The REAL cost of living Full-Time In An RV

[cyndi]

This is from a family of 3 with a seemingly decent income, living mostly in parks.  

http://tinyhouseblog.com/uncategorized/the-real-cost-of-living-full-time-in-an-rv/

 

[Wabbit]

Decent article, keeping in mind that this is the "real" cost of living full time in an RV for these people. It wouldn't be the real cost of me and mine living full time in our "RV". Their monthly costs aren't exorbitant, but I kinda think they could have more fun money if they looked at where a big chunk of it is going.

 

[offroad]

Love how her budget for three people is around $2610 per month and then she later keeps separate and mentions that health insurance costs $430 per month. So the real grand total is $3040 per month or $36,480 per year (no boondocking ever). She does have a full time job. Guess this is why you do not see families flocking to RV camps to live.

Maybe two living on minimum wage could float the costs, but full time child care while at work would prevent that. Its still an interesting lifestyle that might be more adventurous than an apartment and city-suburb living.

Compare that to my son and his dog, who combined make full time minimum wage retail job at $10 an hour for a yearly salary of $20800. He has an apartment for $600 monthly, and rides a bicycle to work seven miles one way every day (health and cost). Plus he pays $150 monthly for subsidized health care insurance; and $150 for utilities and phone. So his expenses are $10,800 before food; and lets says $3000 per year for food. GRAND TOTAL for my efficient cheapskate son is somewhere south of $15000. Know that taxes (SS, sales, etc.) are somewhere in the costs that need to be added for 10%.

People can live cheap, and they can live well. Its the special person that can do both, and not go a little crazy.

 

[GotSmart]

Their numbers do not as up. The cost of insurance is listed as $196 a month, and he goes on to say it is $674 a year.

Beef Beer and Ice Cream. Things I could not buy when on the road. (Well one 6 pack when in the desert.)
Buying in bulk??? Give me a break!

And this is part of their budget. (Obviously not showing total income, savings, and unrelated buying. Clothing~~~

 

[mockturtle]

People can live cheap, and they can live well. Its the special person that can do both, and not go a little crazy.

It depends on how you define 'well'. 

 

[rvwandering]

The real cost of living fulltime in a RV varies so much between individuals so it's not something that can be easily pinned down. To get a rough estimate write down all of your monthly expenses that are absolutely necessary but do not vary. Vehicle insurance, health insurance and phone/internet access are the big ones. All other expenses vary hugely and you get to decide what is important for a fulfilling life. Camping can be free. Set a budget for fuel and stop driving when you hit the limit. Chose to eat nutritional inexpensive food and skip eating out. Hand wash clothing, etc.

 

[RVTravel]

The REAL cost of living out of your means maybe.

 

[Canine]

This seems pretty expensive to me.Since my house is paid for,I can live cheaper at home than on the road.We can live fine on $1200 a month on the road.If Vic didn't drink so much beer we could probably do it on $1000.

 

[IGBT]

Boil it down to the basics, then add back in luxuries.

What do you need to survive?  Water, Food, Shelter

Water can be fairly cheap, especially if only used for drinking

Shelter can be a van, rv, or trailer parked on BLM land and moved every two weeks a few miles

Food can be about anything that provides 2000 calories per day

Monthly budget:

Water $10
Food $100
Shelter $100 (gas plus insurance)

Total: $210 a month, $2520 a year

Assumes of course you do not need medical care, or you can get free care.

Imagine then the luxuries you can add on a budget of $30,000 a year.

 

[GotSmart]

"Imagine then the luxuries you can add on a budget of $30,000 a year."

Like better food. $3 a day does not allow for much.

 

[IGBT]

"Imagine then the luxuries you can add on a budget of $30,000 a year."

Like better food.  $3 a day does not allow for much.

Loaf of bread = $1, Jar of peanut butter = $2, Jar of jelly = $2

$5 and about 12 sandwiches.  Eat 1 for breakfast, 2 for lunch, 1 for dinner for 3 days.

Now you have a $4 surplus to spend after only three days.   A few apples, a head of lettuce, some carrots.

If you have a way to cook cheaply, a stew could be made for about $10 that would last 3 or 4 days.   $5 beef, $1 potatoes, $1 carrots, $1 broth, $1 onion, $1 celery

Then there is rice.   A cup of dry rice is like $0.20.   Add beans, some cheese, onions, and a tortilla and you have a pretty good wrap that costs about $0.50 each.

But anyway, I meant $100 as a minimum, higher budget might be more like $300 a month for food.

 

[GotSmart]

After a month of PB&J, one would be at the local Pizza Hut sitting in the buffet table!

DARN! Now I want pizza! LOL!

