Off topic posts split from "How do u live on $700/month, truly?"

[user 423]

Well, Mexico is the only cheaper country that you can actually drive to from the US in your van/RV ...

Belize? That was my plan years ago. Not so much now.

 

[SLB_SA]

Makes sense except this thread is about living on $700 a month. So, move it to Off Topic. Kidding

Can I live in Ecuador on $500 a month?

 

[Camper]

Bottom line... get a real job.

 

[RearViewMirror]

If you have no ideas or helpful input then why comment?

It seems some have found my posts helpful. Respectfully... after thinking about it, I actually feel no need to apologize so disregard my earlier apology. I won't apologize for working extremely hard in a demanding job for 28 years. Nor will I apologize for having been very diligent with money over the years. I have made it very clear that I very well know that there are people of all different incomes, socioeconomic status, and all walks of life. I just posted exactly what "we" will have to pay in real world amounts. If that doesn't apply to you... Well... It doesn't apply to you. Feel free to skip my posts. No one is forcing you to read them. But "maybe", just "maybe" it might apply to others. If you can make $700 work for you? Great! I wish we could also. But, we can't and I broke down exactly what "our" costs are and that is not including subscriptions to places such as Harvest Host, streaming services, etc...

Never mind the fact that I am helping to put my daughter though 8 years of college with out of state tuition. I didn't even include that. But that doesn't apply to "vanlife". Sorry, didn't realize that "vanlife" was only for certain people and not everyone.

Thank you. This is the sort of information I have been looking for. I was going to start asking people what their yearly cost are to hopefully get more accurate information. But you really covered a lot of the areas I had been wondering about. Thank you.

Health insurance is the big unknown for a lot of people. That can vary wildly. The best we were able to come up with was with United Health Care and that was $500 a month for my wife and daughter. But the search for health care was the most stressful part of the process. And you really have to be careful if you are out of state that you make sure that you go to an "in network" care facility. If not? You may be stuck with the most (if not all) of the costs associated with treatment while on the road. The rest of the cost that I put up are real world cost that "most" people can estimate as being pretty accurate. Insurance on the van was the one that surprised me most. $90 a month to cover $180,000 + $15,000 for what is essentially a "renters insurance" rider for everything we carry in the van (laptops, camera gear, etc...). I'm surprised it was as cheap as it is.

 

[user 423]

Everyone loves to hear people crow about how great they are.

 

[RoamerRV428]

We are far from the 1%. This is the way I've always treated money and life in general. I completely understand that we all come from different backgrounds, different socioeconomic status, etc...

Just a small note is that you know I did not direct my post 'at you' but I understand your reply.

and in general you have nothing to apologize for at all. You shared your financial walk and included some goals etc. Nothing wrong with that at all.

---------just to add, we personally, hubby and me, had ALOT of hard hard work and alot of great LUCK for sure inheriting farm property and more so..... Land to sell sets up our retirement in great form, not a doubt about that.

along with financials and that of 'life in general' we know life can turn on a dime sometimes. With the costs rising so sharply in service costs and purchase prices more money per month will be required for decent survival or more govt. benefts one can claim.

I sure can see very hard economic times slapping us right now and it ain't over by far yet.

Many on this forum are not living on like 700 a month. Many are living on alot more and that is a good thing truly. No one wishes hard financial times on anyone so the more ya got per month for a decent life on the road the better one is and even those with more income can be super frugal, knows ways to cut costs, knows what it is to live on less etc.

 

[SLB_SA]

Everyone loves to hear people crow about how great they are.

Evey day I can get vertical and go to the gym is a day I'm great!! Everything else is just gravy.

 

[WanderingRose]

My take on RVM’s lengthy post that I was very uncomfortable with, is that this thread is about how to live and survive on very limited income.

While the post contained a lot of good information on costs/expenses for a more grand lifestyle, that is not what this thread is about and it seemed a bit jarring, to me, for people here who can’t even imagine that kind of wealth, much less the ability to acquire it.

Sooooo off topic, and insensitive to those who come to this thread looking for practical advice. IMO.

That said, many of us have made these same missteps, large or small, we try to learn and do better.

