Money/job issue is my biggest obstacle to living the RV life

[GaiaGoddess]

You live in Minnesota and work 60 hrs a week?  Minimum wage there is $9.

$9 x 60 hrs = $540/wk + overtime is $4.50 x 20 hrs = $90, added together is $630/wk or $2,250/mo.
That's $30,240 a year, gross.  Even roughly estimating 25% for regular deductions, that's take-home of $22,680, more than I've ever made in my life.

That averages out to $472/mo clear, or $1,890/mo.  Your rent is less than $300.  

WHERE IS ALL THE REST GOING?

You are forgetting taxes, lol My checks are only a little over $300 after taxes.

I posted yesterday where all the rest is going, rent, food, gas, car/trailer insurance, utilities, credit card bill.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

 -- Spiff

For some reason it isn't showing what your post was, regarding writing down where all my money goes...I did this, that's how I know I am earning less than what my bills come to.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

You say you have "no office skills except typing, and that's nothing these days."

Well you're certainly mistaken about that last part.

I retired from New York State.  We had women working in our agency whose job title was "Keyboard Specialist".  In order to get these jobs, they had to pass a typing test.  I think it was either 35 or 40 words a minute, with an acceptable error rate.

Starting pay was around 20 grand a year.  12 paid holidays a year.  Good vacation and sick time.  Best health insurance in the world, and New York State paid 90% of it.  Hell, I was even able to keep it when I retired.  I traded in 1500 hours of unused sick leave for a credit that covers my whole cost - my health insurance is free.

If you can find me a job that involves just typing, show me, lol I know decades ago that's all secretaries did (well, and answer phones, which I can't do), but nowadays office jobs mean you have to know how to use programs on computers, be good with customers and on the phone, bookkeeping (numbers might as well be another language to me, I got D's in math, lol) Not to mention I've never seen an office job that was at night.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

Often over a period of time the storage fees are greater than the value of the items stored. If you go on tour across the country for a year, add the storage fees for that time period and see if your items are worth it. Maybe a storage box for the top or back of your vehicle will hold your craft supplies.

Yes it would be worth it, because my photos, heirlooms and family keepsakes are priceless. And I need clothes, shoes and jackets. I was thinking if I was able to keep the car I have now (an Escape) I can store stuff in there too. I hate to get rid of my craft stuff, I spent hundreds on that stuff thinking I can make things and sell them and make more money back, I hate to give that option up.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

this is quite simple,pretty much do what Bob Wells did,find yourself a box van,insulate the crap out of it and move in,if you cant fit it in the van you dont need it,get rid of it,a good propane heater and stove,keep working till debt is paid and have at least 10k in savings,then drive off to wherever you want to go taking odd jobs and what not on the way

bob did it in alaska,you can do it in minn

I'm not into the van idea...I researched it for a while though and decided I don't want to live without a shower so I decided an RV is best for me. Sure to save money and really live this life you can live in any vehicle, technically, but if it isn't what you want, why do it? I want to be comfortable, I don't want to suffer, lol

 

[GaiaGoddess]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I've been getting rid of my stuff over the last several years.  It's been challenging.  One tactic that I've just started using is to mark out an area in my house that is the size of a van (6'x10'), and then only living with what I can comfortably store in that space.  It's been a bit tricky because I'm married and hubby isn't a minimalist, but I'm making progress.

That means I'm only keeping items that have more than one use, and also keeping only one of each thing instead of storing spares.  I've got rid of my knickknacks, pared down my clothing lots, scanned photos to keep electronically, etc.  The hardest for me right now is giving away my crafting supplies and selling my camping gear.  I've sold collectibles on ebay, everything else on craigslist, and what doesn't sell I donate to a local thrift store.  Because I'm taking it slow, it's a bit like pealing off a Band-Aid a little bit at a time.  While I'm taking years, others have ripped it off in a matter of months.

Anyway, I just wanted to give you the idea of practicing living in a small space within your current house.  It might help you figure out if you have things to sell or give away that will make the transition into a vandwelling lifestyle more doable.

When I am on the road, I live out of a Prius.  In preparing to do that, I find that thinking like a backpacker makes it easier to figure out what to bring in such a small space.

The best to you as you figure out the best path to your happiness.

