One of the things that people love about traveling in an RV is that it allows them to save money as they explore new places. Without having to pay for hotels and restaurants along your route, seeing the country is finally an affordable endeavor. But there are lots of tricks that can help you be even thriftier as you enjoy all the advantages of traveling in your rig.
- Stock up on non-perishable foods – Even though space is limited in most RVs, use some available storage for canned goods and dried foods that won’t spoil. This will keep you well stocked with items to cook or heat up so that you don’t need to stop at pricey restaurants during your trip.
- Invest in a slow cooker – A slow cooker is a great, space-efficient way to cook food and store leftovers in your RV. While you may not have a full kitchen or stovetop in your rig, slow cookers allow you to make hot, homemade meals while still being relatively energy efficient.
- Learn to handle basic repairs – Like any vehicle, standard maintenance is just a natural part of the RV life. A certain amount of repairs and fixes will be necessary as your rig undergoes the wear and tear of the open road. You can save a lot of money if you learn to do some basic repairs and maintenance yourself, such as changing the oil, replacing the water pump, or repairing a waste tank.
- Television on the cheap – Avoid paying for expensive entertainment as you travel by installing a rooftop antenna, which will pick up lots of free television channels if you have a TV with a digital tuner. The antenna will need to be able to pick up over-the-air broadcasting from the stations wherever you are. This is also a much cheaper alternative to a satellite antenna.
- Save money on campsites – A little research can go a long way when paying for campsites. Research free or low-cost campsites ahead of time. If you’re willing to go dry camping or boondocking (campsites with limited or no hook-ups), you can also save quite a bit on campsite fees. There are also a variety of RV memberships that can give you discounts on campsites for a flat annual fee.
- Invest in an RV GPS device – Although this will cost money up front, an RV-specific GPS system is a great way to make sure you don’t veer off course and waste fuel trying to find your way around. Taking the time to plan your trip ahead of time will also help you save on fuel, especially for fifth wheels.
- Pre-plan with lists – If you are new to RVing, it may take you some time to get used to packing the appropriate items for various trips. By making a checklist ahead of time, you can avoid having to stop along the road to make pricey purchases for essentials. A few examples of items to remember include toiletries, extra bottled water, batteries, chargers, flashlights, a first aid kit, garbage bags, matches and light bulbs.
- Take advantage of “shore power” – Your RV will run its appliances using liquefied petroleum, which is propane. However, most RV campsites offer power hook-ups once you’re parked, so be sure to hook up to these supplies of “shore power” instead of running through your own propane. Save your propane or generator costs for when you are one the road, dry camping or boondocking.
- Check chamber of commerce websites – If you know your destination or know the places you’d like to stop along your route, do some research on the Internet and check travel sites as well as chamber of commerce websites. You’ll be able to find coupons and event calendars, as well as any local events that are free of charge. This is a great way to save money and get a real feel for the communities you’re visiting.
- Save on your RV insurance – While not technically an on-the-road saving tip, lowering the insurance for your rig will be a consistent monthly savings that will help your overall budget while traveling. Some RV insurers offer lower premiums if you agree to pay a higher deductible, or you can ask if you receive any discounts by paying your premium up front instead of in installments. Be sure to check with your insurer for other discounts that many be available such as multiline discounts and good driver discounts.
