January 2025: Splurging for the Holidays

I'm always budget-conscious when it comes to spending money on campsites. However, it's okay to splurge occasionally. I'd already booked a Getaway Cabin in Idyllwild for Christmas week. My total cost was pretty minimal -- just $95 for the cabin. But when a cold snap hit Cottonwood in early December, I decided to celebrate my birthday and spend a little extra at a luxury resort in Phoenix -- just $20 per night!

Welcome to my inaugural edition of Cheap RV LIfe, featuring the RiverCat Report. Let's jump right in:

12/02/2025  Verde Valley Thousand Trails  4 nights           FREE

12/06/2025  Paradise Encore                       10 nights          $200

12/16/2025   Palm Springs Oasis TT            3 nights            FREE

12/19/2025   Idyllwild TT Getaway Cabin     7 nights             $95

12/26/2025  Palm Springs Oasis TT             6 nights            FREE

The costs of my current dues are $90. My storage cost for the cabin week was $70. (I was in a hotel December 1). My total camping and storage costs for December was $455. Not bad after staying 10 nights at a higher-end resort and one week in a cabin!

As a subscriber to this newsletter, you gain exclusive access to my videos before they're even launched! Here's what's coming in January:

Jan. 3  "Most RVers Don't Know You Can Camp Like THIS." Introduction to BLMs.

Jan. 9 "Is Harvest Hosts Actually Worth It?" [short]

Jan. 16 "Vermillionville Living History Museum" [short] Harvest Hosts location.

Jan. 23 "Yes, Some Casinos Let RVers Stay for FREE!" [short]

Jan. 30 "You can Camp Here for FREE!" [short, BLM intro]