My Introduction To An RV Travel Life
Quick Reference Table of Contents
How I found my RV Travel Life!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been chasing experiences over expenses, and a life of adventure, but the financial burdens of adulthood often felt like chains binding me to the ordinary.
My young adulthood was a constant dance between poverty and dead-end jobs to replace the mundane realities of life while I attempted to pursue my dreams of adventure.
I tried every trick in the book to escape, from tight-fisted budgeting, stretching my student loans to their limits and even exploring credit card reward programs.
I was a master of frugality, but my dance with poverty never found the delicate balance between responsibility and the care free spirit I so desired to be.
Until that one day, I stepped foot inside an RV, it was love at first sight.
I had found my accomplice to escape the drudgery of “Suburbia Capital of America.”
I found the vessel of freedom that I craved to support my reality with the flexibility I needed to pursue the adventures required to fuel my soul!!
I had accidentally stumbled upon RV travel life, and it was going to allow me to be financially responsible as well as live out my travel dreams for over two decades!
Are you tired of the daily grind? Exhausted with the rat race and looking to break free from the tedious to embrace the extraordinary?
Join the #vanlife revolution and experience the transformative power of RV travel life.
RVing is the modern-day nomad’s preferred lifestyle because it offers full-time travelers the perfect blend of comfort and adventure with a dedicated workspace to explore the world at their own pace!”
So why should you consider RV travel life? Here are some of the benefits of becoming a full-time RVer.
8 Reasons Why RV Travel is Superior to Other Forms of Travel
- Comfort and Convenience:
Unlike backpacking or Sailing, traveling by RV offers the comfort and convenience of home while you roam with all your possessions. Complete with kitchens, bathrooms, and sleeping areas. A stark contrast to the limited space and often uncomfortable conditions of backpacking or the complete isolation of sailing. - Storage Space:
RVs provide ample storage for all your belongings, including gear for your hobbies and activities. This means you can bring along everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
With more space for gear, you can explore a wide range of activities like skiing, climbing, hockey, kite surfing, and photography without breaking the bank on rental gear. - Modern Amenities:
Many RVs are equipped with modern amenities like air conditioning, heating, water, electricity and Wi-Fi. This makes your travels more comfortable and enjoyable, especially in extreme weather conditions. - Flexibility and Freedom:
RV travel offers unparalleled flexibility and freedom. You can choose your own itinerary, set your own pace, and explore destinations that interest you without being tied to a fixed schedule or location.
You can depart or arrive whenever and where ever you desire, and you don’t need a boarding pass. - Supportive Community:
The RV community is one of the most welcoming and supportive groups of travelers you’ll ever encounter because they share a common passion for adventure and the nomadic lifestyle, fostering a sense of camaraderie and belonging.
Whether you’re in the backcountry or at a vanlife meetup you’ll be amongst friends. - Remote Work Opportunities:
RVs are the ideal mobile workspace for remote workers, offering reliable electricity, comfortable workspaces, and ample storage for essential work supplies.
By working remotely your RV travel life you can explore significant tax advantages. Potentially allowing you to deduct camper payments or essential work supplies. - Digital Nomad Lifestyle:
Digital nomads adore the comfort and mobile workspace of a camper. Because with a reliable internet connection, you can work from anywhere and enjoy a location-independent lifestyle. - Unforgettable Experiences:
Hostels and Hotels have their perks, but imagine waking up to million-dollar views, for free, from your RV window.
From the rugged beauty of national parks to the serene tranquility of oceanfront beaches and mountaintops, traveling by RV offers the freedom to call home wherever your adventures may take you.
4 Additional Benefits of RV Living & This Nomadic Lifestyle
- Untethered Independence
RV travel life is a liberation from the mundane. Providing you with a canvas to paint your own adventure that traditional living just can’t match.
Imagine a life where your home is not a fixed address but a vessel of adventure, guided by your desires rather than your income.
- Adventure and Exploration:
When you’re no longer tethered to a single location, RV living allows you to embark on a continuous journey of discovery.
Because a house on wheels will constantly remind you that the most incredible adventures are often the ones we create ourselves from this nomadic lifestyle.
- Closer connection to nature:
Beyond the thrill of adventure, RV living offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature and find peace in the simplicity of life on the road.
