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)!
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!
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!
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! 🙂
To see how our friends Duwan and Greg made out in February, click here.
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.
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March 10, 2021 at 23:25
Enjoying a quiet, basic lifestyle. Sounds ideal to me! Thank you for sharing this.
March 11, 2021 at 12:11
Our quiet, basic lifestyle is pretty ideal right now, Donna. But all (good) things come to an end. Massachusetts and work await… Fortunately, after this current multiple-day internet and work stint in Loreto, we can return to the beach at least one more time for a few days. 🙂
March 11, 2021 at 06:59
Another sensible (impressive) report. I’m sure money spent on Mark’s birthday was well spent. 🙂
March 11, 2021 at 12:12
Hi Marian! As always, you are right: the money spent for Mark’s birthday was well worth it for a very, very rare break and treat. 🙂 You only turn 50 once!!
March 11, 2021 at 07:44
Sorry your Internet has been spotty. At least you have purified water.
March 11, 2021 at 12:13
It’s all about priorities. Alex! And I think you agree that drinking water is more important than internet. At least, it used to be that way. 🙂
March 11, 2021 at 10:09
Looks like you found some beautiful spots to enjoy some warm temps and lovely sunsets.
March 11, 2021 at 12:15
Baja has been treating us well with views, rest, and peace, Ingrid. Oh, and with food. 🙂 But you more than anyone will understand that there have been the usual camping challenges as well. One of which the incessant wind. Apparently this winter is the coldest and windiest here on the peninsula in 25 years… 🙁
March 11, 2021 at 10:24
I love a minimalist lifestyle–like yours. It is always on my mind how to reuse, recycle, and respect the land. We do our best but from a home. Great picture of Maya!
March 11, 2021 at 12:18
Hi Jacqui! So awesome of you to stick to this environmentally-friendly lifestyle from your home. I honestly miss it when we can’t recycle or reuse. But, in certain countries (and US states, believe it or not), we have to toss our recyclables into the trash can! One of the reasons we love California so much is that they care about the environment! Our only option, really, to do better, is to not buy/drink anything that comes in glass or cans… This has been relatively easy at the moment in Mexico. 🙂
March 11, 2021 at 14:34
I remember “way back when” people crossed the border to take advantage of cheaper Mexican fuel. I guess that’s no longer the case. I don’t know who your cell carrier is but we have T-Mobile that gives us Canada and Mexico, in addition to the US, for the same price. It’s worked out well for us in our travels. I’m looking forward to reading more about Mark’s B-Day present :).
March 12, 2021 at 13:12
Hi Janis! We have AT&T in the US, but only pay $35 a month there for unlimited data. The T-Mobile plan you own and talk about is what our friends Duwan and Greg have and costs more than this $35 in the States and maybe even more than our US plan and Mexican option ($25 a month) combined? Anyway, maybe something to consider in the future but for the two months we are here, it didn’t make sense changing anything and sticking ot the $60 a month. 🙂
March 12, 2021 at 14:03
I have so enjoyed following along on social media as you have been in Baja. Totally agree with the lack of internet which was a vacation unto itself. A big Happy Birthday to Mark!
March 12, 2021 at 18:23
Thank you so much, Sue! The good thing about being back in Massachusetts in a few weeks is that I can spend more time reading and commenting to blogs again. 🙂
March 14, 2021 at 13:54
Very interesting. Especially the part about Massachusetts healthcare being a part of your plan. My wife is a Massachusetts resident, but she earns nothing as I support her with my savings. Can she be eligible if she has no income?
March 14, 2021 at 16:39
I think that depends on how you file your taxes. We file jointly. But it might be more complicated than that. I really don’t know how it would work for others; some research might provide the answer. 🙂
March 15, 2021 at 16:04
So I started to make a comment here but I think we were driving and I never finished it. Hate trying to do stuff on the go. Anyways….I remember that drive down to Bahia Concepcion and how you can see the bay as the road curves around. Love it!
I hope Mark had a great birthday. I really wanted to be there for it!
I’m always impressed on how you manage to spend extra money on things but still spend less than we do on an average month.
Miss you guys. Wish we were there. Wish you were here (The Everglades).
March 15, 2021 at 18:12
Hi there!
I’ve been in the same boat regarding comments… I have lost plenty of them as well, commenting while driving and then losing the internet connection.
Bahia Concepcion has been really nice. The biggest issues have been the crazy amounts of wind this winter and the lack of internet. But this last one can be bliss as well. 🙂
I can’t believe you two are now in The Everglades. But I’m sure you are warmer than us!! You are covering loads of miles… Our turn will come in a couple of weeks. Enjoy the alligator and bird life.
