Real value of site when workamping

[kcdogger]

Originally Posted by rbTN

Why it is that campgrounds think they should get full retail value of a monthly site, yet offer a lower than normal pay rate for your time? I mean if they want 600 for their site I can go anywhere and make that money and just pay the rent, why work for them? Their cost is far less than what they are asking for the site, it has to be or they would go out of business.

Workamping for a private campground, from what I see in ads, is only for couples willing to work for less than minimum wage.

Usually park's either offer a site for a certain amount of hours or charge a much lower than rate than the public rate for the site and pay full hours. Yes, you can always find a job at or slightly above minimum wage, but that doesn't come with a place to park your RV. Even Walmart would probably say "no" if you wanted to park your RV there for the duration of your work commitment.
You will never get rich work camping. The fact is the job does not require a level of skill, expertise or experience to warrant wages much above the minimum for the area. A few of the benefits are parks are often located in desirable locations. There are often perks that add up like free use of the laundry, discounts on things like propane and RV supplies. Your commitment time is often shorter than required for many jobs. There is often flexibility in the work schedule and most parks try to match schedules for spouses. The work is seldom physically or mentally taxing. And a lot of parks pay a completion of commitment bonus.

[DCMAC214]

Originally Posted by HDGoose

It will go on until the labor founds out. It appears that taxes are not being paid.

Similar situation with golf courses in the USA. They offer free golf in exchange for 'work'. Usually on the driving range, cart barn and some light manual stuff. One person decided that he wanted a premium tee time on a saturday morning. The golf course refused as that is a $$ slot. He got angry, reported them to the Florida department of labor. Most golf courses in Florida had to actually hire folks at minimum wage, take out taxes and such, cut back on how many folks were 'working', and dropped the free golf incentive. Many retirees were quite angry at the fellow as they used to golf for free during the week. This fellow even bragged about do this. I'd be surprised if he still golf's any place.

It is contrary to US laws to exchange 'work' for goods or services.

???

[Old-Biscuit]

Quote:
Originally Posted by HDGoose View Post
It will go on until the labor founds out. It appears that taxes are not being paid.

Similar situation with golf courses in the USA. They offer free golf in exchange for 'work'. Usually on the driving range, cart barn and some light manual stuff. One person decided that he wanted a premium tee time on a saturday morning. The golf course refused as that is a $$ slot. He got angry, reported them to the Florida department of labor. Most golf courses in Florida had to actually hire folks at minimum wage, take out taxes and such, cut back on how many folks were 'working', and dropped the free golf incentive. Many retirees were quite angry at the fellow as they used to golf for free during the week. This fellow even bragged about do this. I'd be surprised if he still golf's any place.

It is contrary to US laws to exchange 'work' for goods or services.

Originally Posted by DCMAC214

???

Not actually contrary to US Laws.....but is taxable for both parties


The IRS reminds all taxpayers that the fair market value of property or services received through a barter is taxable income. Both parties must report as income the value of the goods and services received in the exchange.

What Are the Tax Implications for Goods or Services Obtained in Bartering?
Since bartering is considered trading, you must report the fair market value of the goods or services in your income tax return. Likewise, if it is a business that engaged in the bartering, they must make reports of profits from bartering in their federal and state tax return forms.

IRS Topic 420-Bartering Income
https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420


But then there is that Publication 525 Taxable and NON Taxable Income

Meals and Lodging
You don't include in your income the value of meals and lodging provided to you and your family by your employer at no charge if the following conditions are met.

The meals are:
Furnished on the business premises of your employer, and
Furnished for the convenience of your employer.

The lodging is:
Furnished on the business premises of your employer,
Furnished for the convenience of your employer, and
A condition of your employment. (You must accept it in order to be able to properly perform your duties.)

So bartering with a CG for a CG Site in lieu of payment for hours worked is not taxable income
I think-----(probably why it is NOT reported/overlooked)

Tax/Incomes Laws are SOOOOOOO Confusing
One reason when I retired I RETIRED and do NOT work at all

[RVFred45]

Hi, I'm new to RVing and so I admit I don't know a lot, but I don't understand why the math involves 15 hrs per person, for a couple, and $8 per hr ($960 per month). From the ads that I have seem, a Camp Host couple typically works 20 hours per week, not 30, and typically makes not less than $10/hour for work over the 20 hours/month. I will fully agree however, that 20 hours/week or 87 hours/month is still a good deal for the campground. Be safe, Fred

[ernest917]

If your interest in workkamping is making money then you’re looking in the wrong place in most cases....

Most of us are happy to be able to spend an extended amount of time in a beautiful location without spending our money....

Look at it this way -

I’m working this coming summer at a beautiful CG in Maine....

My FHU campsite only requires me to work 26 hrs a week... (if I work more than 26 hrs then all hrs over are deducted from next weeks schedule). My wife isn’t required to work...

In addition, for 5 months I’m not burning diesel which is a major savings....

So in reality from the money I’ll spend this summer there’ll be zero for camping and zero for fuel for coach... In my way of thinking I come out ahead....

[twogypsies]

If you have issues with workkamping costs then volunteering may be for you.

We volunteered for 16 years but not constantly - usually 2 or 3 6-week commitments during the year. We picked places in areas that we really wanted to explore in depth on our days off. We loved interpretative gigs, especially giving lighthouse tours. These kinds of opportunities come with state or national parks, normally. We'd get a free camp site with firewood; sometimes propane, for approx. 24 hr./week. There are many different types of work to be done; not just camp hosting. You could do carpentry, maintenance, landscaping, trail work or just being a presence on the trails looking out for issues, children's activities, manning the office and checking in campers, etc. We never did bathrooms. In fact, in national parks they have maintenance rangers cleaning bathrooms; not volunteers.

The reason for volunteering - for us, anyway - was that we felt we were giving back to places that really need the help and places we love to stay. Volunteers are really appreciated; rather than some paid workkamper jobs we've heard about. The park rangers included us in on special behind-the-scenes opportunities. Local establishments sometimes give the rangers special offers to give to their volunteers. They included us in on their potlucks or even took us out for a meal. We made good friends with them and 20 yr. later are still friends with some.

I don't believe parks that utilize volunteers or paid workkampers are taking advantage of them. If you don't take the job there are plenty of others that will for reasons of their own. I will say that once you accept a position you should stick it out and not leave them in a bind. Investigate what is all involved before you begin so there are no surprises.

[ernest917]

One more point - our Summer CG has a daily rate of $40.... I figure I’m saving about $1,200 a month by “helping out” there....

In addition to not burning diesel, I figure I’m actually coming out ahead financially while enjoying northern Maine.....