I don't consider myself 'cheap', but I am careful about how I spend. I think of RVing/camping as a recreational activity. I don't have to go but I want to go. A lot of the businesses that exist near recreational areas depend on seasonal income as some months are dead. They also have to offer competitive wages as all the businesses need help from a sometime limited pool of applicants. Save where you can at home and expect to spend a little more on your camping vacation. Support your favorite businesses. They are probably not getting rich, especially with the recent recession.
With vacations being so rare for people working, I can see people paying $5 for an ice cream item and write it off as part of the vacation cost. Same reason people will pay $9 for a bowl of popcorn and $7 for a drink at a movie theater.
Here in central TX, $35 for a paved site is a great deal. Other places can charge up to $75, maybe even in the triple digits if it is ROT weekend and all the Harley riders are in town.
I guess it is what you want and how badly you want it. I just paid 80 bucks a night for a water and 30 amp electric only site at Liberty Harbor Marina in NJ. You park on asphalt and your awning almost hits the guy next to you, but its right across the river from Manhattan and a short Light Rail ride up the river to see the fireworks, so the time savings and location offset the price. If the same CG was in Rollerrinkyville, OK, I wouldn't pull in the driveway. I dont shop ice cream or booze or food while Im on vacation, but I do shop it when Im stuck at home.
I did cringe when I had to fuel up. I'm old enough to remember gas at 28 cents a gallon, and a payrate of $1.25 an hour. Thought I had the world by the butt when I got a job for 3.00 an hour.
Dave
Mary, the world's best wife (1951-2009) R.I.P
Lizzy (the Boston)
Izzy & BuddyP - Gone but not forgotten
2005 Itasca Suncruiser 35A
Sometimes it doesn't make sense. For example, between Austin and Bastrop are a number of RV parks. A few of them which seem to be sardine can city when it comes to close parking, and they charge $10 to $20 more than an older RV park that charges $35, but has some space between units and nicely laid out.
mking wrote: For starters I'm in my early 50's.I do have a price in my mind as too what I'm willing to pay for certain things.It all comes down to supply and demand.My inlaws who are in their 70's see things differently than we do,especially when it comes to eating out.The max we paid for a C/G was $76 a night.And theres a few places that sooner or later we plan on visiting that charges $120 a night.Ouch!But if we want too go to these C/G's that is the going rate.I kinda look @ it in a different light.Is it a vacation trip?Or is it a get away trip locally?We tend to spend more if its a vacation trip,which usually involves a week or more.When we buy groceries every week we watch the prices of things,and plan our meals accordly.But then again when we camp we usually splurge.I guess its all in how you look @ it.
I must be cheap also, 'cause before I paid that much, I'd stay home, we've found many very nice places for Less than a quarter of that. I've never found anything that a CG had that was worth that much.
2007 Forester 2941DS
2005 KIA Spectra
Zamboni, Long Haired Mini Dachshund
You can have my RV, when you pry my cold dead fingers from the Steering Wheel
* This post was
edited 03/10/13 11:49pm by path1 *
(To cheap to buy new)
1990 37 ft 5th wheel that hasn't moved since 1996 (our best home)
1997 33 ft trailer (winter home in much warmer climate)
2005 25 ft M/H (our "stand up B" for traveling)
Not sure if 41 is young or old but I have walked away from regular stays at State Parks and Forest Service CG's the last couple of years. I now primarily boondock with zero fees.
2009 Komfort 256TS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 4x4 Cummins DRW
2005 Dodge Durango Limited AWD HEMI
2001 Sebring Convertible
1995 Miata M-Edition
2005 DRZ400
1 Wife 2 Boys UW & Bellevue College
1 Trixie (Bichon Frise)
Only 23 years to retirement!!!!
Everything is worth what you are willing to pay for it. Some seniors are willing to pay what it takes to get what they want and figure it out later if they live that long. Others want to bet on living to 100 and be able to pay their own way the whole time. I'm sitting next here next to my assistant, who is 30. I pay him well, and he squeezes blood out of every nickel, except when he has to pay more to buy American, which he does whenever possible. Then I also know a couple of about the same age, in which the wife will not allow a single item into the house that was not bought new at a store, and not WalMart. The poor husband is working three jobs to make this possible.
Everyone is different. In general, seniors tend to be more frugal because they have less discretionary income, except the ones who were smart enough to dump their investments before the bottom fell out, or who for other reasons are 1%-ers. In general, younger people are less frugal for 2oldman's first three reasons: -work, -aren't old and fussy, and -don't have much time. I disagree with his forth one, though: -haven't yet learned the value of things. Things have different values to different people.
I just wish the grumpy old farts would stop with the information about what things cost back before air-conditioning and computers, because most of us were alive then or have heard it about 47,000 times already.
When I was young, cokes and stuff cost 5 cents, then they added that little round red box that required you to stuff a penny in it.
I agree that young people have no clue as to what things "used" to cost and therefore have no way to compare prices. You tell a young person that MCdonalds was used to 25 cents for a burger, fries and coke and they look at you like an idiot.
And I think this is why a lot of things have gotten out of hand with prices. Just think of the discussions on this very forum about people paying full or 5% off MRSP. Without these type of discussions, young people have nothing to compare things to.
Campgrounds that are supported by the public dollar, should IMO be 10 bucks a night. If they cant do that, someone is wasting money. You have any idea how much taxes people pay that go to the state , cty, and Fed Parks?
But when you are paying a pension , 30 bucks an hour, new trucks to drive in, and free medical care for rangers, I suppose you have to expect that.
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But if we want too go to these C/G's that is the going rate.I kinda look @ it in a different light.Is it a vacation trip?Or is it a get away trip locally?We tend to spend more if its a vacation trip,which usually involves a week or more.When we buy groceries every week we watch the prices of things,and plan our meals accordly.But then again when we camp we usually splurge.I guess its all in how you look @ it.
2 Boys UW & Bellevue College
