The Ultimate Guide to Downsizing for Life in an RV

The Ultimate Guide to Downsizing for Life in an RV

So you’re looking to Downsize into a smaller space or specifically an RV?

Well, I am here to tell you that it is possible and it could be an easier task then you imagine!

But first, our journey in downsizing to live in an RV started way before we even made the purchase. You see, Matthew and I have in some way been downsizing since we got married.

Instead of moving in to our very own place, we moved in with roommates in order to finish up an apartment lease and save money. It was definitely a challenge being newlyweds in a 10×11 room. We had to learn to live small early on in our relationship.

After the roommate situation, we moved into the 1 bedroom 700 sqft apartment. That was the largest space we have ever lived together. Then we moved in with my parents November of 2017 for 6 months. That living situation was a temporary financial decision to help ensure the transition into the RV Life was pleasant.

While living with my parents, we went from a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment with a washer and dryer to a 10×11 room with no closet. Most of our items were in boxes and placed in their garage for storage. We didn’t realize how much we had accumulated in our 1 bedroom apartment until we saw it all stacked up in boxes.

The garage was so packed, there was barely any room to walk through. This fueled me to get started on downsizing and getting rid of items as quickly as possible. Now, with everything being in the garage, this did give us the ability to truly figure out the items we needed to live with and the items we could go without.

So, during the 6 months of living with my parents, we went through all the boxes and followed these exact steps to downsize to live in our RV.I believe that starting early and not waiting until we bought our RV gave us time to really go through our belongings. So, if you plan on moving into a smaller space, the sooner you start downsizing the easier it will be.

Whether you are moving from a 1 bedroom apartment or a 5 bedroom house, these steps can assist anyone.

1. Understand your RV’s layout and amenities.

This is important before truly downsizing because all RV’s are different sizes and have different storage options. If you have not picked your RV, check out this book by Alyssa Padget, this will help make the decision on what type of RV is right for you.

Once you do find your RV, know that getting rid of everything isn’t necessarily the best answer. When we moved into our RV, we discovered that we had more space and storage than we expected. This is great because it has allowed us to grow.

Therefore, by understanding the RV’s Layout and Amenities, you will realize that there are some items clearly not needed like a dining table and chairs, a bed, sofas, dressers, and usually any other larger furniture items. These items just will not be able to go into the RV mainly because of size and there is usually already one built in. If you choose to replace the sofas or dining tables, one thing to be aware of is the size and the weight of the furniture because each RV frames do have limits.

 

2. Take notes on items used every day

By making a conscious decision to recognize what items you use daily will help you realize the items you can go without. Take your time in this phase. Go a week or even a month and really figure out what you use on a daily basis. This is important because RV’s have limited space. Therefore, ensuring the items you bring along are items you WILL use will help you use your space wisely.

For me, I had dresses that I had only worn once or twice that just took up way too much space. Those types of clothes will have to be stored or sold unless you can make room. If it’s not clothes, it could be kitchen appliances, dishes, shoes, and the accumulation of cleaning products or pantry food. We realized we had way too many plates, and 3 sets of pots and pans. The RV just can’t hold all those items, so we had to choose which set to keep and which appliances we use the most.

 

3. Organize items: Keep

Now is the time to really set aside the sentimental items. If you have pictures, books, important documents, items or furniture that are heirlooms set them aside. You might be surprised at what you could take with you after you figure out the necessities.

The keep pile can also be items that you do not want to get rid of but would rather place in storage or items that you know you want with you in the RV. Some keep items for us was extra blankets, our crockpot, an extra plate set for guests, small décor items, pictures, etc.

 

 

4. Organize Items: Sell

You always want to try a sell as much as you can. There may be some big-ticket items like furniture that can make you some money to save or pay off debt. We sold our couch, washer/dryer set, TV, and much more. The money we made we put right back into our savings for a down payment on the RV.

To sell items, host a garage sale and advertise it on local Facebook groups or community forums. You can also individually list items on Facebook marketplace, craigslist, Let Go App or consignment. The majority of items we sold was on the Facebook Marketplace and Let go App.

 

5. Organize Items: Donate

Not all items are good to donate. Sometimes overly used towels or torn up blankets are not best, but the ones that are gently used are nice. Gently used clothing items are great to donate but don’t donate undergarments unless that are new and in their original package. Items good to donate are also Kitchen appliances, cookware, dishes, and toys!