Suanne

I think I could get my stuff into that big of a space, at least enough for one trip. I mentioned wanting to have a storage unit though so I don't have to take EVERYTHING with me but still own it for future use. I know I will be coming back home on a regular basis so it would be easy for me to switch out clothing for a different season, more craft supplies if I need them, etc. I don't want to live like a backpacker though, that's more minimalist than I want to be, lol I want to be comfortable, I want an RV with a shower and kitchen. I have already gotten rid of half my clothes, trying to sell things just not having much luck. I have gotten rid of all my knicknacks too, ugh I hate those more than anything! It's all just junk, really. All you really need is food/dishes, clothing/shoes/jackets, a laptop, a cellphone, and whatever you need to earn money (in my case, crafts, my camera, etc.)

 

[GaiaGoddess]

My opinion is to move away from your current location, not for running away from your problems but to change your mindset. See someone for your credit and stay away from your mom or fix the issue with her that made you think about suicide when living there not by choice for 5 years. I’m sorry if I sound too harsh, it's not my intend, it's internet after all.

Well I moved here because it was the cheapest place I could find to live, if I moved anywhere else I wouldn't be able to afford it. I can't give up this job either, it's still the best paying & least stressful job I've had in years.

It isn't that easy to just "fix the issue" you have with a person, lol it's all fine as long as I don't live with her or talk to her too much.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

Lets nibble on just one financial point. It speaks to your situation and your mindset. Your 10 year old car that absolutely must be replaced soon and at significant debt. You should probably look at it as an asset & downscale it. There is lots of great reliable transportation out there, even vans, that are significantly less costly than your 10 year old vehicle should be.

All vehicles need repair at one point or another. Buying new with a warranty is the only way to get around that problem. But either way you're paying out of your you-know-what, either you need a large lump sum all at once or you need a few hundred bucks each month for a few years. Both seem equally hard to achieve for me right now. I will keep my vehicle as long as I can, even repairs are cheaper than a different vehicle would be, and that wouldn't be a guarantee that one wouldn't need repairing either.

You do need to rethink your attitude in regards to replacing things that incur debt. You got into debt by living beyond your means. $3,000 a month isn't chump change, it sounds like you work very hard for it. Fact is though if you can't live modestly on it & work out repayment that is wayyyy more than minimums you can't right this sinking ship!

Actually this is the only living situation that IS within my means, unless it's living with my mom but that is too risky for my mental health. I couldn't prepare for a $3000 repair bill and no matter where I lived that would have hurt me.

For income, try doing & selling some crafts now. Extra money & learn which of what you do is saleable & what is for pleasure, lots can't be both.

Yeah, I've been trying, lol I have been trying to sell my photography for a few years now and still no luck with that either. Selling things I think is not what I'm cut out for. I am not good at making things but I tried, anyway. I'm better at photography but it's hard to make it in that industry.

Also on crafts I will share I have a fairly large RV for one person & a 4 pound dog. I have a huge amount of storage...seriously my whole cutaway queen overhead is built in cabinets with custom interiors that let me reach it all...it's all craft stuff!! There is craft stuff in every single other cupboard too, just bits, but its there... The reason I know what's there is I have to cross international borders. You can probably get rid of a lot, I could but it pleases me even to look at my hoard! *smile*

lol I am not quite that excited about my hoard as you...I keep stuff around for potential, I hate giving up on opportunities. I really wish I didn't need it though, I don't like having "stuff" everywhere. I might sell it all and just focus on my photography. Hey you want to buy my craft supplies? lol I think I spent $500 on all of it. I wouldn't even know how to pack it all up and send it to someone though, lol

And you can do it there, I am in the warmest part of Canada now but have spent a few winters in the coldest parts of Canada in RVs. I don't always go south...

How did you stay warm!? Even in MN for 9 months of the year, you need to run your heat. I have talked to people who spend $200+ a month on propane in the winter. That's double what I spend now.[/quote]

 

[IGBT]

You mention you need an RV over a van because of the shower, but consider that a shower is going to use a decent amount of water and generate a decent amount of gray water (which you cannot everywhere just dump on the ground).   If you are at a campground with water and a dump station, odds are pretty high they have showers.   We were just at a park in Hannaford, ND which was $200 a month and had electricity, water, sewer and hot showers.   We built our own RV and still did not add a inside shower.

