Monthly Archives: December 2023

Discover The Advantages of Motorhome Living

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Motorhome living is a way of life for a growing segment of the population. Some individuals are retired and looking for adventure. Others have decided they want an alternative to renting a place to live or becoming tied to a mortgage that takes decades to pay off. Whatever the reason anyone who is considering roaming the open roads permanently should investigate the advantages and disadvantages of residing in a recreational vehicle.

One big advantage to this lifestyle is the scenery is always changing. It is impossible to get bored with the surroundings because it is always possible to go somewhere else. There is no need to pack belongings or ship furniture to a new location. RV parks and campgrounds are available everywhere. Users who want a change of scenery can just drive to a different campground.

One challenge for RV dwellers is securing a permanent residence for mail delivery. Some states allow citizens to retain an address even if they do not live there. Each state has its own rules and requirements. Choosing the right option depends on where the resident plans to spend the most time and individual circumstances.

Anyone who lives in a recreational vehicle will need more than a basic RV insurance policy which is nearly identical to automobile insurance. RV owners who use the vehicle for a residence will need to have personal liability coverage similar to that available with homeowners’ insurance. Experts advise consumers to purchase a policy that offers replacement cost for contents.

Gas prices may dictate whether individuals decide to travel most of the time or park in a permanent location. Either way the freedom to leave anytime is what many people like so much about motorhome living. This type of lifestyle is not for everyone but those who enjoy moving around freely with no strings attached will have all the independence they need to do so.

Some Financial and Health Benefits of Motorhome Living
It seems that motorhome living has become more and more popular in recent years. This may be due in part to people having longer and more vigorous lives than ever before. This allows them to enjoy a longer period of retirement to satisfy a desire for travel and exploration.

Younger couples and families may also enjoy this nomadic lifestyle though perhaps on a more part time basis. Aside from allowing for more opportunities to go on vacations and see more sights there are other advantages as well. These includes saving money in several ways and being much healthier at the same time.

A recreational vehicle of this type will include a kitchen of some sort whether compact or more elaborate in larger models. Being able to prepare your own meals while traveling can save a lot of money. Eating in restaurants constantly is generally more expensive than cooking at home.

At least as important as cost in the meals and snacks you eat is the quality of the food. When you cook you are aware of everything that goes into each meal unlike eating out. This allows you to control calories and be sure that all ingredients are fresh and wholesome as well as eliminate any allergens that you or anyone else may be sensitive to.

Another very important aspect of traveling is sleeping accommodations. Staying in hotels or motels when on a trip or vacation can represent a sizable expense. With a mobile home your own bed is always with you which can be a big help to your budget. Having a television and other entertainment devices in your vehicle means you will not miss such hotel amenities.

Your own sleeping facilities also ensure that you have a clean and healthy environment every night. Even upscale hotels in recent years have been known to harbor bedbugs due to the high volume of guests from all over the world. Motorhome living protects you from this danger and lets you enjoy your travels with greater peace of mind.

Money Saving Tips on Everyday Spending

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When my wife and I started out on our full-time motor home journey in the summer of 2009 one thing we wanted to find was ways of saving money and how to make what money we had go further. We did this by cutting down on everyday spending as well as stocking only the necessary items needed that would not take up too much room in our new 400 square feet of living space. The following information will be useful for those of you out there living in a home on wheels’ apartment or in a small confined spacing who are also on a fixed income and need to budget.

Here are some ideas that will help:

1) CLEANING THE HOME:

For cleaning there are a total of only 5 items you will need to clean your home.
 
a) A quality dish soap that has a disinfectant as well and cuts the grease and dirt. For example, Dawn Dish Soap is effective for cleaning the dishes as well as the countertops and appliances (including your conventional oven). Dawn Dish soap can also double to be used as a pre-treatment for your clothes it will do as good of a job (if not better) than the store bought pre-treatments currently available. Simply apply a dab to the spot take an old toothbrush dip it in water scrub lightly and then let it sit for 2 to 3 hours before washing.

b) Ammonia can also be cost effective it is known to disinfect and deodorize a large number of things. By adding a ½ tsp. to a 20 oz. bottle of water you can use it to clean windows or by adding 1 cap of ammonia to a full bucket of hot water to clean larger areas such as a laminate floor.

c) For your wood and glass top furniture try using a light oil based furniture polish spray such as Kleen furniture polish. This oil is light enough to protect your wood when used regularly yet will not smear on the glass. It comes out with a little shine instead plus is also provides a wonderful scent of lemon and is one of the more less expensive brands out there.

d) A bottle of Old English Oil is also good to keep on hand in case you have scratches on your wood that need to be covered up.

e) A small bottle of bleach will do wonders to get rid of those tough stains and calcium deposits on porcelain sinks and toilets and yet will not scratch or cause damage to the surface. It too disinfects and deodorizes. Bleach can also be used in your clothes washer when washing whites. Simply add 1-½ tsp to the add bleach slot on your washer machine once it is filled and has started to rotate to wash.

