Part of living the RV lifestyle is learning how to manage your money well. Whether you're working part-time, full-time, or not at all, you're probably focused on living an intentional life where you only do and buy what matters, right?
That's why we've put a few tips to help you save money on your RV travels.
Tip #1: Aim for Cheap Destinations
There's something to be said about staying near big cities or a popular touristy beach area. There are a lot of things to do and places to eat. Many people will be around, so you won't ever feel secluded or isolated.
The problem with these types of areas is that they can be expensive. To save money, consider taking a trip somewhere you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to eat a decent meal.
Tip #2: Cook More
Sometimes after being on the road all day, it's really tempting to stop someplace and have someone else do all the cooking and cleaning for you.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the best path when you're trying to save money. The money you spend eating out could probably buy you several meals' worth of food if you'd cooked it yourself at home.
Whether it's a small meal or you want to cook Thanksgiving in an RV, we suggest giving it a shot! And we all know you can make a better burger than Mcdonald's, so don't short yourself with something that's low quality!
Tip #3: Strap on Your Toolbelt
Things are bound to eventually break when you own something like a house, car, or RV. Even if you take great care of your vehicle, you'll eventually find yourself debating on hiring someone to make the repair or just doing it yourself.
Unless it's a severe issue that requires a professional, we recommend trying to do it yourself for 3 reasons.
You'll learn a new skill that you may need to use again.
You'll feel accomplished and proud after you finish.
You'll save money that can go towards other things.
Plus, you don't need to try to find a mechanic in the middle of nowhere!
Tip #4: Boondock
Boondocking means you're staying someplace for free. Think of it as Couchsurfing but for RVers.
There are a few ways you can do this:
You can consider a website or app with boondocking sites, like BoondockersWelcome.com.
You can ask around and see if your friends and family know anyone who may be able to let you stay somewhere for free.
You can try holing up in a parking lot somewhere… and hope you don't get kicked out.
You can just wing it and try pulling over in the middle of nowhere
You can stop at a truck stop
Some options are definitely better than others. We recommend using a website like Boondockers Welcome or Harvest Hosts, but this is your adventure!
Tip #5: Save Money on Gas
Last but not least, we recommend you invest a little time in saving money on fuel. Fuel costs can add up with an RV if you aren't careful!
There are two main things we recommend:
Looking for the cheapest gas around with a site like GasBuddy
Avoid bringing a ton of stuff you don't need.
The first one is probably self-explanatory and will get you the best bang for your buck.
The second recommendation is that the heavier your RV, the more it will impact your gas mileage. If you can leave a few hundred pounds worth of stuff at home, your vehicle will be more fuel efficient.
Conclusion
You can do other things to save money on your RV trip. These are just a few of our best recommendations! Whatever you decide to do, we hope you have a great time and enjoy your RVing.
