Website design By BotEap.comDo you track your spending and use a budget? Whether you’re getting ready for an RV or already on the road, an estimate is a useful tool. It will help you decide if traveling in an RV is feasible, and it will also help you stick to your spending plan while traveling.

Website design By BotEap.comBefore traveling by motorhome

Website design By BotEap.comCan you afford a full time RV or even a snowbird? Completing an RVing budget, while not exact, will help you make realistic decisions. If you don’t already have an RV, you can get a rough estimate of fuel using 6 mpg for RVs; up to 10 for a diesel engine. Major insurance companies that provide full-time RV insurance will give you instant quotes or an overnight quote on their website to use as a ballpark figure. And you can use camp directories to get a rough idea of ​​camp costs. It seems that campgrounds charge an average of $25-30 a night, although you can certainly pay more. You can also use discount and membership camps to lower your costs.

Website design By BotEap.comThe house you choose will also affect your budget. Your address is your tax address. If you travel full time, you can choose an address that is more advantageous to you. Taxes, insurance, and vehicle registration can vary wildly from state to state, so this is an important decision.

Website design By BotEap.comOn the road

Website design By BotEap.comRVers are lucky in that they can budget much more easily than stix ‘n brix denizens. Here are some examples:

1. Housing or RV park costs: If you find you are spending too much, you can stay in less expensive RV parks and stay at a water/electric site instead of one with full hookups. You may park overnight in a Wal-Mart parking lot where permitted. Boondocking (camping without hookups) on public land or rest areas, where permitted, may be free. Many RV parks offer discounts for extended stays. Stay for a week or a month in one place and you will not only get a discount, but also save on fuel costs.
2. Propane: Adding a more efficient catalytic or ceramic heater to your RV and using it in place of the installed heater saves on propane costs.
3. Food: Food costs can be controlled by eating out less frequently and in your food choices.
4. Other purchases: Purchases are usually smaller due to space considerations. Some RVs stop exchanging gifts with family members or reduce what they spend. Unique items from your travels make great gifts that don’t have to cost a lot. Or, the family may appreciate frequent postcards or phone calls instead of gifts. With a more casual lifestyle, jeans/shorts and T-shirts are suitable for most occasions.

Website design By BotEap.comPrepare for emergencies

Website design By BotEap.comInevitably, there are repairs and other emergencies that take a chunk out of the budget. If possible, have an emergency fund or spend a little less than the allotted amount and set it aside.

Website design By BotEap.comA roadside assistance program comes with a monthly fee, but it’s paid only if you need to be towed or change a tire when you’re far from civilization. Read the fine print to make sure you cover such eventualities.

Website design By BotEap.comAlso set aside money for deck replacement or when you can no longer ride.

Website design By BotEap.comcontrol spending

Website design By BotEap.comDevelop a method for tracking expenses. A spreadsheet on your computer is a good way to track and analyze your data. You can set up your spreadsheet by category and then sort to get totals for each.

Website design By BotEap.comTracking your spending will bring up some ideas. We don’t think about the small amounts like stamps and laundry and Starbucks. For example, when you look at the totals for your cell phone and Internet access each month, you may be asked whether or not you can cut that expense. Since spend is all about options, you can see if your spend matches your values. Staying in touch, for example, may be high on your priority list, while eating out may be a low priority. You can make adjustments more easily when you know where your money is currently going.

Website design By BotEap.comOne method that has worked for me to stay within the spending limits in each category is the envelope method. This tool is recommended by Dave Ramsey, creator of Financial Peace University (http://www.daveramsey.com/) The cash for each budget category goes in an envelope so you can see what’s there. When that envelope is empty, you have spent your allowance for that month

Website design By BotEap.comKnowing that you can easily adjust your spending in various categories helps you stay within your budget.

Website design By BotEap.comAdd to your income

Website design By BotEap.comIf your expenses exceed your income, then it might be time to find ways to increase your income. Working (working on the road) or volunteering can bring in extra money or effectively give you more money by providing a free RV site. Some RVs operate part of the year; others work until they accumulate a certain amount of money; and still others settle in an RV or RV park for a while and get “real jobs” outside the park.

Website design By BotEap.comWorking and volunteering gives you even more flexibility. You often get free “perks” when you work, like free admission to area attractions and discounts on laundry or propane. Since you don’t travel all the time, fuel consumption also decreases. And having time to get to know an area and explore it at your leisure adds depth to your travels.

Website design By BotEap.comUnless you’re staying at pricey RV resorts and eating at fancy restaurants, life on the road is generally much less expensive than staying in a house or apartment. It’s also much easier to adjust your spending to stretch your money. RVing is a life full of new experiences and adventures. Use a budget and track your spending as tools to get the most out of your travels.