Roaming About

A Life Less Ordinary

Category: On a Budget (page 6 of 14)

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – July 2021

August 14, 2021 / / 42 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.

The first two weeks of July, Mark and I visited my family and friends in Belgium, while our good buddies Greg and Duwan (of Make Like An Apeman) took good care of Maya in Newburyport, Massachusetts. We splurged on goodies from the grocery store, alcohol to share, and gifts to thank our generous hosts in my home country and our friends back in the US.

Liesbet and aunt Nicole
Flowers for aunt Nicole in Oostende
Plenty of different flavors for a fun night with family
Our fancy credit card allows for free access at the airport lounge – more splurging!
Mark’s last Belgian beer for a while in the airport lounge in Brussels

The two of us also went out for food and drinks one evening to celebrate our fourteenth wedding anniversary outdoors in Oostende. Where did the time go?

Liesbet and Mark in the summer of 2007
Wedding night dinner at a bar – you can read in “Plunge” why we didn’t go out for a fancier meal that night. 🙂

Upon our return to the US, Duwan and Greg stayed on a few more days. Fun! We ordered pizza one night – they treated – and the following night, we splurged on Thai food – our treat. Life was good last month, socializing and catching up with friends and family!

Duwan and Greg in our room – Maya’s new best friends!

The last ten days of July, we tightened the belt for common expenses, as a new money pit arrived! Firstly, we had to order a new passport for Mark and – with the delays – we hope he will receive it before wintertime, when would like to return to Baja California (Mexico).

Truck shopping in Rhode Island
Checking the engine compartment when inspecting this vehicle for the first time
When we bought the truck, it came with a Teneau cover, which we are trying to sell now.

More importantly, we found a pick-up truck! More about that in a next post. Owning a vehicle again means expensive insurance, extra (used) parts to add a truck camper, and relatively pricey improvements. As always, we do all the work ourselves, so only spend money on materials, which Mark researches and buys at the best quality/price ratio. And, of course, there are fuel costs – for our new “thirsty” vehicle and for the one of my mother-in-law.

Our new vehicle
Ready for some car jobs
Adding the rear tie-downs – previously sanded and painted
Wheel well covers for the back

July 2021 was a super expensive month, but for good reasons! 🙂

July 2021 Overview:

Car (ins.: $1,167; gear: $580; fuel: $131;

reg.:$135; parking: $7):

Groceries:

Dining out:

Customs & Immigration (passport Mark):

Drinking out (anniversary):

Gifts:

Utilities (phone/internet):

Alcohol:

Medical:

Postage:

Household:

Entertainment:

 

TOTAL:

 

 

$2,020

$377

$120

$110

$40

$36

$35

$27

$11

$4

$2

$1

———

$ 2,783

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.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – June 2021

July 21, 2021 / / 40 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.

In June, Mark, Maya, and I lived in “our room above the garage” for three weeks. My companions stayed there the entire month and I flew to Belgium, where I visited friends and family from June 24th to July 15th. That first week, I was spoiled rotten by myself. Mark – without Maya – joined me on July 1st, so that is reflected in next month’s expense report.

Kim and Eli offered me wine and snacks one evening
An impromptu, quick meet-up with An in Dendermonde one afternoon – she was smart and kind enough to bring soft drinks and snacks!
Stopping by my good friend Hilde one afternoon – her daughters made a lovely dessert!

The biggest category was a painful one. On our nationwide pick-up truck search, which I still have to elaborate on whenever there is conclusion, Mark flew to a small town in Arkansas on two different planes with a hotel stay in between.  From there he would drive back in our next vehicle. Again, it was not meant to be. Instead, he had to spend another night in a hotel and return by air at increased prices. The entire ordeal – other than loads of extra research, discussions, time, energy, and emotions – set us back almost $800!

When you subtract that amount from June’s total, it wasn’t too bad of a month, despite a few other high-ish categories, like “gifts”… I treated my mom (and dad) to a fancy meal for her 70th birthday at Pacht 26 in Gijzegem and we bought some goodies for our friends Duwan and Greg, who would pet sit Maya during our absence.

Mother and daughter spoiling themselves!
The three of us enjoyed a fabulous multi-course lunch.
The desserts

Before I left Massachusetts, we organized a small outdoor party with my brother-in-law and his wife. The occasion: my in-laws 64th wedding anniversary. The four “kids” cooked a fabulous meal and Mark and I found an original gift – a fancy Irish whisky that incorporates the family name.

A while ago, we noticed these fancy whiskies in the liquor store and a plan was set in motion.
Mark’s last name reflected in the whisky brand
Happy 64th anniversary!!
Good food on the grill…
… and from the oven.
Maya in her strategic position under the table
A family celebration of love in the courtyard
The twins had their own table.
A long relationship still going strong: 64 years!
Mark made a fabulous gluten-free apple crisp

Our dog needed new heartworm meds, so that was taken care of. And I “needed” a haircut before my trip across the Atlantic. Even though I only visit Supercuts once a year or so, I was surprised at how the prices have gone up.

Our grocery, borrowed car, alcohol, and take-out costs were manageable, but we needed a new battery for Mark’s phone (the old one literally grew out of proportions and almost exploded), his passport is due for renewal, and we bought Amazon credit. Mark couldn’t resist the deal “buy $40 of credit and receive $50 worth.” 🙂

Mark carefully replaces his phone battery – tricky!

I’m a tad late with this report; the last three weeks have been extremely hectic with unreliable internet and no me-time. Despite spending different currencies in July, we seem to be back on track this month! Or not?

June 2021 Overview:

Travel Mark (plane + hotels):

Gifts (festivities, treats D + G):

Groceries:

Car (fuel):

Dog (food: $34; meds: $22):

Household (Amazon credit, caulk):

Utilities (phone/internet):

Dining out (take-out pizza):

Health & Fitness (haircut Liesbet):

Customs & Immigration (photos):

Computer (phone battery):

Alcohol:

 

TOTAL:

 

$773

$266

$205

$87

$56

$51

$35

$26

$26

$16

$14

$13

———

$ 1,568

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.

Monthly Expenses – May 2021

June 9, 2021 / / 47 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.

The entire month of May, Mark, Maya, and I lived in our “room above the garage” in Newburyport, Massachusetts. We helped out my in-laws, worked, and researched pick-up trucks. It’s been a huge battle finding the right set-up for our next adventure in this post-pandemic, elusive, and inflated Super Duty truck market. One day, I hope to share our experiences about that in a blog post. So far, unfortunately, there is no end in sight.

Spoiled dog!
Maya loves squeezing in tight spaces – a camper would be the perfect home for her!

May 2021 was another expensive month for us, mainly because we bought two plane tickets to Belgium, for the end of June. That being said, we have no conclusion yet if Mark gets to go, based on European travel restrictions being lifted. What’s a bit more stress… I should be okay with my Belgian passport. Fingers crossed! As prices for flights keep rising, we didn’t want to risk waiting too long to book the tickets. They are exchangeable for vouchers in case we/he can’t go, something we confirmed before paying money. If all goes well, our friends Duwan and Greg will watch Maya for two weeks.

Beach walk on Plum Island
Maya in the dunes
A man and his dog

Our grocery expenses are still high. We blame it on New England being more expensive than the American Southwest, let alone Mexico. We are careful, but each time we pass a Trader Joe’s (which isn’t often), we have to buy a few of our favorite specialties. And, when we visit friends, we can’t show up empty-handed of course. Or maybe the number remains high because we are eating too much?

Friends in our Uxbridge guest room
Mark and his buddies Ryan and Chris
Holly and Liesbet
Take-out dinner with friends
Playing Jenga with friends

We are fortunate to have the use of Mark’s parents’ car to run errands and look at (rusty) pick-up trucks and truck campers in the area. “The area” stretches throughout Massachusetts, to Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Most of our fuel goes to these widespread, time consuming pursuits. We are drinking alcohol again after a multiple-month hiatus. We also shipped a spare part we kept for Zesty to a friend in Arizona, now that we sold our camper van, and tentatively paid for a camper insurance policy (more about that later, if it sticks).

Visiting family in Connecticut on a detour from a truck “inspection”

The only other “high” expense was for a vet visit, in nearby Salisbury. Mark and I took Maya to another vet, in Newburyport, a couple of years ago and weren’t too happy with the inflated prices. So, we tried a different one for a check-up and small procedure, figuring it couldn’t be any worse. The vet and staff were friendly and professional; the doctor said everything was fine. Maya was healthy, the liquid that needed to be expressed was surprisingly clear, and there were no infections.

Maya’s favorite spot in the house these last months: under my desk
Maya getting comfy at my feet
And, where do my feet go?

As we were ready to leave his office and pay our bill, he asked his assistant to grab a container of probiotics and another with antibiotics. Mark and I were confused. “Does she have an infection, or not?” my husband asked. “Yes,” the vet answered. What do you do when a doctor recommends medication, but you don’t quite believe your pet needs it?

We moved to the check-in counter to pay, as the nurse approached with the container of probiotics. “How much does that cost?” Mark inquired. “85 dollars.” What? We declined. We’d feed her a couple of spoons of yogurt each day, if needed, or look for probiotics online. Could we decline the antibiotics as well? This was a toughie. We let that one go ($40 for a generic brand) and for the next two weeks, we fed our dog drugs we didn’t think she needed.

Again, we were disgusted by how vet clinics upsell their products and try to make money. It’s all about money, especially in this part of the world, we once again concluded. Capitalism. It’s been confronting us every step of the way this year. We’ll look for yet another vet next time.

May 2021 Overview:

Travel (plane tickets):

Groceries:

Car (fuel: $182; camper ins.: $147; parking: $7; REFUND: $69):

Dog (vet: $143; food: $34):

Alcohol:

Dining out (take-out, ice cream treat):

Utilities (phone/internet):

Postage:

Medical (co-pay meds):

 

TOTAL:

 

$1,175

$408

$267

$177

$56

$55

$35

$17

$7

———

$ 2,197

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.

