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

[RearViewMirror]

Well, I'm on Original Medicare and I receive Social Security. Before Medicare is taken out, I get $965.00, and once Medicare and my Part D are taken out, I get around $776.00. After my health issues are finished with, I'm on my way to the 2023 RTR which I'm looking forward to since it will be my first one. I had planned on finding a seasonal job while there, but I know someone in HR at Wall Drug which is where I'll be at starting April 1st through October 31st. Since I'm a South Dakota resident I plan on collecting unemployment after my season ends at Wall Drug. After the 2023 RTR, I'll probably stay either in Arizona or go to Orlando, Florida, which is where I was born, until I report to Wall Drug. My two oldest kids, my brother, and his sons live in Orlando, and it will be great to spend sometime with them.

Living on $776.00 is not easy, so I had to do some serious budgeting which is why I've decided to do gig work to help my financial well-being. I was out at Yellowstone for the 2017 season and I loved it.

With all this being said, living on Social Security only is just not an option for me, although I respect those that can.

What will you be doing at Wall Drug? I been there many times. Always a neat place to visit after traveling through the Badlands. I love traveling through South Dakota. Something about all of those rolling hills just makes it beautiful.

 

[VanGrrl57]

What will you be doing at Wall Drug? I been there many times. Always a neat place to visit after traveling through the Badlands. I love traveling through South Dakota. Something about all of those rolling hills just makes it beautiful.

I will be doing food service and I agree with you about the Badlands. It's gorgeous.

 

[Happy Camper]

I think that whether it's $700, $500, or $7000 a month, we all do with what we have.

It's van/mobile life. It's always a matter of personal choices and what works best for you and your situation. It's not a one size fits all thing. Compromise is always in the mix.

I think a better title for the thread might have been "How can I live very frugally with a budget of $700?". And then state your personal preferences/needs/desires.

Then the answers would focus on things that pertain to you and your exact situation. People have different tolerances and needs. Some people have very specific diets. Maybe bathroom needs and requirements. The area they need to be in. The list goes on.

Sometimes we can't really do with what we have available. At those times we have to be willing to prioritize "need a lot" vs "need, but not as much as that other need".

Sometimes it's pride, other times maybe it's not feeling worthy of the help that's available. Maybe it's scary reaching out and not knowing what'll happen. I have been a victim of all at one time or another.

This thread has run the gamut from $500/mo and much farther up. With a lot of good advice for a lot of situations. If there is something you are still struggling to figure out, let us know.

Almost 600 posts so far. And knowing that flooring usually have at least a 10 lurkers to one poster ratio here, I'm sure this has helped a lot more people than we'll know. Good thread. Good topic. We might go from coast to coast by way of the south pole and argue all along the way, but we usually get where we're going lol.

 

[Vegan Vanner]

Happy Camper, I'm the original poster. Never did I imagine that there would be 600 submissions over the course of a year. The vast majority of posts were IMHO helpful and educational. I do appreciate the continuing great participation. Thank you everyone!

 

[Happy Camper]

I think this thread is one of those helpful and aspirational things. Some want to simplify and see if they can. Others don't have much for resources and are hopeful when they see what others are doing.

This is a good thread about not just the money aspect, but priorities and understanding how others decide theirs. Which can definitely help anyone.

 

[RoamerRV428]

Never did I imagine that there would be 600 submissions over the course of a year. Thank you everyone!

A post about 'money'.....oh yea everyone deals with money and everyone is very in tune with their money LOL Right up there with politics, religion chats too Money threads will always be a big one cause every single one of us can relate! I always thought this was a good, fun, educational good money chat thread!!

 

[Lizmccal]

Happy Camper, I'm the original poster. Never did I imagine that there would be 600 submissions over the course of a year. The vast majority of posts were IMHO helpful and educational. I do appreciate the continuing great participation. Thank you everyone!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Looking at my monthly spending for the first 6 months of this year:

Food - $266 (up 20% from last year)​

Gas - $112 ( up 56%)​

Phone/internet - $39​

Truck insurance + umbrella - $100​

Medical (mostly co-pays and meds) - $116 (two ER visits)​

Misc - $95​

Total = $728

l finally got around to looking at 2022 vs. 2021 so I am updating my monthly costs which grew significantly:

Food - $ 298​

Major movers: eggs up 350%, cream up 57%​

Gas - $ 147​

up 90¢ per gallon over last year.​

drove more second half of year.​

Medical $85​

no more medical issues​

cost averaged over 12 months​

Misc. - $149​

haven't looked into why this went up so much.​

other costs stayed the same.​

​

Total monthly cost for 2022 = $818

Food and gas were the big drivers of second half cost increase. I don't keep fine enough detail to know individual commodity price increases.
Food, treats, and med prices for dog have gone up too.

 

[RoamerRV428]

Lizmccal....what gets me is 'she just bought land' so? there is money. just that money she has in hand is the 250 leftover after some expenses so what she got? a monthy mortgage on that land or did she buy it in full cash? When ya really listen there is money there, this is not poverty stricken as much as it comes across....not ever sayin' for all but this video has money behind it for sure in some way from that lady. I think many of the vids don't ever show their total financials.

