Many have dreams of buying an RV. Whether you plan on living in an RV full-time or if you are only interested in the occasional getaway, there are many ways for you to afford one so that you can start living your RV dream.
One of the many factors holding back a potential RVer is that they are unsure if they can afford the RV lifestyle.
The answer: Yes! You just have to do your research, prepare your finances, and be realistic.
There are four main components that go into affording the RV lifestyle. By evaluating them, you can do your research and determine how much money you need to save or earn in order to afford the RV lifestyle.
These include setting an RV budget, creating a monthly travel budget, finding ways to save money while on the road, and lastly, earning money on the road. Below is a further description of each.
Be realistic about your RV budget.
There are many options when it comes to RV types. You could buy a Type A, Type B, Type C, a travel trailer, fifth wheel, folding camping trailer or even a park model. Prices can vary greatly, which makes it a good idea to analyze the various options to see what is best for your budget.
Create a monthly travel budget.
Creating a budget doesn’t stop with the RV. You will also need to think about what you spend each month on everything else.
Skip the boarding prices and bring your four-legged family members to your next destination!
Some things you will want to calculate include how much you will spend on:
- Your RV payment (if you have one)
- Entertainment
- Food
- Gas
- Propane
- Laundry
- Campgrounds
- Internet
- Health insurance
- Clothing
- Phone
- Household items such as toilet paper, soap, etc.
- RV maintenance and repairs
- RV insurance
- And so on.
Find ways to save.
There are many ways to save money so that you can afford the RV lifestyle. Just because another RVer spends a lot of money doesn’t mean that everyone has to spend the same. In fact, most RVers have quite affordable budgets and are still able to enjoy their time on the road.
Who says you need five-star prices for a five-star view?
The many different ways to save money include:
- Campsites don’t have to break the bank. State parks are a great low-cost option, as are many campgrounds. Look for travel apps to help you find the campground that best suits your need.
- Travel slowly. Gas is usually one of the largest parts of an RVer’s budget. By traveling slowly you can cut down on your gas spending.
- Limit your purchases. It’s somewhat easy to limit your purchases while traveling in an RV. This is due to the fact that RVs can only hold so many possessions, so you will most likely think extra hard about whether or not you need an item.
- Make meals of your own. Dining out is fun and convenient, but if you want to save money then making your own meals will be the best decision for your budget.
Earn money on the road.
If you are not retired but you want to travel in your RV a majority of the year, you may need to look into ways to fund your travels.
Luckily, there are several ways to make this a reality. You could work at campgrounds, at national parks, online, remotely through your full-time job, and so on. The fact that you can work while on the road is great because you don’t have to wait until you retire to have fun on the road.
There are many ways to afford the lifestyle if your dream is to own an RV. By setting an RV budget, creating a monthly travel budget, finding ways to save money while on the road, and earning money on the road, you should have no problem living the RV lifestyle.