2) SAVING ON PERSONAL CARE ITEMS:

Personal care items such as shampoo and body wash may have different options out there available however for the most part they are all basically the same. Some shampoos and body washes can be used for both your body and your hair. For example, a shampoo can be used as a body wash as well as for your hair. The ingredients are almost identical. So why spend the extra money to buy one of each?

Shaving cream is another personal care item where you can save. Shaving cream can be replaced by soap and water. A mild soap with conditioning in it such as Dove or Almay will be just as effective and will allow you to shave and yet moisturizes at the same time.

3) SAVING AT THE GROCERY STORE:

Groceries can and usually are a challenge when it comes to saving money. Coupons are good way to save for those items you use most often. It usually will allow you to buy in bulk so you always have it on hand. There are websites that provide up-to-date coupons that you now can print out and use at your local grocery store. Some of these websites such as coupons will even email you with the latest news and coupons. Many grocery stores also provide their own coupons on their website.

Another way to save on your grocery bill is to look at what is on sale for that week either through the flyer in your local newspaper or on the grocery store’s website. When items you use are on sale try to purchase enough to last you awhile. Also shopping for can goods and pre-packaged goods earlier in the year when they are on sale may also help save you time & stress for your holiday cooking & baking.

Credit cards can be beneficial to you when used for grocery shopping. Try using a credit card for your grocery shopping only and pay the bill off every month. This will allow you to review your grocery spending each month and some banks even offer points for usage so that later on you can have discounts for restaurants air fares etc.

When planning your meals for the week try using leftovers to make another meal or two. For example, make meatloaf one night than the next night uses the leftovers for either spaghetti or lasagna. Left over side dishes are great for adding into a main dish as well. This saves both time & money for those of you who work. Also if you have small waste baskets for your trash try using the plastic grocery bags left over from shopping. The bags are of no cost and can be easily stored in an empty tissue box and will be easier to dispose of.

4) SAVING ON CLOTHES:

Clothes can be very costly when they are needed. When the time comes to purchase these department store items try going to a local consignment / discount store. Most of these stores offer a wide selection of very nice clothing that range from those everyday work & play to special occasions such as weddings proms and anniversaries. When buying clothes for your children you need to keep in mind that they will be outgrowing them in no time so why spend hundreds of dollars for clothes that will last only for a short period of time. Another benefit when you purchase from one of these type stores is that your money will most of the time go to a worthy cause such as The Cancer Society or supporting our Veterans and their families. To find your local consignment/discount stores in your area one useful web page is resale shopping this particular website currently has over 2150 stores listed throughout North America.

5) SAVING AT THE PUMP:

A way to save at the pump is to completely fill your tank each time you visit. You never know when the gas prices will go up again and this will allow you to get the best possible price at that current time. Choosing where to purchase your gas can require last minute decision making at times (especially when you are on the road) however one of the ways to save is by purchasing your gas at places such as Wal-Mart. By putting money on Wal-Mart’s gift / discount cards you can use this card at their gas pumps and receive .03 off per gallon. Also many grocery stores have great discounts on their store cards for local gas stations after purchasing a certain dollar amount on groceries. There are many websites that will provide the latest on gas prices for the area that are of interest to you such as GasBuddy and gaspricewatch. These websites are very helpful and are continuously being updated.

The speed & type of road can also make a difference on how much gas is used between fill-ups. When driving on the highways try to stay at a speed of 60 – 65 mph. This will make your dollar stretch more by making longer times between fill ups.

In closing there are many ways to save money at home. The best way is to do your own research and think about what you can do at home and on the road that will help you save. Remember knowledge is the key to success and success means a brighter future.

Retirement Is Meant to Be Enjoyed

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If you’re someone who is nearing the age of retirement you might already be making plans. On the other hand, you could be wondering what you’re going to do with all the spare time you’ll have in your life. There’s no need to worry because there are plenty of ways to keep yourself occupied and entertained.

One thing that many retirees like to do is get involved in their local community. It could be that a nearby animal shelter needs help caring for their dogs and cats. Or perhaps there’s a senior center in the neighborhood that’s filled with people who would love to play cards with someone like you.

Something else that might not have entered your mind is taking some classes. Basket-weaving used to be the old standby but nowadays you can learn about anything you wish. Keep up with technology by attending a class at a nearby college and then take a course online that teaches you how to write your own memoir.

