Staying on budget?

[CanadianTraveler]

I'm going into my second month full time van dwelling. I'm not going to make it another three weeks before my pension comes. From all my expenses, supplies, repairs, food.....it's already taken so much of my budget I'm going to need to find financial help as soon as I can. How do those living on a small fixed income make it I need the first few months? I am really worried that this isn't going to work out. Aside from the money tho I absolutely love the lifestyle and hope to continue.

 

[OutdoorFT]

Are you saying you wont be able make it each month between payments?

Or is it just a one time thing where you have to wait longer?

If its the former, you should take a look at what youre spending on. Maybe get a seasonal job to give you a safety net. and if youre eating out everyday...don't do that.

 

[user 423]

It's kind of like 'water seeks it's own level'. If you don't have it , you can't spend it. How much travelling are you doing and spending on gas? Do you have anything you can sell to tide you over? It can be a real challenge but I'm sure you can figure out where you can cut corners but at the same time have money for the important things.

 

[Almost There]

As a Canadian living on pension are you sure you're collecting all you are entitled to? Canada Pension, Old Age Security as well as Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Depending on which province you're domiciled in, you may also be entitled to a provincial supplement. BC has one that's on a sliding scale and not very big but every penny counts. Ontario has their Trillium Benefits.

When you filed your income tax return (you did file it right), you are also entitled to a HST/GST rebate paid quarterly. 

To make it through a tough few months it's often necessary to strip expenses to the bone. I have a son who can't seem to understand that one can't spend more than one has coming in. He's just been approved for disability but it's less than 25% of what he was earning 6 months ago. He still smokes to the tune of $13.00 a day in tobacco products and wonders why he's broke.

If you're not sure where all the money is going, start writing down every, EVERY penny you spend. If you have trouble keeping to a budget, put money for food in one envelope, gas money in another. When the envelope is empty before the next money comes in...well you're out of luck for that item.

 

[Zil]

Keeping to a budget. A basic survival skill that took me 65 years to master. Then I got a credit card. {

 

[CanadianTraveler]

I think its just the initial start up and repairs that are breaking my budget. Also since I dont have any source of power when the van isnt running I cant have a cooler/fridge so meals are either ready made or purchased for the day only or convients foods (fast food). the containers, stove, shelving things like that are a one time purchase unless they break and need to be replaced but the first few months are very tough. i think because i had to leave my apt in order to get the van, i wasnt able to save anything so it might be a little extra costly. my gas for the last month was about 600 and that is driving daily. so i think that is ok but the rest is kinda scary and has me thinking about how this is going to work out. i hope after the first six months i should be smoother and easier on the budget. is there any tips or tricks to saving money on the road?

 

[jonsun]

Why cant you buy dry goods? people long distance hike with enough food for a week all the time. you're going to have to load up on cans, pasta, etc. get some ice for a few days of meat and eggs if you want to splurge and find a spot to hang for a week or two. that down time gives you plenty of space to make a coherent grocery and driving budget.

For example a week

breakfast - eggs, pancakes, muffins, oatmeal ($5)

lunch - noodles, tuna, canned chicken to make chicken salad, tortillas with beans and rice, pb&j sands with chicken noodle soup, etc ($10)

dinner - spaghetti, canned soups, mashed potatoes with evap milk, lipton/any brand pasta pouches, chili by the can, beef stew or dumplings by the can, tuna mixed with eggs and bread crumbs or crackers and fried in patties (sub canned salmon), make french loaf in dutch oven, beans and corn bread, etc, etc ($20)


gas for grocery run and getting to and from campsite - $12.50 or 5 gallons or 50-75 miles



multiply by 4 for a month. you're at like $200.

 

[jonsun]

when you're in town shopping you got some free wifi, plan your campsite. It's not the 70's you have google earth, all kinds of apps, websites, national land maps. Surely you planned out even a little bit of your driving beforehand?

$130 gets you a complete 100w solar kit and a battery at walmart is $55 (assuming you've ventured down here). No need to go without electric in 2017

 

[Txjaybird]

 I cant have a cooler/fridge so meals are either ready made or purchased for the day only or convients foods (fast food).

HOW ABOUT A small ice chest?  A lot of places  where I live will give you free ice if you have your own glass, not a styrafoam one.  I shop at some of the same grocery stores and gas stations and after asking the first time or 2 I just get my ice and I always make it a point to say "Thanks for the ice" on my way out.  I know a glass of ice isn't much, however if you have those Big Bubba keg style ones and stop at more than one place it adds up.  Even when traveling I rarely need more than a glass of Ice, however I start out with a small chest with ice, water, pop, and tea + sandwhich fixings.  Food is too costly at gas stations as far as I'm concerned.  The ice that freezes in my apt. frig tastes bad and smells like nicotine. So this is what I do for now.