Where you can easily engage in outdoor recreational activities like hiking, camping, fishing, and kayaking.
So your Instagram wall can feature a life of travel with magnificent waterfalls and sunsets over mundane pics of strip malls. Where the only cost to experience is a minimal park entrance fee or a healthy cardio workout.
- Cost-effective living
One of the most significant advantages of an RV travel life is its universally cheap cost of living.
Without the burden of rent or mortgage payments, you can significantly reduce your housing expenses and build up your savings while maintaining a high quality of life!
Because living in an RV allows you to be more flexible with your travel budget so you can choose between affordable campgrounds or more inclusive RV resorts. Rather than always relying on boondocking (camping for free on public lands) to further reduce your RV travel costs. - Healthier Diet
Traveling by RV full-time also allows you to significantly reduce your food expenses and enjoy the freedom of self-sufficiency by having the option to store months worth of food and cook your own meals for a healthier diet than always eating out at a restaurant.
Although I’ve touched on some of the financial cost-saving benefits of RV living, let’s dive into the specifics and examine the day-to-day costs to get a clearer picture of this nomadic lifestyle.
Practical Considerations For New Full-Time RV travelers
To join the ranks of savvy RVers who navigate the journey of RV life successfully, it’s essential to equip yourself with the right tools and knowledge.
From online communities to individual bloggers there’s a lot of crucial information waiting to help you get started on your RV travel life and help you avoid all the common RV mistakes.
One of the biggest hurdles, though, for new full-time RVers is developing a sensible budget to manage their finances effectively.
7 Budgeting Tips for Full-Time RVers
1. Track Your Expenses:
- Use a budgeting app or spreadsheet:
Keep track of all your income and expenses to have a clearer picture of your finances. - Categorize expenses:
Group expenses into categories like housing, transportation, food, utilities, and entertainment to identify areas where you can cut back. - My Favorite Financial Budgeting App: I use Copilot Money to keep my RV Travel Life finances in check.
2. Create a Realistic Budget:
- Estimate income and expenses: Consider your monthly income from all sources and list your expected expenses.
- Set financial goals: Determine your savings goals and prioritize expenses accordingly.
- Be flexible: Remember that your budget may need to be adjusted as your lifestyle and circumstances change. Closely monitoring & adjusting your travel budget is key to becoming a full-time RVer.
3. Build an Emergency Fund:
- Save for unexpected expenses: Every traveler knows life is full of curveballs. You should aim to have at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund.
- Consider a high-yield savings account: Maximize your savings by choosing a high-yield savings account.
- Explore Pre-Paid Loans: What I like to do is build my credit score while building my financial savings with pre-paid loans from self.inc. It’s a quirky way to fund RV travel life, but this is what I do.
- I always have 3-5 loans open at all times because the most you can do is a $3600 loan over 24 months, and I do not want to pay $581 in fees. So here’s what I do.
- I set up two 6-month loans at $50/month with the intent of pay them off at the six month mark. I do this for a couple of reasons, and the first one being to save me money. This loan will charge me 15.1% interest or $167 in fees.
If I pay it off at the six month mark I save myself $130 in fees, and for it to effect your credit score – lines of credit have to be open for at least a minimum of six months. I also choose to start one of these in January and one in March because when I pay them off it coincides end of the season travel times. - After I set up my little ones I also like to set up 2-3 big ones, and the only difference is to have them paid off within 10-12 months. So I set one up every September to have a healthy boost in my travel budget for my birthday, and another one in October to have Christmas shopping money. Sometimes I’ll setup a third one for any big trips I have planned.
So I pay minimal fees to have a healthy credit score using my own money instead of letting someone else use it to their benefit in a savings account, and you should to by signing up with self.inc.
***PRO TIP***
Your credit score will get a massive boost after payoff then level back down the next month so plan any new purchases around payoff time to get the best rates.
- I set up two 6-month loans at $50/month with the intent of pay them off at the six month mark. I do this for a couple of reasons, and the first one being to save me money. This loan will charge me 15.1% interest or $167 in fees.
- I always have 3-5 loans open at all times because the most you can do is a $3600 loan over 24 months, and I do not want to pay $581 in fees. So here’s what I do.
4. Monitor Your Spending:
- Review your budget regularly: Check your spending against your budget to identify areas where you can cut back.
