Our budgets don’t always support our dreams

Once you’ve experienced life on the road, it gets into your blood. It’s there in the back of your mind, always calling, always beckoning us to take up the keys and set sail for tides unknown, adventures unfulfilled, lives unlived, and experiences yet to be experienced. We crave an escape from it all, to live simpler, and get out of our own minds for a time.

Reality gets in the way, and there are life obligations to attend to, but mostly a budget that doesn’t allow for much wiggle room. You just don’t think you can afford a trip right now, even though your every thought is of the road.

Skip the amenities

It’s time to go boondocking! When you boondock, you really rough it. There’s a lot of places you can camp for absolutely no money. Granted, you won’t have access to amenities like water, sewage, power, or electricity, so it would be a true camping experience. Connecting with nature may just be the vacation your mind needs. Breathe in the fresh air and feel no pressure from camping neighbors, electronics, or the real world on social media. If you’re looking to get away from it all for a few days and don’t have a ton of money to pay for a campground, boondocking makes perfect sense.

If you want to dry camp along the way to your destination, check out places where you can park overnight for free. Some businesses greet RVers with open arms while others aren’t allowed to have people park overnight because of city limitations on such activities. The benefit of camping overnight in a parking lot is that you have access to a store if you need something at three in the morning.

Your research pays off. Research what you will need and where you will go. If boondocking is not an option for you, check out campsites that may be running a special offer or one that don’t have as many amenities as you’d like, but is cheaper and will work in a pinch.

Start saving

There are a lot of ways to save when you’re RV-ing, and the campground you choose is only the beginning. If you haven’t started couponing yet, now’s the time! Pay attention to items you regularly use in your RV and buy them when they’re on sale or when you have a great coupon for them. This will allow you to stock up on those essential items when you’re not necessarily in need of them.

Another way to save the bank is to utilize those gift cards you’ve been collecting through the year. If they’re a credit card gift card, you can use them for gas or stocking up the fridge. If they’re a gift card to a specific store, see what they offer that you can utilize for your trip.

Keep an eye on gas prices as you go and fill up when the price is right even if you’re not in danger of running out. Gas prices fluctuate a lot, and many apps will help you find the best deals in an area.

Look to the future

Do you get the travel bug often? If you do, it may be time to invest more in your RV when you have the money.

• Going solar is a great way to save money on camping trips, and the panels will run everything you need them to run without draining your RV’s batteries.
• Making sure your RV is better prepared for the weather means spending less on heating and cooling, which will save you money in the long run. That’s money you can put away into an emergency RV fund for when you absolutely must go camping.
• If you’re not a full-time RV-er, you may consider renting your RV out to others. You can allot however long you want per rental, and then stash the money in a savings account for future getaways.

RV-ing is a whole lot cheaper with a membership through The RV Advisor. We have great coupons you can use at parks, restaurants, and campsites. Even better, you can save money on parts you need to make the journey safer.