True Cost of Owning a Coach - $45k/year for me

[thelastplace]

While I'm thinking about it, Scott lost half of his depreciation the minute he drove the unit out of the dealer lot. Just like a car, once it's yours it's not worth what you paid for it. The more you pay for your unit, the larger the dollar amount is lost to depreciation. Figure you lose at about 15% out the door. That means Scott's loss was $36,000 out the door ($240000 X 15%). I on the other hand, I only lost $22000 out the door. ($147000 X 15%). If a person can spend 100's of thousands of dollars on a coach they shouldn't be lamenting about the money.


But the true travelers are they who leave for leaving’s sake
Saying continuously, without knowing why: ‘Let us go on’.
Paraphrased from Baudelaire’s ‘The Journey’

[NLOVNIT]

Originally Posted by Brigadoon

...Yep, it is costly, but if we stayed in motels and ate all meals out for 180-210 days per year, I suspect we would spend at least that much per day. And we would not enjoy it near as much.

Roger that! Somehow, a hot dog/hamburger cooked over a campfire just tastes so much better than one you can buy at a restaurant.

And with the bedbug problems in hotels/motels we've been hearing so much about lately, knowing it's been me & DH only in our bed, ALONE is enough to justify the calculated costs.

Lori-

[Route 66]

Scott posted he wasn't lamenting about the money, but he was just reporting the facts.

Originally Posted by thelastplace

While I'm thinking about it, Scott lost half of his depreciation the minute he drove the unit out of the dealer lot. Just like a car, once it's yours it's not worth what you paid for it. The more you pay for your unit, the larger the dollar amount is lost to depreciation. Figure you lose at about 15% out the door. That means Scott's loss was $36,000 out the door ($240000 X 15%). I on the other hand, I only lost $22000 out the door. ($147000 X 15%). If a person can spend 100's of thousands of dollars on a coach they shouldn't be lamenting about the money.


But the true travelers are they who leave for leaving’s sake
Saying continuously, without knowing why: ‘Let us go on’.
Paraphrased from Baudelaire’s ‘The Journey’

[Poptop]

Geeze $182.5K costs over 4 years I can see why you think you'd do it differently next time.

[hooverbill]

I'm not figuring ANYTHING...I'm just going!

[TomTheOilMan]

Originally Posted by hooverbill

I'm not figuring ANYTHING...I'm just going!

Just pulled out of the driveway.......we are right behind you.

[1ciderdog]

Depreciation, fuel, repairs, etc. are all part of our entertainment expenses. Some people fly to Europe and think nothing of the expenses but I (think) I cannot afford that type of luxury expense but I can afford to put diesel fuel into a guzzler and spend funds for maintenance, repairs, etc. After all it's only money. In 1982 my wife and I bought (I say rented from Bank of America) a 46 foot sail boat and lived on it for 12 years. I was told at that time to estimate a minimum of 10% of the purchase price for annual expenses and they may have been right. I had spent what little I had to buy it and did all repairs & maintenance myself. In the year I have had this motor home I'm sure I have spent well over 10% of the purchases price on fuel, repairs, etc. but as I said above that is the entertainment expense. We do know we are going to lose money on these but the scary questions are how much and how long can we continue to enjoy this life style. I don't want to know how much it really costs.

[bbeane]

Life is expensive, plan for the future(a little savings), if you have some left spend it on what you want. If you where to sit down and figure the real cost of any hobby you would end up sittin and getting old. Got to go camping now.

[clubmed98]

Scotts numbers are probably correct but as noted assuming he took the same trips and had motels and eating out and car expenses I would guess his true cost when the alternative costs are figured in is the depreciation and maybe loss of interest on that money..spread out over 4 years nowhere near as bad as it seems at first...and being able to be in your own house and bed is priceless..

[JavaJelly]

I promise I was not lamenting, b'ing & moaning, complaining, regretting, judging or the like. As Dirk wrote, just reporting facts. Would not change a thing. Well except for that time I stopped at a Flying J for the night and having the buffet while driving to Newmar by myself. I made several unscheduled quick stops the next day.

[csp]

I agree RVing is expensive but spending time with my family and seeing the country is priceless. I agree with others, sleeping in my own bed and not having to eat in restaurants every meals is an added plus to RVing. I will do it as long as I can and as much as I can. I am just jealous of the full timers.
Chris

[RickO]

I'm guessing that most of those who claim they don't want to know how much Rving costs them are still working.

We are by no means on a minimal retirement but I need to know where the money goes! I can't imagine being able to make decisions (like buying the townhouse in Az we just bought) without knowing the impact on my overall expenses.

Rick

[Route 66]

I was retired when I sold the house and bought the MH and went fulltime.

Several of my friends couldn't understand selling my appreciating asset (house) and buying a depreciating asset (MH).

I had a rough idea of the costs and what I was getting into and if I based my decision on financial issues only, I would never have had the great experiences and the realization of my dream.

Now I'm in the middle of my exit strategy and it's working well.

Originally Posted by RickO

I'm guessing that most of those who claim they don't want to know how much Rving costs them are still working.

We are by no means on a minimal retirement but I need to know where the money goes! I can't imagine being able to make decisions (like buying the townhouse in Az we just bought) without knowing the impact on my overall expenses.

Rick

[ctcamper]

Originally Posted by JavaJelly

Well except for that time I stopped at a Flying J for the night and having the buffet while driving to Newmar by myself. I made several unscheduled quick stops the next day.

I think Flying J has Pepto Bismol... you were supposed to buy that on the way out of dinner instead of the after dinner mint...