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How We Make Money While Living the RV Lifestyle

Introduction

Imagine finishing your workday, closing your laptop, and stepping out to a breathtaking waterfront campsite. That’s our reality as we embrace the RV lifestyle, traveling across the country while maintaining multiple income streams. In this article, we’ll share how we sustain our nomadic life through remote work, investments, and YouTube, all while paddling kayaks and exploring stunning locations like Harrison Bay in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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Remote Work: The Foundation of Our Income

Our primary income source is our full-time remote jobs, which account for about 80% of our earnings. Gabby works in sales for an adtech company, a role she’s held for two and a half years, starting before we hit the road. Transitioning to RV life with a secure job was daunting, especially since remote work doesn’t always align with a nomadic lifestyle. We were transparent with our employers, ensuring they were on board. Gabby’s company was surprisingly supportive, encouraging her to share photos and updates from our travels.

Brendan, a UX designer with a computer science background, has worked remotely for six years, beginning right out of college. His experience with remote work predates our RV journey, providing flexibility that inspired Gabby to explore similar opportunities. Our jobs require only a laptop and reliable internet, which Starlink has made possible. This technology was a game-changer, allowing us to work from anywhere without relying on spotty cellular data.

Maintaining discipline is crucial in remote work, especially on the road. Internet connectivity can be a challenge, and we’ve had to plan carefully to avoid disruptions. Occasionally, Gabby travels for work conferences or outings, typically three to four times a year, often planned around our stationary periods in Key West. Remote work provides stability, but we knew relying solely on it wasn’t enough for long-term financial security.

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Investing: Building Passive Income

Our second income stream is investments, specifically dividend growth investing, which aligns with our goal of financial independence, retire early (FIRE). We’ve been saving over 80% of our income for years, a habit instilled by our parents and amplified by our low-cost RV lifestyle. Before RVing, we practiced house hacking, like sharing an apartment in Denver with a roommate to cut expenses.

Our investment strategy is “set it and forget it,” with automated contributions to our portfolio. Over the past five years, this approach has generated approximately $2,900 a month in dividends and interest, enough to sustain our current lifestyle. This passive income provides a safety net, reducing reliance on our jobs and fueling our dream of financial freedom. While we’re not financial advisors, this strategy works for us, and we encourage others to explore what suits their goals.

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YouTube: A Growing Side Hustle

Our third income stream is our YouTube channel, which we started to share our RV journey and financial progress. Monetized since November last year, it generates an average of $650 a month, though it’s highly variable—ranging from $300 to $1,300 monthly. This income comes from AdSense revenue, driven by our viewers’ support. We’re incredibly grateful for every subscriber, comment, and view, as they inspire us to create meaningful content.

YouTube isn’t truly passive income; it involves significant effort, from filming to editing. However, its potential for growth makes it exciting. We were inspired by other RV YouTubers, and being able to give back by sharing our experiences is rewarding. This income stream diversifies our earnings, ensuring we’re not solely dependent on our jobs.

Living the Dream at Harrison Bay

Currently, we’re camped at Harrison Bay State Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, paying $50 a night for a waterfront site with full hookups—a steal for such a stunning location. We’ve been kayaking daily, enjoying the self-bailing kayaks with paddle holders that make our adventures seamless. The views here are spectacular, and coming from Florida, we approve of the water quality. This lifestyle, blending work and exploration, is what we’ve always dreamed of.

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up our time in Chattanooga, we’re planning to head to Red River Gorge, Kentucky, for climbing adventures. Our income streams—remote work, investments, and YouTube—give us the flexibility to explore new destinations while building financial security. We hope our journey inspires others to pursue their version of freedom, whether through RV life or other paths.

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