What lesson do you learn from this story?

[GotSmart]

[font='Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]A couple who quit their jobs to tour the US in a camper trailer break down the costs of life on the road[/font]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/couple-quit-jobs-tour-us-150000785.html

[font='Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Their expenses, they say, aren't too extensive: a $450 monthly payment for the Chevy truck; $300 a month on gas to transport their home; $1,000 on groceries, $250 on their cell phone plan, and $120 a month on miscellaneous costs like doing their laundry and spending days working in coffeehouses when their wireless hotspot isn't up to dealing with larger files. They haven't paid for camping since they left New York.[/font]

[font='Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Read the story, and be glad you have this resource (Vandwellers)  to learn from.  [/font]

 

[LeeRevell]

Whoowee.....! There's lots of room for reduction of costs and downsizing there!

 

[steveh2112]

i think we are averaging $20 a day for the 2 of us right now, not including gas for the van. but we are on a touring vacation so gas for the van is a necessity. if we were more inclined to stay put, we have found several fantastic free camp sites, close to towns with libraries and visitors centers with unlimited internet, so we could probably live on $20-30/day average over long term if we wanted. that's less than we make on rental income from our house in Thailand.

 

[Spirituallifetime]

Wow, a grand on groceries! What are they eating?

 

[Almost There]

Wow, a grand on groceries! What are they eating?

My thought too!

I suspect there may be things like alcohol and tobacco products included in the grocery bill...

I eat well and there is no way on earth I could spend $500 per month on groceries (one person as opposed to two), not even if I ate steak every day!

 

[GotSmart]

Wow, a grand on groceries! What are they eating?

That is what America is asking.  The comments are all concentrating on that item.

 

[Marie]

What lesson did I learn from this story? I learned that I'm more frugal than I thought I was. I think I'm going to spend an extra $10 on groceries and gas this month!!!

 

[Willy]

 

[LoupGarou]

I wonder what their medical insurance costs are?

 

[GotSmart]

I wonder what their medical insurance costs are?

I was wondering about that...

 

[Seraphim]

I learned I was in the wrong business. Their current income is only half what they made in Philedelphia, and they made $175,000 a year there. I'd say they're living well below their means and they can eat whatever they want to.

 

[LeeRevell]

True, their expenses are "low" for them. It's over twice my pension. Four more years til I can draw SS, and they will still be well over what I make. Just a matter of perspective.

 

[SoulRaven]

I think they spent way too much on the trailer. As I added it was close to $10,000 on something that looks about the same size as my Runaway camper. From looking at the pics it just looks like it only has a bed in the back and side walls that open all the way around. He is siting outside doing work on the computer. I would think that for that kind of money they could have got a nice class B or C and been more comfortable. But I guess it works for them.

 

[Seraphim]

Each have their own definition of 'comfort'. We test drove a triple slide Class C that was about the same price as our truck/TC rig. Too big. Our truck camper is the perfect size and floor plan for us. It's snug, but comfortable. DW HAS to sit next to me *grin*.

Size does not equate to comfort. If he's outside working, he probably enjoys that. It seems that being in the outdoors is what's important to them. I can empathize. The only time we're inside is when we must be.

 

[ZoNiE]

That's one of the barriers to folks who are not at retirement age yet. We have no Social Security, so we'd still have to earn. Also, two people cannot really live as comfortably in a very small space (like a van) that a single person can.

 

[LeeRevell]

They have a big truck payment too. Making that kind of money they could have bought the truck outright. And they must have a HUGE data plan to spend that much on their cellphone/online system. Of course, he could need that for his work, and declare the plan on his taxes.

 

[Seraphim]

That's one of the barriers to folks who are not at retirement age yet. We have no Social Security, so we'd still have to earn. Also, two people cannot really live as comfortably in a very small space (like a van) that a single person can.

We travelled in a van - an old class B - and it was just a bit too small; OK when the weather was good, but if there was a several day thunderstorm...

The TC has has a bit more elbow room. - Mostly it's about 2 feet wider than the van was, and the bed doesn't fill up the entire living space. Height and length are about the same, but everything is configured more conveniently.

 

[Seraphim]

They have a big truck payment too.  Making that kind of money they could have bought the truck outright.  And they must have a HUGE data plan to spend that much on their cellphone/online system.  Of course, he could need that for his work, and declare the plan on his taxes.

It may be more financially feasible to have an RV loan, rather than pulling money from investments earning larger returns. It may be his money is tied up in retirement accounts which he can't access without a 10% penalty because he's not reached 59 1/2 yet.

 

[johnny b]

$1000/mo for food??? Man that is one hungry Chihuahua...time to put Hector on a diet!  

What I learned is that they should have been reading this forum.....

$450/mo for a new truck and they complain it can't handle the hilly stuff.

Looks like he used 3/4" plywood on that 'cast iron' mil surplus trailer.

Wonder what they do when it rains?

 

[LoupGarou]

From their blog, they appear to be artistic types possibly trying to make a living off photos and video production. I wonder if they got special use permits for their YouTube videos?

http://campbycamp.com/tagged/films