Do you keep track of your expenses and budget? Regardless of whether you are getting ready for an RV or are already traveling on the road, a budget is a useful tool. This will help you decide whether RVing is possible and also help you stick to your travel plan.
Up to RVing
Can you afford a full day or even a snow bird? Completing your RVing budget, although not accurate, will help you make a realistic choice. If you don't already have an RV, you can get a rough estimate of fuel using 6 mpg for motorhomes; up to 10 for a diesel engine. The major insurance companies that provide full-time RVers insurance will provide you with instant quotes or overnight quotes on their website to use as a sign. And you can use camping directories to get a general idea of the cost of camping. It seems that campgrounds pay an average of $ 25-30 per night, although you can certainly pay more. You can also use discount and camping membership to lower your expenses.
The location you choose will also affect your budget. Your domicile is your tax home. If you are traveling full time, you can choose more domicile to your advantage. Taxes, insurance and registration of vehicles can vary greatly from state to state, so this is an important decision.
On road
RVers are reinforced by the fact that they can adjust their budget much more easily than they can be placed in brix. Here are some examples:
- Cost of housing or RV-park: If you spend too much, you can stay in less expensive RV parks and stay in the water / electrical section rather than in one with full connectivity. You can leave the night in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, where allowed. Boondocking (camping without hooks) on public lands or in recreation areas, where allowed, may be free. Many RV parks offer discounts for long term stays. Stay for a week or a month in one place, and you not only get a discount, but also save on fuel costs.
- Propane: Adding a more efficient catalytic or ceramic heater to your RV and using this instead of the installed heater saves you propane costs.
- Food: Food expenses can be controlled by eating less often and in food choices.
- Other purchases: Purchases are usually less due to space considerations. Some RVers stop sharing gifts with family members or reduce costs. Unique items from your travels make nice gifts that should not be expensive. Or, the family may appreciate frequent postcards or phone calls instead of gifts. With a more casual lifestyle, jeans / shorts and t-shirts are suitable for most occasions.
Inevitably, repairs and other emergency situations that come out of the budget occur. If possible, use the rainy day fund or spend a little less than the amount allocated, and set it aside.
The roadside assistance program comes with a monthly fee, but more than it pays for itself if you need to tow or change a tire when it is far away from civilization. Read the fine print to make sure it covers such events.
Set aside money to replace the rig or when you can no longer travel.
Control costs
Develop a cost tracking method. A spreadsheet on your computer is a good way to track and analyze your data. You can customize your table by category, and then sort it to get totals for each of them.
Tracking your expenses will bring some ideas. We do not think of small quantities such as brands and laundry, and Starbucks. For example, when you see your cell phone and Internet access every month, he may ask you to find out if you can reduce this expense - or not. As expenses are all about choice, you can see if your expenses match your values. Keeping a contact, for example, can be high on your list of priorities, and eating out can be low. You can make adjustments more easily when you know where the money goes.
One method that worked for me to stay within the costs of each category is the envelope method. This tool is recommended by Dave Ramsey, the creator of the University of the Financial World (http://www.daveramsey.com/). Cash for each budget category is sent in an envelope so that you can visually see what is there. When this envelope is empty, you have sent your selection for this month.
Knowing that you can easily adjust your expenses in several categories helps you stay within your budget.
Add to your income
If your outgoing income is your income, then it may be time to find ways to add to your income. Work (work on the road) or volunteering can bring extra money or effectively give you more money by providing a free RV site. Some RVers work part of the year; others work until they get a certain amount of money; yet others settle in an RV or mobile home park for a while and get “real jobs” outside the park.
Work and volunteering give you even more flexibility. Often you get free “perks” at work, like free registration in the area and discounts on laundry or propane. Since you do not travel all the time, fuel consumption is reduced. And, having the time to get to know the area and explore in your free time, the depth of your travels.
If you do not stay in expensive RV resorts and do not eat in fancy restaurants, life on the road is usually much cheaper than living in a house or apartment. In addition, it is much easier to adjust costs to stretch your dollars. RVing is a life full of new experiences and adventures. Use your budget and keep track of your expenses as tools to maximize your travel opportunities.