Going online is a great thing to do because if you’ve never had a hobby you can find out about them on the Net. For example, it might never have occurred to you that you would enjoy something like refinishing furniture. Check the Internet and you can learn everything about it.

Many people like to travel and you’ll have plenty of time for that. Fly around the world or find a motor home and see your country up close. You’re bound to find plenty of other retirees on the same adventure.

The most important thing to remember about retirement is that it opens up time for you to seek the pleasures in life. You’ve worked hard for decades. Now you only need to work hard at one thing and that’s having fun with all the activities that you were once unable to enjoy because you were always too busy.

Choosing A Winter Campground

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There are many things to consider when choosing the best location for Wintering in a Motorhome or 5th Wheel for you and your spouse. My wife and I have actually wintered in Florida for the past 6 years but try and move around to a different location every couple years.

Weather:

This is a very critical part of the decision making process. The two most common state for wintering in are Florida and Arizona. However, keep in mind the northern part of both states still are cold during the winter and are not necessarily ideal location. Because of this the southern part of Florida and Arizona get very full during the winter with all the full-timers and snowbirds and therefor fill up as early as April the spring before Due to a lot of people return year to year to the same place. So Plan early and start calling.

Campground Activities:

This is important to avoid getting bored during the winter months. This also varies greatly from campground to campground. We have been in locations that actually do nothing and expect you to entertain yourself to others that will have potlucks bingos dances and card or pool nights. We find we want ones with lots of activities because it helps pass the time and doesn’t cost a lot.

Price and Terms:

This is more of a personal decision to decide on. You will find some campgrounds have one price for everything and others that will offer Daily Weekly Monthly 6 Months and Annual pricing. The longer you stay the cheaper per month it is. Also some will charge extra for Electric. You will usually also find that it’s one of those things you Pay for what you get. The cheaper sites will be usually smaller sites and less activities than the more expensive ones will have larger sites Paves campground and Pools and actives during the winter.

Medical Facilities:

This can be more important the unhealthier you are. I have been in remote areas of Florida that can be 45 minutes from the nearest Hospital. This can be the difference from living to dying if it’s too major of an emergency. We like to be t of town but still close enough for help if need be. Also since we are in Florida 6 months of the year we need doctors and dentist to get checkups done while we are there. We want them close to safe on gas and wear and tear on vehicles.

Shopping and Entertainment:

This goes along with the medical Facilities. You don’t want to have to drive a long distance every time you need to go grocery shopping or to dinner and the movies. Most people find they have to go out at least every other day as to not get bored or lazy around the campground. This can be shopping eating out or other activist live parts and fishing.
 
As always it’s your decision on where you want to winter but make sure you plan early as most enjoyable locations fill early and there is a reason for that. Look at it as taking a lesson from the more experienced and there must be a reason people are returning from year to year. If a park is empty or easy to get into there may be a hidden reason for it that others have already learned from.

Comfortable Camping

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Most have heard how uncomfortable and challenging camping can be. If you not necessarily properly set up that’s most evident but with the proper equipment and understanding your camping could be a more comfortable experience. Camping out in a tent could be awkward but as long as you arrange it well and you use decent quality camping gear it is extremely comfortable. To begin with you will want tent that’s weather proof. You can’t camp in a tent that price 20 bucks and expect it to help keep the rain out. Rainfall in a tent is really a nightmare!

From there simply getting the right sleeping equipment is among the best investments you may make for camping. An excellent quality sleeping handbag makes a huge difference. In the event that you awaken shivering or sweating you then need to set your sleeping arrangement much better. Mix this with an excellent bed-quality mattress and pillow and you will certainly get yourself a wonderful night’s sleep. Camping mattresses range between foam bedding to inflatable mattresses and cots and based on your space and budget it is possible to pick what you need.

In general, when you can get away with utilizing a mattress that’s part foam and air (or complete foam is most beneficial) then you will receive a better sleep. Needless to say foam mattresses don’t fold into small pieces which may be an issue. Lighting is another large issue with regards to camping out in a tent. Setup lighting that hangs properly from your own tent and that provides light where you need it to. Camping out in a tent can be quite comfortable so long as you take time to arrange it correctly and you utilize the right gear.

If you are camping with a partner, consider camping in a 4-person tent. You might be asking why a 4-person tent is necessary for camping out rather than a 2-person tent. While a 2-person tent can fit in 2 people inside it, it will be a tight fit and you will see no space for the other equipment. You will probably feel squashed and can cause your camping trip to be uncomfortable. Whereas a 4-person tent could have enough room for just two 2 individuals and their gear and in addition allow enough space to maneuver.

Follow these tips and your camping experience will be far more pleasant and comfortable allowing you to enjoy scenic nature as mother earth intended.