No more rent moving to an RV

[Lou Schneider]

OP hasn't been back since two days after he started this thread back in November.

 

[Bart3500]

A good truck, a 5th wheel, campground rent, food, living expenses... It would be hard for me to do it on $2000 a month.

I believe a "good" would eat up most of the $2K monthly figure when you figure truck payments and insurance.

 

[Lou Schneider]

I believe a "good" would eat up most of the $2K monthly figure when you figure truck payments and insurance.

I've living quite comfortably within that amount of social security income since I retired 6 years ago. Many others are doing the same.

The key is planning before you cut the cord. Don't just buy an RV and hit the road. Get out of debt and build up an emergency fund first while you still have a good income. In my case I cut my expenses to the bone for a few years, basically following the Dave Ramsey plan before I heard of Dave Ramsey. Even simple things like packing a lunch instead of hitting the burger joint adds up in a surprisingly short amount of time. So does minimizing the number of streaming subscriptions and switching to cheaper cell phone and data plans (look at Visible).

Then make sure you have an economical place to stay if you have to come off the road. Nothing lasts forever. In my case it's a lot in an Escapees co-op park where I can stay as much or as little as I want.

And I don't believe in making car or RV payments. I always bought cars (mostly used) using saved up cash and did the same with my current travel rig, a truck and a smaller 5th wheel trailer. There will always be occasional repairs, large and small, but I have money set aside to cover them and as long as the cost of repairs average less than what would have been the monthly payments on a loan I figure I'm ahead of the game.

 

[DutchmenSport]

I did not read all the posts, this may have been brought up already....

If you purchase a camper, unless you pay for it in full, right out, you'll have a loan payment. And if you have a loan payment, you'll have to carry insurance.

Add the cost of a loan payment, that could easily run $600 or more a month, and then add insurance payments every month, and then add the cost of licensing the camper, and then add the cost of the campground / park rental fees, and you can easily reach $2000 a month.

If you travel and stay in developed campgrounds, you can expect $35 a night (or more) in state parks, and up to $120 (or more) a night in private campgrounds. That adds up fast.

There are creative way to reduce campground fees, but there is no creative way to reduce the monthly loan and insurance payment.

(If you stay in an established RV park long term, or a mobile home setting, you may be required to have proof of insurance too in order to stay there.)

 

[Lou Schneider]

There are creative way to reduce campground fees, but there is no creative way to reduce the monthly loan and insurance payment.

Except to save in advance and pay cash. A $30k 5 year loan at 10% interest is $637 a month.

Put away $437 a month for the same 5 years ($200 a month less, or 68% of the loan payment) at just 5% compounding interest and you'll wind up with the same $30k.

Strip away all the fluff and that's the basis of the Dave Ramsey plan.

 

[RayIN]

I've living quite comfortably within that amount of social security income since I retired 6 years ago. Many others are doing the same.

The key is planning before you cut the cord. Don't just buy an RV and hit the road. Get out of debt and build up an emergency fund first while you still have a good income. In my case I cut my expenses to the bone for a few years, basically following the Dave Ramsey plan before I heard of Dave Ramsey. Even simple things like packing a lunch instead of hitting the burger joint adds up in a surprisingly short amount of time. So does minimizing the number of streaming subscriptions and switching to cheaper cell phone and data plans (look at Visible).

Then make sure you have an economical place to stay if you have to come off the road. Nothing lasts forever. In my case it's a lot in an Escapees co-op park where I can stay as much or as little as I want.

And I don't believe in making car or RV payments. I always bought cars (mostly used) using saved up cash and did the same with my current travel rig, a truck and a smaller 5th wheel trailer. There will always be occasional repairs, large and small, but I have money set aside to cover them and as long as the cost of repairs average less than what would have been the monthly payments on a loan I figure I'm ahead of the game.

Along this line of thought; Many years ago I began keeping a pocket-size "log book" of my expenses over $1. After 1 month I could plainly see where my money was going and where I could cut expenses.
Today that might have to be modified to anything over $5, cause you can't even buy a pack of gum for $1 now.

 

[TheBar]

Along this line of thought; Many years ago I began keeping a pocket-size "log book" of my expenses over $1. After 1 month I could plainly see where my money was going and where I could cut expenses.
Today that might have to be modified to anything over $5, cause you can't even buy a pack of gum for $1 now.

That is the reason why I charge almost everything to one cashback credit card and everything else like utilities and taxes to another. Even one coke at 7/11 is paid by card.

Not only does it maximize my cash back but on my bill I can easily see where every dime went. My pharmacy is the only place that charges 3% to use a credit card but I get 2% back so it's a moot point..

Now that property taxes, license plates, and utilities can all be paid automatically by credit card or wire transfer I haven't written a check in 22 months and I haven't paid for anything with cash for years.

And no more check writing sessions, envelopes, and stamps. No more balancing a checkbook. What a convivence it is to have everything paid automatically except the 2 credit card bills. All I have to do is monitor the amounts of charges and where the money went.

 

[DonTom]

I haven't written a check in 22 months and I haven't paid for anything with cash for years.

