Sailing around the world on a budget

[lustyd]

Return home during October. Catch up with friends and family. With Christmas and New Year as the grand finale. Followed by getting the boat ready to go again in April.

The problem with this approach is that it’s exceptionally expensive. Keeping a home means money tied up in a property that you can’t rent out, paying full council tax (or up to double if the council deem the property empty!), paying standing charges on utilities even when not using them. Add to that home insurance (with higher premiums for being away more than 30 days), a gardener for the garden you’re not using to make sure the property looks lived in.
Certainly not sustainable for most folk who aren’t working. I’ve recently done the sums, hence selling my house before we leave and buying something we can rent out.

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

The problem with this approach is that it’s exceptionally expensive. Keeping a home means money tied up in a property that you can’t rent out, paying full council tax (or up to double if the council deem the property empty!), paying standing charges on utilities even when not using them. Add to that home insurance (with higher premiums for being away more than 30 days), a gardener for the garden you’re not using to make sure the property looks lived in.
Certainly not sustainable for most folk who aren’t working. I’ve recently done the sums, hence selling my house before we leave and buying something we can rent out.

I thought about keeping this place as a buy to let, but we never want to come back so could do without the hassle.

 

[lustyd]

I thought about keeping this place as a buy to let, but we never want to come back so could do without the hassle.

Renting it is a different matter. You’re getting a return on your capital, you’re not responsible for paying the bills, and you’re staying in the market which won’t slow down any time soon (in fact unless someone starts a big war, there’s a huge boom coming).

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

Renting it is a different matter. You’re getting a return on your capital, you’re not responsible for paying the bills, and you’re staying in the market which won’t slow down any time soon (in fact unless someone starts a big war, there’s a huge boom coming).

im not sure its that lucrative or even break-evenable, the mortgage is much higher than rents. i agree with the boom, i dont buy this house crash coing as its based on supply and demand which isnt going to go away

 

[lustyd]

I thought that and then got an estate agent to tell me what the rent would be. My crap 3 bed would be £2k a month. Eye watering numbers I can’t understand how people manage to pay such numbers although obviously it’s not through choice. Unfortunately my house would need a lot of work to be legal for renting out so I’m selling and will buy something a bit lower maintenance as I need that refurb money for sailing!

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

I thought that and then got an estate agent to tell me what the rent would be. My crap 3 bed would be £2k a month. Eye watering numbers I can’t understand how people manage to pay such numbers although obviously it’s not through choice. Unfortunately my house would need a lot of work to be legal for renting out so I’m selling and will buy something a bit lower maintenance as I need that refurb money for sailing!

yeah we only bought this 4 years ago, luckily im quids in on it to sell, but rental price for next door is 400 less than what i pay for a mortgage, so it will be selling, buying a boat and whatever I get for the boat in the end of this journey will go towards a condo somewhere cheap and warm

 

[lustyd]

That’s a reasonable plan. Leaving the sea doesn’t mean returning to Britain and there are still a few places cheap enough to settle with lower funds.

 

[Stemar]

The other side of the coin is that it isn't for everyone, and there's no shame in deciding it isn't for you and turning back. I knew a guy who had the ideal boat and no ties. Farewell party and off he goes. He was back within a month. He was a very sociable bloke, and he couldn't take the solitude of weeks at a time with no one to talk to but the seagulls.

 

[lustyd]

Not sure what I’d do if I don’t enjoy the sailing. I don’t like the country or its people these days so I’d have to find a new home and probably learn a new language!

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

The other side of the coin is that it isn't for everyone, and there's no shame in deciding it isn't for you and turning back. I knew a guy who had the ideal boat and no ties. Farewell party and off he goes. He was back within a month. He was a very sociable bloke, and he couldn't take the solitude of weeks at a time with no one to talk to but the seagulls.

ugh it seems i have hijacked this thread, so apologies for that, luckily i fall into the category of people that actually just prefers their own company....not a social animal

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

Not sure what I’d do if I don’t enjoy the sailing. I don’t like the country or its people these days so I’d have to find a new home and probably learn a new language!

you and me both! (the country and its people)

 

[capnsensible]

Not sure what I’d do if I don’t enjoy the sailing. I don’t like the country or its people these days so I’d have to find a new home and probably learn a new language!

Been there, done that, got the swimming pool, Amigo.

 

[Wansworth]

Pleanty of nice stone country houses here in Galicia……….NEEDING a restoration!

 

[Stemar]

Pleanty of nice stone country houses here in Galicia……….NEEDING a restoration!

I'd have loved to do something like that when I was younger. Fortunately, I've watched far too many YT vids about people restoring abandoned farms to even think about it now. It seems to require the same kind of stubborn insanity as restoring wooden boats

 

[Wansworth]

I'd have loved to do something like that when I was younger. Fortunately, I've watched far too many YT vids about people restoring abandoned farms to even think about it now. It seems to require the same kind of stubborn insanity as restoring wooden boats

Must be thirty years now since we bought the hovel but it did have electricity and water from the well for some inexplicably reason seeing running water coming out the newbathroom tap was a wonder

 

[Sea Change]

The other side of the coin is that it isn't for everyone, and there's no shame in deciding it isn't for you and turning back. I knew a guy who had the ideal boat and no ties. Farewell party and off he goes. He was back within a month. He was a very sociable bloke, and he couldn't take the solitude of weeks at a time with no one to talk to but the seagulls.

Where on earth was he sailing?

 

[Stemar]

Where on earth was he sailing?

IIRC, he didn't make it out of the Channel, but his budget meant a lot of anchoring and few stays in a marina, so he found out fairly quickly that he didn't enjoy solitude.

 

[benjenbav]

Do folk more want to get away from a situation that makes them unhappy or positively desire to sail the oceans?

I suspect the answer to this will influence the degree to which comfort and budget are relevant to them.

 

[spindly_killer_fish]

Do folk more want to get away from a situation that makes them unhappy or positively desire to sail the oceans?

I suspect the answer to this will influence the degree to which comfort and budget are relevant to them.

Personally, ill be leaving regardless, but i like travelling and have never been a package holiday guy so its perfect for me, essentially travelling in my house.

 

[benjenbav]

Personally, I’ll be leaving regardless, but i like travelling and have never been a package holiday guy so its perfect for me, essentially travelling in my house.

Yes, I’m sure the necessary budget is quite subjective and that it’s impossible to answer for anyone else.

My suspicion is that if someone is really dissatisfied with their life and wants to do something - perhaps, anything - different they may be more inclined towards the Pardey approach of just getting on with it with the resources that are available in the moment than they might be if they are long-term planning towards an idyllic dreamscape of adventure, discovery and capturing the sights of remarkable sunsets and exotic wildlife.