 

[ArtW]

At this point, seeing you make more than i do, I give up, you don't need a new car every 10 years, you could have bought a good used one for the 3k you spent fixing the Escape
I drive a 16 year old Ranger paid for
I pay $300 / month land payment, 132 for RTO portable building, have a 125 / month scooter payment, 120 / month CC payment, live in a small travel trailer
my TT is paid off but has problems, so I'm turning the storage shed into a tiny cabin, my Ranger has given me zero problems in the 3 years I've owned it, including a trip to north carolina from texas, and get maybe 20 mpg, and I travel 40 miles a day back n forth to work
If you take home less than 300 for working 60 hrs at 12 per hr due to taxes, maybe you should work LESS as higher income brackets pay a higher % of taxes (I found during my days working fast food at minimum wage that going past 50 hours LOWERED my take home pay)
I make 13/hr, have health insurance through my job, pay my taxes, and contribute to a 401k, and my take home is nearly 400 /week
at this point you need to find someone aside from yourself whom you trust, give them an honest accounting of your income and ALL your bills, WITH PRICES, and have them work with you (i am not asking you to put all that on the internet)
you can't just say 'la ge da, my bills eat all my finances' you need to have an outside observer see WHAT your expenses already are
The fact you have given almost no solid numbers of 'I spend this on this' make it utterly impossible to help you, the doctor can't treat your pneumonia over the phone by you saying "I have trouble breathing'
Unless you want to lay out your budget to a bunch of folks on the internet, and I am not saying you should, this thread is a dog chasing it's tail

 

[kayell]

Get this book from your library:
'Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: Revised and Updated for the 21st Century' by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
If you library doesn't have it, you can get it by interlibrary loan (might cost a dollar), get an older edition, or find it at many used bookstores. Read it, read it again.

Go to http://earlyretirementextreme.com/ and read the 'Early Retirement Extreme' book for free online.

Figure out where you can cut your expenses. Get rid of the non-essentials. (you undoubtedly have a lot - you are making more per year than I ever did either) Don't buy anything else on credit. Cut up the cards if you need to. Pay off your debts.

Deal with the depression - it may be leading to shopping therapy. Get some real help - local mental health program, local health department, churches if you do that kind of thing, ask the people at the food banks.

 

[AngryVanMan]

Glad to see another ERE fan here, I thought there would be more crossover with this site considering the topic material and Jacob's RV lifestyle choice!

 

[IGBT]

I did follow ERE until Jacob went back to work as a Quant making big big bucks.  He also started just pulling up old posts instead of making new content.   I am active on MMM though.

 

[DannyB1954]

How much you make and how far it goes depends on the local economy. Some places cost more to live so the wages are a bit higher. With higher wages you also get to pay a higher percentage in taxes, so a $2 an hour increase does not net you $2.
If you could rent a storage area for say $40 a month and rent out the second bedroom for $250, that would give you a bit more income. Yes it is a PITA, but if you work different shifts it may be tolerable.
If you wanted to go mobile, you may even be able to rent out your bedroom for another $250. This would give you more money over your regular wages. I am just guessing what rent goes for in your area, but just because your costs are $300 a month, doesn't mean you can only get $150 for each bedroom. Maybe room rent goes for $300 or more where you are. Check on Craigslist for room for rent or rooms wanted to get a better idea.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

You mention you need an RV over a van because of the shower, but consider that a shower is going to use a decent amount of water and generate a decent amount of gray water (which you cannot everywhere just dump on the ground).   If you are at a campground with water and a dump station, odds are pretty high they have showers.   We were just at a park in Hannaford, ND which was $200 a month and had electricity, water, sewer and hot showers.   We built our own RV and still did not add a inside shower.

Yeah that would be great if I always stuck to campgrounds that had showers. I would like to boondock a lot though. It's cheaper and quieter, I don't get good sleep in campgrounds unless I take a Xanax or Valium and I can't do that every night, lol

 

[GaiaGoddess]

At this point, seeing you make more than i do, I give up, you don't need a new car every 10 years, you could have bought a good used one for the 3k you spent fixing the Escape

This seems kinda contradictory...first you said you don't need a new car every 10 years but then you said I could have bought another one instead of fixing mine. I did have a $3000 car once and it was full of problems, i eventually junked it because it needed a new engine and that's where I drew the line. My Escape runs great now and it did before those problems so it was totally worth it to me, I love that car more than any car I've ever owned, I can sleep it in if I need to, it hauls all my camping gear and my boyfriend's whenever we go camping. I don't like cars and I don't like trucks so this is perfect. 

I drive a 16 year old Ranger  paid for
I pay $300 / month land payment, 132 for RTO portable building, have a 125 / month scooter payment, 120 / month CC payment, live in a small travel trailer
my TT is paid off but has problems, so I'm turning the storage shed into a tiny cabin, my Ranger has given me zero problems in the 3 years I've owned it, including a trip to north carolina from texas, and get maybe 20 mpg, and I travel 40 miles a day back n forth to work

I'm glad your Ranger is good for you...I've had 2 Rangers in the past, my most recent one was a '96 and I just got rid of it 3 years ago. It was riddled with problems, not to mention it was a stick which isn't good for towing anything, also not good in Minnesota winters.

