Inevitably you need to equip the RV with all sorts of things from bedding and cutlery
through to maps to tools. We spent approx $1000 on bits which we bought in various
places in the US. We used Walmart, Topps, Sears, JC Penney, TJ Maxx, Big Lots etc.
All the big stores seemed to have permanent sales offers the whole time we were
there.
As a rough guide we paid dollars for items which in the UK would have cost
pounds. Most of the stuff we bought was made in China, which surprised us. The
quality seems to be as good as we would get in the UK for the same number of
pounds, and some things like sheets were much better. You can buy sheets in a
wide range of qualities, and every package shows the quality (the higher the
thread count, the better).
There are some things we might have wished for better quality (such as
cutlery - we come from Sheffield) but then I should have paid more than $10 for
a four place setting.
We didn't think of anything which we could not have bought in the US,
although we will take our down quilt when we go back for the year (it can get
pretty cold overnight in the desert or mountains). This is because we had
difficulty in assessing the quality of the quilts we could find because they
didn't use tog ratings, and down is expensive anywhere. The blankets were fine,
we just prefer our quilt which is light in weight, rolls up very small when not
in use, and serves as a 4 seasons quilt because the filling can be shaken out
evenly or all to the bottom as required.
There are some things that were very difficult if not impossible to find, but
these are not practical or legal to bring from home to the US:
The sugar free soft drinks I like, although there are a few other brands
Muesli. Jan did find some - in Canada.
Decent cheeses and breads in supermarkets (although do check out local shops
and farmers markets)
Most US supermarkets have about half the area a comparably sized UK one would
have devoted to fresh produce and vegetables. And this is not the first section
you come to - this honour seems to always go to the cakes. There is much more processed and
junk food still. |