Monthly expenses - RV-Dreams Community Forum

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Monthly expenses

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Diane and I have been doing it for over 3 1/2 years for less than that but everyone's life style is different. If you care to you can click on the link to our blog in the signature below and search "3 years on the road" for a breakdown of our costs.

Second Chance · RV-Dreams Family Member

Howard routinely posts their financial information, too. Yours needs and costs will not necessarily align, but you can pick and choose those line items that are applicable to your situation to compare. Here's the link to the financial info page:

www.rv-dreams.com/financial-information.html

Rob

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most of us would like to try.

Lucky Larry · RV-Dreams Community Member

RonC wrote:
Can I (wife and me are the whole team) do full timing on $5,000 per month with no debt (truck and 5er paid for)? If so is there any wiggle room for savings?

The variable you have to calculate is tow fuel costs, which only you can do for your own situation.

If you plan a lot of travel it goes up, if you boondock it goes down (along with your cg costs).

I wouldn't even try it if it maxxed out my income.

My solo budget comes in just under 2k per month (no frills) and leaves me a respectable savings which I consider a must.

I keep a cushion of 20k and a 5k credit card for emergencies (no debts either).

One thing I plan for is a boondock schedule so if I encounter any major problems I can go without camping fees.

Plan it right and you should do fine on 5k.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks to all who offered their thoughts (and budgets). This info gives me greater confidence that this is doable. I know that Howard and Linda seem to average around $40,000 per year now and that is less than $4,000 per month. I'm not so sure about the boondocking thing, as we aren't set up with solar or the battery bank needed to do that.

We do have a gen set, but that is a pretty expensive way to make electricity.

Thanks again for your help.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

We do nicely on $2800+- now its not steak and shrimp eating out every night. For idea's we have a 30g Verizon account, dish sat, private insurance (other than company etc) and usually stay in encore/C2C/Thousand Trail or private parks.
Income is higher than that, but that's about what we spend.
(Including replacement laptop computers that get sat on by large scared of thunder and lightning dogs.)

Lucky Larry · RV-Dreams Community Member

RonC wrote:
Thanks to all who offered their thoughts (and budgets). This info gives me greater confidence that this is doable. I know that Howard and Linda seem to average around $40,000 per year now and that is less than $4,000 per month. I'm not so sure about the boondocking thing, as we aren't set up with solar or the battery bank needed to do that.

We do have a gen set, but that is a pretty expensive way to make electricity.

Thanks again for your help.

My apology.

Don't resort to boondocking if you run out of money.

Adios RV Dreams it's been great.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Alie and Jims Carrilite,

Wow ... less than $3K a month ... that's a self making decision!! Congrats to you. Now if I can talk DW into giving up all our stuff (we have a lot of it) then we're going for it!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I do it with between 8 and 1200 per month..........guess its called budget , budget , budget.........kinda like when your at home , dont spend what you dont have , if you live a top end lifestyle and need all the frills and best resorts .......its gonna cost you.....if your out here to relax it will cost you less......its all in how you perceive your lifestyle........

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonC wrote:
Alie and Jims Carrilite,

Wow ... less than $3K a month ... that's a self making decision!! Congrats to you. Now if I can talk DW into giving up all our stuff (we have a lot of it) then we're going for it!

If your rig is paid for it helps.

If you stay in a park for 2 or more weeks at a time it helps. Moving every 3-4 days is expensive unless you can use Passport America, or stay in state or COE campgrounds. Many folks use a 2-2-2 or 2-4-2 schedule. Off the road by 2pm, stay for 2-4 days and move no more than 200 miles at a time. Everyone has their own system, or wants / needs that works for them.

Our rving lifestyle is a reflection of what our S&B was. House was 1800sqft ranch on 3 acres of grass. When we sold it, it was costing about $25-30 a week in fuel alone to maintain the yard in the summer, plus labor (mine). We didn't have an extravagant lifestyle then, but took 2-3 vacations a year, 1 week or longer either flying somewhere or driving. Driving was 1000 miles or less. Those vacations were usually expensive in that we ate every meal out, bought the trinkets, paid cabs to hauls us around (Vegas and Atlantic City) etc.

