Money Saving Tips for RVers
03-12-2018
Author: in Finance
Because my family travels fulltime, it is incredibly important that we find ways to make our travels as affordable as possible. Fortunately, RVing is generally cheaper than other forms of travel as it is, and when coupled with our money saving tactics, we are able to live on a very tight budget without any issues at all.
What are those money saving tactics? Well, we have countless little tricks for getting as much as we can out of each and every dollar. However, some are much more important than others. Below are our top 7 tips for saving money while traveling in an RV.
#1: Invest in Memberships
Memberships are our family’s best friend. We have a reciprocal museum membership that gives us free access to hundreds of museums all over the country. We plan to invest in a National Parks membership next year, and we used a reciprocal zoo pass several times last year. Additionally, we have invested in a campground membership and use the included parks almost exclusively.
That said, what works for my family may not be what’s best for yours. Therefore, I encourage you to do your research and find the best sightseeing and camping memberships for your situation.
#2: ...But Only When You Need Them
As amazing as memberships are, you should wait to invest until you actually need a particular membership. It’s also a good idea to do the math and make sure you will be getting enough use out of a particular membership to warrant purchasing it. This will help you avoid buyer’s remorse by ensuring you never waste money on unused memberships.
#3: Seek Out State Parks
If you won’t be investing in a campground membership program, or if you find yourself in a place without any member campgrounds, you will need to find affordable accommodations. State parks are an ideal solution as they tend to offer very affordable rates and decent facilities with amazing views.
#4: Learn to Rough It
Sometimes there are absolutely no reasonably priced campgrounds around. Other times, you may find yourself en route and in need of a place to sleep. In these situations, having the skills and tools needed to boondock for a bit is priceless. By doing some reading on the subject and making some simple adjustments to the way you live, you can avoid campground fees altogether.
#5: Travel Slowly
Slow travel is always less expensive than fast travel. Campgrounds tend to offer much cheaper monthly rates to those who will be staying four weeks or longer, and less travel each month means less money budgeted for gas. Besides, taking it slow is the very best way to ensure you see all there is to see in a given place.
#6: Plan Your Meals
If you’ve ever read a budgeting blog, you’ve probably seen meal planning as a money saving tip. This becomes even more important when you will be out sightseeing on a regular basis.
My family makes a point to have a plan for all meals before heading out the door. Generally, we eat breakfast before leaving, pack a lunch, and have dinner waiting in the slow cooker. Sometimes we will choose to eat out, but we always go in knowing prices and ready to order smart, and we usually have a coupon or Groupon in hand.
#7: Keep Up with Maintenance
RV maintenance is expensive and never-ending. That said, it is much less expensive than the alternative of fixing problems after they’ve cropped up. Therefore, it is very important that you keep up with the little jobs—such as sealing seams and replacing the tires—in order to avoid dealing with big things like leaks and blowouts.
By applying these 7 simple tricks, you will be well on your way to saving a bundle during your RV adventures. Have a tip you’d like to add? Let us know about it in the comments!
What are those money saving tactics? Well, we have countless little tricks for getting as much as we can out of each and every dollar. However, some are much more important than others. Below are our top 7 tips for saving money while traveling in an RV.
#1: Invest in Memberships
Memberships are our family’s best friend. We have a reciprocal museum membership that gives us free access to hundreds of museums all over the country. We plan to invest in a National Parks membership next year, and we used a reciprocal zoo pass several times last year. Additionally, we have invested in a campground membership and use the included parks almost exclusively.
That said, what works for my family may not be what’s best for yours. Therefore, I encourage you to do your research and find the best sightseeing and camping memberships for your situation.
#2: ...But Only When You Need Them
As amazing as memberships are, you should wait to invest until you actually need a particular membership. It’s also a good idea to do the math and make sure you will be getting enough use out of a particular membership to warrant purchasing it. This will help you avoid buyer’s remorse by ensuring you never waste money on unused memberships.
#3: Seek Out State Parks
If you won’t be investing in a campground membership program, or if you find yourself in a place without any member campgrounds, you will need to find affordable accommodations. State parks are an ideal solution as they tend to offer very affordable rates and decent facilities with amazing views.
#4: Learn to Rough It
Sometimes there are absolutely no reasonably priced campgrounds around. Other times, you may find yourself en route and in need of a place to sleep. In these situations, having the skills and tools needed to boondock for a bit is priceless. By doing some reading on the subject and making some simple adjustments to the way you live, you can avoid campground fees altogether.
#5: Travel Slowly
Slow travel is always less expensive than fast travel. Campgrounds tend to offer much cheaper monthly rates to those who will be staying four weeks or longer, and less travel each month means less money budgeted for gas. Besides, taking it slow is the very best way to ensure you see all there is to see in a given place.
#6: Plan Your Meals
If you’ve ever read a budgeting blog, you’ve probably seen meal planning as a money saving tip. This becomes even more important when you will be out sightseeing on a regular basis.
My family makes a point to have a plan for all meals before heading out the door. Generally, we eat breakfast before leaving, pack a lunch, and have dinner waiting in the slow cooker. Sometimes we will choose to eat out, but we always go in knowing prices and ready to order smart, and we usually have a coupon or Groupon in hand.
#7: Keep Up with Maintenance
RV maintenance is expensive and never-ending. That said, it is much less expensive than the alternative of fixing problems after they’ve cropped up. Therefore, it is very important that you keep up with the little jobs—such as sealing seams and replacing the tires—in order to avoid dealing with big things like leaks and blowouts.
By applying these 7 simple tricks, you will be well on your way to saving a bundle during your RV adventures. Have a tip you’d like to add? Let us know about it in the comments!
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Author: Chelsea Barron
