Many retired people all over the US decide to spend a part of their life on wheels. They buy a recreational vehicle (RV) and travel all over the country. Some of them are full-times and spend all 365 days a year in their trailer; the others are part-timers and travel for up to 3 month a year.

When people decide to live in an RV they have to consider their finances. Many travelers like it that you don’t have house maintenance bills, work-expenses. People spend less money on electricity, water and other things. Some RVers are happy they have limited room for living because this takes them away from buying extra things like furniture, electronics and other expensive things. They have to spend their money on over-night renting in national parks or parking lots to be also hooked up to electricity. But mostly they use solar, ceramic or catalytic heaters and park at truck-stops or Wal-Mart parking lots where overnight parking is permitted and it is free.

The problem that arises though is gas prices. They go higher lately and this is the main expense the RV owners have to consider. Most of the trailers use about 10 miles per gallon, some smallest versions – 18 mpg. With the gas prices like now motor homes loose their economic advantage over traveling by a car, living in hotels and eating in restaurants.

The price of the RVs is worth to be considered too. Little travel trailers cost about $8,000 to $65,000. Fifth wheels are around $13,000 to $100,000 (they are called so because of the fifth-wheel hitch. They also have slide-outs that add more room to the trailer when it is parked). Motor homes cost about $100,000 to $900,000 (they look like buses with slide-outs, kitchen and other conveniences).