I'm in a quandry, and I don't know where to start.

[judyCST1]

Hello there. I am an employed 55 year old female, single with three small dogs. I have lived in my house for just over three years, and am becoming overwhelmed with bills, the cost of taking care of the house, and just getting deeper and deeper into debt. I used to travel for my job, and lived in a fifth wheel, quite contentedly. I want to sell my house, pay off my debts, and live in an RV full time. I am currently living in San Diego. I know I need to start consolidating all my furniture, etc., and get rid of tons of 'junk'. It's difficult because I am by myself, (poor me!). To cut down on expenses, and have a smaller payout each month sounds so great, as I can start saving some money for retirement. I have nothing saved in that regard, and quite honestly, I am one disaster away from being broke and in big trouble! I don't know if I should file for bankruptcy, or what to do. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[DougE]

Right! California! What was I thinking!

[Carb_Cleaner]

...Option left - find a guy with $ to marry.

Or woman. Don't be a sexist. LOL

[DougE]

Gee. A bunch of good advice wasted. Maybe she doesn't want to change the habits that got her into trouble in the first place. Option left - find a guy with $ to marry.

[ol__yeller]

OP is gone. No answer after 4 pages. We were either trolled or ignored because she didn't like to hear what we had to say.

[jmtandem]

Some differences between a Home and an RV

Stick adn bricks 2 bedroom with basement and single bath and detached garage in Detroit, MI. Apperased vale 100,000
32 Foot Damon Intruder 377w (2005) new, 100,000, Used, 1/4 to 1/2 that.
Electricy, Gas, and Sewer for the sticks and bricks, Around 250-300/month depending on the weather.
Telephone and internet about another 100, Internet only 20 bucks NO sat or cable TV but if Id have had cable, back to 100/month for tv and interenet.

Taxes over 3,000 a year

RV: Where I am now it is "Expensive" by my standards, 375/month, includes Water, Sewer, 50 amp Wi-Fi and Cable TV (Wait, thats about what I paid for UTILITIES on the house)

Normally I pay less than 100/month summer and 200/winter but I blew an engine so this is long term parking.

Taxes...(Property) 382/year a savings of nearly 90%.

Next: The neighborhood I lived in was on the slippery slope and sliding into . A place I did not wish to live any longer.. Just before I put the key in the ignition (And the other keys in an envelope addressed to the bank) the house next door got ventilated by a drive by shooter.. Then after I left, firebombed (Trust me it was an improvement) Oh, no one got hurt, Nobody home both times.

With the motor home, once the motor is replaced, If I do not like the neighborhood... CLICK, Grind, Varoom and I'm outta-there.

Of course I am retired, and on Social Security, Not tied to a job.. But, still. Motor home is less expensive.

If you started with say a used rig for around 20-30K or a 5th wheel it woudl be cheaper still.

Oh, and since my wife died last year, I am accepting applications for traveling companion.

There are a lot of folks that will try to tell us that it costs about as much to full time RV as living in a stick and brick. Thanks for this information as it clarifies the costs quite a bit. Eating out every meal is expensive, so are $400,000 motor homes. The RV life can be as expensive or inexpensive as somebody makes it. Lots of good information on the internet on how to make money and full time in an RV that keeps the money flowing in as well as out. In the case of the OP, San Diego is expensive and living in an RV might cost more than your experience. But so are homes and apartments in San Diego.

[pianotuna]

Hi w8,

I sure wish I could get those prices. Here, the "only game in town" in the winter is $772.00 for 50 amp power (and water in the summer).

[wa8yxm]

Some differences between a Home and an RV

Stick adn bricks 2 bedroom with basement and single bath and detached garage in Detroit, MI. Apperased vale 100,000
32 Foot Damon Intruder 377w (2005) new, 100,000, Used, 1/4 to 1/2 that.
Electricy, Gas, and Sewer for the sticks and bricks, Around 250-300/month depending on the weather.
Telephone and internet about another 100, Internet only 20 bucks NO sat or cable TV but if Id have had cable, back to 100/month for tv and interenet.

Taxes over 3,000 a year

RV: Where I am now it is "Expensive" by my standards, 375/month, includes Water, Sewer, 50 amp Wi-Fi and Cable TV (Wait, thats about what I paid for UTILITIES on the house)

Normally I pay less than 100/month summer and 200/winter but I blew an engine so this is long term parking.

Taxes...(Property) 382/year a savings of nearly 90%.

Next: The neighborhood I lived in was on the slippery slope and sliding into . A place I did not wish to live any longer.. Just before I put the key in the ignition (And the other keys in an envelope addressed to the bank) the house next door got ventilated by a drive by shooter.. Then after I left, firebombed (Trust me it was an improvement) Oh, no one got hurt, Nobody home both times.

