Annual cost to fulltime

jorbill2or wrote:
Many stokes for different folks .. That's why seeing many peoples ideas / budgets are important I have no doubt I can full time on 20 grand .. However I don't want to !!! Luckily ( and I know I am) have 3-4 x that amount "all in " if I want to use it so I can stay in " nicer" parks , travel more, eat out more.. It's nice to see budgets that are more like what I'm planning.
Most posts are "how little can I spend and still full time" but that's not my situation and as I've said I know many more who must spend more than they let on but don't want to get run over by others "overspending" ! ;-) in many cases it isn't how cheaply can I full time it's what will it cost to full time under less restrictive circumstances. Everybody has their own normal and that's ok ..

We are in the same situation. We don't have to skimp, we don't really "budget" per se, we track all our expenses. As I mentioned, we spend about $72,000 a year. More if we do something like spend the winter in the Keys (Yikes!) etc. But spending $72,000-$80,000 a year is us not holding back at all. we eat out whenever we feel like it, buy whatever toys (cameras, phones etc) that we want, and stay at whatever RV park we want.
For us, we are spending maybe 15% less than we did when we owned a house. Some of that savings is the fact that we don't "vacation" like we used to. No trips to the caribbean, etc. We have a cat, and cat sitters are tough to come by on the road.

Our first year out we went a little easy on the spending until we saw how it was going. Then we decided we could afford to spend more, and we figured if we ever needed to, we could slow down and volunteer or work camp. We have been, until now, rare fulltimers. We move at least once a week or so, all year long. That adds substantially to the cost- no monthly rates for us, and lots of diesel fuel, but we've had a blast.


Sue

We planned on approx $650 per month for CG costs for a trip to AZ in Feb and Mar.

Then granddaughter announced she was getting married in Fort Lauderdale on Feb 28. Cost averaged $27 per night getting there. And we found an opening at a Broward County park for $44.40 per night for a week.

Now we are dry camping for $13 per night for a couple weeks at the NAS Key West Sigsbee campground. We might be back on budget by April.

Moderator note...enough arguing! Keep it civil!

Many stokes for different folks .. That's why seeing many peoples ideas / budgets are important I have no doubt I can full time on 20 grand .. However I don't want to !!! Luckily ( and I know I am) have 3-4 x that amount "all in " if I want to use it so I can stay in " nicer" parks , travel more, eat out more.. It's nice to see budgets that are more like what I'm planning.
Most posts are "how little can I spend and still full time" but that's not my situation and as I've said I know many more who must spend more than they let on but don't want to get run over by others "overspending" ! ;-) in many cases it isn't how cheaply can I full time it's what will it cost to full time under less restrictive circumstances. Everybody has their own normal and that's ok ..

BarbaraOK wrote:
JAXFL

Where ever did you get your rates for 1 month stays? Way, way high. Of course I noticed that you picked some areas with high priced resorts, but I can tell you that there is no way you need to spend $700 for a month's stay in Portland, OR, and you can stay in the Roseburg/Sutherlin Oregon area (and drive up to Crater Lake) for less than $500 for a month. Nor are overnight stops $45 - - $30 max. You can't get from South Padre Island to Crater Lake in 4 or 5 days. If fact, for us, that is a minimum 1 month trip. Heavens, from S. Padre Island it is a minimum of 4 days just to get out of Texas and why would you do that and not stop at Big Bend National Park?

Also noticed that you have several months stay in Florida and nothing except Crater Lake and Portland on the west coast. Way, Way, Way to much driving out west - - you would be exhausted and not enjoy the trip.

