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CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
CAN YOU AFFORD FULL-TIME RV LIVNG?
As full-timers the question we were asked most is, “How much does it cost to live in an RV full-time?” Our reply, “How much does it cost to live in a condo or a farmhouse or apartment?
Do you buy only organic foods at a high-priced supermarket? Play the slots? Have weekly spa treatments or $100 haircuts? Buy orchestra seats on Broadway? Drink top shelf spirits? Do you travel?
There are no easy answers to the costs of living in an RV. The rig itself is just part of the budget. The rest depends on personal habits, preferences, your management skills and just plain luck. There are hundreds of variables and unknowns.
To get started, let’s look start with what you already know.
These Current Expenses Won’t Change
When you live in an RV you will probably spend the about the same as you do now for:
Banking, brokerage, other financial services
Cell phone, ISP, domain
Child support, eldercare or alimony, if any
Debt service (credit cards, car/RV payment, student loans)
Dues, church, charity, gifts
Entertainment (movies, books, casino, lottery tickets, pay TV, concert tickets)
Food and beverage including restaurants
Health needs such as dental and eye care, vitamins, birth control, memberships (gym, associations, Weight Watchers)
Insurances
Non-food supermarket purchases ( greeting cards, magazines,)
Personal care (toiletries, cosmetics, hair and nails, bling)
Pet care
Retirement fund contributions
Soft goods (wardrobe, shoes, household linens)
Sports and hobbies (lift tickets, greens fees, court time)
Subscriptions, publications
Other
Go through your records for the past year to get an idea of what you spend monthly, weekly or annually. Be honest about where cash dribbles away on lattes or lottery tickets. No matter how good your intentions, it’s hard to break old habits.
Expenses That May Change
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| Nightly RV sites range from free to $100 or more |
Now that you know where your money goes today, start a new list of expenses that will change or cease when you leave your present life:
Bus fare, commuting, work clothes
Other costs related to your present job
Rent or mortgage, homeowner association fees
Utilities, home maintenance, yard care
Other
* Note: Most full-timers find that expenses for the first year are higher. As you find the right kind of campgrounds for your tastes and budget, settle into the full-time lifestyle including travel costs, you'll learn cost cutting measures. For example, you need a physical address, so choose a different “home” state to avoid state income taxes and higher insurance rates. Learn to do more handyman RV maintenance chores yourself. Learn from other RV-ers as you sit around the campfire.
Using the above figures as a starting point you can now look at known costs such as monthly RV payments, a budget for campgrounds, fuel (depending on how many miles you plan to cover (in the car and/or RV), insurances for the RV and so on. Also, insurance costs and taxes depend on the state you choose as your home base.
Every journey begins with a single step. Knowing your existing costs is one way to begin.
CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
CAMP FREE
Camp free in a pleasant, riverside campground and marina on the Mississippi River this summer in exchange for being a camp host for about 25 hours per week form April 15 to October 15. You must have an RV in operational condition. The job comes with full hookups. Contact the Ericksen Community Center in Clinton, Iowa, (563) 243-1260 before March 21.
NEW and UPCOMING CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS
A 53-acre Jellystone resort has opened in Hurricane, Utah with two swimming pools and plenty of of water spectacles plus a big playground, sports and games and a gem mining operation.
* Excitement has long been building about a new campground at The Wilds, a 10,000-acre safari conservation park in Cumberland, Ohio, (It's south of Zanesville.) Now it’s nearing reality. A new campground and camp store with all the newest camping and RV amenities is ahead of schedule. The 75-acre campground will have 47 RV sites with full hookups. Get updates at (740) 638-5030. Be sure to check The Wilds calendar for all the special events.
RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
Nob Hill Campground in downtown Lake George, New York has new owners and a new name. The seasonal Adirondack RV complex will start with about 30 campsites, restrooms and showerS and will eventually add a community center and other upgrades. It is expected to be ready in April for the summer season.
In Montana parks, funds are available for improvements and upgrades in the Great Falls Region and at Hauser and Holter Lakes. They include drinking water improvements at Devil’s Elbow and 14 new RV sites at Fort Benton.
County parks in Dubuque County, Iowa are getting upgrades, especially to electric systems that need 50-amp power at each RV site. Check out Fillmore Recreation Area and Swiss Valley Park for a new look and additional campsites this summer.
EVENTS
The annual Hocking Hills (Ohio) Comfort Food Cruise in southern Ohio hits the road March 1-2 and 8-9. Half the fun is driving swoopy country roads through greenery, scenery and small settlements. For $20 per person you sample foods at 12 stops such as inns and boutiques. Make campground reservations ahead of time and take to the highways at your own pace on one or both weekends. (Www.) ExploreHockingHills.com/
Get tickets now for a day of chili and wine at the Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton, California on March 16. Sample area wines, craft beers, ciders, seltzers and spirits. Enjoy local specialties from food trucks. Hear live music and mrore from DJ FIU. The Hot Chili ticket is $65 for ages 21 and over and comes with unlimited tastings of chili and beverages. The Mild Chili ticket is $15 for chili and salsa tastings but no alcohol. Children under age 6 are free. See (www.) www.BuelltonWineandChiliFestival.com. For Reservations,
(805) 688-3716, (www.)flyingflags.com/
CAMPGROUNDS CLOSED
Fairy Stone State Park, Stuart, Virginia will not open its main campground for the 2025 season. After it’s renovated, with full hookups and paving, it’s expected to reopen in March, 2026. Day use sections of the park and lake remain open.
Andy Bowie Park on South Padre Island, Texas is closed until further notice while it undergoes a $6.9 million makeover. All RV sites will have full hookups. A covered pavilion will be built on the beach, a boardwalk will lead from the camping area to the beach and restrooms will be renovated. A reopening date has not been projected.
In Brewster County, Texas the Chisos Bend Basin in Big Bend National Park has delayed its construction plans from May to July. At that time, the all Basin area facilities will be closed until construction is complete. Individual areas may reopen at different dates, so check regularly.
According to the Andalusia Star News, the county owned Point A Lake RV Park, Andalusia, Alabama is closed. We have no further details.
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