THE BUDGET

I've discovered the secrets to living inexpensively in an RV.  They are:
1)  Find a cheap or free place to stay.
2)  Stay there.

But--is it possible to travel the USA on forty dollars a day? And where did that number come from?

Second question first--I made it up.  That's how much I wanted to spend.

Is it possible?  Yes.

What's not included: health insurance, RV insurance, RV purchase and fit-out, cell phone and wireless.

What's included: everything I spend on the road.

The first month that I kept track of spending was October 16-November 15.  Belatedly, I realized that not writing down the purchases kept me from knowing where the money went, but at least I kept track of how much I put in my wallet--$2,070.

Okay, that's more than $40/day.  I subtracted $600 for purchase of solar equipment, heating equipment, and other items that properly should be allocated to fitting out the RV.  I just didn't know about them when I got ready to go.  When YOU are getting ready to go, call me.

Still--$1,470 is more than $1,200.  I overspent.  Most of the overage should be attributed to staying in motels and RV parks as I learned the ropes.  I also spent $150 to fill up the tank on the last day, which will help this month.

Main categories of expenses: fuel is # 1, of course.  I get about nine miles per gallon and I've driven about 1,450 miles so far.  That figures to around $600 at $3.75/gallon so far (gas is much less expensive outside California).  Many RVs get better mileage than I get; some get as much as 22 MPG.  Depends on the size, class, year, and manufacturer.  Price of vehicle goes up with better mileage and this needs to be considered when you make your purchase.

Next category is lodging.  From the most expensive to the least, putting myself and my RV up for the night:
     Motel:  $50-$90 per night
     Full hookup RV Park:  $25-$40 per night
     No hookup RV Park ("dry camping"):  $5-$10 per night
     Truck stops: $3-$8 per night
     Boondocking (free, no hookups):  Government land
                                                         Indian Casinos
                                                         Walmart
Also available, but not appropriate for me, is LTVA (Long Term Vehicle Area), government land where you can boondock for six months for $180.  Often has a dump station but not much else.  Lots of people go to LTVAs year after year and camp in the same spot.  Usually other campers in the area, generally far apart.

I haven't had to spend money on repairs or maintenance since I left Markleeville, but there may well be some down the road.  Other than that, all spending is discretionary; I'm including food in this category because there are different ways of spending on food.

Food can be purchased in quantity at sale prices very readily.  I could eat for a month for $200, but it would  all be prepared and eaten "at home."  I can eat breakfast or lunch out at most of the places I've been (most, not all), for somewhere between eight and fifteen dollars, including 20% tip.  There's also coffee out, snacks, newspapers, museums and other attractions, postage, haircuts, and impulse purchases.  I've got a National Park Senior Pass which allows me free admission and half off camping at all National Parks.  Lots of exhibits and monuments are free.
                                            
Some RV travelers, especially year round travelers, get by on less than $40/day ($1,200/month).  Those who stay at the LTVA spend $30/month on lodging and virtually nothing on fuel, maybe $50/month.  Even including wireless telephone and internet service at about $100/month and cable TV (don't know this cost--never use it), that leaves a lot for discretionary spending.  There will be some small amounts for propane, water, and dump fees--generously, another $70/month.  That's $250/month + TV.  Not a bad base.

Obviously, the least expensive way to get by is to stay in one place. 

But I, on the road more traveled, have about 8,000 miles to go; 9,000 covering side trips.  At 9 miles/gallon, that's 1,000 gallons.  At $3.60/gallon, that's $3,600 over the next nine months, or $400/month.  If I budget $400/month for food and drink of all kinds, that leaves $400 to be spent on lodging and everything else.  Food costs could clearly be reduced, but logic dictates that lodging costs be kept to an absolute minimum.

Motels are generally out.  I expect to keep lodging costs under $200 in order to meet the budget, which means very few RV parks.  Some nights will be spent with friends and family, but it looks like dry camping and boondocking is the way to make the budget work.

Fortunately, boondocking is a very pleasureable way to see the country.  RV people are wonderful about sharing information and resources.  When you plan to stop somewhere, you need to look to see where other RVs are boondocking.  When you talk with different people and let them know where you're going they'll tell you the best places to stay.  And--they can be very entertaining. 

Indian Casinos are better for boondocking than Walmart.  They let you park in the lot, same as Walmart, but they're more fun to hang out in.  Cheap eats, too.  Just don't gamble.

Hookups can wreck your budget.  You can get around them, however.  Power can be generated either through solar, running the engine while driving, or the gas generator.  Water is easy to find, and I have a book that locates inexpensive dump stations. (Of course, anything can be located on line now.)  Dump fees are generally $5-$10 unless you're staying at the site.  It's nice, though, to relax with full hookups once in a while.

This month (starting November 16th) I'm keeping track of expenses by category.  I already have a full tank of fuel, since I've been sitting here in Bouse Arizona for nine days waiting for the solar guy.  I can go more than five hundred miles before I need to refuel.  I've spent $132 for lodging, which covers me for 20 more days (if I wanted to stay that long) at the excellent full service Bouse Community Park; the park even has a basketball court.  I've also spent $4 on laundry, $10 on aspirin, $69 at Safeway and $96 at the local cafes, including Thanksgiving dinner at the Bouse Booster Club.  Total for 9 days: $310 ($34.44/day). 

The $96 is probably more than I should have spent, but I get bored waiting and I figure I have a cushion (dangerous thinking).  It's easy to enjoy the country for free, really. A couple I met today at the Thanksgiving dinner want to take me to a ghost town they discovered up the way and to the VFW, which has karaoke,darts, and other things to do.  Tomorrow I'm going over  to see their miniature Brahma bull/miniature donkey show.  They travel from Idaho and get pleasure showing their animals' tricks to others on the road.  For me, the most satisfaction is walking or riding my bike around the areas I pass through or stay in.  I can't get enough of people--how they live, what they do, and what this country is like in so many different areas.

With two people the budget should go up if you plan to stay on the move, and of course you can always spend more.  For $2,000/month two can live very well on the road.

Next:  BOUSE