How do u live on $700/month, truly?

Freelander said:

If you stay for 2 and a 1/2 months the $180 is the same price as staying for 14 days at $40. If you stay longer it is a better deal to pay the $180.

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frater secessus said:

I've read about the fees and amenities (such as they are). I was referring to "Could have saved if got 2wk/$40 passes; two of these would have been enough" and wanted to hear about your own experience in the LVTA. I assume you meant that your stay wasn't long enough to justify the seasonal fee.

My underlying interest is in whether or not they can be economical, maybe for folks with big fuel-hungry rigs who don't have to be relocated 25mi+ every 14d and can dump the tanks at will.

So far I haven't done LTVA because water is cheap in Q at the Pit Stop ($2 for filtered campervan fill ≤40gals) and the trash transfer station is right there. Near American Girl Mine BLM there is a highway rest stop with trash, vault toilets, and potable water. That just leaves the Havasu area where I don't know where to source cheap water.

OTOH, I would love to see the FS set up a summer LTVA in Leadville, CO.

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Vegan Vanner said:

I talk to many nomads who will state (well, actually gripe or complain) that they're living on a "fixed income." Upon further inquiry they "get by" on $2k, have a home base somewhere - or storage with stuff.
How they manage to have no money left at the end of the month is beyond me.
What I would like to know is how you, dear reader, live on, say $700/month. Period.
Not after house/car payment, not "after" whatever.
Let's say you're a healthy senior on original Medicare, with no more than the $700 of SSI (after Part B withholding).
ALL your expenses come out of that amount, yes, food and drink, gas and vehicle insurance/maintenance (van or small RV, paid for), CC and other fees, clothing, everything.
How do you live with any degree of comfort on that?

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Vegan Vanner said:

I talk to many nomads who will state (well, actually gripe or complain) that they're living on a "fixed income." Upon further inquiry they "get by" on $2k, have a home base somewhere - or storage with stuff.
How they manage to have no money left at the end of the month is beyond me.
What I would like to know is how you, dear reader, live on, say $700/month. Period.
Not after house/car payment, not "after" whatever.
Let's say you're a healthy senior on original Medicare, with no more than the $700 of SSI (after Part B withholding).
ALL your expenses come out of that amount, yes, food and drink, gas and vehicle insurance/maintenance (van or small RV, paid for), CC and other fees, clothing, everything.
How do you live with any degree of comfort on that?

Click to expand...

eliyama said:

This is a relevant question. I used to follow several that 'hit the road' and only one channel gave a rundown of their costs, a married couple with deep pockets. What you do not know is the number that fail at their ventures because they kept old habits such as dining out, getting entertained, buying new trailer, etc. Forget this lifestyle if you are a vegan and target $700 budget; it won't work, not unless you eat macaroni in a box for $1 a day; or Ramen. No way. And with gas prices highest in country's history, beware. The most confident dwellers have the hand skills to fix their electrical, plumbing of their pull along trailers, replace bearings on them, do own vehicle repairs (except major projects). Even a transmission flush requires special expensive equipment in a shop. But then to pull along requires a truck, even Suburban is not adequate unless pulling a tiny box, which then leads to higher truck insurance. There is NO easy solution to the matter unless you have deep savings, which will erode over time due to low interest rates. My favorite story posted by Bob Wells was a dweller on the road at the time for 40 years; he made his grub stake buying an abandoned mansion in LA, fixed it up, made $200K, placed into savings. This was prior to the deregulation of banking under Reagan administration, when savings & loans, community banks, credit unions were allowed by law to invest savings, and return to their depositors a hefty return. Well, this man made 14% on his money, and claimed to not having to work a day since 4 decades ago! No more. When interviewed, his savings were getting shaved, a little each month. [By circumstance, I verified his story at my state credit union, when I spotted an older clerk, asked how long she had been in banking. I jumped at the opportunity, and asked what the interest was on savings in those days, without hesitation she said 16%!!!]. I know someone with $380K in savings and gets less than $20 monthly interest! Solutions? There are many more than people realize. But it requires that people learn to fix, remodel, etc. although building supplies are high sky high. I know someone that built his entire home (except windows) by volunteering to clean up construction sites; he saved the scrap lumber, and built his home. True story. That home now sits on a Nature Conservancy, and he has rights to live in the home until he is gone. Stealth camping. Tiny home on vacant lot with owner's permission. One thing for certain: The high rents charged to young people destroys their hopes. Back in the day banks would not loan unless the mortgage cost was =<26% of gross income. Those were the good old days, just as was 16% interest. How to get ahead? One way is no subscriptions for television, internet, use cellphone for hotspot, limit use for email, banking; otherwise invest in 500G+ phone to increase data download. I use the public library's Wi Fi no limit on my laptop. Move to area with lower cost of living. Do jobs others do not want to do. Develop more than one specialized skill. Buy used clothing; even Patagonia sells them, guaranteed for life. There are many solutions, but you are certainly correct: It is maintenance, rent, insurance. And remember this: Public Community Hospitals are required by their charters to provide you medical aid. And that is why the private sector wants to destroy anything under 'guise' that 'socialism' (public) is evil. The private sector/Wall Street is hell-bent on taking everything over: higher education that used to be funded by states; healthcare that used to be non-profit; water, sewer, trash, electric that used to be city, county, state owned. Get it? Okay, enough said. Keep on asking, keep on learning. Most importantly, your health is your best investment.

Click to expand...

Freelander said:

If you stay for 2 and a 1/2 months the $180 is the same price as staying for 14 days at $40. If you stay longer it is a better deal to pay the $180.

