You made my day! I got TBI from a work accident in 2008, and it took until 2021 until I could drive. I got to learn to read and talk, walk, etc. My wife says I have 2 birthdays, as I was dead and then in a come for 3 months.The balance issues come and go, and are a good indicator of fatigue or hunger. Your short details in the last video encouraged me. Thanks, Y'all are blessed. PS, we bought a 1970 20 ft class A and lived in it for a couple of years, saved THOUSANDS on rent. Thanks again.😎🤠
When I met my husband in 2013 he had a 40 foot Windsor Monaco motorhome. He and his late wife followed the University of KY sports teams. They had season tickets and were members of an RV club that tailgated home games. She passed away from a fall in 2011. They still owed 100K on the motorhome and he panicked because he was afraid he couldn't make the payments. One day he opened the mailbox and there was a second check from the life insurance company. He had forgotten that they had purchased an accidental death benefit rider for her life insurance. That check was enough to pay off the motorhome. Within two years after our marriage we decided that the University was pricing these two old folks out of the market for season tickets so we let them go. The motor home sat in the driveway for 18 mos never moving. It needed new tires and those alone would be about 5K. A neighbor approached us about buying it and we let it go for around 20K. We put that money toward our new house build. Larry always says he has never regretted buying it because Michele loved it so much. She had a stroke when she was around 42 years old and had a lot of health issues until she passed at 62. The games and the motorhome trips gave her a lot of joy.
I can't believe people didn't understand what you guys were saying in the previous video. As you said, you had already explained most of those points so to me it means people must not watch, or they don't listen to everything you say. I am in Australia and love camping, mainly in my tent or my swag. I have contemplated drying my own food for camping but may look into seeing if Thrive Life is available here. Take care and God bless you both. ❤
Thank you, as always, for your great videos. I've really enjoyed watching you through the years (!) from way back in the tiny trailer, and Bill's hard work to get that livable, clear to all your great home improvement videos and the flipper house you did with Barry. You're kind and helpful people, and so are Barry and his wife (I'm embarrassed that I can't remember her name right now). Thank you for including the video from Tammy, too. All the best to you.
It has been fun watching your progress over the years! I remember the house that you flipped and how great it looked! Whoever bought it I'm sure is extremely happy with the work you did❤
I think you guys have done amazing. I love that you both make food in your house on wheels, better for you than fast food. I’m just waiting to buy my own house this year and I’ll be getting Thrive Life, I want to get a pantry going. Plus I want to do a simple build on a cargo van and go out on the road a few months a year. Love you guys!! ❤️❤️
Elizabeth’s point about paying for a broccoli stem is such a good point - I can think of a lot of things like onions, potatoes, etc that you pay by the pound at the store. Buying Thrive Life saves on paying for pounds of waste like potato peels, onion skins, etc… Thank you!!!☺️
Wonderful video! I have an old 1996 Cadillac sedan and I drive it once a week to the grocery, doctor and any other errand in town. I live one mile from town so I don’t pay attention to gas prices because a full tank in that huge car lasts for about three months. Of course a smaller car or a hybrid would be more fuel efficient but my Cadillac is paid for and I’ve had it since new. Thank you both for sharing and god bless.
Loving my thrive life products. It has helped a lot with the menu planning we're following right now. It's so easy to grab a bit of freeze dried fruit or veggies to snack on to complete the meal instead of running out to the store or stores trying to find something of quality. Thrive is always the best quality.❤🇨🇦😊🙏
They are also missing the water weight that they are paying for in buying fresh/frozen/canned. Sometimes common sense isn’t so common, but thanks for taking the time to further explain and breakdown. I see a lot of people have just converted to the 60 second TT watch times and aren’t truly listening or paying attention. Your first video was very clear to me and I thank you both for your time and effort to research and explain. God bless you both!
The good thing about Thrive life is I'm a 81 yr old single woman, so it's less expensive, and I don't waste my food. I had to learn a long time ago how to cook for one when my children grew up and left home.
I use thrive almost every day whether it’s for the meal ,or a snack. No waste and when I want something I don’t have to run to the store which is almost a 30 mile round trip for me.
It tickles me how interactive you're followers are, and it is really very refreshing that you graciously respond to questions/challenges/criticisms. I never feel uncomfortable or concerned about unkindness when I come here to watch you two share your lives and adventures. ❤
It really boils down to how you want to travel. We just plain love to travel and have our own coffee, bed, privacy. Expensive but we have been all over the u.s. which we wouldn't have done otherwise. So we just don't try to justify it.
I must be missing something. And I want to get the most food for my dollar but I cannot figure our how Thrive Life is cheaper. Here's one comparison. I usually buy my organic frozen blueberries at Rulers (a Kroger subsidiary) when they're on sale at $2 for ten ounces. If your 1/2 cup serving of TL berries equals a full cup when hydrated, that compares to a full cup of frozen berries that I buy. Thrive's cheapest price is $2.04 per serving while my grocery store buy of organic berries is only $1 per serving. Even if 1/2 cup of TL berries hydrate to 1 1/2 cups, the Rulers berries are still cheaper. I've done this with several foods and TL is never even close to being cheaper. Am I missing something in the comparisons?
