Roaming About

A Life Less Ordinary

Category: Living Frugally (page 4 of 15)

Welcome Aboard Our Home on Wheels, “Thirsty Bella” – Video Tour & Introduction of Our Lance 830/Ford F-350 4X4 Truck Camper

October 1, 2022 / / 59 Comments

Even though Mark and I have been nomads for almost twenty years and traveled in a handful of mobile tiny homes, I have never shown anyone around virtually (except when trying to sell our campers or when Skyping with my family). Yet, witnessing where and how we live provides a better understanding of our lifestyle, our passion, and our challenges.

I planned to post a video of Zesty, our amazing 19ft Sprinter Westfalia campervan, once Bob Wells (yes, of the movie Nomadland fame) – who spent two days filming us, our special van, and our lifestyle in Quartzsite, Arizona, one winter- published his features about us, but he “lost” the footage and none of this exposure (or a movie) happened. We didn’t own our previous truck camper, Temp, a Cirrus 820, long enough to focus on a tour or video.

So here it is, my first tour and full-length, non-edited video, of our current home on wheels. Bear with me these 17 minutes as I don’t find some of my words and forget to mention a bunch of features. 🙂

To that extent, I’d like to point out that our vehicle is a 2016 Ford F-350 pickup truck that is 4WD (4X4), SRW (single rear wheel, not a dually), and has a short bed and gasoline engine. Our truck camper is a Lance 830 model from 2008, which was the first year these were built.

Us and Bella in Austin, Texas

The main reasons we opted for this kind of rig are its affordability, durability, unique and roomier floorplan, and small footprint (compared to most RVs) – because of our shorter wheelbase, making U-turns and parking are easier and we tried to keep an as low as possible profile by not having an air conditioner or rack on the roof (we even cut off the top part of the ladder) and adding thin, flexible solar panels. We don’t own a generator either. Not possessing an AC unit also provides tall Mark with enough headspace inside.

As always, I happily address – and appreciate and encourage – any questions you might have in the comment section. Welcome aboard Thirsty Bella!

Curious about a previous ten-year chapter in our nomadic lives, which includes eight years aboard a 35-foot sailboat in the tropics, check out my compelling, inspiring, and refreshingly honest travel memoir:

Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

Available on Amazon and elsewhere

eBook: US$ 5.99

Paperback: US$ 13.99

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – August 2022

September 7, 2022 / / 32 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the East Coast.

In August, I finished up my visit to Belgium and stopped over in Newburyport, Massachusetts, for a week of medical check ups and time spent with my in-law family and friends. I returned to St. Helens, Oregon, on August 9th to join Mark and Maya in our Lance 830 truck camper.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Waterfront in Newburyport
Baby sitting Mark’s twin nieces
My friends Denise and Holly came to Newburyport for a visit
Approaching Portland, Oregon from Boston, Massachusetts – a bird’s eye view of Mt. Hood
Reunited with Maya

This past month, things were slowly turning normal regarding our expenses and doing a few fun things. There were still extra costs, we worked hard on our camper, and we hit the road once more. We also shared many meals with friends.

Mark removed all the Lance decals on our camper
Totally white surfaces – a new slate to work on 🙂
Trying to remove the bottom panel, which is glued on in the front. We managed to take measurements underneath to potentially add another fresh water tank
Visiting our South African friend Margie at her house boat on Hayden Island, near Portland
Clam chowder prepared by Katherine
Brandon and Katherine cooking up an amazing breakfast – this is one of the first photos I took with my new phone (which arrived at their address)
Breakfast of crab cakes, eggs, bacon, roasted tomatoes, and bread
Pizza night with Patti

After 11 weeks parked and camped on the driveway of friends (Ellen & Scott), we drove to the Oregon coast on august 18th to spend a long weekend with other friends (Katherine & Brandon, whom we met in Baja, Mexico this past winter), before settling into the house of yet another friend (Patti) for a good week in Bend, Oregon. This comfortable stay concluded a hot month of driving, working on camper projects, socializing, and sightseeing.

Our campsite at our friends’ property in Newport, OR
Mark, Brandon, and Maya – so nice to see our friends again
Lush surroundings in the backyard of our friends in Newport
Moss on the trees in the backyard
Katherine crabbing off the dock of friends
Maya was intrigued by the crabs – and loved to chase them
Berry picking nearby
Helping our friends out trimming a big tree

Grocery expenses were pretty high (blame inflation) and this is probably the first time that Maya hits the #2 position on the list. We are stocking up on medication for her. Her itch relief medicine Apoquel is super expensive at $2.25 a pill and that’s only when you buy 100 tablets at a time. We also bought a couple of Seresto collars (flea & tick medicine), because they were on sale. Each one of these lasts eight months.

Maya’s Seresto collars

We didn’t drive crazy amounts in our pickup truck Thirsty, so the $284 we spent on gasoline can be called “reasonable” in this climate of – still – high fuel prices in the Pacific Northwest. The computer category is high, because, guess what? I bought my very first SmartPhone. Yes, me, the person who didn’t want – and still doesn’t want – a phone. But, don’t get too excited about me joining the ranks of practically every other person in the western world. I don’t have a SIM card, so can only get online via a WiFi signal and I can’t make calls. This phone will replace my camera, which has been falling apart for years. That’s the idea anyway.

My new phone!
Isn’t she a beauty?

Why did I cave? My brother gave me an old iPhone8 of his and Mark discovered a deal online; we could swap this phone and receive a brand-new Google Pixel 6a phone by paying an additional $160. These phones usually cost around $450. So, I blame my husband (and my brother) for making me buy – and use – an extra gadget. Let’s hope I don’t lose/forget it or have it slip out of my hands. I’ve come close to all these scenarios already!

Because we have been staying with generous friends most of the month, “thank you” gifts were in order. And, we bought a few improvements for our household: a new set of Corelle plates and bowls ($33), an electric chainsaw to cut those pesky branches that prevent us from reaching cool campsites ($25), sturdy bags for our new Separett “composting” toilet ($27), and a non-ticking clock ($10). This last item took a lot of trial and error – and returns!

