How to finance yourself while RVing fulltime?

As we have traveled across the country, we have met a lot of folks in campgrounds and RV parks that are working on highway, pipeline, power plant and other projects. We met a gentleman working on a project in Pensacola, FL this winter that has worked in Alaska, North Dakota and lots of places in between as a welder and pipefitter. In the plains states, we meet folks that work operating and maintaining the planting and harvesting equipment like combines and driving grain trucks from the fields to the drying, storage or shipping facilities. We have also met independent insurance appraisers/adjusters that work the aftermath of disasters like wildfires, tornados and hurricanes. I don't think many of these folks consider themselves RVers and the ones that I have talked to don't belong to any RV related organizations.

westend wrote:
If the vehicle is used in the conduct of a business, the vehicle expenses could be a business expense. I don't operate like that but do deduct vehicle expense from my business. You are getting into a grey area, there for me, as one would also be using it as a residence and there may be some fancy accounting in that regard. Really, there's nothing from preventing me from taking a few postcards for sale to the Grand Canyon, using a coach as the transportation, and writing the whole thing off.

Other than the fact that the IRS would stomp all over that deduction for numerous reasons, how much income are you going to be able to shelter from the sale of a few postcards? Tax write offs are worthless if you don't have income. If you have income and are trying to write off depreciation on your RV, the RV had better be a necessity, not a convenience to earning that income. Best for 99% of all people to consider the costs of the RV and travel as something your traveling income is going to have to cover in addition to normal living expenses like food and insurance. Like others have said, it is possible to supplement retirement and social security income while RVing, but to make an actual living you really need a portable professional job. Still much better for the pre-retirement person to have a career and take RV vacations than it is to travel around the country working 6 months at a time flipping burgers at Micky D's.

If the vehicle is used in the conduct of a business, the vehicle expenses could be a business expense. I don't operate like that but do deduct vehicle expense from my business. You are getting into a grey area, there for me, as one would also be using it as a residence and there may be some fancy accounting in that regard. Really, there's nothing from preventing me from taking a few postcards for sale to the Grand Canyon, using a coach as the transportation, and writing the whole thing off.

Not too many answers are there. I'll throw another question into the mix.
Is there a way to recover some of the expenses involved in running and maintaining the Vehicle.
Without a reliable income how in the world can anyone afford to fill the fuel tank,change the oil and keep up with the maintenance of an RV?
We spent close to six months in Our Rig this past Winter ,travelled over seven thousand Miles at a cost of roughly 50 cents per mile just for the fuel.
Fortunately We have a decent income from Our Combined Pensions and investments that We don't need to work,but it sure would be nice to be able to recover a portion of those travel expenses.

It will be almost impossible for you to do without a full time job that has you moving around.
You should have asked this question 5-10 years ago. :)

Figure out what are your marketable skills, and sell them.

The skills don't need to be any more than personality, to be successful in sales, and you don't even need a physical product to sell. I have a loose connection to a group of 35-50 something that make very good living selling themselves as consultants on how to be successful. Or other things, like how to be safe, how to lose weight, how to be healthy.

You just need to have confidence, and be convincing.

Working like this for yourself, selling your ideas or knowledge, can put you way ahead of working for wages or salary.

What do you do for a living? Can you make that same occupation mobile?
If not, you'll have to rely on other skills you have to make some income. Work camping or boondocking are good ways to lower your budget but aren't a source of income. If you're going to make this move, the first thing would be to work out a budget, considering all your personal travel plans. Then you'll have an idea about what you need for income.

What about staying in one place at least 6 mo and working for Lowe's, Home Depot, McDonalds, etc. You might could transfer to one of their other locations and do it all over again! Plus you could take advantage of monthly CG rates if they are offered or be sure and get a Senior Pass (if you are 62 or older)so you can stay in COE campgrounds for 1/2 price, if there is one close to the job.

Workamping jobs are great to SUPPLEMENT your income but if you have little or no income you need to look for a real, full-time job then just live in your RV. However it would be real hard to do that and still move around a lot.

Here are a couple of webpages that address earning money while fulltime RVing:

Technomadia
NuRvers
Escapees
GonewiththeWynns

All provide suggestions to keep the RV dream alive and make money as well. Most are based on internet technology businesses, but not all. If you want to do something, you will find a way.