The Art of Downsizing: Simplifying Your Life in a Motorhome

In the eyes of most people, success in life is almost synonymous with the acquisition of a lot of material goods. If you drive a nice car, and live in a very large house, then you’re said to have ‘made it’ – or, so goes this popular line of thinking.

But this isn’t a universally held opinion. In fact, there’s a growing trend toward minimalism in homeownership. Many of us no longer aspire towards a very large home; on the contrary, we aspire toward the smallest one possible. But exactly why is this?

Benefits of Downsizing

A smaller home confers several tangible benefits.

Firstly, it tends to be much cheaper. You’ll be able to pay off your mortgage more quickly (or minimise your rent). This way, you can accumulate wealth that you can put toward your life priorities. 

Smaller homes also tend to be cheaper to run. Less volume means less space to heat. This also has an environmental upside: less space to heat means less in the way of emissions.

If you’re living in a motorhome, then you’ll have another advantage: the ability to move it easily from one location to another. Given that location is often touted as the most important quality of any property, this is an upside that’s difficult to overstate.

Choosing the Right Motorhome

Take the decision to live in a motorhome, and you’ll be faced with the choice of what class of motorhome to invest in. 

A Class A motorhome is the most expensive. It’s a luxury vehicle that’s built on a large chassis. You can expect to pay upwards of a hundred thousand pounds for a home of this kind.

A Class B motorhome you might see described as a campervan. They might be made from a converted commercial van, or they might be built for purpose.

Finally, there’s a class C motorhome – which is something of a compromise between the other two. What distinguishes this category is the cab at the front, which often sits beneath a small section for sleeping.

Whichever you select, it’s worth thinking about specialised motorhome insurance. This way, you’ll be covered against problems that are particular to this mode of transport. 

Downsizing Your Possessions

For most people, the decision to live in a very small space is a radical one, which might necessitate getting rid of a lot of stuff. This process of decluttering can be very beneficial in the long term, especially from a mental health perspective. Split your possessions into three piles: one of things to keep, one of things to throw away, and one of things to donate or sell.

Essential Gear and Supplies

While the idea here is to get rid of your worldly possessions, there are a few items that no property can do without. These include hosepipes, 240v cable, gas bottles, blankets for winter, levelling chocks, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers. Make sure that your storage is space-efficient, and that you’re taking advantage of under-seat and over-head spaces.

Budgeting and Financial Considerations

If you’re living on the road, then you’ll be faced with costs that are worth anticipating. Think about fuel, maintenance, tax, and campsite fees. It might be that your change of accommodation isn’t quite as frugal as you hoped. Better to know that now than after you’ve taken the financial hit.