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 October, Mark, Maya, and I lived in our room above the garage for the first two weeks and back on the road, in our camper van Zesty, the rest of the month. The expense report is a tad messy, because of stipends and reimbursements of Mark’s employer, the US Census. These are incorporated in our expenses (*), which is the reason why the dining out category shows $0 (Mark received a stipend of $70 a day while “on location” for ten days in September; he didn’t need it all, so we’re still using some of that money now) and why the camper category is lower than it should be (Mark received a per mile reimbursement that was more generous than what his fuel cost during his two-month Census job). I did not attribute the $60 we used in credit card points (instead of cash). Confused yet?
As you can see, I’m still spending a lot of money on my writing career. I owed my copy-editor another $528, we bought a pack of ISBN-numbers (these are exorbitantly-priced identification numbers) for current and future books (I needed three for Plunge – paperback, Kindle, ePub), I paid my cover artist for the eBook cover, and we needed to buy the title font of my memoir, so we could utilize it inside the book. One day, I should calculate how many books I actually have to sell to get all these investments back! 🙂 Camping still remained free.
Groceries and alcohol are a bit high, which has to do with us visiting a few sets of friends in October. Same reason for the gift items. And then there is the clothes category. Here’s that story…
The three of us had just left in our camper, destination Annapolis, Maryland. A couple of hours north of town, we stopped to eat lunch in Zesty. We don’t usually wear our shoes inside, so Mark had left his outside. After our meal, he needed to call a friend. There was a lot of noise, because someone decided to drag race his dilapidated car in front of the gas station we were parked at. I shut the door to keep the ruckus out as Mark talked. Two hours later, we arrived at the home of our Annapolis friend. Before Mark got out of the car, he asked: “Where are my shoes?”
His go-to brand has been discontinued, so for the next ten days he researched and eventually bought another pair of shoes, slightly used. We had them shipped to the post office in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and, since they were not brand new, he obtained them for half price. After two weeks of only wearing flip flops in fall, he was delighted to own a pair of hiking shoes again!
To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the expense blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.
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November 11, 2020 at 21:09
We finally beat you! But, of course, if you take the book expenses out your monthly costs were low as always.
I hate it about Mark’s shoes. But the new/used ones look pretty good. I hope his feet are warmer now and the new pair will last a long time.
November 13, 2020 at 21:39
Yes you did beat us!!! I actually had no idea about our expenses (my mind was on other things) for October, until Mark went through them with me. Ouch! But, yes, without the fees for writing-related tasks, we were under $1,000, which isn’t bad considering other extra expenses we had. Those crazy investments in my career have now come to an end! 🙂
As you know – and you have shared on your blog – shoes are important. Thing is that one usually has an old pair to hold one over until the new ones show up, except in this particular case, where stupidity was king!
November 11, 2020 at 23:36
I believe that Plunge is an excellent investment. I look forward to reading it!
November 13, 2020 at 21:40
Soon, Donna. Very soon, actually! Unless you want to wait for the paperback (recommended), then you’ll have to wait another two weeks. 🙂
November 12, 2020 at 06:09
I hate when our go-to brands of favorite items are discontinued. Glad to know Mark’s feet are protected! No doubt you’ll be crunching the numbers to determine your profit. I know you! Be safe!
November 13, 2020 at 21:45
Haha, you do know me, Jill! Since my investment will have been close to $3,000 by the time I’m “done”, I’ll have to sell about 1,000 copies to get this money back!!! Now I understand why indie authors write series… to make all that work worthwhile.
November 12, 2020 at 06:54
Sorry you drove off without his shoes! At least you were able to get replacements.
My publisher just uses one ISBN for eBooks.
November 13, 2020 at 21:47
I hope the story got at least a smile out of you, Alex. It’s quite hilarious now, but I wished Mark could have replaced his old shoes with exactly the same ones. Oh well… We have to be flexible and adjust to every new situation. All the time!
Interesting about the same ISBN for different eBook formats. I do know that Amazon (and other companies) provide them for free if you go with them, but I wanted to keep control over my books and numbers as well.
November 12, 2020 at 10:47
Very modest expense report, even though it exceeds your usual. I put lots of money into my book, every penny a good investment over time.
I notice you are disappointed when go-to brands are discontinued. So am I.
Blessings on your PLUNGING ahead! ((( )))
November 13, 2020 at 21:50
Hi Marian!
I remember you put a lot of money in your book as well. Who would have thought that on top of all the effort, time, dedication, and commitment, we’d also have to invest financially in a book that WE wrote. I had no idea about all this when I picked up pen and paper initially!
Since Mark and I aren’t shoppers, being able to rely on products we know and that are “easy” to replace, usually makes all the difference. Oh well…
November 12, 2020 at 11:22
What a fun meal with your friends. I am so tired of COVID. I will be first in line for a vaccination. I couldn’t help but think about how you put all those plates and pans back into your tiny house!
Love that the dog was just part of the gathering. You’re the best.
November 13, 2020 at 21:58
Jacqui, we rarely get to hang out with family or friends, so those moments were nice, yet short-lived. We are extremely careful with masks and social distancing in general, especially with strangers. But, with certain friends, we know they take it all seriously and are careful too, so we have somewhat let our guards done in these two cases.
Maya is part of the family, just like our previous dogs, Kali and Darwin, were. If she can’t go somewhere, we often won’t go as well. And, our close friends and family know that. 🙂 Talk about a spoiled dog!!! The longest she’s ever been alone in one-and-a-half years is three hours.
November 12, 2020 at 13:57
Lost shoes, oh, no! I hate buying new shoes – it seems as though each pair is just different enough to need a long break-in period before they’re comfortable. Glad to hear your book is still progressing! Hang in there… 🙂
November 13, 2020 at 22:00
Guess what, Diane… My book is finished and ready for publication! Waiting for a proof to be sent somewhere in New Mexico – which is an entire disaster in itself, without us having a real address there. Just like with shoes, ordering anything online and somehow getting it to us is a major pain and a tad stressful at times. A downfall of living on the road. 🙂
November 12, 2020 at 15:55
Poor Mark! I hope someone else got use of the shoes so they weren’t totally wasted!
November 13, 2020 at 22:01
That’s what we were thinking, Anabel. We considered driving back, but two hours later, they might have been gone and then what?
November 14, 2020 at 03:59
Liesbet, I am always amazed at how savvy you and Mark are with your money. Your book has cost quite a bit of your budget, but I am sure it will be worth it. I am so looking to reading it and I hope I can get my hands on it very soon.
November 14, 2020 at 13:28
Hi Gilda! I’m hoping the coming months are more manageable, as the expenses for my writing are pretty much done. 🙂 You’ll be able to get your hands on Plunge the end of the month. Well, that’s when it will be available… The paperback will take a few extra days to ship!
November 16, 2020 at 21:32
I’d say you did pretty awesome! And I had to laugh about recouping our expenses. LOL. <3
November 20, 2020 at 09:35
Right!? I have heard miracle stories of authors recuperating their “investments,” though. I’m just a bit too deep into the hole (cost category) right now, because I “needed” to go all the way. I’ve learned a lot… and will make better decisions the second time around. 🙂
November 21, 2020 at 09:38
Lol you make me laugh. Almost 7 books for me and NOT out of the hole. But hey, I started reading your book last night and I’m hooked!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
November 21, 2020 at 09:57
Fantastic, Debby! Thanks for getting to my book so quickly. Enjoy the ride! 🙂 I started on your interview as well, yesterday. I guess we were connected!
November 22, 2020 at 09:38
Syncronocity my friend! 🙂 xx
November 22, 2020 at 22:37
🙂