Cost of your hobby

[pitch]

I am constantly asked by non Rv'ing friends and family how expensive this hobby is.
I did not figure the cost of the truck as I have always had one,I spread the cost of the trailer out over a guessstimated life of ten years. Nor did I depreciate either the truck or trailer as I tend to keep things till the wheels fall off.
Any way I came up with a ballpark of 1.25 per traveled mile of outing. More if it is a destination trip much lower for simple short camping.
If any of you have figured it out where do you come in at?

[colliehauler]

Jim Shoe wrote:
I'm a single, retired RVer. I spent most of my working life traveling for the company and staying in hotels. Nice ones, but still a hotel. Eating my meals in the hotel restaurant and watching TV while sitting on the bed. I forgot how to talk.
I retired early, bought a Class 'B' which turned out to be too small and required unhooking to visit what I came to see. Bought a 40' 'C' and a Jeep toad. Now if I want to hear another voice, I just sit outside the RV and set out a couple of extra chairs. Before long, somebody stops by. Even though we're strangers, we have something in common and we talk about our rigs, where we've been and where we're going next. No awkward pauses in the conversation. Instant friends, or at least friendly folks. I eat what I want, when I want, if I want.
And I don't know what it costs and I don't care. I can't imagine a better deal.

I don't know what it costs and don't care. I can't imagine a better deal. Jim could not have said it better.

[3_dog_nights]

Jim..looking forward to crossing paths someday!

[GaryWT]

Tystevens wrote:
It is expensive, but so are other hobbies. Actually, as I get involved in something, I'm always blown away by how much you can spend on it. My "main" hobby is bicycling -- road and mountain -- and I wont even tell people how much my bikes cost! My wife is getting more in to sewing, and you can drop a travel trailer's worth of money on a sewing machine these days. Ever been into a top end cooking or fly fishing shop?

But these are some of the things that make life worth it, so ...

My wife is into sewing and although some of her machines are 1-2,000, I think she would get out of it if she had to pay 20-30,000 for a machine.

[Jim_Shoe]

I'm a single, retired RVer. I spent most of my working life traveling for the company and staying in hotels. Nice ones, but still a hotel. Eating my meals in the hotel restaurant and watching TV while sitting on the bed. I forgot how to talk.
I retired early, bought a Class 'B' which turned out to be too small and required unhooking to visit what I came to see. Bought a 40' 'C' and a Jeep toad. Now if I want to hear another voice, I just sit outside the RV and set out a couple of extra chairs. Before long, somebody stops by. Even though we're strangers, we have something in common and we talk about our rigs, where we've been and where we're going next. No awkward pauses in the conversation. Instant friends, or at least friendly folks. I eat what I want, when I want, if I want.
And I don't know what it costs and I don't care. I can't imagine a better deal.

[3_dog_nights]

RV'ing is a life choice, not a hobby. Craft Beer is my hobby....we don't want to address the numbers on that.

[Dog_Folks]

rhagfo wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

BillB800si wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

Maybe in Michigan.

It is different here in Florida, for example: Cheap hotel in Key West $250.00 per night without any add on, like taxes, resort fees, etc. Camping in a state park?=$36.00 per night+ tax.
No other additions.Other areas of the state have the same type of differential,just less dollars per day.

------------------------

From Hotels.com a cheap hotel in Key West right now $49 a night. Check it out.

Key West hotels from $66/night - KAYAK
bumpy

IN Key West, not stock island?
Downtown or north end? I have been to KW many times would not want a $66. Night room!
Unless you have been there and know the hotels, those prices are a******shoot.

Thnaks that is exactly what I was trying to say. Those that say other wise, don't know the real conditions there.

You will see those low prices posted lots of times. Call to make a reservation and you will find that the price quoted was a "special" and and we are sorry but, those rooms are already booked, or some other excuse to "up sell" you.

[Dog_Trainer]

The bigger question here is what is the cost of not pursuing your hobby. We spend much of our play money on our RV and the travel that goes with it. But I do not look back and feel cheated by the expense nor do I spend so much that it puts us into a bind. We have an older RV and spend the required time and money to keep it up. If I had more disposable income I might have a newer more expensive RV. The beauty of this hobby is that I can make due with many different style rigs or tents. The hobby can be suitable for many different income levels.

[OldRadios]

I'm retired but my wife is younger and still works. Her schedule changes every week. We are campers and always being packed and ready to go on a moments notice is well worth the cost. Getting to a campsite after dark and not having to set up a tent in the rain and sleep on the ground is worth it to us. Besides, there's no hotels where we like to go.

[run100]

Cost of our hobby? Never calculated it because my goal is to see and experience as much as possible before going 9-ft below ground and our hobby helps make it possible.

The cost of our home ownership - a waste of money in my opinion! It's an expensive, never ending chore!

[C_Schomer]

There's so many factors. I guess $1 - 1.25/mile or $2 - 3000/year is close. This is the only thing we get to do for leisure besides eating out so it doesn't matter. I would have a good P/U no matter what and we buy used RVs so it's really not very expensive. I have a friend who flies RC planes and I'd love to have all the moneys he's crashed into the ground. I also have friends who race cars. Our hobby is a fraction the cost of a lot of people's hobbies. Craig

[noe-place]

Golf is my hobby and it costs a lot less than the MH. We travel because we can afford to but we're limited in the amount of time each year and it has to be the warm months because of other commitments.

[B_s_Bunch]

The life style is not so bad it's the dues and entrance fees that hurt. I wouldn't change a thing well maybe??? Larry

[Bumpyroad]

I'm not going to Key West to bask at a hotel/motel. as long as the roaches don't carry me out, I am not that picky. I generally stay in Motel 6s when I am on the road and paying for it myself. many have been updated/graded. some have been bad.
bumpy

[rhagfo]

Bumpyroad wrote:

BillB800si wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

Maybe in Michigan.

It is different here in Florida, for example: Cheap hotel in Key West $250.00 per night without any add on, like taxes, resort fees, etc. Camping in a state park?=$36.00 per night+ tax.
No other additions.Other areas of the state have the same type of differential,just less dollars per day.

------------------------

From Hotels.com a cheap hotel in Key West right now $49 a night. Check it out.

Key West hotels from $66/night - KAYAK
bumpy

IN Key West, not stock island?
Downtown or north end? I have been to KW many times would not want a $66. Night room!
Unless you have been there and know the hotels, those prices are a******shoot.