Budget wise- tow vehicle insurance stays the same-

RV insurance goes up- "Full Time coverage"

No homeowners insurance, no property taxes- Texas Florida South Dakota- your state may vary

House hold maintenance- RV is generally cheaper to maintain- but you need to budget for future repairs- AC's Tires, etc

Satellite tv and phone/data plan will probably stay the same. If you were on straight cable tv and internet, then it might be more, but both Verizon and ATT have decent plans, and Dish or Direct TV can be $100 or less (or more for full service). We already had expensive phone and sat plans, so we are actually cheaper now.

Fuel expense will go up from just sitting home doing nothing. But it's fairly easy to budget- current cost of fuel X fuel mileage X how far do you want to travel this month

Because space is limited even in the biggest 5th or motorcoach you don't buy as many of the hats, tee-shirts, trinkets that you normally would. We buy for the nephews and 1 daughter and half of that is off Amazon -free shipping and they actually do a decent gift wrap for birthdays!

If you can live on your $5k budget in a S&B, then you'll do great in an RV.

Linda and Howard's budget is very accurate for their lifestyle and way of travel. They do have the extra vehicle and health care costs that you may not have. Look at / download / buy their budget and plug in your current numbers.

There are several other people that have blogs that publish their budgets. Search a site called "Hitch Itch" (all full-timers) for budgets. Or try google for "Fulltime RV budgets"

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yup…as others have said H&L have been doing it for something less than 5K/month pretty much forever. We're a bit over that in total expenses but then we keep doing expensive things like buying a new RAM 5500, going to Alaska, spending a month in Ireland and the like.

Depending on how much you travel, how luxurious a campground you want, and how willing you are to seek out cheaper or free sites…heck yeah, it's easy to do it for that. Connie and I wouldn't have to scrimp very much to meet that budget…particularly with truck/rig paid off.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Neil and Connie ... saw your new truck in an earlier thread. REALLY nice lookin' truck. I love how well it matches your 5er. I love the new trucks (the improvement in power and exhaust brakes are awesome safety features). I'm hot for the 2017 Ford F-350, but I'm allergic to payments. That's why I picked $5K a month. Our fixed income is more than that, but I'd like to save the difference to pay cash for new truck (someday) or anything else that might come up. My 2014 truck only has 14,000 miles on it, so it's much more of a "want" than a "need".

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think you can absolutely do this on $5,000 a month. A great way to save money would be volunteering at state and federal parks. Free places to stay, get to see some cool things, plus give back a little. Even if you didn't want to go that route I think you could absolutely do it. It's a little like being a young couple again and that has been an adjustment for sure. We can't d whatever we want, whenever we want anymore. We have to pick and choose. Some months we do better at that and others worse, but I never feel like I couldn't get by on less. The only caveat to that is the need for a contingency fund. Stuff breaks and we have spent more than I expected on one time expenditures. I hear that gets better as the years go by :)

Our budgets are posted here by the way if you want to take a look

camperchronicles.com/budgets

Tracy

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes you can, if you budget and pay attention to your expenditures. Personally for us we're a bit above that but still working while living on the road, and there are times we have more rapid, therefore more expensive moves than we would if we could slow our pace down a bit.
We're finding we have a lot more discretionary income and we're having fun splurging on experiences while we can, more elaborate vacations than we could afford when we had a mortgage, indulging our grandkids with visits, etc. Example, this past weekend we were in the Mount Shasta area and we rented paddleboards for the first time, had a blast and tried something that has been on our list for a while. I know that once my corporate income goes away we'll have to make adjustments to our budget and spending habits, but for now we're saving more and yet still experiencing more "living" than we did while we had a house. 5k would be an easy amount for us to live within on monthly basis without any debt.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

You guys are giving us GREAT encouragement ... I think it's time to "divest" ourselves of all the stuff we've thought defined "success". How big is your house? What kind of car you drive? What country club do you belong to? Da Da Da Da. Selling our home, two cars, and furnishings would net a substantial cash stash for when (if) we decided to come off the road. Plus saving all of income above $5K ... would allow us to redefine "success". It's not how much stuff you have or which country club you belong to ... it's being FREE to do what we want when we want without concern about what others think. I love the idea of going on a trip, without having to "pack". Owning a S&B is very expensive. Taxes, Internet, lawn service, water, electric, trash, newspaper, pool maintenance, pest control, burglar alarm service, it goes on and on. With no house payment, my house still costs $10K a year ... paid for ... not really. I think my stuff owns me instead of the other way around. I think we're having the same epiphany that Howard and Linda had ... only much later in life. Getting close to pulling the trigger.