It seems like your calculations would be correct, and I'm not a Thrive Life customer, but I think part of the equation for savings is not having waste. Frozen is different of course and it would stay fresh until you need to use it. I would be curious to know if Bill and Elizabeth would agree with your calculations.
You all should have at least 1 or 2 emergency meals for travel days only - that way you have something for the immediate if you have troubles again. That way you don’t need an immediate grocery visit or find transportation to a restaurant. However, faithful servants God has been with you every time you have had car troubles and I believe He will remain.
I was excited when I saw this follow up, I really enjoyed the first one. Have you considered making a trip to Quartzsite AZ in January during the big RV shows?
And don't forget repairs and maintenance are very costly, too. I'll take the luxury of a nice hotel and room service for a week every year than more frequent trips in an RV. Everyone has different priorities.
Time will tell. As we age things change. We had a class c for years. We got to that age when my husband said no more loading, unloading. So we did the math and for us the hotels works much better. We also have mobility issues now...
Like he said, distance and time matters. A hotel is less money for a week or two, but if you travel often and further and longer, RV is justifiable, plus, you get to see the countryside and enjoy visiting friends and family along the way. We have a beautiful country to explore.
We do both grocery store food and freeze-dried for preparedness. We chose Mountain House meals for their variety and ease of preparation. That's just our solution, I don't think anyone should be unprepared, but we certainly don't advocate that anyone do what we do. Each of us has our own likes, ideas, and needs. Mrs. O still feels the Mountain House food is expensive. I agree, and it's more expensive than Thrive, because you're also paying for the company to develop the menus and prepare them. Even though their "two servings" is more like one real-life serving for us, it's still about the same as eating fast food. Especially if, like us, you have your food delivered. We do that because Mrs. O is disabled, and I'm not a big fan of crowds. As far as I can tell, though, a single envelope of Mountain House, one meal for either of us, is about the same cost as a McDonald's meal, and less expensive than many fast food places. McDonald's isn't going to be available in an emergency. It would be expensive for us to eat Mountain House every day, but if stores are closed for a few weeks, we'll be all right. That peace of mind is worth the price to us. And of course we would supplement our Mountain House with food from the grocery store too. We have a regular pantry, with canned veggies, soups, and various other foods from the grocery store.
Our eat out money is for regional treats not available at home, mostly. Leave home fully loaded with home canned meats and broths, freeze dried ingredients, home freeze dried pet food, good spice selection and jugs of water. Yep, we have a water tank too. We're usually visiting kin and it's so much better in home on wheels than motel, we can cook and eat together, at both places, tastes vary. 😉. We usually come home with fridge and freezer full of specialties not available at home. Not familiar with Thrive, but even though it may cost a little more to home freeze dry, it saves waste. I can use what I need, every time, not what a vendor chose to pre-pack. The last bits go in a jar together and when full become surprise soup!
I think that you misunderstand what Thrive Life is. They do have a FEW prepackaged meals. But for the most part, they sell cans of individual ingredients, with NOTHING added. A can of hamburger, a can of green beans, a can of strawberries, etc, just like buying individual meal ingredients at the grocery store. That way you can use Thrive Life freeze dried food to cook all of your own favorite recipes instead of eating a prepackaged meal that someone else prepared for you. And there is nothing added. No chemicals, no salt (except for a few of the meats), no preservatives, no MSG. It’s very clean food - just like you would freeze dry at home.
@LiveSimpleLiveFree thanks for the info. That's what I thought it was and sounds great. I was just saying I have no personal experience with the brand. Thanks again.
I was typing a long comment and I hit the wrong button and lost it. Sigh. I'll try to be shorter. Bill and Elizabeth, there are pros and cons to the cost of Thrive food. Let me say first that I've bought a lot of Thrive food and I know the value grows as the prices in the grocery store go up. Since we could afford the purchase, I felt it was fairly well spent because the bank will only give 5% at the very best on a savings account. Having said all that: I disagree with you and I hope you leave this comment up for people to see the other side of the story. There's no way that Thrive food is economical. There are plenty of ways to eat while travelling, even with a special diet (I'm also gluten free.) We carry paper cups, bowls, plates, wipes, etc., and buy things at any grocery store (not a convenience store or gas station). That could be a long post all on its own. The last time I checked, according to the label on the can, a Thrive egg was about a dollar and I'm sure the price has gone up since then. Eggs are up to about $4.50 a dozen here, which is crazy, but still cheaper than Thrive eggs. The whole story about food going bad in the fridge before you use it can be solved with a little planning. Take the time to go through the fridge every day or two and eat what's there. The head of broccoli--the less pretty parts can be used for Cream of Broccoli soup or other recipes. If you garden, every part of the head of broccoli is edible, even the leaves. I understand that when you work with fresh produce, you discard some of it. I am 100% sure this doesn't balance out the high cost of the freeze dried food. ON THE OTHER HAND: When you cook a beef roast, your finished meat is about 1/2 of the weight of the raw meat. That's not a problem for the Thrive meat, it's all ready to eat. I don't know how the price compares but I should research that some day. As I said, I've bought a lot of Thrive food and I'll probably buy more. But I watch the sales and only buy on sale. I would just like you to be really honest. I hope you leave this comment for all to see.
