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It has been a long time since we had done this sort of general poll but the cost of living on the road is always one of the concerns that those who contemplate taking up the life must consider. While it is a very individual thing and is influenced by lifestyle, domicile, and a host of other things, I still believe that there is value to the researcher in knowing a range of what most other people find to be sufficient. Before we returned to part-time we posted our annual budget and while it is still available, it is also becoming outdated. How about folks here anonymously sharing the total amount they spend in a typical year of travels on the road?
I ask that you simply lump in everything you spend with exception of any RV or vehicle payments, savings plans/investments, or other optional expenditures. If you have some expense that is likely unique to your situation, please also leave that out. Since this should be a general figure it isn't critical that each of us combine the exact same things into the numbers or that they be totally accurate. Lets just do our best to give those who are new to the road some idea of the range in actual expenses incurred in a year of travels.
If you wish to post some general information about your response or more specifics to your budget, that too might be helpful but nothing is expected or required. Because we have now been part time for nearly 5 years, I am not contributing to the poll as I hope to keep the information current.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping others to life on the road! 
Edited November 8, 2015 by Kirk
Over the past 3 years we're averaging just under $40K. That includes everything from new tires to church giving.
Lots of personal budget information here: http://pastorscott.com/travel/tag/budget/
Edited January 3, 2016 by GR 'Scott' Cundiff
I ask that you simply lump in everything you spend with exception of any RV or vehicle payments, savings plans/investments, or other optional expenditures. If you hae some expense that is likely unique to your situation, please also leave that out.
Just to clarify... you're asking for "nut" budget figures, right? Just what's necessary for day to day travel/life, lodging, maintenance, etc. Minus any 'optionals' like entertainment, donations, upgrades, etc. Ie., include things like internet, cellular, satellite, clothing budget, eating out, etc., but exclude entertainment/sightseeing, donations, one time costs.. like a roof replacement, etc? Just so everyone is on the same page.
Edited November 8, 2015 by Yarome
Why the big range from 50-75K? All of the others were 10K range, that one is 25K.
Just to clarify... you're asking for "nut" budget figures, right? Just what's necessary for day to day travel/life, lodging, maintenance, etc. Minus any 'optionals' like entertainment, donations, upgrades, etc. Ie., include things like internet, cellular, satellite, clothing budget, eating out, etc., but exclude entertainment/sightseeing, donations, one time costs.. like a roof replacement, etc? Just so everyone is on the same page.
Good question. I read it to mean everything except indebtedness.
And, what is included is always the problem in asking or responding to this question. For instance, if people are work camping, are they including value received or just reporting $0 for camping expense? Then there are intangibles like "free" health insurance via a previous employer that don't make it into the reported expenditures.
If the idea is to collect information for those researching the lifestyle, then some level of standardization is probably needed or else the amounts don't tell us very much.
However, if enough people answer, then, even without some of these concerns being met, a general average can be found.
As I said in a thread earlier this year, I think the average retired fulltime couple spends about the same amount as any other retired couple spends which is around $41K, although the fulltimers might be just a bit under that.
I included everything that we have spent living on the road. Averaged over the 3 years we have been doing so. So this year was truck tires, last year was more tires, year before was buying all the things we needed- thought we did, and found out we did-, etc.
Lump it all together and throw it out there.
...And, what is included is always the problem in asking or responding to this question. For instance, if people are work camping, are they including value received or just reporting $0 for camping expense? Then there are intangibles like "free" health insurance via a previous employer that don't make it into the reported expenditures.
If the idea is to collect information for those researching the lifestyle, then some level of standardization is probably needed or else the amounts don't tell us very much...
Another undefined term is what is meant by
amount they spend in a typical year of travels on the road?
Does moving from one location in the winter to one location for the summer qualify as travel? Does moving from one workamping/volunteer position to another two to four times a year with few if any stops more than overnight in between qualify as travel? I have been told a number of times on this forum that fulltimers really do not travel that many miles. Yet it is my observation that many newcomers considering RVing and asking questions about budget, express a desire to "travel and see this great country". From what I can gather from various topics and posts, we travel more than many on this forum. We rarely stay more than a week in a single location when not at our home base. We have visited all of the lower 48 states and have visited 89 sites administered by the National Park Service. I have not kept track of all the state and National Historic Register sites that we have visited. We have stayed for more than two nights in 41 locations just in New Mexico. Our fuel costs for 2014 and 2015 were $5053.69 and $3192.45 respectively. We did not intentionaly change our travel style between the two years, so most of the difference is the effect of a general reduction in fuel prices of a dollar a gallon in just about every location we visited. Our campground costs for 2014 and 2015 were $4,363.95 and $3,700.37 respectively for 162 and 148 nights in public and private campgrounds/RV Parks ($26.94 & $25.00/night).
Edited November 8, 2015 by trailertraveler
Although this survey would give a 'general' idea it would really be beneficial to see a questionnaire where one had to actually fill in numbers and answer questions such as what kind of RV, towing a vehicle, etc. as this makes a difference in fuel costs, etc. so that everyone submits the same itemizing and also some extra questions as to how much you stay in a place before moving on and what type of RVing you do - private parks only, public parks only, boondocking only or a mix of the three. With that additional information a newbie could then zero in on the kind of RVers they are and get a little more realistic idea of cost.
Just to clarify... you're asking for "nut" budget figures, right? Just what's necessary for day to day travel/life, lodging, maintenance, etc. Minus any 'optionals' like entertainment, donations, upgrades, etc. Ie., include things like internet, cellular, satellite, clothing budget, eating out, etc., but exclude entertainment/sightseeing, donations, one time costs.. like a roof replacement, etc? Just so everyone is on the same page.
