Can You Afford to Be a Fulltime RVer?

While it is certainly not for everyone, some people dream of the day they can take their RV on the open road and not look back.  Making the move to become a fulltime RVer can be an experience of a lifetime but is something that should be thought out carefully beforehand. 

One of the first things to consider is can you afford it.  Today many people work remotely and have the ability to still make an income while on the road.  If that is your situation, than affordability may not be an issue.  For others, if you are retired or do not plan to work, you need to take into account the money you have coming from pensions, other income, or social security.

Your living expenses should be less than what you paid to live in a traditional home as you will not have property taxes, HOA dues, and utility bills but you do need to figure how much it will cost.  If you still owe money on your RV or vehicle, you need to include that cost into your living expenses.  Also add in insurance, health care, membership fees, cell phones, and other monthly commitments. 

Look over past grocery bills to estimate how much you spend on food.  Include in your budget money for entertainment, clothes, laundry, mail forwarding and miscellaneous expenses.  You will also need to have money earmarked for maintenance on your RV and vehicle and annual registration fees. 

Now add in cost for gas, propane, and camping fees.  Both camping fees and fuel costs will fluctuate with where you stay and the miles you travel.  In addition cost will vary as to the type of lifestyle you live and many of these decisions will be based on your income.

It is helpful to research other people’s experience with RVing fulltime.  You can check out forums, blogs, and chatrooms on the Internet or get books.  One tip an RVer mentioned that may seem obvious but is sometimes forgotten is to remember to take your time.  There is no hurry and staying in a place for a while actually can save you money by reducing gas consumption and other travel expenses. 

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale.