passing me by at a rapid rate of knots and every day, month, year is virtually the same.
Inspiring stuff Kat ! ( and Mr WB) so many people just dream about it , it takes real guts to do it. We are a fair bit older than you ( 10 years to retirement.. but you gotta get there first !) And after the deaths of so many people we knew ( some of them real close) we too took the plunge. Sold the house , quit our jobs and bought our first motorhome. BUT ... we (or I) still have to work... but not full time , just part time agency work as and when it's needed. Some Friends said we were mad... our kids said... Go for it ! Lol. And so we are... thanks ( or is that blame ?)to inspiring videos you and so many other youtubers make we have started on the next chapter of our lives. Right decision? To early to tell yet... we will give it a couple of years then decide on that ! As for the future and old age .... well like I said before... you have to get there first ! Que sera sera we reckon. Thanks again for the great videos... we are going to the overland show this weekend for more ideas and hope to bump into you both oneday... see you then ... M and S
That was an interesting watch Kat. I also had to walk away from my job although that was for different reasons than you but my wife and I have found since then that we had indeed been spending far too much money on ridiculous and unnecessary things. Lockdown came and we started watching motorhome videos actually all of your videos before we moved on to others. A lot of gin accompanied this and here we are now with a motorhome in our drive and all of the conversation revolves around which sites and places do we fancy going to next !!! So while it is all your fault we are infinitely happier than we were when both working full time. So thanks for that, a silver lining to coronavirus and thanks for the videos and more content. Love your Chanell ! Ian and Lyndsey
A very open, honest and frank video. Thank You.
We have a MH, obviously, and we want to spend more time in it but I have Fybromyalgia//CFS/M.E, where I can be bed-bound for weeks. BUT, I still want to go away in our Betsy. We are both ecologists so nature is our passion.
We have a fixed bed MH…..
A great blog and I can relate to so many of your comments. Currently saving like mad until next year when my husbands contract ends, and then we are off in the van to travel Australia. In a few years we hope to travel UK and Europe for a year in a motor home. Love your videos.
Lovely vlog and very inspirational!!! We have recently put a deposit on our first camper van due for delivery in March 2022. It’s an auto trail expedition 67 with a pop top!! Really looking forward to getting out there and exploring firstly the uk but then braving the continent. We run our own tea rooms, Daisy’s Tea Rooms and Coffee Shop, in Plymouth 6 days a week so really hope we can find the time to enjoy our new van. Carry on living your dream and sharing it with everyone else, your doing a fantastic job!! Luv me and the Wife, Jackie xxx
OMG.. I thought you were leaving us! Phew.. loved this vblog.. inspirational.. we too made similar decisions.. but a few years on.. life is too short.. must love every day..
Wow, thank you for sharing. I'm trying to get into a position of car camping first to see if I can cope with it, my health isn't great, but I yearn to be seeing the country. (No plans for abroad, maybe that will come later with more confidence)
Good for you. Although car camping is possibly harder than van camping, so it might even be easier as you go on!
Super inspirational and very motivating, Kat!
Thank you for sharing and WELL DONE!
What a great Vlog. Keep safe
Hey Kat, you absolutely did the right thing. My wife and I are now in exactly the same position with massive change taking place next summer and we can’t wait. As with your inspirational quotation from Robin Sharma, my mantra over the last few years (often accredited to U.S. senator Paul Tsongas) is that ‘nobody ever got to the end of their life and wish they’d worked more’! Keep up the great posting and all the very best to you and your family. 👍👍👍
Love this!! Thanks for sharing 👍
You are so welcome!
Cudos , good on you both, make hay whilst the sun shines
Thanks Kat for giving your honest in depth insight it's totally inspiring
Congrats, Kat...we met you and Mac at 2019 NEC. Having ordered ( before any round the corner covid)..Adria compact. mohome...arrived 13mths ago.....Having retired rather late...Good we still have health, headed to Portugsl last November with an exciting plan....as in music business, yeah exciting and never give up as such...our plan was shot out into oblivion when. Covid took my long term musician colleague friend of many years in February this year...Picking ourselves up, ,,we planning ahead now with Europe in the plan of course., Yourself being the first inspiration of our new direction. As well as the first in 2019 ..We hope to meet up again, with some treats fir Mac.....as a thank you....Take care, Jim'n'Sue
My wife and I took early retirement at 55 and are very happy we did. Too scared to do it earlier. I didn’t feel like I had a choice! I probs did in hindsight! Hey ho! All good now!
