How Much Does It Cost To Live On A Narrowboat? | What Have We Spent In Our First Year? | Vlog 61

[@mommahil4323]

That was brilliant - not to mention scary - thank you so much for the detail - hope this doesn't put my hubby off taking the plunge!

[@mommahil4323]

PS have subbed

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you so much and welcome aboard! ❤👍 A big step, but worth it, tell hubby he won't regret it..I mean if I (Tony) can do it and I'm useless at DIY and engines, anyone can do it. The change in lifestyle is worth it just for the freedom and the constantly changing views. 👍🤗

[@ronkordish7887]

Great! I'm sold! Beats the 700+ for a house. the biggest cost is the boat itself

[@MakingNewMemories]

👍 Buying the boat in the first place is the biggest cost Ron, but it's all down to your personal budget. After that - chill and enjoy 😉

[@WifeofJim]

New subscriber, here. We’ve lived on our boat full time since 2015 and, until July this year, our costs have been pretty much in line with yours. We’re in a marina now, on a residential mooring with electric hook up, so our costs have gone up. We think it worth it though, because we’re getting too old and decrepit to be humping bags of coal (ours is delivered and tipped into a coal bunker) and lugging bottles of gas(again, delivered right to us - and even fitted on if we needed it to be). Being two old fogies on State Pensions, we get Housing Benefit and Council Tax relief, which brings costs down enormously, so in the end we’re not paying a great deal more than before we came here. We have shops, bus services, a railway station, post office, chippy and even a hair salon all within a few minutes walk, and supermarkets a short bus journey away. We have absolutely no regrets about moving aboard, continuous cruising or finishing up in a marina and would do it all again in a heart beat.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Hi Sheila and thank you for subscribing and joining us! Sounds like you've found an ideal spot to continue your life onboard. We're not going to let age be a hindrance to us either. 👍❤

[@Culturedropout]

Very useful information, thanks. We're waiting on my UK spouse visa and then we'll be shopping for a boat, so it's very comforting to have some confirmation of the figures I've gotten from other vloggers and various sources. Happy cruising!

[@MakingNewMemories]

Glad we could help and good luck with the boat hunting! 👍

[@markc3884]

Thanks for sharing your expenditure info

[@MakingNewMemories]

No worries Mark, hope you found it helpful. 👍

[@davidbrowne1311]

Great vlog , I've now watched several vlogs on the cost of narrow boating and your right in what you say, that different people do come out with different totals but that's down to people's differs life styles and budgets, fantastic ,,,

[@MakingNewMemories]

No two vlogs on costs will ever be the same due to the way people cruise. But we always found them useful for showing how much different lifestyles affect the overall costs.

[@steven-andrewgriffith3369]

Great vlog..thanks!

[@MakingNewMemories]

Our pleasure 🙏 Hope you found it helpful.

[@caravanningmacs8009]

Hi Tony and Jan. Interesting and informative look at the costs of narrowboat life, which we, as caravanners, really enjoyed and learned from. For prospective boaters, and even some experienced folks, there was so much helpful info and advice in this really good vlog. Excellent presentation Tony - we really enjoyed this. Thank you. George and Trish - CaravanningMacs

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you George and Trish! 👍❤

[@davidsworld5837]

your food and drink was £3,500 is £67 pound a week. its always a good idea to have spares as this means 2 things 1 - you have the part so you get fixed faster. and 2 getting the parts before you need them means you can buy from the cheapest place. did you not miss out some costs. internet, tv licence unless you only stream your tv / movies. internal painting and decorating. was you est values include items that you had to do or buy. when you bought the boat did it not get a report done on it then. with a list of marina's you could find a cheaper one to stay in. and with a good list you can find a cheaper boatyard for doing the blacking at, even do it yourself.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Some interesting comments David. Any advice would have been helpful at the time. We bought the boat two years ago - with a full survey so knew what work had to be done and factored that into the price we paid for the boat. And of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but as it was the height of lockdown and we were constrained by time, we made the decisions we made based on our circumstances. We explain all this in our previous vlogs.

[@stevesrepairs5778]

Thanks for a great and very interesting vlog. I hope that you and Jan had a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Take care and all the best. Stevie

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thanks Stevie. Had a lovely Christmas thank you. Happy New Year to you too, stay safe!

