The unexpected things no one tells you about RV living

Biggest question for a full time RV’er… “How much less does it cost to live in an RV full time?”

You might be surprised by the small margin of how much cheaper it is and in our case, like a lot of others, can be more expensive!  So I have my following real life budget to post for you all and what to REALLY expect when full timing it (keeping in mind we aren’t even traveling yet).

REGULAR BORING SUBURBIA LIFE (aka NON RV living..)

Rent:  $600

(a bargain for a large family like us!  Thank you LORD for that cheap rent!)

Electric $250

Water/sewer/ trash $75

Fuel $100

(LOVE my diesel!!!)

Internet $30

Cell phones $200

Groceries $600

General Maintenance $300

(car/ home or otherwise)

Clothing $50

Entertainment  $100

(fun stuff with the kids)

Vehicle insurance $75

(never did get renters insurance :-S )

Medical/ Rx/ Herbal supplements $85-$500

(this can range from typical monthly meds and herbal/ homeopathic remedies to emergency care, doctors visits or naturopathic assistance, chiro care, you name it!  Lord knows we have racked up over 20K in one month in medical care more than once!)

TOTAL: $2165- $2665 Monthly expenses

RV LIFE

Lot/ space rent varies $500 – $800

(I am including all bills paid places and accounting for when you have to pay for water and electric.  The price varies dpeending on those amenities and also how nice the park is and what they offer)

Fuel $100

(though when traveling that goes up A LOT!!!)

Internet FREE

(we aim for free wi-fi places!  :-D)

Cell phones $200

Groceries $600

General Maintenance $400

(you maintain a vehicle much more than you do a home (most times… not all times)… so when your home becomes a vehicle it gets a little touchy… b/c then when its in the shop, you also have to pay for someplace to stay)

Clothing $50

Entertainment $100

(though when traveling that goes up)

Propane  $10

(to heat water and run oven/ stove.  Though I STRONGLY suggest a hybrid kit to convert your water heater to electric.  Just make sure you have enough amps.  We are blowing breakers and fuses left and right from power usage!  LOL!)

Laundry   $100

(depending on laundromat) (that’s right folks… RVs CAN have washers and dryers but frequently don’t and my family of 7 generates about a dozen loads of laundry per week)

Vehicle Insurance $75

Motorhome Insurance $100

Medical/ Rx/ Herbal supplements $85-$500

(this can range from typical monthly meds and herbal/ homeopathic remedies to emergency care, doctors visits or naturopathic assistance, chiro care, you name it!  Lord knows we have racked up over 20K in one month in medical care more than once!)

TOTAL:$2320- $3035

Here are some other budget break downs…

And THIS ONE from Families On the Road one of the BEST resources for full time RV’ers with kids!!!

So obviously we are still learning, not only to budget a large family, but to budget us into an RV.  So much to learn.  Planning on paying $400 out of pocket for monthly health insurance, change cell plans and cut the bill in more than half, also on adding solar panels and tankless water heater and other money saving goodies and we are ALWAYS looking for ways to lower costs.