- Use budgeting apps: Utilize budgeting apps to track your spending and set spending limits.
How To Reduce Your RV Travel Budget:
1. Reduce Costs:
- Cook at home: Prepare meals in your RV to save money from eating out.
- Find free or low-cost activities: Explore national parks, state parks, city parks, and local area attractions that offer free or discounted admission. Low cost of entry hobbies like hiking, fishing, and star gazing can be done anywhere. Fishing, skiing, photography, or climbing are only as expensive as you want them to be. After that initial investment, they’re a pretty fun option to have in the “activity toolbox.”
- Negotiate prices: Don’t be afraid to negotiate for better deals on campgrounds, services, and products. Buy products used off of Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, or even Craigslist.
- Utilize memberships: Consider joining RV clubs or membership programs that offer discounts on various expenses.
2. Consider Remote Work:
- Explore remote work opportunities: If possible, consider working remotely to earn additional income and offset your RV living expenses. Learn a digital skill from Skillshare to become the digital location independent nomad you want to be.
- Become A Freelancer: Find clients on platforms like Fiverr, UpWork or even social media.
***PRO TIP ***
I personally target local FB groups to offer my digital skills as well as handyman services.
3. Live Within Your Means:
- Avoid debt:
Be mindful of your spending and avoid accumulating unnecessary debt. - Prioritize needs over wants:
Focus on essential expenses and avoid impulse purchases. - Buy Second Hand:
Garage sales & thrift stores are literal treasure troves for the things a nomad needs to live full-time out on the road. - Multi-Functional: Anything you buy needs to serve multiple purposes to effectively utilize your tiny home’s minimal living space.
By following these tips, you can effectively manage your finances and enjoy a fulfilling RV lifestyle.
If your a frugal RVer spending most of your time boondocking you budget could be lower than $1,000 a month, but if you like to spend your time at campgrounds and RV resorts your budget will be over $2,000 a month.
Remember, budgeting is an ongoing process so be prepared to adjust your plan as needed. Use the table below to design your own RV Travel Budget.
| Travel Budget Categories | RV Travel Expense Ideas | Tips | Pro Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| RV Purchase | Down Payment and/or Monthly Payments | Never buy new Live within your means | Start a business so your monthly payments can become tax deductible. |
| Vehicle Expenses | Registration Maintenance (oil changes, etc) Parking Fees/Tolls Emergency Repairs RV Insurance Road Side Assistance | Proactive maintenance is cheaper than reactive maintenance. | Arizona offers a 50 year license & Montana offers lifetime registration. |
| RV Supplies & Gear | Kitchenware Bedding & Linens RV Accessories Outdoor Gear (chairs, tables, etc) Adapters (Sewer, Electrical water) | When you buy a used camper most of this stuff comes with it. | Mountain town thrift stores have everything you need for pennies on the dollar. |
| Fuel Costs | Gas for RV Cooking Fuel Heating Fuel Generator Fuel Tow Vehicle Gas | Grocery stores with gas rewards gets you a free fill up every 4-5 visits. | Sign up for Uship to get paid delivering items to the destinations your traveling too. |
| Camping Costs | Campground Fees Reservation Fees Amenities Utility Hookups Dump Fees | Always ask for the weekly or monthly rate. | Find homeowners off of Facebook willing to rent out their land or backyard for dirt cheap, or use my favorite website(Hipcamp) for finding private RV lots. |
| Internet Costs | Hardware Cords & Adapters Internet & Cell Phone Plans | Turn your phone into a hotspot. | Starlink turns your camper into a hotspot so you can cancel your phone plan. |
| Clothing & Care | New or Replacement Clothes Laundry Expenses Personal Care products Memberships | Laundromats are everywhere. | Some hotels, campgrounds and dorms offer free laundry. Some cities offer free laundry for the homeless too. |
| Personal Insurance | Health Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Life Insurance | Safetywing offers domestic and international travel insurance less than $100/month | Minnesota offers free Health, Dental & Vision Insurance if your unemployed. www.mnsure.org |
| Activities & Attractions | Admissions | Groupon is wonderful resource for last minute discounts. | Reach out to travel bloggers for their unique discount codes or for their affiliate links to the activities your interested in. My email is [email protected] |
| Hobbies | Gear Permits Registrations/Licenses | Mountain Towns Always Have Discounted Gear For Sale | Get discounted gear at backcountry.comTime sensitive deals at Steep&cheap.com |
