How Much Van/RV and Ful Timing can a Newcomber Afford ?

[eDJ_]

I've been researching this question I've had recently.  I've seen some brief discussions of it here from those
who have been at if for some years.   This question formed in my mind with so many new members introducing
themselves and looking to jump in but stating that they haven't a clue about purchasing a Van/RV and figuring
what it will cost them to start up and sustain.

I was watching a brief Video from Bank of America with the message directed at,  "How much House can you afford"?   It got me to thinking.  In the video it stated about 28% of monthly earnings as a rule of thumb.  I'm sure their economist won't bother with Van dwellers.  So the answers may have to come from the members here at CRVL Forum. 

In my mind much of this is going to be contingent on the State(s) you may wish to live in.  What is the cost of living there and the prevailing wages.  But I've found breakdowns for RV'ers who want to full time.

So here are some links the new people may want to look at for their planning.

How Much Home can you afford. 

https://www.bettermoneyhabits.com/b...mecanyoucomfortablyafford?videoonBMHsite-_-NA

RV Budget-Expense  How much does it cost to RV Full Time

http://roadslesstraveled.us/rv-budget/

The Living Wage Calculator from mit.edu  (click on a state and go from there)

http://livingwage.mit.edu/


Living in a Van  (an overview for a beginner from Priceonomics com)

http://priceonomics.com/post/32944888191/living-in-a-van


Save $4476 ($10,000 today probably) a year by living on the road full time  (Wandr'ly com)  Budgeting

https://wandrlymagazine.com/cheaper-on-the-road/


Field Guides for Full Time Travelers.   Wandr'ly com   (24 tutorials for beginners)

https://wandrlymagazine.com/guides/


I know a lot of of the math for the budgeting will depend on the savings and income stream each individual
has.   But it would seem that a low end (minimalist) and a more bountiful full time life could be expressed as
per cents by those with experience. 

And as people may start in at the minimalist level, they may find better work and living in other areas so that they can move up from the base level. 

The Mit edu Living Wage Calculator may be helpful when planning a travel itinerary even if a newbie just wants to try Van Living for the summer or Snow Bird over the winter to see how they like it. 

Any constructive input to these thoughts would be helpful.  Those with experience can you add for first timers
to Van Living.












https://www.bettermoneyhabits.com/b...mecanyoucomfortablyafford?videoonBMHsite-_-NA

 

[SoulRaven]

From a practical standpoint, buy an old and reliable van for $1,000 - $1,500.

Spend under $500 to totally outfit it to 100% livable and comfortable.

If you use the used/recycle/re-use/re-purpose principles in building your interior, the costs can be as low as less than $100.

Upon completion you will have a fully functioning home on wheels with a bed, toilet, shower, full kitchen, heating, cooling, lights, and power.

Once your home is complete, your costs of living will probably be smaller than 99% of the population. No rent/mortgage, no electric bill, water bill, garbage bill, etc. etc. Just insurance, registration, gas, phone/internet, and typical vehicle maintenance. All of which most people in houses or apartments pay now in addition to the bills you will no longer have. This should save a full timer at least $1,000 per month if they aren't paying for a place to park.

I don't think it get's much better than being able to own your own house outright for under $1500.

 

[surfer]

Off Grid 24/7
Can you share photos of builds or link where posted?
Is the power solar &/or generator?

 

[compassrose]

I usually ignore the "how much does it cost to fulltime RV" because I never stay in parks that cost $1000 per month. I stay in the cheaper places. I have also been told (on escapees) that because I tend to stay parked for longer than a month, I am not a fulltime RVer.


I live 24/7/365 in a self converted school bus (skoolie). It was converted as we got the money. I have a few more things to do and no money coming in right now.

I tend to budget $450/month for site rent and utilities (last park was $425/mo). This does not include LP.

I am currently parked for free in my daughter's back yard.

When I finally leave here, I will still be sticking to my site rental budget. I will be able to do that because I am set up to be self contained for up to 3 nights before pulling into a park.

I will get Passport America (half price discount club) for $44/yr. This will get me into full hookup parks for half price. Works out to the same or lower than public parks with just w/e hookups.

I have no debt. Everything I own, I own outright.

 

[SoulRaven]

Off Grid 24/7
Can you share photos of builds or link where posted?
Is the power solar &/or generator?

Sorry, no pics... I don't even own a camera...

Most of the vans for the homeless are set up to charge while driving only, and we only include a generator if they are planning on not driving.

For the other shelters, we always include a 12v DC gas generator with a 3000 watt inverter if requested, and a 100+ amp hour deep cycle battery.

All included on board systems in both cases are 12v only.  We try to customize each unit to the requests of the recipient, who is usually involved in the build process.  We prefer this method so that the owner will know everything about their own unit in case  it ever needs repairs.

 

[eDJ_]

Thanks Off Grid and Compassrose for this information.   The threshold of finding a dependable Van may not be that much of an expense and outfitting with yard sale, flea market, second hand equipment once rolling may
be the flexibility of thinking necessary to bring Van Life to a reality for a person of limited means.  Once rolling
they could find some form of employment if they needed in better economic areas of the country.

Since I've been on this forum I've began to notice people in my area traveling and living in Vans, Step Vans,
and even a few in Cars than ever before.   Often I see them shopping in Dollar Tree Stores, parked on Walmart
and Lowe's parking lots,  and around the Gym's such as Planet Fitness. 

I appreciate knowing about "Passport America" as most of my Van travel has been between living places used in my Corporate working days.   But going on the road for myself without an employer giving me stated goals & timelines will be a new experience.   Making a small living online that is enough to be under the Fed limit for paying income tax and being registered in a State that doesn't have an income tax could provide a solution for a homeless or down and out person to pull out of a dead end life in the Public Housing for the Poor ghetto's.