I'm curious why you guys keep changing campers. Haven't you gone through two campers recently? And what happened to the white van you were going to build out that you put about $10,000 into rebuilding the engine? 4 campers and two trailers in a couple years?
We sold the travel trailer to help pay for the house in Florida. Then later, we bought the white van to make into a camper. But we realized it really wasn’t big enough. So we sold that and bought the U-Haul to build into a camper.
Pull through parking spaces are 100% how I go and taught my kids. They are much safer. So what if I have to walk a little bit. My Dad taught me that 60 years ago when my older siblings were learning to drive. The only time I back into a parking space is if there is no safer spot.
I certainly agree! I was thinking the other day that handicap parking spaces always have a sign in front of them so people who are already limited in mobility have to back up, and since handicap parking is in front of the stores, they have to back up in a high traffic area.
I had friend tell me the same about owning a house. Time you pay the mortage, repairs, taxes, etc., you could live in a five star hotel. That may a little exaggeration, but the point is a house and an RV are both expense in long runs.
Bill, it all boils down to the total cost per mile to own, operate and maintain the vehicle including the purchase price, repairs, fuel , maintenance, insurance and registration. Once you know how much this is you'll have a better idea of what it's costing. Bottom line, the more miles you drive, the less expensive the cost is. It's not going to do any good sitting around as a "driveway ornament". Time is just as important as mileage, vehicles that are not used still need maintenance. There's so many variables in the cost of ownership and it all depends on how you use your vehicle. If it works for you, that's all that matters.
I have a friend that bought a U-Haul for other uses but the city don't like him parking it at his house. He got it changed to a motorhome title and licensed it as such. Not a problem in Ohio apparently but that has been about two years ago now.
$2.43 for a one half cup of green peas? I buy a 12 ounce bag of frozen peas for .98 and that's .25 a half cup serving. I do not see how you continue to say how much cheaper Thrive foods are.[ My comment has nothing to do with the good quality of Thrive foods.] One half cup granola is 3.37? I can buy a whole bag of granola for that much.
If you are eating 3 meals in restaurants, plus some snacks/drinks I can totally see $100 a day for two. I realize Elizabeth is gluten free so that does make it more difficult to eat out or at home/RV. But, I still think $50 a day is high to eat in the RV. We are low sodium and no MSG so I cook many things from scratch which really saves money on food. I'm sure if we took more than a 2 week camping trip when we had to resupply our costs would be higher than our standard $7 a day for two. Both of your recent videos on this topic have been interesting.
It's easy to spin what you want to do as less expensive or more convenient or anything else positive if that's you intention. In your first video you say you eat at Cracker Barrel often but in your cost breakdown you ate every meal in the camper. Yes, you could do that but at a convention where you probably aren't going back to your rig for lunch or might meet friends for dinner a night or two it's doubtful that you will eat every meal in the RV. Also, a restaurant is quick and convenient every once in a while and you do not have to spend 15 to 20 dollars a person to eat something decent. I've driven my car and then my SUV on several 5000 to 7000 mile road trips and did a mix of hotels and Wal-Marts etc and spent less than $2500 both times visiting museums, national parks, and eating out especially for dinner in new towns at places the locals recommended. What I did can be done just as what you did can be done it just depends on what you choose to do along the way. If I espoused the best case scenario for hotels and meals I could make the case that road trips are more less expensive than any other way of traveling but that's not always true. And I could also make the opposite case. I've flown out to California and rented a car as well as stayed in a hotel fro 14 nights with two people for $3000 including all attractions and entertainment. But you have to plan well. But here's where most people (not you guys necessarily) lose the RV argument. They spend $60,000 to $600,000 on an RV they barely use but have to maintain and pay insurance on it even when they aren't using it. The one fella I know who worked for Camping World told me that they estimate the average buyer invests about $140,000 averaged over all their lines of RV's for 6 years of ownership and less than 50 night and days on the rig. That's about $2,800 per day of use. That would make for some real nice hotels and meals. Not to mention a very snazzy rental car with paid for gas and the extra insurance just in case you wanted to do something silly with it. They don't feel the expense because it's spread out over the years. For most people most of the time an RV is the biggest waste of money in their lifetime. To do it right and make it make sense you have to buy quality used or DIY like you guys did and use the darn thing a lot. Living in it makes the most sense. Otherwise learn to car camp with an additional tent if you have kids or buy a low priced travel trailer. Heck, most people have a truck with more towing capacity than they'll ever use otherwise that they daily drive so might as well put it to use for something more than hauling two bales of hay for Halloween decorations each fall.