Camped for a couple of nights between St. Helens and Newport, Oregon
We left St. Helens, but that didn’t mean we relaxed. Painting separators to put between kitchenware, so it doesn’t bounce around as much.
Cleaning the cabinets and gluing non-stick on, so stuff stays put better when we drive
All that had to go back into the cabinet…
Making templates for the fun project!
I had fun with the scrap pieces of vinyl

The other categories were reasonable. The $34 we spent on propane was a waste, since the valve of our tank broke right after filling it. Therefore, it became useless and we swapped it for another, less fancy, tank, paying for propane again! I had a haircut at SuperCuts in Massachusetts. Gone are the days to get one for $20 including tip. I will stop going to hairdressers, unless it costs me $10 or less, like in Mexico.

Leaving Newport
Approaching Bend
Tumalo Falls near Bend, OR

The $27 transportation amount is also unusual. That’s what I spent for trains and buses to get to my mother-in-law’s place from Boston’s  Logan airport. There used to be a direct bus to Newburyport, but this service was cancelled two years ago. Instead of one hour, it now takes about three – and much more hassle – to get to or from the airport.

A work in progress
Mark built his first wooden cabinet to fill a hole in the camper

Our accommodation – camped on the driveways of friends or moved into their guestrooms – was free and we managed to attend a few events with no cost as well, like the Toledo Wooden Boat Show.

The Wooden Boat Show in Toledo had cardboard boat races.
The little cardboard boat in front was my favorite (and it won its category!)
Beautiful wooden boat on display
Wooden sailboat with a special rig called a cat boat
Isn’t this one cute?
And the race is on!
A very determined participant…

We paid $10 to get my new glasses shipped to Colorado, after they were prescribed to me during my visit back East. And, we reserved a particular hike near Bend, but cancelled. The fee for the permit was non-refundable. Mark, Maya, Patti, her dogs Koozie and Pekoe, and I did manage to go on another stunning and special hike in the mountains, for which Patti snatched the permit. Here is a glimpse of that one…

Hike to No Name Lake and Broken Top
Maya climbing ice bergs on No Name Lake
Flowers in front of the lake
Appreciating the view
Mark, Patti, Maya, Koozie, Pekoe, and I at a spectacular viewpoint

(PS: We did have $617 of Lance camper expenses in August as well, as preparation for our upcoming multiple-year South America trip, but since we budgeted for that (so far), it becomes part of our purchase price. I plan to write a separate post about those projects and costs in the future.)

August 2022 Overview:

Groceries:

Dog (food: $42; meds: $295):

Car (fuel: $284; parts: $6):

Computer (new phone: $170; MS Office license: $7):

Gifts:

Household (& tools):

Dining out:

Utilities (internet: $35; propane: $34):

Health & fitness (supplements: $33; haircut: $27):

Alcohol:

Transportation (Liesbet Boston):

Drinking out:

Medical:

Entertainment (hiking permit):

Clothing:

Miscellaneous (copies):

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$375

$337

$290

$177

$121

$117

$74

$69

$60

$31

$27

$23

$10

$3

$1

$1

$0

———

$ 1,716

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – July 2022

August 19, 2022 / / 30 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the East Coast.

July was another unusual month. The first part, we both worked fulltime on camper projects in our friends Scott and Ellen’s yard, cooked most of our meals, listened to free live concerts on Thursdays, and “endured” Independence Day.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Scraping stubborn caulk/glue from an old hatch for hours, before installing it elsewhere on the roof
Serious roof projects
New shower curtain. We have decided to go with a cow theme.

On July 4th, weeklong fireworks in the neighborhood reached their peak with the town’s display. Maya was in hell. All the other weeks (ten of them!), she really loved being at our friends’ place.

Maya loved it in St. Helens and was spoiled with walks, treats, and attention
Maya cute and comfy on the porch
Town’s events on July 4th, before the fireworks started
Unhappy Maya – a dog in distress, panting and hiding behind our pillows
I joined Ellen and Scott to watch fireworks, while Mark stayed with our shivering Maya.

The second half of July, Mark and I lived apart in a reversed way than in June (he and Maya stayed in Oregon this time and I visited Belgium) and there were two super high expenses. I have to give up on my desire to stick to our $1,300 monthly average of previous years, what with living costs and fuel having risen hugely and preparations – for this camper and ourselves – regarding our upcoming multiple-year adventure in South America. And, we haven’t even gotten into the logistics of getting there yet! Luckily, our accommodation the last months has been free.

Our truck in front of Washington’s state capitol

The annual car insurance for our 2016 Ford F-350 pick-up truck was due and this took a fat chunk out of our bank account at almost $1,000. Once we leave the country towards the end of the year, we will get some of this reimbursed, just like when we drove to the Baja peninsula (Mexico) for a few months in January. In the state of Massachusetts, there are minimum insurance levels you need to have, even when not in the US, which basically comes down to liability insurance. We are researching ways to get around this useless fee.

Salad with avocado and shrimp as a quick dinner
Vegetable stir fry dinner
Free campsite in the national monument

Mark had to escape a terrible weeklong heatwave in the Portland area, since our camper does not have AC and our parking spot there was in the blazing sun. So, he drove to the property of other friends who are renovating a house along the coast of Oregon. The difference in temperature? Thirty degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius)! While it was in the upper nineties in St. Helens, on the coast, a 2.5-hour drive west, the high was upper sixties.

Checking out this (much more expensive) Lance 830 in Tacoma, WA, hoping it would be in better shape than ours.
This Lance 830 truck camper we checked out had the fold-down tent/bed
Capitol of Washington state in Olympia
Tumwater Falls in Washington
Maya cools off by one of the smaller falls.

