As a fulltime RVer, I was asked today how I could possibly pay $4.60 a gallon for diesel to run my 40' coach. I answered that I paid about the same in diesel for a year as I paid for my property taxes on my house the last year I owned it. My friend just stopped and said "I never even thought of it that way!" I think we tend to focus on the short term costs (the fuel cost) rather than the much more significant long term costs such as taxes, house maintenance, coach depreciation, etc.
While I wish fuel was cheaper, I am not going to get too carried away on diesel cost when there are much more important issues to consider.
Cody47
2008 Winnebago Tour 40TD
http://fulltime-rv.blogspot.com/
I've got a different slant on this subject.
I fulltimed for a few years (made it possible to finally order a diesel pusher just the way we wanted).
The way I see the costs of living in a purpose-built stix/brix certainly doesn't have anything to do with the cost of buying diesel for the motorhome. To us, the costs of living in our house is justified by the fact that we are living in THIS house, and NOT in the motorhome. Sure, this means that I can NOT afford all the diesel I want, but we certainly would NOT choose to give up our new house just to be able to buy more diesel.
I want to say more, but I'm afraid this posting would be sent to the special place just for high-cost-of-fuel rants.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
Polishnurse wrote: I look at it as my summer home. If I had to pay taxes, up keep, utilities, the whole ball of wax, I'd be sending considerable more. JM$4.00worth Bill
Plus if you get tired of the view or the neighbors it will cost almost nothing to find a new or better place.
Cody47 wrote: As a fulltime RVer, I was asked today how I could possibly pay $4.60 a gallon for diesel to run my 40' coach. I answered that I paid about the same in diesel for a year as I paid for my property taxes on my house the last year I owned it. My friend just stopped and said "I never even thought of it that way!" I think we tend to focus on the short term costs (the fuel cost) rather than the much more significant long term costs such as taxes, house maintenance, coach depreciation, etc.
While I wish fuel was cheaper, I am not going to get too carried away on diesel cost when there are much more important issues to consider.
My wife looks at the budget with the house, MH and car payments, insurance on it all and gas, electric and water and wonders how we can ever afford to go full time. I keep pointing out to her that the MH, house and car will be paid for, the house sold and most of the rest will go away. I need to sit down with her and go over the costs of fulltiming (no house, MH or car payments, no property tax, no water, less electricity cost etc) vs owning a house, a MH and two cars (with the payments). Right now we're spending $300 a month on gasoline alone along with the other payments. Of course our income will go down (I'm retired but still working) she's still working full time but can retire in Aug. Looks like she can retire, take her retirment and still keep working at the same job. Her company is being bought out so we're just waiting to see how it all plays out, it was supposed to be finalized the end of last month but all the details didn't get worked out.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam, Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
Everyone is teeing off on fuel costs but the real issue and enemy of retirees is, as it has always been, is inflation.
My dear old friend financial guy always said; "The two mistakes everyone makes planning their retirement is underestimating their expenses and overestimating their returns".
Its true. Mid-course adjustments are a part of life. Depreciation of the RV is still the biggest expense.
We ARE eatin red beans and rice every Monday night.
Heck, I paid $38.40 for a gallon of Miller Lite at the local watering hole the other night (3.50/beer - no I didn't drink the whole gallon!). I venture to say I can go alot farther on a gallon of diesel than I can on a gallon of Miller Lite! And I probably won't get a headache from the diesel!
It's all relative! And remember, you can't choose your relatives so you might just as well have fun while you can!
Don Z.
'04 Dodge 2500 4x2
'07.5 Jayco Eagle 325BHS
oh yeah, and the wife, kids, and dog!
Diesel is cheaper than beer. Who's gonna stop drinking???
Offline
