Why Don't More People Full-time?

[stepside454]

I don't fulltime , yet... But I've never paid 50.00 a night to camp. I can tell you that when we go fulltime in a few years, we will be workampers , as we wouldn't be able to afford not to, so we will be working in parks, resorts etc. To pay for our stay.

[WheelingIt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voyager35L I am weighing the options of brick versus fulltiming. Would anyone care to share the cost breakdown of fulltime living. I list fuel, RV parks 50 bucks a night for 365 nights = 18250. Wow that is more I spend on my stix house in a year. Am I missing something?

I've got our breakdown in the blog, plus I've got links to 5 other fulltimer's finances:

http://wheelingit.wordpress.com/2011...ll-time-rving/

$50/ night is steep unless you plan to spend all your time in private RV parks. We don't like to go much above $25/night and usually we spend less (in May /June we were on the order if $8/night). Lots of ways to cut costs and be flexible if you're creative.

[Billieg]

I'll break it down to a week. We are in a beautiful RV park in Pigeon forge TN. a high priced town for a week now leaving tomorrow. A weeks lot rent using Passport was $226. That included water, sewer, electric,WiFi and cable. At home a weeks worth of all that would be Electric - $75, Water $15, cable/internet - $50 and the insurance and taxes on the house $60 (we have no mortgage). So at home a week cost us $200 and on the road $26 dollars more. We still have to eat at home, we still spend money on gas and we still go out so living on the road is a bit more expensive but well worth it. If you add in the fuel costs it is more but if you go 200 - 300 miles and spend a week or 2 it's not that bad compared to living at home in a stick and brick. Right now we have a grand view of the smokey mts. as our front picture window and a lot of great neighbors. If you live where taxes and insurance are high and you have a mortgage then it might be less expensive to full time and look at all the adventures you will have.

One thing to look at is whether you are on the road or living in a stick/brick house you still have to eat, pay taxes, pay vehicle costs, health insurance etc. so you can't add all that into full timing as an "extra" cost. You need to compare all your at home costs versus your total costs on the road for a true comparison. I found that it will be around $5000 more a year to full time but for the adventures, fun and freedom it's worth it.

[jmtandem]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voyager35L I am weighing the options of brick versus fulltiming. Would anyone care to share the cost breakdown of fulltime living. I list fuel, RV parks 50 bucks a night for 365 nights = 18250. Wow that is more I spend on my stix house in a year. Am I missing something?

Actually, you are missing something, in fact a big something. Full time is a life style not an alternative to home ownership. Nobody said the RV lifestyle was inexpensive. It can be 'priceless' if approached properly and with the intent to see and do all you can. If you do not posess an adventure spirit or are more a homebody, the RV can be more expensive than home ownership especially if your home is paid for.

As to the $50 a night, that is high. Many RV parks have weekly or monthly rates. If you have to run the numbers, I would use something substantially less. The biggest cost is RV depreciation if you go with a new expensive RV, future replacement costs will not be insignificant. Many have RV'd away from a stick house and have never looked back. Others do it for a time and return. But, even for just some time, the experience to see and do can be priceless. My suggestion, don't run the numbers, they can't capture the non monetary aspects of quality of life issues.

[golden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voyager35L I am weighing the options of brick versus fulltiming. Would anyone care to share the cost breakdown of fulltime living. I list fuel, RV parks 50 bucks a night for 365 nights = 18250. Wow that is more I spend on my stix house in a year. Am I missing something?

Your figures are REALLY skewed unless you plan to stay at a different place every night. You get reduced rates for staying at one place for a longer period of time, i.e., weekly, monthly, six months, etc. You should be able to spend less than $6,000 a year, depending on your requirements and needs. You can spend more, it's all up to you.

Of course, this is for your lodging only, not your other expenses.

[Wanabee FTer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voyager35L I am weighing the options of brick versus fulltiming. Would anyone care to share the cost breakdown of fulltime living. I list fuel, RV parks 50 bucks a night for 365 nights = 18250. Wow that is more I spend on my stix house in a year. Am I missing something?

Figuring $50 per night is a little high unless you are going 1st class and never stay long enough to get a discount. We average $25-$30 per night or less depending on how long the stay is. I have stayed in some very nice parks that only charge $350-$450 per month plus metered electric. Generally you will get a discount for weekly rates and a large discount for monthly rates.
Fuel prices also fluctuate in accordance to how often and how far you travel every month. If you have a fuel efficient toad you can stay in one place for a month to get the best rate, then travel out from base up to a couple hundred miles to sight see an entire area at an affordable cost.
It's up to the individual how much money they want to spend to go full time.

[mick]

I pay 300.00 per month and NO MORE. If they charge more than that, It is out of my budget. I do not think that I live poorly either. It all depends on what you exjpect out of this lifestyle.

My elec runs 50.00 per month or less and since I do not do cold weather , my propane last me about 4 months for a tank up.

Water is free, wifi is free, cable is free, the pools are free and life is g r e a t .