As we are deviating even further off topic, analyzing, criticizing, defending, we are inviting moderator intervention, so I suggest we return to the original programming of this thread.

And maybe we need a thread on How I Did It.

 

[RoamerRV428]

For some reason, the internet makes people love to post how much money they have. It's the same on most forums.

you know I don't see it like that. I see it as an accomplishment of some just chatting how their life went down and how lucky they were or planned and things worked to their advantage. I never saw anyone flaunting or raggin' on others about their finances. I only see some jealousy come thru when others read about other's lives but that will be expected. No matter what is shared on any forum someone is gonna go all judgy for sure. ugh. human nature to be jealous or envious or feel others are not doing as they would do or comment only as they would do.

Regarding the original post. Can one survive on 700 has been answered tons of times on what frugal ways and maybe links or websites to free campsites and what benefits to try to receive or re: medical ins. advice has been given.

maybe it is time to shut down the thread? There is no back on track....the post has been answered correctly with great advice many times over. Now it is chit chat at this point. Way I see it

 

[SLB_SA]

Sooooo off topic, and insensitive to those who come to this thread looking for practical advice. IMO.

RVM has a couple lengthy posts. In looking over the contents of one (#422), I see the comment "My #1 rule in life is, if I can't afford it I don't buy it." I think "if I can't afford it, I don't buy it" is highly practical advice for everyone. Too many people fail to follow this advice; some even use "payday lenders." The suggestion that having good credit is wise sounds like very practical advice to me. While the comment "But while others were spending money of things that they did not need and going into debt because of it, I was putting as much money as I could into our retirement system and investments" is not offered directly as advice, I think the implicit advice to avoid wasting money and save or invest it sounds practical to me.

Sometimes people give advice by telling a story, for example as a life story. A reader can infer the "advice" from another's experiences.

 

[RoamerRV428]

Sometimes people give advice by telling a story, for example as a life story. A reader can infer the "advice" from another's experiences.

I so agree. Many posts one reads has no relation to our lives but if one reads that one sentence in it 'might spark' with us and we think, hmm, ok, I can see me moving in that direction cause it suits me. I found tons of advice that 'suited me' and my 'life' but when I started reading I thought, omg this has squat to do with me but still got some good info from it. I liked your post on that! I so get ya on what you wrote

 

[SLB_SA]

Do this British couple 2GoRoam count as nomads? If you don't have a permanent (fixed) home and travel, are you a nomad if you don't travel in a van, RV, bus, ambulance, truck, etc.? If they answer "Yes" to the question Could a MOTORHOME fix the increased cost of LONG TERM Travel? would they be nomads?
Does the concept that Bob emphasizes include only vehicle dwellers or does it extend to everyone who is trying to reduce or minimize housing expenses by utilizing "alternative housing"?

 

[user 22017]

I think "if I can't afford it, I don't buy it" is highly practical advice for everyone. Too many people fail to follow this advice; some even use "payday lenders."

Seems most who would use them (payday lenders) do so out of desperation. Eg. a single parent receiving no child support who must feed her kids. Of course someone could blame that parent for making the "wrong" choices in life, but why? How is that helping any nomads?
Also, many here are on disability, so working is out of the question. Not for everyone on disability, but for those with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, which can require expensive meds. Someone could blame them for being fat, but why? What good does that do?

The boastful posts from those clearly unable to live on $700 a month, because they have a mortgage, out of state college tuition for kids, high car payments, etc. belong in a thread like "How I did Everything Right and Why You Should Do Like Me"


Try to stay on topic please. Which is:

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

 

[user 22017]

Do this British couple 2GoRoam count as nomads? If you don't have a permanent (fixed) home and travel, are you a nomad if you don't travel in a van, RV, bus, ambulance, truck, etc.? If they answer "Yes" to the question Could a MOTORHOME fix the increased cost of LONG TERM Travel? would they be nomads?
Does the concept that Bob emphasizes include only vehicle dwellers or does it extend to everyone who is trying to reduce or minimize housing expenses by utilizing "alternative housing"?

Is this about living on $700 a month?