Don’t forget your family and friends. Sometimes there are items that they might enjoy to take off your hands. For example, My sister in law wanted some of my Décor items and I was happy to hand them over to her.

Also, pantry items like canned foods are great to donate. RV pantries are small and usually can’t hold items in bulk so donating unused canned items that have not expired is always nice.

 

6. Organize Items: Trash

Once the items are separated in what you will keep, you’ve already tried selling, and some items just aren’t great to donate don’t be afraid to just toss things out. We threw away our mattress and box spring because they were overused and not donatable. Some items can also be recycled if your city has a program.

 

7. Move into your New Home on Wheels

Slowly start to add the items you know are necessities for living in an RV, Camping, and what you will use daily. Make a place for them and organize. Then bring in the Décor and Sentimental items to store and keep. For us, after moving in we were surprised with how much we truly were able to bring in to the RV and how much space we still had.

 

8. Locate a storage unit

Remember those sentimental items that you set aside but can’t take on the small RV? Now is time to find a place to store them. Many people locate their nearest storage facilities and rent one out. Some storage places are even climate controlled depending on what you want to keep safe will depend on the type of storage unit you get. For us, our extra items that we didn’t want to get rid of remain in my parents’ garage for now.

 

There you have it! The exact steps on how we downsized to live in less than 300sqft RV. Remember, downsizing takes time and it depends on how much stuff you have. Sometimes you will need to repeat the steps of organizing the Keep, Sell, Donate, and Trash piles. Take it day by day, and don’t rush. The last thing you want to do to is throw something away that is extremely important or sentimental.

We had a one-bedroom apartment, so it wasn’t that painstaking for us; however, you might have a larger house that is fully furnished. The Larger the space, the more stuff accumulates! So, take your time through the downsizing process and continue with the steps until you’re happy. Remember not everything has to be sold in one garage sale, and sometimes an item can sit in the Facebook marketplace for months before catching the eye of a buyer.

I truly hope these steps help anyone who is wanting or needing to downsize their space. It truly helped us get the most out of our stuff. We were able to make more than $1000 from our couch, tv, and washer/dryer.

Let us know how these steps have helped you or if you have found other ways to downsize. We love to hear your story. Comment below, share on social media, and don’t forget to follow us!

Have a wonderful day and happy downsizing!


Why We Chose To Live In An RV

Why We Chose To Live In An RV

Why did we choose to live in an RV? There are many reasons and we are going to discuss our process and why we made the decision.

But… First, I would like to mention how much thought went into this major life decision of ours.

We have never bought a house, but I feel that we put just as much time, energy, and thought into the buying process of our home on wheels, as we would have if we were buying a brick and mortar home.

We chose to live full time in an RV for a combination of reasons, but one of the main reasons/goals was to save money and to become debt free.

Prior to moving into our RV, we were enjoying living together as newlyweds, in our first one-bedroom apartment. We were loving life with our two fur babies, a view of a gorgeous park from our balcony, close to family, and commuting even distances from our jobs.

However, those commutes were becoming monotonous. I was also becoming listless about my work and felt that we needed a change. I wanted to explore life outside of my hometown and begin a new adventure.

Thankfully Matt was on the same page and just as eager to see what the next step would bring.

We discussed purchasing a house but ultimately felt that it wouldn’t help us meet our goal of being debt free, not to mention that we didn’t have a clue as to where we wanted to settle down.

We also considered moving to Florida, where some of our family friends live. But that would mean we would have to completely start over, and let’s face it, that is a big feat that we weren’t quite ready for.

The Beginning Stages

During the time we were contemplating our next step, my sister in law mentioned the idea of living full time in an RV. Without hesitation, I began researching the possibility. It intrigued me!

Being an opportunist, I don’t usually cast things aside without consideration and research. I scoured Pinterest, Instagram, Google, and even found Facebook groups dedicate to full-time RV living.

After much research, I felt that this could be the change and adventure we were longing for! This could be the answer to us becoming debt free, giving us the ability to travel, and live life on our terms.

So I mustered up the courage to talk to my husband about it, fully expecting some reservations on his part. To my surprise, Matthew was all for the idea!

