Living on the Road Saves Money

Living on the road isn't quite as impossible as it may seem. You just have to be willing to give up some things you own and ideas you hold on to if you want to make it happen.

I've written a few times about the logistics of life on the road and how to make that happen.

I won't lie to you. It's a challenging experience that will push you beyond what you thought you could do. It's daunting to let go and be free. The responsibility of providing for yourself each day with little support is arduous.

But the payoff far outweighs the efforts.



The most important item to address is finances. In a future post I will address how to earn money on the road, but first, let's look at how much money you actually need. Based on some research I found the median rent/mortgage payment to be $1,100 per month, so we'll start there.

ALL OF MY CALCULATIONS ARE PER PERSON.

Current living Space:

• Mortgage             $          1,100
• Property Tax                       189
• Utilities                               247
• Internet                                 75
• Miscellaneous costs            350
• Average bonus savings       (150)

Total per month            $       2,111

Current Living Space @ $2,111 per month for 12 months = 25,332

(According to research by the U.S. Dept. of Housing, the average person spends $2,736 per month to live in a one bedroom space, totalling $32,832 per year.)

When you join a hotel loyalty rewards program and stay in only those chains, you'll earn a ridiculous amount of reward points. In fact, if you stay with one chain for 10 months in one year, you'll earn between 6 - 8 weeks of free stays, if you work the system right. This stretches your "rent" dollar much further.

Hotel Living Space @ $2,300 per month for 10 months (2 months free!) = $23,000

That's a savings of $2,332 per year.

I'm not talking about a theory. I know because I've done it.

Miscellaneous costs (as noted above) can apply to a number of things: home repairs, landscaper, parking, new furniture, etc. When living on the road, we buy fewer items than when we live in a house or apartment. Curtains, pillows, rugs, clothing, knick knacks, dishes, cookware, etc. You just don't buy it when you're on the road. You learn to live with so much less. This is your average bonus savings.

Yes, on the road you may eat in restaurants more. Currently the average American spends $232 per month eating meals prepared outside the home. This adds up to $2,784 per year. But long stay hotels not only provide a breakfast included, but other meals and a kitchen. You should spend no more or less on groceries since you'll have a kitchen.

Once you are free of the costs above, you can apply that to your "rent" along the road if you choose to stay in long stay hotels. Keep in mind all of the benefits of staying in a hotel. You not only get a room, you get utilities, internet, gym, maid service, pool, office space/service, full breakfast and more. We focused on the Marriott chain and stayed in Residence Inns and Townplace Suites. These rooms also have a kitchen with all the dishes you need to cook for yourself. Residence Inn also serves dinner 2 -3 nights per week, beer and wine included.

Additional Meal Savings per Year:

• Breakfast @ $3 per day x 365 days  = $  1,095 per person
• Dinner @ $7 per day x 104 days      = $    728 per person

Total savings for prepared meals = $1,823

You will probably continue to spend around $250 per month eating out. But with the meals served at the hotel, you'll be buying far less groceries, thus having a savings on food each month of nearly $150 per month. 

Total savings of hotel living ($2,332) and food ($1,800) per year is $4,132. 

If you take a long, hard look at your current finances, chances are you can afford to live on the road, perhaps even for less than you're spending now. Two adults can live a great life living and working on the road, staying in nice hotels and seeing the country.

I'm not talking about a theory. I know because I've done it.

My ebook, "Rude Biker Chick: Lessons From My Daddy" is available for purchase here. Buy your copy now or if not for you, buy a copy for a friend for the holidays! The woman in your life will love you for it.