Be the first to get your copy!!!
RV Living in the 21st Century
click photos to enlarge -
What goes into a
Fulltiming Budget?
How much money does it cost
to RV FULLTIME?
FULLTIMING BUDGET (Updated 29 November 03)
The following is several of my email answers to the question reference -
‘Fulltiming Budgets and the minimum amount of $30,000’ we feel is necessary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Linda and
Fred. (Feb 03)
Thanks for all the kind words. With reference to BUDGETS - This is a very
personal thing for each Fulltimer. Your camping can be between $350 and
$500 Cdn per month and depending where you are in the USA it could be as
high as $6-$700 per month --- Cdn exchange will make the regular rate much higher.
Usually monthly rent means you must pay your own hydro. However there are ways of
stretching campground dollars such as Discount Camping - many are
mentioned in RV Living in the 21st Century
and through this site.
Vol 1 and 2 ebooks and our RV WebLink page offer additional solutions.
¨
Gas and Diesel fuel costs are rising so you need to figure how many
miles you hope to cover and multiply. times the current price, Fulltimers
usually travel shorter days and enjoy their time en route. They make
getting there half the journey. We have the
advantage over part-timers because we usually make one circle each year.
Our annual average travel is between 10 and 13,000 miles. Vacationers go
to their destination and return home again several times a year clocking
up many more miles.
¨
Eating
out and groceries will be about the same as at home (dollar for dollar
many things are equal cost, but while shopping in the USA we Canadians
must add the exchange). You should also have $2-300.00 dollars
available per month to be a
tourist plus reserve cash for emergencies.
We keep a zero balanced credit card for
unexpected emergencies - when we return home in the summer we redirect
funds to cover the new costs. I also recommend RVers set up a contingency
fund as well. Clothes may be slightly more economical in the south
because the USA sales seem to be lower than sale prices in Canada but if you shop wisely you can find some neat
economical attractive casual clothes in both countries. From groceries
to clothes the selection is extensive so you may spend more because of
the wide choice.
¨
If
you play golf or smoke or enjoy other expensive habits your costs will be
higher than ours. Those with a dream to venture into Mexico can expect it
to be more costly than a USA winter.
Caravans are a great way to get your feet wet in unfamiliar areas,
most make for very pleasant memories but they, like cruises, can be a bit
on the costly side. However
if you shop around you can find some economical caravans going to a number
of unique locations. Begin your search on the RV WebLinks page of www.rvliving.net.nalinkscont.htm.
under Caravans Depending on
what country you live in or where you hope to travel, these links will
give you a place to start.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A similar
email answer reference Fulltiming Budgets for RVers wanting to take off
for 1-2 years
Second
viewpoint (Spring
O2) ---
Hi
Anne and Henry: Thanks for the visit. Be aware that frequently the 1-2
year start-up turns into 10 plus (like us –we are now entering 18). On
the other hand some friends didn’t last a year, they were not happy
unless they had a stationary place somewhere. The RV Lifestyle offers
something for everyone. You asked about costs. The general consensus is a
minimum of $30,000.00 a year, but that amount is so vague. Your expenses
on the road will be the same or higher than they are now. Fulltiming is
not meant to live like a pauper. The amount of your costs will be such a
personal choice.
Since I don’t know what country you call home and most fulltimers spend
winters in the south, these figures are in US$'s. Canadian can convert by
multiplying the US amount x the exchange rate = Cdn$ while in the USA.
When the Cdn dollar is bad for us Cdns heading south, it’s a real
bargain for our USA neighbours who want to explore the friendly country to
the north.
There is no set amount required to live on the road fulltime. Some
general static costs follow
¨
Camping will
be between $300.00 to $800.00 US$ plus tax depending what state or area
you are visiting, the location to attractions, what camping clubs you
belong too and if you pay full price. Most Discount Camping Clubs charge
$10.00 plus tax per night. (See ebook Vol One). Cdn rates run between $200.00 and $500.00 per month for
seasonal rates, more for individual months. In both the USA and Canada the
longer you’re in one spot, the lower the monthly rate. Daily camping
rates range
from $25-$35.00
¨
Groceries run us from $450.00---$550.00 per month (USA or Cda) for everything we buy in the grocery store. In
the USA we still have to add the exchange rate.
¨
We eat out about 4 times per month = $20.-$22.00 for lunch
(for two)- (higher
for dinners) - approx $80- $100.
¨
As close as we can figure our total living ranges between $1000.00
to $1200.l00 per month; plus camping (at every opportunity we travel by discount camping clubs---$300. +tax per month);
gas/fuel – Maintenance
for both vehicles is extras is insurance, upgrades, clothes and new
equipment such as a computer etc. In reality we spend much more than the
$30,000 noted above.
¨
Expensive hobbies such as golf, tennis etc. plus if you smoke or
drink your costs will be much higher.
¨
Allowance for gas/fuel costs --- average 09-14 miles per gal for
diesel, less for gas---Cost from $1.20-$1.60 per gal. Price depends on
where you plan to drive and how many miles you accumulate.
¨
Propane the last few winter has been very high in the USA but it
was equally high when we returned this past April.
We try when possible to fill up at Flying J’s because they are
frequently less costly.
¨
You will want from $300.00 - $400. 00.to
be a tourist and to buy 'things'.
¨ You should have access to about $5000.00 in an emergency fund. We choose not to have cash sitting around collecting dust, instead we set aside a zero balanced credit card to take care of the emergency --- we will rearrange funds when we return to our home location.
..
¨
Other things that need to be addressed are listed in the table
below. I may have missed some things but the above will give you the idea.
|
Phone
Cards Cell
Phones Internet
ISP Mail
forwarding Tax consultants Tax
payment etc Drivers
Licence |
Insurance Licencing Emergency
Road Service ERS Mortgage
Payments RX medicines/ Health Care Air Ambulance
|
Dental
costs Clothing
Upkeep Discount
Club Dues RV
Club Dues Chapter costs
|
To figure your
costs---use the above expenses as a guide. We know American RVers who
fulltime solely on social security OR Cdns who have not much more than Old
age pensions plus CPP. Other
friends can't exist on $5-$6 K per month. It seems no matter how much John
and I have coming into the bank every month, the last week before payday,
the money well is very low in available cash.