spending in towns

bilbo · Senior Member

spending in towns

JayDee · Guru

bilbo wrote:
Can anyone provide "links" to data which show how much ($$'s) G/N's spend in a shire/town/area over a given period?? My internet skills are "limited"..... cheers Bilbo

Hi Bilbo, I will watch this space for any positive information.

I rather think that this subject was discussed on the forum some time ago.

Hope you get the necessary info.

Jay&Dee

montie · Guru

I think it depends on who you ask! smile

montie · Guru

I think it depends on who you ask! smile

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Not a link or anything like that but I remember last year and previous visits heading to Townsville and back I stay at Home Hill, south of Townsville QLD and they ask you to get a receipt for anything you buy in the town and place in the donation box. Yes, there is a donation box at the back of the ladies toilet. They keep a tally and it was surprising there had been $1000's of dollars spent in a month.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Colin Penrose · Senior Member

I like to free camp wherever I can or donation camps. I then spend all my money in the local town using butchers and greengrocers instead of supermarkets. Local markets also get my dollars. I avoid Coles and Woolies like the plague. Support the little guys.

Mike Harding · Guru

I can't point you to official figures but as a single mid sixties solo male on the road full time I spend about $1100 per month, no big purchases just the usual stuff one needs for daily life, mind you... I do eat well :)

I guess a couple would spend around $1500 per month?

As much of the grey nomads spend will be in small towns I'd say it adds up to a fair sum across the country over the year.

Gaylehere · Guru

I don't know if there is such data. As Dougwe said some places do ask for you to leave receipts but we don't as I keep these and do a running tally of our expenses. Last year our trip away was for 63 days. We headed from Toowoomba to Rockhampton, then up the coast to Cooktown, back down to Ravenshoe then across to Normanton and then back home inland. We left home with a full tank of fuel and a stocked pantry and mini fridge. Our average spend per day was $90.37 covering everything. Our spending was spread throughout the state. The previous year we only got to go away for 23 days and our average spend was $55.93 whilst away. I think our spending is probably on the low side to some. Cheers.

Nevd · Senior Member

A comprehensive survey by Freedom Camping Australia in 2016 came to the following conclusion for weekly spending by freedom campers -

Fuel $230

Supermarkets $140

Local Shops $120

Takeaways $ 60

Vehicle maintenance $ 80

Miscellaneous $70

Accommodation $100

Total $800

I'd imagine with inflation it'd be a little more now. My personal budget on a longer trip is about $750 per week, without fixed home costs or allowance for maintenance.

It's a well written report, but over 90 pages. Sections 6 & 7 relate directly to spending of freedom campers

https://imotorhome01.worldsecuresystems.com/_literature_152032/2015_Free_Camping_Full_Report

Nev

-- Edited by Nevd on Monday 8th of June 2020 12:18:04 PM

Tony Bev · Guru

If I remember correctly, (around 2018) I think that CMCA, or a similar organisation, made a claim that travellers spend $700 per week in a town

This prompted me to jot down every expense on a trip, (but never again, as my wife kept on my back)

From 26-12-2018 to 25-03-2019 = 90 days

Bunbury WA - Tamworth NSW - Bunbury WA = 10,582 kilometres

Total expenditure = $6,963.66

Total per day = $77.37

Total per week = $541.62

I would have spent no more than 4 days in caravan parks

For the same trip, people who stay at caravan parks, would have spent a lot more than me

People who do not shop in small towns, or do not donate in the donation camps, would have spent a lot less than me

bgt · Guru

There has been a number of surveys and reports. The CMCA put out a comprehensive discussion paper in 2008. It quoted many surveys and reports. That Discussion paper was sent to almost every politician in Australia. As a result many more RV Friendly towns etc were opened up. I guess that report has been updated. Be careful though with the numbers. Some figures quoted are the actual spend of the RVer. While other reports use a compound figure. ie I spend a $100 at a supermarket. Of that $90 is given to a staff member who spends it at the pub. So now you have "another" $90 added to the $100. And on and on it goes. Regardless of how you use the figures every dollar spent in a small town is a dollar they would never see without RVs.