Forum Discussion

AdvSeekers's avatar
AdvSeekers
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013

SD Mail Forwarding Service timing

I feel as though I've scoured the FT forum for answers to my questions and haven't quite found them. I apologize if I am being redundant.

We plan to join the ranks of the FT lifestyle starting in January and are thrilled! We even sold our home and almost all of our belongings in less than 30 days! For the past 6 months we have been lurking on this site learning the ins & outs. Ya'll are very helpful, thank you! A few questions:

1. Receiving mail. I see that many of you save $$ by boon docking a bit here and there. This is great, and something we're learning may be the ticket. My concern is, how do you get your mail forwarded to you? More specifically, where can it be sent to during that time? We plan to use the SD mail forwarding service outside of Rapid City (Box Elder, I believe). I will be working from "home," and will require work-related mailings to be sent to me quite frequently, ie) weekly. So, receiving mail is important. OR, do we just need to stick to RV resorts/campgrounds where mail can be received?

2. Campground stays. We'd like to take the advice of many people on here who have suggested staying in areas for extended periods (30 days at least) to explore the areas. We like that idea, however, I feel like I'm seeing lots of max # of days restrictions at many places. How the heck can you stay someplace when campground restricts "long" stays? Is there a way around that? Which types of parks/campgrounds typically allow longer stays? Are they discounted if staying for a month if paying all at once?

3. Residency timing. We sold our home 2 months ago and have been living in a rental apartment until January 1st when hubby is done working. My question is, when is too soon to establish residency in SD? Do we need to wait until after January 1st when he is done working at his job (here in our home state), or can we do it now? We'd like to buy our rig at some point soon, and would like to be able to register it in SD. I was unsure whether his working in our current state would make things sticky in establishing residency in SD now. By the way, once we hit the road, we will not have a physical home-base. The road will be our "home."

Thank you SO much!
  • General Delivery...provided that post office accepts general delivery. Not all branches do so check with each post office and get their address for general delivery.

    Have Americas Mailbox send mail USPS Priority .....usually get our mail in 2 days

    Establish your mail forwarding service ASAP. That way you can start getting your mail address changes done.....
    Then go to SD to get DL's, Vehicle registrations when it is convenient. Hubby can continue to work. Work and 'domicile' are separate issues.
    Work......just have to abide my the state tax laws for monies earned in that state.
    SD no state income tax...so no filing. Federal only
    Monies earned in Kansas.....file state income tax regardless of your 'domicile' (Federal filed using domicile state)
  • Thank you for the quick replies to both of you. Dons2346, if I go ahead and set up our mail service now, can we also go ahead and register our vehicles in SD too? Or, do I need to wait until we get our SD DLs and register to vote first?
  • AdvSeekers wrote:


    1. Receiving mail.You will have to plan ahead and select a post office that receives General Delivery mail. If time is a consideration, you will have to step up into the higher rates of postage to get mail to you faster.If you are gong to be in a campground, make sure you can receive mail there, if not, then back to General Delivery.

    2. Campground stays.Most campgrounds have a 30 day max for a good reason. If longer stays are allowed, then the place becomes a "nest" for people and tends to become shabby. Also,by law in some states, stays are limited to no more than 180 days. It has something to do with residency. If you or hubby is not an Elk, I suggest becoming one as a lot of Elk Lodges have campgrounds and the price is reasonable.

    3. Residency timing.If your hubby is still working, you will be considered a resident of that state. get your mail service set up now and start transferring all your mail to there. Once he retires, go to SD for driver's license, register to vote and establish your finances.

  • Use general delivery at the nearest post office. You'll probably have to go to the nearest town on a weekly basis anyway for supplies. Some POs will limit the length of time you can get general delivery and force you to rent a PO box.

    Campground stay restrictions are normally in the lower priced, but ever popular, state and national parks and forests. If you go to a commercial campground or RV park, extended stays shouldn't be a problem.
  • Unfortunately, no. I am a contractor and the sender's are all old school. No way around it. It's quite annoying really.
  • AdvSeekers wrote:
    and will require work-related mailings to be sent to me quite frequently, ie) weekly
    Can you avoid that by using email or, shudder, Fax?