By Bob Difley
In last Saturday’s post I wrote about how spending just a few days a month boondocking can save a pile of money on campground fees. There are other ways also to rein in expenses , one of the perks of living the RV Lifestyle being the ability to abruptly change course when current economic conditions continue to fluctuate.
One of these methods is to work out a monthly budget based on current income and expenses. The key is to make the budget flexible so you can instantly adjust for unfolding events. Here are examples:
- Fuel prices rise – Reduce miles driven by making shorter trips, staying longer in each location (which can also result in lower campground fees by taking advantage of longer term discounts), use the internet to find the cheapest fuel along your route and filling up even if you aren’t yet low on fuel.
- Fuel prices fall – Bank (hold in reserve) the savings in reduced fuel prices and use when prices rise again.
- Income (dividends) from stock portfolio drops – Prepare a list of discretionary spending ahead of time from which you can make cuts when necessary, such as from eating out, gifts (your gift list recipients don’t really care how much money you spend on them–it’s the thought that counts), visits to expensive attractions (they will still be there when the economy improves), and spending less time in expensive RV resorts and more time in scenic and more rustic campgrounds.
Take temporary positions as Workampers, caretakers, campground hosts (photo left), and volunteers to receive free camping (and have fun doing it also) and sometimes supplementary pay.- Explore more areas off the beaten path, where camping is cheaper and crowds smaller, such as: Indian Reservations; Public Utility campgrounds; wildlife refuges; BLM, National Forest Service, National Grassland, and Bureau of Reclamation campgrounds (and free dispersed camping areas); state forests; and National Estuarine Reserves.
- Buy more fresh food from local farmers markets, U-pick orchards and farms, and roadside farm stands. You can find lists of these on the internet. Eat local–and lower priced–foods (called Locavore and, yes, there’s an app for that) and prepare more of your meals in your RV. Without the rush and chaos of feeding a family under time constraints, you might find that creative cooking with local ingredients that you find on your travels can become one of your RV Lifestyle’s favorite campsite activities.
- Be creative. Tabulate where your money goes each month and look for unnecessary expenditures that can be eliminated or scaled down. Identify spending habits that happen just because they are habits, and not from any real need, and try out new habits and activities that cost less and can be just as much if not more rewarding.
As an RVer with a mobile lifestyle, you have the methods and power to adjust your circumstances to fit conditions, therefore enabling you to live the RV Lifestyle with full confidence in your ability to continue to survive no matter what the economic mess going on around you. Happy travels.
For more RVing tips take a look at my Healthy RV Lifestyle website, where you will also find my ebooks, including my ebook on over 100 ways to save money on the road: 111 Ways to Get the Biggest Bang for your RV Lifestyle Buck.
abercrombie
A volte mi piacerebbe credere che la gente oggi sarebbe solo ottenere uno stile di vita e rendersi conto di quanto sciocca appaiono. I implicano, perché attualmente spamming, è un mezzo di hacking o di qualche cosa. Basta cessare, per favore, io preferisco studiare la gente anche altri pareri sai. comunque, publish eccellente. solo sbarazzarsi in favore dello spam. grazie.
Jody
How about an inline water filter?
Guido Bee
In NM there are Giant (like 7-11 stores) at some gas stations. Some of them have free dump stations. I usually fill with gas there when I use the facility. Water for drinking can be bottled (I am actually not a fan of bottled water), but if the use will be for flushing or hand-washing, then lesser quality water (questionable source / purity), could be OK. Not a great answer, but an option.
Cheddar
Enjoyed Part-3, also! Thank you, Bob and everyone else commenting especially Joe! I’ve heard of “the Pass”, but didn’t know the other organizations would accommodate RV’ers to that extent, thanks! Our Son is stationed at Dyess-AFB flying in B1’s so I’ll have to check the VFW, etc. As I posted (a bit late) on Part-2, we are still preparing for full-timing but are quite concerned about being able to find readily available fresh, clean water all the time. Where are most of you getting a “continuous, hassle-free ($-free?) supply of clean, eColi-free water” while boondocking, whether it be for a week or a month? We’ve read about the new water and waste “totes” but where do MOST FULL-TIME-BOONDOCKERS dump or fill up when boondocking? Stay close to a truck-stop (thumbs-down, ha)? Just trying to keep the hassle of constant refills/dumping down, but see little “day-day”, (boondocking) fresh-water locations and or detailed advice on this subject. ~Thanks!
Jon Olenick
Our 35 ft class A is our post erthquake shelter (California) as well as our “bug out” transport and shelter in case of wild fire or riot. We keep it fueled and watered and stocked with long life food. We can load weapons and perishables in less than an hour and go anywhere within a 500 mile radius. ( weapns are for defence and as trade goods). Jon
Joe Kleinsmith, Army Retired
I discovered National Parks Pass, Golden Age & Handicapped Access Passes will save me 50% off Corp of Engineer Camp Sites. http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/
So I can have full hook up for as low as $10 a nite and be parked next to a lake.
Also don’t forget social and veteran groups you may belong to. I have dry camped at BPOE (Elks Lodges), VFWs and American Legion Posts for $10 a nite or FREE for just frequenting their dinners and bar. In addition, some of these organizations have hook ups for RVs.
catchesthewind
Hes got my vote also.
butterbean carpenter
Howdy Bob,
I’d give you my vote IF you would run!! Good advice and am sending it to my sister
to cogitate about!!! Sometime it’s the people sitting out in the woods that have time to think things out!!! Thanx!!! Hope everything is going great for you!!!
Jim G
Very insightful advice. I say Bob Difley for President, you have my vote!