Affording the RV Lifestyle

Sometimes those fun weekend getaways aren’t enough. After spending a couple days in one spot, you may find yourself wishing you’d spent longer there. Or maybe you just like traveling in general, more so than you do staying in one spot for an extended period of time. Whatever the reason, lots of people switch to long-term or full-time RVing. This can be incredibly fulfilling and exciting, but it’s not free. Even with all the great savings you get through RVing, you’ll need to be careful about how you handle your finances when you’re on the road. 

Set a Realistic Budget

The most important tip to keep in mind is that you need to be honest with yourself. Set aside the excitement that can tempt you to overlook some of the practical concerns. You need to figure out how you’ll be spending your money in order to afford this lifestyle. You don’t want to set your RV campground standards too high and blow through your savings virtually within the first few weeks. 

This is going to require some research and some math. Figure out what the range of prices is for campgrounds, fuel, food, and other big spending points and decide which expenses are reasonable for you. This will be especially important if you’re still deciding on an RV to travel in. In that case, you’ll also want to think about how the down payment and financing are going to eat into your budget and whether or not you should consider sacrificing some of the more luxurious features.

Find Ways to Save

Your initial budget predictions are probably a little shocking. It’s not unusual to think you can spend more than you can afford, you’ll just need to be proactive about how you create a more reasonable budget for yourself. This will probably mean finding areas where you can save a little bit of money. Consider finding cheaper campgrounds, maybe on federal land, so you’re not spending so much on campground fees. Or, if you are staying at an RV park, ask about long-term rates given on a weekly or monthly basis. 

There are other ways you can save money, like driving in a way that maximizes fuel efficiency. Adhere to all speed limit recommendations and avoid accelerating or braking too hard. Minimize how often you eat out, even if it helps you save space in your cupboards. There might also be cheaper activities you can take advantage of. Stop by an expansive national park, rather than an expensive amusement park. Be diligent about finding areas where you might be able to save some money, because all those little savings are going to add up.

Ready to embark on your own journey and shop for RVs for sale? Head over to your RV dealership, Horn Rapids RV, based in Richland, Washington. We also serve those in the Kennewick, Washington, area. Your RV lifestyle doesn’t have to just be a dream.