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Old 12-12-2013, 01:00 PM   #1
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Average Cost Per Night

I calculate our average cost per night including site fees, storage cost, camper payment, and maintenance costs, however I don't include fuel cost. I try and keep this number around what an expensive hotel room would be. This calculation is what convinced me to move to the Z-1 after the projected nightly cost of the 28 year old Hi-Lo was rocketing up due to maintenance items.

Does anyone else do something similar? BTW, my 2013 average nightly cost was $122.
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Old 12-12-2013, 01:34 PM   #2
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No way I would do that....

our cost would be so high we'd never meet up with our camping friends
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Old 12-12-2013, 08:22 PM   #3
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I too keep a spreadsheet with all costs associated with our travels...including fuel. First it is a lot of work, but I have a background in finance and IT so it's not hard for me...second it would scare the bejesus out of people if they kept these costs. For those who own a unit and travel thousands of miles each year, they understand what I'm talking about. The weekend campers don't really need to keep track of such things as most of their travels are close and they more than likely only travel when the budget allows it. Full-timing is not for everyone and it is very expensive. Perhaps others will chime in on this, I am only entering my 3rd year of this, so I am a veritable newcomer to this. But, I would say your number is close...mine is a little lower, but we travelled over 10,000 miles over 154 days last year. Perhaps there is an economy of scale, I'm not sure.

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Jim
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Old 12-12-2013, 08:34 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Antares View Post
I calculate our average cost per night including site fees, storage cost, camper payment, and maintenance costs, however I don't include fuel cost. I try and keep this number around what an expensive hotel room would be. This calculation is what convinced me to move to the Z-1 after the projected nightly cost of the 28 year old Hi-Lo was rocketing up due to maintenance items.

Does anyone else do something similar? BTW, my 2013 average nightly cost was $122.

Let's see;
Camping fees $30-40
Storage cost Zero
Payment Zero
Maintenance Zero; under warranty
Daily cost $30-40

Being with friends and away from the house Priceless

I've never tried to justify having a BP, Class A, Class C, or 5th wheel (and I've had all).

It's kinda like the Rolls Royce salesman telling a prospective buyer, "If you have to ask about the fuel mileage you can't afford the car"

Enjoy life, you only get one chance at it.
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Old 12-12-2013, 08:35 PM   #5
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No. No. No. I don't want to do the math. Of course we don't full time but I figured that including fuel it was cheaper to tow TT than stay at motels and of course you save in food bill too. However, at the time I neglected to figure out the monthly payment and insurance. Now it's too late and I don't want to know. I wouldn't trade it though.
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Old 12-12-2013, 08:36 PM   #6
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nope. Being a weekend warrior I don't budget it like that. Instead we look at it as a small somewhat local (within 2-3 hrs) trip 1 weekend a month from mar-nov plus a week long trip in there somewhere. if we do more expensive trips then I start subtracting weekends from other months... ie we went to disney this year so we skipped 3 weekend trips to help offset some of the costs.
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Old 12-13-2013, 03:20 AM   #7
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We are usually good for a few bucks in "fire and ice" per night. I don't usually care to go off site to buy it unless for an extended stay, and I respect the laws against transporting it. I bet it's another $8 a night... About 2 items from the minibar in the hotel or the tips for the room maids, or about the price of one breakfast at the hotels, or 1/4 of one!
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Old 12-13-2013, 08:40 AM   #8
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I don't think you can put a price on the wonderful experiences you get while rv'ing. I have stayed in the most luxurious hotels (and some of the not so luxuious) and I wouldn't trade any of them for a night in my rv. I don't care how expensive the hotel is, you are not sleeping in your own bed! Also, you get to pick and choose your location. I don't keep track of my gas mileage etc. either. If I can afford to put the gas in, pay the camping fees, then who cares. Last summer, we stayed in a gorgeous rv park overlooking the pacific. Hotels in the area were $300-400 per night. Our nightly cost was $95. That was expensive for a rv park, but it was well worth it.
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Old 12-13-2013, 08:09 PM   #9
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We do almost the same thing as Anaro.
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Old 12-14-2013, 11:43 AM   #10
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We have no heirs so we employ the "can't take it with you" mentality now that we're retired, but not to the extreme. We're fortunate but I don't think we'll outlive our savings & investments...right, Merrill Lynch?
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Old 12-15-2013, 08:40 AM   #11
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What is really the true cost when depreciation is amortized into the equation?
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Old 12-15-2013, 09:04 AM   #12
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If a person worries about depreciation, they would not buy something with wheels...lol.
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Old 12-15-2013, 10:01 AM   #13
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X2 .........
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Old 12-15-2013, 11:54 AM   #14
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told kids "no inheritance", as we are spending it, now.
taking the RMD and traveling.
Not keeping any expense sheet.
DW keepwas a "running" tab, as we travel.
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Old 12-15-2013, 12:37 PM   #15
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We have considered the costs of camping...and this is one reason we are seasonal.

HOWEVER, with an 11 and a 9 year old, I count the family time as PRICELESS. When I see the joy those boys have when we are at the campground every weekend...I don't really care what it costs money wise.
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Old 12-15-2013, 06:30 PM   #16
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My wife always keeps record as to the cost even with fuel. Yes we might be able to save a little ... very little ... but I can get a cup of coffee in the morning in my PJ's and have the food I want and not look at a menu or leave a tip. Oh Ya I know who has been in the bed the night before, clean sheets, and no bed bugs.
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Old 12-15-2013, 06:32 PM   #17
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Yeah, depreciation is the big elephant in the room. Despite that we buy in and up, but that's one that hurts! Never stops us, but it hurts to think about when buying new!
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Old 12-16-2013, 07:15 AM   #18
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told kids "no inheritance", as we are spending it...keeps a "running" tab, as we travel.
X2
We do not tally everything but definitely know how much we can spend. If EVERY factor was taken into consideration, none of us would enjoy all the benefits that RVing brings. No way to input a value for the quiet, serene outdoors or the beautiful country we are seeing.
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Old 12-16-2013, 07:42 AM   #19
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The way I look at it is if you really considered the overall cost you probably would never spend a night in an rv. However, the joy of spending time with family and friends in the great outdoors outweighs any cost. You can't sit around a campfire, roast a marshmallow, catch a fish or just sit back and enjoy the wonders of nature while sitting in a hotel room. You have the opportunity to do all of this when camping.
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Old 12-16-2013, 08:24 AM   #20
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George pretty much hit it right the head for us to.
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