With the motor home, once the motor is replaced, If I do not like the neighborhood... CLICK, Grind, Varoom and I'm outta-there.

Of course I am retired, and on Social Security, Not tied to a job.. But, still. Motor home is less expensive.

If you started with say a used rig for around 20-30K or a 5th wheel it woudl be cheaper still.

Oh, and since my wife died last year, I am accepting applications for traveling companion.

[ncrowley]

Well, I am not sure the OP is reading any of this since she has not responded yet. I agree with many - living in an RV is not the way to save money. Maybe finding a small apartment or a park model would work. RVs are not cheap to purchase, maintain or use.

[DougE]

A very basic financial approach is learning to treat your income as a finite resource. Think of your total take home pay for the year as a pile of cash sitting on the kitchen table. Remove as little from this pile as possible. Does your checking account charge fees? Get rid of it and get a no-fee account. Don't use a charge card? No, but get one like Discover that pays cash back and pay it off completely each month so it adds $ to the pile on the table rather than taking $ off the table. Use the heck out of coupons. It's ridiculous how many people on low income pay full price for everything. Raise the deductibles on all insurance policies to reduce the premiums. Don't take out loans on anything but a house and car (pay off car loan early when finances allow). Instead save until you have the cash necessary. Do everything you can to reduce the use of utilities in your home. Be fanatical about turning off lights, unplugging charge cords when not being used, conserve water, etc. Raise or lower the temperature (depending on the season) on the A/C system about 5* when you leave the house. Open the windows and use fans at night and in milder weather. Does one little activity seem like it pays dividends - no, but you will be totally surprised at the cumulative effect. Get some cash by doing a yard sale of the clutter from your house. Take $20 from your paycheck and immediately put it into a savings account. When you get a raise add it to the $ going into savings. (Divert this to a 401k if available).

[Grit_dog]

And then there's Judy who asked a question 4 days ago and hasn't checked back in on the response to her "plight."
Sandy Eggo is expensive, no doubt. No details on what her issues are, but taking a stab at it, a single older lady prolly has little knowledge or resources to fix a house and the cost of repairs and maint is killing her.
Unless it's the lack of spending control most are alluding to.
If it's the first reason, I totally get it. I can and typically do ALL of my own repairs, maint, additions, rebuilding, etc to my house, vehicles, toys. I have a couple rentals that are across country from where I live, so I have to pay some jack wagon "contractor" to fix everything on those houses. Even though they are both newer homes, it would be totally cost prohibitive and I'd be freakin broke fixing a house someone else is living in if I didn't have the financial means to shoulder the expenses.
If this is the case I feel sorry for you Judy, but a truck, 5ver and cost of a campsite in SD will cost as much as a house I bet because you either got 2 pieces of equip that need maint and repair or you got heft payments or capital expense to buy newer truck and rv and still have maint costs.
Financial advisor is a good idea, but they're not going to help you decide what is the most economical living arrangement for you. A smart friend or relative to help you sort out the whole picture is what you need if you can't figure it out yourself.

[jmtandem]

keep us informed on your progress.

Yes, please! We are all interested in how this turns out for you.

[loulou57]

Judy has not told us the reasons for her debt. It is being assumed that she has an issue with spending frivilously. There are other reasons people get into debt other than daily trips shopping.
Judy I hope you can find a financial planner or credit councillor that can help. There are some that are at no cost. The Catholic credit councelling is a free service for one.
I have sent you a PM. Take care, do not let this overwhelm you, there is always an answer, keep us informed on your progress.

[westend]

An RV isn't the answer to your problems. Seek tactical advice from a financial advisor.

Some things that immediately come to mind: Residential maintenance costs are typically 1.5%/annum of the capital cost of the property (no one tells you this before purchase). Maybe a house isn't within your budget but real estate appreciates so if you can hang onto the house until retirement and build equity, it's sometimes a good plan.
Sell your junk, you may have a lot of money tied up in it. Renters can ameliorate the mortgage payment but it's not for everyone and not permissible in some neighborhoods. Get a second source of income, even if it's temporary. Work on your budget, cut out that stop at Starbucks every morning and similar.

Good luck, a lot of us have been up to our necks in troubles at some point. There is always a solution and most of them aren't that painful, once implemented.

[DougE]

I worked in San Diego for about 3 years and it is god-awful expensive to live there. You're too old to have no $ and you're not going to recover there. Not joking -- sell it all and move to south central Texas. Much less expensive and no state taxes.