I am sorry that you feel like you have to defend your estimation about eating in particular. Everyone has a different diet. Some people may like the ritzier foods, and they will spend more and are willing to. That is not me. I myself need small amounts of good food at a time, and if I had a camper that I could cook in, and save money, then I indeed would. Enjoy your videos!!
One thing realized when we took our camper from Georgia to Indiana and back last summer, the roads were horrible! I would think it would eventually wear down the campers as they aren't built to take constant abuse. I wonder what the cost would be to rent a camper once you get to the destination you're going to?
I like being able to sleep in as long as I want that’s why I bought a timeshare. So I’m thinking in my van I can even sleep in on the better than the last day of the timeshare. Will you have to leave by 11
By far one of the worst parts of car travel, especially if you have a destination. Most of the time you just want to get some sleep. You check in and check out early. You have no interest in the pool, bar, game room, or anything else they offer. So you pay like a hundred bucks to sleep maybe 7 hours. When I stopped at a motel I'm not on vacation there. I just want a few hours sleep and then get on my way. One real consideration when picking an RV, it has to be comfortable and easy to drive. I've ridden in and driven some RVs at the moment you're behind the wheel is white knuckles all the way. I know people who the wife will never get behind the wheel. If the thing is that scary, what fun is that.
I don't think people realize how much packaging food costs, as well as transportation for bulky items. Freeze drying gets rid of all the water weight, and the way Thrive and other companies like them package things in big cans makes shipping cheaper and easier. And my husband and I are only two people, if we buy fresh vegetables and don't eat the in a week, they go bad. And we had a freezer die on us once and lost a lot of frozen food, which is expensive also. Freeze dried foods don't have those problems.
The gluten free eating is hard...I know being gluten free myself. My husband and I travel regularly between Texas and Pennsylvania. Definitely it's cheaper for us to travel in the camper van than to drive in a car and stay in hotels eating out gluten free is super expensive.
I eat Whole Foods plant based diet and I only spend $400 a month on food for fruit vegetables beans legumes And you don’t have to worry about the dead animal rotting in the refrigerator or in your gut
Oh dear I can't watch you any more you like peas... I can't stand them and I can't possible watch you guys who actually LIKE them. /s . Different tastes for different people ;). It does take work to really watch waste and is much harder if you are traveling. When I know we are camping for a long weekend I'll freeze things ahead so that meals are easy and no waste.
Please tell me, where does that electricity get produced and by why means is it produced? I can guarantee there is a power plant somewhere burning some type of fuel to make that electricity. In addition, is there a quick charge station on the back side of no where out in the sticks Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, maybe Mississippi? Or is travel to be restricted to high population areas? Oh, and that food dehydrator for sale at Costco you keep posting about, it costs money to run for days to dehydrate some foods, the food cost itself, packaging for the food, and your time used doing the task. You will pay for all that cost whether you dehydrate the food yourself or a company does it for you.
@@TGardner-oq4vv Tesla, other companies have charging stations throughout the United States as to hotels and shopping centers. I already live on 3 acres right on the creek in the redwoods in California a half hour north of the beach I don’t need to go anywhere else except for national state parks that’s why I bought it and a low carbon footprint while I’m working
@ Looks like you posted, so you are not being prevented from posting. I think you are mistaking the exchange of a different opinion as preventing you from expressing yours.
Elizabeth, you look so pretty. Your haircut is very flattering and your smile is contagious! Thank you both for sharing.❤
You made my day! I got TBI from a work accident in 2008, and it took until 2021 until I could drive. I got to learn to read and talk, walk, etc. My wife says I have 2 birthdays, as I was dead and then in a come for 3 months.The balance issues come and go, and are a good indicator of fatigue or hunger. Your short details in the last video encouraged me. Thanks, Y'all are blessed. PS, we bought a 1970 20 ft class A and lived in it for a couple of years, saved THOUSANDS on rent. Thanks again.😎🤠
When I met my husband in 2013 he had a 40 foot Windsor Monaco motorhome. He and his late wife followed the University of KY sports teams. They had season tickets and were members of an RV club that tailgated home games. She passed away from a fall in 2011. They still owed 100K on the motorhome and he panicked because he was afraid he couldn't make the payments. One day he opened the mailbox and there was a second check from the life insurance company. He had forgotten that they had purchased an accidental death benefit rider for her life insurance. That check was enough to pay off the motorhome. Within two years after our marriage we decided that the University was pricing these two old folks out of the market for season tickets so we let them go. The motor home sat in the driveway for 18 mos never moving. It needed new tires and those alone would be about 5K. A neighbor approached us about buying it and we let it go for around 20K. We put that money toward our new house build. Larry always says he has never regretted buying it because Michele loved it so much. She had a stroke when she was around 42 years old and had a lot of health issues until she passed at 62. The games and the motorhome trips gave her a lot of joy.
