Laid off people turned Ex-Pats Living on the CHEAP?

[Stonewall]

Originally Posted by RiverRat

With an RV you'll want to find an inexpensive state to register it in if you want to go CHEAP. AZ, CA are not cheap for RVs. Also you'll want to claim residence in a tax friendly state depending on your income.

I'm thinking about a 30-34' Class A gas rv. Parking it legally on long term BLM land isn't much money. Since you're boondocking you'll need to ration use of water, generator, and propane.

I ride up and chat with the snowbirds/wanderers and many of them are very willing to share their experience being full timers. Every one I've talked with is happy not to be tied to a traditional house. If they don't like their neighbors you just move!

Lets stay in touch, we could get into a lot of, I mean have a lot of fun together

[TedShred]

Originally Posted by kraven

Cheap states to register in are states like NH and TN that have no income tax.
I can register my vehicles and then renew the registration online annually with TN. Insurance is pretty inexpensive for vehicles too.

Beware the RV thing though if you're the kind of person who bounces off a low balance in your savings. If the rear axle falls out of it, or the trans takes a crap, you're going to need a couple thousand to have it fixed, if you can't do it yourself. Even then, you're looking at a few hundred for parts if mechanicals die. It's conceivable that the rear axle, driveshaft, transmission, and engine could all take a crap at once or in the same month. $$$
And, of course, you have to maintain it. Plumbing and electrical need to be maintained and repaired, batteries have to be replaced with some frequency, and then there's routine maintenance like oil changes and tires, etc.
Make sure to have a safety cushion made of cash for RV repairs and maintenance.

reg fees in OR are super cheap too. I think it's 40 bucks for two years. I don't think they have income tax either. They do have a fairly stiff property tax but if you live in an RV then that doesn't matter.


EDIT - I've been informed OR DOES have income tax

[ywr969]

Originally Posted by TedShred

reg fees in OR are super cheap too. I think it's 40 bucks for two years.

this is also what i have heard; however...

Originally Posted by TedShred

I don't think they have income tax either.

that isn't true; read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon
in particular, the following section taken from the above reference:

Because Oregon's state budget is written in two year increments and, having no sales tax, its revenue is based largely on income taxes

friend of mine who lived there told me that the income taxes were, in his words, grievous.

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by RiverRat

With an RV you'll want to find an inexpensive state to register it in if you want to go CHEAP. AZ, CA are not cheap for RVs. Also you'll want to claim residence in a tax friendly state depending on your income.

Florida is one of the cheaper states to renew a a vehicle registration in although there used to be a premium for a non-resident to initially register their vehicles. I'm not sure if they do that any more or not.

And Florida doesn't have a state income tax ... like RV'ing gypsies worry about such technicalities in the first place.

The Good Sam RV organization has a mail forwarding service in Pensacola. They will register your vehicles, take forms to the DMV when required (I have found that Florida is actually pretty good about doing everything in the mail when you tell them that you are a full-time RV'er and only nominally in Florida).

Florida is also one of the cheapest states to incorporate in, and you don't need an attorney.

With all that said and done, we are down in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, between Brownsville and Roma, TX. During the winter season there are a tremendous number of RV'ers down here - supposedly there are around 500 RV parks.

We have found that it's VERY difficult to get basic jobs in an area that is largely Hispanic (not being able to speak Espanol closes the doors on a lot of jobs) but I have interviewed for some surprisingly well-paying professional gigs here and this is an excellent area for entrepreneurs.

And the Rio Grande Valley has to be about the lowest cost area to live in within the USA. It's tropical, green, surprisingly profitable, and I'm maybe 10 minutes from the Mexican border.

Anyway ... just some hints since this thread seems to have become another RV post.

But what would I know about these things, eh?

[PunkinHead]

My parents have been full time RVers for 10 years now. They use a mail forwarding service in Texas and claim residency there because of the lack of income tax. These days you can do almost everything via internet and mail (plate renewal, absentee voting, etc). You can live cheap by boon docking, but then you've got to figure out how to dump, get fresh water, etc. I think in the real common boon docking areas like Yuma there are people who'll come around with trucks and take care of it for you if you don't want to move.

