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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Making that RV grocery budget stretch

Aside from fuel for the rig, one of the biggest expenses RVers cope with is that of keeping groceries in the galley. If your RV budget can get a bit tight, here are some tips that might help you get more miles out of your food dollars:

First, like your mother always told you: Don’t go grocery shopping without a list. If you do, you’re more likely to buy stuff you don’t really need. We made a list on our word processor of all the commonly purchased grocery (and non grocery) items. We broke them down in rough categories, so when we hit the store, our list is already laid out roughly to where we’ll find things group.

For example, we keep the milk, cheese, and other “dairy” items in one clump on our list. We print several copies of the “list” and hang them on a hook inside one of our galley cabinets. As we notice we need something, we simply put a check mark next to the item on the list.

Since much of our time we find ourselves in “little burgs,” where grocery store competition is small, we only buy the stuff we really need to get by when in that area. Once a month we typically hit a “big city,” and take our list with us to do our “major shopping.”

Take advantage of coupons where you can. Not always easy if you’re on the road, but we have found that you can sign up with some of the big chain stores to get weekly special ads sent to you by e-mail. Once a week we get a big advert from Safeway–and we can print manufacturer coupons from their site. Most of these are indeed, manufacturer–as opposed to “store brand” coupons, so they can be used in any store that takes coupons, including Walmart.

Don’t imagine that everything you purchase at a “club” store like Costco or Sam’s Club is going to be cheaper than at the regular retailer. We’ve found milk to be a lot less expensive at a club store, but other items may actually cost more when compared on price per unit basis. And produce at the club stores is usually way out of line in terms of price, and not necessarily of any better quality than at a more upscale supermarket.

When shopping, try to stay in a dollar limit. After our major once-a-month blast, our chief purchasing agent (her) takes the remaining grocery budget dollars–in cash–and divides them up into equal amounts for the remaining number of weeks on the month. If say there’s a hundred grocery dollars left, then we’ll likely have $25 a week for the rest of the month.

So how do you avoid “overspending” when trekking through the store? Set your spending limit before you step in the door. Don’t worry about trying to keep track of how much you’ve put in your cart to the cent–especially if you “do it in your head.” As you stick an item in the basket, round the dollar amount up or down. For example, if the loaf of bread is $4.15, then mentally add $4. If the hamburger is $6.67, then mentally add $7 to your tally. We’ve found it better to use a calculator, but sometimes you can forget to punch in a number.

Interestingly, a study by the Georgia Institute of Technology found that those on really tight budgets, the ones that had the most to lose by overspending, were those who were most likely to overspend. Why? Because they were so engrossed in keeping a mental tally down to the penny, that invariably they’d ‘muff it,’ and forget to add something. That same study says that customers who find themselves spending more than they planned held it against the store; those who spent less, we’re happier with the store. Stores who have in-cart “scanners” to help the customer keep track of what they’d put in their baskets are big winners.

And oh yeah, you know this one too: Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry You’re bound to spend more money–and probably on stuff that isn’t good for you.

photo: Poldavo (Alex) on flickr.com

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Study shows RVing the least expensive form of vacation

In case you were thinking of getting rid of your RV and traveling by car and hotels, the latest study by PKF Consulting, an international travel and tourism consulting company, proved once again that RV vacations are less expensive than other types of vacations.

The study, at the request of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), found that RVing is 28% to 59% less expensive for a family of four and 15% to 45% less expensive for couples.

Several popular RV destinations were used in the study as were different RV types, including folding camping trailers, lightweight travel trailers, and small motorhomes. The full study will be released in the coming weeks after the study is finalized.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Find the lowest fuel prices on the road

With the price of two of RVing's biggest expenses--campgrounds and fuel--going relentlessly up, a little planning and research can put a dent in your fuel costs. At home you probably know the cheapest gas stations, but on the road in unfamiliar areas, it is not as easy to find the low-priced gas stations.

The internet, thankfully, has enabled RVers to check in real time for the best fuel price as they travel across country. If you can estimate where you will need fuel, you can go online to one of the fuel price watch websites and search the area you are passing through or headed to for low-priced fuel.

These are some of the most popular websites. Always check more than one, as their updating may vary or one site may lag behind the other in posting updates in some locations.

