If you are traveling on a budget, you will have to make some decisions about the luxuries you can or cannot live without. When you look through campground directories, be sure to take note of what is and is not included in the fees. Look at the park itself and decide if those extras are really necessary.

Cable TV

Is an additional fee for a cable TV hookup really necessary? Did you travel a thousand miles to sit and watch TV? If you did, you could have saved money and stayed at home. Most RVs have a TV antenna and you should be able to pick up at least one or two local channels. If you are out enjoying nature or the attractions all day, you may only want to catch the news and weather before you fall asleep at night.

If you have kids, this is a great way to encourage activities that don't involve TV watching. If you are worried about what to do with them if the weather is bad, bring along card and board games or books to read. What a great way to promote family togetherness!

Air Conditioning

Your destination and time of year will help you decide if the extra fee for running the air conditioning is worth the cost. If you are staying in a campground without shade in the middle of summer, you would probably need to have the air conditioner on, at least part of the time. If you must stay in a place where running the air conditioner is an extra charge, you may find sometimes it is billed as a flat daily fee or you may have to pay a metered charge based on the overall power used. If you are staying in Arizona in July you will need air, so look for a park that charges a flat fee rather than one based on usage, or you may end up with a bill you cannot pay.

Campground Activities

Many campgrounds that cater to families have found that videogame arcades are a great source of income. The quarters dropped into the slots can add up to a tidy little sum. If you are a parent watching the pennies, you may have a battle on your hands. The best way to avoid problems is to set the ground rules before the trip begins. If trips to the game arcade are not allowed, let your kids know it. You might want to set a spending limit — say a dollar (or some amount you are comfortable with) a day — and when it is gone, it is gone. Let your child decide whether to spend it all at once or save it for later, or to use that money for something entirely different. This can be a great learning experience in budgeting for your children.