If you are going to fulltime to see the u.s. , it will cost you a small fortune to do it quickly, but if you take your time , you can enjoy it for years to come, and if you dont live that long, you can exchange memories up there.

Some would say I am lucky that I have VA medical, but being disabled vet aint fun either. I do pay 40 bucks a month for a cell phone. And my dog eats about 35 dollars a month in food.

[Barbaraok]

After 5 years, we are averaging about $15/night. We use a lot of membership parks, 2-3 weeks of driving parking each summer, COE parks whenever possible, etc. We do spend more in the winter when we are in Mesa for 3 months, but that is off set by not having to fill the diesel tank on the MH for three months! We live comfortably, not fancy. Some times we do spend 35-40 a night for a few nights to see friends, families, or a special area; but that is balanced by a lot of nights at $0/night at membership parks.

Barb

[glennwest]

Wife and I full time but I also work full time. My job dictates where I park my camper. I weld for a living and work around my S&B got fewer and fewer. Less and less money. Hit the road and life is good. Seeing lots of country and making a great living. I do look forward to the day when work will not dictate where I stay. I'll also then install solar on my unit and not pay these high rv parks. I do mostly stay by the months and rates run from 250 to 550. Most include electricity.

[RickO]

During two years of full timing and staying exclusively at private RV parks we averaged $30/night CG cost with almost no effort to minimize these costs. IMO $50/night is double what you should budget on.

Rick

[Dr4Film]

Regarding CG fees, RV Park fees, overnight fees, whatever you want to call them, when full-time RVing, to reduce the high costs of the daily fees, we always pick a destination based on weather and a few other factors. Once we are there, we usually pay the monthly fee which is a heck of a lot cheaper than any daily rate. We also do Workamping at various places based on our schedule and preferences. That can reduce your expenses to near zero.

During transit from one destination to the other, we always find places to boondock fro one night versus having to find a RV park or CG to stay at. The only times we will choose a RV park to stay at is when we plan to visit a particular area for more than one day or if I have been driving everyday for too many days in a row and need a break, catch up on laundry, etc.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

[chofujohn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackm Considering the numerous advantages of an adventurous life on the road, why do you suppose so few people actually become full-time RVers? I’m not looking for the downside to full-time RVing. I’m simply wondering why more people don’t give it a try. Thanks for your opinions. Jack

I think I know the answer. I'm about 3 weeks from launching on my own full-timer career and I know the feelings I'm having as my time draws closer. To entertain the prospect of full-timing requires certain conditions be met. Most of us are mostly creatures of habit. We get used to a certain lifestyle and possessions are a big part of that. Houses, cars, boats, our furniture and all of our other possessions are the trappings that bind us to our current lifestyles. I must confess the thought of leaving everything behind can be a little stressful at first, but after a bit it become fun. When I look forward at the prospects that lie before me I see giant redwood forests, canyons, natural monuments, rivers and streams. I see mountains and valleys full of wonderful flora and fauna. And I see myself becoming integrated into that natural environment. I expect to become a better person for my new chosen lifestyle. If I can only travel and be truly free by ridding myself of my possessions then I see the trade being more than fair. How many of us can wake up in the morning to a bull elk bugling for his harem? How many of us fall asleep to the sound of a babbling brook, the hoot of an owl or the lonesome cry of wolves in Glacier or Yellowstone? Living on the road, I am told, is not a compromise to full-timers because the rewards so far outweigh the costs. Stick and brick houses along with all the other materialistic trappings are an albatross around the neck of free thinkers and those with adventurous souls. It's taken to the age of 60 for me to make this decision and transition. So, I don't really wonder much why others are hesitant. I'm still working on myself, to be honest. I believe I'm now one of those who no longer needs the kind of comfort and security that a stationary lifestyle provides. Being free means more than just picking up and traveling. It also means leaving our fears behind and becoming our true selves. We are the adventurers.

JD

[jmtandem]

JD,

Well said!

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonrover I think people have a tough time switching to full time is mainly because of money issues.

Well, maybe, maybe not.
I retired in 1998 with a pension and went back to work. We had planned to go full time when we both reached 65 (I'll be 65 in Jan and my wife in Dec 2012). Then my parents got sick and died within a month of each other. So we "inherited" all their worldly goods and the calls from creditors. No money left after their sickness and giving most of it away to my son.
Then, my step daughter died three years ago so we "inherited" her worldly goods, calls from her creditors, 3 cats AND two grandsons (9 and 16). She was on public assistance so the "worldly goods" weren't much. And no savings there either.
One grandson is out of high school but got grants to go to college and plans to keep living at home (without paying any room and board nor even his cell phone bill). The youngest is just going into the 6th grade.
Kind of ties us down!!
Our income when we fully retire will be over most couples working wage without touching any of the savings or IRA's
So, as you can see, money isn't keeping us from full timing! We are considering doing schooling for the youngest as we travel though. Schooling as we travel to various natural wonders and sites would be a real boon. I know it was when I was young!