Barb

Well Barb I am glad you asked. The prices came from the campgrounds web pages (with amenities that meets my wants) for a single months stay not a seasonal stay on all the listings above. Sure if you're going to stay 3-6 months then the cost is less. Now it is only 2384 Miles from South Padre Island to Crater Lake which for me is only like 39 hours of driving so 4 days. Actually from Jacksonville Florida to LA, California I have made it in 48 hours (69' Mustang not a MH). My daughter and SIL make it from Jacksonville to St Louis in 14 hours. For it to take you a month (30 days) you average 80 miles a day. Besides I don't want to stay in Roseburg/Sutherlin Oregon area (and drive up to Crater Lake) everyday, I would like lake front property. Also $45 for an over night stay is a average, some places that I like to stay can be as high as $132 a night. NOLA French Quarter RV Resort and a couple in southern California being some of them. But actually full timing for under $14K a year while traveling 8800 miles is pretty good in my book. I would rather over estimate than come up short. The about the west coast... I grew up out there and have seen almost all of the things that are of interest.

But wait.... those are the only ones that were on the Top 10 RV sites.... 10 Sites

BarbaraOK wrote:
JAXFL

Where ever did you get your rates for 1 month stays? Way, way high. Of course I noticed that you picked some areas with high priced resorts, but I can tell you that there is no way you need to spend $700 for a month's stay in Portland, OR, and you can stay in the Roseburg/Sutherlin Oregon area (and drive up to Crater Lake) for less than $500 for a month. Nor are overnight stops $45 - - $30 max. You can't get from South Padre Island to Crater Lake in 4 or 5 days. If fact, for us, that is a minimum 1 month trip. Heavens, from S. Padre Island it is a minimum of 4 days just to get out of Texas and why would you do that and not stop at Big Bend National Park?

Also noticed that you have several months stay in Florida and nothing except Crater Lake and Portland on the west coast. Way, Way, Way to much driving out west - - you would be exhausted and not enjoy the trip.



Barb

This is why people stay away from this type of topic. IT'S HIS TRAVEL PLAN....NOT YOURS!!! Why are you picking this apart?? Leave it alone!!!

-paul

JAXFL

Where ever did you get your rates for 1 month stays? Way, way high. Of course I noticed that you picked some areas with high priced resorts, but I can tell you that there is no way you need to spend $700 for a month's stay in Portland, OR, and you can stay in the Roseburg/Sutherlin Oregon area (and drive up to Crater Lake) for less than $500 for a month. Nor are overnight stops $45 - - $30 max. You can't get from South Padre Island to Crater Lake in 4 or 5 days. If fact, for us, that is a minimum 1 month trip. Heavens, from S. Padre Island it is a minimum of 4 days just to get out of Texas and why would you do that and not stop at Big Bend National Park?

Also noticed that you have several months stay in Florida and nothing except Crater Lake and Portland on the west coast. Way, Way, Way to much driving out west - - you would be exhausted and not enjoy the trip.



Barb

JAXFL wrote:
Here is a 10 month plan. It is a little on the cheap side but covers the top 10 RV places in the USA. I would use this the same analysis if I would do it for a real over this next year. Being you live in Harrisburg that is were I started this trip from and ended it.

From Harrisburg, PA to Williamsburg, VA
Mileage/fuel 264 Miles / Fuel $82
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $810
------------------------------
From Williamsburg, VA to St Simons Island, GA
Mileage/fuel 583Miles / Fuel $170
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $600
----------------------------------
From St Simons Island, GA to Orlando, Fl
Mileage/fuel 218Miles / Fuel $64
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $900
---------------------------------
From Orlando, FL to Key West, FL
Mileage/fuel 398Miles / Fuel $114
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $1600
-------------------------------
From Key West, FL to Pensacola, FL
Mileage/fuel 875Miles / Fuel $224
Camping Fee: For 1 month- $501
------------------------------
1-OVERNIGHT STOP - $45 Camping Fee
-------------------------------
From Pensacola, FL to South Padre ISL
Mileage/fuel 892Miles / Fuel $232
Camping Fee: For 1 month- $600
------------------------------------
1-OVERNIGHT STOP - $45 Camping Fee
------------------------------------
From South Padre ISL, TX to Crater Lake, Or
Mileage/fuel 2384Miles / Fuel $645
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $600
---------------------------------------
4- OVERNIGHT STOP - $180 Camping Fee Total
---------------------------------------
From Crater Lake, OR to Portland OR
Mileage/fuel 279Miles / Fuel $81
Camping Fee: For 1 month - $720
------------------------------------
From Portland, OR to Mount Rushmore, SD
Mileage/fuel 1251Miles / Fuel $440
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $700
------------------------------------
4- OVERNIGHT STOP - $135 Camping Fee Total
------------------------------------
From Mount Rushmore, SD to Harrisburg, PA
Mileage/fuel 1720Miles / Fuel $498
-----------------------------------------
4- OVERNIGHT STOP - $135 Camping Fee Total
------------------------------------------

