Let’s be honest, there is a lot of pressure being placed on families these days. There are a lot of things from a lot of directions looking for our attention, both for kids and adults. This often means family time gets pushed to the back burner.
We need to take family time back – and be intentional about it. It may seem out of reach to purchase an RV at this busy time of life for families, but this is exactly the best opportunity parents have to establish lifelong bonds. Spending time together via an RV is one way to accomplish this vital mission. Take these financial and practical considerations in mind as you work toward a decision for your family.
An RV allows for flexibility.
One of the most significant benefits about owning an RV while your family is young is the flexibility. On the one hand, there is the flexibility to travel when it works best for the kids, travel only as far as you need to, and see new and exciting things. On the other hand, there is the flexibility for yourself and your kids to use the RV like home – take a nap, make something in the kitchen, watch a show, play a game.
There isn’t a lot of privacy or space, so families learn to coexist and cooperate to make it all work. There are a lot of chances to incorporate the kids into managing the care of the RV and the daily chores. So in truth, RVing teaches us to be flexible with our expectations and how to better go with the flow. These valuable lessons can help our kids grow into resourceful, independent, cooperative adults.
An RV allows for quality time – and personal growth.
Families are meant to be together, sharing experiences, growing in skills, learning more about one another’s inner world and personal quirks (which may drive us crazy sometimes, but hey, we still love them). It’s well understood that shared experiences bond people together. RVing invites families to try new and see new things.
You may find out that one of your kids is loves the water, or that another one adores learning about insect life. Your little bookworm may revel in the quiet beauty of nature, or you may end up learning how brave you are on a high ropes course. Incorporating kids into the day to day chores as well as asking them to help pack the RV, set up, and tear down gets them involved, gets them to contribute to the family, and teaches them valuable skills.
An RV can be found at your price point.
The RV industry varies widely when it comes to unit pricing, so you should be able to find something that suits your family.
Consider whether you want to buy new or used. A new RV will be more expensive and depreciate immediately, but it will typically have solid warranties. Plus, you’re the first and only family to use it! A new RV may make sense if you have the means to budget this extra payment or purchase the RV for cash, or if you are very committed to this lifestyle. Be wary of purchasing an RV that is too expensive, even if there is financing available.
On the other hand, a used RV is less expensive and may be easier to finance. It’s also seen owners before, so there could be extra wear and tear. However, many families find that a used RV is ideal for their growing brood because let’s face it, kids are messy and learning how to take care of things. You can find a used RV through regular RV dealerships or RV consignment dealers, as well as through private sale. With a used RV, get it inspected so that you potentially uncover any lurking problems and for some extra peace of mind.
If you’ve never owned an RV before, think about starting simple or smaller, seeing how it all works for your family, learn from your experiences, and then look more seriously at purchasing a unit for the long-term. Think, too, about vacations you’d like to take as a family. Does an RV fit into those scenarios?
An RV has the potential for other uses.
Your RV doesn’t need to be exclusively used for cross-country road trips or weekend excursions. The RV can be used routinely in the front yard or back yard during the warm months, or it can be used as a guest house for friends and relatives (these tips will help your guests feel at home). If you work from home and don’t have a dedicated space in the house, then consider using the RV as an office space for part of the year.
Similarly, think about your kids and where they will be in the next five, ten, or fifteen years. Things are going to be very different at each of those intervals. The kids may be involved in sports or moving off to college. An RV can be a team hangout at a game or match, a spot to tailgate, a way to visit the kids if they go to school far from home. Consider not just the immediate needs, but the future possibilities. When you look at an RV purchase through that lens, it’s easier to see the long-term benefits of ownership.
An RV can provide years of savings.
RVs can last a long time if they are maintained well, stored properly, and receive exceptional care. That might seem like a tall order with kids running around, but if kids grow up camping and traveling in an RV, they get used to it. They also get used to caring for the RV, managing it, learning about it, keeping their personal areas neat. RV loans can range anywhere from 5 to 20 years, depending on the RV model and the amount to be financed. If you have three kids under the age of 10, that RV could be paid off by the time the oldest is 15. You have years of adventures ahead of you as the kids grow other and saves significantly on travel costs and accommodations. You realize other savings, too, the most significant being the ability to cook your own meals, which is far less expensive than eating out. An RV also offers freedom from airfare costs or timetables or vouchers. You can travel and camp with your family as you see fit, plus, the journey is part of the fun.
All this being said, it’s important to realize that camping and traveling via an RV can be romanticized to a degree. Certainly, RVing allows for flexibility, sightseeing, money savings, and family time, but it’s imperative that this investment be made appropriately and as completely as possible. Perhaps more important than a floor plan, you will need to think about how often you and your family are willing or able to camp in a given year – and how long you would be camping. Do you plan to take a big trip once a year? Multiple times a year? Do you want to explore places close to home or far away? Does the time spent traveling on the road with an RV to go to and from a destination give you enough time at your chosen destination? Will camping fit in with the types of vacations you want to take as a family?
In addition to answering these questions, you need to take a hard look at your long-term goals and choices. If you need to finance an RV, how does that stack up against other current and anticipated finances? Do you want a larger house or send your kids to private school? Do you imagine high-luxury getaways? The newest vehicles? As with all things, it’s important to not overstretch on the initial buy. It’s not essential to have the latest gadgets, the most recent trends, or the latest unit. You need a solid RV that suits your family the best and offers a way to get away from it all – together. You can’t put a price on that.