The summer of 2022 was a challenge for us—no sugarcoating it. It was our very first summer as full-time RVers, and if you remember that season at all, you already know why it hit hard. Gas prices skyrocketed. Food prices followed right behind. Every fill-up of the truck, generator, or grocery cart felt heavier than the last.
Like everyone else, we weren’t looking to magically save hundreds overnight—we just needed to find something. Even saving $20–$50 here and there could help offset what was being poured straight into fuel tanks. And when you live in an RV, those little savings actually matter.
So we started where it made the most sense: food. After all, we eat three times a day, every single day. Unlike fuel, you can’t skip meals (nor should you), but you can get smarter about how you plan, shop, and cook.
I went down the internet rabbit hole—blogs, Pinterest, YouTube, you name it—researching ways to cook for less without sacrificing nutrition or sanity. And then I stumbled across a YouTube video that promised a solution. Cue the cautious optimism.
“Woot,” I thought. This might actually work.
But then came the fine print…
The video was made two years earlier.
Now, in all fairness to the creator, this wasn’t their fault. Inflation hadn’t fully exploded yet, and grocery prices looked very different back then. Still, the concept intrigued us enough to try it anyway. We figured: even if the numbers didn’t match exactly, maybe the strategy would still hold up.
So we decided to test it—real-life, RV-style. Same idea, updated prices, real grocery stores, real appetites. Would it still save us money? Or would it fall apart under 2022 pricing reality?
What we discovered surprised us. Some things absolutely didn’t translate anymore. Others? Shockingly helpful. It wasn’t a perfect fix, but it gave us tools—better planning, fewer impulse buys, more intentional meals—and those added up over time.
That summer taught us something important: RV life isn’t about perfection, it’s about adaptation. You don’t need to win every battle. You just need enough small wins to keep moving forward.
And sometimes, the answer to rising costs isn’t flashy—it’s learning how to cook smarter, stretch meals further, and be willing to test ideas, even if they’re a little outdated.
Because on the road, flexibility is currency—and we were determined to earn it.
We went to the cheapest store in town. We went to Ogden, Utah to Winco... I had my husband do that shopping explaining to him, that he needed to follow the list as it was written down and to get the cheapest item possible. So here we go....
- - 3 lb bag/package of boneless chicken $11.34
- - 9 oz chorizo $1.52
- - 1 lb bag of baby carrots $.98
- - 2 lb block of cheese (he bought 2-1lb because it was cheaper to do it that way $3.75/$3.30) $7.07
- - 1 single garlic bulb .48
- - 1 roma tomato .28
- - 1 box of chicken stuffing mix $2.28
- - 1 can of diced tomatoes $.72
- - 1 small box of grits $1.92
- - 1 single sweet potato $2.39
- - 1 red onion $.65
- - 1 green pepper $.78
- - 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken $1.18
- - 1 lb box of pasta shells $1.73
- - 1 lb bag of white rice $2.46
- - 1 lb bag of black beans $1.28
- - 1 lb bag of pinto beans $.99
- - 1 bouillon cubes container $1.41