That trip, going to look at another Lance 830 camper in Tacoma, Washington (which we passed on), our five-day “test drive” in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, and a couple of rides to PDX (Portland airport) back and forth is where the high fuel cost comes from. Mark also bought an OBD reader for the truck to diagnose faults and car issues. We had this for Zesty as well, which came in handy.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington
Snowy hike with the Mount St. Helens volcano in the background
Hiking near Ape Cave in the national monument
Maya on the June Lake hike

The other high expense was for Mark’s new computer/tablet hybrid, a Surface Pro 7+. He had been on the lookout for this particular device (and returned a similar one already) for many months, patiently waiting for a deal. The $480 price includes a keyboard. A card with extra memory to improve the tablet’s performance was purchased the previous month.

Mark’s new device in tablet mode
Mark’s new device in computer mode

I renewed my Belgian passport in my parents’ town – a story in itself – which, luckily, arrived before I left again, despite our national holiday (July 21st) being smack in the middle of my two-week stay. We bought another bag of dogfood for Maya and heartworm medicine for a year. Stocking up on drugs and essentials for her will add hundreds of dollars to our expenses the coming months.

Extensive multiple-hour lunch out with my mom (front right) and her two sisters
Sandwich in Belgium – Brie cheese, smoked salmon, and lettuce

The other categories for July were quite normal. Groceries were relatively low (because my parents took good care of me in Belgium), as well as alcohol (we barely drank booze). The $7 entertainment amount went to our cave visit in the National Monument. Mark bought a $2 lottery ticket since he coincidentally found himself at a local bar with our coastal friends the day the Mega Millions pot was at an all-time high. Not that it mattered. He mistakenly bought a ticket for a different lottery. His numbers wouldn’t have made a difference either way…

Mount St. Helens before the heatwaves hit…

(PS: We did have $1,040 of Lance camper expenses in July as well, but since we budgeted for that (so far), it becomes part of our purchase price. I plan to write a separate post about those projects and costs in the future.)

July 2022 Overview:

Car (ins.: $952; fuel: $295; parts: $28):

Computer (new Surface Pro 7+ Mark):

Groceries:

Customs & Immigration (new Belgian passport Liesbet):

Dog (food: $32; meds: $36):

Dining out:

Utilities (internet: $35; Skype: $5):

Drinking out:

Household:

Clothing:

Alcohol:

Entertainment (NM):

Postage:

Miscellaneous (lottery):

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$1,275

$480

$232

$72

$68

$41

$40

$16

$13

$11

$9

$7

$5

$2

$0

———

$ 2,271

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.

Join Us at the Virtual Vanlife Summit – An Entertaining, Inspiring & Free Event

July 20, 2022 / / 24 Comments

A free three-day event packed with information, talks, and interactions

Tomorrow, the three-day Virtual Vanlife Summit begins and I am one of the speakers and live panelists. My talk takes place on Thursday, July 21st at 12pm PDT (US West Coast time), which is 9pm in Belgium (where I currently am) and focuses on living on a budget while on the road. I will happily answer any questions you have in the chat box.

Talk about living as a nomad on a budget

The next day, on Friday, July 22nd at 11am PDT, I join a live panel in which we will discuss relationships on the road. How do we survive living together 24/7 with our partner in a tiny space without killing each other? Again, ask us any question during the broadcast.

Live panel about relationships in a small camper

This entire event is free, but you have to register to attend. Check it out and sign up here. I hope to “see” you there!

Mark, Liesbet, and Maya pose in front of Thirsty, the truck, and our soon-to-be-named camper

Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

Available on Amazon and elsewhere

eBook: US$ 5.99

Paperback: US$ 13.99

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – June 2022

July 8, 2022 / / 32 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Last month was unusual to say the least; our expense categories, our location (mostly apart from each other), and our focus. Plus, the weather was extreme: rain almost every day Mark was gone and upper nineties Fahrenheit (mid-thirties Celsius) for three days shortly after his return…

(Click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)

My home while Mark was away
My living quarters
Roomy kitchen
Protection against all the Oregon rain
Extremely hot weather, the end of June – it was more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in our camper, but the thermometer doesn’t go any higher than 99!

Mark flew to Newburyport, Massachusetts, for three weeks to help out his mom who injured herself, arrange the funeral service for his dad, Stanley, who passed away in February, and receive health check-ups, which caused extra stress and grief. He was super overwhelmed and busy those weeks.

Maya on her dinette bed
Maya on her dog bed
“Can I come up, mommy?”

Maya and I stayed in our recently-purchased Lance 830 truck camper on the property of friends in the Portland area of Oregon. Yes, the opposite end of the country. I organized our life inside (as we had quickly “moved in” two days before Mark’s departure), caught up with a bunch of internet tasks and work, did an interview as a presenter for my first Van Life Summit, and completed small projects.

Van Life Virtual Summit 2022
My presentation takes place at noon PST on July 21st (on Belgium’s National Day, while I am there)

Taking care of Maya and providing her with enough exercise also took a chunk of time and was much more fun when the sun peeked out.

Spring by the Columbia River
Sign in downtown
Main street in St. Helens
On the rare clear days, one can see Mount Hood from town
St. Helens is nestled along the Columbia River in Oregon

No crazy high categories in June. Our grocery costs were reasonable and we paid for fuel once in MA for Mark using the car of his mom and once for the truck here in order to drive it back and forth to PDX, Portland’s airport. Parking fees are steep in Boston, where some of Mark’s health check-ups take place.

Extra categories involved paying for one third of Stan’s funeral service, providing drinks for the gathering afterwards (recorded as a gift; on hindsight, it should probably have gone in miscellaneous as well), and spending too much money on annual credit card fees, because we forgot to cancel one of our cards in time. As I mentioned, too much else going on. While $95 might not seem like a lot to some people, it does make a difference for us.*

Mark reading my text for Stan at his dad’s memorial service on June 11th.
The Reverend presents the funeral service in the Unitarian Church of Newburyport.
I managed to follow the service virtually via Zoom.

