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

[Freelander]

The free water at La Posa South is nasty, on my next trip I will be going into town too buy my water.

 

[Freelander]

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.

14 days at $40 vs 2.5 months for $180 is the same cost for the same amount of time. So after the first 2 1/2 months you are saving money.

Plus you get Sewer Dump, Trash and Nasty Water.

 

[bullfrog]

A Nalional Parks Pass gives you access to most everything you require except a place to sleep at night. Near by BLM land can supply that. You just need to search out areas where that works for you. The largest expense is for the fuel to go to and from and to get supplies as most are remote. With fuel costs over $4 a gallon a cheap light economic form of transportation makes a lot of sense but it is still hard to beat the long term LTVAs. Working seasonally not only brings in income but can cut the costs of staying in one place for a several month period.

 

[StarryNights]

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.

Great idea for someone that doesn't want to move every 2 wks. Even better, I met a guy in LVTA with a van from MI that had just bought a used Class A for about 10k. Yes, gets poor MPG, but it will only be driven a few miles a year to and from an inexpensive storage site. Van will be used for short camping trips. Pretty cheap way to have a big winter vacation home! Same can work for trailer or even A Class A with blown motor (they are cheap!) - just have it towed to and from storage.

I'm near Havasu now; will ask around for water.

 

[bullfrog]

That amount will easily pay annual rent for a full hookup site in the Southwest.

 

[eliyama]

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?

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?

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.

 

[frodo2222]

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.

Agree totally AND the biggest detriment to folks is the unwillingness to learn new things and do things differently...Change your mindset and everything else can come in...Personally I live on just under a grand a month n a decent 30 foot 5er, have a truck that I paid a grand for 10 years ago, bought a minivan to have a nicer car with A/C to drive when not on tour...how? Got a job for 3 months worked 12 hour days straight and put in bank 10 grand...fixed some things upgraded what allows me to live cost free ie solar and due to other rising expenses gas etc etc food crossed over to Mexico and live 3 miles from beach, food is about 30% of USA no GMO products to boot AND since I had bought a electric bike on sale since it was partially broken (the center stand only) my fuel expenses have gone from 200 a month just to go to walmart 4 times to 0 and I can shop fresh great food everyday if I want on my Ebike..I pay $175 a month for a lot with water sewer and electricity I food, secure cheap and great neighbors in the local part of town. My phone went down since I hardly use it and my internet wired to my house costs me about $18 a month for 50 megs download AND since I am not driving in USA dropped my car ins costs of $75 a month to just $180 a year for both vehicles AND NOW I HAVE MORE MONEY then before!

Many do it and the key is going outside of your comfort zone

 

[bagabum]

For some alternate living styles to BLM land, look at Caballo Loco in the Tucson area. Pretty reasonable living with a ton of benefits; mail, power, water, bath house, laundry room, library, full hook up, waste management, shop tools, etc etc. Priced very reasonable. Bob did a video on it. Rreally nice community.

 

[frodo2222]

i looked at it and while scenery is very nice by the time one adds up the costs of a extra shed etc etc it turned out to be more expensive that where i currently live in snowbird West

 

[bullfrog]

As I have pointed out many times there are many easy old person jobs that provide a site usually with full hookups or housing in this day of staffing shortages. I currently pay $50 a month as an employee where rent is usually $350 a month which includes all utilities including propane, $5 meals at the restaurant and 30% off the overpriced fuel costs visitors pay. Check coolworks.com for jobs that currently provide this plus in most cases at least $400 a week take home pay for 40 hour weeks. You can easily make enough in 6 months to do long term stays through the winter in warm climates if you spend wisely. Your biggest concern will be your health as few provide health insurance for seasonal employees unless it is a government job which do.

 

[tx2sturgis]

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.

If you work it right, you can stay for 2 1/2 months (10 weeks) for the $40 times 2 price ($80)

Arrive in Quartzsite at free BLM land (such as Scadden wash for example) near Q. Stay 2 weeks. Then move to LTVA (LaPosa South for example) and pay $40. Stay 2 weeks with services. Then move back to free BLM land, (La Paz Valley for example) Stay 2 weeks. Then move BACK to one of the LTVAs (LaPosa West for example) paying your second $40. Stay 2 weeks, then for your last 2 weeks, move back to free BLM, (Plomosa Road for example). Stay 2 weeks.

Total time: 10 weeks. Total cost (camping only) $80.

You could extend this (alternating campsites) for another few weeks but at some point paying the full amount ($180) would be a lot easier.

 

[MortimerEbinesr]

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?

Well, it's all a matter of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it don't matter.
I get $1497 a month total. I spend:
$225 for lot rent for 40 ft fifth wheel
$200 average for groceries
$80 for Verizon jet pack (for internet) no tv
$55 electricity (wood stove for heat, wood free from sawmill scraps
$100 vehicle maintenace '86 ford f-250 paid for
$25 vehicle insurance, liability only
$100 mis.
total spent; $785 with $712 left over for savings.
I've got a single neighbor who has a 60 gallon trash can that is full once a month. I have a plastic grocery bag half full of unrecyclable plastics. Everything else is recyclable or composted. No food is ever thrown away. Sissy (my terrier) & I eat everything.
Comfort? fifty years ago when I was still single, I had a '62 Volkswagon van with a popup top, bed, storage under, icebox, sink & stove. I was never more happy. Without all the baggage of "stuff".
Ok, I forgot the $20 for phone.