Monthly Expenses – April 2021 (& Another Cross-Country Road Trip)

May 19, 2021 / / 64 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 and I sold Zesty last month! If you missed that post, read it here.

Apologies for the late expense report, but I wanted to update everyone about the sale of our camper van first, as it impacts everything we do. We are homeless and carless since April 3rd and rented a vehicle to drive back to Massachusetts, a trip that cost us about $1,000.

Once we removed the bike bag, our ride was smoother.

On hindsight, we should have driven Zesty. It would have saved us a bunch of money and interest was strong enough for a potential buyer to pick the van up on the opposite coast. Also, knowing what we know now – that finding a suitable truck is close to impossible unless we are okay spending $10K more than pre-inflation rates two months ago – we might have held on to our home on wheels a bit longer. Oh well.

April was a decent month, taking the pricey road trip – car rental, four dog-friendly Motel 6 nights, and gasoline to drive over 3,000 miles –  into account. We mostly prepared our own meals, even though this was tricky with the early starts, windy conditions, and not having our own kitchen anymore. It made our days on the road even longer.

Early starts

The grocery category is quite high, because we pretty much ate everything in the camper before we sold it and had to re-provision from scratch once we arrived in Newburyport, MA. We contributed some money to the water fund of our friends in Arizona and ordered dog food and vitamins ahead of our arrival.

The food prep and storage zone in our current room

The car expense was off-set because we received a refund for part of our cancelled camper insurance. Also, $288 for a one-way, one-week rental with unlimited miles is cheap. I commend Mark once more for his research abilities and always finding the best prices for anything we need. We purposefully left gear in Zesty for the new owners, so the camper was turnkey. This means we have to buy those items again, now (like a new router) and later (solar panels, outdoor mat, leveling blocks, …).

Driving by Oklahoma City – I do wish to visit, one day, when we have time.
Scene in the Midwest

I mentioned last week that I would touch on our five-day cross-country drive in this expense report. There really is not much to share: it was a hellish 3,200-mile ride of 10-12 hours in the car, each day. Stops were made to let Maya pee, eat lunch, get fuel, adjust the flimsy bike rack, shop for food, fetch or prepare dinner, work, and sleep.

Me, catching up on work at night

Plus, we made a detour to Arkansas to check out two truck campers. I didn’t have enough space in the passenger seat to work on my computer, so I mostly vegged, listened to music, and consulted my iPad.

Northstar Liberty truck camper
Northstar Liberty SS truck camper

Here are a few notes I took:

  • We should have stuck with the full-size car. What were we thinking to downgrade and pay extra when booking our transport method for the week?
  • All our belongings fit! Barely… But, we didn’t have to leave anything behind, except four rolls of toilet paper. Did you know small, 4-packs are not readily available anymore after the Covid outbreak? We had to buy a 12-pack in Zesty. Where to store all that?
  • Our sturdy swing-out bike rack had to be disassembled. It didn’t fit in the trunk, but we managed to lay it behind the seats on the ground. Not much else fit in those foot wells.
  • Maya needed half of the back seat. All okay. We made it comfy with blankets, pillows, and her dog bed.
Maya in her little nest
Maya was awesome on this long ride!
  • The new bike rack attached to the trunk is crappy — we bought one for three bikes and luckily our electric bikes fit after lots of trial and error. Alas, it needs to be adjusted every time we stop as the straps keep loosening up.
  • This Nissan has no power. (Another reason why a full-size car would have been a better option – a stronger engine.)
  • First day: over 3,000rpm constantly. Struggled to keep up the maximum highway speed. After removing the bike bag, things settled down and the ride was smoother. Then, we had to also store the big bag.
  • The fuel tank only holds 10 gallons, so we have to stop at a gas station two or three times a day! (Another reason why a full-size car would have been a better option – a bigger gas tank.)
  • We are so low by the ground. Every car that passes us is higher!

Most people need a U-Haul truck to transport their belongings!

  • Uncomfortable seats.
  • Where is the car parked on the lot of the supermarket? Hard to find! It’s a non-distinct white rental car…
  • We put the bike bag back at night, so nobody could see the bikes. Luckily, we managed to park in front of our motel doors.
  • We stay at Motel 6. Nothing fancy and often run down, but the cheapest place to stay with pets (no extra fee). Prices per night ranged from $45 (Tucumcari, NM) to $65 (Calvert City, KY).
Mark searching for pick-up trucks at night
One motel had hiking trails nearby – score!
Another night, another motel, more research.
  • No shampoo provided in motels? Ours is packed in the trunk, underneath the rack and bikes. No way of getting in there. We make due, washing our hair with soap (Mark) or dish soap (me). If you read Plunge, you know I have practice with that. 🙂 Just like we made due when needing our sheets hidden in there, staying at a friend’s casita for the night.
  • Windy in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma. Hard to make breakfast and lunch! We miss Zesty for that. And for human potty breaks.