 

[abnorm]

Bob Posted that video 5 years ago.............

 

[dreamrunnerjt]

My biggest concern is going to be insurance. Vehicle, health and I will still have house insurance. Sometimes I wish I could just throw our insurance companies in a recycle bin, but they are too toxic.

 

[awesum]

I just watched this YouTube video last night about eating for a week, 3 meals a day, on $10 shopping at the Dollar Tree. And not a Ramen noodle meal in the bunch!


I see she also has one about buying the food at Aldi's.


Oh, I love watching, That Lisa Dawn, on youtube. She has gotten me to the point where my cheap, easy and yummy food falls under the same catagory. Take care. Hope to be mobile in my van in the not too far future. All the best to you and yours.

 

[walterbyrd]

I think you can camp at any New Mexico State Park for $225 a year. About $20 a month. I think that includes restrooms, and showers. You can only stay in one place for 2 weeks at a time, so there will be some driving. But some of the parks are close together, and you would only have to travel twice a month. I think 400 mile a month would be doable. At 10 miles per gallon, and $4 a gallon for fuel, that would come to: $160 a month for fuel.

Also, get some kind of bicycle, no need to use a van for many short trips.

You could probably qualify for food stamps, and medicaid, so that would take care of your food and healthcare costs. You could also cross the border into Mexico, which has very affordable healthcare.

Speaking of Mexico, I think there is some very cheap camping in Baja.

You can get cell phone service for as little as $10 a month (Airvoice). I think Consumer Cellular has a fairly decent plan, that includes data, for about $25 a month.

Camping: $20 a month
Cell Phone: $25 a month
Fuel: $160 a month
Van maintenance: $100 a month
Car Insurance: $100 a month

Only $405 so far. If you can manage medicade, and foodstamps, you're set.

There is a place in Baja were you can camp, with hookups, even internet, for $350 a month. Right by the beach, perfect weather all year. Healthcare in Mexico is cheap. Food is fairly cheap also. If you can get your food without driving (bicycle?) you might not even need car insurance, since you are parked the entire time. I am guessing this might cost more than $700 a month, but probably less than $1000 a month.

 

[bullfrog !]

Just for the inquiring minds out there this is the busy season around Tucson Arizona. A month at the full hook up parks in Amado is running from $540 a month plus electricity on the low end (we looked at this place a few years ago and it was $225 a month and the yearly rate now is at $450 a month) to $1300 a month with everything in the ritzy park next door. I got out to look with a friend yesterday who is staying in Benson and working as a seasonal camp host. There he can “store” his trailer for a dollar month on the lot it is on for $1 a foot per month while he works a seasonal summer job with housing at $100 a month up north. So during the winter he only pays the electricity he uses as his site is free while he is working and $18 a month while he is gone. If he decides to stay thru the summer for 4 months he spends around $450 a month. So years he works year round he spends around $1,000 but also spends about about $1,400 to travel to and from his summer job. It works out about the same as far as costs but he does make about $12,000 extra income. So $2,400 or $200 a month for housing when he works. He like me is no longer wanting to work so his housing costs for a full hookup site will cost him $4,800 to $5,000 a year and fortunately he likes hot weather so Benson will work for him but will it will take some getting used to having to spend a good portion of his Social Security income on housing! Lol!!! Tucson has just gotten too crowed and expensive for many as the average minimum seems to be $400 to $500 a month for a full hookup site. Boondocking isn’t much cheaper for me, in fact more as I run a generator and use propane to heat which I drive 40 miles round trip most weeks in truck down dirt roads at 10 mpg. I also pay $1,000 a year for a boondocking space with trash, water, dump station, storage shed and shower house/bathroom. It also costs me about $1,400 to travel to and from my seasonal job but I site see and take my time usually. In my opinion BLM LTVA’s are still the cheapest stays but there are options if you work seasonally and spend a little more.

 

[user 29855]

I think you can camp at any New Mexico State Park for $225 a year. About $20 a month. I think that includes restrooms, and showers. You can only stay in one place for 2 weeks at a time, so there will be some driving. But some of the parks are close together, and you would only have to travel twice a month. I think 400 mile a month would be doable. At 10 miles per gallon, and $4 a gallon for fuel, that would come to: $160 a month for fuel.

Also, get some kind of bicycle, no need to use a van for many short trips.

You could probably qualify for food stamps, and medicaid, so that would take care of your food and healthcare costs. You could also cross the border into Mexico, which has very affordable healthcare.

Speaking of Mexico, I think there is some very cheap camping in Baja.

You can get cell phone service for as little as $10 a month (Airvoice). I think Consumer Cellular has a fairly decent plan, that includes data, for about $25 a month.

Camping: $20 a month
Cell Phone: $25 a month
Fuel: $160 a month
Van maintenance: $100 a month
Car Insurance: $100 a month

Only $405 so far. If you can manage medicade, and foodstamps, you're set.