 

[RearViewMirror]

My take on RVM’s lengthy post that I was very uncomfortable with, is that this thread is about how to live and survive on very limited income.

While the post contained a lot of good information on costs/expenses for a more grand lifestyle, that is not what this thread is about and it seemed a bit jarring, to me, for people here who can’t even imagine that kind of wealth, much less the ability to acquire it.

Sooooo off topic, and insensitive to those who come to this thread looking for practical advice. IMO.

That said, many of us have made these same missteps, large or small, we try to learn and do better.

As we are deviating even further off topic, analyzing, criticizing, defending, we are inviting moderator intervention, so I suggest we return to the original programming of this thread.

And maybe we need a thread on How I Did It.

Insensitive was never my intent. I'm sorry you took it that way.

Could I have worded parts of my posts in a better fashion? I'm sure I could have. My intent was never to make anyone uncomfortable. I don't believe that I have been the only one that has mentioned that it would be hard to make it on $700 a month (or in our case an impossibility). I know many that make due with what they have. In all honesty... We are doing the same but on a slightly different playing field. The adjustment we are about to make is probably the biggest financial "risk" I have personally taken. And it is not a step that we haven't thought out well in advance. But, taken as a whole, if everything goes correctly, then it will save us money in the long run. And most importantly it will allow my wife to retire and we can enjoy our retirement while we still have time to do so. Life is the one commodity you cannot buy.

I understand that I am new to this forum. I don't know the tiny minutiae of what can and can't be talked about and where I can and where I not can talk freely about those things. It seems some got some value out of my post. And it seems that others were put off. I understand both. But as someone mentioned, I tend to put things in real world examples of exactly what I did, what I am doing, and what I hope the outcome will be. Maybe the original "intent" of this thread was "How do you live on $700 a month". In 23 pages? I'm pretty sure that answer has been given time and again. "Maybe".... someone got some value out of the real world estimates that I provided that we personally are going to have to adapt to? Maybe they didn't? I can't control that.

I joined this forum to learn about living a nomadic life. This is something very new to us. I know there are many in here that have so much more knowledge than we do when it comes to living this type of life. And there is value in good advice. If what I posted offended anyone then I don't know what to say other than that was never my intent. But I can't control what some people get offended by. If what I posted seemed like bragging (as has been inferred by some), well... I've got nothing to say. I learned long ago that I can't control other people's "feelings" no matter the subject.

 

[bullfrog]

I think the video brings up some valid points, after all a new van cost is well out of range of someone trying to live on $700 but if you start out with a paid for new/used van it becomes a totally different situation. Does Bob Wells recommendation still on purchasing a van still hold true? Buying the newest, lowest mileage van you can afford now has to include insurance, taxes and maintenance costs that may exceed what you are able to bring in monthly.

 

[Camper]

.Is this about living on $700 a month?

 

[Lizmccal]

It seems some have found my posts helpful. Respectfully... after thinking about it, I actually feel no need to apologize so disregard my earlier apology. I won't apologize for working extremely hard in a demanding job for 28 years. Nor will I apologize for having been very diligent with money over the years. I have made it very clear that I very well know that there are people of all different incomes, socioeconomic status, and all walks of life. I just posted exactly what "we" will have to pay in real world amounts. If that doesn't apply to you... Well... It doesn't apply to you. Feel free to skip my posts. No one is forcing you to read them. But "maybe", just "maybe" it might apply to others. If you can make $700 work for you? Great! I wish we could also. But, we can't and I broke down exactly what "our" costs are and that is not including subscriptions to places such as Harvest Host, streaming services, etc...

Never mind the fact that I am helping to put my daughter though 8 years of college with out of state tuition. I didn't even include that. But that doesn't apply to "vanlife". Sorry, didn't realize that "vanlife" was only for certain people and not everyone.

Health insurance is the big unknown for a lot of people. That can vary wildly. The best we were able to come up with was with United Health Care and that was $500 a month for my wife and daughter. But the search for health care was the most stressful part of the process. And you really have to be careful if you are out of state that you make sure that you go to an "in network" care facility. If not? You may be stuck with the most (if not all) of the costs associated with treatment while on the road. The rest of the cost that I put up are real world cost that "most" people can estimate as being pretty accurate. Insurance on the van was the one that surprised me most. $90 a month to cover $180,000 + $15,000 for what is essentially a "renters insurance" rider for everything we carry in the van (laptops, camera gear, etc...). I'm surprised it was as cheap as it is.

