How Do You Do What You Do?

[Brent M]

Last time I figured, Gina and I were RVing pretty nicely on about $150/day. We use the RV to travel and see things for a couple months at a time. This is our usual MO, but it's been nearly 2 years. We hope it'll pick up soon provided family situations allow and more often maybe up to 6 months a year. We are both retired. At this daily allotment, we could do most anything we wanted if we practiced some restraint. For instance, staying in COE parks at a discount using my ATB pass, grilling and drinks at home vs going out on the town, and traveling every 3 to 5 days vs daily. Actually, we never travel daily unless we are on our way home. Now, the $150/day is what we plan for trip related--food, gas, campground costs, parks fees, eating out, propane, etc. Our income isn't based on that number as we still have sticks and bricks expenses to take care of like cable, water, electric, trash, etc. Please don't think I'm asking for anyone's personal info. Just, how do you do what you do? How often do you get out? When and how do you use your Grand Design? Do you cut back at times or go all out or something between?

Share if you want. I'm curious and I like making friends and getting to know folks.

Brent

 

[Scott and Jan]

We are still working age (me 44, wife 47) so we take mostly little trips for a long 3-4 day weekend, usually once a month. Every year we take 8-9 days and go somewhere in the mountains at Christmas. This past year we got to take two full weeks at Christmas, one week in mountains and one week in MS visiting family. In 2011 we got to take a 34 day trip out West, our favorite trip by far. Our son is a junior in high school, so it won't be too much longer before we can enjoy more long trips. We love every chance we get to use our Reflection, even if it's just in the backyard which we've been known to do frequently in between trips.

 

[Lingerlonger]

I'll play......

My lovely bride and I are semi-retired Feds. "Semi" means I work 1-2 days a month and she works maybe a couple days a week.
But both of us can take several weeks off if we want. I'm entirely ready to retire completely; she prefers to hang around a while longer.
She likes to maintain her contacts at work.

We have been in this mode for about 8 years. We do a lot of traveling/cruising, about 1/3 of it in our RV. We have visited 49 of the 50 states and several provinces in that time; not all by RV.
We still have the big house, which we hope to sell this summer. We'll stay in the area, but downsize significantly into a condo somewhere.
We don't feel like we can just lock & leave this big house for several weeks. In a condo, that will be easier.

We take a lot of 5 day weekend RV trips within a 250 mile radius, spring thru fall. Being a veteran and retired DoD feds, we can use the military FamCamps at many locations. Generally half the price of a private campground. Our entertainment costs are not much. I read and the wife watches TV, that's our normal entertainment excitement.
We will take at least one or two longer (2-3 week) RV trips each year.
We had planned to spend Jan-Mar this year in Florida with the RV, but we had some medical issues come up and shelved those plans.
We are on the reservation list at a couple of Florida resorts next year though.

Up until recently, we had a volunteer gig (military support related) that kept us busy here in the area 3-4 days a week.
We have cut way back on our involvement in that though. It was becoming almost like a job.

I don't expect we will ever go fulltime RV mode, but we will definitely be on the road more after we sell the big house.
When we get to that point, I am sure we will go somewhere and stay for several days - NOT moving every day.
I don't have the urge to RV across the entire country and back; we've seen a lot of it already.
On our local RV trips, we frequently have a couple grandkids with us.

Haven't had to pay much attention to budgeting (RV costs) yet. We do factor that in for planning other (non RV) trips.
Usually one big cruise per year, for example.

One of the benefits of continuing to work a little bit is it helps create the "mad money" for traveling.

I follow a few full-time RV'ers' blogs and FB pages, and there are plenty of folks out there who are doing it on WAY LESS $$.
If we did not have kids & grandkids in the area, we would probably get farther afield and might even consider workamping - just for the
opportunity to experience new things. As it is now, three months away for the winter is the most I have been able to talk Grandma into!

We joke about it, but it is probably true that we intend "to spend our kids inheritance."
At least as long as we are physically able to travel..........
I worked 45 years for this opportunity, and am gonna take advantage of it.

(That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!)

K

 

[TucsonJim]

For those who might strain their finances, there is always the opportunity to be a campground host or employee. Usually a free site with utilities, and some even offer pay.

 

[2hams]

Before we retired, we did long weekends and a two week or so trip each year. Since retiring, we have discovered that we no longer need to get away just to relax and instead travel to see sights, visit family, or escape too cold or too hot weather. We usually go for at least a week. Our longest trip was 7 weeks. When traveling we usually try to stay at least two nights every two or three days and stay at destinations between 5 and 10 nights. Our longest stay in one spot was 4 weeks this February in Florida.

At home we go out to eat about twice a month. On the road we go out about once a week, more if there is unique food or restaurants. We like to find farm stands and local food.

I track all of our expenses. We average about $100 a day, including maintenance items, groceries and eating out but not including the cost of the camper or insurance and storage. We tend to spend more on groceries when traveling. We also spend less for electric and gas at home when traveling. Considering that and groceries our net cost is $70 to $80 a day. I can't imagine what we would need to do to spend $150 a day.

We stay at private parks, state parks, and COE with electric to FHU. We've also found that campsites tend to be cheaper once you get west of the Mississippi, more expensive in popular destinations. We try to make use of weekly rates and Passport America when it works for our route and schedule. Guess we are getting older since we prefer to avoid state parks and COE on the weekends and stay home on holidays. We try to find places for our Golden Retriever to swim.

We will try to make one or two of the monthly campout with our dealer this year, and will probably stop at the Grand Design rally on the way home from either Glacier or upstate NY. We are also going to the get together at Anchor Down. When they finish the hardwood floor as part of our kitchen remodel next week, we might escape to a campground in Virginia Beach 20 minutes from home.