❤
Sometimes it just comes down to preference. Thanks for another great and informative video 😁👍
I can't believe people didn't understand what you guys were saying in the previous video. As you said, you had already explained most of those points so to me it means people must not watch, or they don't listen to everything you say. I am in Australia and love camping, mainly in my tent or my swag. I have contemplated drying my own food for camping but may look into seeing if Thrive Life is available here.
Take care and God bless you both. ❤
Thank you, as always, for your great videos. I've really enjoyed watching you through the years (!) from way back in the tiny trailer, and Bill's hard work to get that livable, clear to all your great home improvement videos and the flipper house you did with Barry. You're kind and helpful people, and so are Barry and his wife (I'm embarrassed that I can't remember her name right now). Thank you for including the video from Tammy, too. All the best to you.
It has been fun watching your progress over the years! I remember the house that you flipped and how great it looked! Whoever bought it I'm sure is extremely happy with the work you did❤
I think you guys have done amazing. I love that you both make food in your house on wheels, better for you than fast food. I’m just waiting to buy my own house this year and I’ll be getting Thrive Life, I want to get a pantry going. Plus I want to do a simple build on a cargo van and go out on the road a few months a year. Love you guys!! ❤️❤️
Thanks for your first video (explanation enough), and the follow up. Can't wait for your next adventure!
Elizabeth’s point about paying for a broccoli stem is such a good point - I can think of a lot of things like onions, potatoes, etc that you pay by the pound at the store. Buying Thrive Life saves on paying for pounds of waste like potato peels, onion skins, etc…
Thank you!!!☺️
Wonderful video! I have an old 1996 Cadillac sedan and I drive it once a week to the grocery, doctor and any other errand in town. I live one mile from town so I don’t pay attention to gas prices because a full tank in that huge car lasts for about three months. Of course a smaller car or a hybrid would be more fuel efficient but my Cadillac is paid for and I’ve had it since new. Thank you both for sharing and god bless.
Loving my thrive life products. It has helped a lot with the menu planning we're following right now. It's so easy to grab a bit of freeze dried fruit or veggies to snack on to complete the meal instead of running out to the store or stores trying to find something of quality. Thrive is always the best quality.❤🇨🇦😊🙏
My Daughter & I feel the same way about texting, sometimes it just goes off the charts!📜we end up calling!📲
They are also missing the water weight that they are paying for in buying fresh/frozen/canned. Sometimes common sense isn’t so common, but thanks for taking the time to further explain and breakdown. I see a lot of people have just converted to the 60 second TT watch times and aren’t truly listening or paying attention. Your first video was very clear to me and I thank you both for your time and effort to research and explain. God bless you both!
The good thing about Thrive life is I'm a 81 yr old single woman, so it's less expensive, and I don't waste my food. I had to learn a long time ago how to cook for one when my children grew up and left home.
Thank you for the video and answers to questions. Blessings to you.
I use thrive almost every day whether it’s for the meal ,or a snack. No waste and when I want something I don’t have to run to the store which is almost a 30 mile round trip for me.
It tickles me how interactive you're followers are, and it is really very refreshing that you graciously respond to questions/challenges/criticisms. I never feel uncomfortable or concerned about unkindness when I come here to watch you two share your lives and adventures. ❤
You have a well thought plan and it works
It really boils down to how you want to travel. We just plain love to travel and have our own coffee, bed, privacy. Expensive but we have been all over the u.s. which we wouldn't have done otherwise. So we just don't try to justify it.
Ruth here, l almost never throw away, l freeze left overs, it takes planning
I must be missing something. And I want to get the most food for my dollar but I cannot figure our how Thrive Life is cheaper. Here's one comparison. I usually buy my organic frozen blueberries at Rulers (a Kroger subsidiary) when they're on sale at $2 for ten ounces. If your 1/2 cup serving of TL berries equals a full cup when hydrated, that compares to a full cup of frozen berries that I buy. Thrive's cheapest price is $2.04 per serving while my grocery store buy of organic berries is only $1 per serving. Even if 1/2 cup of TL berries hydrate to 1 1/2 cups, the Rulers berries are still cheaper. I've done this with several foods and TL is never even close to being cheaper. Am I missing something in the comparisons?
It seems like your calculations would be correct, and I'm not a Thrive Life customer, but I think part of the equation for savings is not having waste. Frozen is different of course and it would stay fresh until you need to use it. I would be curious to know if Bill and Elizabeth would agree with your calculations.
You all should have at least 1 or 2 emergency meals for travel days only - that way you have something for the immediate if you have troubles again. That way you don’t need an immediate grocery visit or find transportation to a restaurant. However, faithful servants God has been with you every time you have had car troubles and I believe He will remain.
I sure enjoy you two.
I was excited when I saw this follow up, I really enjoyed the first one. Have you considered making a trip to Quartzsite AZ in January during the big RV shows?