Total Miles: 8864
Total Fuel Cost: $2,550
Total Camping Fees: $7,570
Total Average Months/Annual Cost: $1012 / $12,144

No budgeted repair costs ($50 monthly), food ($500), vehicle/life insurances($250), Medicare ($204), sightseeing ($200), hobbies ($400), no S&B home costs or income taxes. Only Fuel and Campground costs for once around the USA. To be safe I would automatically add 10% if done in the next 2 years and 20% if done with in the next 5 years...after that who knows.

That's a nice plan! Wish I could do it this year!

For sure. Our budget has some money set aside each month for this, and we have some cash saved up as well in case things go wrong. We decided that we should for sure allocate additional capital towards repairs on a monthly basis just in case.

BarbaraOK wrote:
Yes, somewhere around $3500/month will allow for a comfortable, but not lavish, fulltiming lifestyle that includes funds to set aside for maintenance/repairs/upgrades. Please make sure that you are setting money aside each month for this. If you don't use it all, great, but it makes things so much easier if you have funds available when needed.

Barb

Here is a 10 month plan. It is a little on the cheap side but covers the top 10 RV places in the USA. I would use this the same analysis if I would do it for a real over this next year. Being you live in Harrisburg that is were I started this trip from and ended it.

From Harrisburg, PA to Williamsburg, VA
Mileage/fuel 264 Miles / Fuel $82
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $810
------------------------------
From Williamsburg, VA to St Simons Island, GA
Mileage/fuel 583Miles / Fuel $170
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $600
----------------------------------
From St Simons Island, GA to Orlando, Fl
Mileage/fuel 218Miles / Fuel $64
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $900
---------------------------------
From Orlando, FL to Key West, FL
Mileage/fuel 398Miles / Fuel $114
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $1600
-------------------------------
From Key West, FL to Pensacola, FL
Mileage/fuel 875Miles / Fuel $224
Camping Fee: For 1 month- $501
------------------------------
1-OVERNIGHT STOP - $45 Camping Fee
-------------------------------
From Pensacola, FL to South Padre ISL
Mileage/fuel 892Miles / Fuel $232
Camping Fee: For 1 month- $600
------------------------------------
1-OVERNIGHT STOP - $45 Camping Fee
------------------------------------
From South Padre ISL, TX to Crater Lake, Or
Mileage/fuel 2384Miles / Fuel $645
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $600
---------------------------------------
4- OVERNIGHT STOP - $180 Camping Fee Total
---------------------------------------
From Crater Lake, OR to Portland OR
Mileage/fuel 279Miles / Fuel $81
Camping Fee: For 1 month - $720
------------------------------------
From Portland, OR to Mount Rushmore, SD
Mileage/fuel 1251Miles / Fuel $440
Camping Fee: For 1 month – $700
------------------------------------
4- OVERNIGHT STOP - $135 Camping Fee Total
------------------------------------
From Mount Rushmore, SD to Harrisburg, PA
Mileage/fuel 1720Miles / Fuel $498
-----------------------------------------
4- OVERNIGHT STOP - $135 Camping Fee Total
------------------------------------------

Total Miles: 8864
Total Fuel Cost: $2,550
Total Camping Fees: $7,570
Total Average Months/Annual Cost: $1012 / $12,144

No budgeted repair costs ($50 monthly), food ($500), vehicle/life insurances($250), Medicare ($204), sightseeing ($200), hobbies ($400), no S&B home costs or income taxes. Only Fuel and Campground costs for once around the USA. To be safe I would automatically add 10% if done in the next 2 years and 20% if done with in the next 5 years...after that who knows.