Budgeting for your adventure certainly can be a challenge. On the one hand you want to experience every opportunity and fully immerse yourself, yet this needs to be balanced with a sustainable approach.
I’ve been living on the road full-time now for a few months and here are some of my tips on how best to responsibly manage your money whilst still making the most of every moment.
1. Create a budget and stick to it
Keeping a strict budget might sound boring, but it’s the best way to make sure you’re not overspending while giving yourself some room to enjoy life. Pick a weekly amount and a transfer day, then move that cash into a separate account just for spending. Use it for things like fuel, groceries, caravan parks, and experiences, and stick to it for the week. This way, if there’s money left in the account, you can splurge on a tour or activity without feeling guilty – you’ve already set it aside for that. Plus, having a separate emergency fund means you’re covered for any unexpected surprises.
2. Plan a route of camping destinations and intertwine free and low-spend sites in there
It’s no secret that caravan park sites can add up. Whilst they are convenient with access to a water hook up and power source, powered sites can range from $45-$70 which will see you absolutely flying through your budget. When planning your route aim to take advantage of free and budget sites along the way and weave them in with your paid sites. Three nights at $55 per night at a luxury caravan park is much more justifiable when you’ve spent the other four at a free camp. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about finding an incredible camp that doesn’t cost a cent!
3. Embrace free activities
Hikes, waterfalls, swimming holes and bird watching are excellent free activities that bring joy and allow you to experience a destination. If you’re not sure what’s around, head to an information centre when you land in a town and enquire about local activities.
free kayak at campground
4. Plan your sites ahead using search engines like Wikicamps, Hipcamp and GeoWiki X
Wikicamps allow you to search specifically for free camps, so if you’re having a particularly expensive week take a look at your map and pin where you could detour to stop over at a free camp. Make sure to check the reviews for comments from previous visitors such as “too narrow for a caravan” or “don’t skip this spot”. GeoWiki X offers a similar service for CMCA members allowing travellers to source campgrounds, caravan parks, dump points and national parks. Hipcamp can be another low-cost option to explore especially when it comes to farm stays. A lot of the time you’ll find some stunning locations on spacious farmland at around $20-$25 per night.
As long as you’ve got plenty of sun to power your solar and/or a generator in tow to top up, you can camp off-grid in your RV for as long as you like! It’s both refreshing to be out of a caravan park in nature and kind to the hip pocket.
5. Grocery shop wisely
Keep an eye on the specials that rotate in your preferred grocery store and purchase your supplies in bulk where possible. Often, you’ll find that meat is heavily discounted when it’s a few days off expiring, which is the perfect opportunity to purchase and freeze. It’s also a good idea to shop around, for example I buy staple items at ALDI and meat and vegetables from Woolworths, which comes up significantly cheaper.
6. Maintain your vehicle and RV regularly
There’s a reason manufacturers recommend servicing periods and sticking them can help prevent a costly repair. If you know what you’re doing, a weekly (or even daily) tow vehicle check is a great habit to get into, looking over your tyres, fluid levels and a visual inspection of nuts and bolts. Keeping up with your services means faults will be recognised before anything goes seriously wrong. Saving you a tow service and costly repair.
7. Utilise loyalty programs
Everyday Rewards and Flybuys are two great loyalty programs where you can earn points that can save you money on your shop. If you shop at Woolworths, for example, you can boost offers through the Everyday Rewards app and scan your card at the checkout to rack up points. You can even earn points on fuel purchases at EG Ampol. It’s a simple way to make your regular spending work a bit harder for you!
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Budgeting can be difficult, but I like to view it as another part of the adventure. As long as you’re making smart choices that don’t leave you without an emergency fund whilst simultaneously enjoying yourself, you can sustain your RV lifestyle and enjoy every day on the road.