I did not mean to offend you. This post started a while back. Some people are looking at being homeless and others have lots of money. The post didn’t start about you, and hopefully won’t end with it about anyone except maybe that being disabled on $700 a month is hard.
Many have had helpful advice like places to go to make life easier. I’m so happy you did and do good things. I hope I didn’t offend you. This web site is from Cheap RV Living that has a YouTube channel that is meant to help people do what they can with what they have.
Check out the YouTube channel if you haven’t there is one specifically about living on $600 a month even. Escapees is another RV group that has a forum that is just about RV living. This site has car dwelling, van dwelling, and lots of subjects. I did not mean to offend you. You seem like a great guy. Again this post was started by a disabled person and had nothing to do with our personal finances. One guy said he does it on $500 a month with a spread sheet. That was interesting.
Maybe start a thread about early retirement and how you did it? Others can also share their personal stories. I was just talking about this thread on the forum only. Perhaps reading the previous post and the first one that started it would help you understand my point. Telling a disabled person “I don’t see how you can do it on $700 a month“ does not contribute much after you run down a great not disabled life.
On that note you didn’t need to apologize and don’t need to. It’s not a thread about you, or retirement. It’s a thread on living in A van on disability. My parents were part of the Escapees group. It was not about cheap rving and van Life. This particular site and creator Bob Wells started in a van.
Im sure if someone on the road was in need and you could help them you would.

 

[WanderingRose]

I understand, RVM, and believe that you did not intend to be insensitive.

There are folks on here who are literally hanging on by their fingernails, and periodically some who have found themselves suddenly living in their vehicle as their only viable option…on SS, SSDI, etc., extremely limited funds.

So look at your detailed post in that light, perhaps.

And, there are folks here in Class A’s and everything in between.

I think this has been a good and civil discussion, quite honestly, tho we have deviated greatly from how to live on $700 a month I note the mods have not come in and stomped their feet.

I don’t know that there is an end point nor exhaustive list of how to survive on almost nothing, as new tips and perspectives come up here all the time.

It is an absolute truth here that we are expected to respect the integrity of a thread, and not go off on off topic tangents.

Which we have done here , but it’s also been very civilized which I appreciate.

 

[Lizmccal]

Doesn't this "rule" apply to everyone?

On the other hand, people who are not hurting financially may still have important insights which can help others; being "helpful" is somewhat subjective. People who have struggled financially and discovered workarounds might offer highly useful advice as well. A person who has done well (financially) and has discovered useful ideas for saving & investing might offer extremely "helpful" advice, even to people less well off. For example, buying I-bonds (Series I US Savings Bonds) is a completely safe way to earn fairly high interest if you want to invest part of your emergency fund (by creating an "I-bond ladder").

Being a nomad does not require one to be in difficult financial circumstances ... BUT for those who are, I am surprised that discussion of living in cheaper countries other than Mexico does not get more attention here.

Can you tell me the hints and advice given other than “it can’t be done” that was posted by the person I replied to? The original poster is on disability. How does one live on $700 a month is the post thread. Did you read the previous post? People had ideas and a few said they lived on less. I am blessed to have more than that a month but some are not. I just wanted to stick to the post thread it said “how” not can I travel on this. I had the fact that amazon prime has a discount of half the price of their Prime service for $5.99 if you are on food stamps and accepts food stamps so when you are in a town to look up their drop boxes and it will also give free tv options if they have internet service. Libraries often have free internet even after hours and on Sunday close to the building.
I think that is helpful. I think maybe a new post for him on how to retire early or something he said would be better not just “ it can’t be done.”
What does our personal finances have to do with others living on $700 a month. His post would have been great in the introduce yourself area.
The person who started this thread is disabled how much more discouraging can you get? Tell us about you then no it can’t be done? Come on dude let’s keep this site about help not about us.