[@michaelhibbert4393]

Very useful thank you

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you Michael 👍

[@angiedodd3016]

I understand that you can get help with costs from dhs for mooring fees rates licence etc if your income say state pension ? Also you could get the heating allowance ?

[@MakingNewMemories]

I believe that's the case depending on what benefits you currently claim.

[@jaynecopland]

Very informative

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you Jayne, glad you found it helpful. 👍❤

[@shardlake]

Fireside chat with Tony :) Good to see your estimate was not too far off, although you missed of the most important currency - happiness, how does that compare to life in a house?

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you 👍 No comparison to living in a house - boat wins every time! ❤

[@cheflovestocook]

Brilliant vlog Tony, very informative

[@MakingNewMemories]

Glad you found it informative Chef. Do you think we need to reduce our alcohol budget??? 🤣

[@leebolton6162]

Very helpful information, as I'm looking to buy my first narrowboat by the end of this year. Thank you Ps. Enjoying watching your channel

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you Lee. 👍 Glad you found it helpful.

[@ktjamlex]

Apart from the costs I'd be worried about being out of the housing market. Where I live house prices went up nearly 25% last year and the medium house price is now over a million dollars. Does this aspect worry boaters? Could lack of capital gain be considered a cost perhaps?

[@MakingNewMemories]

Buying a house was drummed into us when we were younger and even today we're encouraged to invest in property because 'you can't loose with property.' However, there was a big house price crash in 2007 and whilst prices have increased (figures for 2021 in the UK put house prices up by 11.5%) there's no certainty prices won't drop again. That said, in our own circumstances, we sold our house to fund the boat purchase. The alternative would be, as some have done, is to either extend your mortgage or get a loan to buy your boat whilst renting out your house so you still have it available should you plan to return to a bricks & mortar lifestyle. Since we aren't planning on doing that, it was more preferable for us to use the capital, leaving us debt and mortgage free.

[@normg2242]

Thanks for the breakdown! So if I understood that right - without food it's £10,000 + £4,000 for contingencies = a total of £14,000, is that correct? It's roughly what we spend on rent, but living on a boat you won't have a car, which it a big saving in itself...

[@MakingNewMemories]

Yes if those are the figures, you're correct, although some people do keep a car even if they liveaboard. It's just personal preference but if you're looking at saving money you can survive without one and plenty do.👍

[@NarrowboatWill]

That was a brilliant presentation. Thankyou

[@MakingNewMemories]

No problem Will. Happy New Year! 👍

[@kevinmartin3859]

Enjoyed the vblog very much keep it up if you go continuous cruising will you be the Avon and kennit canal

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you Kevin 👍 Our next vlog will outline our plans for 2022...😉

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid on the cut keep up the good vid thanks lee

[@MakingNewMemories]

Glad you enjoyed it Lee thanks! 💖

[@garethw8884]

I do like these vlogs. It gives people like myself who are looking into this life a good insight into costs ect. Hope you and Jan are well and had a great Christmas. Love to you both from us all

[@MakingNewMemories]

Hi Gareth. If you ever need some info you know where we are. Everyone has different lifestyles so costs may not always be exactly the same. Had a lovely time with eldest daughter. Love to the family 💖💖💖

[@garethw8884]

@@MakingNewMemories thanks for that. I will always keep that in mind. Glad you had a good one. Pass my best on to your daughter too I'm assuming it's the lovely lady we met at crick. Be safe as always 💖💖💖

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

Very interesting comparison. Thank you.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you Trevor 👍

[@sharonprinz5745]

OH dear, have you got a part time job? Really proves you need to save ahead before starting cruising. I'm sure this will really help some folks make up their minds to purchase or not.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Hi Sharon! No part time job yet.....except producing and editing videos (although that's almost full time!!!)

