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We prepare a formal income and expense budget about 3 months before the beginning of each year. We try to live
within our budgeted expenses, but life sometimes happens no matter how much you plan. Regardless of our budget, if something
special comes up we may decide to do it anyway. After all, we may not have the same opportunity again.
These are our Average Monthly Expenses for the last 10 years. We were not living in our RV while our youngest
son was in High School, but the monthly expenses are still accurate. I am not suggesting that these should be your expenses,
they are just posted here to give you a rough idea of what to expect or to to compare to. Not included here are our
Medical Expenses, Gifts, Personal Care, Miscellaneous and Taxes.
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. | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | . | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | RV Space Rent | 449 | 444 | 432 | 412 | 422 | 483 | 573 | 424 | 487 | 571 | RV Fuel and Propane | 189 | 161 | 167 | 163 | 187 | 147 | 333 | 357 | 307 | 432 | RV Insurance | 35 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 40 | 35 | 46 | 39 | 38 | 38 | RV Repair/Mtce. | 236 | 133 | 272 | 638 | 197 | 471 | 393 | 619 | 187 | 213 | RV Supplies | 10 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 27 | RV DMV (License) | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 11 | Toad Fuel | 96 | 95 | 81 | 104 | 108 | 73 | 119 | 80 | 110 | 129 | Toad Insurance | 36 | 22 | 28 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 24 | Toad Repair/Mtce. | 21 | 4 | 18 | 119 | 23 | 34 | 34 | 14 | 24 | 69 | Toad DMV (License) | 18 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | Groceries | 385 | 392 | 365 | 368 | 432 | 481 | 472 | 473 | 502 | 535 | Eat Out | 305 | 301 | 262 | 265 | 273 | 266 | 266 | 263 | 251 | 304 | Entertainment | 308 | 343 | 180 | 193 | 352 | 240 | 441 | 367 | 304 | 310 | Telephone | 75 | 76 | 102 | 89 | 91 | 68 | 170 | 216 | 242 | 237 | Clothing | 117 | 79 | 67 | 74 | 66 | 85 | 100 | 18 | 77 | 98 | | | | | | | | | | | | Total Monthly | 2,299 | 2,124 | 2,047 | 2,510 | 2,250 | 2,462 | 3,002 | 2,921 | 2,572 | 3,007 | | | | | | | | | | | | Ending Odometer | NA | NA | NA | 155,316 | 160,007 | 165,330 | 176,875 | 185,162 | 192,964 | 203,209 | Miles Driven | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4,691 | 5,323 | 11,545 | 8,287 | 7,802 | 10,245 | | | | | | | | | | | | Nights Paid | NA | NA | NA | NA | 221 | 262 | 288 | 228 | 252 | 314 | Nights Free | NA | NA | NA | NA | 144 | 103 | 77 | 137 | 113 | 51 | Avg. Cost/Pd. Night | NA | NA | NA | NA | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
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I am sure that our average cost of RV repairs and maintenance seems high. However, our RV is now over
25 years old and the cost includes not only normal repairs and maintenance but many upgrades such as a Heart Inverter
and six AGM batteries, a solar system with 3 panels and controller, several new appliances, a new TV, a new wood
floor, 2 pass-thru Joey Beds, a Motosat satellite internet system, 2 roof vents with Fantastic Fans, an auxiliary
braking system, a tow bar system, and much more. We realize that our cost of repairs and improvements could be
much lower with a newer RV, but we like our Bus and we enjoy living on the earnings from the money it would cost
us to purchase a good newer model RV.
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Entertainment is a category that will vary widely among RVers. Some will think that we spend an exorbitant amount
and others will think that we are piker's. Our entertainment category includes our Motosat ISP fee, our Direct TV
monthly fee, movie theaters and DVD rentals, live theater and performances, all admissions to museums or attractions,
all costs of our bicycles, and other miscellaneous fun stuff. We also charge HOP expenses that are not for camping to
this category.
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