Gas Buddy You can also download a Gas Buddy app for your iPhone from their website.
Gas Price Watch also shows how current each gas price posting is.
Fuel Economy is a government website that has in addition to state by state links to lows gas prices also has tips and news on vehicles and fuel economy.

Check out my eBook, 111 Ways to Get the Biggest Bang From Your RV Lifestyle Buck at RV Bookstore.

Monday, May 02, 2011

Bartering for your campsite

In the days of yore (that means a long time ago), barter was the accepted method of trade. If you had something of value your traded it with someone else who had something of value that you wanted. With the invention of currency, barter died a slow death.

However, with today's tight economy and budgets slashed to the bone, barter has started to make a comeback. And it just might work for traveling RVers struggling to keep campground costs manageable. Look around as you enter a campground for areas that seem neglected, or jobs undone. Ask the owner, manager, or ranger if you can trade out a night (or more, depending on the job) for your talents in taking care of postponed or neglected maintenance or other job that needs doing.

This works better in state parks, campgrounds on public lands, and some smaller private campgrounds. If you can trade your talents for something they need, you've got a deal. For them it's a Win-Win situation--especially if they have empty campsites. The cost to them is negligible, and they don't have to pay someone to do the job. Parks are usually quite accepting of volunteer labor.

The areas could include gardening, mechanical maintenance, building a website, repairing fences--and many more ideas. Be creative and observant and you never know what you may workout. I once spent five months in a South Georgia state park for free by helping with various campground chores that the rangers had no time for, relieved the campground host on her days off, participated in Civil War re-enactments (that was fun), and built them a website. Cost to me: $0.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

For a limited time, rent a motorhome for $49 a day

Here's a very inexpensive way to travel up to three weeks with a motorhome. El Monte RV needs to get some brand new 22-foot Class C motorhomes delivered from Chicago to some of it rental locations in the far West.
 
For trips beginning April 15 or those ending no later than May 31, a one-day rate of $49 per night is available. The price includes 2,500 free miles, unlimited free generator use, a starter pack and no one-way fee.

After being picked up in Chicago, the RVs have up to 21 days to be dropped off at El Monte RV locations in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; Dublin Calif.; Oakland Calif.; Ferndale, Wash.; or Las Vegas, Nevada.

Not included are additional miles, insurance, personal kits, or kitchen kits, but these can be purchased at pickup. This special cannot be combined with any other specials or discounts, and the code RELOC must be mentioned at the time of reservation. Information about this special offer and others is at the El Monte RV website.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Coupons and Walmart go together

It's hard to find too many RVers who don't shop (and probably stay at) the friendly, always in the neighborhood wherever you are, Walmart. Catching a few Zs and a good deal while shopping just seem to go together. Do you know Walmart's coupon policy? Nah, it's not for a "premium" spot in the lot for your RV, but if you do coupons for reduced prices, it may help you save a few bucks in the checkout line.

First, Walmart, like most all retailers, takes those manufacturer "cents off coupons." But to make customers crash through the front door, Wally also has a few other coupon coaxers up its corporate sleeves. Here are a couple you may not know about:

Competitive Coupons: Got a cupey from another store? If there's a specific price on the coupon, Walmart will take it. The same holds true for a "two for one" offer--as long as the price is on the coupon, Walmart will honor it.

Checkout Coupons: Do a bit of shopping at another grocery store? Got one of those machine printed "checkout coupons" that offer you a screaming deal for something the next time you come back? Wally accepts them from other stores. There are a few coupon caveats, among them there must be a specific dollars and cents off, have the words "manufacturer's coupon," and a bar code on it.

Internet coupons: Some have wondered if the Big W would accept coupons printed off their computer printer. The answer is largely, yes. There are hoops that Wally makes you go through, but not much more than any other store will look for.

For the finer details, check out the official Walmart coupon policy here.

coupon image lisaclarke on flickr.com by creative commons license.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Stealth camping in a small RV

Staying overnight in a parking lot or other location where you don't pay, and don't even identify yourself as a camper -- primarily because you will likely be kicked out if you do -- is a bit of an art. In this short video, learn how one woman picks her overnight spots and the techniques she employees to blend in for a undisturbed night's sleep.