By the time you pay for the vehicle and fuel, one could have a hotel room and room service for a week every year.....
And don't forget repairs and maintenance are very costly, too. I'll take the luxury of a nice hotel and room service for a week every year than more frequent trips in an RV. Everyone has different priorities.
@@spoly8139gluten free menu and room service don't usually happen
Time will tell. As we age things change. We had a class c for years. We got to that age when my husband said no more loading, unloading. So we did the math and for us the hotels works much better. We also have mobility issues now...
Like he said, distance and time matters. A hotel is less money for a week or two, but if you travel often and further and longer, RV is justifiable, plus, you get to see the countryside and enjoy visiting friends and family along the way. We have a beautiful country to explore.
Seems like you kind of missed the point of their video. They were not talking about having an RV just for a one week a year vacation.
We do both grocery store food and freeze-dried for preparedness. We chose Mountain House meals for their variety and ease of preparation. That's just our solution, I don't think anyone should be unprepared, but we certainly don't advocate that anyone do what we do. Each of us has our own likes, ideas, and needs. Mrs. O still feels the Mountain House food is expensive. I agree, and it's more expensive than Thrive, because you're also paying for the company to develop the menus and prepare them. Even though their "two servings" is more like one real-life serving for us, it's still about the same as eating fast food. Especially if, like us, you have your food delivered. We do that because Mrs. O is disabled, and I'm not a big fan of crowds. As far as I can tell, though, a single envelope of Mountain House, one meal for either of us, is about the same cost as a McDonald's meal, and less expensive than many fast food places. McDonald's isn't going to be available in an emergency. It would be expensive for us to eat Mountain House every day, but if stores are closed for a few weeks, we'll be all right. That peace of mind is worth the price to us. And of course we would supplement our Mountain House with food from the grocery store too. We have a regular pantry, with canned veggies, soups, and various other foods from the grocery store.
Great info, thanks!
Elizabeth, curios to know if you sometimes use a neck pillow for support when you're in the passenger seat of the RV
Our eat out money is for regional treats not available at home, mostly. Leave home fully loaded with home canned meats and broths, freeze dried ingredients, home freeze dried pet food, good spice selection and jugs of water. Yep, we have a water tank too. We're usually visiting kin and it's so much better in home on wheels than motel, we can cook and eat together, at both places, tastes vary. 😉. We usually come home with fridge and freezer full of specialties not available at home.
Not familiar with Thrive, but even though it may cost a little more to home freeze dry, it saves waste. I can use what I need, every time, not what a vendor chose to pre-pack. The last bits go in a jar together and when full become surprise soup!
I think that you misunderstand what Thrive Life is. They do have a FEW prepackaged meals. But for the most part, they sell cans of individual ingredients, with NOTHING added. A can of hamburger, a can of green beans, a can of strawberries, etc, just like buying individual meal ingredients at the grocery store. That way you can use Thrive Life freeze dried food to cook all of your own favorite recipes instead of eating a prepackaged meal that someone else prepared for you. And there is nothing added. No chemicals, no salt (except for a few of the meats), no preservatives, no MSG. It’s very clean food - just like you would freeze dry at home.
@LiveSimpleLiveFree thanks for the info. That's what I thought it was and sounds great. I was just saying I have no personal experience with the brand. Thanks again.
I was typing a long comment and I hit the wrong button and lost it. Sigh. I'll try to be shorter. Bill and Elizabeth, there are pros and cons to the cost of Thrive food.
Let me say first that I've bought a lot of Thrive food and I know the value grows as the prices in the grocery store go up. Since we could afford the purchase, I felt it was fairly well spent because the bank will only give 5% at the very best on a savings account.
Having said all that:
I disagree with you and I hope you leave this comment up for people to see the other side of the story. There's no way that Thrive food is economical.
There are plenty of ways to eat while travelling, even with a special diet (I'm also gluten free.) We carry paper cups, bowls, plates, wipes, etc., and buy things at any grocery store (not a convenience store or gas station). That could be a long post all on its own.
The last time I checked, according to the label on the can, a Thrive egg was about a dollar and I'm sure the price has gone up since then. Eggs are up to about $4.50 a dozen here, which is crazy, but still cheaper than Thrive eggs.
The whole story about food going bad in the fridge before you use it can be solved with a little planning. Take the time to go through the fridge every day or two and eat what's there. The head of broccoli--the less pretty parts can be used for Cream of Broccoli soup or other recipes. If you garden, every part of the head of broccoli is edible, even the leaves.
I understand that when you work with fresh produce, you discard some of it. I am 100% sure this doesn't balance out the high cost of the freeze dried food.
ON THE OTHER HAND: When you cook a beef roast, your finished meat is about 1/2 of the weight of the raw meat. That's not a problem for the Thrive meat, it's all ready to eat. I don't know how the price compares but I should research that some day.
As I said, I've bought a lot of Thrive food and I'll probably buy more. But I watch the sales and only buy on sale. I would just like you to be really honest.