 

[Ditkitty]

Ken - Dave is also retired military - do most of the posts/bases around the country have the campgrounds, or are they limited?

I'll play......

My lovely bride and I are semi-retired Feds. "Semi" means I work 1-2 days a month and she works maybe a couple days a week.
But both of us can take several weeks off if we want. I'm entirely ready to retire completely; she prefers to hang around a while longer.
She likes to maintain her contacts at work.

We have been in this mode for about 8 years. We do a lot of traveling/cruising, about 1/3 of it in our RV. We have visited 49 of the 50 states and several provinces in that time; not all by RV.
We still have the big house, which we hope to sell this summer. We'll stay in the area, but downsize significantly into a condo somewhere.
We don't feel like we can just lock & leave this big house for several weeks. In a condo, that will be easier.

We take a lot of 5 day weekend RV trips within a 250 mile radius, spring thru fall. Being a veteran and retired DoD feds, we can use the military FamCamps at many locations. Generally half the price of a private campground. Our entertainment costs are not much. I read and the wife watches TV, that's our normal entertainment excitement.
We will take at least one or two longer (2-3 week) RV trips each year.
We had planned to spend Jan-Mar this year in Florida with the RV, but we had some medical issues come up and shelved those plans.
We are on the reservation list at a couple of Florida resorts next year though.

Up until recently, we had a volunteer gig (military support related) that kept us busy here in the area 3-4 days a week.
We have cut way back on our involvement in that though. It was becoming almost like a job.

I don't expect we will ever go fulltime RV mode, but we will definitely be on the road more after we sell the big house.
When we get to that point, I am sure we will go somewhere and stay for several days - NOT moving every day.
I don't have the urge to RV across the entire country and back; we've seen a lot of it already.
On our local RV trips, we frequently have a couple grandkids with us.

Haven't had to pay much attention to budgeting (RV costs) yet. We do factor that in for planning other (non RV) trips.
Usually one big cruise per year, for example.

One of the benefits of continuing to work a little bit is it helps create the "mad money" for traveling.

I follow a few full-time RV'ers' blogs and FB pages, and there are plenty of folks out there who are doing it on WAY LESS $$.
If we did not have kids & grandkids in the area, we would probably get farther afield and might even consider workamping - just for the
opportunity to experience new things. As it is now, three months away for the winter is the most I have been able to talk Grandma into!

We joke about it, but it is probably true that we intend "to spend our kids inheritance."
At least as long as we are physically able to travel..........
I worked 45 years for this opportunity, and am gonna take advantage of it.

(That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!)

K

 

[Lingerlonger]

Hi Dave & Diane --

Not ALL the bases have them, but MANY do.

Here's a good website to find one: http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/
The access requirements vary and some take reservations; others are first come/first served.

Generally, they are not "resorts," but most are very nice. I am not a retired vet, but am allowed to use some of them because of my retired DoD status and while I am still employed part-time by DoD. A CAC card is usually required.

Our favorites for local trips are in Bethany Beach, DE and Solomons, Maryland. Fort Meade MD, Fort AP Hill VA, Annapolis Naval Station, & Andrews AFB locally all have them.

Another good resource for info is a group on Facebook: Military Veterans RV Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/614174211996508/782241398523121/?notif_t=group_activity

Good luck!

K

 

[Brent M]

Some of the Famcamps are pretty awesome and some are quite modest. Most are clean and fairly cheap. I see there are some military here. If service-connected C&P, you can get the America the Beautiful (AT Access Pass for 50% camping. Read up on it at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm. I believe the senior pass and even others are a pretty good deal.

 

[dloase]

Like Scott and Jan (although older) we are both still working. So for now the GD is limited to weekends and once or twice a year other trips. We also us it as a home base for a local mission camp that we do each year. The church we "work" out of has even installed a 50 amp circuit dedicated just for our rig.

 

[Ditkitty]

Some of the Famcamps are pretty awesome and some are quite modest. Most are clean and fairly cheap. I see there are some military here. If service-connected C&P, you can get the America the Beautiful (AT Access Pass for 50% camping. Read up on it at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm. I believe the senior pass and even others are a pretty good deal.

Thanks to Ken & Brent & Gina - I will check out those resources for sure!

 

[WhittleBurner]

Our last 6 week outing we averaged about $60 a day, that included diesel fuel, dog food and groceries. We don't eat out much, most restaurants don't like 3 dogs sitting next to the tables.
We tend to camp on the cheap and prefer National forest and State parks. If you explore and dig around on line there are NFCGs with full hook ups out there.
We camp 1/2 off with the senior pass at the NFCGs. Also in that trip we went to VA , they offer 1/2 off camping for 100% disabled vets.

We like to stay in an area for a week or so and explore near by, so the fuel costs are at a minimum. The one thing that costs us considerably more is the dogs food because there aren't many discount dog feed stores on the road so we pay full retail (OUCH). Last trip I paid $12 more bag!! One way our costs are so low is we prefer to do more hiking and natural things. So we don't have entry fees or resort park expenses. Plus I like having 1 or 2 down days a week so those days don't add to any entertainment costs.

An example of how we camp, On our trip west this summer we'll be camping with ele @ a NFCG for 10 nights just 10 miles outside of the West Yellowstone enterance and it's cost us $140.

The one big thing that makes this affordable to do is we have no more house payment, it's paid off. Plus like Kay mentioned, we're not there so the house bills are less. We get rid of the landline so that is one less bill to pay as well.
Plus we tend to eat less junk foods on the road, and we don't eat much of it anyhow.