| Pet | Food Toys Vet Bills | Chewy.com is a one stop shop. | Facebook Marketplace always has something for cheap. |
| Savings | Emergency Fund Retirement Savings Medical Expenses Travel Expenses | Always put 10% away for a rainy day. You never know what curveballs life will throw you. | Build up your credit while you build up your safety net. |
| Travel Expenses | Tolls & Fees Documents Permits Accomodations | Travel community loves sharing and families love recouping money for permits they only used once. | I start a 6-month $500 pre-paid loan every Janurary & March to build my credit score and boost my travel budget during transition seasons. |
| Entertainment | Subscriptions & Memberships Hard Drives for media | Amazon has everything from groceries to movies. Click here to sign upAmazon has everything from groceries to movies. Click here to sign up | NordVPN is a game changer to watch local sports and get around sharing passwords to streaming services.NordVPN is a game changer to watch local sports and get around passwords sharing blocks to streaming services. |
| Debt | Credit Cards Payments Student Loans Personal Loans | Debt Consolidation loans is crucial to saving money. | Pre-paid loans throughself.inc helps build credit and take big chunks out of your balance. |
| Taxes | Income Taxes | Claim residency in a no income tax state. | You can get an ID from one state with a address in another state for residency. I have an Alaskan, Arizona, North Carolina, Wyoming & South Dakota government issued IDs with a Las Vegas address on all of them. |
| Gifts | Holiday Gifts Shipping Storage Documents | Print on demand products make great personalized custom gifts. | Digital gifts delete almost all of these expenses. |
| Work Related Expenses | Office Equipment Internet & Phone Courses/Training Subscriptions/Memberships Storage Licenses/Fees | All Tax Deductible. | Learn a digital skill at skillshare.com |
| RV Specific Expenses | Storage Fees Wash & Detailing Accessories Upgrades | Vehicles depreciate - don't spend money on superficial materialistic items. | Brands will pay you to use their services. |
| Food Expenses | Groceries Restaurant & Alcohol Storage Prepware Kitchenware | Shelf stable items are always cheaper than fresh products. | Cooking items extends their shelf life by a couple of weeks, and creates more storage space. |
| Power Sources | Solar panels Generator Shore Power | Get your solar gear from Renogy.com You won't regret it!! | Use breakers over fuses where ever possible. When a breaker pops you just have to slide it back. Where as a fuse needs to be replaced. |
| Health & Fitness | Gear Subscription/Membership | There's always a free trial. | Student IDs get you discounts everywhere. |
| Mail Services | Subscriptions/Memberships Shipping/Packaging Documents Service Fees Registration Fees | Escapees RV Travel club is your number on mail source for RVers. | Exploit technology to make mail irrelevant. |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | Parking/Traffic Tickets Cords/Gadget replacements Rainy Day Splurges Adventure Lust IDC moments | Walk away. If your still thinking about it 2 weeks later than buy it. | Thrift store treasure hunt or find it at Amazon |
Discover the Power of Community: Learn from Experienced RVers
The RV community is a vast resource of knowledge and experience. By connecting with other RVers, both online and in person, you can gain valuable insights, avoid common pitfalls, and set yourself up for a successful nomadic journey.
Here are some ways to tap into the power of the RV community:
- Join online forums and social media groups: Connect with other RVers who share your passion for the nomadic lifestyle.
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your own experiences.
Here are a couple of Facebook Groups I recommend you join to enhance your RV Travel Life:
- Attend RV rallies and gatherings: Find your tribe! Meet other RVers in person and network with like-minded individuals. These events offer opportunities to learn from experienced travelers and make new friends.
Every winter thousands of RVers migrate to a town called Quartzite in Arizona. There’s even an RV tradeshow out in the desert to show all the latest models available for RV Travel Life.
Truck camper owners host their own off-grid boondocking adventure rally as well.
- Follow experienced RVers on social media: Keep up with the latest trends, tips, and recommendations from seasoned nomads. Many RVers share their experiences and adventures on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Search for the hashtag #RVlife
- Seek advice from local RV dealerships and campgrounds: Ask the staff for recommendations and advice on RVing in your area. They may have valuable insights and connections to local RV communities.
