How do you justify your motorhome MPG?

[wyorancher]

Originally Posted by wanderso

These days, I ride a bus to/from work in downtown. This saves as follows per year: (2011 Subaru Outback)

8,200 commuting miles
310 gallons of fuel @ $4/gallon
2 extra oil changes @ $35 each
$300 insurance savings due to reduced mileage policy
$1440 in parking
= $3050 per year

Above doesn't even include depreciation, wear & tear and other maintenance.

That's $3,050 in real cash to pay for for fuel and travel costs for the RV "hobby". We all know that it doesn't offset the overall cost, but it is a start. In this case, all just for being willing to ride a bus for 20 minutes longer than driving each way. I guess I see that as worth it for the vacation payback and I can do my email on the bus anyway, getting back part of the commute time lost and less stress.

For those not yet retired, how do you justify your motorhome MPG? No snide comments please. .

Look how more you could save if you walked to work.

[wanderso]

Nice. And added exercise too. . In this case I am spoiled in that the company I work for subsidizes the cost of a bus pass so that it is only $50 per year.

[wincrasher]

These threads would be much more interesting if people would address the OP and not go down these rabbit holes.

The OP was addressing working people. You remember those days when you had all these demands on your money? House, kids, debts, saving?

The OP rides the bus to generate savings to offset her RV hobby. I think that's great! She has a car, so obviously it's not something she has to do, but I assume she does it so that her other money priorities are not effected. I think younger folks are turned off by RVing because the think the can't afford it.

My mother used to do crafts during the year and sell them so she'd have extra money for Christmas. It wasn't that we wouldn't have one if she didn't, but it made it easier.

That's the point of this thread.

So it would be interesting to know if some of you WORKING people do similar things. Maybe some of you don't and spend whatever you like. That is fine, but not the question.

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

These threads would be much more interesting if people would address the OP and not go down these rabbit holes.

The OP was addressing working people. You remember those days when you had all these demands on your money? House, kids, debts, saving?

The OP rides the bus to generate savings to offset her RV hobby. I think that's great! She has a car, so obviously it's not something she has to do, but I assume she does it so that her other money priorities are not effected. I think younger folks are turned off by RVing because the think the can't afford it.

My mother used to do crafts during the year and sell them so she'd have extra money for Christmas. It wasn't that we wouldn't have one if she didn't, but it made it easier.

That's the point of this thread.

So it would be interesting to know if some of you WORKING people do similar things. Maybe some of you don't and spend whatever you like. That is fine, but not the question.

OK, I still work, when we bought our Coach 5 years ago, the amount of money that we spent was a amount that would not interfere with anything in our lives that we do. We use it over 6 weeks out of the year traveling on vacation (paid vacation from work)plus weekends That said, money for vacation in it, fuel, maintance, repairs, etc. will all drag the fun out of RV'ing if one has over spent when buying. As far a justification, I think people only have to do this if they are living way beyond their means. I am not trying to be mean here, just my take on this. I have never had to "Justify" anything I ever bought, if I could afford it, need it, want it, and the biggest part of the purchase.......can I afford it with all the expenses that will come attached to the item , I buy it. My justification is that I wanted it and could afford it without making changes in my life to have it.
Some futher reading...... http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/anyo...it-211656.html

[koda59]

Why did we buy our rv when still working? I size it up to two of my brother-in -laws. They had all these plans when they retired. They never got to retire. They never got to make the memories that we have to cherish when we get old. Each one died from cancer at a relative young age. We are making those memories now for when the Lord says one of our time to come home is here. Will I continue to travel in the rv if my wife passes before me? Yes, That is where we enjoyed our time together and where I feel I will be the closest to her.

[Doggy Daddy]

It's a matter of individual choice. Some people enjoy traveling and others don't. Some prefer to take planes, cruises and stay in hotels while others want to experience things up close.

How does a guy justify getting married with the potential problem of loosing ownership of a house, car, and paying alimony for life WHEN Renting/leasing and changing models anytime can be more advantageous.

[wyorancher]

Some very good posts on saving money with RV. I've been RVing since the 60s. In 89 I bought a new 34' Fleetwood Pace Arrow. I sold it in 94. I kept very good records. I added up what it cost me and during that time I could have stayed in the best hotels/motels for less. So why do I still throw money into an RV? It is what I enjoy. I don't even care what the MPG is. For those wanting to save money my advise would be don't buy a boat, airplane, or RV. Buy a compact car and stay in motels. JMHO

[dezolen]

If I was worried about gas consumption I would not have bought one.
How many beers per hour does one need to keep themselves going?

[f14av8r]

Really, no "snide" comments. Trust me, if you post flamebait like this you WILL get some snide comments - like this one.

I don't need, want or intend to JUSTIFY my motorhome MPG. I work hard and contribute to society. When I want to consume, I'll use my labor exchange coupons (dollars) however I like. Please don't any of you tree huggers start taking pot shots at my 10 mpg rolling home. Do you really think the electricity for your Volt or Prius is FREE? Nope, you're burning coal, oil or some other energy source just like me. And, when I reach my destination, I'm totally self contained. No power plant is keeping me going. Anyway - I can't believe somebody actually asked this question on a forum. I say again - REALLY!

[DMTTRANSPORT]

We only live once.....

[Jeff and Cheryl]

An interesting question here. Unfortunate that the word "justify" was used. It seems to imply that having a MH is in some way dasterdly or of questionable value or in some other way sinful so should be justified.
Having said that, I don't justify it. I use my money as I see fit and on the things that give me pleasure.
When working I drove econo-cars, bought new twice, drove all the cars at least 7 years and 100K miles. Current car I've had 11 years and 110K miles and it gets 29 mpg in combined driving. I carpooled when I could, and DW was in a vanpool when she had a long commute. I'd have ridden a bus but the nearest bus stop was 4 miles away and my work was less than 1 mile from there. (If this makes me a tree-hugger, so it goes.)
We planned to travel when we were both retired. At first planning was for car travel. DW has digestive problems that make dining out regularly unfeasable. I have a form of Muscular Dystrophy which make toting suitcases difficult in the extreme. Fortunate for us that it doesn't interfere with driving/ carrying light loads short distances.
The fact that 9mpg is what the MH gets is just a fact of life. I try not to idle for a long time and otherwise be a good steward of the land and air. However, this is how we have chosen to live and as long as we can and want to, we will.

[Showkey]

35 years of business travel = hotels and marginal food in cities and towns I did want to be in.
Airline with a cattle car business model, airport delays and cancelations and marginal rental cars.......
Hotels have bed bugs

RV's need no further reasoning or justification...............

[catonine]

We only have to justify it to ourselves and that is pretty easy, we enjoy doing it. We worked hard and long for our money and this is one way we enjoy the fruits of our labor. Like another poster said, if you need to justify, don't buy a boat, airplane or an rv. Its your life and your money, enjoy both.

[hes4all]

3 simple words!

BECAUSE I CAN!