A descriptive look at traveling and full-timing with our second RV, a fifth wheel toyhauler.
Laura and Sasha started this adventure in April of 2005
for a two week vacation in a truck camper.
Expenses of 2010:
Summary of 2010: Please check out the sheet below. As you can see we had to split it up a little to get the entire sheet on, but you can get an idea of it all. Plus at the end, I have the totals and the averages for each category. I also show what we spent last year as compared to this year.
| Month | Categories | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul |
| Food | Food&Household | $137.94 | $180.71 | $152.30 | $140.20 | $252.61 | $57.64 | $226.01 |
| Provisions | $- | $279.84 | $448.63 | $- | $- | $645.71 | $- | |
| Meals To Go | $207.69 | $192.53 | $147.16 | $37.25 | $88.76 | $41.96 | $263.47 | |
| Totals | $345.63 | $653.07 | $748.10 | $177.45 | $341.37 | $745.30 | $489.48 | |
| Clothing | Clothing Laura | $- | $- | $7.18 | $- | $54.56 | $- | $- |
| Clothing Sasha | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Clothing All | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $42.95 | $28.30 | |
| Totals | $- | $- | $7.18 | $- | $54.56 | $42.95 | $28.30 | |
| Utilities | Wood | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
| Laundry | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Electricity | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Rent/Storage | $- | $55.00 | $- | $100.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 | |
| Propane | $17.78 | $- | $29.70 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Totals | $17.78 | $55.00 | $29.70 | $100.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 | |
| Shelter | Hotels/Motels | $38.92 | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
| Campgrounds Fees | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Services (Maintenance) | $- | $- | $852.04 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Totals | $38.92 | $- | $852.04 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Stuff | Truck | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
| Camper | $36.15 | $422.25 | $58.79 | $- | $- | $- | $215.59 | |
| Motorbikes | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Totals | $36.15 | $422.25 | $58.79 | $- | $- | $- | $215.59 | |
| Transport | Diesel | $359.59 | $183.00 | $472.02 | $- | $- | $105.71 | $165.37 |
| Gas for Cycle/Generator | $- | $36.30 | $96.98 | $21.21 | $23.57 | $21.03 | $13.70 | |
| Truck Maintenance | $61.23 | $- | $25.64 | $- | $- | $57.21 | $1,286.65 | |
| Cycle Maintenance | $- | $- | $38.45 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Tolls/Parking | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $3.00 | $- | |
| Truck Registrat/Taxes | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Cycles Registration/Taxes | $- | $- | $394.35 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| 5thWheel Registration | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Cycles Insurance | $- | $- | $- | $38.53 | $- | $27.75 | $- | |
| Truck Insurance | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $645.60 | $- | |
| 5th Wheel Insurance | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Truck Inspection | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Cycle Inspection | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| 5thWheel Inspection | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Licenses | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Totals | $420.82 | $219.30 | $1,027.44 | $59.74 | $23.57 | $860.30 | $1,465.72 | |
| Commun | Postage | $- | $- | $40.60 | $- | $0.79 | $40.35 | $23.75 |
| Cell Phone | $- | $- | $- | $32.48 | $- | $- | $- | |
| Internet | $60.07 | $60.07 | $60.07 | $38.92 | $38.92 | $58.92 | $58.92 | |
| Hosting | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Escapees | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| New Laptop | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $1,168.79 | $- | |
| Skype | $- | $- | $10.00 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Extra Stuff | $75.00 | $- | $106.01 | $- | $- | $- | $139.98 | |
| Totals | $135.07 | $60.07 | $216.68 | $71.40 | $39.71 | $1,268.06 | $222.65 | |
| Health | Health Insurance (L) | $152.00 | $152.00 | $152.00 | $- | $574.92 | $- | $- |
| Health Insurance (S) | $- | $181.46 | $181.46 | $181.46 | $574.92 | $- | $- | |
| Doctor | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Dentist | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Gym | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Prescriptions | $- | $- | $20.00 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Health Other | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Totals | $152.00 | $333.46 | $353.46 | $181.46 | $1,149.84 | $- | $- | |
| Recreation | Books/CDs | $26.21 | $- | $125.56 | $- | $69.15 | $- | $28.32 |
| Fun Stuff | $84.00 | $30.50 | $85.50 | $51.95 | $28.14 | $222.83 | $15.88 | |
| Gardening | $- | $- | $- | $59.99 | $- | $- | $- | |
| Donations | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Gifts | $- | $- | $16.94 | $- | $- | $8.61 | $- | |
| Totals | $110.21 | $30.50 | $228.00 | $111.94 | $97.29 | $231.44 | $44.20 | |
| One-Time | Bought Scooter | $2,702.97 | ||||||
| Bought Motorcycle | $3,100.00 | |||||||
| Fingerprinting | $22.00 | |||||||
| Tax Software | $55.90 | |||||||
| State Tax Software | $30.00 | |||||||
| Apeture | $232.86 | |||||||
| Dreamweaver | $425.35 | |||||||
| Parallels Software | ||||||||
| Totals | $- | $5,824.97 | $55.90 | $- | $30.00 | $658.21 | $- | |
| Taxes | Back Charges/Fees | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
| Cost of Costco | $- | $50.00 | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Gambling | $100.00 | $10.00 | $6.00 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| State Tax | ||||||||
| Federal Income Taxes | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Shortfalls | ||||||||
| Totals | $100.00 | $60.00 | $6.00 | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Total Totals | $1,356.57 | $7,658.62 | $3,583.29 | $701.99 | $1,836.34 | $3,906.25 | $2,565.94 |
..