A nice picnic area to eat lunch

  • The picnic areas in Oklahoma were filthy! No trash cans, so garbage everywhere. No toilets either. Broken glass. No spot for Maya to rest without getting hurt. We couldn’t stay for lunch.
  • The radio has issues.
  • The glove compartment door is open on the sides so things get pinched (like my sunglasses) or plainly fall out, each time I open the little door.
  • The fuel gauge didn’t work at the end, so we filled the tank instead of aiming for the amount we received the car with.
  • Because I couldn’t be added to our car rental agreement without paying a steep fee, Mark drove the entire 3,200 miles!

Arizona license plate in Massachusetts – not a common sight. Where is the desert?

But, we made it to Newburyport, Massachusetts, in one piece. The bikes did get scuffed up, however.

Most of our belongings, back in the room above the garage
First evening with Mark’s parents – they are happy we have returned.
The “office” and lounge area in our current digs
The “bedroom” and dining area” in our room – one person sits on the bed, the other on a foldable chair
I’m sure Maya misses sleeping with us on big hotel beds!

Stay tuned for the continuation of our truck search saga!

April 2021 Overview:

Groceries:

Travel (rental car):

Car (fuel: $377; tolls: $40; REFUND: $138):

Accommodation (motels):

Household (bike rack, battery parts):

Computer (new router):

Utilities (internet: $35; water: $25):

Health & Fitness (vitamins):

Dining out (road trip):

Dog (food):

Medical (co-pay meds):

Alcohol:

 

TOTAL:

 

$427

$288

$279

$217

$83

$61

$60

$49

$44

$38

$9

$6

———

$ 1,561

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.

I submitted this post to Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share #20 link-up.

Monthly Expenses – March 2021 (on the Baja Peninsula, Mexico)

April 12, 2021 / / 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.

Pretty much the entire month of March, Mark, Maya, and I lived and traveled in Zesty in Baja California, Mexico. In general, life is cheaper south of the border, with the big exception of fuel. That’s why these final numbers were a bit surprising to me; I thought we’d do better. But, there were some unusual additions to our normal spending habits.

Sunrise at Playa La Perla
Our favorite campsite along Bahia Concepcion: Playa La Escondida
Laundry facilities at our campground in Loreto
Laundry prices – $1.50 per load of washing and $1.50 per load of drying
The only facilities at this $10 a night campground of Rancho Mil, an hour south of the US border, were trash, pit toilets, and cold showers.

One of them was the annual city tax for our camper, which ironically is rarely ever in Newburyport and when it is, it just sits on the driveway unused. We splurged on a whale tour, which was seriously worth the money – but not so much the effort getting there… Our annual Chase Sapphire Reserve visa card fee is always due in March. While this seems high, we get much more than $150 back in credits, points, and other benefits during a year of usage. We also had a wonderful dinner out for Mark’s 50th birthday.

One of the many whales approaching our little boat

The utility category is higher than usual, because we kept our affordable and discontinued AT&T plan in the US  ($35/ month for unlimited data use) while also buying a Mexican equivalent from Telcel for our time in Baja. The same happened with our dog, Maya. We needed new dog food in Mexico, which wasn’t a good idea (more about that in an upcoming blog) and which resulted in ordering better food that awaited us upon our return across the border.

Eating out(side) with our camping friends Sandie and Karsten from Germany
Free camping south of Mulege
Camped for free near Mesquite Canyon

On the flipside, groceries were affordable. We only bought enough for a few days at a time and ate out frequently. Based on that, I did expect the dining out category to be higher, especially since it includes a fancy (very!) delayed birthday meal for me, joined by our friends Sandie and Karsten. On my actual birthday (and book launch), our bubble of friends only had snacks to hold us over because nobody felt like cooking.

Free camping near Posada Concepcion
Calm morning walk
The settlement of Posada Concepcion
Free camping north of Loreto
Beach and view towards Loreto
More chances to do my favorite walk along Bahia Concepcion

While it sure adds up, camping appeared cheaper than anticipated as well. Half of the nights in Baja, we paid for Zesty to be parked at an official campground ($10 a night) or on the beach ($7 – $10/night), where Mexican concessionaries would collect their fees. I did bargain when we stayed longer in one place along Bahia Concepcion and we intermittently camped for free in Mexico and always once back in the US.

Free camping between Bahia Concepcion and Loreto
View over the bay
Maya enjoys being outdoors
Parked overnight (for free) at Villa Jesus and Maria on our drive back north
Free camping south of San Felipe

To see how fellow nomads Duwan and Greg made out in March, click here.

March 2021 Overview:

Camper (diesel: $184; city tax: $77):

Groceries:

Camping:

Bank charge (visa card):

Dining out:

Entertainment (whale tour):

Utilities (internet: $61; water: $9; prop: $6; Skype: $5):

Dog (food: $61; vet: $4):

Gifts (B-day dinner Mark):

Household:

Alcohol:

Clothing (flip flops):

Laundry:

 

TOTAL:

 

$261

$189

$162

$150

$97

$94

$81

$65

$50

$25

$8

$6

$6

———

$ 1,194

Compare this result to the one from last month – also in Baja California – here. 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.

