kknowlton wrote: Millionaire? Heck, it takes that just to retire. Of course, after a while the retired millionaire becomes a thousandaire.
This is a common statement.
Of course, in real life, very few people retire with spendable assets of one million or more.
I think around five percent of families in Canada.
I live in so cal, lots of very wealthy people who just ooze money. i worked at a dental office in la jolla (a beach town) and so many of the patients talked about their vacations which included month long stays in a villa in italie or a private cruise to the virgin islands, etc. they all drove high end cars and lived in million dollar homes.
their kids would come in and talk about their first cars (think italian or german cars here)....but there were also a lot of wannabes who spent every last cent to look like they were really well off though they were way in debt or working pay check to paycheck. today with the economy the way it is those wannabes are complaining about having to trade in their mercedes or bmw's for fords or toyotas (quoting them)...lucky me i havent had to sell my jeep for something less expensive
Sea Dog wrote: I mean real millionaires, the kind with over a million in investments and cash, not the guy who "owns" a home worth a million.
We all know how quickly that can turn around.
My point being, unless there is a sudden change, RVing as we now know it will soon be for only the wealthy.
I do happen to know a couple or three folks with spendable assets of well over a million.
The strange thing, all of them live the same lifestyle as any blue collar worker.
Yes.
Fuel rising from $3-4 or even $6 isn't going to spell the death of Rving. People in Europe RV with fuel costs much higher than ours. If you want a picture of what it will look like take a gander over there. Things may change but its not going to go away nor will it be only for the ultra rich.
Sea Dog wrote: My point being, unless there is a sudden change, RVing as we now know it will soon be for only the wealthy.
Not the way I know it. In 2004, I traded in our popup and bought the TT in our sig for a little over $20K. I purchased the 'Burb at around the same time to tow it for $18K. It had 70K miles on it and was very clean and in excellent mechanical condition.
That is $38K combined for a new trailer and capable tow vehicle that has served us well for the 4+ years we've owned them.
It isn't a $300K motorhome--but I park right next to them when I'm RVing. I don't know if they have any better time with their more expensive rig that I do, but I doubt it.
My fuel costs have gone up from $90 for a tank of gas in 2004 to around $130 today. That is an increase of $40 per tank. It hasn't become a deal breaker to stop us from RVing. Most of our trips are within 100-200 miles from home.
We are considering going to a 5er/1-ton diesel truck combo next year. If we go used on the TV, and new on the 5er, we can probably get them for around $60K, less the trade-ins. But I would be OK with keeping the current combo for a few more years if it doesn't work out.
I do know one multi-millionaire that owns a 2002 Class A DP. It is in immaculate condition. He paid about $500K for it brand new. He was considering getting a 2008 model similar to it, but the $700K price tag stopped him.
For the masses, a nice trailer and capable tow vehicle aren't priced out of their range and probably won't ever be.
MFinCA
2004 Homestead Settler 255RS
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
I used to do close n securityy for Executives mainly the CEO of ARCO.. These are the obscenely rich and it makes you sick the way they toss money around
Chase Fair
2002 Ford F-150 7700 Payload Package B w/ Husky 16K hitch
2002 Prowler Lynx 29.5ft UltraLight w/ super slide 5th wheel
Anchorage, Alaska
I know lots. And a million dollars doesn't buy what it used to. Even with a few million behind you, you watch your spending. I know a number of guys that have tens of millions; 2-3 that have over 30. Thats a different category. Carefully invested they have so much income they can't spend it.
I do believe that this is probaly the end of an era where blue collar/professional people; electricians, machinists, engineers, etc will live the life style that they have through the 60's thru 90's where a working family could drive a motorhome all over the country. Our middle class is disappearing and with the fuel crunch, world competition and population growth, RV'ing will look more like the European model.
Everyone thinks that rich is better. I know a man who started with nothing, He Educated himself. He Had 300 bucks when he married, He Raised a family. He started camping with a popup camper that he built himself. He was 43 years old before he took his first vacation. Today he is a millionaire, He earn every dollar of it. Today he has a large MH, A sea going boat, An Airplane he owes nothing. He told me, As you gain wealth you loose friends. The higher the wealth the lesser the friends.(jealousy). Today that man is 76 years of age, Very congenial and friendly. As I sit and talk with him I have learned. Live your life as it comes, Enjoy your younger years while you can. Money and the golden years is not what people expect to be. Greed is not good!
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