Calinomics

[JuanVecino2023]

Although it’s a pricey purchase, I really should tot up the savings the Cali generates.

Every time I make a coffee in the Aeropress & save £3.30 on a flat white

Every time I make a sandwich in the kitchen instead of paying for overpriced ready made in a services or National Trust cafe etc

Savings on average accommodation in a pub or Air BnB

It probably racks up quite quickly.

 

[KevH]

Although it’s a pricey purchase, I really should tot up the savings the Cali generates.

Every time I make a coffee in the Aeropress & save £3.30 on a flat white

Every time I make a sandwich in the kitchen instead of paying for overpriced ready made in a services of National Trust cafe etc

Savings on average accommodation in a pub or Air BnB

It probably racks up quite quickly.

Couldn’t agree more.
We use ours as a daily driver which means no doubling up of tax, MoT, servicing, etc. never mind the outlay on another vehicle.
At the other end of the scale, sitting under the awning with a glass of beer or wine is far cheaper and nicer than paying pub or restaurant prices.

 

[CamperFam]

Absolutely this.

There's always a little dirty laugh of joy that escapes the mrs when she's sat in the van eating/drinking amazing food, and looking to the side of the van and seeing someone slapping a McDonalds down their throat.

It's a priviledge many dont have, and many more dont realise exists. We're a fortunate lot.

That said, i'm often the bloke next to her with the McDonalds....

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I get quite a lot of envious looks and comments when I put my shopping in the fridge in the supermarket carpark, especially in the summer when it it often over 30c here.

 

[willwander]

18,000 coffees and the vans paid for itself

 

[CamperFam]

18,000 coffees and the vans paid for itself

Do not underestimate the power of how many coffees us millenials and Gen Zs buy.

 

[Steve&Bev]

With my Porta Potty I save a penny every time I need to go!!

 

[Cavvy]

Not to mention annual savings if used for holidays?

 

[Agnes_Cali]

I don't think I'm saving a lot. I don't buy coffee, I would take sandwich with me or something else to eat. I have Dometic fridge which travelled with me in 4x4. Also solar panels and Jackery to get free electricity. I still have to wait until Jackery pays for itself, saving me of 4-5 GBP/EUR/CHF when camping, so need to clock 200 nights at campsites.
OK, the only saving is on petrol, because 4x4 is real gas guzzler comparing to California.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

18,000 coffees and the vans paid for itself

Right, ROI will be completed end September

 

[JuanVecino2023]

I did some mental back of fag packet calculations with Mrs Vecino on the drive back from Wales yesterday.

I reckon we buy a coffee a day when on holiday. For ease, call it £7 for two. Say £1.50 to make two with posh beans & milk. So £5.50 saving per day. £38.50pw

Sandwiches, realistically on average £15 for three of us. Say it costs £.1.50 each to make with some posh sourdough & deli meat (not like for like with a service station offering!). So £10.50 saving per day. £73.5pw

Accommodation, let’s say difference campsite vs bog standard pub per night £80 (based on £40 campsite vs £120 pub) £560pw

If I added pub beers & meals out vs cooking in van for say 3 nights of a week trip at £50 saving (using £75 for pizza for three and a drink each). £150

I get to £822 per week holiday.

Imperfect maths. But indicative nonetheless.

 

[orbitelevendk]

For me one of the big savings has been the ability to camp anywhere:
- It's a minimum 1.5 hour drive for us to the nearest airport here in Denmark. Being able to drive to a rest area the night before a 6am flight saves on paying for an airport hotel or waking up god-awful early.
- In driving south through Germany to the Alps, we can just drive until we're tired, pull off to a rest stop, and pop the roof instead of some weird roadside motel.

Sure, it's possible to do both of these in any vehicle, but the difference in quality of sleep needs no explanation!

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Great idea about the airport. If we fly from one of the budget airline airports like Stanstead or Luton, it’s either a 2:00am start or an overpriced airport hotel.

Must look into using the Cali as our transport and staying overnight en route

 

[edocali]

Great idea about the airport. If we fly from one of the budget airline airports like Stanstead or Luton, it’s either a 2:00am start or an overpriced airport hotel.