Mark bought accessories for a new computer, but ended up returning the device. He will be able to use the parts whenever he decides to finally purchase a replacement laptop. I bought a few more items to organize the interior of our camper.

Filling a gap behind the mattress to be able to lean against the wall and sit upright in bed
Now we can sit upright in bed
Contents of one of the many packages we are ordering in St. Helens. It’s nice to have an address when doing heaps of projects!
Extra memory for Mark’s next device
We bought a custom-made blind for the back window

And, I finally gave in and purchased a raincoat, a garment I haven’t owned in years. There are three reasons for this decision: Oregon has been wet, I’m sure I need one in South America, and I want something with pockets to stuff them with goodies on the plane ride back from Belgium as I’m only allowed to take one personal item for a three-week trip! (Two weeks in my home country and one week in Massachusetts before flying back to Oregon.)

Our living quarters seen from the bed.
Maya stressed out (but still cute) and hiding behind our pillows during the fireworks that started well before July 4th.

We ordered an expensive pizza for take-out one evening, have been enjoying free music in town on Thursday nights with our friends (hence the drinking out), Maya needed a few items, and – for some reason – one now has to pay out of pocket to prep for a colonoscopy. Sorry if this is too much information. No taboos on this site.

Egg noodles with a mushroom – parsley cream sauce
Cauliflower soup – my first attempt in cooking soup.
Scott presented delicious homemade gnocchi for dinner one night.
The end result: homemade gnocchi with clam sauce (clams he harvested)
Maya cute and comfy on the porch

On a positive note, we didn’t spend a dime on accommodation, courtesy (again and still) of our friends here in St. Helens. And we have primarily been cooking our own meals and sharing some of them with our hosts.  Once Mark was back, we dove into projects again. Stay tuned while we try and figure out our next move, which remains incredibly tricky and stressful…

From the moment Mark returned, he dove into more projects.
For some of the projects, our camper needs to be on the truck
Swapping the space-consuming plastic bathroom door out with a whimsical shower curtain
Installing a new track for a shower curtain in the bathroom
Trying to diagnose and fix a big issue underneath the camper
New exhaust vent cover and LED lights outside

(PS: We did have about $500 of Lance camper expenses in June as well, but since we budgeted for that (so far), it becomes part of our purchase price. I plan to write a separate post about those projects and costs.)

*UPDATE: We called our Chase bank to cancel that credit card and they will refund the $95 annual fee (so our total expenses for June 2022 are closer to $1,230).  Apparently, this is their policy and courtesy when you cancel within 41 days of paying the fee.

June 2022 Overview:

Groceries:

Miscellaneous (memorial service):

Bank fees (CC annual fees):

Car (fuel: $117; parking: $14):

Gifts (drinks for memorial event):

Computer hardware (parts):

Alcohol:

Utilities (internet: $35; propane: $19):

Household:

Clothing (rain jacket Liesbet):

Health & fitness (vitamins Mark):

Dining out:

Medical (colonoscopy prep M):

Drinking out:

Dog (fish oil, shampoo, treats):

Transportation (train from airport):

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$267

$225

$190

$131

$86

$77

$74

$54

$44

$39

$35

$28

$26

$26

$23

$7

$0

———

$ 1,332

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – May 2022

June 10, 2022 / / 27 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Last month was quite crazy for us; on many fronts. Our circumstances – hunting for a different camper, picking it up, moving locations, preparing and delivering our original camper that was for sale, fixing imminent issues and systems in our “new” home on wheels, a terrible accident in the family, my mother-in-law breaking her shoulder, Mark having to fly back east, me booking a plane ticket, … (read about it all here) – hugely affected our expenditures in May.

(Click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)

These fuel prices greeted us when we crossed back into the US after four months on the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.
Crossing state borders again
Scenery along the way – gone are the blue skies!
Finally, Idaho – Mark and I never explored this state; and it wouldn’t happen again, this time around
Driving through part of Oregon again, on our return trip to Boise, ID
Wintry California landscape in mid-May!

The largest cost by far was gasoline for our truck, as we drove north in California, crisscrossed this state a few times between Auburn, CA, and Boise, Idaho, made a “detour” to Twin Falls, ID, to drop off our Cirrus camper, and headed west to St. Helens, Oregon. We knew we were spending hundreds of dollars over those weeks, but were still flabbergasted at the total sum of over $1,000!!! There is only one solution for our frugal budgets: sit still for a long while. Because of all our upcoming camper projects and issues, we kind of have to anyway.

Cheapest price for gasoline on the 520-mile drive. before arriving back in Boise
We often spent between $130 and $150 a tank of gas in May – and the prices are still rising!
Back in the days, when the fuel price per gallon was still under $5. Not so much in St. Helens, OR.
Biking to (hardware) stores to save fuel

Speaking of which, our Lance camper expenses are actually much higher than any other category, but since we budgeted for that (so far), it becomes part of our purchase price. I plan to dedicate a separate post for those projects and costs.

First stop in Auburn, CA, to check out this well-used Lance 830 truck camper for sale (by owner); we spent six hours scrutinizing it and had a chat with the friendly dealer
Ready to purchase the Lance 830
Too cold to eat outside – Mark and I save money by making and bringing our own meals everywhere
RV dealership where the camper was sold on consignment
Posing with RV dealer Glen, who was incredibly helpful with the transaction and communications
Collecting campers in the driveway of our friends
Ordering lots of parts for our “new” camper
Fixing lots of issues with our “new” camper
Lots of money exchanged hands in May

Some of our US car insurance money was still due, as we had paused this policy when traveling throughout Baja, Mexico, for four months. And, after all the driving, Thirsty was due for an oil change, which Mark performed a few hundred miles ago back in Boise. Being able to do most tasks and projects ourselves – now, in the past (also when sailing), and in the future – saves us a lot of money, stress, inconvenience, distrust, and disappointment.