The Planning Stage

Now that we had a goal and the next step was decided on, we had more research to do. The planning and preparation process took many months. I would be lying if I said that during that time we didn’t question our decision and wonder if we were crazy. I would think,

Are we crazy? Shouldn’t we be purchasing a home, building equity, and having kids?


 

The Doubting Stage

Being in our mid/late twenties, and newly married, there seemed to be some social pressures about settling down in a house and starting a family. And even though it was easy to look at others our age and feel like maybe we were wrong to not follow the same path, we had this dream to do things a little differently.

We reminded ourselves, and still do, that everyone’s dreams and ideas of happiness are different. It is okay to take the road less traveled.

Even though we had overcome our own doubts, that didn’t mean we wouldn’t face doubt or disapproval from others about our choice. After deciding and announcing our decision to RV full time we were met with comments like “RV’s depreciate.” “You’ll never get equity out of it.” While those comments were true, those facts weren’t factors for us. We weren’t worried about building equity or depreciation.

We dreamed of traveling and we were motivated to pay off those student loans and personal debts! To us, that was worth investing in.

What do we have to lose stage

Experiencing our beautiful country, with all of its magnificent wonders, without worrying about a ton of monthly loan payments is a dream! A dream that with a couple years of hard work, and budgeting could become a reality for us.

We felt like we had nothing to lose, but everything to gain by choosing this lifestyle. We had the opportunity to travel if we are able to or stay stationary. That is Freedom with our home base.

Update

April of 2018 was our beginning journey in living in our RV full-time. We have lived in our RV stationary on our Families land for about 2 years now. We had a surprise baby in 2019 and he has blessed our lives more than what we could have ever imagined.

I think with everything in your live, you must be able to pivot, to change, and go with the flow. Nothing is going to go as planned, but you have to keep going and taking those risks to make your dreams a reality. So if living minimally and traveling in an RV is your dream, GO FOR IT!

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RV Living Full-Time | What the Lifestyle is Really Like

RV Living Full-Time | What the Lifestyle is Really Like

RV Living Full-time | What is it like to live in an RV?

Is it all it’s presented to be on Instagram and Pinterest?

Seriously, when we were making the decision to go tiny I was so in love with the idea that I would be on Pinterest for hours.

I would look at all of the amazing RV renovations and think to myself, how awesome living in one would be.

A cozy little home on wheels that just happens to be perfectly decorated.

What an amazing way to live!

But is it really like that?

RV Living Full time

Before we took the leap, we wanted to know what life in an RV was truly like.

We learned quite a bit from reading forums, and also from Facebook groups dedicated to living in an RV full-time.

We found that the majority of those who opted for the minimalist RV life was truly enjoying it. This not only gave us peace of mind about our decision, but it also helped to fuel the drive to make this dream of ours a reality.

Plus my husband and I loved the idea of a simple life and having less. Personally, Matthew and I believe…

“happiness isn’t in the things you possess but in the moments
and experiences you encounter.”

As I mentioned before, I may have been a little Pinterest and Instagram obsessed during the beginning of our journey. I dreamed of the perfectly organized, cozy, and minimalistic lifestyle that social media presented.

With fewer belongings, I imagined it would be much easier to keep things organized, and simple.

But what is living in an RV full-time really like?

So let’s get into it….

What it’s like to live in an RV…

Living in an RV is really cool! At least we think it is!

Having the ability to get up and take your home anywhere you want is a sense of freedom that you just don’t get in a house or apartment.

Knowing you have the ability to go and travel anywhere, from the Grand Canyon in Arizona one week to the Beaches in Florida the next is exhilarating.

However, if you’re planning on staying at RV resorts there is some planning that has to take place. Many RV parks require reservations ahead of time.

– what it’s like Cleaning:

Honestly, it takes about an hour to clean the whole place including dusting, sweeping, mopping, dishes and putting away laundry.

Less time cleaning and more time enjoying life.

I hate cleaning and knowing that I don’t have to clean an 800 square foot apartment or a 1,200 square foot house is a stress reliever.

Now, we do sweep on a daily basis because dirt and dog hair accumulates a lot quicker in a small space.

– what it’s like Hooking up the Trailer:

Hooking up our trailer is heavy work. Therefore, we prefer to have us both working together to get it hooked up properly with our sway bars.

We purchased the Husky Sway bars and had the gentlemen at Route66RV in Oklahoma when we purchased the rig, set it all up for us properly.

The bars were a non-negotiable for us when we bought the travel trailer.