I have been there, and lived on Chef Boyarde (75 cents a can on sale!) for a month as my funds were needed elsewhere. It is hard to eat healthy on a low budget and no refrigeration.

 

[IGBT]

After a month of PB&J, one would be at the local Pizza Hut sitting in the buffet table!  

DARN!  Now I want pizza!  LOL!

I have been there, and lived on Chef Boyarde (75 cents a can on sale!) for a month as my funds were needed elsewhere.  It is hard to eat healthy on a low budget and no refrigeration.

Once you get solar, refrigeration can be nearly free after the initial costs.   Figure $800 to get you enough solar and a small compressor fridge to allow around the clock cooling.   If you amortize the $800 over a 10 year period, it only adds $7 to the monthly budget.

 

[GotSmart]

Once you get solar, refrigeration can be nearly free after the initial costs.   Figure $800 to get you enough solar and a small compressor fridge to allow around the clock cooling.   If you amortize the $800 over a 10 year period, it only adds $7 to the monthly budget.

It took over a year to gather up enough to get my solar working.  To run a fridge properly takes 4 batteries ( $400) and a minimum of two panels. ($300)  Controller, $75)  inverter, ($100) and fridge unit.  A decent 12v unit will run the $800 by itself.  Add wires and the misc parts, ends, outlets... $2,000. More if you get quality components.  

Government math (Amortization) only works with deep pockets.  Something most of  the van dwellers do not have.  

Reality is $100  tank for gas.  $50 for insurance, $175 for food, $50 for non food necessities, emergency repairs, showers, laundry, clothing medical...

Try living on a budget of $12,000 a year and you will be more in line with reality.   :-/  

 

[IGBT]

It took over a year to gather up enough to get my solar working.  To run a fridge properly takes 4 batteries ( $400) and a minimum of two panels. ($300)  Controller, $75)  inverter, ($100) and fridge unit.  A decent 12v unit will run the $800 by itself.  Add wires and the misc parts, ends, outlets... $2,000. More if you get quality components.  

I don't know what you bought but a small chest compressor fridge can be had new for $400.  It can be run on one $100 deep cycle battery recharged by the van/rv alternator and $300 worth of Renogy solar panel plus a cheap PWM controller.  No inverter needed as the fridge runs on 12V.

$800...maybe a bit more with misc parts/wire

 

[mockturtle]

My 4.5 cu ft Nova Kool runs off 200W solar with two 6-volt batteries.

 

[compassrose]

I read the article that was linked to (on FB). I would like to have their income. I would be living in high cotton. My 30 amp site rent (w/e/s/cable/wifi) is $425/mo (I figure $500/mo is my max that I will spend). I shop at Sam's Club mostly. I live in a 40 ft self-converted school bus (that I am STILL working on). My 1995 Jeep is mine and insured. I am not insured as I pay cash for and doctor's visits (I need contact lenses). Since David passed, no more prescriptions to buy. Now that I am working full time, I have more $$ to spend on the bus. But I was working only part time and discovered that at my then rate of pay ($10.30/hr), I needed a minimum of 32 hours to make ends meet (and still do a little work on the bus). I paid taxes on a tiny bit over $24,000 last year and I have been spending a lot of money that I do not need to. I have 10% of my before tax income pulled from each paycheck and that is used to buy company stock twice a year (I sell it off a few months later and make more $$ than a savings account would yield). I have a used washer & dryer on board (for my convenience not for saving $$) so I no longer pay $2.50 total to get a load of laundry washed & dried (BTW, I have paid as high as $5 in campground laundromats to wash & dry a load). I do not eat out due to a combination of my problem with paying for a meal that costs more than I can make in the time frame it takes to eat it PLUS NM has a pass/fail rating system. A restaurant has to be really bad to fail their Health Dept inspection. Food safety certification is not required here AND IT SHOULD BE! Too many cases of food poisoning. I am currently, and have been for far too long, parked in one spot (since 12/2011). My stock will allow me to have the $$ put back for a long trip back east (I loathe this state now, whereas I merely hated it before David died). And then I land someplace and get another job while I build up a money source that I hope will allow me to travel a little. I still need to eventually buy (cash) a home base to park the bus on. I think it will be cheaper to do that than keep paying for site rent. The "How much" question is far too subjective for anyone to go by. I do think that if your housing is high, then living in an RV will save you money. All other expenses will tend to stay the same unless you change your lifestyle a lot.

 

[Canine]

What's your point?

 

[SoulRaven]

It is hard to eat healthy on a low budget and no refrigeration.

99 cents a week for ice is pretty cheap refrigeration.

Just  get the big blocks and keep it in a separate container in your ice chest, and it will last a lot longer and your food doesn't get wet.

 

[GotSmart]

Where can I get a big block of ice that lasts a week for 99 cents?