So, you’ve decided that RV life is the perfect fit for you! Congratulations and welcome to the wonderful world of tiny living. Less space means more room for adventure as you begin to spend less time trying to afford it all and more time connecting to friends, family, and even nature. Living in an RV, renovated school bus, van, or even tiny home is a truly unique lifestyle whether you are staying put or jumping from place to place.
So, come along for Part 2 of Planning a Year of RV Living!
Downsizing
The dreaded downsize. The art of going from having whatever you want to having whatever fits. Going from walk-in closets to kitchens the size of a walk-in closet. Deciding what stays and what goes. But honestly, when you’ve already made the decision to go tiny, you’ve probably also prepared to live with a little (or a lot) less. Here are some ideas on how to make downsizing a little less daunting.
- Start decluttering
We all have stuff we probably don’t need. Things we haven’t seen or used in years that occupy the junk drawers and storage spaces in the garage. So the first step to decluttering your life is to sift through the stuff you know you don’t need. Old paperwork, old clothes, old kitchen utensils that don’t work, the cabinets, the pantries, the garage, go through it all and just get rid of what you know you won’t use.
- Go paperless
You can also make sure you don’t continue to create clutter by going paperless. Connect as much of your mail as possible to some sort of digital platform, pay bills online, or set up accounts digitally. There are tons of ways to limit your paper usage.
- Host a garage sale
Selling your things at a garage sale is a great way to get rid of your stuff and make a little extra cash on the side. If you have the space, host a garage sale and invite the whole family. Heck, invite the whole neighborhood!
- Donate usable items
If you don’t want the hassle of setting up a sale or if you’ve sold all you could, it’s time to take your stuff to a donation center. Plenty of people could benefit from your downsize and donating is a great way to make sure that happens!
Don’t just take my word for it! Here’s a great article about how to downsize your life and make it road ready.
What to pack for RV Living
Now it’s time to decide what stays. The golden rule of any downsize is if you haven’t used it in a year, then maybe you don’t really need it. Getting in this mindset while you go through your stuff is a great way to analyze what you are actually going to use in your new tiny adventure.
- Room by room
Going room by room is the best way to decide what goes and what stays. It will truly mystify you how much stuff we tend to collect as we go along. When I first began my downsize into tiny life, I was simply shocked at how much I had collected already in my life. The perspective shift of living with less, made so much of what I had not as valuable as it once seemed to be. Multiply that room by room and I was able to get rid of so much.
Research Workamping Jobs
Now it’s time to put the WORK in Live Camp Work! Workamping is an excellent way to make money on the road. In fact, it was how I got my start traveling in my camper. It gave me direction and a paycheck and it can do the same for you!
- Learn the basics
There are so many different ways you can workamp which makes it easy to customize your workamping experience. Some people prefer to make workamping their fulltime job whereas some people prefer to only work seasonally. Some people love to interact with guests on a regular basis and some prefer to stay in the background. It’s really up to you but getting an idea of what type of experience you’re looking for is a great place to start!
Here’s a little more information on the types of workamping jobs out there: Types of Campground Workamping Jobs
- Research Employers
Now that you have an idea of what positions you are looking to take on, it’s time to start researching employers. You’d be surprised how many different resources are available to the workamping community. It’s as simple as a “workamping jobs” google search!
Here are two links that will help you find workamping websites and tips for when you begin your search:
Workamping: Jobs for RVers |The Ultimate Guide
6 Tips When Searching for Workamping Jobs
- Look into Camp Hosting
Camp hosting is the perfect job for those looking to volunteer for their site. In exchange for minimal work and upkeep, you get a free site and access to other campground amenities. These positions are great for those who really want to get involved in the RV life and don’t mind volunteering their time. Greeting guests, cleaning facilities, and being the go-to campground liaison are typical duties of a camp host.
- Line Up Your Jobs
If you’re interested in workamping full-time, it’s a great idea to have your jobs lined up in advance. Most campground jobs are seasonal which means after the gig is up, it’s time to find another means of workamping. Having your jobs lined up will guarantee you can keep workamping year-round!
RV Clubs & Memberships
You’re in the club! And let me assure you, there are tons of clubs you can be in when it comes to RVing. Some clubs are made for discounted camping and access to parks across the country. Some clubs are made for meeting new RVers and finding a community of like-minded travelers. Other clubs are made to provide some of the most unique camping experiences around. So sit back and join the club!
The Escapees RV Club is a great club for finding your community. This wonderful group of people are here to offer support and education on life on the road. Get access to courses and workshops on all things travel, RV, and RV lifestyle.
This is a membership meant for frequent travelers. The campground discounts are out of this world and with different upgrades and levels, you can customize your membership to fit your needs.
Tried and true, Good Sam has been around since the dawn of RV living. It’s probably the most well-known and most recognized across the country. Discounts, roadside assistance, and insurance, it’s a must-have for any RVer.
Like Good Sam, Passport America is another well-known RV membership that offers campground discounts and services. This is a popular choice for those who are on the road consistently and is often associated with RV rental groups like Cruise America.
Family rollcall! Like Escapees, this is a club meant to connect fellow travelers. Except for this time, we’re bringing the kids along. RVing with kids is a rewarding challenge in itself. But don’t worry, Fulltime Families is here to share their knowledge and encourage you to enjoy your new tiny life.
This is one of the most unique memberships you can get. Mostly because its purpose is to find you the most unique RV stays around. Spend the night camping at a winery or next to a farmhouse. Camp on the beach or next to a museum. Harvest Hosts are meant for travelers.
Planning your RV road trip
But it’s not all about work. Make sure to plan opportunities for fun and relaxation. I always make sure to do some traveling in between workamping jobs, it’s what this tiny life is all about, BIG adventure. Here are some great resources you can use to plan your next road trip.
- RV Travel Planner
We love a good planner and Luann Street has the perfect travel planner for any RVer. RV Travel Planner: How To Create An RV Travel Plan is a must use for anyone looking to travel in their RV or camper. It’s important to keep all your details together and in one place. Having an RV Trip Planner is a great way to stay organized!
- Campground Views
No campground is the same, which is why Campground Views offers you a bird’s eye view of parks and campsites all across America! Check out this article on Campground View for the inside scoop on this awesome new app!
I’ve mentioned it before, but Thousand Trails really is a great way to see parts of the country for a very discounted rate. You could really plan your whole vacation around all the different Thousand Trails campgrounds. Check out Thousand Tails Campground for more information.
The ultimate road trippin’ tool. Get an idea of all the cool places you could visit on your next route and get traffic updates along the way. And of course, there are the discounts, planning tools, and a community of like-minded travelers.
So there you have it! You’ve officially made it through part 2 of planning your RV adventure. Starting with an idea on a dream board all the way to pulling out of your driveway for the first time. It’s a beautiful experience! And while every person’s journey will look different, at least you have the basics on how to get your new life in gear. So happy downsizing, happy planning, and happy camping to you!
