Van dwelling is not welfare (aka on the dole)

[offroad]

Am reading stories about people wanting to van dwell that have no money at all. They are asking for job opportunities. Sounds scarey as many might have the wrong perspective.&nbsp;<br /><br />1) if you stay at a cheap RV camp for $25 a night that is $750 per month. A shared apartment is only $500 a month. So which is better price?<br /><br />2) driving to a remote camp location with not enough food and water for a month will mean expensive commute to grocery store. Do you have the money to stock up for a month? &nbsp;Has anyone posted a one month grocery list with prices at Walmart ?&nbsp;<br /><br />3) are you going to be bored to insanity being on your own? &nbsp;Better bring some highly complex hobby with you to keep you focused and sane.&nbsp;<br /><br />4) who will be your neighbors? &nbsp;Will you be okay with these neighbors? &nbsp;Will they not want to be social? &nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[SirJoey]

Some good, valid points, OffRoad!

I think some of the newbs to the lifestyle are under the impression that RV living is automatically less expensive, which as we know, isn't necessarily true, although it CAN be, given the right circumstances, & if one makes the right choices.

However, inexperience & poor choices can definitely turn this into an even MORE expensive lifestyle, quite easily!

I don't claim to be an old pro by any means, but I DO have more than a couple years of experience at RV living. My advice to newbs... look before U leap! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[VanTrekker]

I am phasing into it and learning along the way.&nbsp; As Dad's health continues to slowly decline, it's given me a chance to&nbsp;ask a lot of questions so as to be able to better plan how to do this... Just jumping in without research might be to costly.&nbsp; In the meantime I live in the driveway and take 2 or 3 day trips a lot.<br /><br />Some of the questions that I am have been working through recently are like...<br /><br />1)&nbsp; How much and how often will I need to work?&nbsp; I.E. Can I take a whole summer off and live on beans, rice, fresh fish, raspberries, etc... only moving the van every 14 days as required by law...?<br /><br />2)&nbsp; What part of our state is the most conducive to living in a van?&nbsp; Least hassle from cops, access to necessities, etc.?<br /><br />3) Water... How much do I need, how do I get it, etc.<br /><br />4) Winter months... Should I just rent a sleeping from Dec. to the end of March?<br /><br />5) Do I want&nbsp; to go to the RTR or other out of state gatherings and be more in touch with other vandwellers?&nbsp; (Lately, I am leaning toward not - it's very costly to drive across that many states)<br /><br />There are a zillion questions but as each night goes by, the answers are becoming clearer as far as where I want to live, when working is desirable / necessary, how to make it viable, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp; I've been blessed in that there is time to let all this work itself out.&nbsp; I realize thought that for some it's not an option.&nbsp; They are thrust into it, making it more difficult to want to live like this long term.

 

[cyndi]

Am reading stories about people wanting to van dwell that have no money at all. They are asking for job opportunities. Sounds scarey as many might have the wrong perspective.&nbsp;<br /><br />1) if you stay at a cheap RV camp for $25 a night that is $750 per month. A shared apartment is only $500 a month. So which is better price?<br /><br /><strong>Long term RV sites &nbsp;can be quite a bit cheaper than what you pay nightly. Monthly can be cheaper than weekly, weekly cheaper than nightly. In some cases electric costs may be built into your fee.</strong><br /><br />2) driving to a remote camp location with not enough food and water for a month will mean expensive commute to grocery store. Do you have the money to stock up for a month? &nbsp;Has anyone posted a one month grocery list with prices at Walmart ?&nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Bob recently posted, in his blog, basic monthly grocery list and cost, with regard to boondocking in the boonies.</strong><br /><strong>http://cheaprvlivingblog.com/2012/11/getting-ready-to-move-stocking-up/<br /><br />Many bloggers post their expenditures. I (internet and real life)know more than a couple people living on the road with a monthly income between $400 and $700.</strong><br />&nbsp;

 

[HoboBerg]

