The_Painting_Teacher
Cape Cod, MA/St. Augustine, FL
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Joined: 12/08/2005
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Every now and then I see a post about staying at home because of the cost of fuel over last year. I want to scream "TAKE OUT YOUR CALCULATOR." Assuming you travel from the farthest corner of the USA to the other farthest corner (Bangor, ME to San Diego, CA...3,274 miles or from Seattle, WA to Miami, FL...3,355 miles) WHICH VERY FEW DO and you get 10 mpg and fuel costs $1/gallon more than last year, the increase in your fuel cost will be about $650. Now calculate how much you'll SAVE by eliminating your heating costs at $4+/gallon by shutting down your house and NOT heating it to 50 degrees as I've done for the past 3 years. I'm going to bet it's close to a wash or better. Is the "saving" worth freezing your tush off? Here's to snowbirding AGAIN...camp on!
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Gene-C
So. Ilinois
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Joined: 12/02/2000
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I am in total agreement with that frame of mind. Wife and I have talked of this many times. Our thoughts are " If you sit home waiting for the fuel costs to drop before you go south you might never go again" We will go whatever it cost till the money runs out and then sit home. Better later than now. We may be in the nursing home or dead next week. We understand some folks are on a tight budget and can't do it but if you have the money then spend and enjoy while you can. You never know what is around the next curve of life.
Gene-C
01 Mckenzie Medallion 31ft TT, 01 Dodge Ram diesel,Honda CT110 trail bike On the rear,14 ft boat on the roof of the truck. Finally retired.
South in the winter and North in the summer
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Campnfuls
Hilt, CA
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Joined: 10/18/2007
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I was waiting for someone to point this out for a long time. Glad you did. It holds true for us as well. We only move once or twice a month at most and not more than 150 to 300 miles each time between campgrounds. At 10 miles per gallon that's 15 to 30 gallons of fuel per month. At $4.00 per gallon that's $60 to $120 dollars per month for fuel. We usually stop for food and other necessities enroute and use the local campground store for odds and ends we need. That amount is roughly half of what our utilities at home would be if we stayed home. Since we are TT members we pay only $459.00 annually for campground maintenance fees. No extra charge for water, electricity and sewer. If we wanted to be extra frugal with our food and entertainment expenses we could easily get by on $900.00 a month while traveling/camping. Any extra income beyond that is saved for a rainy day to cover annual taxes and unexpected repairs. I know most of you out there are bringing in a retirement income far beyond $900.00 a month so what's the problem? Get out there!!!
I want to leave this earth quietly in my sleep like my grandfather and not like the hysterical, screaming passengers riding in granddad's RV just before the big crash.
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casuallady
butler
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Joined: 08/26/2007
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I totally agree with your thoughts. Another savings for us, is that when we are home, we are driving 2 vehicles. We tow a CRV and drive only one vehicle and it is the better of the 2 for gas. We eat out about the same on vacation when only the two of us go. I actually shop less for clothes, and household items, and spend more time walking, biking, swimming. Thats all for now.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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I LOVE rationalizations like these  Makes me feel better about being in the Valley during the winter.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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Dave A
Espanola, ON
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Joined: 04/28/2004
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We are in the middle of downsizing our home. One thing I was asked for was the cost of heating. We curently pay $100 a month, 12 months a year for natural gas - we heat house at about 50 while we are away. The last year we spent the winter here in Northern Ontario we were paying $250 a month 12 months a year and gas was $.25 a Cu. metre, now it is $.37. $150 a month for 12 months.... plus the $75 a month for electricity... plus cost of living in valley... add the joy of meeting all our Winter Texan friends... subtract what I spend at Harbor Freight... not sure what fuel will have to cost before it would be cheaper to stay home, and then the natural gas costs would be higher so it will still cost less to go south.
No idea how long we'll be able to go south, but I figure that about 20 years from now I'll look at the numbers again. May have to hit the kids up for a loan - wouldn't that be sweet for a change...
Dave
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MoRambler
Springfield, Missouri
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Joined: 07/16/2002
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Dave A, we're also in the middle of downsizing our home(close next Friday). We also figure that we'll be spending less on heating/utility costs due to a much smaller size. We'll also be lowering our taxes. All of those savings adds up to us being in the RGV having a good time AGAIN this winter!
Not sure about hitting the kid up for a loan however. SOME things will never change!
Larry & Ann w/Lucy the cocker
'00 Mountain Aire 350 Cummins/Spartan
Toad: '05 Jeep Liberty Ltd.
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 03/19/2005
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Where I live (San Jose) it doesn't get anywhere near that cold. It is very rare for the hose to freeze. So for some of us that math just doesn't work out.
My natural gas bill never exceeds my electric bill.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
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pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
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Joined: 01/19/2005
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We feel that we save money by going south for the winter. We go to the Rio Grande Valley for 5 1/2 months every winter. Besides saving money we have way more fun in the RGV. Some of our savings follow:
Put phone on hold,
Put internet on hold,
Put cable TV on hold,
Cancel daily newspaper,
Cancel garbage pickup,
Turn off water,
Turn off & drain water heater,
Turn off heat or lower to 50 degrees,
Little to no electric use
Cancel snowplow for driveway.
Very low cost of living in RGV,
Get dental care in Mexico,
Buy meds in Mexico,
Free or very cheap fruit & produce in the RGV,
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