How Much We Spent Traveling Full-Time in 2024 (and December Expenses too!)

[@SuperSushidog]

Thanks for the breakdown. We enjoy seeing how other people live this lifestyle so thought we'd share some of our expenses with you and your subscribers. Six years ago, we retired, sold everything, bought an older motorhome and hit the road. It was the best decision we ever made. We visited 9 states last year and 11 the year before so we don't just live a stationary life. Fuel is a controllable expense though. If we want to save money, we just travel less and burn less. We typically move about every 2 weeks for most of the year and winter over in one or two places. We have a 1999 National Tropical Class A gasser that we drive an averaged about 4,500 miles a year and a 30-mpg toad that we drive over twice as much, so average around $4,000/yr. in gas for both. Propane cost us about $650 last year. We both heat and cool with the sun and have switched over to a residential fridge, now that we have power to spare with 5,000 watts of solar onboard. Our generator fuel is practically nothing, as now we just exercise it once a month to keep it running. Solar, while expensive initially, really makes a huge difference for us. Eating out can be expensive everywhere, but our groceries cost is determined more by state we are in. Weve found that some areas of the country are much cheaper to live than others. Our grocery budget is a little more than yours, at just under $900/mo. Our pet expenses cost about $900-$1,000/yr. adding up food, vet costs, groomer, etc. We eat out 2-3 times a week on average, spending almost as much as we spend on groceries, as we're foodies who like to explore the local cuisine and visit local microbreweries wherever we go. We sometimes winter over in south TX. We like to stay in a nice little RV park in Los Indios, TX near Brownsville for only $170/mo. for a FHU site. Gas and food are pretty cheap there too, making it a very inexpensive place to stay. You wouldn't want to stay there in the summer, because it gets hot there, like the desert southwest does. We found a county park, right next to Falcon Lake State Park in TX that lets you stay as long as you like for free. They have free water hookups, a free dump station, and they even free hot showers. It's a little distance into town from there, but if you're on a tight budget, you can't beat free. Two years ago, we wintered over at the LTVAs around Quartzsite, AZ/Imperial Dam, CA for only $180. We boondock most of the time, like you guys do, which keeps our RV site cost down to practically nothing. We boondocked for free with friends near Yuma last winter, but we're in NC now, visiting family where there's very little boondocking available. However, we're staying in a spacious site in a convenient RV park, without hook-ups, for only $100/mo., including water, dump and trash disposal. This is saving us $500/mo. off their regular FHU rate. Our campground, RV park, dump fees, laundry, etc. only cost us about $1,400 last year. We are domiciled in Louisiana where our insurance on our 1999 Coach and 2006 Chevy Cobalt toad runs about $1,000/yr. for both. Add another $109/yr. for our Escapee Roadside Assistance plan. Registration is cheap in Louisiana and only costs $80 every 2 years for both MH and toad. We have a cheap $27/mo. cell phone plan, and our mailing service costs $120/yr. + postage. We get our internet access through FMCA. They have 3 plans, but we use the $60/mo. all-you-can-eat AT&T plan. We use ROKU for free TV, and we have Netflix for $15.50/mo. We budget about $1,500 a year for repairs and maintenance, as we do almost everything ourselves, but upgrades cost us more. Nevertheless, we have a nice cash reserve for emergencies, which are inevitable, as well as for planned maintenance, like the $2,200 we spent replacing our 8 coach tires 2 years ago, which simply aged out. Our solar system allows us to boondock just like we are plugged into a power pedestal at an RV park. Our huge solar system/battery lets us run both A/Cs, our other electrical appliances and still charge our batteries at the same time. We have enough power to run our mini split heat-pump 24/7 as long as we get enough sun. It also allows us more flexibility in the places and seasons we can stay. Our total FT budget is around $33k, but our actual expenses run around $29k out of $44k in income, allowing us an adequate emergency fund. Of course, we couldn't do it unless we were debt free. That's the biggest advice I would give anyone considering this lifestyle. The bottom line is that we live this FT lifestyle traveling and living as we please for 1/3rd of what it used to cost us to live in our old S&B home on a limited retiree budget without feeling deprived or limited in any way.

[@thewanderingshores]

Wow, you guys have it dialed in! That's a great breakdown of your expenses and really useful information for anyone considering full-time travel. We love hearing how others make it work! This was so helpful for not only the others watching the video but for us too. We can't agree more about being debt fee is the keep to being able to live this lifestyle, it just makes things so much more manageable. Thank you for sharing all of this. - Kyle and Michelle

[@ThreeDayRV]

Cool savings, and your new yard views are amazing! Very cool

[@thewanderingshores]

Thanks Keith, we really enjoy trying to figure out new places to film these videos.

[@airstreamer]

Your sound is excellent on this video. Boon docking a lot, sure helps!! Well done. Thank you for your transparency on your expenses. - Jim & Michelle

[@thewanderingshores]

Thank you kindly! I think we are fine tuning these new microphones, but stil some work when it comes to the split audio like on our hikes. 8)

[@erinhale7550]

Welcome home Michelle 🎉

[@thewanderingshores]

Thanks Erin, glad to be back, it was great to see my parents but I misse the kitties.... oh and Kyle too- Michelle

[@Lapeerphoto]

I enjoy all of your videos. I like the financial ones because, to me, it's the big unknown of going onto the off grid life. Thanks!!

[@thewanderingshores]

Thanks so much, we actually really enjoy doing these videos, we had a member of #thewandersquad suggest it earlier this year and it has been a hit.

[@2Miles2Go]

Great breakdown and super attractive budget!!!

[@thewanderingshores]

We really appreciate that, glad you found it helpful! Hope all is well with you guys.