Camped on the property of a friend in Julian, California
Deer in the yard
Front-row seats to watch wildlife

The cost of plane tickets – nationally and internationally – has doubled compared to last year as well. It was another shock to us when we browsed tickets for Mark (and me later this summer) to fly back to Massachusetts and for me to visit my family in Belgium. We used multiple one-way tickets through inconvenient airports, with funky layovers, and without carry-on luggage (yes, that’s a thing now – “only one personal item allowed”) to make these jaunts as affordable as possible. My dear parents covered my legs to Belgium. Thank you!

Home for a couple of weeks
We had an oven – nacho time!
Ready to move locations with our (partly) new set-up

Our other expenses were normal. Before we sold it, we had to repair a couple of things on the Cirrus camper after our extensive travels on the Baja peninsula this past winter. We also thanked our hosts for their hospitality with a few items we knew they enjoyed, and shared some rum and wine with friends to ease our worries a bit.

One hour of fun: visiting Shoshone Falls in the town of Twin Falls, Idaho, before dropping our Cirrus camper off
It was a beautiful day

Our entertainment in May was free and comprised a one-hour stop at the magnificent Shoshone Falls in the town of Twin Falls, Idaho (usually $5 parking fee per car, but the kiosk was closed during our morning, weekday stop), before dropping the Cirrus camper off with its new owners and a quick visit of Idaho’s capitol in Boise, the day we left the area.

On the day we left Boise, we hopped over to the capitol
I am fascinated by capitol buildings in this country and want to see – and photograph – them all!

Getting a cashier’s check to pay for a big-ticket item, like a used truck camper, costs $15 with Bank of America. While it’s not that much, costs like these annoy us. The same with fees for administrative dealings, although the time, energy, and hassle involved are obviously more intrusive.

One-night stop along a street in Lodi, CA, on our drive north – not the quietest place….
Boondocked in Tahoe National Forest, CA on the way to Boise, ID.
Our first encounter with snow in a looong time (it wouldn’t be our last)
We managed to go for a nice, yet short, walk from our “campsite”
Second stop between Auburn, CA, and Boise, ID, at Antelope Reservoir (OR) – it was a long drive
Another cold and rainy night at Antelope Reservoir – familiar terrain now
Boondocked in a national forest in eastern Oregon on the long drive from Boise, ID, to the Portland area.

We didn’t spend anything on accommodation or camping, laundry, water, or electricity in May; something we are very thankful for. Hurray for friends – and family – in troubled times!

Home for the time being
Maya loved it in St. Helens and was spoiled with walks, treats, and attention

May 2022 Overview:

Car (fuel: $1,206; ins.: $154; maint.: $30):

Travel (flights):

Groceries:

Cirrus camper (ins.: $23; repairs: $110):

Gifts:

Utilities (internet):

Dining out:

Alcohol:

Banking (cashier’s check):

Household:

Clothing (flip flops Mark):

Customs & Immigration:

Drinking out:

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$1,390

$1,013

$355

$133

$58

$35

$27

$17

$15

$11

$10

$8

$3

$0

———

$ 3,075

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad (mostly in Mexico) – April 2022

May 13, 2022 / / 45 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

For most of last month, Mark, Maya, and I happily kept traveling and living throughout Baja California Sur and Baja California (Norte) in Mexico, slowly making our way back “home.” After 3.5 months south of the border, we returned to the United States on April 26th, 2022,  and spent about a week in Southern California. We have covered thousands of miles since then.

Entering the state of Baja California, the northern half of the peninsula
Rows of bumps in corners to slow us down
Topes in towns are often unmarked, blended in, or fake
Back to the border – and border wall – in Tecate. The line wasn’t too long and the crossing itself was uneventful.
Back to highways and complicated road infrastructure!
And, super expensive fuel in California
That’s why we filled up in Mexico at US$4/gallon before crossing the border

Once we reached the historic town of Loreto by the end of March, we regretfully felt our time on the Baja peninsula was diminishing, as we would start making our way back to the US from there – where to, we didn’t know yet.

Camped along the dirt road to San Basilio after a failed attempt to reach the beach ten miles in
Back in Mulege, camped at our favorite spot south of the river, except, conditions change…. The humid climate (wet sand and salty air) chased us inland a bit
Our second spot to camp for a couple of nights, north of the river. This is where Katherine and Brandon “found” us

Little did we know that a couple of weeks later, a chance encounter with Katherine and Brandon in Mulege, sent us south again, back to Loreto Bay/Nopolo. Our new friends had invited us for a few days of splurging at their condo (showers, laundry, great company, a pool), which was followed by another handful of days of beach camping near town.

View from the condo’s balcony
Dinner at our friends’ condo in Loreto Bay/Nopolo
Fabulous food, drinks, and company
T&T parked near the condo building of our friends
Clean and beautiful Nopolo neighborhood
Narrow alleys in Nopolo village
Camped on the airport beach in Loreto for five nights, where I dealt with a dreadful flu

On April 22nd, we did – finally – start our long journey north and pretty much drove every day for the remainder of the month, slowly covering the 850 miles from Loreto to Julian, California, via San Diego. If you think our gas price for this jaunt in Baja was high, wait until the expense report for May comes out…

Driving north again…
…past the pretty Bahia Concepcion beaches, without stopping this time
Mission de San Ignacio
Interior of the San Ignacio Mission
Restaurant along the square in San Ignacio
Camped for the night along the shady square

We finished all the food in our fridge before crossing the border, so an extensive shopping spree was in order. Fortunately, our friend Janis made dinner in San Diego on our first evening back in the US. We had a nice time with her and her husband Paul.

One night in Mission Hills – photo taken by Janis Heppell
Meeting up with Janis and Paul in San Diego

In Baja, it was still affordable to go out for dinner, so we did this a few times, to celebrate our postponed combined birthdays at the amazing restaurant Mi Loreto and to eat fish and shrimp tacos in San Ignacio. After taking Katherine and Brandon on the incredible Mesquite Canyon hike, they were extremely generous by treating us to a delicious seafood lunch on the drive home.