..
| Month | Categories | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sum | Averages |
| Food | Food&Household | $340.41 | $184.94 | $199.61 | $195.20 | $480.99 | $2,548.54 | $212.38 |
| Provisions | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $1,374.18 | $114.51 | |
| Meals To Go | $267.04 | $193.14 | $281.41 | $310.70 | $151.11 | $2,182.22 | $181.85 | |
| Totals | $607.45 | $378.08 | $481.02 | $505.90 | $632.10 | $6,104.94 | ||
| Clothing | Clothing Laura | $- | $- | $14.64 | $- | $20.21 | $96.59 | $8.05 |
| Clothing Sasha | $- | $- | $102.88 | $44.66 | $- | $147.54 | $12.29 | |
| Clothing All | $42.25 | $- | $- | $- | $- | $113.50 | $9.46 | |
| Totals | $42.25 | $- | $117.52 | $44.66 | $20.21 | $357.63 | ||
| Utilities | Wood | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
| Laundry | $- | $- | $- | $- | $3.00 | $3.00 | $0.25 | |
| Electricity | $- | $- | $- | $- | $13.32 | $13.32 | $1.11 | |
| Rent/Storage | $100.00 | $100.00 | $70.00 | $70.00 | $58.00 | $853.00 | $71.08 | |
| Propane | $- | $- | $31.02 | $- | $20.93 | $99.43 | $8.29 | |
| Totals | $100.00 | $100.00 | $101.02 | $70.00 | $95.25 | $968.75 | ||
| Shelter | Hotels/Motels | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $38.92 | $3.24 |
| Campgrounds Fees | $- | $56.10 | $- | $614.00 | $- | $670.10 | $55.84 | |
| Services (Maintenance) | $- | $- | $- | $- | $135.00 | $987.04 | $82.25 | |
| Totals | $- | $56.10 | $- | $614.00 | $135.00 | $1,696.06 | ||
| Stuff | Truck | $- | $- | $- | $- | $25.34 | $25.34 | $2.11 |
| Camper | $1,442.16 | $909.84 | $724.60 | $1,854.79 | $68.55 | $5,732.72 | $477.73 | |
| Motorbikes | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Totals | $1,442.16 | $909.84 | $724.60 | $1,854.79 | $93.89 | $5,758.06 | ||
| Transport | Diesel | $260.25 | $121.74 | $718.98 | $330.09 | $1,172.77 | $3,889.52 | $324.13 |
| Gas for Cycle/Generator | $104.61 | $- | $35.01 | $- | $126.65 | $479.06 | $39.92 | |
| Truck Maintenance | $495.69 | $695.26 | $100.33 | $- | $2,722.01 | $247.46 | ||
| Cycle Maintenance | $8.16 | $248.66 | $- | $- | $- | $295.27 | $24.61 | |
| Tolls/Parking | $2.15 | $3.00 | $7.06 | $9.70 | $- | $24.91 | $2.08 | |
| Truck Registrat/Taxes | $- | $- | $- | $102.30 | $- | $102.30 | $8.53 | |
| Cycles Registration/Taxes | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $394.35 | $32.86 | |
| 5thWheel Registration | $- | $- | $- | $146.40 | $- | $146.40 | $12.20 | |
| Cycles Insurance | $- | $- | $- | $- | $29.75 | $96.03 | $8.00 | |
| Truck Insurance | $- | $- | $- | $- | $646.10 | $1,291.70 | $107.64 | |
| 5th Wheel Insurance | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Truck Inspection | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Cycle Inspection | $- | $- | $- | $- | $87.60 | $87.60 | $7.30 | |
| 5thWheel Inspection | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Licenses | $- | $- | $- | $- | $16.00 | $16.00 | $1.33 | |
| Totals | $870.86 | $1,068.66 | $861.38 | $588.49 | $2,078.87 | $9,545.15 | ||
| Commun | Postage | $223.86 | $8.20 | $17.75 | $85.14 | $100.00 | $540.44 | $45.04 |
| Cell Phone | $- | $33.08 | $- | $33.08 | $33.08 | $131.72 | $10.98 | |
| Internet | $58.92 | $58.92 | $- | $117.92 | $60.07 | $671.72 | $55.98 | |
| Hosting | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Escapees | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| New Laptop | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $1,168.79 | $97.40 | |
| Skype | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $10.00 | $0.83 | |
| Extra Stuff | $- | $- | $- | $368.71 | $1.28 | $690.98 | ||
| Totals | $282.78 | $100.20 | $17.75 | $604.85 | $194.43 | $3,213.65 | ||
| Health | Health Insurance (L) | $- | $- | $672.28 | $- | $- | $1,703.20 | $141.93 |
| Health Insurance (S) | $- | $- | $- | $581.46 | $- | $1,700.76 | $141.73 | |
| Doctor | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Dentist | $- | $- | $859.50 | $- | $- | $859.50 | $71.63 | |
| Gym | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Prescriptions | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $20.00 | $1.67 | |
| Health Other | $- | $- | $9.38 | $- | $- | $9.38 | $0.78 | |
| Totals | $- | $- | $1,541.16 | $581.46 | $- | $4,292.84 | ||
