Summary Of Expenses

Summary of five years of full-time RV living expenses

This is a summary of four years of expenses for our RV life. Notes about each of the categories to explain any details are below this chart. The only expenses that are excluded are income taxes, savings, and RV or automobile purchase, as these items are too individual to be of any help to anyone. As you study our expenses, keep in mind our lifestyle is one of volunteering as we travel and thus we do not move constantly. Our mileage on the motorhome tends to be about 6,000 per year, but the mileage on our toad is averaging 20,000+ per year, as we try to visit all points of interest within about a two hour drive of each place we volunteer. Our volunteer service provides us with a free site for the time we are in each location. It is also worthy of note that a significant part of the increase in our expenses beginning with April 2004 is due to a significant increase in income due to reaching social security age. 

(1) Food is both groceries and meals eaten out.

(2) This includes the supplies for gifts that we make. Pam does a lot by sewing, knitting and such and I make small wood projects as gifts.

(3) Health care includes all premiums for our company supplied health plan and Medicare as well as all co-pays and non-covered items as well as our dental care. It reflects a larger than usual use of medical coverage due to the fact that Pam has been diagnosed with COPD, as well as some other on-going medical conditions. Our plan does have prescription drug coverage. Non prescription medications are also included.

(4) This includes all supplies not covered by other categories, such as cleaning supplies, appliances, and general consumable items. It also includes such things as normal replacement of throw rugs and bedding. In year eight there is also a jump due to redecoration expenses for our motorhome.

(5) Vehicle insurance premiums are actually for the future as we pay the full premium in advance and it is renewed at year end in April, for the coming year.

(6) All items such as admission fees, annual park passes, magazines, books, internet and recreation related expenses. It also shows a bump in year seven due to the purchase of a new computer.

(7) This expense is low due to the fact that we spend much time as volunteers in positions where a campsite is supplied free. We also use the Escapees directory listed parking with members. We also stay on the property of friends and family as we travel. Park rent also includes membership in Passport America. The number of paid-for nights is shown to give a realistic cost per night.

(8) Cell phones includes the land-line charges when we have one at our site. In 2007 we changed to a two phone plan.

(9) Cash and Misc. covers such things as postage, mail forwarding, pocket cash, personal care items, bank fees and small items that were not tracked.

 Since we spend most of our time as "live on" volunteers where electricity is supplied free, we use mostly electric heaters which has a very significant effect on our use of propane expense. We have also had our propane supplied by the agency we volunteered with in several cases.

In addition, our expenses in year seven expenses were increased due to travels into Canada and those for year eight by the large increase in fuel prices along with a higher than usual amount of travel in the CR-V.

Clothing expense took very large jump in year eight due to the fact that my lovely wife lost some 50# and is now back to her teenage weight! For that reason she has had a complete change of wardrobe and some of it twice. Small reward to pay for such an effort.

Motorhome maintenance in year eight was up because we had the front brakes replaced, wheel bearings repacked, and some plumbing and other maintenance work done by a Ft. Worth dealer that we know and trust. These two visits increased the annual expense by about $1800.