Must look into using the Cali as our transport and staying overnight en route

Airport parking regulations include “no overnight sleep” iirc so that rules out pulling the roof.
Similarly parking at motorways rest areas in the uk.
So you’d have to find a suitable overnight parking.

I found France motorway aires perfect instead

 

[Parkinjm]

Opposite for me. The Cali costs me a fortune - takes to me to pubs, campsites and far flung coffee shops everywhere. Without it I’d be stuck at home reusing my tea bags boiling vegetable peel to make soups.

Worth every penny.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Airport parking regulations include “no overnight sleep” iirc so that rules out pulling the roof.
Similarly parking at motorways rest areas in the uk.
So you’d have to find a suitable overnight parking.

I found France motorway aires perfect instead

I was thinking a campsite in close proximity would suffice; depending on check-in and departure rules.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

which airports? try camperstop, there is nearly always either a permitted place or a pub with a carpark somewhere close where the roof can be extended and snoring is allowed....just no rockin!

 

[wildslammer22]

I did some mental back of fag packet calculations with Mrs Vecino on the drive back from Wales yesterday.

I reckon we buy a coffee a day when on holiday. For ease, call it £7 for two. Say £1.50 to make two with posh beans & milk. So £5.50 saving per day. £38.50pw

Sandwiches, realistically on average £15 for three of us. Say it costs £.1.50 each to make with some posh sourdough & deli meat (not like for like with a service station offering!). So £10.50 saving per day. £73.5pw

Accommodation, let’s say difference campsite vs bog standard pub per night £80 (based on £40 campsite vs £120 pub) £560pw

If I added pub beers & meals out vs cooking in van for say 3 nights of a week trip at £50 saving (using £75 for pizza for three and a drink each). £150

I get to £822 per week holiday.

Imperfect maths. But indicative nonetheless.

Come the apocalypse you’ll be able to charge desperate Londoners seeking refuge in the Cotswolds £15 a go for your chai lattes, you’ll recoup the cost in no time at all.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Come the apocalypse you’ll be able to charge desperate Londoners seeking refuge in the Cotswolds £15 a go for your chai lattes, you’ll recoup the cost in no time at all.

They'll all be at diddly squat!

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Come the apocalypse you’ll be able to charge desperate Londoners seeking refuge in the Cotswolds £15 a go for your chai lattes, you’ll recoup the cost in no time at all.

I already charge my wife a quid every time I make a tea in the van.

Got to pay back that Ecoflow somehow

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

We have a tassimo, but she doesn't drink coffee, so I charge myself, does that count?

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Cold hard cash knows no favouritism.

So long as there’s £ in the coffers, it’s all good.

 

[Dave Wickham]

Airport parking regulations include “no overnight sleep” iirc so that rules out pulling the roof.
Similarly parking at motorways rest areas in the uk.
So you’d have to find a suitable overnight parking.

I found France motorway aires perfect instead

Yes but this is because the uk (well england anyway) forbids about everything (can’t do this, can’t do that)
A spiteful society unlike our more enlightened European colleagues

 

[Mehdime]

Airport parking regulations include “no overnight sleep” iirc so that rules out pulling the roof.
Similarly parking at motorways rest areas in the uk.
So you’d have to find a suitable overnight parking

I did just that at Dublin Airport’s long term car park the other day before a 6am flight. Never even occurred to me that I wouldn’t be allowed to do so. Just went to check their FAQs but couldn’t see anything related to campervans, motorhomes or sleeping there. Couldn’t find any other rules on their website.

Planning to do it again in a few weeks’ time - and this time I’ll have to pop the roof. So we’ll see what happens

 

[flymartin]

I did just that at Dublin Airport’s long term car park the other day before a 6am flight. Never even occurred to me that I wouldn’t be allowed to do so. Just went to check their FAQs but couldn’t see anything related to campervans, motorhomes or sleeping there. Couldn’t find any other rules on their website.

Planning to do it again in a few weeks’ time - and this time I’ll have to pop the roof. So we’ll see what happens

This is great. Do you bring a portable toilet or wee in a quiet corner? The weeing is a key factor in convincing my wife to do stealth camping.