Financial Justification for an Airstream

[Rocinante]

We discovered via an inherited B+ motor home that we loved RV camping. Then we decided to switch to an Airstream travel trailer because we had great memories of parents camping in theirs before they went to the B+. The only math we did was to determine whether we could afford one after selling the B+. The answer was "yes," and here we are.

There is no real financial "justification" for buying an Airstream as a part-timer / camper like us. If it makes someone feel better to have something that looks to them like a positive ROI for owning an RV in general or an Airstream in particular, we're happy for them but they're not fooling us.

BTW, we're with Moosetags on the question of other campers. We enjoy their company, regardless of what kind of RV or tent they may be using, and the differences generate some pretty interesting conversations over s'mores, etc.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

. . .
It's a good day to be alive.

Paula

End of discussion!

Keep breathing . . . own whatever toys you want . . . life is short . . .

Let the Summer Games begin!

Peter

[ALANSD]

Originally Posted by SeeMore

Alan - does collecting insurance on the tree crushed '78 Sovereign count

and how!

[Piggy Bank]

Well, if time is money, than money is time. And spending time well = good use of money to me.

Often I get questions about why I drive a truck (even though many others do so. I guess the sight of a professionally dressed woman in a big Tundra is not that common).

So I say that I use it sometimes for my job (I sell equipment, and do sometimes deliver things to my customers. = Street Cred!) And I say that we recently have gotten into camping and we have a small camping trailer.

My point now.
I get this reaction when I say we got a camper, and then in the next few remarks say it is an Airstream. Almost always, people say "I have always wanted one of those".

This summer we are going to Yellowstone.

SAME REACTION.

"I have always wanted to go there!"

This from people who have been to Disney, on cruises, maybe to Europe.

How can you afford NOT to spend you time doing what you always wanted?

[mimiandrews]

For most of us, an Airstream is a toy. Toys need no financial justification. All that is needed is that we can afford them without sacrificing financial peace and security.

They pay us back in intangibles, like peace of mind, stress relief, time outdoors, seeing new parts of the country. Those intangibles can improve our health and well-being.

In other words, there are paybacks the accountants can't see. Happy Airstreaming!

[ZBoater]

I think there is another side to the "financial justification" argument outside of "can I afford it". Let's take that out of the equation. So, is it worth paying $100K for a new Airstream when I can get another brand, bigger, for $30K?

In other words, are Airstreams 3 times better than the competition?

I struggled with this a lot. The same applies to buying used. I can get a used late model Airstream (2012/13) for $50K or another brand for $15K. In the end, I felt that the build quality of the Airstream justified the premium price. I would prefer to buy once and keep for a long time than have to upgrade or exchange 5 years from now. But it was a tough sell, especially with how roomy some of the competition is. But in the end, its not about how much room you have, but about how you use the room you have.

That is my opinion.

[J. Morgan]

In the end, the more room a person has, the more they fill this space with crap that they don't need or even use....



#JustSayin...


Superat stultitia.

[CRH]

It's funny how I have heard investments in health and lack of stress more than once in this thread, but you open lots of other threads with guys worrying about blowouts, leaks, dings, rotten floors, missing rivets, and a whole long list of stressful things these trailers bring on.....

[mcomeaux]

I was asked why I bought an Airstream and I simply said because I did't have one.

[Tn Traveler]

If your Airstream is not a necessity (ie: full time home or needed for business travel, etc.) I would view it as a toy. The expense of toys is not justifiable. I think trying to justify the cost of toys is really rationalization. I have toys because I want them, and can afford them.

[AtomicNo13]

I think it's a case of wanting an Airstream and maintaining the cost.
One does not need an Airstream, it's a decision like any other. We have these because we want them.

[Rocinante]

If you're camping / recreating and you feel the need to cost-justify the purchase of an Airstream or any other RV to support that activity, you should probably just buy a tent.