How Do I Live In A RV For Under $1250.00 Per Month?

[Kevin1636]

I'm a single 64 year old man who will be buying his first 24 FT. Class C RV to live in full time in Las Vegas. I get $1,255.00 per month from social security. I also work part time and take home another $1,000.00 per month. My question is: Is there anyway to quit my job and just live on SS checks or do I still need my part time income? I want to do some traveling but my plan is to park it 90% of the time at a RV Park here in Vegas for $345.00 per month which does not include electrical charges to run everything. I plan on buying a 24 FT. used RV for around 15K with low mileage, (50,000 miles or less). I have seen many mid size RV's and know what I want, but this is all so new to me. I've done research in cost of satellite TV & Internet connection services. Not counting food I figure I'll spend around $600.00 for park fees, power, TV service, internet, and cell phone. I'm keeping my Ford Escape for everyday travel. One other question: If I leave Vegas can I live off the grid on only my SS checks or is this impossible on so little money. I've been told that if I quit my job I'd qualify for $200.00 per month in food stamps. I really don't know if that's true.
Folks, I need lots of info cause I'm so new to this. Are there books I can buy or people I can talk to. I don't expect anyone here to spend a lot of time holding my hand and walking me through all of this. I just don't want to make the biggest mistake of my life. I'm too old to screw this up.
Thank you.

kevinaintablian@gmail.com

[Earl E]

The only thing I can tell you is that when we full-timed we lived for less than we did in our sticks & bricks and we traveled a lot. I can also say that we did not have any big catastrophe like needing another fiver or truck. If that would have happened we could not have come close. I think only you can really figure out your budget. It will be tight.

If I were you, I would keep your job, move into the trailer and bank the $1000 a month. If you find you can't bank it each month you have your answer. If you can it will give you a nice cushion when traveling.

[wingnut60]

"If I were you, I would keep your job, move into the trailer and bank the $1000 a month. If you find you can't bank it each month you have your answer. If you can it will give you a nice cushion when traveling."

Sounds to me the best way to try this change of lifestyle out. Would guess you have some $$ saved to buy the RV or you would have to include payments on it.

Living 'off the grid' usually requires a lot of upfront equipment (solar) expense or generator/fuel expense.

Hope you can figure it out.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi Kevin! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

I'd better let the fulltimers on here answer your questions.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[jimcumminsw]

Hi welcome to the forum.

Have you ever consider becoming a work camper at a campground? I ran into a couple of couples this year who were working at a campground we were at. Their rent and electric was free with only having to work between 15 and 20 hours a week the rest of the time they were off. So, this might save you with one cost of the campground fees and electricity. Another option is buy yourself a senior pass for federal parks a onetime fee, I paid $10 (this might be going up to $60 now). This will allow you to stay in most federal parks for half cost including electricity. I have paid between $10 and $15 a night for most federal parks including C.O.E. (Core of Engineers) parks.

[tizzyfit]

At age 64, unless you are disabled, continue to work and save the $1,000 a month. Being able to travel and enjoy the parts of America you haven't seen yet is why a lot of us full-time. Staying in one place for months on end, living in a 26' RV would become a bit confining for some. Bottom line, stay active, stay employed and enjoy the interaction with the people you work with as well as the folks in the campground. Once you've got a decent sized nest egg built up, quite your job and hit the road.
By the way, for 1 person, you should be able to rent a space in an RV park, pay the electrical and be under $450 a month. Cell phone and sat TV service will probably add an additional $100 - $150 depending on the type of service(s) you select. Some single people can spend less than $100 a month for food, I'm not one of them primarily because I have 2 dogs who both have specific diet needs. It would seem you would have $600 - $700 a month from your S.S. check for health insurance, R/X, insurance on the RV and car, gas, dates and whatever else that comes up throughout the month.
Best of luck, I hope everything works out and your new adventure is everything you hoped it would be.

[mangy dog]

Kevin,

You should be fine but nobody here knows your lifestyle. Many are happily living on less. I don't know the west and have no desire to go but boondocking in the east on your SS income would be easy.

As Earl suggested, try moving into your C, continuing to work, and saving the thousand to see what happens. The $345 a month rent would be pretty good on the gulf coast but here would include electricity. If you find you don't need the extra income, by all means invest in a bit of solar to try boondocking. A Class C will be really limited on weight so take take the solar "gooroos" with a grain of salt. Batteries are heavy. It sounds like electronics are an important part of your life so you will need a whole lot more power than I use. A small generator in addition to your built in would be handy.

From what I understand food stamps and food banks are usually local. I've never applied but friends on the road have had a lot of trouble keeping benefits after they start to fulltime.

Good luck. You'll learn a lot more after your fulltime as most who have have the information you need don't post anywhere. Living this lifestyle as a single old fart is easy - heck, even I can do it!

mangy dog

[Lifemember]

One thing you will want a real close look at is health care. If you go with Medicare advantage plus you will have an HMO and visits to the doctor out of area becomes an issue. If you decide to go with just Medicare you can also apply for Medicaid depending on income and state $1255 qualifies in this state for some assistance with medical cost.

Start now as other have suggested living off your SS and save the rest.

Add up the additional cost of MH insurance, maintenance for vehicles, a good budget of income and expenses is a GPS to your question.

[twogypsies]

This article might help you:

http://wheelingit.us/2017/02/09/the-...ng-your-spend/

Note that this is Part 1 so check back for the next Part.

[dexters]

Originally Posted by Kevin1636

Not counting food I figure I'll spend around $600.00 for park fees, power, TV service, internet, and cell phone.

First, keep your job.

Second, work on your estimated budget. You are not including a lot of numbers that add up.
Car Insurance
Car Maintenance
Car Gas
Car Registration
RV Insurance
RV Maintenance
RV Gas
RV Registration
Health Insurance


RV Loan Payment?
Car Payment?
Medical deductible
Dental Care

Are you getting a Sat'l Tv service?

Check on the amount you are including for park costs. You only get a lower rate if you have a monthly rate and then you normally pay for the power extra. That $600 inclusive looks low.






After you have a better budget, keep your job, and then live on that budget. Put your job income aside.

[Badlands Bob]

I think you could squeak by on $1255 a month until something happens. Then you will be living under a bridge on $1255 a month. My opinion is, that's too close to the edge but you might find a way to make it work.

[beaverfever]

trying to keep a "tin can" cool 24/7 in vegas in the summer will eat you budget up .
the insulation is simply not up to the task.

[Monacoach]

Maintaining the motor home will kill your budget. You will be happy you kept your job when your first encounter an expensive break down.

[Mr_D]

Yep, too close for me!