ToddandHeather · RV-Dreams Community Member

First, to answer your question, "Is it doable on $5000 a month?" YES!

Easily so.

Many, many people live this lifestyle spending much less than your $5000 each month. However, many also spend much, much more than you have budgeted. What both groups have in common is that they have chosen (for the most part) exactly what they wanted to spend.

For example, do you want to spend time in The Black Hills during August? Do you plan to park on a Florida Keys beach in December? These locations cost a bit more than "average" with respect to campground costs. Boondocking on BLM Land (or elsewhere) does decrease "campground fees" significantly, but how frequently you choose to move around between the various BLM / free sites indicates how much you need to budget for fuel.

After nearly two years on the road, our monthly budget comes in at just under $3000 a month. However, if we wanted to (or if circumstances required a change), we could enjoy this lifestyle for half our budgeted amount.

The point is, what many find so attractive about this lifestyle is the freedom you have to choose exactly what kind of life on the road you want.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yeah…it is a really nice truck; pretty much drama free towing. It does go uphill a little slower than our F450 did in most cases but that's because of the 4.88 rear end and the torque curve on the Cummins diesel. Downhill is much easier…usually cruise control and the engine brake handle things just fine although on steeper downgrades it will accelerate up to about 70…I usually brake to 55 or so from 68 and in WV coming up and down Fancy Gap and the other grades there (10% max I think) I would have to brake 3-4 times in a 4-5 mile downgrade. Probably could have slowed at the top and never braked at all but it requires much less care than when going downgrade with the F450.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ron,

I put together a Budget Considerations page for our blog that you might want to read over. Also have a page on Membership Parks that might help understand the terms and answer some questions for you.

Barb

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barb,

GREAT suggestions in your blog. We're both pumped about the whole concept of full timing, and your input has served to encourage us ... thank you so much for this enlightenment🤓

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

When you are getting close to going full-time, do read the page on How to Survive Repairs because it isn't an "if" you are going to need repairs, but rather a "when" you need repairs.

Barb

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good advise, Barbaraok.

I think the less you have, the less repairs will cost too. I recently sold my diesel truck (that I bought to pull a full-time trailer a couple years from now) because the engine pairs on this Ford 6.4l was more than the truck was worth. Now I could have decided to drop the $15k+ required to replace the motor, but I got to thinking, what if this were to happen after I'm retired and on a very limited income of social security and only a small pension? If it happens before I turn 65 when another small retirement account kicks in I would be SOL - stuck in one place. So I decided to rethink my choice of retirement vehicle, choosing a gas powered class A instead. Now I could have decided to go with a gas powered TV and trailer, but the Class A makes more sense economically. While not as desirable (from the power and ride aspect) as a diesel pusher, it fits our budget better and the repairs, when they do occur, are more reasonable than a DP or a diesel powered pick-up (a gas engine can be replaced for about 1/4 the price of a diesel) - though it can be argued that the gas engine will have to be replaced more often. Operating and maintenance costs of the gas engine are a little cheaper too, though at the sacrifice of power and durability. Everything in life is a trade-off - you must give up something to get something you desire more, just like the FT RV lifestyle in general. Even a S&B required maintenance and repairs, and it has been my experience (having spent $$$$ replacing a roof, central air and getting under-slab plumbing work done on my S&B) that they are much more expensive to live in and keep-up than a typical RV.