| Recreation | Books/CDs | $- | $4.25 | $13.64 | $25.95 | $35.00 | $328.08 | $27.34 |
| Fun Stuff | $- | $- | $- | $29.00 | $- | $547.80 | $45.65 | |
| Gardening | $- | $- | $- | $10.49 | $- | $70.48 | $5.87 | |
| Donations | $- | $- | $- | $10.00 | $- | $10.00 | $0.83 | |
| Gifts | $21.68 | $50.69 | $27.53 | $12.58 | $50.00 | $188.03 | $15.67 | |
| Totals | $21.68 | $54.94 | $41.17 | $88.02 | $85.00 | $1,144.39 | ||
| One-Time | Bought Scooter | $2,702.97 | ||||||
| Bought Motorcycle | $3,100.00 | |||||||
| Fingerprinting | $22.00 | |||||||
| Tax Software | $55.90 | |||||||
| State Tax Software | $30.00 | |||||||
| Apeture | $232.86 | |||||||
| Dreamweaver | $425.35 | |||||||
| Parallels Software | $79.99 | $79.99 | ||||||
| Totals | $- | $- | $79.99 | $- | $- | $6,649.07 | ||
| Taxes | Back Charges/Fees | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- |
| Cost of Costco | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $50.00 | $4.17 | |
| Gambling | $- | $- | $- | $- | $12.00 | $128.00 | $10.67 | |
| State Tax | ||||||||
| Federal Income Taxes | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | $- | |
| Shortfalls | $21.57 | $(0.11) | $10.00 | $31.46 | ||||
| Totals | $21.57 | $(0.11) | $10.00 | $- | $12.00 | $209.46 | ||
| Total Totals | $3,388.75 | $2,667.71 | $3,975.61 | $4,952.16 | $3,346.75 | $39,939.99 | $3,328.33 | |
| Regular Expenses | $33,290.92 | $2,774.24 | ||||||
| 2009 Expenses | $34,599.89 | |||||||
| Total 2009 |
Expenses | $67,302.84 |
Summary of 2011: Has not happened yet!
This year was not as expensive as last year, but last year we bought our new rig. This year we have made modifications to the rig, and sold our truck to get a new one. But no expenses for the new truck. Yet anyway... Hope the new year will be fill with happiness and good fortune.
January 2010 - In Nevada, at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and close to Las Vegas. How much money did we waste on Gambling?
February 2010 - In Nevada, at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and close to Las Vegas. Did we learn from our mistakes of January or did we keep going?
March 2010 - Good News on the Job Front, got a Job in Canyonlands National Park, will have to up the supply list as there are no grocery stores within 50 miles from the park.
April 2010 - First full month in Canyonlands National Park. Can this be the cheapest month ever?
May 2010 - The next full month in Canyonlands National Park. Had to pay 6 months worth of health care in one month, will we have a more expensive month this time?
June 2010 - Off to see some of the family in Salt Lake City for a weekend. You know we will be stocking up, how bad can it be?
July 2010 - Hot in Canyonlands, what can we do for fun out here if hiking is too hot?
August 2010 - Another hot month in Canyonlands, whatever will we do for fun?
September 2010 - If all goes according to plan, we will be here until the very end of September, and then head out to Texas, after making sure of benefits.
October 2010 - Back East visiting family, you know the expenses will be higher, if nothing else, we'll have fuel expenses.
November 2010 - Thanksgiving with the folks and visiting family. Expenses will be high, but on the frugal side.
December 2010 - Time to head back West, to be in Lake Mead National Recreation Area for another year. Already figured out 2011 as far as where we will be come spring.
Summary of 2009: This was the year we bought our new rig. So expenses were higher than the year before, however, not by much. So maybe the full-timing gig can be less expensive than living and working two jobs....
Summary of 2008: Sasha is working and I am working/volunteering as we move from place to place.
Summary of 2007: Selling the house and everything in it to start our real adventure of volunteering and living in a National Park, and having Sasha commute to work. It was an expensive year in some aspects, cheaper in others.
I do not have the expenses per se of the years before 2007, but just so you understand, we were keeping up with the Jones a bit, but not entirely. But we had found the Your Money or Your Life principles to be sound and that was in 2004, so we have been slowly inching our way along the path towards financial freedom.