It’s been a while since I last blogged! I’ve decided to use this quarantine period to get back into the habit of journaling and blogging in a more personal style, both to entertain myself and stay connected with you. It might feel like you’ve missed an entire season of my updates, but I’ll do my best to catch you up as we go along. In the meantime, stay safe and remember to wash your hands.
Day 47 Update
Today, I ordered a rack to attach to the back of our trailer. This will allow us to install the cooling unit for a mini split air conditioner that I bought a few months ago but have been putting off installing. As the days get hotter, especially when our RV turns into an oven under the late afternoon sun and ruins my siesta, we’ve tried using the regular AC. However, it’s noisy and consumes too much electricity for solar power to handle.
The metal rack, shaped like a basket, cost about $100. Adding the mount to attach it to the RV and a cargo net to secure everything brings the total to $150. Living in an RV is marginally cheaper than renting an apartment, allowing us to make small improvements while still spending less than we would on an apartment in San Diego.
Our San Diego RV Life
We live in San Diego because my husband has 27 months left on his military assignment here. He used to rent a $2,000-a-month one-bedroom apartment about 30 minutes from work. It had great amenities like a pool, a bicycle repair shop, and even a dog-washing spa. However, as someone from Paris, I’ve never understood the appeal of driving 30 minutes each way for work or living in a sanitized neighborhood filled with malls and shops.
We were intrigued by the idea of RV living, so I ran the numbers.
Before RV Life
David paid $2,000 in rent, plus another $100 for utilities like electric, water, gas, and cable. Add about $150 for gas to commute, and you’re looking at $2,250 a month, not accounting for annual rent increases.
After RV Life
David bought a 32ft travel trailer and a 2003 Ford F150 truck for a total of $24,000, with a monthly payment of about $300 and no down payment. Insurance costs $90 for both. Cooking with propane, which costs around $18 per tank, lasts us six weeks for cooking alone, but significantly less when heating water or the RV—around a week.
We pay an average of $900 per month to park the RV at military campgrounds in San Diego. Moving the RV costs some gas, as we get about 8 mpg, but living closer to work has cut our gas bill in half to about $60 per month.
So, our monthly living expenses in the RV are about $1,368. While you might find a nice two-bedroom apartment elsewhere in the country for less, it’s still cheaper compared to a $2,000 apartment here.
Housing Allowance Advantage
As a military family, we receive a $3,165 housing allowance each month, which is tax-free. This is due to David’s rank, our marital status, and the expensive San Diego zip code. Subtracting our $1,368 monthly RV expenses, we have a surplus of $1,797. This covers all our other living expenses without touching David’s salary.
This financial setup is advantageous, especially if David continues his career in high-cost areas like California, Hawaii, or Washington, D.C. Some families prefer base housing, which could cost around $3,000, but we find the allowance option more beneficial.
Additional RV Expenses
Living in an RV has saved us so much money that we’ve invested in making our stay more comfortable. We brought kitchen equipment from the apartment and bought new outdoor chairs for $80, a new mattress for $210, a $200 bicycle rack, and other items like a vapor barrier, rack, and maintenance supplies.
Our biggest investment was a 760-watt solar setup with four 125-amp batteries, costing around $2,700 before a $900 tax credit, bringing it to $1,800. This allows us to camp anywhere and still use our fridge and freezer, saving $40 a night when boondocking. Registering the RV and truck in California cost around $2,400.
Overall RV Costs
The total cost for the RV setup with solar panels and other additions came to about $30,000. We paid $6,000 out of pocket and financed the rest. Our ongoing monthly cost for the loan and RV park is about $1,400.
Is It Worth It?
For our quality of life, absolutely. We can bike to David’s base, which offers a free gym, library, and other amenities. We’re close to restaurants, Trader Joe’s, and the beach, making life convenient and enjoyable. Our dogs are happy, and we don’t have to worry about pet rent or deposits.
David’s costs went from $2,250 in the apartment to $1,400 in the RV, saving us $850 a month. In just seven months, we’ll have recouped our initial investment in solar and accessories. Plus, the solar setup increases the RV’s resale value.
Living on the beach is priceless, and we save money on weekend activities by staying local. With 27 months left, we’re looking at saving $22,950, essentially making the RV free by the end of his assignment.
David wanted an RV for retirement, so it’s a win-win. We’re learning a lot and may keep the RV, but for now, it’s significantly reduced our living costs in San Diego and improved our quality of life.