When planning for your Workamping season, it’s crucial to evaluate all potential costs and income to make an informed decision.
When evaluating a job and figuring what you’ll earn, you need to consider more than the hourly wage. There are some costs associated with working you may not be considering. If you are comparing two jobs, the one with the highest wage may not make the most money.
Here’s how to do the math and consider both financial and personal factors.
Understand Your Baseline Expenses
Before you start hunting for a Workamping job, you should know your usual spending and income. Calculate the total amount you spend annually and subtract any regular income. The difference is what you need to earn through Workamping or other income sources.
Additional Workamping Expenses to Consider
Consider these extra costs associated with Workamping:
- Fuel: Long drives to job sites can significantly increase fuel expenses. Calculate your fuel costs to travel to a potential employer by dividing the number of miles to your destination by the average miles per gallon your RV gets and then multiple that by the cost per gallon of fuel to estimate your total fuel expense. Don’t forget to give some fudge factor for oil, normal maintenance, and DEF (if required), to get a more accurate estimate.
- Food: In remote areas, groceries can be more expensive, and you might have to travel long distances to shop. Food in a resort area will likely cost more than in a less popular destination. You can get rough figures on cost of living comparisons with an online calculator like this one
- RV Site: If you are working outside an RV park and have to find a place to stay, what will you have to pay? Is it more than you have budgeted for? If you are receiving a site as part of your compensation, I recommend figuring what you are really “paying for it,” but here we are looking at out-of-pocket expenditures. Check with the Employer to find out if the value of your site will be taxed as barter income.
- Utilities: Be prepared for higher propane usage in colder areas or electric costs in hot climates. Use a website like Weather Underground to check historic temperatures.
- Clothing: Factor in any additional expenses for uniforms or special clothing required for the job.
- Entertainment and Recreation: Consider whether you’ll spend more or less on entertainment, restaurants, and leisure activities based on your location.
Calculate and Compare
Add these extra costs to your regular expenses to estimate the total cost of taking a particular job. Compare this to the wages you’ll earn, subtracting any charges for your RV site and taxes. Determine if your earnings will cover your costs or if you’ll need additional income.
Workamping isn’t just about making money
Sometimes, the experience or location is worth extra expenses. For example, working in Alaska may not be the most financially rewarding, but it can fulfill a personal dream and be worth the added expense.
Conclusion
By doing the math and considering both financial and personal factors, you can make the best decision for your Workamping season.
Leave a Reply