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05-10-2015, 03:33 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2
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Living on $3.000 a month
Is it realistic assuming new 28' AS new truck no debt to live and travel comfortably within reason long term. Solo. What % is typical for rent, food, gas and maintenance?
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05-10-2015, 03:51 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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We live on that. It can be done. Nothing financed. Largest expense is realestate taxes and home insurance. We are over sixty five so on medicare with supplements. Auto ins, cable bill, and of course the highest utility rates in the state are other costs. If anything unusual comes up we have to pull the money from our small savings. I think we can do this for another few years before we will have to sell the Avion and quit traveling. So if circumstances are right, it can be done. Just be frugal. Wait, if you are living in the AS that would take away about 150 per month away from our expense but might add on more tow vehicle costs. Jim
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05-10-2015, 03:58 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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If you are full timing places like top,of ga are about two hundred a month for full hookups. You can stay there for extended periods. Jim
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05-10-2015, 04:01 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2014 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Chelsea
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,792
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__________________
Bob Martel
WBCCI# 5766
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05-10-2015, 04:05 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,167
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Only you can tell whether you can live on that amount or not. Add up all of your fixed expenses (life insurance, health insurance, vehicle insurance, taxes, etc.), add in a grocery budget, eating out budget, entertainment budget, etc. Figure out an amount to set aside for maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
Now comes the tricky part. How much should you budget for the campsite? If you like to stay in resorts you will need to budget more than if you are staying in city or county parks. COE, State, and Federal parks generally have a time limit for how long you can stay, while commercial campgrounds often offer a discounted monthly rate. Your tow vehicle will use more fuel when towing than when being driven without your Airstream, so you will need to estimate how much of each kind of driving you will do.
Once you have crunched all the numbers you will have a better idea of what income you will need. Oh yes, don't forget that someday you will want/need to replace one or both vehicles. Better budget something for that, too.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
AIR 54240
Heartland mpg 181 (sold)
1993 Foretravel U300 (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
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05-10-2015, 04:55 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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If it is "take home" money. Yes. There are a lot of people in this country living on that and less. Extended stays can reduce the costs because of reduction in fuel expenses.
Sent from my iPod touch using Airstream Forums
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05-10-2015, 07:05 PM
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#7
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Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
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Yup, we do that with a family of 4 and it comes to about 30% of our income, which is how I do it.
30% living expenses. 50% savings, 20% for play.
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
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05-10-2015, 09:25 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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Lots of variables
The data I have is 10-15 years old. But an expert single full timer for 5 years, spent 21 grand a year. Airstream Fred said he AVERAGED $8 a night for campsites. ( free camping/campground mix) Both could do vehicle repairs.
Some festivals can be a fun, and inexpensive option. I have stayed up to six days for $80. Work camping, friends driveways, BLM Lands, volunteering at festivals, riverside fishing parking spots, hunting ground parking lots, Truck Stops etc, all keep costs down.
It depends on how much you move around, price of fuel, weather, how much you eat out, where you spend the night. I would say you could do it on $36 K annually.
Figure out your fixed costs ( phone, internet, insurance etc ) and make a budget for food, gas, lodging, entertainment. don't forget repairs and bad luck expenses
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05-11-2015, 07:02 AM
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#9
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Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
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One thing in our research and now experience, it seems that camping is simply cheaper out west by and large than on the east coast. Even state parks and such, prices are hugely different. We're averaging 20~27 a night on the east coast here, and our friends out west are paying half that. If you want to live cheaper on the road, go west my friends.
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
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05-11-2015, 07:06 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2007 25' International CCD FB
Northridge
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 516
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Check out:
rvsueandcrew.net
Although not in an airstream, she lives off much less and posts monthly financials.
Aluminarium.com
Also posts their expenses.
LilNomad
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05-11-2015, 07:20 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Military retirees can take advantage of family/recreation camps located at or near many bases. Monthly fees can be much lower than commercial or state parks. Another alternative is work camping. Usually these opportunities run for three months and include free camping and utilities. The biggest budget eater of course is fuel if you do a lot of traveling. Gas prices are on the rise once again. In my area regular gas has passed diesel prices at the pump.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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05-11-2015, 08:04 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,103
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Not terribly realistic for someone who can afford a new Airstream and truck, in my opinion. Probably depends a lot on your age and health and how much you want to move. I have thought about it because that is about what our gross SS checks are a year.
As senior citizens, our health insurance, including the nursing home insurance, is $9000 a year. You will be driving a truck so your fuel cost will be relatively high.
Could it be done? Sure. We have a leased lot in a very nice resort in Florida that is $3300 per year, including water, sewage, internet, storage shed, golf, and TV. Have to pay electric at a $25 a month minimum. So living there would be relatively cheap. But traveling the country would be more expensive. I expect you will have to work at keeping the costs down.
You might look into the Airstream parks in Lacy, WA, Texas, GA, PA, TN, GA, and Fl as low cost home bases or lengthy travel stops.
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05-11-2015, 08:15 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2013 27' FB International
El Dorado Hills
, California
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,023
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Here in California camping fees have gone up quite a bit in last few years. Most state and federal parks are in the $35 plus per night range. Most nice private parks are closer to $50 a night. That's about $1000 to $1500 a month. Certainly you can find much cheaper in distant less desirable neighborhoods, but then again what's the point a being somewhere nice bit not being where it's nice.
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05-11-2015, 08:25 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2014 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Chelsea
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,792
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Another thing to consider in keeping your costs down is to plan for long term stays of a week or a month at a particular campground. Many CG's (especially the private ones) offer significant discounts for weekly and monthly stays. Often the cost of monthly stays are half or more the single night cost. Another economic side benefit of this approach is that you will use less fuel to drag your trailer around.
__________________
Bob Martel
WBCCI# 5766
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05-11-2015, 11:33 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Absolutely you can live on that and less. I live on less than that with debt.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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05-11-2015, 12:14 PM
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#16
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New Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2
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Basically no debt at all. Money in the bank. All new equipment all paid off. Looks like $4k may be more realistic. Thank you for all the inputs
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05-12-2015, 06:01 AM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
2007 27' Classic FB
Tupper Lake
, New York
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 27
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13 years of keeping a expense travel log & visiting all of the lower 48 states, I figure it's cost my husband & I an average of $1 per mile. We are part time, use our Interagency pass for Army corps of Engineers, national parks, national monuments, dry camp on BLM land, national forests along with www.freecampgrounds.com, our Passport America & least of all Good Sam's membership.
Julie Hunter
Wes Jennings
2007 27' Classic
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05-12-2015, 11:12 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Mission
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 56
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House sitting
Have you considered house sitting? Most want someone there while they travel and only require caring for pets/plants. Just be sure they have room to park your rig. Hosting @ state/federal parks is an option, but usually requires a longer commitment and may require some duties. Some even pay a stipend of $25/day or so. Many options since you don't have a house to pay for/maintain.
Good for U!
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