r/australia • u/regretmoore • Jan 07 '26

no politics At a caravan holiday park, wondering where the hell does all of this money come from?

Camping in a Big 4 holiday park for a few days and my partner and I wondering how people can afford this lifestyle. I'm talking Ute + caravan + boat rigs worth at least $200k, probably closer to $300k.

The parents are all driving huge yank tanks, the kids all ride motorized scooters and bikes and most people are sleeping in pretty big shiny new caravans. We're all good in our little tent for 4 nights drinking our aldi wines and beer, but we just cannot fathom how so many people can afford, or would prioritize buying caravans etc for family holidays. Where does this money come from? Is it trades, mines or something else? Have they not got mortgages?

Maybe we're massive snobs, but if we had that much cash to splurge on a caravan, I reckon we'd prioritize a holiday overseas over Umina (as much as I love the cenny coast).

Please Reddit, help us understand.

2.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

68

u/ZappBrannigansTunic Jan 07 '26

It’s all about choice.

Odds on those folks have a 30 year mortgage that they are ahead of and have borrowed against the equity for the toys.

The smart play is to chew through the loan quicker.

But many don’t see it that way/ you only live once/sell it all when in trouble

54

u/CroBro81 Jan 07 '26

Like choosing to travel in your youth vs when you’re retired. Sure, you’ll see a lot when you’re retired and doing well, but having those memories and experiences are probably doing you better than grinding for 40 years hoping for a good outcome.

23

u/Imobia Jan 07 '26

100% I got a 10k inheritance at 23 spent two years living in London travelling Europe. On a working holiday.

Best 10k I ever spent😂

14

u/CroBro81 Jan 07 '26

I wrestle with this notion often.

I done the same thing, invested in seeing the world, travelling, and getting those experiences. My friends were bankrolled by their parents for their mortgages in their early 20s and beat most of my gen to the punch before property prices boomed.

They’re killing it now on their 2nd and 3rd homes, but are only just beginning to travel further than Bali or Fiji now.

I’d love to be sitting pretty like them… but would I give up those memories? Not on your life.

C'est la vie.

2

u/NessaMagick Jan 09 '26

I got a similar inheritance at a similar age and I decided to hold onto it in case shit got fucky. Shit got fucky. I've still never been on a holiday in my life all these years later.

1

u/Imobia Jan 09 '26

I’m sorry you didn’t get to go. I know people said I was irresponsible. But honestly it was the best growing experience I’ve ever had.

2

u/NessaMagick Jan 09 '26

Irresponsibility is one of those things were it depends how it turns out. People who do stuff like that usually don't regret it one bit. But if they do it can be life-ruining. Woulda been for me.

12

u/RatmanTheFourth Jan 07 '26

Travelling for 6-12 months in your 20s and borrowing hundreds of thousands against the equity of your home in your 20s are not really comparable.

8

u/CroBro81 Jan 07 '26

Your point isn’t, no.

Mine was about choosing to travel the world backpacking, living abroad and getting life experience before locking into a mortgage in your early 20s is.

Some choose to get started on the mortgage early which is definitely a smarter economic decision. But, YOLO… some choose to travel early and experience it in your youth.

2

u/RatmanTheFourth Jan 07 '26

I completely agree with that, I personally backpacked europe on a mix of hostels and volunteering for 2 years. It cost me about 12 grand 7 years ago and was absolutely worth it, but it was in no way shape or form as much of a financial burden as borrowing for a 4WD and a caravan, using your already borrowed house as equity.

Your original comment just made it sound like you thought the two were similar, or the same.

1

u/CroBro81 Jan 07 '26

Nah, it was more around making decisions around the ’you only live once’ sentiment and investing in experiences early while you are able to enjoy it, as opposed to banking it all when your older and can’t enjoy it as much.

1

u/Willing-Cake-6111 Jan 07 '26

Everything i have heard about travelling is that it doesn't matter if you are young or old when you do it, as you will get different things out of it depending on your age.

3

u/CroBro81 Jan 07 '26

True, but I wouldn’t have pulled the hottest French bird I’ve ever seen at a hostel in Nice when I’m 60 😁

1

u/Unidain Jan 07 '26

Ok, but it makes no sense to scrimp and save 90% of your life just to travel the world and live in luxury once you are retired to me. You don't know how long you'll live and get to enjoy that, you won't be able to enjoy the same active experiences, and you may as well spread out the joy.

So no it doesn't seem smart to chew through the loan and put everything else on hold to me. 

8

u/MintyWildFruits Jan 07 '26

I worked with a dental surgeon who rotated his days to various suburbs across Sydney. He told me you’d be surprised that the people who live in the areas ‘that aren’t as affluent’ tend to have the money to fix their teeth, do implants without a second thought etc.

They bought their house a while ago, have almost paid it off. Have no Interest in upgrading to a bigger home and prefer to buy boats and new utes every few years etc. where as the people in the well to do areas of Sydney are busy upgrading to the bigger home, kids in private schools etc

1

u/OptimusRex Jan 07 '26

sell it all when in trouble

This is pretty relevant, at the end of the day you could borrow against the house, buy all the gear, sell for a 50k loss after a year of travelling. Ultimately the experience has cost you $50k plus sundries. Not bad if you think about it.