I hope you leave this comment for all to see.
I'm curious why you guys keep changing campers. Haven't you gone through two campers recently? And what happened to the white van you were going to build out that you put about $10,000 into rebuilding the engine? 4 campers and two trailers in a couple years?
We sold the travel trailer to help pay for the house in Florida. Then later, we bought the white van to make into a camper. But we realized it really wasn’t big enough. So we sold that and bought the U-Haul to build into a camper.
Pull through parking spaces are 100% how I go and taught my kids. They are much safer. So what if I have to walk a little bit. My Dad taught me that 60 years ago when my older siblings were learning to drive. The only time I back into a parking space is if there is no safer spot.
I certainly agree! I was thinking the other day that handicap parking spaces always have a sign in front of them so people who are already limited in mobility have to back up, and since handicap parking is in front of the stores, they have to back up in a high traffic area.
Love the Q&A. Thanks Bill and Elizabeth.
Loved the video!
I had friend tell me the same about owning a house. Time you pay the mortage, repairs, taxes, etc., you could live in a five star hotel. That may a little exaggeration, but the point is a house and an RV are both expense in long runs.
The difference is that a house is a financial investment that will usually GROW in value. An RV is an expense that will only decrease in value.
True enough. i think his point was that a house is much more than just a mortage (as is an RV).
Bill, it all boils down to the total cost per mile to own, operate and maintain the vehicle including the purchase price, repairs, fuel , maintenance, insurance and registration. Once you know how much this is you'll have a better idea of what it's costing.
Bottom line, the more miles you drive, the less expensive the cost is. It's not going to do any good sitting around as a "driveway ornament".
Time is just as important as mileage, vehicles that are not used still need maintenance.
There's so many variables in the cost of ownership and it all depends on how you use your vehicle. If it works for you, that's all that matters.
You can buy a food dehydrator now it’s on sale at Costco and freeze dry your own food instead of thrive
Maybe you should get a side saddle for the motorcycle or a motor tricycle. 🤔 That would be a fun way to go on short day trips.
Something funny is after I posted this, tricycles and motor bikes showed up in my UA-cam feed.
Lol! I worked for the chain in your thumbnail before working for a casino hotel.
I have a friend that bought a U-Haul for other uses but the city don't like him parking it at his house. He got it changed to a motorhome title and licensed it as such. Not a problem in Ohio apparently but that has been about two years ago now.
Great point. Not fitting into a garage is a factor because many HOA’s don’t allow for overnight long term driveway parking.
What about train travel comparison?
As a child, my family camped across the USA and rarely ate out.
Meals in a baggy. Great idea!
$2.43 for a one half cup of green peas? I buy a 12 ounce bag of frozen peas for .98 and that's .25 a half cup serving. I do not see how you continue to say how much cheaper Thrive foods are.[ My comment has nothing to do with the good quality of Thrive foods.] One half cup granola is 3.37? I can buy a whole bag of granola for that much.
If you are eating 3 meals in restaurants, plus some snacks/drinks I can totally see $100 a day for two. I realize Elizabeth is gluten free so that does make it more difficult to eat out or at home/RV. But, I still think $50 a day is high to eat in the RV. We are low sodium and no MSG so I cook many things from scratch which really saves money on food. I'm sure if we took more than a 2 week camping trip when we had to resupply our costs would be higher than our standard $7 a day for two.
Both of your recent videos on this topic have been interesting.
It's easy to spin what you want to do as less expensive or more convenient or anything else positive if that's you intention. In your first video you say you eat at Cracker Barrel often but in your cost breakdown you ate every meal in the camper. Yes, you could do that but at a convention where you probably aren't going back to your rig for lunch or might meet friends for dinner a night or two it's doubtful that you will eat every meal in the RV. Also, a restaurant is quick and convenient every once in a while and you do not have to spend 15 to 20 dollars a person to eat something decent. I've driven my car and then my SUV on several 5000 to 7000 mile road trips and did a mix of hotels and Wal-Marts etc and spent less than $2500 both times visiting museums, national parks, and eating out especially for dinner in new towns at places the locals recommended. What I did can be done just as what you did can be done it just depends on what you choose to do along the way. If I espoused the best case scenario for hotels and meals I could make the case that road trips are more less expensive than any other way of traveling but that's not always true. And I could also make the opposite case. I've flown out to California and rented a car as well as stayed in a hotel fro 14 nights with two people for $3000 including all attractions and entertainment. But you have to plan well. But here's where most people (not you guys necessarily) lose the RV argument. They spend $60,000 to $600,000 on an RV they barely use but have to maintain and pay insurance on it even when they aren't using it. The one fella I know who worked for Camping World told me that they estimate the average buyer invests about $140,000 averaged over all their lines of RV's for 6 years of ownership and less than 50 night and days on the rig. That's about $2,800 per day of use. That would make for some real nice hotels and meals. Not to mention a very snazzy rental car with paid for gas and the extra insurance just in case you wanted to do something silly with it. They don't feel the expense because it's spread out over the years. For most people most of the time an RV is the biggest waste of money in their lifetime. To do it right and make it make sense you have to buy quality used or DIY like you guys did and use the darn thing a lot. Living in it makes the most sense. Otherwise learn to car camp with an additional tent if you have kids or buy a low priced travel trailer. Heck, most people have a truck with more towing capacity than they'll ever use otherwise that they daily drive so might as well put it to use for something more than hauling two bales of hay for Halloween decorations each fall.
