Preparing for RV Life on a Budget: RV Essentials I Bought at the Dollar Store
Preparing for RV life can be overwhelming, especially if you’re a new RVer starting from scratch, trying to figure out what you actually need to buy. From stocking up on RV kitchen essentials to finding budget RV supplies that fit in small spaces, creating an RV essentials checklist is a must before you hit the road.
That’s why, on my very first shopping trip for this RV, I headed to one of my favorite budget-friendly spots — the Dollar Store. In this post, I’m sharing the RV must-haves I bought for just $20, why these items made my list, and how starting with cheap RV supplies can help you prepare for RV life without overspending.
Whether you’re a new RVer or looking for budget-friendly camper essentials, this haul will help you stock up and start transforming your RV into a comfortable home on wheels.
RV Essentials: What Do You Really Need in Your RV?
A lot of you have asked me: “What do you actually need in your RV? What kind of stuff do you keep in your RV versus what you’d have in a normal house?”
So, I figured I’d share some things I get anytime I’m moving into a new RV — because honestly, a lot of stuff I’ll toss out and start over.
For those of you who don’t know, I was in a really bad car accident. I actually kind of lost everything. I had to rebuild my life — and that’s still where I’m at. I’m literally starting from scratch.
At the time, I was in the process of moving out of my house, and the things that I had in that house were in my RV. It was just a really big mess.
So in this post, I’m going to show you some of the things I buy, where I get them (like the dollar store!), and why I shop there for my basic RV Essentials!
Why I Shop at the Dollar Store for RV Stuff
The reason I go to the dollar store is because it’s super cheap, and I can figure out what I actually need once I adjust to my new RV.
Because here’s the thing: your RV is like a home, but every single one is different.
- The cabinets are different.
- The layout is different.
- The space — how tall, how wide, how deep things are — is different.
What fits in one RV doesn’t necessarily fit in another. It takes time, trial, and error to figure out what works, what doesn’t, and what all you need in your RV
I’ve had a bigger RV before, and things that fit in those huge cabinets now have to fit in really small ones. So, I have to think about space, sizing, and storage in a whole new way.
My First RV Haul Preparing for RV Life (what I bought…)
So let me share what I picked up on this first trip. (Don’t worry — there’s going to be a follow-up where I’ll show you more of what’s in my kitchen, bathroom, and other areas!)
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For about $20 total, I stocked up on a good amount of basics.
🎬 Watch The Video (or keep on reading…)
Preparing for RV Life can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re starting from scratch. From stocking up on kitchen supplies to finding clever ways to organize small spaces, figuring out what you actually need for your RV is a learning process. That’s why on my very first shopping trip for this RV, I headed to one of my favorite budget-friendly places: the Dollar Store.
In this video, I’m sharing the RV essentials I bought for just $20, why I chose them, and how starting with affordable items can help you transition into RV life without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a new RVer or just looking for some budget-friendly upgrades, these tips will help you make your RV feel like home (while learning how to downsize and become a minimalist)!
What RV Essentials I Bought on a Budget at the Dollar Store:
Dish Towels & Rags
- 2-pack of dish rags for just $1 (can’t beat that!)
- Kitchen towels — cheap but great for getting started.
Cleaning Supplies
- Spray water bottle (I use this for cleaning — I’ll show you more of that later).
- Cleaning sponge (this one I actually stole from the house!).
- Rubber cleaning gloves.
Kitchen & Cooking Essentials
- Dish drying mats for when I’m air-drying dishes.
- Plastic chopping mats (just grabbed whatever they had).
Organization & Miscellaneous
- Clothespins
- Drawer & Cabinet Liner — I actually line my drawers with these to keep things from slipping around (it works surprisingly well!).
Rugs & Floor Mats
- A couple of rug floor mats — one for by the door and one for in front of the bathroom.
- I’m also replacing the old, ugly carpet in my RV with new mats.
RV Life Update: Settling In
My RV is still a bit of a mess right now because I’m just getting started.
I’m still waiting to get it dewinterized, and I’m trying to convert from part-time living to full-time again.
>> Want to see what my RV looks like all popped out (Yay for extra space!) — TAKE A TOUR
Why Cheap Stuff First?
I like to start with cheap things — like these dollar store finds — because it helps me figure out what I really need before I invest in nicer, long-term stuff.
For example, I do have some nicer towels I love — they’re super skinny, soak up a lot of water, and are bigger than normal ones.
But until I know exactly what works best in this specific RV, I like to experiment with cheaper options first.
>> 🛀 If you want the TOWELS I MENTIONED, you can check them out in tons of colors on Amazon here!
>> Get My RV Essentials Checklist
Thinking Like an RVer
Here’s the deal: once you get an RV, you start thinking differently.
Even if it’s just for weekend trips or part-time use, you’ll realize you need things you might not typically keep in a house — all because of space, size, and storage limitations. (and vice versa, there are a lot of things you use in a house you do not need in an RV)
>> Why I Started RV Living: What I Gave Up & How It Changed My Life
What’s Next
I’m going to keep sharing updates about how I organize and set up this RV as I go.
So, drop your questions in the comments below — I want to know what you want me to cover in future videos and posts!
I’m Blogging Brandi, and this is RVersity — my channel and blog where I share all about my RV life.
If you haven’t checked out my Top 10 Mistakes Most RVers Make, you definitely should. It covers a lot of things you might not think about before, during, or after the buying process.
Trust me, you’ll want to avoid some of these expensive mistakes — because RV stuff is NOT cheap to fix.
Thanks for reading (and watching)! I’ll see you in the next post.
>> GOT QUESTIONS about BUYING AN RV? DOWNLOAD My RV BUYING GUIDE before you buy!
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