under $1200.00 - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

under $1200.00

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Its doable, read about this couple... http://rvroadtrip.us/about.php

Please unlock your caps button, it makes it hard to read.

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 4th of April 2013 06:14:28 PM

jt · RV-Dreams Family Member

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE FULLTIMING FOR UNDER $1200.00 A MONTH. IF YOU ARE I WOULD LIKE TO HERE FROM YOU.

WE ARE GOING FULL TIMING SOON. EVERY THING WE HAVE IS PAYED OFF AND WE HAVE NO CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS.

JT biggrin

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lucky Mike - what about insurance -- vehicle and health? Prescriptions? In putting our someday budget together, I'm finding the biggest expenses are going to be our insurance payments!

BVC · RV-Dreams Family Member

cherylbrv wrote:
Lucky Mike - what about insurance -- vehicle and health? Prescriptions? In putting our someday budget together, I'm finding the biggest expenses are going to be our insurance payments!

I agree cherylbrv, I'm finding that insurance is going to be the big hurdle for us as well. We also have fairly expensive life/long term care policies (they are combined) along with our health insurance.

rlaubert · RV-Dreams Community Member

I recently wrote an article on how to live full-time RVing for $1000 a month. It is bear bones but doable.

Article can be found at http://campingembroidery.com/blog/2013/11/rving-on-about-1000-a-month/

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just came across Van-Tramps year end costs for 2013 and found it interesting: www.van-tramp.com/wp/the-cost-of-2013-year-end/

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

There's also vehicle insurance costs, registration, driver's license and mail service costs to consider. Plus there's the Obamacare penalty if you feel you cannot afford health insurance, vision, dental, first aid, as well as medical costs. There's also rv maintenance (things like roof coatings, anodes for water heater, sewer hose replacement, bearings, tires, etc.)

I plan on wintering over in the RGV of TX near the coast where there's very good fishing which I will be using to supplement my food budget, but then there fishing/hunting licenses gear and bait expenses which will have to be factored in too. Clothing, towels, linen can be purchased inexpensively from goodwill, garage sales, etc. If you have a computer, don't forget e-mail acct., repairs, upgrades, etc..

Some things we may forget are dump fees (if you're not staying in a RV park) and generator/solar system maintenance, fuel, repairs, etc. I've been cutting my own hair for many years but ladies like to go to a hairdresser occasionally, plus there are personal care items (like soap, shampoo, razor blades, deodorant, shave cream, hair care items, toothpaste/toothbrushes, etc.) that some lump into the food category, but I think are a separate category that can also contain household cleaners, laundry soap, bug spray, etc.. If you have any pets there's pet food, vet expenses, flea treatment, pet meds, etc.

There are many inexpensive RV parks under $300/mo (some much less) that include wifi, cable and many amenities (pools, recreational activities, libraries, exercise facilities, etc.). Something simple like bath house usage saving on making your own hot water, toilet paper, etc., saving on dump fees, the convenience of having 110v power, sewer, water etc. needs to be considered too as they makes low cost campgrounds a real bargain.

Chip

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sushidog: There are SO many ways to make cuts to one's budget. First would be concentrating on being healthy and that includes the pets. I have 2 dogs that are older and stay healthy but we limit the vet to the annual visit and don't load them down with poisons using natural medicine. Vision shouldn't be costing that much unless you have a medical condition involved. We do eye exams every two years and purchase our glasses through Zenni Optical online where even a strong prescription with progressive lenses runs around $90.00. We are both covered by VA Healthcare but we only go to update our records every two years as again, natural medicine. With such a low income, there should be public health services, possibly Medicaid and in some states, Medicaid is being expanded to allow for more income. The water heater anode we had could be cleaned off a few times before replacement and not sure all have one anymore, roof coatings didn't seem that high (the smaller the unit, the less the cost) but my husband did the work and we always waited for a sale. We used the plain sewer hose, well, plain everything.

Most public libraries now have internet and cell phones, plain again, have some internet features. We never upgrade a lot of things unless it was a necessity with the computers and we kept them, plain again. I've been cutting the hair of everyone in our family for over 20 years including my own and started because of a combination of saving money and keeping the family healthier. We limit chemical exposure when we can and yuck, some salons don't seem that sanitary.

Although going through lean times in the past seemed unpleasant, I now see what a true blessing those times were because I know the difference between "want" and "need" and know that in order to feel good about myself and make it through another day, I don't need to purchase something. It is all about trade-offs.

RV parks under $300.00? I'm guessing that would limit where I would be able to stay and I would rather rather cut my budget and be where I wanted to be. I wouldn't want to live like the person in van-tramp but knowing that it can be done feels like a positive thing to me.

While not full-timing at the moment, I know what it feels like to have everything you own, right there on the road with you, the feelings of freedom. Again, it's about trade-offs and just how much you want something as to the amount of sacrifice you are willing to make.

-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 07:56:35 AM

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

If one had an rv and was only given 1200 a month.......its kinda like sitting in your S&B....you will find a way to budget it and make it work......you will also find a way to come up with more!!

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm not trying to discourage anyone, I'm just pointing out some of the expenses that one must consider. Many S&B expenses will cease. Some will be replaced by others, like fuel, while others will disappear. I'm currently renting a mobile home in the country and have seen my expenses drop to less than half of when I owned my S&B. The interest I now save on my first and second mortgages, the money I save in property taxes and homeowners insurance amount to more than the stated $1,200/month. My utilities are less than half of what they were too. You can't believe how happy I was to sell my lawn mower! Some expenses will be replaced by others, like fuel, but most will simply go away. Incidentally I'm paying $600/mo for rent now, but nice local campgrounds with full amenities (free wifi, cable, pool, spa, recreational activities, etc.) can be had from $345 mo. here if I had a suitable FT RV.