But just as you must put aside a few grand each year to pay for your property taxes and homeowner insurance on a S&B - it would be wise to set aide a similar amount to fund unforeseen, but anticipated RV maintenance and repairs, as well as annual RV registration and insurance costs too. The nice part about RVing is that much of these costs are mileage related and can be reduced or at least put off for a short while, whereas your S&B taxes, homeowner's insurance, monthly electric bill, phone bill, cable bill, water bill, gas bill, sewer bill, garbage collection bill, landscaping bill, homeowner association dues, etc. come like clockwork, and must be paid on time, regardless.

Chip

-- Edited by Sushidog on Sunday 19th of June 2016 07:58:11 AM

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

No debt...... Budget is $3,600 a month. However, many times way over due to need for new tires, oil change (diesel engine),etc. and just plain eating out too much. That is when we hit savings. But try never to touch investments. $5,000 a month would be great!

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

I put together a pretty comprehensive budget (based on the many categories that Howard has in his sample budget). I feel I have been "generous" with all line items so we should be able to stay in our lane. The monthly number is $4,433.00. I'm feeling pretty good about this now. I think we should be "under budget" most months.

-- Edited by RonC on Sunday 3rd of July 2016 07:20:38 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Friday 8th of July 2016 09:28:35 PM

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

We're going to have to continue to live frugally. Our tentative budget is less than $3000 Canadian per month. We'll have a fund for repairs and emergencies and flights home, but day to day we'll try to conserve $$.

We have health insurance covered with hubby's former work; we're vegetarians and rarely eat in restaurants; we have a small rig and a hybrid toad; we'll stay in one location for several weeks; and our hobby/passion is birding which usually costs very little.

I trust that we'll manage on that. Good thing we're used to living a simple, frugal life!

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hazel, I'd say living frugally is a fantastic idea. Although we are not yet full time, we are shooting for Sept 19th as the date our house goes on the market. We have taken two separate month long trips and on each of those trips our expenses were less than when we "stayed home". Can't really explain that, but it is a positive sign. I don't know if we can squeeze it as tight as you, but we are going to try!! We're rooting for you!!

legrandnormand · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonC wrote:
Can I (wife and me are the whole team) do full timing on $5,000 per month with no debt (truck and 5er paid for)? If so is there any wiggle room for savings?

FOR SURE, I did not read all of the posts, but with that budget, it is more then enough, specially is you rent at campsites for one month and more, you will save thousands of $ !

-- Edited by legrandnormand on Monday 29th of August 2016 09:11:39 PM

-- Edited by legrandnormand on Monday 29th of August 2016 09:12:11 PM

legrandnormand · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hazel wrote:
We're going to have to continue to live frugally. Our tentative budget is less than $3000 Canadian per month. We'll have a fund for repairs and emergencies and flights home, but day to day we'll try to conserve $$.

We have health insurance covered with hubby's former work; we're vegetarians and rarely eat in restaurants; we have a small rig and a hybrid toad; we'll stay in one location for several weeks; and our hobby/passion is birding which usually costs very little.

I trust that we'll manage on that. Good thing we're used to living a simple, frugal life!

I'm not a fulltimer, but I've travelled across the States for the past few years and for a 6 month period, including some one month stay at resorts, (3 of them) we made it for ± $15,000 canadian for 6 months, including 16,000 milles in our 38 footer gas motorhome and driving over 5,000 milles visiting with the toad car. We are not veges, we did go to restaurants onec a week and we do drink lots of wine...(winter 2013-2014)

-- Edited by legrandnormand on Monday 29th of August 2016 09:22:51 PM

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

That's encouraging! We did it easily in our little Casita but we have a whole new rig and toad so it's all just an 'optimistic estimate'!

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

As the OP, I thought I would update this so that others researching this topic will have more info. We've now been full time for 7 months (so still a work in progress) and our $5,000 monthly budget has been easily met each month. Our actual spend rate is very close the numbers that H&L have recently posted for 2017. I feel very comfortable that this is easily doable at that number. We haven't had to do very much in the way of lifestyle adjustments, so happy about all this.

Thanks for the support and info.

-- Edited by RonC on Monday 8th of May 2017 10:18:43 AM

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

$5k per month is a very healthy budget.

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Nice to hear the update Ron and Janice. Great to hear :)