Birthday dinner out at Mi Loreto
View of the Mission from Mi Loreto
Swimming through Mesquite Canyon
Seafood lunch at the “clam shack” on the beach – thank you, Brandon and Katherine
Restaurant where we had fish and shrimp tacos and a Jamaica (hibiscus) juice for me
Our last meal out in Mexico at Victor’s

Mark and I swore we would not eat out – or do take-out – anymore once we left Mexico, as inflation is hurting us, but we happily bought our friend Amy a pho on our second night in San Diego and were treated to pizza by our friend Diana, once settled for a few days on her beautiful and peaceful property in Julian, CA.

Stocking up on fresh ratone pastries in Loreto before leaving the area and the peninsula
Diana taking a selfie by the fire with Doug, Mark, and me in it

We paid for six nights at campgrounds in April – in Loreto, Playa La Perla (Bahia Concepcion), and near Ensenada on our last night in Mexico, which happened to be the least attractive and priciest stay of the bunch.

We returned to Rivera del Mar RV Park in Loreto and tried to sell our electric bikes, unsuccessfully.
Home for three nights – Playa La Perla along Bahia Concepcion
Sunrise over Bahia Concepcion
Pancake breakfast at the beach
Finally a spot to hang our hammock up again!
Walking south from La Perla
Homemade gnocchi dinner with new friends Mary and Ted
Our last night in Baja was spent at Mi Refugio in Ensenada; not our favorite

The rest of the month, we boondocked (camping without facilities) in nature for free.

Camped in an arroyo for one night after visiting Mission San Javier
Maya waits to go for a walk
Cactus in bloom
One of our last nights in Baja, surrounded by cacti in Catavina

And we finally bought a souvenir – a handmade Mexican blanket. We’d been keeping an eye out for one and gauging prices at a few markets to get a feel for what they were worth. Eventually, after three months on the peninsula, we bought one from a beach vendor at a very fair price.

Our Mexican blanket, which will grace one of our dinette cushions one of these months
Parked near Mission San Javier
Mission San Javier near Loreto
Looking out through a door in the church
Surroundings of the mission

Now that we are back in the US and expect to spend thousands of dollars on camper preparations, parts, and fuel, we have to cut down on expenses in other categories. The coming months, we will avoid eating and drinking out, buying alcohol, and paying for laundry. We are fortunate to have friends in the Pacific Northwest, who will happily host us and provide services, like a level driveway, tools, water, electricity, a shower, and laundry facilities. Let the camper work and another transition begin!

Changing gears again the coming months

April 2022 Overview:

Car (fuel: $473; car soap: $6):

Groceries:

Dining out:

Utilities (internet: $40; propane: $21; water: $13):

Camping:

Alcohol:

Souvenir:

Drinking out:

Laundry:

Dog (treats):

Postage:

Household:

 

TOTAL:

 

$479

$343

$178

$74

$64

$47

$25

$12

$9

$4

$2

$1

———

$ 1,238

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad (in Mexico) – March 2022

April 9, 2022 / / 26 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Last month, Mark, Maya, and I happily kept traveling throughout Baja California Sur in Mexico. The grocery and car expense categories battled for the top position. As to be expected, fuel burned a lot of money as we rounded and explored the southern part of the peninsula. The gas prices in Baja haven’t changed much from last year, but they are fluctuating, just like propane. In any case, these prices are less than in the US now, so we will fill all our tanks before returning.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Filling our tank when it’s close to empty is an expensive endeavor – more than US$100!!
The top price is for gasoline and one of the cheapest per liter that we have found in Baja this year
Gasoline prices in Loreto, one year ago (the top number)
Driving on rough roads is not good for the fuel economy!
Rough road downhill to Agua Verde
Rough road to one of the Pacific beaches

Our utility cost while in Mexico is higher than in the US, because we kept paying for our cheap and discontinued AT&T data plan north of the border and for internet in this country. We also pay for drinking water now and keep having to fill our propane tanks to run our fridge and cook. We can’t wait to get a compressor fridge that works on electricity, which we have plenty of thanks to our solar panels.

Free camping along Camino Cabo Este
Parked for the night at Playa Palmilla in San Jose del Cabo
An entire arroyo, just for us
Boondocked along the road to Agua Verde
Parked in a free public lot in La Paz again, for a couple of nights
Camped at El Canejo beach
One of our favorite free campsites in Baja California

As always, most of our camping spots were free and attractive.

We stumbled upon an international triathlon in La Paz
Baby turtles ready to be released
Turtle release after sunset in Todos Santos
Hiking above Agua Verde
Hiking with friends of the furry kind
Beach walks with Maya
Hiking in Mesquite Canyon, worthy of a separate blog post…

Just like lots of activities we enjoy: witnessing a triathlon in La Paz and a turtle release in Todos Santos, hiking, bird watching, beach and town strolling, hanging out with friends, snorkeling, watching sunrise and sunset.

Van pizza made by Greg and Duwan and eaten with them and our new friend, Gehn
Snorkeling in Agua Verde
Even Maya made new friends: Delilah and Pyros…
… and Lola, the beach dog, of course.

In March we did stay at a couple of pay campgrounds (south of El Pescadero and in Loreto), ordered a part for our awning (which was shipped to a friend in San Diego, CA), and cooked more meals than in February.

Camped for a few nights in Rivera Del Mar RV Park, Loreto
Dinner out with friends, Greg, Duwan, and Gehn in Todos Santos
Delicious fish tacos in Todos Santos – the cheapest we’ve bought in Baja
Homemade pizza in the truck camper of our new friends, Deb and Andy, who have an oven!!!
Sharing a fabulous homemade pizza with Deb and Andy on our beach in Agua Verde
Mark made the most delicious tortilla soup for dinner one evening – with fabulous toppings!

