Feb 28, 2026
Anne and Brian Klumpp are enjoying a more mobile version of the American dream.
This Gen X couple sold their home for $367,000 (plus a boat and dinghy for $103,000) to buy a $211,000 RV and use it as their permanent residence (1).
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Ever since 2019, the Klumpps (plus their Australian labradoodle Skipper) have been enjoying this unorthodox lifestyle, often working remotely during the week and traveling to a new destination on the weekends.
Overall, Anne says they’re satisfied with their decision, and she particularly loves the travel opportunities and nature viewing. “It's so incredible to look out the window, and it doesn't matter if you're in the desert or you're up in northern Michigan with all the pine trees and maples. It's just magical.”
However, it takes a lot of money to make that “magic” happen every month.
Here’s why living on the road isn’t the money-saving hack that some might think, and why you should do the math if you’re hoping to ditch your home for the nomadic lifestyle.
The cost of camping
In their 2024 annual budget, most of the Klumpps’ costs went to meals and entertainment at $24,000, followed by $5,000 for phone and internet. They also spent $2,500 on diesel and $2,000 on gas for their pickup truck.
Generally, they set aside $1,200 to $1,500 each month to stay in an RV park that provides essential services. However, they recently bought a plot of land in Texas to keep their RV in the winter and use it for rental income in warmer months.
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Then there’s the depreciation cost of their RV, which is now only worth $170,000.
Anne joked that the only way they make up for this depreciation is by doing plenty of "appreciation in the form of going and seeing things that help us to appreciate life more (1)."
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When a house is out of reach, is an RV the answer?
RVs aren’t just for retirees. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, living and working from RVs has become increasingly common across all demographics.
A 2025 report from the cash-for-junk RV company HeyRV showed that there are now 8.1 million U.S. households with an RV. Even though nearly half of RV owners are between 35 and 54, those between 18 and 34 are quickly catching up, and now account for 16% of the total ownership (2).
While RV sales were picking up steam, so were average home prices. Median home sales jumped from $329,000 in Q1 2020 to a peak of $442,600 in Q4 2022, according to the Federal Reserve, and they haven’t fallen much since (3). This uptick in prices coincides with a lower likelihood of homeownership — those born in the 1990s are now 9.6% less likely to own a home compared to their parents (4).
It’s clear why RV ownership is becoming more attractive, but does that necessarily make this the more affordable option?
‘Minimalist’ RV living still costs money
Compared with a traditional house, RVs promise potential buyers a lower initial cost and greater mobility. For some, living in an RV can feel less like a lifestyle choice and more like a minimalist financial workaround, with no mortgage or property taxes and fewer possessions.
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But RV living isn’t necessarily better than buying a home. Sure, it can lower certain costs, but remember that it replaces them with others that are easy to underestimate (i.e., fuel, repairs, and campsite fees). Also, since people who adopt this lifestyle need to work remotely, reliable (and often expensive) mobile internet is a must.
Depreciation is another major downside to investing in an RV, especially when trading real estate as the Klumpps did. HeyRV reports that a new motorhome loses 20% of its value in the first year alone, and the total loss is 60% after five years (2).
There are also a few risks that don’t show up neatly in a budget spreadsheet. Health issues, job loss or family obligations make constant mobility a liability rather than an asset. Plus, practical problems like seasonal campground availability and weather extremes can limit where (and how cheaply) people can live on the road.
For some people like the Klumpps, nomadic lifestyles genuinely work out for the best. But living in an RV isn’t the economic hack that some would believe. It’s a lifestyle you have to invest in.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Business Insider (1); HeyRV (2); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (3); Social Science Research Network (4)
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Eric Esposito is a freelance contributor on MoneyWise with an interest in financial markets, investing, and trading. In addition to MoneyWise, Eric’s work can be found on financial publications such as WallStreetZen and CoinDesk. When not researching the latest stock market trends, Eric enjoys biking, walking his dog, and spending time with family in Central Florida. Eric holds a BA in English from Quinnipiac University.