If you want to stay in actual campgrounds, then you can often get much better rates by paying monthly. Maintenance on an RV can eat you alive, but it's not a place to skimp. Of course, staying in one place is a ton cheaper than being on the move when you're getting 10 MPG.

[mpanther]

Nevada has no problem registering and plating a vehicle here, even when titled out of state.

[TedShred]

Originally Posted by mpanther

Nevada has no problem registering and plating a vehicle here, even when titled out of state.

Sure but Nevada's DMV fees are right up there with California

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by TedShred

Sure but Nevada's DMV fees are right up there with California

NOT

EVEN


CLOSE

This year I purchased a used 2001 Ford Pickup for $6,000


CA wanted $1,435 to register it.

NV was $160

So, I live in Nevada now

[O'Hooligan]

Ted you seem to be a well of information......not

[TedShred]

Originally Posted by xymotic

NOT

EVEN


CLOSE

This year I purchased a used 2001 Ford Pickup for $6,000


CA wanted $1,435 to register it.

NV was $160

So, I live in Nevada now

That's because NV doesn't charge sales tax on private party sales. CA does.

The YEARLY registration fees, which is what we're really talking about here, are similar.

You paid 160 to register a used truck? You'll pay a similar amount each year. Reg, weight fees etc. Other states like OR are about 20 per year...

[TedShred]

Originally Posted by O'Hooligan

Ted you seem to be a well of information......not

Luv u too Jerry

[TedShred]

Originally Posted by xymotic

NOT

EVEN


CLOSE

This year I purchased a used 2001 Ford Pickup for $6,000


CA wanted $1,435 to register it.

NV was $160

So, I live in Nevada now

BTW you're not telling us the whole story here.

The sales tax on 6000 can't be more than $615 and that's at 10.25% which is the highest tax rate in the state right now.

Yearly license fee shouldn't be more than 250-300 unless it's a 1 ton??

So that's 900 and also assumes you told the DMV you paid 6000 and not less.

Where's the other 600 plus?? Penalties from previous owner??

If you're going to call me out then tell the whole story...

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by TedShred

BTW you're not telling us the whole story here.

The sales tax on 6000 can't be more than $615 and that's at 10.25% which is the highest tax rate in the state right now.

Yearly license fee shouldn't be more than 250-300 unless it's a 1 ton??

So that's 900 and also assumes you told the DMV you paid 6000 and not less.

Where's the other 600 plus?? Penalties from previous owner??

If you're going to call me out then tell the whole story...

the whole story is that California considers a pickup truck a commercial vehicle, and the reg is based on gross vehicle weight.

Maybe my truck was the exception that proves the rule, but I really don't think so Yes it's an f250, but that's fairly irrelevant, The bottom line is the bottom line.

BTW, even if we use your math that the reg is $300, that's DOUBLE the cost in NV.

[TedShred]

Originally Posted by xymotic

the whole story is that California considers a pickup truck a commercial vehicle, and the reg is based on gross vehicle weight.

Maybe my truck was the exception that proves the rule, but I really don't think so Yes it's an f250, but that's fairly irrelevant, The bottom line is the bottom line.

I just renewed MY 2001 F250 and it was $390. The numbers still aren't even close to what you posted.

Yes, 390 is more that 160 but the real point is that NV is NOT the place to save money of YEARLY fees. Sounds like FL and OR and TX is the way to go.

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by TedShred

I just renewed MY 2001 F250 and it was $390. The numbers still aren't even close to what you posted.

Yes, 390 is more that 160 but the real point is that NV is NOT the place to save money of YEARLY fees. Sounds like FL and OR and TX is the way to go.

Seems to me that YOU would save $230 a year registering it in Nevada.

Regarding my numbers, All I know is that the nice lady told me a number, and I about died. I didn't really get in to WHY they told me the number, all I know is that it was damned near 20% of the value of a not that nice of a used truck I just bought. Yeah there was taxes and other stuff in there, but again the bottom line is what it is.

Nevada, was NOT EVEN CLOSE to CA. You're acting like I personally attacked you and called you a liar. I did not, though, you are coming dangerously close to calling me one, and I don't particularly appreciate it.