I rarely use cash or checks. But the last time I used a check was a couple of weeks ago at Twin Buttes RV (park), they do not accept CCs.

I make sure I always have a checkbook with me when I travel.

I also use checks for my quarterly FIT payments. I used to do that online too, but they made the security so tight just to pay or view my payments that it is a lot easier to write the check and use a stamp! And then see the payments clear at the bank online. Easier than using the Fed's online bank for such, which I did for a couple of years.

-Don- Why, AZ

 

[Lou Schneider]

That is the reason why I charge almost everything to one cashback credit card and everything else like utilities and taxes to another. Even one coke at 7/11 is paid by card.

I do the same, but be aware that merchants may start refusing to accept cash back cards. They tend to have higher processing fees (to cover the cash back) and a November 2025 settlement gives merchants the right to reject high fee cards.

 

[DonTom]

and a November 2025 settlement gives merchants the right to reject high fee cards.

Or have the customer pay the CC fee. I see that fairly often these days.

-Don- Why, AZ

 

[Jackiemac]

Or have the customer pay the CC fee. I see that fairly often these days.

-Don- Why, AZ

You either pay it visibly or invisibly i reckon.

 

[DonTom]

You either pay it visibly or invisibly i reckon.

Sure, but you pay a little less with cash in such cases.

-Don- Why, AZ

 

[whiteva]

When the store or restaurant charges an extra 3 %, I write a check. Now they have to post the check, take it to the bank and hope the money will arrive in 5 or so days. I have argued it would be easier to forgive the 3% and often the cashier agrees and charges the reduced amount.
BTW: I most often leave the server's tip in cash. Some places hold the CC tip until payday. Always round up to an even dollar amount.

 

[TheBar]

Or have the customer pay the CC fee. I see that fairly often these days.

-Don- Why, AZ

I've seen the opposite. 30 years ago charging an extra 3% was common and many people used cash/checks. But not today. Also consider this. Pennies are no longer being minted. Stores may start charging cash customers 4% extra. All cash will eventually become digital.

It is both customers and businesses eliminating cash. What percentage of people want to go inside to pay for gas/diesel with cash? Walmart has a couple dozen self checkout stands and only a couple accept cash.

Stores prefer plastic to cut down on cash theft. I was a restaurant manager back in the 70's. We had to keep the register locked to keep the wait staff from stealing cash. We were held up a few times over the years. Criminals want cash not credit card receipts.

 

[Primerump]

It is both customers and businesses eliminating cash. What percentage of people want to go inside to pay for gas/diesel with cash? Walmart has a couple dozen self checkout stands and only a couple accept cash.

interesting, I used to use a credit card almost exclusivley, now I carry a wad of cash and prefer paying cash, especially at gas stations that charge an extra 30 cents per gallon for a CC payment.. !!!

 

[DonTom]

30 years ago charging an extra 3% was common

Not that I recall. I do recall gas stations would charge more for credit but that was later made illegal. But that did not last long and it is legal again.

IIRC, it was only gas stations that charged more for credit.

These days, anybody can charge more for using a credit card, but AFAIK, that was illegal for a few years.

-Don- Why, AZ

 

[DonTom]

an extra 30 cents per gallon for a CC payment.. !!!

That varies greatly. Some gas stations charge 30 cents more and others have no change in price for using a CC.

BTW, some gas station cards, such as Valero, will give the cash price when used at Valero gas stations. I think there are a couple of exceptions where they still charge the CC price, but by far, most will give us the cash price with the Valero Card.

BTW, it's a hassle to fill up the 80-gallon gas tank in this motorhome with paying in cash.

-Don- Why, AZ

 

[Lou Schneider]

BTW: I most often leave the server's tip in cash. Some places hold the CC tip until payday. Always round up to an even dollar amount.

I tip generously if I get good service, a habit I learned from Bill Waugh when I saw him quietly leave a $100 bill on the table after we ate in a local Quartzsite restaurant last year. When I asked he said he could afford it, the friendly waitress worked hard and probably could use the extra money.

After thinking about it for a bit, I decided I could do the same, in spite of (or maybe because of) my being generally thrifty. Maybe not $100 at a time but a few extra bucks can make a big difference to someone struggling to get by.

Especially in a place where cheap prices makes the tips correspondingly less. Why should a waitress in a cheap place get a smaller tip than one who serves a more expensive meal in another restaurant? Both work just as hard. As one example, a restaurant I like inside a local casino charges $8 for eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast and $2 for coffee - $10 total including tax. I'll leave a $5 or $10 tip depending on the service. A 100% tip may seem excessive until you realize Denny's charges close to $20 (plus tip) for the same breakfast.

 

[DonTom]

I tip generously if I got good service

I think these days, they usually split the tips with the others, so your tipping for the lousy as well as good service at the same time.

IMO, they all should jack up their prices 20% and not accept tips. Like in most other countries.

I usually fund the best service in countries that will not accept tips, such as Japan or mainland China.

Much better service because ALL the waiters wait on you instead of just one.

-Don- Gunsight Wash, AZ

 

[Jackiemac]

I like the tipping culture as I really think it can lead to better service.