Monthly Expenses – February 2021 (on the Baja Peninsula)

March 10, 2021 / / 29 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.

Approaching Bahia Concepcion

The entire month of February, Mark, Maya, and I lived and traveled in Zesty in Baja California, Mexico. In general, life is cheaper south of the border, with the big exception of fuel. Even though we drive a campervan – some might call it an RV – we get 23 miles to the gallon. This is awesome fuel economy, especially compared to the 16mpg in our truck camper, fifteen  years ago, and to most other campers. Back in Arizona, diesel was cheap ($2.20/gallon), which meant we spent about $1 for every ten miles we drove. Here in Mexico, we pay double that ($4.50/gallon)!

Fuel station in Loreto
Out of fuel!

Another bigger-than-normal expense was the gift category. Mark had a special birthday on March 1st, but his main “present” was bought in February. More about that later. We also bought tourist cards upon entering the country.

Our camping/accommodation category is usually zero. In Mexico, we decided to take things a bit easier and more comfortable while at the same time supporting local businesses that are hit hard due to the pandemic. For the same reasons, we savored plenty of take-out and outdoor meals. We love street tacos, especially the fish ones!

Our favorite taco restaurant (so far) in Mulege
Street tacos on a bench in Mulege

The utilities category is also higher than other months, because we are paying for two data plans: the one from the US (which we are not using at all right now) and our Amigo plan (8GB for $25)  in Mexico, which comes in handy around towns. Staying at official campgrounds has allowed us to be frustrated with take advantage of intermittent WiFi. We are filling our fresh water tank up with agua purificada from water-dispensing stores, so we can keep drinking it instead of buying and refilling 5-gallon jugs. Doing the dishes and showering with “pure” water does feel a tad luxurious!

Camped at a rocky beach in Baja California “Norte” – Papa Fernandez
Lush campground in San Ignacio
Sunrise along Bahia Concepcion
Lush campground – Huerta Don Chano – in Mulege

February was a month of few expense categories and enjoying a quiet, basic lifestyle. This is reflected in our less-than-average total, despite the extra money for certain conveniences. I am a bit behind with my blog posts and – certainly – with my blog reading and commenting, but I happily blame the lack of internet for that, which has been blissful! 🙂

Laundry day in Mulege
This campground only has a (cold) washing machine, no dryer.

To see how our friends Duwan and Greg made out in February, click here.

February 2021 Overview:

Gifts (birthday Mark):

Camper (Mexican ins.: $143; diesel: $114; maint.: $17):

Groceries:

Camping:

Dining out:

Utilities (internet: $67; water: $11):

Customs & Immigration:

Alcohol:

Laundry:

 

TOTAL:

 

$277

$272

$196

$172

$86

$78

$61

$20

$5

———

$ 1,167

Sunrise over the Sea of Cortez

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.

Monthly Expenses – January 2021 & The Mexican Dentist

February 10, 2021 / / 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.

A new expense year has started and I can hardly believe the first month of that year is already long gone. Before I resume “normal programming” on Roaming About next Wednesday – about things other than Plunge and money updates, like… our travels – I will report on our first numbers of 2021.

Late afternoon at American Girl Mine Road, Imperial, CA

In January, Mark, Maya, and I lived full-time in our camper van Zesty, predominantly in the desert of southeastern California, where we celebrated New Year’s Eve with our friends from Ballena Blanca and The Scamper Squad and remained in their company a bit longer.

Celebrating New Years with friends
Mark and I make our signature margaritas over the holidays. (Photo courtesy of Duwan Dunn)
Greg made “van pizza” (in a pan) for everyone during our New Year celebrations.
Greg and Mark play backgammon over the holidays. (Photo courtesy of Duwan Dunn)
Maya in the irrigation canals near Five Palms Oasis – a good way to rinse off the dirt and sand!

We had some big health and camper expenses. The first one was planned and the main reason we based ourselves in the area of Imperial, CA, for a couple of weeks: I needed to get a root canal done and decided to take care of this process in Los Algodones, Mexico, where, at US$630, the cost is three times less than my quote in Massachusetts.

Sunset at American Girl dispersed camping, California, where we stayed for two weeks. (Photo courtesy of Duwan Dunn)
Desert moon
An amazing evening shot of Zesty under the stars, taken by our friends Duwan Dunn

Buying parts to build a new Lithium battery bank ourselves involved a huge cost as well, but still only ¼ of the price than if we were to buy the same amount of “power” readily outfitted (which we wouldn’t do). This is a project Mark will tackle in spring and that only became feasible because of our second stimulus checks of $600 a person. We dedicated this $1,200 of “extra money” to the dentist and the camper. Since we upgraded our tires in September, we finally bought a bigger spare tire (used) before crossing into Mexico as well.

