Sunseeker2007 wrote: I make an above average wage with a large company that provides some employment security and I have lived below my means for several years. I financed my motorhome but I'm not financially challenged by it. Why did I do it now? Because I'm a single mom....
Hmmm, advertising like that might get you a few proposals by personal message
LOL - Not likely. Once they find out I have been known to overnight in a parking lot, interest would wane.
4campnuts wrote: This is simple. Why finance an RV or even your TV to pull it? Life is too short, that's why. If you have the cash, go for it, that's great. If you don't, and you can afford it, finance it and get out there and enjoy life. You can spend 5 years saving a few hundred a month, then pay cash or you can spend 5 years paying a few hundred a month and enjoy your RV the whole time. My daughter's friend's mom just died in a motorcycle accident. 39 years old. Slipped on wet pavement. Glad she was at least out enjoying her bike doing what she must've loved to do. Again, life is too short to spend it "planning for someday". Live responsibly, but live.
It's all about finding happiness in what you can afford. I've really come to believe in the importance of MODERATION.....it seems to be the answer and/or guide to health, finance, politics, etc. In our younger family days, the PUP provided an affordable means for family camping and traveling. By living moderately, we are now able to afford our TT and truck. And, we now have a small but nice summer cottage on a beautiful lake. Again, staying within a budget, we have a pontoon boat to enjoy....it's old, but in great shape, and more importantly...paid for. We may seem "rich" to many......and we do feel blessed. To others......our luxuries are pretty modest.
Within moderation, it's so important to take time to enjoy life, family, and everything that life has to offer. And....camping/traveling with a used PUP can be and was just as enjoyable to us as someone else that can afford the diesel pusher.
And to the real point.....I work very hard to avoid judging people based upon what they own, as it has very little to do with their true value and worth as human beings.
We should be better about following the scripture "Judge not lest ye be judged".
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OOOOOOOOOOps.......didn't mean to write a sermon!
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Yes.. and it also comes down to how we choose to spend our budgeted *entertainment* dollars.
Just try to take four teens to a movie or bowling... throw in a few pizzas and pitchers of sodas. Easily $100 each time. Now do that four weekends a month and you have spent enough $$$ that would make a nice RV payment!
So instead of entertaining our teens for only a few hours each weekend with those same dollars, we decided to spend it on the whole weekend, eating the same food we would have at home, and using the same gas we would have spent running them all over to friends, ballgames, movies etc. And what did we do? We built memories, had fun, and had something to show for it in the end!
Our kids are grown now, and all of them still go camping, two own big tents with all the camping gear, and one is even shopping for their own popup trailer!
Our oldest son is getting married this weekend, and most of the items on their gift registry are camping supplies!!!!
I personally do not care what anyone does with their money at that personal level... To each their own! Make your bed and lie in it. The aspect that bothers me is exactly how high of a percentage it currently of families with steeply negative net worths and are upside down with their purchases! This is one aspect weakening our dollar and fostering our higher costs today (think about the cost and implications of bankruptcies and foreclosures have on ALL of us)!
In my personal opinion, and it is just that, I would like to see people make more financially responsible decisions. Even when it comes to getting in over your head (my wife and I were once there but under a different circumstance than "gotta have"), work hard to get yourselves out of the position instead of the alternative... It may also be a factor that you have to go through the hard times, to make much better decisions later on - we never forget the hard times.
Scott_C wrote: I personally do not care what anyone does with their money at that personal level... To each their own! Make your bed and lie in it. The aspect that bothers me is exactly how high of a percentage it currently of families with steeply negative net worths and are upside down with their purchases! This is one aspect weakening our dollar and fostering our higher costs today (think about the cost and implications of bankruptcies and foreclosures have on ALL of us)!
In my personal opinion, and it is just that, I would like to see people make more financially responsible decisions. Even when it comes to getting in over your head (my wife and I were once there but under a different circumstance than "gotta have"), work hard to get yourselves out of the position instead of the alternative... It may also be a factor that you have to go through the hard times, to make much better decisions later on - we never forget the hard times.
If this was the only problem our dollar had it would be very strong.
Are you saying that all who finance their RVs are subjecting themselves to possible future bankruptcies and foreclosures? Are you insinuating someone who finances their RV is irresponsible? Don't lump me in with those who take loans they can't afford - and stop looking down on me because I financed my RV.
Actually, economically, a properly managed lending industry strengthens the economy. So that means that everyone on this forum who financed their RVs and can afford to make the payment are actually strengthening our economy.
Wow, might as well keep this going. No, I'm not saying that financing an RV is bad at all. I've financed stuff all my life and about everyone finances a home. But, I do worry about buyers who go for the extremely long term loans offerred by banks and finance companies which result in upside down loans. Got to thinking about my situation when we were in this situation(mildly) a couple years ago and how, if I died, wife would be stuck with the the 5th wheel and truck worth less than the loan balance. Feel much better debt free. I also notice that many RVers just don't like to talk about the depreciation of their RV as part of the cost- Denial maybe?
I care because as a tax payer I might be paying for some one else's stupidity. Just like the mortgage thing going on now and the bailouts by the gummint, which comes from my tax dollars. Easy credit becomes a release for reasonability. So, you see it is my business.
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Jayco-noslide wrote: Wow, might as well keep this going. No, I'm not saying that financing an RV is bad at all. I've financed stuff all my life and about everyone finances a home. But, I do worry about buyers who go for the extremely long term loans offerred by banks and finance companies which result in upside down loans. Got to thinking about my situation when we were in this situation(mildly) a couple years ago and how, if I died, wife would be stuck with the the 5th wheel and truck worth less than the loan balance. Feel much better debt free. I also notice that many RVers just don't like to talk about the depreciation of their RV as part of the cost- Denial maybe?
Not denial. More like intent. I plan to keep my RV for a long time - so I don't mind paying for it over the course of the loan term. Life is a little risky and this is no different. If something icky happens, I'll deal with it. And I won't need taxpayer support - so others shouldn't be overly concerned.
To all who think they have the right to impose on others' situations - it's none of your business - you have no right - go find something better to do with your time.
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