Good for you. I had a similar epiphany 17 years ago but did it slightly differently. Instead of working out what I could cut out to be able to afford the lifestyle I wanted, I looked into how I could increase my income from a laptop, eventually replacing my work income completely. I realised that you get probably 10x more from putting effort into making money, than you do from the same effort put into saving money.
That’s a fascinating way to look at it and you’re probably right. Great insight.
Thanks for your inspirational, just do it life plan , it might nudge me in that direction , I’m 69 , on the pension , a few assets I can sell , and maybe manage . All I need is courage ! some of what you had . Thanks 🙏🏻
Great video, Ive lived in a van for 9 months and have 8 weeks until I retire early and spend the kids inheritance ....
Lovely listening to your story, what a wonderful leap of faith. Love to know what motivates your destinations, and how you keep that feeling of purpose going with so much choice? Enjoyed reading everyone’s comments too, lives are always interesting. We understand the “what do you do?” question when you meet someone, I’m just as interested if someone says ‘I’m on the hunt for the perfect pair of walking shoes”. 😂 Perhaps I should ask ‘how’s your day?’ We’re nearly ready, after looking after much loved elderly parents for many years, this is our time to snap out of ‘care mode’ and find our youthful, adventurous spirit again. We’re going back to Spain, where parents took us all camping in the 1970’s, ratty old car, tent and caravan, happiest of times. In memory I’m going to hike up to a giant Osborne Bull billboard and shout “ Fundador!” 🥰 Then we’re going to use the mh as a support vehicle for each other, to hike/cycle all the great new infrastructure and epic trails in Europe. If anyone has any suggestions we’d love to know 💕
I really liked that video. I admire your bravery. I find myself wondering> Jaja I find myself laughing because I did not write that sentence thinking of you channel name. Obviously Wandering not wondering. But the wandering bird has got me wondering. A great video, I think maybe the second time I watched it.
Really enjoyed that many thanks
I wondered what had happened to you over the years!! GREAT Vlog!!!
very inspirational kat
Well done you, for following your dream! We have one life, but so often we are too scared to actually LIVE it! You've done it. Bloody marvellous.
That was one of the best vlogs we’ve seen, very interesting and honest. Nice and slow and concise. Excellent decision on your part, you know the saying, you only get one go at life, so live it to the full! Looking forward to your next vlog.
Best wishes to you all
P, K and Bentley ( old English sheepdog)
Always difficult to leave your comfort zone but often it's the best thing you can do for yourself. I agonised for 5 months before leaving my job, one I had been in for 25 years, to go self-employed. Even now, 22 years later, it remains the best decision I have ever made. Second best was buying a motorhome upon my retirement
Good for you kiddo!
We are retired and debt free and it is amazing how little you can live on and still have a good lifestyle, most of our expenses are on the house with the next biggest chunk on the car, so if you can live in your car and combine the expenses so much the better.
Just beware that you are never totally free from your kids ( and now grandkids) so figure in some time / expenses for that in the future!
I was away a good bit at times and now we can, and do, carry out things together rather than separately.
Simply inspiration and a good boot in the arse for anyone to change their life and just get out there.
What a shinning example to anybody dreaming of more..well done and good luck..would love to know what sort of boat you lived on?
Fair play Kat 👍 we wish you well 😉
Waana hear you theme tune....again!!
👍😎
Love the honesty and thought processes you went through researched and explained so clearly.
We planned on early retirement before COVID hit along with Brexit ,however saying that we Are taking early retirement end of this year as the planets aligned and the majority of issues laying ahead of us have been resolved with little input from ourselves the adventure for us begins in 2022
So looking forward to it it’s a palpable feeling yet so exiting
Great story. This might be me in 4 years time. Do you now live off investments or savings?
Neither. We both work from the road
Should have went on the sick for a year and got half salary.