Annual cost to fulltime

[schlep1967]

I understand there is no right or wrong answer to this and there are many variables. My question is, What is the average amount you spent to live as a full-timer for one year?

$10,000 - $15,000
$15,000 - $20,000
$25,000 - $30,000
more?


(EDIT: Rephrased question)

[OffCampin]

This doesn't include what we consider the variable items - gifts, truck repair, trailer, entertainment, etc. The below costs are average per month, for 2 people and 2 pups.

Groceries - $711 (coupons, coupons, and more coupons)
Insurance (medical, RV, truck) - $1,152
RV Park Lodging - $730
Cell phone - $147
Fuel - $282
Trailer payment - $321
RV & truck registration - $17

This leaves us on average $600 - $800 per month, which we may or may not spend. It’s budgeted so if we spend it, that’s cool, if not, that’s cool too. This is as in-depth as I’ll go, but you get the picture.

Stuff you should highlight then breakdown a cost for would include:
Business Expenses (if any)
Dues, Subscriptions, Savings
Entertainment (attractions, electronic gadgets, hobbies)
Food (groceries, eating out)
Gifts
Health (doctor(s), dentists, prescription drugs)
Insurance (RV, tow vehicle, or toad, health)
Miscellaneous (credit card maybe?)
Personal Care (clothing, laundry, hair care)
Pet Expenses (food, treats, vet expense)
RV Park Lodging
Income tax (don’t forget, Uncle Sam may want his cut)
Utilities (cell phone, propane)
Vehicle Expenses (fuel, RV payment (if any), RV & vehicle registration)

[JAXFL]

Then you have the other side that is on the HIGH side...

Polson in Montana, $1800 Monthly

Blue Water Key West
Offwater $86 +tax $580.50 tax included Weekly


Sun RV Resort California.
Monthly (plus $125 for utilities) $927 - $1,236

Which averages to $1740 a month or about $21000 a year without fuel costs.

[schlep1967]

BarbaraOK wrote:
OK, I need to understand why if someone gives you general category amounts that apply to fulltime RVing, but doesn't want to include on a public forum, their complete monthly expenditures, they are in the wrong?

We've got 9 years worth of data and I would be happy to give you averages for expenditures that pertain to fulltime RVing, but I would never share what our income is nor things like the amount we set aside for gifts to family members, or things that don't have a thing to do with RVing.

Barb

Barb,
That 9 years worth of Fulltime RV related data is the kind of data that will help us out. And we don't even need every year broken out. Just a rough annual average is all I'm hoping for. I definitely do not want incomes or personal finance info.

[JAXFL]

These numbers are cut and pasted right from the sites.

Flamingo Lakes Jacksonvbille, FL
Monthly + Electric
(*Effective 1/1/15) $710 monthly
---------------------------------------------------------------
Trip to Daytona Beach Area 120 miles / 8mpg = 15 Gals at $2.50 = $37.50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Daytona Rv Park & Tropical Gdns
MONTHLY RATES (NOT INCLUDING ELECTRICITY OR TAX):
- Apr - Sept : $450/month
- Oct - Dec : $590/month
- January: $640/month
- FEB OR MARCH : $ 990.—
------------------------------------------------------------------
Trip to Ft Meyers area 204 miles / 8 = 26 Gals at $2.50 = $64
---------------------------------------------------
Lazy J Rv PArk
1263 Golden Lake Rd, Fort Myers, FL 33905
Monthly Rates (Includes Electric - 500 k/h and Water - 750 gal)
30 amp non Lake May to October: $425 -- 50 amp Lake side $475
30 amp non Lake November to December: $490 -- 50 amp Lake side $540
30 amp non Lake January to April: $555 -- 50 amp Lake side 605.00

So 3 months for the 3 areas average monthly RV Site is $613 (depending on the month)
Average Monthly fuel for straight travel to new RV Park $34
Depending on the month the rates can change. Hard to average but based on these 3 sites... annually RV Site/Fuel could be done at less than $8000.

[DianneOK]

Enough of the arguing........I don't want to close this topic....it is an important one. If you don't have a positive comment, do not post.....move on to ATV

[BarbaraOK]

OK, I need to understand why if someone gives you general category amounts that apply to fulltime RVing, but doesn't want to include on a public forum, their complete monthly expenditures, they are in the wrong?

We've got 9 years worth of data and I would be happy to give you averages for expenditures that pertain to fulltime RVing, but I would never share what our income is nor things like the amount we set aside for gifts to family members, or things that don't have a thing to do with RVing.

Barb

[beemerphile1]

I think these discussions are valuable but could do without the snippy people. The costs are not set in stone, but for those of us without a starting point, every little bit helps.

Unfortunately I can't answer the question because we are still working and only vacation/weekend campers. However I try to glean a little bit when I can to apply toward our future full-time adventure.

We have been debt free for a long time and live simply but never really paid much attention to our spending. Since we are now about 2.5 years from retirement, I am starting to organize our finances and calculate our expenses.

There are a couple apps available for tracking income and expenses. I started using "Personal Capital" at the beginning of the year but hear that "Mint" is also a good one. I see some mention Excel but I am clueless on setting up and using that tool.

[DianneOK]

Just a note here... keep it civil or I will delete even more.....

I know there are those of you who think I am heavy handed....I am, that is why these two forums are still around.

[westernrvparkow]

4X4Dodger wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:

nazpaz wrote:

jorbill2or wrote:

This is exactly why it's so hard to budget a prospective ft life . Ea person lives differently certainly , but most people won't share "real "" numbers because they are afraid to be judged and hung online! I suspect other than those living in a RV to "save" money those really living a retired full time travel , golf, eat out frequently , " good life" on the road spend much more than they let on

Just remember, he didn't ask people to tell him what he would spend. He asked them what they spent. No one can tell him what he will spend, but those who keep records can tell him what they spent.

