Long time no blog! I’ve decided to use this quarantine period to get back into the habit of journaling and blogging again. It’ll be fun for both of us! If it feels like you’ve missed out on a lot, you’re not alone. I’ll try to catch you up as we go. In the meantime, stay safe and remember to wash your hands.
Day 47: Today, I ordered a rack to attach to the back of our trailer so we can finally install the cooling unit for a mini-split AC I bought a few months ago but haven’t gotten around to installing. The days are getting hotter, especially when the RV heats up under the afternoon sun. We tried using the AC recently, but it’s too noisy and consumes too much electricity to run on solar power alone.
The metal rack cost about $100, and with the mount and cargo net, we spent a total of $150. Living in an RV is cheaper than renting an apartment, which has allowed us to make small improvements like this while still saving money.
We live in San Diego because my husband has 27 months left on his military assignment here. He used to rent a $2,000 one-bedroom apartment about 30 minutes from work. It was a nice place with a pool, a bike repair shop, and even a dog spa. But as someone from Paris, I never saw the appeal of driving 30 minutes each way and living in a sterile neighborhood full of malls.
The idea of RV living appealed to us both, so we did the math. Before, David paid $2,000 in rent plus another $100 for utilities and cable, and around $150 for gas to commute. That totals $2,250 a month, not including the cost increases that would have come after his lease expired.
After we got married, we bought a 32ft RV and a 2003 Ford F150 truck to tow it, all for $24,000. Our monthly payment on that loan is about $300, with $90 for insurance. We cook with propane, and with four tanks costing around $18 each to fill, a tank lasts us about six weeks unless we’re using it to heat water and the RV, in which case it lasts about a week. Parking the RV costs around $900 a month at military campgrounds in San Diego. Sometimes we pay $600, other times $1,200, depending on where we can stay.
Overall, our RV living expenses total about $1,368 a month, which is considerably less than apartment living. Plus, we’re close to the beach!
As a military family, we receive a $3,165 monthly housing allowance, which is tax-free. Since our RV expenses are $1,368, we save $1,797 each month, which covers all our other living costs without touching David’s salary. This high allowance is due to David’s rank and our high-cost-of-living location in San Diego.
Some military families opt to live in base housing, which can cost them about $3,000 in equivalent rent. We’ve decided to use the extra savings to make our RV life more comfortable. We’ve bought nice outdoor chairs, a new mattress, a bicycle rack, and some other essentials. Our biggest investment was adding solar panels, which allow us to camp off-grid and run our fridge and freezer. This setup cost about $2,700 but comes with a $900 tax credit, bringing the net cost to $1,800.
Registering the RV and truck in California was expensive, costing about $2,400. All in all, our total initial RV costs—including solar panels and the gadgets—came to around $30,000, with $6,000 out of pocket and $24,000 financed.
This move has significantly improved our quality of life. We have easy access to the base where David works, which offers free amenities like a gym, library, and even Zumba and Yoga classes. We can easily walk to restaurants, Trader Joe’s, or the beach. The dogs love it too, and we don’t have to worry about pet rent or deposits.
David used to spend $2,250 a month on apartment living, but now spends $1,400 on the RV, saving $850 each month. In just seven months, he will have recouped his initial investment in solar and accessories. Plus, we could sell the RV for a higher price thanks to these upgrades.
Living on the beach is priceless, and we don’t have to drive much on weekends, which saves even more money. With 27 months left on his assignment, we’ll save about $22,950, essentially covering the cost of the RV. David had always wanted an RV for retirement, so this experience has been a win-win for us. We’re learning a lot and may or may not keep this RV, but for now, it’s helping us save on rent in San Diego and enhancing our quality of life.
