Emulate congressional goals: Cut spending but maintain your RV lifestyle

Boondocking/Dry Camping

December 11, 2010

By Bob Difley

Soon the lame duck congress will pass the baton to a new house consisting of many new representatives elected on the platform of cutting costs and reducing debt. A noble effort, as long as the costs being cut do not affect our particular interests.

So with that aim in mind, it would be a good time to look at ways to cut our RVing costs, while not diminishing our RV lifestyle or causing unwanted hardship. At first, some of the suggestions listed below may appear to do that, but in actuality, most are just a matter of changing habits and adjusting priorities. I’m sure you can add some more, that’s what the comment section is for, so you can be heard also.

Stay longer at campgrounds. Check out the weekly rates, sometimes significantly less expensive than the daily rate. You will also reduce your total annual mileage and fuel used.
Boondock more often. Save on campground fees and grid electricity usage.
Stay at your boondocking campsite longer. Practice conserving your resources, water, electricity, holding tank capacities to stretch your boondocking days. And (Note: book plug coming) consider buying my ebook, BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands which shows how to become an effective boondocker.
Drive 55. Lower speeds produce more miles-per-gallon, and you will enjoy the scenery more at lower speeds.
Avoid jack-rabbit starts and quick stops. It’s all about torque and kinetic energy and fuel usage.
Keep tires properly inflated. It can save up to 3% on fuel mileage.
Install CFL or LED interior lights. These bulbs not only last much longer but use less energy.
Install a solar or wind turbine system providing renewable free power to enable camping longer off the power grid as well cutting back on running your generator.
If traveling and staying only one night in a campground, pay less by choosing a non-hook-up site (sometimes called a tent site) or stay at lower-priced regional or state parks without hook-ups, or at stores that welcome free over-nighting like Walmarts, Cracker Barrel Restaurants, and Kmarts.
Eat out less. Save on food costs by preparing your own meals in your RV kitchen.
Reduce food costs by bypassing the middle man. Buy from farmers markets, roadside farm stands, U-Pick farms and orchards, and other local food producers and ranchers.
Reduce cost of food packaging. Buy in bulk from stores that offer this option.
Eat right and get plenty of exercise (at least ½ hour per day) and you might be able to cut down on meds and doctor visits–and you’ll feel better.
Volunteer or become a camp host, which usually comes with a free campsite.
Take a caretaking position. Subscribe to the Caretaker Gazette for opportunities to trade out your skills or presence for free rent–and sometimes with a wage.
Shop for quality–but slightly used–outdoor wear at St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, or other charity stores—and you will be helping worthy charitable institutions while at the same time buying quality labels at far below retail prices.
Start a book exchange at your favorite campground, or encourage the camp host at RV parks to set one up to cut down on the cost of your reading pleasures.
Some libraries have used magazine exchanges where you can get current or one month old magazines for free–you might be able to cancel your current magazine subscriptions and save money having them re-shipped to you on the road.
Shop Quartzsite for all kinds of bargains offered by RVers cleaning out their lockers, hard-core flea market sellers, and other interesting folk.