[@Journey2Everywhere]

Thanks Kyle and Michelle! Great information and very helpful to see the monthly budgets and that yearly sticks and bricks. We also keep the budget to see monies spent from year to year. It is always interesting to see the grocery budget and how much we really spend for just two of us, which now has me rethinking how we can cut that back a bit. Although traveling from place to place and the grocery prices and options for stores, I can see how this goes up and up. Winco was always my favorite grocery if you ever come across one in your travels. I know Idaho has them and I thought a few other states. Oh, Michelle, fantastic job on your earlier video with your friends and parents! Enjoy!

[@thewanderingshores]

Michelle rocked on that video, I agree. We have shopped at Winco once outside PHX last year, really really liked it but didn't know they dont take credit cards, luckly we had our debit card with us that we never use, so we were able to at least pay.

[@thomaslangdale4915]

Happy New Year!! Looking forward to the 2025 content.

[@thewanderingshores]

We have a lot of cool stuff planned for this year. We're really excited to share it!

[@melodyassaro]

Can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2025. Happy New Year

[@thewanderingshores]

We've got some exciting plans and looking forward to sharing it with everyone this coming sunday.

[@melodyassaro]

@ I’ll be there with bells on 😊

[@industrialexitstrategist2022]

1st time viewer new subscriber.

[@thewanderingshores]

Thanks for the subscribe, we hope you enjoy our content! We love to know that we are reaching a new audience. Thanks for your support and hope you find some nuggets in our adventures. 8) Kyle and Michelle

[@bobanddangsjourney]

Love these recaps guys! You really have tuned up your living costs well - you have all the bases covered. We especially liked the comparison against 2018/19. It was surprising how much more you spent there. Would be interesting to know what categories were the most affected to create the savings. Have a great new year and we will chat soon!

[@thewanderingshores]

Bob and Dang, thanks so much, I'll rerun those reports (its actually pretty easy if they are the same catergories and I'll let you know.... now you got me wondering too. 8)

[@johncooper5777]

Happy New Year 🎉

[@thewanderingshores]

We wish you a wonderful new year as well!

[@rene-Slater]

You guys do so well keeping your cost down. We are still paying on our truck and camper plus our groceries is still way too high. You do great Michelle!

[@thewanderingshores]

You can do it! Thanks for the support, any chance you are headed west?

[@rene-Slater]

@ not sure. I need some dental surgery.

[@AmputeeAdventureChannel]

Having no vehicle or rv payment is a huge help for you guys as far as expenses go. Thats awesome. On that topic, want to buy a nice used class C for what I owe? Also, save for 2026, i hear you've got HUGE travel plans!

[@thewanderingshores]

Yes paying off the RV and Truck has really allowed for more options, but I don't see a Class C on the horizon for us 8)

[@shaunaustin8821]

Very informative! Cool to see your comparison to when you were sticks n bricks before hitting the road! Perhaps for your 2025 video, you can show what it costs to stay at the Westcliffe Suites on Main for a year 😃

[@thewanderingshores]

That's a great idea, we'll keep it in mind for next year's video! We hope to do an interview with the owners but that guy is going to have to get a haircut first. 8)

[@ADONAIsays-so]

Thanks SO much for doing this type of video! We actually picked up a new small rig on the 20th of last month and are diligently prepping it to hit the road by the end of this month, bound for warmer weather .....

[@thewanderingshores]

You are so welcome, we hope the info was helpful and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any quetions. PS what rig did you get? I"m always interested to see what people are living in.- Kyle and Michelle.

[@ADONAIsays-so]

@@thewanderingshores we picked up a 2025 Grand Surveyor Legend 202RBLE.

[@thewanderingshores]

@@ADONAIsays-so Watching the Josh RV Nerd video on the model right now (2024) so not sure if they made many changes but that is a great option, I like the breakfast bar too.

[@ADONAIsays-so]

@@thewanderingshores for us, I think it's going to be great. Just myself, DW and our Labrador😅

[@toms7815]

Thumps up

[@thewanderingshores]

Thanks so much, always appreciate the support.

[@Wisdomcalls1]

Good job.......

[@thewanderingshores]

We really appreciate the support! We're glad you liked the video.

[@burlingtonbill4687]

Hey guys! Happy new year. Rosie and I currently have a real nice spot in the LTVA near the Imperial Dam. If in the area stop by, we can have a few brews and maybe get the guitar out for some tunes. We'll be the ones in the Brinkley (only one I've seen so far. Travel safe, Burlington Bill jammin out here in Yuma and on You Tube.

[@thewanderingshores]

Thanks Bill! Sounds like a great time, we'll touch base, we actually had planned on leaving to Q today but going to stick around for another week.

[@debralawson1101]

Nice breakdown! I'm guessing from your medical numbers you do not carry medical insurance, just pay out of pocket? I'm really trying to get my grocery budget down below $800!! Great job ;)

[@thewanderingshores]

Debra, we uiltize healthcare.gov for our insurance but like most it is a state focused coverage outside of emergency so most everything we do we just do out of pocket.

[@t.q.6639]

What provider and plan do you have for health insurance?

[@thewanderingshores]

We utilize healthcare.gov in Ohio.

[@cherylcox8889]

Do you have a place where I could see the numbers on a spreadsheet?

[@thewanderingshores]

Cheryl, thanks for checking out the video unfortunately no we don't really have all of that stuff available in any spreadsheet.

[@cherylcox8889]

Thanks! Was hoping!

[@ericfrank8994]

What kind of number is 4,9647?

[@thewanderingshores]

That's a special number that only limited people are allowed to know about :-) it makes it look like we're spent $4 million dollars in 2024 -