Planning an RV trip with your family (or even just by yourself) is a great option when it comes to travel plans. RV trips give you full control over your itinerary, allowing you to plan everything from when you want to leave to where you want to have stopovers. If this has piqued your interest, keep reading below for a few tips on budgeting for your very first RV trip. Renting an RV As a general rule, RV costs depend on the particular model's class and age. The class of an RV refers to the build of the RV itself: Class A means an RV was built with an extremely strong frame and has quality interiors. Class B RVs are smaller but still have enough standing room and space for things like a kitchen and a shower, while those that are Class C are a compromise of both types in a smaller and budget-friendly build. Of course, the newer the RV means the more expensive it will be to rent. As a general rule, a new Class A RV should cost $300 to 400 a night while a new Class C costs $225 to $350 a night. Gas Gas is one of the biggest considerations you'll have to make when budgeting for your RV trip. Regardless of the type of RV you'll rent, it's safe to say that this will be one of the bigger items you spend on. In her first RV trip, writer Sophie-Claire Hoeller notes that she spent $235.42 on gas during the five days she was on the road. She does point out that this wasn't as much as she was expecting to spend on gas, but spending over $250 is something that you definitely should account for. Food Who can forget about food costs? On average, when budgeting for family trips, food for a typical four-day trip can cost around $155 per person, with around $27 going on restaurant meals. However, the beauty of RV travel is the ability to just bring your own groceries and save on costs, giving you more control over the cost of food. This doesn't mean to say that you shouldn't eat out at all — one of the great things about traveling is sampling local cuisine and getting a taste for what the locals eat. In reality, your RV trip will probably consist of a mix of cooking your own food and dining out. Campground fees RVs can't just park anywhere, which is why you'll have to account for campground fees in your budget. There's always the option to boondock and go off the grid where you won't have to pay any campground fees, but that might not be a feasible option depending on your location. If that's the case, our post on how to budget for full-time RV life highlights that campsite prices can range anywhere from $25 to $350 a night. These average prices vary widely because of location and resort ammenties, which is why it's worth planning out your route in advance so you can estimate how much time you're spending at any one campground and factor these costs in accordingly. Other costs These are the four main costs to take into consideration, but you also have to account for things like laundry at a local laundromat or staying at a campground with laundry facilities (depending on how long your trip is) and budget for souvenirs or adventure items like zip line tours or boat tours. If you've been bit by the travel bug, an RV trip may be just what you need. Although it's going to cost you just like any other trip, the flexibility you have when it comes to exploring with your RV makes all the planning worth it in the end. exclusively written for rvingusa.com by River Jiselle

With so many ways to make full-time life on the road affordable, more people than ever are starting the RV Dream. We’ve got a few tips to help you put more money towards the things you enjoy! Living in an RV can be considerably cheaper than living in a house or apartment. Then again, it can get away from you very quickly, racking up exorbitant costs. It is so tempting to pick up every cool RV gadget that hits the market but all things are best in moderation. It may seem like fun to “fly by the seat of your pants” and run without any planning, but that could be set you up for some major expenses. While you may not need to cut back now, there may be a time that you do – or you may just prefer the simple, frugal lifestyle.Plan Your RV TripUsing a trip planner and having a set route with reservations at your favorite RV Resorts is essential to staying on budget and will keep you on course. This allows you plenty of time to read RV Resort and Campground reviews and make sure you don’t end up unhappy and out in the cold as a result of the surge in campground bookings and availability as more people hit the road. You can make sure that the place you are headed has everything you need amenities wise to make your family happy- including things like dog parks, wi-fi, and a relaxing pool!Join an RV ClubIf you are like me, you don’t really give much thought to an RV club – until you need an RV club. The right club can save you a tremendous amount of money each year from discounts are preferred retailers to free or discounted camping to free lock-out help should you find yourself on the wrong side of a locked RV door. Review your options and choose wisely, but more often than not, a good club can save you some serious cash.Plan your Meals and Shop SmartPlanning your meals, even a few days or a week in advance can save you money. Beyond that, here are my tips – and my husband and I eat fresh food, nothing processed, and keep our food costs way down.Check for sales before you go shopping. You can search online for sales flyers in your area. Check the sales and you can even plan your meals around what is available for cheap.Buy local, buy fresh. Local farmer’s markets are great places to pick up fresh, local foods that are in season. They tend to be less expensive and taste way better, plus you support local farmers. We are currently near Charleston and when we want shrimp we just go down to the pier and buy shrimp right off the boats for a fraction of what we would pay in the market. Read: The Ultimate Guide to Farmers MarketsUse coupons – but only for things you will actually use. Don’t buy something just because you have a great coupon.Take inventory of your pantry, freezer and refrigerator before you go shopping.Don’t over shop; buy only what you will consume.Buy fresh green onions and bell peppers on sale, chop