I have eaten more fast food it the past several months than I did in the previous year.  I just got to the point if I had to cook I would skip a meal...not good for a insulin dependent diabetic.  I try to use coupons and BOGO.  That way I have a nice sandwich for one meal and one for another.  Many places here have senoir meals and Wendy's doesn't charge for a senoir drink.  On tues. Popeye's chicken is 8pc mixed for $6.  Sometimes I share it with a neighbor or my Sis or Q and I have chicken for 3 days....   we like fried chicken.    
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 my gas for the last month was about 600 and that is driving daily. 

ARE YOU ACTUALLY TRAVELING?  Or is that just around town?  My 1998 Safari hightop gets about 14mpg in town driving with a lot of stops and starts.  I drive hundreds of miles a month in about 4 counties and sometims down into FL where I have family.  I would fall plumb over on the ground if my gas ever cost that much and I wasn't actually road tripping.
  
Do you have to find a new place to park each day/night?  Is there anywhere you could park and maybe have places to spend time in within a short walk like 1/2 a block or so.  Maybe with free wifi and ac?
I know it's hard to save money when there is nothing there to save.  
    
I've been trying to help a younger family member understand this.  I tell them.......If you get x amount of $$$ at the first of the month THAT'S IT.  Pay your housing and vehicle expense 1st, then food.  Then Do Not spend every cent you have on things you want but Do Not have to have right this minute. Try to spend a little each week not all in the 1st few days. 

  My 1st SSD checks were $680mo.  I moved 1,000 miles to another state.  There were times I had to wait a week to buy a loaf of bread.  I was also a client of and a volunteer at the county food bank.  I don't believe in false pride so I am not ashamed to say this.  I belive in helping others when I can and not being too prideful to not seek help when I need it.

I know I've had extra expenses on my van and trailer since I bought them.  Mostly things that need to be done now and not when I'm traveling.   I'm a list maker.  Every mo. I make a list of known bills that need to be paid.  I keep a running list of Needs and also one of Wants.  I check off each item as it's paid and note date and how I paid.  I also keep a running total of how much $$$ I've paid out and what $$$ are left.  This helps me to stay on track  with my spending.  If I don't write things down I tend to overlook or forget something.

I'm sure it's rough first starting out on this adventure.  Only you know what you truly want and need & also what is best for you. I wish you the very best in starting this nomadic lifestyle.

Jewellann & Q

 

[Kenwrite]

Your food is killing your money. 
Buy little one burner BUTANE camp stove; they're cheaper than propane ones.  
Heat water for those packets of rice meals, like Knorrs if they're up there.  they have different flavors and if you make a huge meal for lunch you won't need much rest of day and if you eat it all over course of an hour or so you won't need a fridge.
Even just a cheap $5 Styrofoam ice chest and $2 bag of ice (your costs may vary) will do wonders for keep cheap grocery store food for several days.
If you drink cold drinks from stores, stop.  Room temp water is will keep you alive and even do a better job of it.
Breakfast can be grits and oatmeal.  Fresh fruit like bananas and apples last for days.
Just stay the HELL out of fast food!

I'm speaking from years of poverty and a year in true homelessness.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

. . . Also since I dont have any source of power when the van isnt running I cant have a cooler/fridge so meals are either ready made or purchased for the day only or convients foods (fast food) . . .

the containers, stove, shelving things like that are a one time purchase unless they break and need to be replaced but the first few months are very tough . . .

my gas for the last month was about 600 and that is driving daily . . .

A prepared food and lots of driving is killing your budget.

As to a cooler or refrigerator, a quick search brought up two threads on doing without refrigeration:
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=6599&highlight=refrigeration
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=23073&highlight=refrigeration
I eat very well on $50/week.  NO fast food, eat out about once a month (usually pizza with friends, ~ $10).  I do have refrigeration but could eat as well without.  Water & coffee.

Containers, a good stove, and your build-out can wait until you have money after your monthly needs are met.

$600 for gas @ $2.25 & 10 MPG = 88 miles/day = 2666 miles/month.  That is a lot of driving.  My normal gas costs are about $25/week.  If I am doing a lot of traveling, I will spend about $300/month.  But that only happens a couple of times a year.

 -- Spiff

 

[OutdoorFT]

I will add that even though I live in an apt...I have a fridge abd freezer full of food I barely eat. Main thing I use the fridge for is to keep water cold. Been eating out of my pantry for the past weeks. If you need to stop for a beverage..id recommend7/11