The reason we have the sway bars is to help keep the travel trailer from swaying from side to side.

This swaying could result in dangerous overturning, especially when traveling on flat roads with high winds or passing big 18-wheelers.

– what it’s like Leveling:

Leveling the RV is a process that can take either 20 minutes or an hour depending on your site.

It helps when you have leveling blocks. Trust me, we didn’t purchase these right away and totally regretted it!

After all, we were newbies and we thought we will be fine.

Our RV was unlevel for the first 2 months of living full time. It was uncomfortable and frustrating.

Also, not every site is going to have level concrete pads to park on.

So again, these are a must and leveling as best you can is not only good for your RV but also good for you.

If you hate things being unlevel like I do, you need to have levelers on hand. We use the block levelers by Camco.

 

– what it’s like Packing:

Packing up the RV to get ready to go on a trip can be time-consuming. We like to have it clean before leaving anywhere.

We also have dishes and things that can break, so we have to pack them up with towels or bubble wrap.

There is a total checklist of things that have to be checked, tucked, packed, and taken care of before actually hitting the road.

Our RV doesn’t give us access to the Fridge when traveling because of the slides, so we have to pack a cooler to save on food and buying unnecessary road trip food items.

Luckily, we do have a fridge though that runs off electric and stays cool for up to 4 hours, so we don’t have to worry about food spoiling while driving.

– What’s the deal with Water?

Water preserving is a learned skill. Shorter showers are a must, turning off the water when brushing your teeth or doing the dishes starts to become a habit.

The more water you use, the quicker your grey tank fills up.

Our Grey tank is only 35 gallons and fills up fast. If you are running only from your fresh water tank, you definitely learn to conserve water even more because that is only 40 gallons.

So, having water bottles, a water filter in the fridge, and jugged water is a good thing especially if you are going boondocking or traveling.

– What it’s like dealing with Black and Grey Tanks:

The emptying of the black and grey tanks can get annoying, but it does become a normal process especially if you are living full-time and/or boon-docking. Honestly, it is disgusting and stinky!

We always have disposable gloves handy for release days. Our sensors to our tanks have never worked like they did when we first purchased.

Therefore, we have learned over the course of living full-time when it is time to release the tanks.

Also, We use to use the GEO method, but we quickly moved over to HAPPY CAMPER.

This product is AMAZING! You can read more about our Tank situation and why we recommend Happy Camper in our post: RV Tank Treatment – Comparing the GEO Method to Happy Camper

– What it’s like organizing:

The perfect organization takes time and figuring out what you need and what you can go without does too.

We still have things that we want to better organize like clothes and miscellaneous drawers.

However, we have figured out what we truly need to live comfortably, and honestly, it’s not a lot.

One benefit of living tiny is having less storage and less wall space because it prevents over shopping. I am a Target Lover!!

I love browsing around Target to see all the cute decor items, but I find myself thinking “where am I going to put that?”

Less space, less shopping, less money spent on miscellaneous items.

– You will Never STOP Learning!!

There is so much to learn about RVing! For example; how to clean out your hot water heater or check and seal your windows and roof.

Always staying on top of things, checking them and providing preventative maintenance is a must when living in an RV.

Driving and having a flat because your tire has developed dry rot is not fun and can be a disaster.

We personally have not experienced that, but have heard and read horror stories on Facebook RV groups we are apart of.

Also learning and planning a travel route is a skill and takes time and research.

Again, NEVER stop learning!!

Final Thoughts

I do have to admit, it is a lot like what I imagined but it does come with some lifestyle changes, and the renovation process is time-consuming if you choose to make interior changes.

You do, however, come up with some creative ways to store and organize your things.

Also, the many items that are not used on a daily or weekly basis end up not having a place in your new RV home.

So, while some things have changed with the way we live, the RV feels like home.

We’ve lived in a nice 1-bedroom apartment after we got married and the RV doesn’t feel any different.

We still watch our favorite shows, cook normally on our stove, take a little quicker showers, and enjoy life as we did in our apartment, plus now we can take our home with us anywhere.

I hope this helps anyone looking to go out and buy an RV understand, at least our perspective, on what it’s like to live full time.

Do you live full-time or plan on making the transition?

If so, what is it like for you to live in an RV or what do you expect it will be like? Leave a comment below!!


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RV Living Full time

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