Am reading stories about people wanting to van dwell that have no money at all. They are asking for job opportunities. Sounds scarey as many might have the wrong perspective.&nbsp;<br /><br />1) if you stay at a cheap RV camp for $25 a night that is $750 per month. A shared apartment is only $500 a month. So which is better price?<br /><br /><span style="color: #0000ff;">Theres places in southern Az that are $50 a month, and one right in downtown Tucson that is $168 a month for water,sewer,cable, and I believe internet. Never stayed in one though cause theres always free camping nearby.</span><br /><br />2) driving to a remote camp location with not enough food and water for a month will mean expensive commute to grocery store. Do you have the money to stock up for a month? &nbsp;Has anyone posted a one month grocery list with prices at Walmart ?&nbsp;<br /><br /><span style="color: #0000ff;">Why go to a remote location? If your working stay close to town.</span><br /><br />3) are you going to be bored to insanity being on your own? &nbsp;Better bring some highly complex hobby with you to keep you focused and sane.&nbsp;<br /><br /><span style="color: #0000ff;">Netflix,internet,hiking, or TV work for me<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" />&nbsp;If I wanna be around people I camp next to them.</span><br /><br /><br />4) who will be your neighbors? &nbsp;Will you be okay with these neighbors? &nbsp;Will they not want to be social? &nbsp;&nbsp;

<br /><br /><span style="color: #0000ff;">If your not okay with your new neighbors just turn the key. In my 3 years of boondocking ive always had decent neighbors, and made alot of new friends. This just from my personal experience in the southwest United States. I am sure other parts of the country may very.</span>

 

[josephusminimus]

If they're being forced to live in a vehicle for financial reasons they have more to worry about than boredom and the social potential of the neighbors.&nbsp; A vehicle beats a tent or living under a bridge in enough ways to argue in favor of it, provided it's an option.<br /><br />As for food, there are dumpsters at the bottom of the list of options, and people such as myself who carry some extra rice and beans for the sole purpose of having it available to help someone hungry along when necessary.&nbsp; There are also food banks etc to provide them with enough food to survive.<br /><br />If they don't have any money they won't be staying in RV parks at any price.<br /><br />Maybe the stories you're referring to involve people who aren't doing it as a lark, but rather because it's the next step downhill on the route to survival.

 

[offroad]

Just reading about people looking for jobs, while considering going to Quartszite AZ, or other locations seems a little wrong.&nbsp; The competition for these jobs would be pretty high, near a boondocking favored area.&nbsp; Would think so, and you can not rely on wishful thinking, that you could find a job.<br /><br />

 

[josephusminimus]

Just reading about people looking for jobs, while considering going to Quartszite AZ, or other locations seems a little wrong.&nbsp; The competition for these jobs would be pretty high, near a boondocking favored area.&nbsp; Would think so, and you can not rely on wishful thinking, that you could find a job.<br /><br />

<br /><br />In a sane world your point about Q would make a lot of sense.&nbsp; But there's cause to suspect everything's not necessarily as it appears.&nbsp; What's being described as 'thousands' of van and RV dwellers are going there to commune with one-another without the distraction of working.&nbsp; Evidently sufficiently affluent so's afford to buy the necessities and have some fun in leisurely pursuits.&nbsp; <br /><br />Someone's going to have to flip the hamburgers, ring the cash registers, fill the propane bottles&nbsp;and clean out the public restrooms for the desert party animals.&nbsp; Wage earning invisible people, those toilet cleaners and hamburger flippers.&nbsp; Legions of them.

 

[Pikachu711]

There's places in southern Az that are $50 a month, and one right in downtown Tucson that is $168 a month for water,sewer,cable, and I believe internet. Never stayed in one though cause theres always free camping nearby.

Why go to a remote location? If your working stay close to town.

Netflix,internet,hiking, or TV work for me, I wanna be around people I camp next to them.

Thats very interesting to know. When I hit the road next year I can't totally retire. I have to do something to earn a "part-time" living as I'll only be 55 years old and can't quite retire just yet. I will want to stay somewhere that isn't totally remote but reasonably "convenient" to the location I'll be working part-time.

 

[owl]

&nbsp; I'm in Q now. Almost every store I go into has a help wanted sign up and has had the two weeks I've been here. I full time in an rv. The park I chose to stay in charges $1200 for a year plus electricity. The five month winter season is $750 plus elec. I can walk or bike to everything I need. I work in the summer running campgrounds for the Forest Service which includes a rv spot as part of my compensation. There are spots to be had here and many other places for even less than what I quoted. Full timing isn't for everyone but for the most part those who try it are pleased with the lifestyle. If it does't work whatever you choose it is quite simple to choose something differen't. It's not irreversible!

 

[HoboBerg]

[/quote] Thats very interesting to know. When I hit the road next year I can't totally retire. I have to do something to earn a "part-time" living as I'll only be 55 years old and can't quite retire just yet. I will want to stay somewhere that isn't totally remote but reasonably "convenient" to the location I'll be working part-time.[/quote]<br /><br />Feel free to contact me when you hit the road<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" />