Surprises on how much it really costs? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

rwarner22 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Surprises on how much it really costs?

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Why would you assume it would cost more than your plan? If you plan carefully, read others budgets and put them into the context of your own interests, and are realistic in your expectations then it should be pretty much what you plan. Some things will end up more, some things less.

One thing to be aware of, is that for the first year (at least) you will have expenses that you did not plan for. These will be in the category of "getting everything set up" the way you want things. These will diminish over time.

We find (in the 9th year on the road) that we are actually underrunning the budget we put into place in 1999. In real $ not adjusted for inflation.

To reduce your costs the easiest thing to do is to not move around as much. The biggest reduction in costs will come if you workamp or volunteer some - this gives you a free site and some income (potentially).

LandYachty · RV-Dreams Family Member

We hit the road boondocking due to funds (lack of), and meeting 2 great couples who put us under their wings. Both of them took about 90 days to warm up to our fifth wheel though. (we did get about 40% better gas mileage with our diesel Dodge)

It took us about 60 days to stop the eating out and wanting to buy all the goodies for the RV. Budgets are what you want them to be. You can do it for as little as 18k a year, or we know couples who spend 80-100K a year. If you make a budget work hard to keep to it by hadving a meeting of the "budget committee" monthly. We always put aside 12% for the unkown, and let that "kitty" build if we didn't use it.

Being boondockers, our budget is about 10K less than yours. Also if we had to turn either the heat on or it got too hot it was time to move. We have our dental work, prescriptions, and eyeglasses all done in Algondones MX, as we have no insurance for these. The quality of the work is great and the price is right. All of our insurance is handled by Gilbert RV Insurance in Orlando. Be sure you get liability that goes beyond your driving the RV.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think the only variables in your new budget should be fuel, propane and campground fees.

Everything else should have a long history in your sticks and bricks life, and when you deduct the current expenses you'll no longer have, you should be able to predict with fair accuracy.

In reality, all your doing is changing houses.

Fred

Donna162 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've been living in our 5th Wheel since 22 Jul; however, we have only been "on-the-road" since 21 Oct. Everything seems to be about what I had budgeted with the campground fees being a little less due to our membership with Passport America and staying in participating parks. However, I will say that we have spent more eating out than I anticipated. We like to eat out and there are so many more places to try "on-the-road" that we seem to be eating out more than we did at our home base.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are not on the road yet,but throughout our marriage budgeting has been a disipline thing with us. I don't see that being any different on the road. You need to plan well and learn to adjust.We have always had " rainy day funds" for lifes little surprises.The secret is listening to the advise of those on this forum that have been there and things will work out.

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

I haven't checked out your blog yet but plan to do so. Living on less is a challenge anytime you have to do that. When we retired we reduced our gross by about 30% but after all the dust settled and our new tax rates, changes in business costs, wardrobe simplification, etc we only experienced about a 8% reduction. With minor adjustment that change was managed easily.

Then we went on the road and found that where you are and how you do it can effect costs drastically. When we are near big cities we spend more on rent, more on gas, more on eating out, and buy more stuff because we kind of save up needs while we are out in more remote areas. When we are in some states rv parks and even state parks are as much as 50% more than in the state we came from so we have to be flexible and take time to discover the path that will moderate those costs while allowing us to enjoy the state. Sometimes we state in state parks, sometimes it is best to be in National forests and parks, sometimes city and county parks work best, and sometimes RV parks are best when extending our stay to a week or even a month. When fuel is high we find ways to lower use including public transportation, bicycles, walking, and chosing locations to minimize the distance to necessities and desired sightseeing locations and even carpooling with other RVers.

At first this flexibility was a little daunting but now it seems to be just a little bit fun and part of the lifestyle challenge. We have enjoyed almost every location we have visited even though they have ranged from deserts, mountains, real resorts, city parks, lakes, national and state parks, and "gravel parking lot" rv parks.

Strange enough the real surprise has been laundry costs which for us is at least twice what everyone else reports. Maybe we just mess up too many clothes.

Good observations from others just thought we would add our experience.

Larry and Jacki