I understand Fed income tax for a single person is now $10,150 if under age 65 and if over 65 it is  $11,700.
So a couple traveling together unmarried could earn $20,000 combined and live well together.  For a lot of displaced people who find themselves homeless this could be an attractive way to pull themselves out of despair. Being registered in any of the States that don' t have an income tax (Tennessee and New Hampshire only tax interest money and dividends on investment money)

States in red have no State Income Tax (or limited Taxes)

More in depth view of States which don't have income tax.  They may have higher property taxes, fuel tax,
sales tax etc. 

http://taxes.about.com/od/statetaxes/a/tax-free-states.htm

State by State Tax Websites from About Money com (What are the taxes in each State/County/Parish)

http://taxes.about.com/od/statetaxes/a/State-Tax-Refunds.htm


With this website and doing some research I could see a person creating a circuit to travel each month to
stock up on provisions by traveling thru two or three states close to the state he/she is staying in. 

Example:  By living in the north eastern corner of Tennessee, one "could" easily shop in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia Twice or Four times a year.   One state may not have sales tax on groceries.  Another may have very low taxes on alcohol & tobacco, and another State on motor fuel etc.  But no matter where you are you can check out the tax rates around you, or in the States you plan to travel through on your itinerary with this website.  
're
Gas Buddy com has a "Trip Cost Calculator"

http://then.gasbuddy.com/Trip_Calculator.aspx

The USA Gas Price Map

http://www.gasbuddy.com/GasPriceMap

Cheap Gas Locator Murphy USA  enter zip code

http://locator.murphyusa.com/

But these websites could help anyone who is traveling to keep their expenses down.  If they're a stealth traveler they may keep it to fuel/oil propane and groceries. (and maintenance of vehicle incidentals such as windshield wiper blades, fluids, and burnt out light bulbs, etc)

 

[eDJ_]

Map Quest offers this website which is set up by your entering the zip code of the area you are traveling through. Once entered it will bring up a Satellite view of the area with various Gas Stations located by red balloon's.   You need mouse over the different balloons to see what the price of fuel is there.  

http://gasprices.mapquest.com/

If you don't know the zip codes of the area you are traveling within here is a "zip code look up"  site to find them with.  Just enter a City and State.  USPS com

https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input


There are 31 States including Washington DC which don't have Grocery Taxes for Foods to be consumed at home.  Some tax groceries at a lower rate than other sales taxes.  Check this map.

Fuel and Food will likely be a big chunk of the budget for full timing people.
If they were only to travel twice a month, say in the winter months, they
could use their motor fuel budget money for propane to heat with.  They may
need to stock up on food supplies to carry them over during the non travel
days.  A dependable means of refrigeration including power for that will be
important.  If using a propane fired absorption refrigeration system,  a good
level parking area will be necessary too.

 

[Trout]

I looked at the cost of living for Vermont on the website listed my MIT. boy are they way off for housing.

For 2 adults in Washington County a 2 bedroom (very small) apartment goes for $800 in a section 8 rental without electricity, just renting a room starts at $350 and goes way up from there. Housing is listed at just over 8k a year ($667 a month or so) Electric is atleast 100, fuel for heat is also part of this as well as garbage and etc. There is no way the average is significantly less than low income housing....How do they figure these things out

 

[USExplorer]

Many states have local sales tax statewide, such as North Carolina, which taxes groceries at 2%.

 

[highdesertranger]

and some states don't have any sales tax on anything, like Oregon. highdesertranger

 

[eDJ_]

Thanks for bringing that up.   I guess that would be .40 cent on a $20 dollar grocery purchase due to local taxes.   It is something to be aware of but I don't know of any online charts that display that information.

It may be worth any Van dweller's time to inquire of the taxes before shopping. 

Likewise I wasn't aware of the discrepancy between Vermont and MIT org's  information.  I'm sure there
will be some % of error on these tables.   Anyone living the traveling life should understand they may incur some surprises.

 

[Almost There]

Here's another chart that can sometimes be worth paying attention to.

http://www.bottlebill.org/legislation/usa/allstates.htm

For example when I'm travelling through Michigan I don't buy anything in bottles (soda/water) because they have a 10 cent per container deposit which I would never get back because I'm just passing through.

When I lived in Michigan I was right on the border with Indiana and travelled a lot southward so I would always buy in IN to avoid the deposit fees - paying $1.97 for a case of water but then paying $2.40 in deposit fees just didn't sit right in my head...

Similarly, if you're on the border of CA and AZ, you might want to not shop for bottled beverages in CA!

 

[SoulRaven]

Seems like a lot of people are putting a whole lot of time and effort into saving a relatively small amount of money.

I know people that will spend $10 in gas to save $3 on a purchase, not to mention a couple hours out of their day when that product was readily available down the block for $3.00 more in price.

Many years ago I discovered that if I spent the same amount of time, effort, and commitment making a little extra money, instead of trying to save it, that I came out far better off in the long run. Instead of trying to figure out how to survive while being broke, I had money in my pocket to spare, while exerting less effort than trying to just survive.

If our time and effort is worth anything, isn't it more beneficial to spend it on making money, rather than just making ends meet. I'm about as cheap as it comes, it's a game I play with myself on saving money. I price shop in the store, and I try to explore optional ways of doing things... BUT... I don't really put any extra time or effort into it. I try to reserve my time and effort into either enjoying life or making money.

The secret is spending your time and efforts in the direction that will be the most beneficial for you. Enjoying life usually revolves around having enough money to enjoy it. Saving money has a limited life span. Generating money can be perpetual.