Click to expand...

Vegan Vanner said:

I talk to many nomads who will state (well, actually gripe or complain) that they're living on a "fixed income." Upon further inquiry they "get by" on $2k, have a home base somewhere - or storage with stuff.
How they manage to have no money left at the end of the month is beyond me.
What I would like to know is how you, dear reader, live on, say $700/month. Period.
Not after house/car payment, not "after" whatever.
Let's say you're a healthy senior on original Medicare, with no more than the $700 of SSI (after Part B withholding).
ALL your expenses come out of that amount, yes, food and drink, gas and vehicle insurance/maintenance (van or small RV, paid for), CC and other fees, clothing, everything.
How do you live with any degree of comfort on that?

Click to expand...

Vegan Vanner said:

What I would like to know is how you, dear reader, live on, say $700/month. Period.
Not after house/car payment, not "after" whatever.

Click to expand...

Spaceman Spiff said:

California and maybe Oregon have high prices on everything. Other places have much lower costs on most things. For example in Minnesota where I am now:
> I pay $596.40/year ($49.7/month) for auto insurance (liability, uninsured motorist, comprehensive).
> Gas is currently $3.199/gallon ($4.648 avg. in California 1/20/22).
> Cell: $25/month (Visible, unlimited data).
> Food: I eat very healthy on $256/month ($8.25/day).

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GoingMobile said:

I just turned 64 and am on the cusp of going with a smaller fixed income and using Medicare as health insurance. Planning on working until May of 2023 when I'll be 65 and living in my van full time after that. My retirement investments are 401k style rather than a pension. Starting to try to figure this all out. I'm guessing my 401k savings is counted against receiving any government subsidies even though I don't have any arrangements such as an annuity that translates into monthly income. Trying to wait until 66 to take S.S. as its a more substantial monthly amount by then.

After turning 64 I've been bombarded by private special interest messaging advising me what to do. But I'm guessing most of that is more in their best interest than in mine. I'd be interested in any sources of information, government websites, groups such as AARP, etc. others have found useful for developing a strategy to best utilize available resources.

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rruff said:

If you need to SS to retire, I see no reason to wait. The break even point is ~80..

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SLB_SA said:

My auto insurance is $302.46 for six months coverage ($50.41/month). Gas is $3.69/gallon (but I paid $3.25 at Kroger). Cell phone (3 lines-T.Mobile) is $132 (ouch). Food is high but gluten free food (for my son) is expensive; I budget $500/month but often go over. In the midwest, most costs are more reasonable but things cost more when I lived in Oregon and northern California.

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eliyama said:

This is a relevant question. I used to follow several that 'hit the road' and only one channel gave a rundown of their costs, a married couple with deep pockets. What you do not know is the number that fail at their ventures because they kept old habits such as dining out, getting entertained, buying new trailer, etc. Forget this lifestyle if you are a vegan and target $700 budget; it won't work, not unless you eat macaroni in a box for $1 a day; or Ramen. No way. And with gas prices highest in country's history, beware. The most confident dwellers have the hand skills to fix their electrical, plumbing of their pull along trailers, replace bearings on them, do own vehicle repairs (except major projects). Even a transmission flush requires special expensive equipment in a shop. But then to pull along requires a truck, even Suburban is not adequate unless pulling a tiny box, which then leads to higher truck insurance. There is NO easy solution to the matter unless you have deep savings, which will erode over time due to low interest rates. My favorite story posted by Bob Wells was a dweller on the road at the time for 40 years; he made his grub stake buying an abandoned mansion in LA, fixed it up, made $200K, placed into savings. This was prior to the deregulation of banking under Reagan administration, when savings & loans, community banks, credit unions were allowed by law to invest savings, and return to their depositors a hefty return. Well, this man made 14% on his money, and claimed to not having to work a day since 4 decades ago! No more. When interviewed, his savings were getting shaved, a little each month. [By circumstance, I verified his story at my state credit union, when I spotted an older clerk, asked how long she had been in banking. I jumped at the opportunity, and asked what the interest was on savings in those days, without hesitation she said 16%!!!]. I know someone with $380K in savings and gets less than $20 monthly interest! Solutions? There are many more than people realize. But it requires that people learn to fix, remodel, etc. although building supplies are high sky high. I know someone that built his entire home (except windows) by volunteering to clean up construction sites; he saved the scrap lumber, and built his home. True story. That home now sits on a Nature Conservancy, and he has rights to live in the home until he is gone. Stealth camping. Tiny home on vacant lot with owner's permission. One thing for certain: The high rents charged to young people destroys their hopes. Back in the day banks would not loan unless the mortgage cost was =<26% of gross income. Those were the good old days, just as was 16% interest. How to get ahead? One way is no subscriptions for television, internet, use cellphone for hotspot, limit use for email, banking; otherwise invest in 500G+ phone to increase data download. I use the public library's Wi Fi no limit on my laptop. Move to area with lower cost of living. Do jobs others do not want to do. Develop more than one specialized skill. Buy used clothing; even Patagonia sells them, guaranteed for life. There are many solutions, but you are certainly correct: It is maintenance, rent, insurance. And remember this: Public Community Hospitals are required by their charters to provide you medical aid. And that is why the private sector wants to destroy anything under 'guise' that 'socialism' (public) is evil. The private sector/Wall Street is hell-bent on taking everything over: higher education that used to be funded by states; healthcare that used to be non-profit; water, sewer, trash, electric that used to be city, county, state owned. Get it? Okay, enough said. Keep on asking, keep on learning. Most importantly, your health is your best investment.

Click to expand...