them then put them in a freezer bag and freeze them.Don’t eat out very often.Use Strategies to Save on FuelCertain gas stations, have rewards programs, while other companies run promotions from time to time. Credit card companies offer cash back for fuel and some gas cards give discounts on fuel purchases. Read: 10 Tips for Boosting your RV MPG. Look around, research, the deals are there. Other things you can do:Consider longer term stays in one place. Many places offer weekly and monthly discounts plus you save money on fuel because you aren’t moving about. This essentially kills two birds with one stone.Keep your RV properly maintained. Keeping your tires at the proper pressure and your vehicle tuned up will help give you better gas mileage.Drop some weight – in your RV, that is. The more weight you are pulling, the harder your rig has to work and the more fuel it uses. Remember, simplify!Lighten up that lead foot. The faster you drive, the worse your gas mileage will be. Take some time to smell the roses and slow down a bit.Shop Smart for Household ItemsWhen you start to actually move into your RV, there are two things you need to consider: 1. The space in an RV is VERY limited, and 2. Extra, unnecessary stuff in your RV means extra weight which means poor gas mileage. When you are getting ready to move into your RV and hit the road, try these tips:Use items from your home first. There is no need to go out and buy items if you already have them in your home (and they will work just fine). Make a list of household items that you will need and then “go shopping” in your own kitchen, pantry, and garage.Hit the thrift stores. Once you’ve exhausted your home inventory, go to some thrift stores to pick up items that you still need. Other resources include yard sales, classified ads, and Freecycle.org.Think before you buy. Before you purchase that adorable tea pot, think about where you will store it, how it will be used, and if it has any practical applications. If it is just a decoration, skip it. Look for items that do double duty, even decorations.Simplify. Decluttering is often a painful process, but you will be much happier if you just bite the bullet and go for it.I would love to hear some of your money saving tips for the RV life. What’s your best one?

Are you dreaming of hitting the road full time but wondering how to budget for full time RV life? Maybe you want to take the leap but don’t know if you have the savings to support it. One of the most common things heard from those who made their RV dreams come true- is their only regret is not making it happen sooner. With proper planning and realistic expectations of your expenses you can make the leap sooner rather than later. Data shows more and more people have made the decision to become Full-time RVers. For some, this is a financial choice, while for others it is a choice to live a life full of adventure. No matter the reasoning behind your choice, living as a full-time RVer always leads to one BIG question: How much will it cost to become a Full-timer? As anyone can guess, there are many variables to the BIG question. If you are used to living life to the fullest with no concern for the almighty dollar, you can still choose to spare no expense in one of the new high tech coaches with all the bells and whistles. For the more frugal Full-time RVer, you can enjoy an action packed adventure without breaking the bank. Putting the cost of the RV aside, there are things that every Full-time RVer will have to prepare for. Campsite and hook-up prices can average between $25-$350 per night depending on location. As the old saying goes “Location, Location, Location…” Monthly rates and advanced reservations can help bring costs down. Using an app like RVingUSA.com can help find you the right place with the right amenities for the price that’ right for you. RV Travel Expenses are specific to the area and distances the Full-timer chooses. If you enjoy staying put, gas prices will be lower, but you will also have RV insurance and repairs keep in mind. Some Full-timers use extended service plans to help cut down on repair costs. Extended services plans will cost you $50-$300 per month on average. This will help offset any major repair costs, similar to the way insurance does in case of an accident. Full-time RVers do not have the costs of utilities or property tax. However, there are specific needs for the RV such as propane and house batteries that will be needed to run your kitchen appliances, water heater, and air conditioner. Propane price ranges from $3.00-6.00 per gallon. The average 20 lb. tank will hold just under 5 gallons. House batteries run anywhere from $150-800 per battery. Regular maintenance of your propane tank, batteries, and all electrical systems are vital to keep from having costly repairs. When it comes to everyday needs, such as food and beverages, the costs should be pretty consistent to what anyone living in a home would face. The tricky part here is RV cooking, which is more difficult in such a compact space. That would also be the same for entertainment costs. Camping these days is as outdoorsy as you choose to make it. If you want internet and satellite, you can have those things for a small monthly fee. Most of us cannot live without cell phones, but those costs would be similar to what anyone else would pay. Check out: 10 Tips for Cooking in Your RV Oven (without burning everything) A few other things to consider are: Laundry costs $2 per load at a laundromat Dump fees for black and gray tanks (usually minimal $5-10 or are included in RV park overnight fees) Postage and mail service Vehicle registration When it comes to Full-time RVers, their expenses will fluctuate from time to time. The best way to track your spending would be to keep records in an RV Living Cost Log. A great example of an RV cost log comes from Technomadia. It's a great monthly cost log to help you get started. The choice of lifestyle is up to each individual and with all the advances in the RV industry, you can be as tech savvy as you would like. On average, the living expenses will be somewhere in the $1200-2500 per month range. Living large or roughing it, it's is all up to you. Happy trails!