Living frugally does not mean doing without things you need. It means being a wise consumer, and buying carefully the things that you need. The lifestyle of people with motor homes is often perceived as the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Or, at the very least, the lifestyle of people who have more money than most. Truthfully, it can very well be the lifestyle of the shrewd consumer.

You need to downsize

Truly frugal consumers know that they don’t need a lot of “stuff” in order to have a good life. You can begin with downsizing your RV. Trade it in for a smaller, used motorhome. With a smaller RV, you will need to downsize your stuff. Many Americans are drowning in clutter, and that includes the things in their RVs. Determine what is the minimum that you really need, then sell, give away, or auction off on EBay the rest.

Downsize your eating out, and your entertainment budget. Whittle down the clothes in your closet, and set yourself free. The less you need, the smaller the burden on your shoulders, and the lighter your heart. Make it a rule to get rid of something when you bring home something new.

Find ways to spend less

Visit your local Goodwill store when you need something. Often, they have special discount days, and you can buy new clothing at incredibly low prices. (One of the benefits is that what you spend can be deducted from your taxes.) When you travel, drive more slowly, and stay in one place longer to stretch your gasoline budget. You can find web sites online that have free coupons or discounts for items for which you’ve been saving. You’ll soon find you enjoy the challenge!