 

[rruff]

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.

In 1990 I budgeted $10k/year to live in my Toyota pickup.

After 13 years of doing that, what I actually spent was ~$3k/yr. And yes, for absolutely everything... depreciation, repairs, maintenance, surprise expenses, health insurance, etc. In today's money that would be ~$6k/yr or $500/mo.

It was by far the most splendid and free time in my life, living in the beautiful and peaceful wilderness. No suffering. Didn't miss the "creature comforts" and all the crap I was accustomed to having in a house.

This forum tilts more towards seniors (and I am one now), and many on a low budget, getting by on maybe $700/mo SS. But that isn't bad. When I was young I paid for everything out of savings. If you are 65 you get almost free healthcare, and even if you are younger you can get on Medicaid if your income is below ~$15k/yr. You also qualify for foodstamps! Gas isn't cheap now, but if you don't take gratuitous trips, you can vagabond to great climates while driving less than 5k miles/yr... easily. Let your relatives on the east coast visit you for a change!

 

[Cajunwolf]

I had to take retirement early, at 62, because I had a disabled daughter to care for and her mother, who is BS crazy with bipolar disorder. They have yet to find a combination of meds that help. After 40+ years in the oilfields, I was ready, and my worn-out body was too. There's a long back story here, but that would be off-topic. I get $1550/month after my $144 monthly Medicare premium. I don't need much, don't spend much, and have a long-time habit of saving; this is key. It's just me now, and I have an older 1988 27-foot class C I bought for cash and fixed up myself. I'm the third owner, and the second pulled his race car with it one weekend a month. She had 57k miles on a new set of tires.

I have a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 with the 4.0 six as a toad; I also bought it for cash and refurbished it. I paid $4k for the RV in 2020 and $1800 for the Jeep in 2017. Both looked and ran well. I bought a cheap flux-core from Harbor Freight welder and built a back deck for my generator, spare fuel, water, and air compressor with a new hitch setup for my Jeep. I have a 10kw battery bank powered by 2kw solar panels to a Gaindel 4Kw PSW inverter. Patience and cash in hand got me a sweet 10.0 cu ft apartment-sized refrigerator from a fellow who bought it for his apartment but never used it; still in the box, $100. LoL, he paid $350 new. Wait for it; bargains are out there; don't impulse buy.

Now, some might say I'm lucky; some might say I brag, but the truth be told, it was tough to do, it took a while, and it took determination and sacrifice. I'm 68 with COPD. I saved and bought everything for cash; doing credit is going backward. There's no such thing as a free lunch. And yeah, I brag just a little because it was hard, and it feels good to see it to completion. I have the big 460 that likes its gas, but on reasonably level ground, she does 10+ miles per gallon; not bad for a 1-ton hauling your house pulling a Jeep. I drive somewhere and park for a while, a week at least. I'm on the Texas Gulf Coast, which is my home base. I'm in a maw and pop RV park a couple of miles from the beach for $325/month. I'm just sitting here enjoying the small beach town life, saving money for my next adventure. I wait to see where everybody else is going and then go the other way.

 

[SLB_SA]

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).

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.

 

[SLB_SA]

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.

I'm 68 and waiting until I turn 70 to take social security. Your full retirement age is probably 66 years + 8 months. I'm also living on my retirement account ("401k style") since I have no pension. I have never used AARP but I'm not a fan; AARP supported the 2015 restrictions/reductions in social security benefits ("Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015") which eliminated "file & suspend", reduced spousal benefits (i.e. "deeming"), etc. Read the 2016 edition of "Get What's Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security" to learn more; a library should have a copy. I get Medicare Advantage, for which I pay no monthly premium (but I do pay $170.10/month for Medicare Part B).

 

[SLB_SA]

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

For some people, taking social security at 62 is the correct decision. For others, waiting until 70 is a better decision. If you need the money at 62, you should take it then. Some people have the ability to wait and have to weigh the benefits of claiming at each age. I don't agree with the "break even" analysis; I prefer the advice of (some) financial advisors to think of social security as "insurance" against living too long (and outliving your resources/money). Apparently the fear of outliving your money is real but my motivation is to have social security cover all (or almost all) of my needs and leave (whatever is left of) my retirement account for my kids and grandkids.

 

[Catalyst1]

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.

Look into Mint Mobile. It's on the same network, but costs less. Customer service is better too.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

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.

There is nothing intrinsically expensive about being vegan.
I've been vegetarian for 33 years. Roughly half of that time I've been vegan.
Rice is cheap. Soba noodles are too.
Spend $10 on vegetables and your are good for a week.
It's the snacks, fake meat and condiments that add up. Try buying a bag of apples instead of a candy bar.

As far as gas prices, we have been here before. Gulf War was this bad, and people were making less.
I found a photo on my phone the other day from 10 years ago. Gas was $4+ then too!
The gas companies jack up prices when they have an excuse and rake it in.

 

[tradesman]

Are you buying organic vegetables for $10 a week? If so, where?

I just purchased these items yesterday and its not a lot of veggies for $13. Certainly not enough for a week.

5 organic bananas $2.36
3 organic zucchini squash $3.52
4 organic tomatoes $3.35
1organic small broccoli head .74
1 organic head of lettuce $3.19
Total $13.16