Unfortunately, 2021 didn’t start great for me. I suffered from flu symptoms the first week of the year, despite receiving a flu shot in the fall (to avoid potentially burdening the health care system with a flu, when resources would be needed for Covid). Not only did this make me sick while I continued to work on promotion efforts for Plunge, it also involved getting a $75 Covid test done. Usually, I would just stick it out at home. But these are unusual times and we had been camping with our bubble of friends for a while – all of whom had dentist appointments – so answers were needed.

Line of cars waiting for Covid tests in Yuma, AZ

So, Zesty cued in line for two hours at a testing facility in Yuma, AZ (where we also did our shopping, as it was the closest town to our campsite, with cheaper prices than California) to order the “rapid test.” Negative! But because I showed Covid symptoms, the clinic wanted to send a sample out for lab testing as well. No problem. Except… a second swap had to be collected. I gingerly offered the nurse my other nostril for this second attack on my brain, eyes tearing up from discomfort. A few days later, I received another negative result. Dentist time!

The horrific swap – they stick this device VERY deep into your nostril.

My appointments with the Bernal Dental Group couldn’t have gone better! My experience was similar to that of our camping friends Duwan, Greg, Ellen, and Scott. The office was quiet and Covid precautions were taken seriously with a shoe bath, body spraying, temperature check, and mandatory use of hand sanitizer and masks. The team was professional, friendly, and prolific in English. Usually, they start new patients off with a dental exam, teeth cleaning, and X-ray session for US$100, presenting an extensive “to do” list. Because I had specific demands and recently saw a dentist in the US, I managed to skip this process and cost.

My new dentist practice in Mexico
Greg being sprayed with disinfectant at Bernal Dental Group (Photo courtesy of Duwan Dunn)

Crossing the border is easy. On the US side, you can choose between parking your car for US$6 a day in a giant lot or for free along the entrance road, before the “no parking” signs start. This second option requires a ten-minute walk, which was our preferred method.

Then, you stroll across the border – no paperwork needed – and enter Los Algodones town. All the dentist offices are pretty much located within a five-minute walk from there. During the pandemic, the border closes at 2pm local (California) time. Bernal Dental Group, however, is on Arizona time, which is an hour later. You want to get back with plenty of time to spare, because the line to cross into the US can be long and seems the worst between noon and closing. A passport is required to return. Dogs don’t need anything for this particular border crossing.

Line to cross back into the US. Luckily, everyone wears a mask. Except when drinking a beer.

Mark and Maya (and once our friends) joined me into Mexico to explore, buy cheap medicines, or sit in the park. My first visit involved the root canal procedure, installing a post, filling the gap, and making an impression for the crown. This took about two hours. During my second visit two days later, Dr. Aldo ground the ceramic crown to perfection and glued it into my mouth. Half an hour later, I was good to go. An hour later, I was ready for fish tacos at the town square. I was never in pain and am very pleased with the result. Recommended!

Our favorite taco stand in Los Algodones! She serves up delicious fish tacos. (Photo courtesy of Duwan Dunn)
Eating delicious fish tacos at the town square in Los Algodones (Photo courtesy of Duwan Dunn)
Picking out a pastry at the panaderia in Los Algodones (Photo courtesy of Duwan Dunn)

We camped for free all of January, I didn’t spend a dime on my writing, and the alcohol category was low. Our friends offered to split the cost for my Covid test, but we refused. Stubbornly, they contributed tequila and rum! The rest of our monthly expenses was pretty normal. We needed to fill our propane tank, inconveniently right after settling in the middle of nowhere for a welcome break from running errands, and our grocery bill still seems high. But, if you take the two giant expenses out, our total was well below average at under $800.

Our friend Scott from Scamper Squad teaches Mark some guitar basics
Mittry Lake after heavy rains
Evening shadows at American Girl Mine Road ‘s dispersed camping
Our boondocking site at Five Palms, CA for a week

To see how our friends Duwan and Greg made out in January, click here. Their month looked pretty similar to ours. 🙂

January 2021 Overview:

Medical (dentist L: $630; Covid test L: $75; Albuterol M: $7):

Camper (battery: $504; diesel: $49; tire: $35; car wash: $10):

Groceries:

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

Health & Fitness (vitamins M):

Dog (food):

Laundry:

Alcohol

Dining out:

Gifts (B-day card niece):

Household (toilet brush):

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$712

$613

$420

$54

$54

$39

$25

$24

$18

$5

$1

$0

———

$ 1,965

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.

Annual Expense Report 2020

January 27, 2021 / / 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” is my motto. 🙂

Our first yearly expense report (2016) can be found here, the report of 2017 is here, the one for 2018 here, and our 2019 expenses are located here.

These reports include ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and a 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. The utility cost refers to phone data plans with AT&T.

In 2020, Mark, Maya, and I lived in our campervan Zesty for six months and in the “room above the garage” the other six months.  We spent about $1,000 less than the previous year. The fact that we sat still for so long during “the summer of Covid” certainly has something to do with this.

