With home prices dropping, IMHO the sooner you put your house on the market, the better. I saw the writing on the wall last year and put my house up for sale, and now I'm renting until I hit the road. The year's rent is less than the value that the house has lost. The fact that you have a year left on your mortgage is immaterial.
You will probably find a place to "live" and register your vehicles that will substantially reduce those budget figures for insurance and registrations. Also, the figures for phone and internet look higher than average, so you might find alternatives there.
I agree about the RV Camp Fees - I used the rule of thumb of $35.00 per day.
Some of the Parks will meter your electricity, even for a months stay - thus the $30.00.
Repairs will come from the Emergency funds in savings- the Maintenance expense I consider to be routine.
A lot of the items listed in my Fulltime Budget is included in my Debt Reduction Budget under Misc. I just happened to itemized them in more detail in the Fulltime Budget since we will be doing more exploring and sightseeing on the road.
We have really cut down our expenses and are conserving our money during this time while we are still living in the home and working. This extra money is going into Savings.
We thought about the renting idea but immediately eliminated that idea. We do not want to deal with the home or California once we retire.
I thank you for your insights and thoughts because this is important to us.
As I stated before I know that there is a lot of flexibility budgeting for fulltiming. But I think I should start out high to see if we have the funds and not try to make the budget fit and then hit the road only to find out that we don't have the funds to support this lifestyle.
Another thing to consider is that if you are going to be in one place for a while, weekly and monthly rates are much cheaper. No one pays the $35/night fee when staying for a whole month. Generally the weekly rate is the same as 5 or 6 nights and the monthly rate is usually about 2.5 weeks worth. And staying longer means you are burning less fuel with each move. Also make sure you join Passport America in order to get some nights each month at 50% off of the regular rate. Every little bit helps.
Barb
Barb & Dave - full-timing Traveling catpanions Kit (age 18) and Shadow (age 11) Figment II (2002 Alpine 36 MDDS) Mischief (2004 Subaru Forester Toad) FMCA - F337834, SKP #90761 http://homepage.mac.com/barbaraok/ Our blog
"Is it slipping away?" It's certainly changing. I believe the workforce is changing so quickly that there will be a number of part-time / temporary employment opportunities available for those wanting to supplement their income. It won't be enough to support all the single mom's out there but a person of 60ish living a mobile life will be able to add a little to the retirement income.
From someplace in SE Wisconsin
2006 Silverado 2500 Ext-cab / reg box / D/A
2006 Jayco Eagle 325BHS
2001 Goldwing, Cyclemate trailer and a tent (to remind me why we have the Jayco)
1999 BMW 1200C (007 bike) too cool to part with
Anytime one has a dream there will always be the "is it slipping away" question. Whether that dream is to retire at 60 or full-time or take a cruise at a certain stage of our lives. Whatever the dream there are always concerns whether it be health or wealth.
Our daughter asked us the other day what our future plans were. I knew what she meant .. it sounded like her in-laws talking .. an apartment? or ? And I told her that as long as we could, we were going to stay on the road. That there was a retreat/conference center at which the staff hinted that we could come and stay as long as we wanted to volunteer. It is 3-4 hours from here.
Is our dream/plan to go across America one more time feasible in this economy? There will always be anxious moments .. now I am going to tell my age .. in 1975 we hooked up the tent trailer and went from Washington State to Pittsburgh. The difference then and now as far as the economy is concerned is the same .. fuel crunch, etc. followed by years when we were almost scorned for the gas hog we drove at the time. We had a 40 gal gas tank in at a time when fuel was high and there were fuel scares.
So as far as this household is concerned .. the dream is still as feasible as it will ever be. Our health is more of a factor than wealth (or lack of).
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.... its learning to dance in the rain!
Traveling down the Road "Side by Side"
2004 Alpenlite TT 28RL
2008 Suburban 2500 Lt
Home Base: Tri-Cities WA - North America
BarbaraOK wrote: Another thing to consider is that if you are going to be in one place for a while, weekly and monthly rates are much cheaper. No one pays the $35/night fee when staying for a whole month. Generally the weekly rate is the same as 5 or 6 nights and the monthly rate is usually about 2.5 weeks worth. And staying longer means you are burning less fuel with each move. Also make sure you join Passport America in order to get some nights each month at 50% off of the regular rate. Every little bit helps.Barb
Exactly! I am at the learning curve about monthly rates. I needed to stay an extra 10 days to wait for repairs and when I told the manager to bill me for 10 days......it was cheaper to stay a full month!!
From what I have learned so far from the 'seasoned ones' is staying a month at each place as you travel down the road is waaaay less expensive. Throw in those specials of 99.00 to 200.00 /per month and you have saved quite a bit of money. Heck, it's not like we have to be anywhere special on a certain date now do we?
Even with the few curve balls that have been thrown my way I am
so happy being full-time. It's an adjust as you go kind of life.
I'm still fairly new at the game, but always grateful for suggestions and advice from those that have been there done that. I've learned so much staying here for a month from the fulltimers parked here that will help me avoid some of the pitfalls. Yup, monthly stays are good.
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 BlueOx Aventa LX We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth also, well maybe 4 cents
We started full timing 4 and 1/2 years ago, costs were lower then, much higher now.
We kept our house, so we did have bills with that, sold that 2 years ago.
You figure, now, no property tax, no oil heating costs, no electric, water, sewer, trash removel, no snow to shovel, etc, etc, etc.
Phone costs more, cell phone, trade off is fuel costs.
We bought an ODW, TTN memberships, also PPA. So far this year, our average costs per night are under #12.00. We also stop on the way to another campground over night at Wal-Mart.
There is also another way to help off set the costs for fuel, is to get a small job for a couple of hours a week, and that helps. We have not had to do that yet.
We have found out that most campgrounds charge for 6 days and you get the 7th free. Stay 2 weeks get 2 days free, 3 weeks get forth week free. We are just staying in the Lanc PA area, staying 2 weeks free with ODW, then move 30 miles to a TTN free, when I say free, we do have to pay for fees associated with the resorts.
Last year we went to Alaska, so everything was higher, here is a break down.
2007
15,940 miles
MH fuel - $ 7,485.00 monthly cost $ 624.00
Propane - $ 252.00 monthly cost $ 21.00
Campground fees & stays - $ 5,840.00 monthly cost $ 449.00
Per daily cost of all three - $ 37.20
2008
2,917 miles
mh fuel - $ 1617.00, monthly cost $ 231.00
propane - $ 146.00, monthly cost $ 21.00
campground fees & stays - $ 3,113.00, monthly cost $ 263.00
Per daily cost of all three - $ 25.00
Elmer
Elmer & Sharon
USN-(62-66)
Hacksaw, Congo Gray Parrot
Aries, Himalayan Pussy Cat
05-40 QDH Phaeton
05 Explorer Sport Trac
FMCA # 124188
Good Sam Life Member
Offline
