How to Budget and Save With Your Airstream® Trailer

RVing in an Airstream can have many benefits. They’re efficient, lightweight, and easy to maintain, so they’re ideal for adventurous travelers, first-time owners, and even RVers who simply want an easier ownership experience. Not to mention, they’re generally more affordable than some of their similarly-sized competition. Another reason why these trailers are so popular.

But buying a more affordable RV generally isn’t the end of your financial concerns. There’s a lot more to affording the RV lifestyle, whether you only hit the road every once in a while or you’re a full-time traveler. That’s why Airstream of Vermont at Pete’s RV Center has provided some tips for setting your budget and making it easier to enjoy your passion. You can also stop by our location in South Burlington, Vermont, where we’re open for business and happy to answer all your questions. We proudly serve all of New England, including Worcester, Massachusetts, and Plattsburgh, New York.

Set a Realistic Budget

Whether you’ve purchased an Airstream trailer or not, the first step to affording the RV lifestyle is to set a realistic budget. There are a number of considerations to keep in mind, not the least of which is your monthly financing payments, if you have them, and other RV purchasing costs. The best way to know what you can afford here is to speak with a trusted Airstream dealer about your budget and what that means for you.

On top of the sticker price of the Airstream trailer, as well as any interest rates on your financing loan you’ll have to pay off, there are some other areas where you’ll want to keep in mind. This can include the following ownership costs:

• Gas
• Maintenance for both the tow vehicle and the RV
• Cleaning
• Insurance
• Registration fees

And these are just some of the basics not to mention, costs like gas will change depending on what your travel experience looks like. Setting a realistic budget means taking all this into consideration. 

Include a Travel Budget

Speaking of travel costs, there are some things about owning an RV that aren’t dissimilar to owning a car. Other spending points are very unique. For example, as you travel, if you choose to stay in campgrounds, you’ll need to budget for campground fees. If you’re more of an off-the-grid kind of camper, you might be looking at higher fees for freshwater and propane.

Your travel budget also needs to include some of the basic traveling costs, like food, attraction fees, and an emergency budget. The emergency budget is often overlooked, but can be crucial if you run into a mechanical or medical emergency. You don’t want to spend all your vacation money on a repair and have to cut the trip short.

Keep in mind, for some of you, this isn’t a travel budget. It’s a life budget. If you’re planning on RVing full-time, then you’ll need to consider how you’re spending your money now and how that may translate to life on the road.

Find Ways to Save

At this point, you’re probably gawking. Even with an affordable Airstream trailer, RVing can be expensive, just as life and travel is expensive in general. But opting for an affordable Airstream isn’t the only way to save money. 

You can also improve your fuel economy by driving the designated speed limit and avoiding slamming on the brakes or hitting the accelerator too hard. This can burn through fuel faster.

Prepare home (or Airstream) cooked meals as opposed to paying for takeout. Look for less expensive campgrounds and ask about deals that can help you save. Once you start looking around for these kinds of savings, you’ll find there are many ways to help make RVing more affordable. 

The cost of owning an Airstream and hitting the road can be intimidating, but with some careful planning, you can make smart financial choices so you can enjoy traveling with minimal financial stress. For more help, or to check out our Airstream trailers for sale in Vermont, stop by Airstream of Vermont at Pete’s RV Center and let one of our experienced staff know how we can assist you. We welcome all those across New England, including those of you coming from Manchester, New Hampshire.