March 18, 2021 at 16:46
It sounds like a great month, regardless of the costs! Here’s hoping the internet becomes more accessible for you. (Or was that in the “advantage” column…?) 😉
March 20, 2021 at 18:12
Good point about the internet, Diane. When it is a conscious decision to leave the internet world, it’s in the “advantage” column. When one expects to get online and can’t or only frustratingly in a hit or miss fashion, it’s in the other one. 🙂 So far, we’ve experienced a bit of both. But soon, we will be back in the US with all the internet (and work) we could possibly want. Or, not want!
March 20, 2021 at 15:29
Before I retired, I used to make a point of going somewhere where there was no internet coverage when I was on holiday. It was really the only way that I could escape from work. I also used to notify my colleagues that I would be out of internet range from [date] to [date]. Perhaps the hardest part was psychological — accepting that I would miss out on some things (and therefore have to deal with a huge pile of stuff on my return), and also sticking to my commitment to not check email whenever we happened to pass through a place with connectivity.
Jude
March 20, 2021 at 18:19
Jude, I think the only way a real break could work is like how you did it when you were still working your demanding job. I don’t know how you NOT check emails when there is WiFi around…
I have now experienced to be utterly without internet for a few days. And, you’re right about the psychological effect. The first day, it is difficult to relax and not “worry” about what you might be missing out on or what needs urgent attention and is now not happening. But, from the second day on, you truly enjoy not having the internet burden on you. The biggest advantage for me is that I finally, finally, finally could read books again, without the “pressure” of reading blogs and commenting every evening!
March 21, 2021 at 18:20
I am always curious and inspired by your frugal budget and I appreciate your candid sharing of your life, Liesbet. Breathtaking views approaching Bahia Concepcion. I have read teasers about Mark’s birthday and I look forward to reading more. Interesting and true how pure water is luxurious. I think about this every day. I get it on “…enjoying a quiet, basic lifestyle.” Often, a goal for me. Safe travels, Liesbet! 🙂
March 22, 2021 at 00:48
Hi Erica! You wouldn’t believe this, but we have been back in our favorite town here (Mulege) and the water has been shut off for almost a week. So, everyone living here – expats and locals – including the campground, has been without running water for that long. It’s crazy. Luckily, we managed to fill up our tank with purified water again, the day before yesterday. The reason of this nuisance? The water company can’t pay their electrical bill. This has been going on for years… I’m a tad behind with my blogs, but will get cranking soon. 🙂
March 22, 2021 at 10:49
Hi Liesbet, I just now googled videos and photos of Mulege and where it is situated. Gorgeous! Darn about the water. And drinking water is a necessity. Deceiving about an idyllic setting. Always, pros and cons. 🙂
March 23, 2021 at 00:59
Hi Erica! Thanks for checking it out… I went back to a post Sue and Dave (Travel Tales of Life) wrote about Mulege as well. I will link to their experiences when I blog about Mulege and Loreto. I spent an entire day recently coming up with an outline and a plan (yes, me!) for upcoming blogs. No dates yet, but themes and topics and photo selections… It will be fun, whenever I have time and unlimited internet again. 🙂
March 22, 2021 at 00:16
Liesbet, your monthly bill updates often lead to discussions for us around the theme of “how much did we spend last month?” If they make out on that amount, then why….?? Hahaha. But such budget mindfulness would quickly get us to eliminate Ben’s over priced cappuccinos and even though he makes them at home too, being a French guy you can appreciate how much he values the cafe culture. So I don’t see those changes happening anytime soon…
Interesting that you not that the price of gas is higher in Mexico. Ben has always had the opposite experience which is more that of “how cheap gas is in the U.S.” It’s true that gas is high in Mexico compared with the overall cost of living, yet, the gas price seems to be in line with global prices.
We look forward to making it to Baja one day…
Peta & Ben
March 22, 2021 at 00:53
No cappuccinos in our lives, Peta. That would surely ruin the budget! But, we have been splurging a bit more here in Mexico, since it’s affordable. Speaking of which, I bought an expensive pre-packaged ice cream (28 pesos) today: the first one in almost six months. 🙂
We are still swallowing hard when we put diesel in our tank at twice the price of the US. I guess we have gotten used to those cheap prices there, for good or for bad…
Baja is a special place – it’s rough and sweet at the same time! Hard to explain why we feel so drawn to it now. That mix of desert and sea? The friendliness of the people? The laidback vibes in the towns? Mmmm…