That's not to say whether or not that information will be especially helpful but it is an answerable question.

.

Data is only valuable when the basis for that data is known. Some posts here are giving only the costs directly related to the RV. Others are including normal living expenses. Still others are including expenditures that clearly are not tied to full time RVing, yet are in fact expenses that individual incurred. Using the "data" collected here to make any decisions or reach any conclusions would be a classic example of "Garbage in, garbage out".

I agree with some of what you say however I think the vast majority of the Intelligence Community would disagree with your statement about Data needing a "Basis" known to be valuable. Small bits of seemingly unrelated data can be collated to create a larger and accurate picture. This is how most codes are broken. I think your notions work for some things but for what the OP wanted to know most of what he will get will be valuable in one way or another I am betting. But isnt that really up to him to decide?

Sorry, but I disagee. All data needs a basis to be of value. For example, collecting data on the weight of an item would be useless if all you had was a string of numbers and didn't know if those numbers represented pounds, ounces, grams, kilograms, troy ounces, stones, etc. Here we don't know if costs include fuel, food, insurance, rv payments, depreciation, health costs, etc etc. Etc.

[Flanz]

BarbaraOK wrote:

Flanz wrote:


We're starting our Fulltime adventure next fall. We're buying a new rig - cash - and will be debt free. We have NO IDEA what it's going to cost. So, we decided to break-out good ole Excel and track our current spending habits while in the S&B. Have been doing this for ~5 months now and will continue until we leave. We're also still saving money for retirement - right up to the last day of employment.

We also took a good stab at what it'll cost for campgrounds - NO DISCOUNTS - and figured $35/night. We also figure that we'll move weekly or so - fuel cost ~$2K - 4K/yr. Figure $4.00/gal @ 8 miles/gal.

We will keep all other cost the same as in the S&B. This includes insurance. Our yearly budget will be set at 70K/yr. This will change as we go.

I don't give a hill of beans what others think about the cost above. And I won't try to justify it or convince others either way. ITS OUR MONEY AND WE"LL SPEND HOW WE SEE FIT.......Period.

Do your own figuring based on your current situation NOW. Then add 10% - 20% as a buffer. If you figured HIGH....great, but figuring low still isn't a problem. You'll just have to re-adjust.

-paul

I think you are doing a disservice to yourselves, but also to others who would like to help, by being so antagonistic. No one cares what you spend, but most people seem to want to know about ways to cut their park costs when traveling from point A to point B by half. But since you don't want to know, so be it.

Barb

As I stated....I REALLY DON"T CARE WHAT U OR OTHERS THINK about our budget and how WE go about things. We take in what others write and talk about pertaining to budgets / travelling and saving money and then make OUR own decision. OUR situation is completely different than YOURS, but we enjoy seeing and understanding what others do!!!

-paul

[4X4Dodger]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:

nazpaz wrote:

jorbill2or wrote:

This is exactly why it's so hard to budget a prospective ft life . Ea person lives differently certainly , but most people won't share "real "" numbers because they are afraid to be judged and hung online! I suspect other than those living in a RV to "save" money those really living a retired full time travel , golf, eat out frequently , " good life" on the road spend much more than they let on

Just remember, he didn't ask people to tell him what he would spend. He asked them what they spent. No one can tell him what he will spend, but those who keep records can tell him what they spent.

That's not to say whether or not that information will be especially helpful but it is an answerable question.

.

Data is only valuable when the basis for that data is known. Some posts here are giving only the costs directly related to the RV. Others are including normal living expenses. Still others are including expenditures that clearly are not tied to full time RVing, yet are in fact expenses that individual incurred. Using the "data" collected here to make any decisions or reach any conclusions would be a classic example of "Garbage in, garbage out".

I agree with some of what you say however I think the vast majority of the Intelligence Community would disagree with your statement about Data needing a "Basis" known to be valuable. Small bits of seemingly unrelated data can be collated to create a larger and accurate picture. This is how most codes are broken. I think your notions work for some things but for what the OP wanted to know most of what he will get will be valuable in one way or another I am betting. But isnt that really up to him to decide?

[4X4Dodger]

schlep1967 wrote:

DianneOK wrote:
And you folks didn't even see the deletes!!!!!!

No, and I am sure we all appreciate what you moderators protect us from.

I liked your question and thought it perfectly ok and wonder why it upsets some so.

However and with all due respect, I have never felt the need or wanted someone else to "protect" me from ideas, words or philosophies of others. Especially when the judge is someone I don't know and do not know what kinds of biases are being brought to bear on their "Judgement" on what is appropriate for my adult brain and eyes.

I am a firm advocate for politeness, grace in the face of criticism and treating others with respect online or off and I think there are rules that certainly make sense in a forum like this. And those rules should be enforced.

But I would rather see the moderators warn people on the forum or by PM and let the author self edit an offending text. Or make a case for why it should stay...

I also think there is enough peer pressure on sites like these that tend to keep most in line with polite behaviour.

[Ro_n_Joe]

I can't add valuable information here but to those who provided some numbers I really appreciate it! My better half and I are waiting for retirement and have only 4-4.5yrs left to go before we go fultiming. It is nice having a common goal. Based on numbers provided it looks like we can make it! Guessing it's going to cost roughly $13K medical/dental because we're pre-medicare age (above what you all posted). Thanks again. Hot dog! Can't wait!

[schlep1967]

DianneOK wrote:
And you folks didn't even see the deletes!!!!!!

No, and I am sure we all appreciate what you moderators protect us from.

[Winnetheygo]

Great question & great answers. Thanks to everyone for contributing. Got a lot of questions answered here!