I am sorry that you feel like you have to defend your estimation about eating in particular. Everyone has a different diet. Some people may like the ritzier foods, and they will spend more and are willing to. That is not me. I myself need small amounts of good food at a time, and if I had a camper that I could cook in, and save money, then I indeed would. Enjoy your videos!!
Drury has hot breakfast and dinner. They have gluten free options.
One thing realized when we took our camper from Georgia to Indiana and back last summer, the roads were horrible! I would think it would eventually wear down the campers as they aren't built to take constant abuse. I wonder what the cost would be to rent a camper once you get to the destination you're going to?
Renting an RV usually costs about $70-100 per day.
A u haul should be built more sturdy and Bill did make their own. It looks well built. It should be good for many miles.
I like being able to sleep in as long as I want that’s why I bought a timeshare.
So I’m thinking in my van I can even sleep in on the better than the last day of the timeshare. Will you have to leave by 11
By far one of the worst parts of car travel, especially if you have a destination. Most of the time you just want to get some sleep. You check in and check out early. You have no interest in the pool, bar, game room, or anything else they offer. So you pay like a hundred bucks to sleep maybe 7 hours. When I stopped at a motel I'm not on vacation there. I just want a few hours sleep and then get on my way. One real consideration when picking an RV, it has to be comfortable and easy to drive. I've ridden in and driven some RVs at the moment you're behind the wheel is white knuckles all the way. I know people who the wife will never get behind the wheel. If the thing is that scary, what fun is that.
How high is that trailer?
I don't think people realize how much packaging food costs, as well as transportation for bulky items. Freeze drying gets rid of all the water weight, and the way Thrive and other companies like them package things in big cans makes shipping cheaper and easier. And my husband and I are only two people, if we buy fresh vegetables and don't eat the in a week, they go bad. And we had a freezer die on us once and lost a lot of frozen food, which is expensive also. Freeze dried foods don't have those problems.
The gluten free eating is hard...I know being gluten free myself. My husband and I travel regularly between Texas and Pennsylvania. Definitely it's cheaper for us to travel in the camper van than to drive in a car and stay in hotels eating out gluten free is super expensive.
2 bags of name brand peas frozen is 2.50! Sorry your freeze dried is expensive and overpriced.
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3meals a day in restaurants for $100 good luck to anyone that can eat that little… 👍
Sounds like you sold your great little car? 😊😮
We gave it to someone in need.
I hate texting to age 64
Sorry age 74 no 64
I like the carnivore way of eating.
I eat Whole Foods plant based diet and I only spend $400 a month on food for fruit vegetables beans legumes
And you don’t have to worry about the dead animal rotting in the refrigerator or in your gut
🙂👍♥️♥️
Oh dear I can't watch you any more you like peas... I can't stand them and I can't possible watch you guys who actually LIKE them. /s . Different tastes for different people ;).
It does take work to really watch waste and is much harder if you are traveling. When I know we are camping for a long weekend I'll freeze things ahead so that meals are easy and no waste.
😂😂😂
Could never be a UA-camr! Commenters just don’t pay attention or listen to what you are saying! Or they are nosy and rude 😉
Yup. So many times, people ask questions that we specifically answered in the video!
Buy electric and then you don’t have to worry about gas and you don’t have to worry about carbon footprint for your grand grandchildren
Please tell me, where does that electricity get produced and by why means is it produced? I can guarantee there is a power plant somewhere burning some type of fuel to make that electricity. In addition, is there a quick charge station on the back side of no where out in the sticks Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, maybe Mississippi? Or is travel to be restricted to high population areas? Oh, and that food dehydrator for sale at Costco you keep posting about, it costs money to run for days to dehydrate some foods, the food cost itself, packaging for the food, and your time used doing the task. You will pay for all that cost whether you dehydrate the food yourself or a company does it for you.
@@TGardner-oq4vv not letting me post I don’t know why
@@TGardner-oq4vv Tesla, other companies have charging stations throughout the United States as to hotels and shopping centers.
I already live on 3 acres right on the creek in the redwoods in California a half hour north of the beach I don’t need to go anywhere else except for national state parks that’s why I bought it and a low carbon footprint while I’m working
@ Looks like you posted, so you are not being prevented from posting. I think you are mistaking the exchange of a different opinion as preventing you from expressing yours.
@ I get an additional 24 Miles an emergency from my solar energy