Free camping in New Hampshire
Hiking in the White Mountains, NH
Waterfall in the White Mountains, NH

We went on a couple of multiple-week trips in our van during that period, but used less diesel and replaced less parts than in 2019. On the other hand, we needed to buy a few household items to survive – read: cook – in our guest room in Newburyport, MA.

The room above the garage
Our cooking station

The grocery category was relatively high, probably because we pretty much cooked all our meals at home once the pandemic arrived. Our average grocery cost in 2020 was $357 a month.

Falafels in homemade pita bread, served with eggplant, aioli, hummus, tomato, and lettuce
Homemade lobster rolls and French fries
Pad Thai with chicken

Usually, I split the bigger categories up in the table underneath, but WordPress is causing me trouble, so I’ll itemize #2 and #3 here. The camper category is divided among maintenance: $1,511; insurance: $1,118; diesel: $1,110; registration: $136; parking: $14; and tolls: $4.

New tires!
Checking the tire pressure
Mark fixes a few blemishes on Zesty

Writing was a new category last year, and a big one at that. The total sum for publishing my travel memoir Plunge accounts for my editor: $2,024; book cover:$175; ISBN numbers: $295; proof copies: $72; license: $35; software Quicken: $25; font: $15; and postage: $13. I still have a long way recuperating that $2,654 in sales!

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

Alcohol and gifts are pretty much in line with last year. The dog category is lower, thanks to Maya needing less drugs for her allergies. The utility category is higher, because AT&T raised their (unavailable now) monthly unlimited data plan from $25 to $35. None of the other categories stand out, except camping. In 2019, we managed to camp for free the entire year. Last January, we paid for a one-week stay at a developed National Forest campground in Florida for me (and Maya), while Mark flew back to Massachusetts.

Developed NF campground in Ocean Pond, Florida
Sunset over Ocean Pond, Florida

Because of Covid, our credit card company, Chase, allowed customers to use their points at 1.5x their value for groceries (usually this rate is only valid when buying plane tickets with points). We greatly took advantage of that, since we couldn’t fly back to Belgium and… 1/3 of our groceries for “free?” We also received some credit ($310) for owning a Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Why do I mention this?  Because all these points (and credits) amounted to $3,084! So, technically, we spent that much less in 2020, which brings our total expenses for last year to $12,052 instead of $15,136.

Our favorite campsite in Arkansas
Sunrise at Big Fir Public Use Area, Arkansas
Free camping near Ajo in the Arizona desert
Sunset in the Arizona desert

2020 Overview:

Groceries:

Camper:

Writing:

Dog (vet/meds: $385; food: $242; supplies: $209):

Gifts:

Alcohol:

Utilities (cell data: $455; propane: $40; dump: $13; Skype: $5):

Household (oven MA, stove MA, speaker):

Health and Fitness (vitamins & haircuts):

Clothing (shoes, shorts, socks):

Drinking out:

Dining Out:

Entertainment (guided tours):

Computer (web hosting):

Camping:

Transportation (shuttle buses BOS):

Medical (drugs):

Laundry:

Postage:

Miscellaneous:

 

TOTAL:

 

$4,278

$3,893

$2,654

$836

$730

$714

$513

$253

$242

$235

$231

$217

$67

$64

$61

$48

$47

$33

$17

$3

———

$ 15,136

(Table might not load correctly on tablets – try turning the screen for better results.)

Maya at Ocean Pond, Florida

Do you keep track of your expenses? How did your budgeting go in 2020? Any categories you’d like to do better with in 2021?

Monthly Expenses – December 2020

January 12, 2021 / / 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.

Mark, Maya, and I spent most of December on the road in Arizona and the last few days in California (warmer weather). We changed campsites every few days in our camper van Zesty. Our expenses were above average, because of the holidays. ‘t Was the season to buy gifts – for family members (my coveted annual calendars with a photo of our household in a different location on every page) and a few friends. We also bought special food and extra alcohol (for margaritas) for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, hence the higher numbers in the grocery and alcohol categories.

(Click on photos to enlarge or hover over them to read the captions.)

Homemade vegetarian spring rolls
New Year’s Eve buffet – Asian spring rolls, sushi, and curry
For New Years, we attempted to find warmer weather at a lower elevation, across the border with California. Some of you might remember us camping at this lovely spot in the California desert a couple of years ago…
A campfire is needed to get the chill out of the air at night.
Happy 2021! We started celebrating early and went to bed early…
Apple pie is served with our mimosas!
Homemade van pizza, cooked and provided by Greg and Duwan, as our NYE dinner.
Mark and I make our signature margaritas on NYE. (Photo courtesy Duwan Dunn)
Backgammon game at Five Palms Oasis. (Photo courtesy Duwan Dunn)
Having live music in our backyard is always special! (Photo courtesy Duwan Dunn)

I just realized there is no dog category. We must have bought an extra bag of food for Maya in November. Also, her treats go under our groceries. Hmmm. Maybe that’s why that category was so high…

Maya feels at home in our friends’ campers!

