Grandma should make wiser decisions when traveling… How do I know this? Well, for starters if she had been in the safety of an RV, she wouldn’t have gotten run over by one of Santa’s pesky reindeers! As we continue to roll through this holiday season, many RV enthusiasts are already taking the right steps to achieving safe passage through the season by looking at new ways to budget for the RV lifestyle. Throughout my time working in the RV business, the question of how to better budget one’s money for the RV lifestyle has been a constant from potential customers, peers and more. For many travelers, it’s a tough question. After all, how does one find time to budget for the RV lifestyle? Well thankfully, there is a remedy for you RV budgeting woes and it involves following a few simple money-saving tips. Quit Eating Out So Much! Let’s face it. Odds are if you’re a traveler then you definitely enjoy trying new restaurants when you’re out on adventures. With that said, if you’re planning to create a more budget friendly RV lifestyle, you may want to consider backing off the convenience of eating out in order to save some more of those hard-earned nickels and dimes. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistic 2011 Consumer Expenditure Report, the average American household spends $2,620 per year dining out. That’s a pretty decent chunk of change folks! Here’s the thing, you’re RV has a kitchen in it so use it! Most come with everything you need to make a top-notch meal for you and your family. Think about it. Not only will you be able to save more money because you’re eating out less, but you’ll also be able to come up with some handy recipes just in time for your first trip in your new toy. There’s No Place Like Home… I Mean Your RV Sure, there’s nothing better than getting comfortable at a little hotel when out on the open road, but why not take advantage of well, owning that RV! Sometimes finding a place to pull over for the night can be a daunting task. Taking advantage of travel-based member groups like AAA or RV parks like KOA can help you save a ton of money. Also, there are a number of state and national parks in the country which offer overnight parking for RVs. Not only are these a great way to save some extra money when out on the road, but they also offer easy access to some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery. Would you rather wake up looking out of a 15thstory hotel window in some big city or wake up to the sun setting over the Rocky Mountains (which is also far less as expensive)? It’s Time To Talk About the Giant White Elephant in the RV…GASOLINE! Ok, so obviously one of the most difficult parts of budgeting for the RV lifestyle is the cost of fuel. One of the first and easiest to start saving on fuel is by taking advantage of the right types of vehicles. Ever considered towing a smaller car or even a motorcycle trailer with you on your adventure? What better way to shave a few dollars off the travel budget than having the ability to park it and forget it while still being able to travel around. Even better, have you ever considered parking your RV and jumping on a bicycle to get around, at least when it comes to the immediate area? Who wouldn’t want to save some money and get a little healthy exercise in at the same time? The Wrap Up Perhaps the most challenging part for any traveler when it comes to budgeting for the RV lifestyle is coming to the realization that in order to save money, it actually requires them to adapt to new habits. For many of us, we’re so set in our existing traveling ideals we’ve become unwilling to change. But, if you want to save money, then it’s time to acknowledge the luxuries you can survive without! The small things add up – so start working on that budget and Happy Holidays!  Darrin Michael currently serves as the eCommerce/Marketing Director at Dave Arbogast Buick GMC Vans RVs in Troy, Ohio. In addition, he also teaches Internet Development at Edison Community College. He’s been featured on a number of other industry related blogs including Woodalls, RV-Pro.com, DealerRefresh.com and more. |
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The RV Lifestyle – On a Budget
- December 21, 2012
- 6:40 pm
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