How do you know if it's enough?

[georgetown350]

We are Canadians so we would have to pay for out of Province medical care which I believe the average for 6 months is around $1200 for a couple.

Providing there are no huge surprises I think we can swing this..

thanks for the reply Gary

Steve

[read & learn]

I am glad that this thread was giving new life. As we travel around this great Country of ours, we have met many great people who have all diiferent types of lifestyles.
Some are on a very tight budget and can only do the basics of following the sun. I think that is what a lot of us do anyway.
Some who have no budget at all and than the group in between.
Many of the ones that are on a tight budget now were not on that budget when they started fulltiming, but good old inflation just showed up one day and now have to watch how the spend.
A lot of the deep pocket group just got caught in the bad times that we have right now and are having the hardest time adjusting to reduced income.
The group in between are in the best shape as their budget was high enough that they can cut back on things like not eating out most nights, stay a little longer at a monthly rate, still sightsee but not every day, but every other day and going to a lot of free places.
Found a movie theater the other day $2.50, back home early bird show $9.00, when to the movies, cost $5.00 snacks $0 we bring our own.

[dreamer]

Anyone care to update comments on this thread? I know fuel, campground fees and food prices have risen quite a bit. Thanks.

dreamer.

[ralper]

By pinching your pennies very hard you could snowbird on less than $1800.00 per month. And still live good.

Campground fees are less in the south west than in the south east. I have read here about CG fees from $175.00 per month and up plus electric. Commonly $200 to $300 per month plus electric.

[WheelingIt]

I would say we're probably middle of the range as far as budget goes. The biggest variables in our $$ are camping fees and food, and I think it's possible to be very flexible on both.

For camping, lots of folks looking to save will do a combo of public or low-cost camping combined with boondocking. As an example in the West you can spend all winter in Quartzite on LTVA land for $180, and then save during the rest of the year by sticking to National Forest and other boondock areas. So your camping fees can be very economical indeed.

For food we do as many farmers markets and farmers as we can combined with Walmart, and we try to take advantage of sales. Currently we're pretty liberal with our food budget but have areas we can cut if needed.

For health insurance we have a high deductable plan that covers us both for $150/mo (combined).

So yes I think $1800/mo is doable if you're willing to be flexible on where you camp and how far you drive.

[two slides]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim 5er Larry, My wife and I budget $2000 a month to fulltime and manage just barely to stay under budget. If we had a anchored home and were paying for upkeep taxes and utilities on it, we could not do it on 2K a month. Jim & Diane 31.5ft Hitchhiker 31.5 LKTGK 350 PSD Dually Crewcab SKP# 61097 All who wander are not lost.

X2 we still have our stick built home & don't fulltime.

[RVRoadTrip]

Our budget is $1422 per month. We full-time and do just fine but we also don't live the grand lifestyle that some folks prefer. We don''t do without anything we need, we have tons of fun and travel quite a bit. Our blog will show where all we have been so far.

Our 2011 camper is paid for as is our 2003 3/4 Silverado. We also have a 2011 Genuine 220cc scooter that we ride, and it is paid for. We save every penny we don't need to spend so we can afford to buy the things we need or want. Below are links to out 2010 and 2011 expense summaries. This works for us, your mileage may vary.

2010 Expense Summary
2011 Expense Summary

[dmcummins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVRoadTrip Our budget is $1422 per month. We full-time and do just fine but we also don't live the grand lifestyle that some folks prefer. We don''t do without anything we need, we have tons of fun and travel quite a bit. Our blog will show where all we have been so far. Our 2011 camper is paid for as is our 2003 3/4 Silverado. We also have a 2011 Genuine 220cc scooter that we ride, and it is paid for. We save every penny we don't need to spend so we can afford to buy the things we need or want. Below are links to out 2010 and 2011 expense summaries. This works for us, your mileage may vary. 2010 Expense Summary 2011 Expense Summary

Our health insurance cost $1,130 per month, I'm 54, wife is 50. That kind of puts a dent in a $2,000 or less a month budget. But we would be paying that if we stayed home or traveled so thats just the way it is. We are thinking about snowbirding also. Hopefully start next year. We will be going to Florida this January, but only for a month. I would think that our cost would increase by the cost of fuel and park rent. Everything else would be about the same as staying at home. I'm thinking $1,500 a month extra, over our normal, should do it. And would also cover a few extra rounds of golf.

[Davdeb1]

No one has posted for a while, and recently I've been thinking about this. We have a 40 ft DP 11 years old but paid for, we will have a 2012 ford focus paid for. Going to sell the home and most all possessions, and really do full time. I anticipate the following:
Medicare 200
Medicare gap ins 600
Average CG fees. 400
Fuel for MH and toad 400
Food 400
Car and toad ins. 150
Emergency breakdown fund 300
Sat tv, Internet, cell phone. 150
total 2600
This is what I would call fixed expense, 1/3 of this is medical. Such a shame but since we don't lie in Canada, we have to bit the bullet.
We were going to budget about 3000 so seems like we have 400 for t&e, laundry, clothes, once a month eat out.

I figure December through march at least 500 a month to stay at a base campground out west, and travel in the toad several times a week
To sightsee, movies etc. This should offset fuel? In the spring summer, we can base in. CG IN OHIO for about 300 mo.

This is realistic to me, some may think I am over paying for somethings, some may think I am under- estimating. These are the best figures I can come up with. I think about 80% of full-timers deal with a budget, and I'm sure they are enjoying everything just as much as the ones who don't have to budget.

If I have neglected to list something, please tell me, I would really like to know.

Looking forward to being a full-timer.