We had help from a mechanic changing Zesty’s transmission fluid in Tucson and had a scare in Bisbee, when there was no way around low-hanging tree branches leaving  the tight town. We hoped they would be “soft” limbs. The screeching sound of wood against metal made our hearts – and later our van – stop. Luckily, Mark managed to buff the new scratches out of the acrylic window and the top side panel.

Buffing out the scratches at a mine viewpoint in Bisbee, with a railing of the perfect height to stand on and work

We splurged on entertainment, a category that’s usually non-existent. Traveling with friends encourages us to have fun once in a while. We visited the Titan Missile Museum in Tucson with Duwan and Greg and the two of us signed up for the Queen Mine Tour in Bisbee. Our bubble of six friends also took a daytrip to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument over the holidays. Giving Duwan and Greg a ride allowed us to enter for free because their National Park pass includes four adults. I’ll report on that excursion – and others – in a future blog post.

Titan Missile Museum, Tucson
Decommissioned Titan missile
Entering the Queen Mine in Bisbee
Greg and Duwan showing Maya their new bird identification book on the way to Organ Pipe Cactus NM

I’m happy to report that my writing expenses are dwindling.  I shipped a few books to sailing magazines in the hopes of seeing their review of Plunge in print one day. The proof copy I ordered from IngramSpark was a disaster and I asked for a refund. Their customer support team should get back to me between three to five weeks! Oh well…

As usual, we boondocked (camping without amenities) on public lands and therefore didn’t spend any money on accommodation. Keep an eye out for our yearly expense report later this month!

We love seeing signs like these at Whitewater Draw, a nature reserve!
Snyder Hill, Tucson
Free camping in Madera Canyon
Free camping in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area
Colossal Mountain Park in Tucson
Our free campsite near Locomotive Rock over Christmas was my favorite in December.

December 2020 Overview:

Groceries:

Gifts:

Camper (diesel: $151, maintenance: $152):

Alcohol:

Entertainment (museum and tour):

Utilities (phone: $35):

Drinking out:

Writing (postage; $13; proof copy: $12):

Laundry:

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$447

$441

$303

$149

$58

$35

$28

$25

$8

$0

———

$ 1,494

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.

Monthly Expenses – November 2020

December 8, 2020 / / 50 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.

In November, Mark, Maya, and I lived on the road, in our camper van Zesty, and drove from Alabama to Southern Arizona (Tucson), which is reflected in our diesel cost. As usual, we managed to dump and camp for free (boondock).  One of our favorite overnight sites of all times was the spot we found in Big Fur Public Use Area in Arkansas, early in the month. We stayed as long as our water and food supply lasted. (Hover over or click on photos to read captions.)

Sunrise!
Sunrise reflected in Zesty’s window
No more food in our fridge by the time we left!

No stipends or use of credit card miles this time, so what you see in the table underneath is what we spent. Mark fixed one of our car heaters, changed the oil, and replaced parts in the engine. To reward himself, he bought a better remote (Bluetooth) speaker. If you’ve read my travel memoir Plunge, you know how important crisp-sounding music is to my husband. 🙂

Spot at a pond in Hazen, Arkansas
Possum Kingdom, Texas
Free dump station and campground all in one in Lamesa, Texas
The desert near Las Cruces, New Mexico
Beautiful surroundings

The writing category is finally going down. I owed my cover artist $50 for the paperback cover (the eBook cover package a month ago was $125), we ordered two proofs of Plunge to check for issues and mistakes, and, to self-publish my book under a different name than my own (we chose Roaming About Press as our publishing company), I needed to purchase a business license in Massachusetts for the price of $35.

Camped with our bubble of friends
Dusk in the desert
We love saguaros
Twice, we built a campfire
Greg playing guitar

You can blame our special celebrations in the desert for the alcohol expense last month. Our bubble of nomadic friends includes two other couples, Duwan and Greg from Make Like An Ape Man and Ellen and Scott, who we hung out with for Thanksgiving, the release of Plunge, and my birthday, all of which took place the end of November. We made our own margaritas; a much better and tastier deal than the ones we bought in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Thanksgiving buffet in the desert
My Thanksgiving plate
Birthday girl in the flames (Photo courtesy Duwan Dunn)
Duwan made a chocolate-peanut butter cake in a pan – yum! (Photo courtesy Duwan Dunn)
Friends around the fire (Photo courtesy Duwan Dunn)

Not a bad expense month. Maybe we are finally back on track?

November 2020 Overview:

Camper (diesel: $150, maintenance: $229):

Groceries:

Writing (cover, proofs, license):

Household (speaker):

Alcohol:

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

Dog (food):

Drinking out:

Gifts:

Laundry:

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$379

$306

$111

$109

$61

$54

$32

$24

$15

$5

$0

———

$ 1,096

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.

Full moonrise in the desert

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