How much are you spending on groceries and eating out?
One goal of this journey is to discover how much it costs me to live a full-time nomadic RV lifestyle. I have budgeted $300 for groceries and $75 for restaurant meals monthly. Both line items have benefited from the hospitality of family and friends and by rural camping locations. There is not much temptation to go out to eat when there is nowhere close by to go. On the other hand, I went all out on meals in Savannah during our three-generation girls weekend. (While baby Emilia enjoyed her bottle, Megan was introducing me to the espresso martini!).
After two months, I believe that the grocery amount is doable, the restaurant amount is not. I want to be free to experience regional specialties and go out to eat with family and friends along the way.
How does your food differ on-grid and 0ff-grid?
So far, on this journey, I have never been able to use both electric and water hookups at the same time. In fact, the trailer stayed winterized until arriving at my current campground in northeast Florida. Thank goodness, you will agree, given those cold and challenging nights in the Carolinas.
All of the electric & water sites were taken when I arrived last Thursday. I was grateful to get one with a water hookup, lake view, and paved parking pad. I’ve made a couple of runs to convenience stores and a Family Dollar within six to ten miles, but there is no grocery store. I am not running my refrigerator so I can prioritize lights and heat. The generator (whose carburetor was replaced under warranty) and the solar panel are keeping the battery charged fine.
Here’s what I found: For dinner one, a frozen Mexican bowl that I ate with tortilla chips from the pantry. For dinner two, a two-serving bag of no-longer-frozen brocolli with one of those microwaveable white cheese pasta cups. (My microwave works when the generator is running). For dinner three, chicken tenders from the closest convenience store with green pepper strips and fruit salad. For dinner four: avocado and the rest of the tortilla chips. Family Dollar also provided a can of hearty beef and vegetable soup and a bag of non-refrigerated meatballs in Italian sauce that are still on hand.
To sum up, I need to plan ahead better on groceries. I expected to have electricity here, to be running the fridge, to be able to buy what I needed after I set up camp. Instead, I found myself wandering Family Dollar in search of meals that would be healthy and tasty enough.
Have you been sampling the local cuisine?
Readers of my canoe tripping books know how much I love a cheeseburger and fries, especially with a fresh salad. The El Dorado near the Arrowhead Campground did not disappoint in that regard. By South Carolina, I was determined to have some BBQ and found it on Hawg Heaven’s all-you-can-eat buffet, along with corn bread, ribs, homemade mac and cheese, green beans, butter beans, and peach cobbler. Yessir, I was eating well in the South now!
In my imagination, in the planning stages, I was going to be grilling steaks and making homemade pizza. Whirling some smoothies around with my new immersion blender and reaching into the fridge for a cold beverage whenever the mood struck me. So far, I haven’t even come close. Tomorrow, though, I move on to new possibilities. The next place has electric & water at every campsite., and you can trust that the pantry will be much better provisioned.
Laurie Apgar Chandler 
As we have such a great interest in food and for the last 7 years have been semi-full time campers (we live indoors in the Colorado mountains for skiing in the winter) , I loved your post. I was interested to see that you have a generator, we do not have one. I have strong opinions about loud generators in National Parks where one must dry camp. But I am sure you are much more considerate!
As far as food, we eat pretty much as we would at home. And you’re right, less eating out is the key on long 6 months camping. But we do spend money on Farmers Market and buy local grown or caught (if by an ocean or large lake) food.
Keep having fun!
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Thanks for your thoughts. This hasn’t been the time of year for farmers markets, but that would be a go to for me if they were open. I’ve made it to the next campsite in Alabama, so am looking forward to having electric and not having to use the generator. I have a quiet one, it really is, and only run it for a couple of hours a day unless it’s raining then maybe more. So fun to hear how you guys are making this lifestyle work!
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love reading about your travel and adventurex.💓💓You make it work no matter what you are handed.Always stay safe and keep on enjoying your adventures the weather will warm up soon in the north it has been cold here in Tennessee this winter also💓💓
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Hi Judy! It’s very warm this afternoon at my new campsite in Alabama. There may be some rain headed our way but tonight is very comfortable. Always wonderful to hear from you!
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We added 2 lithium batteries to our trailer for last year’s 3 month trip. It was so nice to not have to use our generator. Our fridge is gas and we have 30 lbs tanks. When you have electricity and it’s cold consider using a small electric heater with a fan. A big savings on gas. I did a lot of dehydrating of veggies and some eggs and meat to have on hand just in case. Canned veggies and chicken, rice and lentils come in handy as well. But it is fun to check out local cuisine as well. Since we were out in the southwest, it was hard to pass up Mexican restaurants even some on the way out there.
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Michelle, getting a second lithium battery is at the top of my list of improvements. Thanks for sharing all these ideas. I find that I am learning every day from the people around me. I feel like I’ve arrived at this new campsite in Alabama better prepared. Plus, I have electricity and water here! I’m so happy that you’re following the blog.
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Hi Laurie! I got your info from Brother in Law Bruce Mattox at Ocean Pond in Florida. Sorry I missed meeting you. What an interesting life you are living ! I am an adventurer as well with camper, kayak, bikes etc. and will enjoy following you as you travel. Take care!
Portia Hill, Jacksonville Florida
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Hi Portia! Bruce was so enthusiastic about my journey and thought you would be interested in the folding kayak. Sorry I missed meeting you also. I am happy that you are following the blog and hope our paths may cross one day. Take care too!
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yes, I had looked at the folding kayaks before and I am a kayak enthusiast so he knew I would be interested in what you’re doing. April 15 through the 17th three friends and I are going to kayak only about 10 miles a day maybe 12 down the Suwanee river. Last year three of us kayak for six days, about 90 miles, and we stayed at River camps along the way each night. The couple we’re going with this year only can spare three days. You would love that trip. Wish you could join us or come back through and take a few day trip with me down the Suwanee
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That sounds like a great time of year to do that trip, and, you’re right I would love it. That’s just about the time I will be arriving back in Maine or not long after. Wish I could!
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