When Lisa and I started seriously talking about hitting the road full-time in our RV, one of our biggest concerns was how we’d afford this lifestyle. Now that we’ve been full-timers for over a year, we’ve got a clear picture of our finances—and spoiler alert—it’s not necessarily cheaper than living in a sticks-and-bricks home.
In fact, for us, the cost of RV living is about the same as our former stationary life. But we’ve found several income streams that keep us rolling, along with strategies that help us save without sacrificing comfort.
- Military Pension: Our Financial Foundation
- Rental Income: Passive Money from a Las Vegas Home
- Workamping: Earning on the Road (Sometimes With a Campsite)
- Affiliate Marketing: Building Online Income
- Saving Money on Camping: Why We Love Thousand Trails
- Conclusion: Funding Full-Time RV Life Is Possible—With a Plan
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👉 Want to see what a year on the road really costs? Check out our First Year Full-Time RVing Expenses.
Military Pension: Our Financial Foundation
In 2007, I retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service. At age 38, getting a monthly direct deposit for simply waking up was a pretty nice deal. I spent a lot of time at sea and some less-than-ideal duty stations, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
Between my military pension and VA disability (thanks to too many hours around jet engines and on the boat), I receive around $3,900 per month—which covers a good chunk of our living expenses on the road.
Rental Income: Passive Money from a Las Vegas Home
Back in 2015, my dad and I bought a small 2-bedroom, 2-bath home in Las Vegas. After he passed away in 2018, we turned it into a rental property. It’s professionally managed, so we don’t have to worry about day-to-day tenant issues.
After expenses, it brings in over $700/month in passive income. Plus, the equity has grown significantly since we purchased it, adding to our net worth.
Workamping: Earning on the Road (Sometimes With a Campsite)
When our Alaska trip got canceled in 2020 due to COVID and the Canadian border closure, Lisa and I decided to dip our toes into the Workamping world.
We searched Workamper.com, applied to jobs across the West, and eventually landed a summer gig in Lake Tahoe as beach kiosk attendants. It turned out to be a pretty sweet deal—$13/hour each, plus a free full-hookup RV site just steps from the beach.
But here’s something important to know:
Not all Workamping jobs include a campsite.
Some positions offer a discounted rate, a partial site stipend, or no site at all—especially in high-demand areas like national parks or resort towns. Always read the job listing carefully and ask questions before accepting a position.
When a site is included, it can make a huge difference in your monthly expenses. And if the job includes utilities like electric, water, or propane, even better.
If you’re considering this kind of seasonal work, check out Workamper News and tell them Rob & Lisa, Member #212855, referred you.
We’ve since taken on several Workamping gigs, including gate guarding in Texas, which not only paid well but also gave us long-term stability during the off-season—perfect for saving up for our next big adventure.
Affiliate Marketing: Building Online Income
One of my long-term goals has been to build online income streams through affiliate marketing. I joined Wealthy Affiliate back in 2019 and began learning everything I could about creating a profitable blog.
This website you’re reading is part of that journey. While it didn’t generate much at first, things have picked up as we’ve added more content and focused on RV lifestyle topics, gear reviews, and travel experiences.
Interested in starting your own affiliate site? Try Wealthy Affiliate with a free 7-day trial.
Saving Money on Camping: Why We Love Thousand Trails
Let’s be real—RV park fees can get expensive fast. At $35+ per night, that’s over $1,000/month just in campground fees. That’s why we looked for more affordable options.
While we do some boondocking, it’s not ideal for full-time life. We prefer sites with at least water and electric hookups. That’s where Thousand Trails comes in.
We bought a used Thousand Trails Elite membership through Campground Membership Outlet, saving thousands over buying new. We can now stay up to 21 nights at a time at TT parks without nightly fees.
Not ready to commit? 👉 Click here to save $100 on a Thousand Trails Camping Pass.
It’s honestly been a game-changer for how we travel affordably without sacrificing comfort.
Ready to Save on Campgrounds?
Looking to explore Thousand Trails without a big upfront investment? The Thousand Trails Camping Pass is a great way to get started—no long-term contract required. Camp “free” at hundreds of campgrounds for one flat annual fee!
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Conclusion: Funding Full-Time RV Life Is Possible—With a Plan
Despite what Instagram might show, full-time RVing isn’t “free” living. Sure, there are ways to cut costs, but you’ll still need a solid plan to fund your adventures.
Living on the road full-time isn’t just a pipe dream—it’s absolutely doable if you plan ahead and build a mix of income streams that work for your lifestyle.
For us, it’s been a combination of military retirement, rental property income, seasonal Workamping, and building out this blog with affiliate marketing. Along the way, we’ve learned that you don’t have to be rich to travel full-time—but you do need to be resourceful.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking for ways to stretch your budget further, there are more opportunities than ever to make money while living a life of freedom and adventure.
Action Steps to Get Started
If you’re ready to fund your full-time RV dreams, here’s what we suggest:
- Evaluate your income options
Can you bring in passive income, remote work, or part-time jobs on the road? Make a list. - Explore Workamping opportunities
Join Workamper News and start applying early—many great gigs fill fast.
Tell them Rob & Lisa, Member #212855, referred you. - Start small with affiliate marketing
Sign up for a free Wealthy Affiliate trial and explore how blogging or content creation could fit your skill set. - Cut campground costs strategically
Consider a Thousand Trails Camping Pass to save hundreds (or thousands) on camping fees. - Track your expenses and set a budget
Use a spreadsheet or RV budget app to monitor spending—it’s key to staying financially healthy on the road.
Bottom line? You don’t have to wait until you’re rich or retired to hit the road. With some creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to try new things, you can absolutely make money while living your RV dream.
If you’ve found ways to make money on the road, or if you have questions about any of the ideas we’ve shared, drop us a comment below—we’d love to connect!
If you’re looking to build your own home-based business like we have with this webpage, check out Wealthy Affiliate.
Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one platform that you can build your whole affiliate marketing business on. It combines training, software, and website hosting into one. This makes the whole process of starting an online business from scratch much easier, especially if you’re new to building a website.