If you take home less than 300 for working 60 hrs at 12 per hr due to taxes, maybe you should work LESS as higher income brackets pay a higher % of taxes (I found during my days working fast food at minimum  wage that going past 50 hours LOWERED my take home pay)
I make 13/hr, have health insurance through my job, pay my taxes, and contribute to a 401k, and my take home is nearly 400 /week

I can't choose to work less, our overtime is mandatory. I made less at my last 3 jobs and made WAY less than my bills were, I was only able to survive by living with my mom and then floating by on what I saved that I had left after buying my mobile home.

at this point you need to find someone aside from yourself whom you trust, give them an honest accounting of your income and ALL your bills, WITH PRICES, and have them work with you (i am not asking you to put all that on the internet)
you can't just say 'la ge da, my bills eat all my finances' you need to have an outside observer see WHAT your expenses already are
The fact you have given almost no solid numbers of 'I spend this on this' make it utterly impossible to help you, the doctor  can't treat your pneumonia over the phone by you saying "I have trouble breathing'
Unless you want to lay out your budget to a bunch of folks on the internet, and I am not saying you should, this thread is a dog chasing it's tail

I did post all of my bills, in a previous post. I put averages, not exact amounts, because a lot of them vary, but the average is good enough.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Honestly, I don't think you want the mobile lifestyle bad enough, at least not bad enough to sacrifice for. 6 pages of advice and you've refuted every single piece of it.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

Get this book from your library:
'Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: Revised and Updated for the 21st Century' by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
If you library doesn't have it, you can get it by interlibrary loan (might cost a dollar), get an older edition, or find it at many used bookstores. Read it, read it again.

Go to http://earlyretirementextreme.com/ and read the 'Early Retirement Extreme' book for free online.

Sounds interesting, thanks! I have read a few books on similar stuff, including Tim Ferris' 4 Hour Work Week, but i hate his writing style and couldn't follow along with it and also I can't even remember a single suggestion he had, hopefully these books you recommended will be better.

Figure out where you can cut your expenses. Get rid of the non-essentials. (you undoubtedly have a lot - you are making more per year than I ever did either) Don't buy anything else on credit. Cut up the cards if you need to. Pay off your debts.

I've already done that, after I paid off my credit card when I lived with my mom, I had hardly any bills and I was saving money, but I had to get out of my moms house ASAP so I bought the cheapest mobile home I could find in the cheapest trailer park i could find, and only have the essential bills. I have been trying to pay off my credit card, it's just kinda hard when I only have the minimum due left at the end of the month. It would have been still 0 without those car repairs, but if I didn't have the card, I would have lost my job and my mobile home without a way to work.

Deal with the depression - it may be leading to shopping therapy. Get some real help - local mental health program, local health department, churches if you do that kind of thing, ask the people at the food banks.

I don't do shopping, lol Shopping to me is just groceries and household essentials. I wear the same clothes I have worn for a decade or more. The shoes I wear to work every day I bought in 1999!! I am not into things most girls are into, i value experiences over material possessions.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

How much you make and how far it goes depends on the local economy. Some places cost more to live so the wages are a bit higher. With higher wages you also get to pay a higher percentage in taxes, so a $2 an hour increase does not net you $2.
If you could rent a storage area for say $40 a month and rent out the second bedroom for $250, that would give you a bit more income. Yes it is a PITA, but if you work different shifts it may be tolerable.
If you wanted to go mobile, you may even be able to rent out your bedroom for another $250. This would give you more money over your regular wages. I am just guessing what rent goes for in your area, but just because your costs are $300 a month, doesn't mean you can only get $150 for each bedroom. Maybe room rent goes for $300 or more where you are. Check on Craigslist for room for rent or rooms wanted to get a better idea.

I am definitely considering renting this place out when I go mobile, if they allow that. I know they need to approve of people before they can live here but I don't know for sure the rules on subleasing.

 

[GaiaGoddess]

Honestly, I don't think you want the mobile lifestyle bad enough, at least not bad enough to sacrifice for.  6 pages of advice and you've refuted every single piece of it.

No I haven't, I am just telling people the facts, and if I didn't have certain issues, I would have been living the mobile lifestyle by now. I thought maybe there was some other options I didn't know about. I got some book suggestions and learned I can have a debt professional negotiate with my credit card company for me. I also got a few people that sent me PM's with really useful information that I am excited about!