Good question. I read it to mean everything except indebtedness.
I included everything that we have spent living on the road. Averaged over the 3 years we have been doing so.
That is what I had in mind. Whatever you spend, excepting payments on an RV or vehicle, since that is one of those things which many choose not do have at all. The idea is that if we narrow things too much it becomes a very personal lifestyle thing. We all spend something on entertainment, hobbies, and a lot of other things. My thought process was that by lumping everything into a single category, we can remove some of the differences from personal choices and preferences. Most of us adjust our optional spending downward when repairs or such are needed but then spend more on entertainment and such when we have a budget excess. It is an attempt to arrive at some very loose ideas on what people spend on the road to live reasonably well and enjoy our travels.
Why the big range from 50-75K? All of the others were 10K range, that one is 25K.
My thinking is that it was enough once we reached an annual figure of $50K, and first had that as my upper number as $50k and up. So I did go back and edit the responses to $60, $70, and $80 and up. If you were in the $60K group you may want to edit your response. One has to stop somewhere.
Edited November 8, 2015 by Kirk
My thinking is that it was enough once we reached an annual figure of $50K, and first had that as my upper number as $50k and up. So I did go back and edit the responses to $60, $70, and $80 and up. If you were in the $60K group you may want to edit your response. One has to stop somewhere.
As a member just a little older than Xscapers is targeting, I crossed the $50k mark sometime in late May or early June. My Canadian 401k equivalent is well fed, bills are paid as soon as they hit the inbox, and I still don't have pockets full of $$$. I'm not ready to quit yet.
Although this survey would give a 'general' idea it would really be beneficial to see a questionnaire where one had to actually fill in numbers and answer questions such as what kind of RV, towing a vehicle, etc. as this makes a difference in fuel costs, etc. so that everyone submits the same itemizing and also some extra questions as to how much you stay in a place before moving on and what type of RVing you do - private parks only, public parks only, boondocking only or a mix of the three. With that additional information a newbie could then zero in on the kind of RVers they are and get a little more realistic idea of cost.
While I do agree with you, I really don't know how that could be done via the forums. If there were a way, I'd sure give it a shot. It might be possible to publish a list of questions about such things here and ask others to respond to those items if they have such data available. Otherwise it mean a series of polls with one question each.
I'm in the $10k-$20k bracket, but then I'm traveling alone now. I don't think the budget would double for a couple, but would certainly increase some. The $41k for a couple average mentioned, seems very reasonable to me, perhaps even a bit generous. The big variable to me is the difference between "need" and "want". If folks are happy and comfortable with what they need, a $10k budget per person is easy. Difficulty distinguishing between need and want can easily and quickly drive that up. Of course each case is different and special requirements have to be added to the basic budget.
My sense is that this survey is looking for the average basic budget and then people considering full timing can just add their "wants" or special needs.
Just an observation: Whilst it's early days, it's interesting to see that half of those responding thus far, fall in that $30K to $50K range, which more or less brings it on average target for the suggested $41K, which within plus or minus 10% we've found from tons of our research the majority have fallen into we've spoken with. FWIW and this is hypothetical for the next year: We ourselves are going to budget $4,000/ month to allow a considerable amount of wiggle room, for everything except our savings and taxes, which will be in addition. Because we prefer dry camping/boondocking moreso over CG's - that and our intention to not move as much as we initially thought we would, could see this figure closer to the $3,000/mth, but my psych is I have to have a safety margin over and above in calculations. Also we don't want to be watching every single penny so closely we don't enjoy the highlight of our twilight!
Just an observation: Whilst it's early days, it's interesting to see that half of those responding thus far, fall in that $30K to $50K range, which more or less brings it on average target for the suggested $41K, which within plus or minus 10% we've found from tons of our research the majority have fallen into we've spoken with.
Without a doubt, the very best writing on the subject of fulltime budgets that I have ever read was a column that I read in Motorhome Magazine way back in 2001, titled How Much Does It Cost and written by the late Gaylord Maxwell. It applies just as much today as it did at the time of publishing. I really think that it is worth reading for anyone who has not yet done so.
Hi- I just thought I'd chime in here, as the least experienced RV'r (none!)
To try to figure out what it costs, obviously depends on each persons, or couples lifestyle. Also on what material things, or activities people consider important parts of their lives.
I'm the type that lives quite frugal, saw down trees and chop my own wood, heat my house for free.
Don't really like to cook, so sandwiches and cereal work for me.
Clothes are jeans and t shirts and I feel most comfortable wearing them
My fifth wheel and new truck will be my biggest expense, but I can't imagine needing to spend thirty thousand each year to live full time in it,
I think the best way to think of this, is that each person will live best on what they have, and spend what they have according to the lifestyle they enjoy.
It's kind of disconcerting (to me anyway) to take these posts as what it takes, because I"m quite sure it won't for me.
Things like gas depends of course on how much you drive, gas or diesal, and the type of roads you're driving on.
So many things are variables, I just think that this question would be more appropriate as simplly sharing what everyone spends, rather then
what it "requires" to live full time.
I get discounts on insurance with Geico, perfect driving record, so I hardly pay anything. I'd rather have a peanut butter sandwich laying in my hammock then sitting in a restaraunt. Just me, but it's kind of misleading if someone gets spooked by what everyone else spends,
Just my thoughts,
Barbara
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