First Full Timing Budget - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

First Full Timing Budget

The Junkman · RV-Dreams Family Member

My budgets went out the window the second month. I am finding it much more expensive that expected. My orginal thought was 3500/mo.. yea.. forget that idea..

As a vacationer rver.. we spend alot out to eat and events.. and we are finding more and more things to make life easier.. like a cordless dyson, steam press, new kinds of clothes/shoes, tools, and lawn furniture.. the list goes on and on..

almost 6 months in , and we may be able to settle on a budget, soon. lol I'd love to do a spread sheet thing.. just not finding the time, and it takes alot effort too..

I'd like to be at that 3500 range.. for now. but not seeing it possible yet... for us. Maybe we will be able to use fuzzy math, or average it , down the road. lol

-- Edited by The Junkman on Saturday 31st of January 2015 08:03:29 AM

Jim and Barb · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are right there with you depending on where we are for the month Trace, when we are in Canada we tend to spend less than 2,000 a month, the last few months when we are traveling and eating out more that number more than doubles.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trace, are you using a digital antenna for local broadcast channels you might otherwise be streaming? Might help with the streaming data usage so you can get those "Scandal" episodes. smile Since we don't smoke, our budget is more or less in line with your estimates, higher in some, lower in others... so our plan seems like it will probably work. We will be setting aside a fund for all those "improvements" up front or early in the adventure so a 50/mth budget for them won't get blown out with an unexpected want or need. Loved Lee's editorial adlibs on your blog article. Sorry about the dental stuff, I'm not looking forward to that part either but don't think we'll be coming back to IL just to see our awesome dentist, hopefully he has capable dental friends elsewhere that he can give a referral.

We will be taking advantage of Cindi's father's Thousand Trails membership which he has had for many, many years, and has the option of allowing us to take it over and just continue the 500 odd dollars a year fee which would allow us nationwide access to their facilities. We think it's a great cost saving on our CG/park fee budget if we stay there even a few nights each month. Had we started from scratch with them it would have cost much higher and perhaps prohibitively higher. Still, we haven't fully fleshed our travel patterns yet so this budget item is still in flux for us.

Trace, one suggestion, you might want to consider adding some kind of savings plan into your budget unless you have funds already set aside for emergencies and other one-off purchases that invariably come along. Also, I didn't see any allowance for income taxes(post retirement you'll need that in your budget as they won't be taken out of any pensions you might be receiving) or medical expenses in your budget, did you account for them elsewhere?

Again, love your blog.

-- Edited by biggaRView on Saturday 31st of January 2015 09:26:09 PM

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trace, wonderful budget versus actual account and write up. Loved it and looking forward to the next and next and ......... You are so wonderful for paying it forward, and we hope one day to be able to do the same.

We were hoping to budget around $3500 a month when we get out there more permanently, with putting nothing into savings, but I think year one we will revamp up about $1,500 and then with revisiting monthly aim to get it down to the $3500 mark. Of course none of us have control over increasing costs and fuel will be a biggie if it goes back up. Fortunately we love boon docking when out west, so CG fees for us will be very low cost there, found out east not as readily available so will need to allow for that as plans unfold each year. We've also been contemplating having envelopes for most categories to keep us on track, initially bit like the jars Gail Val Oxlade uses in Till Debt Do Us Part. Currently we use a credit card to pay for everything and pay it off every month, to get travel rewards, but I know we inadvertently overspend versus using cash.

Glad you and Lee are enjoying your new lifestyle, great blog.

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks guys much appreciated....I was super nervous about the feedback so it's nice to hear others are in the same ball park. We do have a contingency fund and since I am working still taxes are coming out of my checks . BTW! My health insurance comes from my paychecks and I didn't include those costs at all although I will at some point when we go to the Affordable Care Act. Thanks again for the nice comments.

mds1 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I posted a thank you on your blog page also. We really appreciated you sharing your actual budget figures. Karen and I are trying to figure out how to make it all work in three years rather than waiting. Based on what you all are saying, it might make since to have a little set aside for the first year to be used outside the "budget" for one time expenses. Something like having a "capital" budget.

The Restless Youngs · RV-Dreams Family Member

Appreciate the budget and transparency. We've been fairly stationary since we moved into our RV full time while wrapping up work and have really tried to get most of the big home improvement projects (dyson, wifi ranger, grills, booster, solar, new tires, etc. etc. etc.) purchased while a paycheck was coming in. Also trying to stock up on various parts (filters, nozzles, etc.) that we anticipate needing along the way. I know that it's spending money now or later....but some how feels a little better spending money while it's still coming in!!

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ours is about 4000 a month but we aren't scrimping. Could probably do it for 3K of we had to but we don't so we don't.

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Trace, like many we loved your first budget back in January. Just wondering if you are planning on doing an update any time soon as a comparison.

Happy Travels.

SD.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

You should figure that the first 6 months or so will be double your normal monthly budgets. It takes that long to know what you needed and didn't have (and also what you have and don't need) as well as getting out of the vacationer mode and into fulltiming.

Barb

DickHutchings · RV-Dreams Community Member

I know I'm jumping on your thread but it seems like a good place to get some feedback.

I'm planning on $2800 a month in SS without using my 401K which I will use for those pesky items you guys are talking about. Seems like it will work on paper

It Better cause that's what we'll have. This is a debt free plan and I haven't got the spreadsheet completely filled out since I don't really know what I'm going to spend on fuel an campgrounds. 2019 plan.

Howard · Host

Hi Dick,

Please start a new thread to get some feedback. This thread is over a year old and I'm closing it. I apologize, but it's a struggle to keep threads on topic and current no matter how many times we ask. :)