I can't decide... need input. (Long post)

[IndigoGlitter]

Decisions suck. Unless I am deciding if I want mint chocolate chip or Extreme Moose Tracks.

 

Pressing on.

 

I don't know if I have mentioned it before but we full-time RV. Great! Right? Sounds adventurous! It is a lot of the time but we are still living life and life happens. I am talking myself through this as much as asking advice so I apologize for the long post! We are getting some money from our tax return and are deciding what would be the best use of it.

 

Our RV is old (1994) and needs a few improvements and we have a couple other things we need to do...

 

Organization for the RV (shelves for some cupboards in order to use more of the space, baskets for other cupboards)

New pedal for toilet (current one broke, we use a 1X2 piece of wood to press it LOL)

Awning (don't have one, the material has holes and was ripped when we purchased the RV)

Generator (current one is dead and it would cost more to get it fixed than buy a new one)

Second battery for solar battery bank (this isn't really needed but would be nice so we didn't have to run the genny all the time)

Resurface counters (they are old and made of wood, they have expanded is a few places)

RV brakes and tires (brakes need servicing and we may new 2 tires, not 100% on that yet)

Antennae/Extender (We rely on internet for work so we need a better set up to reach signals farther away)

Dental appts ('Nuff said)

Eye check up for son (he needs a new script for his glasses)

Bikes (Older doesn't have one and we ran over the youngers with the RV, quite by accident but, the bike isn't usable LOL)

In-line skates (not REALLY needed but I'd like some for me so I get out more and can go around with the kids, I don't want a bike, skates are less bulk)

Storage Rack for the RV (one of those "platform" type things that goes in the hitch that you can put stuff on. I see RV's and vehicles with them all the time)

 

OK that's what I originally had planned. However, as I said life happens...

 

We also are thinking of a "new" vehicle. Why? Oh, no reason... just the transmission is about to flop. We have a 97 Caravan that fits the whole family (5 people and the dog) and if we can get it to shift we are doing great. It's slipping all over the place, clunking and revving when driving. It's a fish out of water gasping it's last breath. Aside from that the windshield wipers don't work, the doors don't lock, the headliner fell down and the back brake lights went out. We were going to take care of some of that with our tax return but with the tranny going it's a moot point.

 

Here's the rub. We do have another vehicle we can use. It's a 99 Civic. We have been the only owners. It runs great. It is also small. It's hard having all of us in it. I have an 18yo daughter and a 14yo son, they are pretty much adult sized. The youngest, though only 7.5yo, is a lug of a boy and wears a 10/12 so he is big too. It would be misery. However, we could do it. It is doable. Just cramped. The dog would just have to stay in the RV when we go places.

 

So I figure we could do one of two things.

 

Scrap the van and use the Civic. We can then take care of all the stuff we need to with a little left over because we don't need to fix the van.

 

or

 

Sell the Civic and use some of the tax return to get a "new" mini-van and hold off (at the latest until next tax return) for some of the stuff that isn't essential to our survival.

 

I did think of maybe doing what needs to be done and see what's left. Be as frugal as possible and if there is enough left over then get a bigger vehicle.

 

I just don't know though! LOL Mountains and mole hills.....

[Pawz4me]

We're not full timers, but we have an RV that we vacation in.  And I double ditto Kinsa on the brakes and tires -- those are such huge safety issues.  Unless you're planning on staying parked for a good long time I would make those the priorities.

[EmilyGF]

Kinsa knows what she it talking about so I won't address anything but the bikes.

 

But about the bikes... you can often find bikes used for very cheap. We've gotten bikes for 5-8 year olds for $5 at garages sales (and for free from neighbors who just want them to go to a good home). Keep your eye on Craigslist and you may find a good deal. Ugly bike? Buy a roll of duct tape and you can decorate it.

 

Emily

[Katy]

I'd put medical issues (dentist and eyes) first.

 

Then breaks and tires.