There is a place in Baja were you can camp, with hookups, even internet, for $350 a month. Right by the beach, perfect weather all year. Healthcare in Mexico is cheap. Food is fairly cheap also. If you can get your food without driving (bicycle?) you might not even need car insurance, since you are parked the entire time. I am guessing this might cost more than $700 a month, but probably less than $1000 a month.

two years ago I spent two months in Mulege on the beaches and typically paid a few dollars per night. No internet, no hookups, but who cares? Didn't need heat or a/c, plenty of sunshine for my solar panels, and town was a short drive away. several times a day, a little caravan of cars and station wagons came down on the beach selling raw and prepared foods and drinking water. Not a bad life!!

 

[user 29855]

Just for the inquiring minds out there this is the busy season around Tucson Arizona. A month at the full hook up parks in Amado is running from $540 a month plus electricity on the low end (we looked at this place a few years ago and it was $225 a month and the yearly rate now is at $450 a month) to $1300 a month with everything in the ritzy park next door. I got out to look with a friend yesterday who is staying in Benson and working as a seasonal camp host. There he can “store” his trailer for a dollar month on the lot it is on for $1 a foot per month while he works a seasonal summer job with housing at $100 a month up north. So during the winter he only pays the electricity he uses as his site is free while he is working and $18 a month while he is gone. If he decides to stay thru the summer for 4 months he spends around $450 a month. So years he works year round he spends around $1,000 but also spends about about $1,400 to travel to and from his summer job. It works out about the same as far as costs but he does make about $12,000 extra income. So $2,400 or $200 a month for housing when he works. He like me is no longer wanting to work so his housing costs for a full hookup site will cost him $4,800 to $5,000 a year and fortunately he likes hot weather so Benson will work for him but will it will take some getting used to having to spend a good portion of his Social Security income on housing! Lol!!! Tucson has just gotten too crowed and expensive for many as the average minimum seems to be $400 to $500 a month for a full hookup site. Boondocking isn’t much cheaper for me, in fact more as I run a generator and use propane to heat which I drive 40 miles round trip most weeks in truck down dirt roads at 10 mpg. I also pay $1,000 a year for a boondocking space with trash, water, dump station, storage shed and shower house/bathroom. It also costs me about $1,400 to travel to and from my seasonal job but I site see and take my time usually. In my opinion BLM LTVA’s are still the cheapest stays but there are options if you work seasonally and spend a little more.

Someone recently posted and mentioned Smugglers Roost, in Animas, NM. They have 50 amp hookups, and the various rates are here: https://smugglersroost.net/rental-rates/

I spoke to Gene at the location and he was very friendly and helpful.. I look to spend some time there soon.

 

[user 22017]

Youtube video interview with a 72-year-old nomad in a schoolie living on $900 a month. She says it can be done on $800 if you don't travel a lot (or buy Starbucks).

 

[JP-SLC]

Youtube video interview with a 72-year-old nomad in a schoolie living on $900 a month. She says it can be done on $800 if you don't travel a lot (or buy Starbucks).

Once I'm of retirement age and have medicare, this might be possible, but as it is right now, I have more than $850/mo in medical premiums, meds, treatments, etc. So if I followed the plan to live on $900/mo, it would actually cost me between $1700 to $2100 per month, eating dog food.

 

[rruff]

She's missing depreciation, repairs, replacement on the rig and everything she owns. That isn't a small amount. And $27/mo for insurance on a schoolie seems very cheap.

Once I'm of retirement age and have medicare, this might be possible, but as it is right now, I have more than $850/mo in medical premiums, meds, treatments, etc. So if I followed the plan to live on $900/mo, it would actually cost me between $1700 to $2100 per month, eating dog food.

If you are below the poverty line (~$15k/yr income) and are in a state with expanded Medicaid (which is most of them), then healthcare is free and easy. No insurance to deal with! Free food also.

Being "almost poor" is the worst...

 

[user 22017]

She's missing depreciation, repairs, replacement on the rig and everything she owns. That isn't a small amount. And $27/mo for insurance on a schoolie seems very cheap.


If you are below the poverty line (~$15k/yr income) and are in a state with expanded Medicaid (which is most of them), then healthcare is free and easy. No insurance to deal with! Free food also.

Being "almost poor" is the worst...

She said repairs and maintenance cost $100 per month that year. But normally it is not that high.

I know what depreciation is, but how would that factor into her monthly budget?

What about everything she owns? She keeps an itemized account of her expenses. Maybe watch it again?

You don't get free food unless you have children. Even having one child means a small amount in Link.

Since she is 72, I assume she is on Medicare (not Medicaid), so prescriptions wouldn't be free. She would have co-pays. However, she said she is in good health and not taking any meds.

I hope you are right and meds are free on Medicare, because I'm about to turn 65 and my meds are over $4K a month. I've been getting tons of mail about Medicare and it all says I'll be paying for meds (unless Illinois kicks in and pays). I need to turn in my paperwork. I'm behind schedule.