firedude
On the road
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Rustyrver wrote:After been on this site for years I find that no one answers some straight forward questions. It just amazes me and this is one question that should be easy to answer.
When some one asks about a complicated issue there are always good well thought out answers.
All that is being asked here is how cheap you can live.
This is not an easily answered question actually since there are NO set standards. The standards (costs) are set by each person(s). Everyone has different needs and desires so the answer can be as wide as the Pacific Ocean. How cheap can you live???? No simple answer as it depends on YOU. Due to the facts this question is NOT an easily answered question except by the person(s) themselves. Can, do you or want to live by my standards???
Many can (and have) given their examples, but to date there is no "price guide" to the cost of full-timing. Way too many variables. All we can do is offer our own experiences and let the OP draw from that. How can this question be so easy to answer without knowing the individuals private finances, needs, desires and so on???
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WTTCS
freedom , U.S.A.
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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I have tried, yep tried hard to stay away from this thread. But the medicine has got to me.
How cheap can you fulltime..........................
FIRST OFF,...... what do you call fulltiming and how are you going to do it? What are you going to do it with and with who?
You tell me that and I will tell you what it will cost you, HIGH and LOW end.
Too damn easy aint it.
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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We fulltimed for 9 years on less than $2300 a month. We had no vehicle payments, or loans and pay ccs off every month.
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
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firedude
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DianneOK wrote:We fulltimed for 9 years on less than $2300 a month. We had no vehicle payments, or loans and pay ccs off every month.
Yep, about the same here. Well 6 years anyway.
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WTTCS
freedom , U.S.A.
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Wellllllllllllllll, we been fulltiming for a lonnnnng time on less than 2000 per month and it just keeps getting cheaper.
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woodstick
Home base, Edmonton, AB
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Interesting post and answers, we find the big cost to us is travelling from Alberta to a warm spot for the winter, other than that costs are very reasonable for the time we are parked and sightseeing in an area of our choice. We camphost in Alberta for 6 months, free site and get paid for our services. It is close to some of our family, great site and we totally enjoy our time there and do enjoy travelling come fall to a warm area. Once we have settled in our Winter home expenses are around $2700.00 per month. I know there are many people that do it cheaper and those that spend more. We stay put so get a good deal for park but spend money where others would not for our personal needs or probably should say more wants that needs!
Safe travels and enjoy however you decide to do it!
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Wes Tausend
Bismarck, ND
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lreynol4 wrote:All,
I'm seriously considering renting out the house and getting on the road. I have an F250 and a TBD TT. Can anyone give me a approximately minimal cost of TT living / month. I recognize that the fuel cost is travel-dependent. But, how cheaply can two live?? I like the Southwest...
Larry
Post moved from TT Forum to Full Timing Forum
Moderator - TT Forum
I posted earlier in pure jest when someone else light-heartedly suggested dumpster diving. If I offended you, Larry, sorry 'bout that.
But in all seriousness, most of us can estimate our general daily living expenses which are common everywhere. Still, some may have some additional frugal retirement tips to share that would be equally valid in any home, anywhere.
Larry, you asked what it might cost for two to live in the southwest, presumably far enough south to have a warm winter. So the cost, other than frugal tips, that I believe is most difficult to pin down is mainly that of lot or park rent and any special taxes for the TT or TV. That is also the part of the budget that I can't fully imagine, having never done that nor been there.
So to all, in that context, what does one actually totally pay for parking in various areas of the southwest as an example? And what amenities are included, so perhaps Larry, and the rest of us even less experienced, can compare apples to apples.
I know some have found a nearly free spot in the boonies and I would think that others have a spot with extended security, friendly neighbors and all hook-ups included ...a location which may be a major budget item. What does this translate in dollars and where exactly?
Some have already answered this way. Anyone else think they have found the best parking compromise or the slickest frugal tip?
Wes
...
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- 1978 Pace Arrow 25' Motorhome, GM 3500 chassis 454cu.in
...
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qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
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What does a person need in terms of food to live well and be healthy? First off, it is a fact that humans need three carbohydrates, three proteins, fruits and vegetables every day.
As for health insurance, many people won't admit it but they just don't have any and hope that they never get sick. As expensive as health insurance is, some have the attitude to stay healthy and enjoy life instead of being tied to their home and paying 500 or 600 dollars a month for insurance. If there are two in the family multiply that by two.
Someone mentioned annual park passes. In the case of New Mexico you can have electric for 4 dollars a day. Based on a yearly pass of 225 dollars plus 4 dollars a day for electric that comes out to 138.75 per month. You can now stay in NM parks for up to three weeks. With a travel cycle it is realistic that one could live on 500 dollars a month with just basics; food, fuel and campground with electricity. If you have solar, you would reduce your monthly rv park expense to 18.75. That would give you some room for health insurance, car insurance would be liability only.
You do what you have to do to live, some people don't have RV, TV, or health insurance. They are taking a risk but some have no other choice.
If it means a choice between staying in sticks and bricks and paying all the insurance and bills versus a "light" version of fulltiming, I'd take the latter.
Not everyone retires rich and for many reasons. Some didn't plan, others did and lost their pensions or investments, major medical expense such as cancer or transplant, and some just didn't do very well in life.
On edit I am adding the CheapRvLiving website that has two sample budgets; $500 and $1000 per month.
* This post was
edited 01/03/09 06:45am by qtla9111 *
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WTTCS
freedom , U.S.A.
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Lets just say you want to live basically cheap. In the southwest, there are so many mom and pop run rv parks, you cant count them. The weather is great, the people are greater, the area is suburban, crime is at the lowest levels. Cost? anywhere from 175.00 month plus elec to 350.00 per month. Most of these have laundries, not the fancy white picket type, but they do have em. Some even provide pools. Landscaped sites ? Nope, just a nice little piece of land that is liveable. That is basic rv living to me.
You can find some in the greater southwest, Bandara is prevelant to many fulltimers on basic living and there are spaces for rent for 100.00 plus elec. It may be hard for the city dwellers to picture this type of life, as it only exist in the south or west it seems.
If you time your monthly or 2-3 month moves correctly and use dry docking (which everyone in the south does), you can add approx 2-3 weeks a year of FREE rent. And if you become HARDCORE drydocking, you could add 1-2 months free rent, but doing that becomes mundane and boring.
Many folks on these forums will not stoop(?) to that level, but when the bucks are not there, rving is the cheapest thing there is, short of a maytag box under the underpass.
If everyone ate a proper meal, at the proper times, fixed properly, we wouldnt need health coverage would we? I mean, chicken fried steak 5 days a week does clog up the blood highways you know.
Rent.. Georgia , there are many parks for 300 per month
Ala.... same thing , some even less
Miss.... runs about the same as above
La..... LOL, anywhere from 75.00 to 300.00 and if you fish, you can stay for free.
Tex.... 150.00 to 300.00
NM ..... 150.00 to 300.00
Az ......about the same
Cal......might as well go to nyc .
Like many have said, I dont expect you to live like I do, so I dont expect you to expect me to live like you do.
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firedude
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Wacky is right. I found a nice home base/anchor point on the beach to boot for $350 per month. I was on the list for it for 6 years, but it finally paid off. It's not a resort any any means, but a small (34 sites) quaint well kept, well ran adult park with laundry and a few other amenities. Even the manager will forward your mail for you if you're out traveling for FREE. Not a bad gig especially being on the beach where I've met so many wonderful people while hosting here. There are less expensive alternatives out here, I just had to wait a while for mine. sure feels good to be back on da beach!
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