There were also a few smaller expenditures: laundry, new flipflops and a quarterly blood test for Mark (did you notice how cheap these are in Mexico?), a small turtle souvenir for me, and a bone for Maya. All in all, not a bad month…

Walking around Todos Santos
Hotel in Todos Santos
Sunset in Agua Verde
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean, which has bigger waves than the Sea of Cortez
Another sunset over the Pacific Ocean

March 2022 Overview:

Groceries:

Car (fuel: $233; car wash: $5):

Utilities (internet: $68; propane: $40; water: $15; dump: $5):

Dining out:

Alcohol:

Camping:

Camper (repairs):

Laundry:

Clothing:

Medical (blood test Mark):

Miscellaneous (souvenir):

Dog (treat):

 

TOTAL:

 

$244

$238

$128

$72

$36

$30

$22

$11

$10

$6

$5

$4

———

$ 806

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean through a cactus

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Monthly Expenses of a Nomad (in Mexico) – February 2022

March 18, 2022 / / 34 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Mark, Maya, and I spent the entire month of February in Baja California Sur, Mexico. It was a fabulous time for the mind, body, and wallet, once Mark returned from his 10-day visit to Massachusetts to spend quality time with his dad.

Sunrise in the Sea of Cortez
Our home beach for ten days, near Agua Verde
Walk along the beach and rocks
Beautiful waters of the Sea of Cortez
Maya in the dunes

As a matter of fact, February 2022 was a month for the books – we generally had a really good time, exploring the peninsula, discovering peaceful beaches, spending time with friends, and eating delectable fish tacos. I hope to elaborate on some of our fun Baja experiences in upcoming blogs, whenever resources allow.

Dinner at our place with Jon and Gail
Campfire with friends
Happy hour with Duwan and Greg on a hill – Cabo Pulmo

Our biggest February expense was the car again, mostly because our annual Newburyport residency tax was due. Since we sat still for a chunk of the month, the fuel amount wasn’t too bad. In Baja, Mexico, a liter of gasoline costs around 22 pesos at the moment. This is roughly $4.20 per gallon. Usually, this is more expensive than in the US. While prices for fuel have gone crazy there, in Mexico they have gone up less than 1 peso per liter (20 cents per gallon) since March 2021. Food for thought…

Rock formation with Maya
Rock with a view – Cabo Pulmo
Endless beaches along the Cabo Pulmo peninsula

We didn’t spend a lot on groceries for a few reasons: prices for produce are cheaper than in the US, we don’t care about imported or brand products, and we have eaten out multiple times, which is reflected in the higher than usual dining out category. Once a week, Mark and I order fish or shrimp tacos from a street vendor or at a restaurant. These cost around $2 a piece, of which we each consume three or four. And, there might have been an extra meal or two on top of that.

Mezcal tasting and dinner out with Duwan and Greg
Dinner out in La Paz with Duwan and Greg

Utilities include propane (which, luckily, is cheaper here than in the US), water (which we buy at agua purificado shops that have a hose to fill our tank – average cost is 13 cents per gallon or about $5 for a full tank), discharging our black tank (when we’re careful, it takes three or four weeks to completely fill Temp’s toilet tank; this has never happened – in Zesty we could only go one week), and internet. We keep our US data plan going, even though we are not using it right now. At $35/month for unlimited data, we don’t quite want to give that up, because this particular AT&T plan doesn’t exist anymore.

Ordering purified water in La Ribera

In Mexico, we use a local SIM-card and buy internet plans. Our friends Duwan and Greg (from Make Like An Apeman) had extra data the end of February, so they were super generous to let us use as much as we wanted. Most of the time, however, we are not in areas with cell (data) service. Because we make phone calls through Google Voice (over the internet), we don’t need phone plans.

Flor de Cana tasting on the beach
Birthday happy hour on the beach
Happy Birthday, Mark

We started celebrating Mark’s birthday a day early, on February 28th. I’d bought him a 7-year-old bottle of our favorite rum, Flor de Caña, and we did a tasting – adding the 4- and 5-year-old versions we already had – on our “private” beach in a remote area of the peninsula. Tip for anyone else who likes Flor de Caña rum, which originates in Nicaragua: the 4-year-old one is pretty much the cheapest rum here on Baja, at 160 pesos ($8) for a 75cl bottle!

Sea of Cortez

I joined Duwan and Greg on a day trip to the Sol de Mayo waterfall and a couple of other sites. Dogs were not allowed, so Mark stayed home with Maya. At seven dollars, the entrance fee to the falls seemed steep, but it was worth it. One could spend an entire day there, swimming, photographing, and walking upstream to smaller pools and cascades. Plus, I snuck a shower in the refreshing water!

Visiting Sol de Mayo
Sol de Mayo waterfall
Walking upriver revealed more pools and cascades
Under the waterfall

We managed to camp for free the entire month, finding some amazing places off the beaten track. As always, we couldn’t have done it without our trusted iOverlander app and tips from friends. Special thanks to Jon and Gail and Sandie and Karsten.

Playa Juncalito, south of Loreto
Parked in La Paz with Ballena Blanca for a few days
Sunset at our camp spot in La Ventana – T&T and Ballena Blanca
Camped on the small peninsula of Cabo Pulmo town
Less windy campsite in Cabo Pulmo
Beach-side camping
Beach camping by ourselves
Camped in a peaceful arroyo along the Cabo Pulmo peninsula

Our total expenses were well under average last month and we hope that’s an indication of how we can live and travel south of the border. Once we arrive in South America, we hope $800 (instead of $1,300) can become our new average…

February 2022 Overview:

Car (fuel: $159; city excise tax: $106):

Groceries:

Dining out:

Utilities (internet: $55; propane: $14; water: $10; dump: $2):

Alcohol:

Gifts (B-day Mark):

Drinking out:

Transportation (MA train Mark):

Laundry:

Entertainment (waterfalls):

Computer (app for streaming):

Dog (vet procedure):

Accommodation/camping:

 

TOTAL:

 

$265

$132

$126

$81

$41

$23

$20

$10

$8

$7

$5

$5

$0

———

$ 723

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Duwan and Greg also covered their month of February in two blog post: here (part 1) and here (part 2).