A campground host in Sandpoint, Idaho was the one who told me about the hidden waterfall found behind the visitor center at Logan Pass.
By actively engaging with the RV community, you can:
- Avoid common mistakes: Here is a list of the 34 RV Mistakes I made.
- Discover hidden gems: Find off-the-beaten-path destinations and unique experiences.
- Gain valuable advice: Get tips on everything from RV maintenance to budgeting and route planning.
- Build lasting friendships: Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for the nomadic lifestyle.
Remember, the RV community is a supportive and a welcoming bunch of genuine hippy-hearted traveling souls. By actively participating and seeking advice, you can enhance your nomadic journey and make the most of your RV travel life adventures.
Personal Stories and Testimonials
At this point I hope you truly understand that RV Travel Life is filled with unexpected detours and full of generous kind strangers willing to help you when you find yourself broke down or in over your head.
A lesson I learned on my first day of RVing when the rumbling of the transmission became louder than the radio.
Just as despair started to set in, a dusty pickup truck pulled up behind me. A weathered rancher emerged, his face etched with the wisdom of a thousand sunrises. He introduced himself as Hank and offered his help.
Grateful he wasn’t the police trying to reach into my wallet for some minor traffic code infraction, I happily accepted.
Hank, I found out, was a seasoned RV enthusiast himself who’s been financing his RV travel life as a mobile RV mechanic. So when he offered to inspect my engine and diagnose the problem I wasn’t going to stop him.
After a few moments of pulling dipsticks, tasting engine fluids, smelling the oil and banging on various parts of the engine while it was running he informed me the culprit was low transmission fluid.
Which of course this travel angel conveniently had in the back of his rust bucket of a truck. He filled me up and sent me on my way with a tidbit of advice I still remember to this day,
“RVing is all about the journey, not just the destination. Sometimes, the detours lead to the best stories, and whenever the planning turns to shit that’s when the adventures truly begin!”
I’ve thanked Hank more times mentally over the years than I did that one time on the side of the road way back when. Because that unexpected breakdown not only tested my skills and resourcefulness, but also led me to a kind stranger who became a cherished memory.
I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of basic RV maintenance and the kindness of strangers on the open road.
The true foundation to a successful full-time life of RV travel.
AOWANDERS RV Adventures: Testimonials from the Road
Living the RV life isn’t just for me!
Here’s what other adventurous souls have to say about their experiences:
“Embracing the open road with Aowanders’ advice has been life-changing! His tips on budgeting and finding hidden gems helped us navigate our first RV trip seamlessly. We can’t wait for our next adventure!” – The Miller Family
“Aowanders has been an invaluable resource for us. His website and community helped us prepare for full-time RVing, and his unbelievable stories inspire us to explore new places. We’ve met amazing people and discovered incredible sights thanks to his guidance.” – The Wandering Olsons
“After years of dreaming, we finally took the plunge into RV life with Aowanders as our compass. His focus on community and creating a budget made the transition smooth. We’ve never felt more free or more in tune with life.” – The Adventurous Adams
“We weren’t sure RVing was for us, but Aowanders’ honest portrayal of the lifestyle convinced us to give it a try. We’re so glad we did! The challenges are manageable, and the rewards are endless. Thank you, Aowanders!” – The Kepfelt Nomads
“Aowanders is more than just a website; it’s a supportive living guide. We’ve learned so much from other RV enthusiasts and Aowanders’ team. We feel confident and prepared to tackle any adventure that comes our way.” – The Roaming Reeses
Inspired by these stories? Join the Aowanders community and start planning your own RV adventure!
Wishing You The Best RV Travel Life Ever
I hope by now you have some idea of how to begin your RV travel life, and take advantage of the opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
Because many RVers have a strong sense of camaraderie and are always willing to lend a helping hand or share tips and experiences. You can also attend RV rallies and meetups to further expand your network.
In conclusion, RV travel life offers a unique and fulfilling way of living that allows you to escape the constraints of traditional living and experience the world in a whole new way.
It may not be for everyone, but for those that crave adventure, freedom, and a closer connection to nature, living on the road in an RV can be a truly life-changing experience. So why not give it a try and see where the open road takes you? Happy travels!