As far as cheap RV parks (that one would still want to live in) heres a few of my winter favorites (Though there are many more.)
1. Seaway RV Village, Arroyo City/Rio Hondo TX - $225/mo + electric ($1800/yr or only $150/mo yearly) Great for fishing as it's right on the water with your own fishing pier! campsouthtexas.com/seaway/index.html
2. Route 1069 RV Park, Rockport, TX. - $230/mo includes cable and wifi, plus they just put in a new pool. Big sites and nice trees.
3. Mobile Village RV Park, Aransas Pass, TX - $280/mo including 300KWH of electricity! Optional cable TV costs $1/day extra, cheaper than I pay at home. Fishing.
4. Rio Largo RV Park, Elephant Butte, NM - $145-$165/mo depending on site includes cable and WiFi.
5. Twin Buttes Ct. Douglas, AZ - $185/mo. + elec. beautiful mountain views, wide open spaces

I guess it all depends what you are looking for - amenities and city conveniences or mountain/ocean serenity. The point is you have options.

Chip

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have one comment; I lived on less; and know now I can make it on my $1273 monthly income. I wrote a longer post about when I was work camping from Dec. 09 to July 2013. No rent or utilities and traveled to and from gigs; even visited my daughter and family then.
The most important is to just this: Do what makes you comfortable in your own skin! You only get one life to live and it sure beats hating what you are doing to keep up with what society tells you to do! PIEERE

Whoops that was more than One! LOL!

-- Edited by PIEERE on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 09:52:41 AM

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Include maint. costs on your RV set up. Oil, tires, etc. Not to mention if a motor or tranny gives up.

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Looking at van-tramp's budget, I see he spends 1,093 per year on dining out. I wouldn't be dining out and I'm guessing he wouldn't either if an emergency expense came up. I also noted that he has $472.00 for auto service and $154.00 for home repair each year. Keep in mind that with a vehicle that is older, you generally only pay for liability insurance which in our case on our van and auto are very, very low since we have an excellent driving record and credit rating. Also, in his case, if you read some of his blog, he would more likely than not just trade the van off buying something around the area of $4,000 if I remember right. Some people have a survival instinct and some don't. You'd be surprised how creative you can become to be debt-free if you want bad enough. It's all about wanting something bad enough or proving you have what it takes when it counts.

There's also over $3,000 a year for gasoline so that would be another resource that could be redirected to an emergency or other necessity. Budgets are flexible and handling a budget crisis on the road will be no different than handling it in a home.

-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Tuesday 7th of January 2014 07:18:14 AM

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

what if your heat source or A/C stopped working in your S&B
the roof needed replacing
your utilities went up
your car lost the motor or transmission

if your going to live on the road at 1200 a month there is a good possibility that that is your budget for your home plus some.

just like your static home , when problems start to arise you do your best to correct them while there small and inexpensive to fix.......if you wait they get bigger and more $$$$$$$$

yes it is very possible to live out here for 1200 a month and there are lots of us out here doing it!!

can you pull out of your driveway with no savings and only 1200 a month coming in , yes ......can you live a 5000.00 per month lifestyle .....No

it is good to look at all the negatives...yes they can happen , but if you use them as the reason to not do something even your stick and brick life is going to get real tough . Planning and budgets are just a way of life and we always adjust to whats available to us.

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree Mike; If one seeks out the negatives; that is exactly what one will recieve. On the other hand; if one seeks out the positives, that's what one recieves! Not saying that bad things won't happen; one just has to deal with them as they come and then enjoy the great times!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Im with you ED.....I know we have both had our 10.00 weeks in the last year and we are still here with a smile on our face!!!!!!!!!

manycats · RV-Dreams Family Member

All I know is that if either myself or my DH is not around or can't work, neither one could keep our S&B by him/herself. Utilities, mortgage, upkeep, taxes, etc. are just too expensive for one person. As Mike said, you can adapt to whatever you have on hand in an RV, not so easy in a S&B. My dream is still alive, it will be done on a bare bones style, probably by using the bones to make soup, but it will be done. We've never been rich, so what's the difference?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have never gone hungry or done without in my RV......I have had to do several boondock stints that were rather long to re adjust the lack of finances a few times.....

with solar the lights stay on!
water for the tanks and dumping , worse case 40 a month.

you dont use gas if you keep moves short!....ok maybe a little

Solar hot water makes for a good day and a warm bath!

I could live my normal S&B Basics in an RV for 400 a month and be living well in a boondock mode...(which I try to do all the time while Im out there)

Like it is always said......you just have to know your comfort level....most coaches are designed to Boondock in some way........a few very basic additions can carry you very well even doing 3 day bursts of boondocking.

if Im in an area where touristing is why I stopped and Im not planning on hanging out except to sleep at the campground......I dont stay in the campground....thats 3 days of boondocking even running the genny is cheaper than one day in the campground.

stopping one night a week in a campground or so keeps the price down durring the spring and fall....and then its only to water up ,dump waste and full charge the batteries....and of course do laundry and socialize!

1 Angel · RV-Dreams Community Member

What is BoonDocking??

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

1 Angel wrote:
What is BoonDocking??

Boondocking or Dry Camping, is camping without hookups.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barbara,

Boondocking is basically camping in an RV without hookups for electric, water, or sewer.

Terry