Sunset on the sandspit in La Paz

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Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – January 2022

February 24, 2022 / / 24 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

This monthly expense report is a bit delayed for two reasons: I recently posted our yearly report (and who wants to be bombarded by numbers every week?) and I have taken a step back with internet “chores,” because our data is limited, expensive, and often inaccessible. And, I’d rather explore the Baja peninsula at the moment than sit behind a computer. 🙂

(As always, hover over or click on the photos to read their captions.)

Building a frame for our platform at the Home Depot of Yuma, AZ – another failed attempt as it didn’t support the camper enough
Using 2-inch foam as part of our platform did not work well – it compressed due to the off-set weight of the camper. We needed a new solution.
New platform, which consists of a built-up frame and stall mat
Taking the camper off the truck again in the California desert, to fix the platform
Mark lowered the bumper of the truck to make the camper fit better in its bed.
The newest platform set-up, which is much lower and thinner than ever before.

Mark, Maya, and I started our new year in the desert just west of Yuma, Arizona, getting ready for our postponed multiple-month trip in Baja California, Mexico. We had to fix a few more things on the camper and the car, like rebuilding the platform that goes in the bed of the truck for the umpteenth time and making sure the “basement” was secure. We eventually ended up dropping the bumper of our pick-up truck and taking the clearance lights off, after another improvement attempt on another Home Depot parking lot failed.

Greg helps Mark inspect the “basement” of our truck camper
Mark takes off the clearance lights on the truck and needed electricity from inside the camper to drill out the holes in order to plug them.
Thirsty without the orange lights on top of the cab – we’d already put black caps on them as a blend-in mechanism right after buying the truck.
Mark assembles the truck’s interior parts after the job is done.

While the camper was off the truck, we decided to go on our first off-road adventure to explore a bit of the area, like the “Valley of Names.” What a bouncy endeavor that was! None of us can say we actually enjoyed the jerky experience…

Our first time “off roading” in Thirsty
A bumpy ride
Extinct volcano along the way to Valley of Names
Valley of Names
Walking by hundreds of names formed by people using rocks
The Valley of Names stretches for miles!

I also needed a dental check-up (and a $10 haircut apparently) right across the border in Los Algodones before we could really head south. Luckily, none of these visits and repair tasks were expensive, so we were off to a good year, moneywise, despite a few more delays. Having friends around made everything more fun!

Strolling in the border town of Los Algodones, famous and popular for its amount of dentists and pharmacies
Walking around Los Algodones
Long line at the border to cross back into the US
Short hair again, for $10
Visit from Patti and her dogs, in the desert near Yuma
Maya had doggie friends visit.
Our friend Greg, from the blog “Make Like An Apeman” joined us for a little while as well, in between house sits.

Life in Mexico is cheaper than in the US, so we had high hopes for a less-than-average month as far as living costs were concerned. We knew gasoline would be pricey (the equivalent of $4/gallon) and ended up driving bigger-than-planned distances from the start.

Our first boondocking spot in Baja California, at Shell Beach, half an hour south of San Felipe
Sunrise on Shell Beach, along the Sea of Cortez
Expansive and pretty Shell Beach
Walk along Shell Beach
Bounty after a long beach walk

We arrived in Baja on January 12th and soon realized that Mark should leave the country for an impromptu visit back to his parents in Massachusetts. The price for that “detour” resulted in an extra $530 for flights, public transportation, parking, a Covid test, and a ten-day campground stay for Maya and me in Loreto. All our other camping spots last month were free.

The dunes of Guerrero Negro were our second stop on the peninsula, before heading south to Loreto.
Hiking in the sand dunes of Guerrero Negro
Maya digging a hole to cool off – or have fun, or get me all sandy!
Funny girl!
Resting on the dunes with my pup
Nope, we are not in the Sahara Desert…

From 2022 on, we are splitting the camper category into two parts – car and camper – to keep better track of those expenditures separately. Our Mexican car insurance was higher than stated below ($442 instead of $113), because it incorporates the refund for our American insurance, which we paused.

Camped for free in Mulege, the last stop before “settling” in Loreto for twelve days
The mouth of the Mulege River
Moonrise in Mulege
Delicious dinner after finding clams at low tide on a rocky beach in Mulege
Ospreys are abundant in Mulege

The grocery category is lower than usually, as food is cheaper in Mexico and we eat out more often for the same reason. Since our favorite rum (from Nicaragua) is available on the peninsula, we splurged buying several bottles of Flor de Cana instead of Bacardi, hence the pretty high number for alcohol. For now, we kept our affordable unlimited (and now unavailable) $35 AT&T data plan in the States, on top of buying data for our Mexican SIM-card ($27), which explains the larger number in the utilities section.

T&T in our preferred campground in Loreto
Rivera del Mar RV Park was much busier this year than in 2021.
One of the bathroom buildings at the campground in Loreto

Tourist cards for Mexico cost about $33 a person, which created an extra expense category this past month. Other than the money needed for Mark’s trip back to attend to a family situation, January had us on track for an average $1,300 month… February – so far – is looking much better. ????

January 2022 Overview:

Car (fuel: $337; insurance: $113; repairs: $13):

Travel (flights Mark):

Groceries:

Alcohol:

Utilities (internet: $62; propane: $10; water: $6):

Accommodation (camping):

Camper (repairs):

Customs & Immigration:

Dining out:

Medical (Covid test Mark):

Drinking out:

Health & Fitness (tooth brush M, haircut L):

Gifts (B-day friend):

Transport (trains M):

Laundry:

Clothes (flip flops L):

Postage:

Miscellaneous (agricultural spray Mexico):

 

TOTAL:

 

$463

$402

$217

$98

$77

$74

$72

$67

$59

$40

$39

$32

$21

$17

$11

$10

$2

$1

———

$ 1,702

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Donate to Roaming About to help maintain this website.

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