Let’s talk money.
The current economic conditions affect everyone it doesn't matter if you are living on the road or in a traditional home. Prices are skyrocketing and we are paying closer attention to our spending than ever before. Living the RV life gives us freedom—freedom to explore, to slow down, and to live life on our own terms. But if we don’t keep an eye on your spending, that freedom can start to feel a lot like stress. That’s why having a strong budget game is a must for any full-time RVer.
Whether you’re new to the road or already a seasoned traveler, these 5 habits can save you hundreds each month—and help you travel farther, stay longer, and live better.
1. Track It All — Know Where Every Dollar Goes
It’s easy to overspend when you’re constantly moving. Gas, groceries, campground fees—they sneak up quick. That’s why the first rule of RV budgeting is this:
Know exactly where your money is going.
Use a spreadsheet, an app, or our free Monthly RV Budget Checklist to log:
- Fixed costs like insurance and memberships
- Variable expenses like fuel and food
- Unexpected costs like maintenance
💰Example Savings:
We started logging every dollar for 30 days and discovered we were spending $75/month on gas station snacks and convenience store stops.
Just by prepping travel snacks (think almonds, beef sticks, and fig bars) and making coffee in the RV, we saved that $75 every single month—without giving up our treats.
That’s $900 a year in savings... all from paying closer attention to the little things.
2. Build a Repair Fund — Because Stuff Breaks
You don’t need to be a doomsday prepper—but you do need a cushion for the “Oh no!” moments.
Blown tire? Water pump out? Slide won’t slide?
Repairs aren’t if, they’re when.
Pro Tip: Put aside at least $100–$150/month into a dedicated RV repair fund. Even small contributions add up.
💹Example Fund:
Before we launched our NomadLife we watched Creativity RV on YouTube and took her advice to have $5,000 savings in an account for emergencies. We have a great warranty and have had very little out of pocket costs for repairs but have been able to use the funds for other unexpected expenses.
3. Meal Plan and Cook in Your RV
Eating out is fun, but eating in is where the savings live.
Planning meals for the week helps you shop smart and avoid waste. We keep a rotating list of easy one-pan meals and air fryer favorites that make cooking in our RV simple and fast.
Example Savings:
Cooking 5 nights a week instead of eating out saved us an average of $250–$300/month and a lot of calories—that’s gas money for a whole cross-country trek! While camping at Patrick Space Force Base we found that the Riverside Cafe is actually cheaper than shopping and cooking our food since we eat one meal a day because we Fast this works out great a few days a week for us. So far the most expensive meal for the two of us has been $18 in total.
4. Leverage Campground Memberships and Discounts
Campgrounds can range from $15 to $75+ per night. Memberships like:
- Passport America (50% off select campgrounds)
- Harvest Hosts (free stays at wineries/farms for ~$99/year)
- Thousand Trails (prepaid camping zones)
can pay for themselves quickly if you use them strategically.
Example Savings:
Staying just 4 nights a month with Harvest Hosts saved us around $160/month, and gave us some of our most scenic, unique stays yet.
5. Review Your Budget Monthly
Treat budgeting like an oil change—it’s regular maintenance.
At the end of each month, sit down and ask:
- What categories did we overspend in?
- Where can we trim?
- What memberships or subscriptions are we not using?
You’ll be surprised what you catch!
Example Savings:
We use groupon, rakuten, vet tix and other sevices to save on entertainment costs. While in Vegas we spent less then $180 using Vet Tix and attended 7 events/shows.
Grab the Free Monthly RV Budget Checklist
To help you stay on top of it all, we created a simple, printable checklist that walks you through the must-track categories each month.
Print it. Save it. Laminate it if you're fancy.
Just use it—to set up your spreadsheet or budgeting tool and you’ll feel more confident with your money and your journey.
We appreciate your feedback! If you have comments or have a topic that you would like us to cover please comment below.
Happy saving,
Kirsten & Mack