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Costs of Full-Time RVing – December 2018


December 2018 found us in the Phoenix, Arizona area for the entire month. We started out staying at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino in Maricopa where we rested up a few days before storing the RV and flying to Minnesota to visit family for a week. We then traveled north to Above and Beyond RV Repair in Apache Junction where we not only were storing our RV, but also having an electrical upgrade installation done while we were gone. This arrangement worked out great as we needed a storage place for a week and we were out of the way for the repair shop to do the installation. 

Upon returning from cold MinneSNOWta, we remained at the repair shop for an addition two weeks to test all the equipment and make sure it all worked as planned. We did have a faulty digital multi control board (aka fancy wired remote) that needed to be shipped back to the distributor, tested and a new one shipped out and reinstalled. With the holiday season this process took longer than usual but gratefully Above and Beyond RV Repair allowed us to stay at their shop during this time. 

Once the electrical upgrade was complete we moved on to Wild Horse Casino in Chandler for two nights and then to the Desert Diamond Casino in Glendale for the final night of the year. Both of these casinos were very busy with RV travelers and semi trucks enjoying the free overnight parking they offered. 

With us gone to Minnesota for a week along with having the electric upgrade done our overall miles traveled for the month was relatively low and the amount paid for gasoline clearly reflects that. We spent a total of $166.08 on gasoline and both vehicles had full tanks at the end of the month. The price per gallon also decreased this month ($2.60-2.70/gal) but Arizona fuel prices remain higher than many other parts of the United States. 

Our total amount spent for December 2018 was just over $3000, double our average of $1500. Of that amount spent, $600 was for Christmas presents for our family and $1500 for labor and materials for our electrical upgrade. Subtracting those two expenses leaves our “regular” spending at $900 for the month which is very reasonable for living expenses for two adults. See below for a detailed breakdown of our monthly spending. 

 

monthly travels

Monthly Expense Breakdown

Below is a breakdown of our monthly expenses along with an explanation of what is included in each category. We track our spending via the free app “PERSONAL CAPITAL” and publicly share it to help others estimate their potential expenses for life on the road.

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*Note – Includes all expenses incurred except for health insurance which we wish the details to remain private. Please contact us by email with questions concerning health insurance costs. 

Detailed Expense Breakdown

Campground Fees – $22

No campground expenses were incurred this month but we did pay $22.50 (prorated fee) for the golf course add-on Harvest Hosts program. We now have access to overnight stays at 300+ golf courses in the U.S, and Canada in addition to the 650+ wineries, farms, orchards, museums, etc. with the Harvest Hosts program. Love it! 

Overnight stays this month included six nights at three different casinos in the Phoenix area and 25 nights at Above and Beyond RV Repair in Apache Junction, AZ where we had our electrical upgrade installation completed. 

Mr. Heater Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Radiant Heater

North America’s Most Popular Portable Propane Heater! This patented radiant 4,000-9,000 BTU Liquid Propane heater connects directly to a 1 lb. cylinder and is the perfect solution for heating enclosed spaces up to 200 sq. ft. A swivel regulator gives you the ability to adapt usage from a disposable cylinder to a remote gas supply with the purchase of a hose and filter. To light the unit, simply rotate the knob to pilot and push. Then the integrated Piezo sparking mechanism will take care of the rest.

Every purchase helps support this blog.

Communication – $127 

Verizon phone plan shared with family, unlimited data plan with AT&T and UPS mail box are included in this category.

 

Entertainment – $53

Expenses include parking for our car at a hotel near the airport while we were in Minnesota for a week ($37) along with monthly fees for Netflix and Hulu plans. 

 

Food – $315

Includes all food, alcohol and restaurant expenses. $18.28 was spent on a meal eaten out. We also spent $3.76 (choke!!) on a bottle of soda at the airport in Minneapolis for the plane ride back to Phoenix. $296.74 was spent on food and beverages consumed in the RV and while with our family in Minnesota. 

 

Gas (Car) – $72

Total miles driven in the Kia Soul for the month was 717. Fuel prices ranged from $2.57 – 2.85 a gallon.

  

Gas (RV) – $94

Total miles driven in the Thor Vegas RV was 123. Fuel is also used to operate the on-board generator. We fueled up the RV one time during the month at $2.69 a gallon for gasoline. 

General – $637

Purchases included Christmas presents for our family and miscellaneous household items such as toiletries, paper products and cleaning supplies.   

Support OORRV. Become a Harvest Host member today and save 10%!

Harvest Hosts is a network of wineries, farms and attractions that invite self-contained RVers to visit and stay overnight. Since starting our journey we have enjoyed the hospitality of many of these locations.  Receive a 10% discount by using Off Our Rocker RV as a referral and we also are rewarded as an affiliate.

Every referral helps support this blog. For more details click here.

Laundry – $11

One visit to the laundromat this month at Westar Laundry in Apache Junction, AZ Washers were $2.50 a load and dryers were $0.25 for seven minutes. Excellent laundromat!

 

License/Insurance – $108

Full-time RV and tow vehicle insurance and licensing.

 

Medical/Dental – $11

Expenses included over the counter medication not covered by insurance. 

 

RV/Auto – $1550

Expenses included an oil change for the RV along with installation labor, cables, switches, fuses, etc.  for our electrical upgrade. 

 

Support OORRV. Become a Harvest Host member today and save 10%!

Harvest Hosts is a network of wineries, farms and attractions that invite self-contained RVers to visit and stay overnight. Since starting our journey we have enjoyed the hospitality of many of these locations.  Receive a 10% discount by using Off Our Rocker RV as a referral and we also are rewarded as an affiliate.

Every referral helps support this blog. For more details click here.

Utilities – $23

Expense include 7.4 gallons of propane ($2.68/gal +tax and fee) for the RV at Vern Lewis Welding Supply in Apache Junction, AZ.  Propane is used for the cook stove, water heater, refrigerator, furnace., outdoor grill and fire pit. 

 

Expense Breakdown

CATEGORIES DECEMBER YTD 2018
Campground Fees 22.50 874.50
Communication 126.75 1696.32
Entertainment 53.28 724.87
Food 315.02 4064.07
Gas – Car 71.66 920.15
Gas – RV 94.42 2678.17
General 633.44 2486.94
Laundry 11.25 106.04
License/Insurance 108.08 1287.64
Medical/Dental 10.78 563.32
RV/Auto 1549.61 6357.52
Utilities 23.06 277.98
Total Expenses 3019.85 22037.52

2018 By Month

Annual Expenses

 

Let us know what you think of the new expense post layout. Interested in seeing more or looking for something else? Leave a comment below or send us an email.

 

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