Aussie dad's warning to travellers after quitting job for caravan life: 'Can't hack it'
Ryan and Bec Mumford set off on a road trip with their toddler son, living in a tiny three-metre camper. Now they've revealed exactly what they spent and learned during their travels.
With more and more Aussies looking to trade in their lives for one on the road, you might be wondering just how much touring the country in a 4WD, van or caravan actually costs. And surprisingly for one family, who took on a mammoth 16-month trip, the entire trip cost no more than if they'd stayed put to begin with, according to the average weekly household spend.
Dad Ryan Mumford, along with his wife and their toddler, are part of the growing number of Aussies trading their mundane lives for one on the road exploring Australia — and they did it all in an epic three-metre modified truck and camper, Ryan told Yahoo News Australia. But while they loved it, it's not as glamourous as some might think, he warned.
Aussie family ditches mundane life for epic road adventure
The couple had not long before welcomed their first child Riley in 2023 and craved an adventure. Ryan, who worked in the mines, said he "hated" his job, despite the decent wage he earned. So they decided to invest in a "home on wheels" which set them back a whopping $200k —with plans to sell it all upon returning.
And they did. In fact, the couple was able to sell their vehicle, boat and trailer, plus other equipment for a hefty $300k, as the caravanning and camping trend booms.
Although they plan on setting off again "indefinitely," the dad-of-one said, admitting there's so much more to see and do. They've even sold their house in Harvey, WA to fund their future travels. But it's not something he recommends everyone does.
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Family spend less than weekly average on the road
The Mumford family, whose travels expanded northern and central Australia, said their weekly spend while on the road was roughly $1,500, which covered, food, fuel and activities on the road. All bills including insurances were paid upfront ahead of their 16-month getaway, Ryan said.
The latest data from Finder shows the average household spent more than $132,000 in 2023, equivalent to about $2,538 per week — an increase of 8 per cent compared to the previous year. Rent and dwelling costs are the largest expense by far, costing the average household $536 per week.
But in total, the Mumford family spent roughly $100,000 over the course of 16 months, less than the weekly household average. About $20,000 was spent on maintenance and breakdowns, Ryan said. While they were gone, the also couple rented out their WA property for $650 a week, which, thankfully, covered most of the mortgage.
Ryan admitted a road trip such as theirs can certainly be done cheaper, as claimed by other travellers, but that rarely included fun activities and site visits along the way. But "that's all part of travelling" and life on the road, he said, admitting they didn't want to skimp on the memories with their son.
Another family admitted to spending roughly $2,500 a week during their six-month caravanning adventure. Like Ryan, they rented out their family home in Sydney along with another investment property.
Earning money while on the road
At the start of the trip, Ryan and Bec set off with roughly $80,00 in savings, and without a plan, they had no idea how long that would last. So ten months in, with funds running dry, Ryan decided to take up some casual farm work — seasonal seeding and harvesting.
"There's that much work out there, it's crazy," he said, recommending it to anyone travelling the country.
It's "easy to find" and most offer accommodation and a place to leave their vehicle if a cosy home and space is what you're after. They also after power and water, and some provide food too.
A two-month stint earned him a hefty $22,000 which kept them going for roughly three months. This extra work allowed the family to return with money left over.
Warning to other travellers
While comparable to regular living expenses, Ryan warned Aussies not to be disillusioned by costs of road travel which "can add up". He said people often "glorify this type of travelling".
"There's not as many free camps as what people imagine, and most are an hour out of big towns," he said.
While he and his family loved it, with plans to do it permanently from next year, he warned others to think it through and even try it before "selling everything and quitting jobs" — because there's a high chance they'll hate it.
"We actually met a few families on the road that got anxiety from being so close to their spouses and all that stuff. They can't hack it," he said.
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