[@sallyburton7662]

Happy New Year to you both, can't wait until you get out cruising again, I'm sure you are looking forward to the spring, take care xx

[@MakingNewMemories]

Hi Sally and Happy New Year to you too! 🥰 Looking forward to Spring 👍

[@raymondparr1]

Great presentation I like the way that you’re breaking things down in simple terms for people like me. Keep up the good work and happy New Year. X from muckyduck

[@MakingNewMemories]

Ray! Happy New Year and thank you for the gifts. 🥰 Perhaps you can join us in the summer in our new pool??? 😆

[@raymondparr1]

@@MakingNewMemories well you did say you miss a bath.. that’s as close as I thought you can get lol x

[@ChrisKellyest]

Great video - love your budget line for drinks!! I’ve one question though - the video mentions a cost for marinas, and the number of marinas visited, but omits the number of days and weeks that came to. Could you share that with us? I’m interested in figuring out what a narrowboaters average daily marina costs might be. Cheers!!

[@MakingNewMemories]

Hi Chris and thank you for watching. Re Marinas: Almost all Marinas charge by boat length and widebeams about twice as much since they usually take up the space of two births. On average, the cost would be around £15 a night for 60ft Narrowboat and that often includes electricity, although one we were at changed £10! Staying longer brings that daily rate down, especially if staying for over a month.

[@peterrowe9454]

Great vlog as always, Happy New Year to you both.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you! And a Happy New Year to you too Peter 👍

[@frankfeely9235]

A great presentation. I wondered how it would pan out over the year and good to see what the unexpected "capital costs" were as opposed to the "operating costs". As a comparative set of issues I've forked out for my house this year £1200 for a new front door and £1800 for a boiler before taking account of the numerous other smaller items that got replaced. Good luck for this year and I hope you have the time to compare the cost of your second year to see if that is as expected. Safe travels.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Thank you Frank - always those damn unexpected costs you have to somehow factor in! Sounds like an expensive front door...mind you, it's been several years since we had to buy one! 😁

[@NeverTwoLateOurJourney]

Really useful vlog thank you. Happy New Year to both.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Happy new year and glad you found it helpful 💖

[@jeanrobins745]

I’m really enjoying your vlogs, as they are very informative, and love you two ! We are looking to buy a narrowboat in the next 6 - 9 months, so your cost of living vlog was very helpful. One thing i would like to ask if you don’t mind, is how much you pay for your internet/broadband etc. and which company do you use? Thank you !

[@MakingNewMemories]

Hi Jean and thanks for watching our vlogs, glad you're enjoying them 😊 Our broadband is supplied by Three with a Huawei b535 router. The router we bought when we were still in a house and our 3 sim for unlimited data costs £20 a month. You can, of course, use any sim in the router and if you also have a payg sim you can use that when you can't get a signal from 3. Good luck with the boat search when the time comes and let us know how you get on 👍

[@jeanrobins745]

@@MakingNewMemories Thank you for that info. I will pass it on to my Hubbie. I am a technophobe, but Ian will find it very useful ! I hope it won’t be too difficult to find ourselves a boat. They are few and far between at the moment, and I do have some “non compromises”, which narrows it down a bit ! But thank you for your good wishes ! We are very much looking forward to cruising the network !

[@mariohommersom2519]

The Taxman is watching ...

[@MakingNewMemories]

Then he's looking in the wrong place. 🤣 Try all of those tax dodging companies and corporations that 'legally' 😉 put their money in off shore accounts...

[@simonjenkins982]

Hello. There always seems to be unexpected costs of boat ownership. Have you considered the cost of changing the coolent for your engines and central heating ? Also don't you have a non functioning bowthruster ? What was the part needed for your generator ? Thank you for your great vlogs.

[@MakingNewMemories]

Hi Simon and thank you for commenting. 👍 Always need a 'contingency fund!' Engine coolant was included with the first service and have used any more since. Bow thruster is redundant and we're not bothering with repairs until we next get the boat blacked as it will need to be out the water. Generator part was the voltage control regulator. Expensive little part!

[@kevinlloyd3000]

excellent vlog. Im a leisire boater but would love to live aboard so unfortuntely i have house and boat expenses. Just need to pursuade the wife to live aboard then we'll be laughing. Out of interest what insurance are you with only mine is around £160 but its my first year and im not 100% sure it covers me enough and also doesnt include rescue

[@MakingNewMemories]

Ha Kevin, we know someone else in a similar situation to you, perhaps we should get you to meet up 😉 We're with GJW insurance and cover is for total loss and additional contents.

[@kevinlloyd3000]

@@MakingNewMemories Thanks for the reply, i;ll take a look at GJW when mines up for renewal. Thanks again guys