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.
Apart from two days with friends in Vermont (picking up our camper), Mark, Maya, and I lived the entire month of August in Newburyport, MA, in our room above the garage at my in-laws. We had a busy month with work and prep of our new camper set-up (see this post for more project photos and this post about how we found our pick-up truck). Just like with Zesty, the camper category is often the highest expense, especially when first equipping our vehicle and living space. That’s also why the household amount is high.
Everything else is pretty much “average,” except for the renewal of my driver’s license, I bought the book of my colleague at the Yankee Homecoming event, and dining out. We did our best to keep last month’s expenses reasonable (other than camper necessities), but then decided to treat good friends for lunch. Who would have guessed a simple Mexican meal (burritos and tacos) costs over $100 for four people? Newburyport is super expensive – another reason to leave soon.
On the positive side, a few months ago we decided to obtain a new credit card to benefit from Chase’s generous offer: receive 80,000 points (which, when transferred to Mark’s account rewarding us 1.5 times the points, means a value of $1,200) if you spend $4,000 the first three months. We had trouble getting there at first (in Belgium multiple places didn’t accept Visa), but once we found our truck and bought car insurance, we were all set! During the summer, the extra points (money) could be used towards groceries, hardware, and dining out as well. so, of the $1,200 we received, $434 went to last month’s expenses, so theoretically, we spent $1,093 instead of $1,527. 🙂
If anybody is interested in checking out this offer, which – believe it or not – they have since upped to 100,000 points (a value of $1,000 at 1X the points) – this is my Chase referral code: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/6c/PR3FJUQ8CP.
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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September 8, 2021 at 20:02
Yes, dining out in Newburyport is expensive! I hope the food was good. I’m sure the company was.
Mark is putting so much work into the camper. I’m always impressed at how he cares for your rigs. Very detailed. I think about you all when I’m cleaning the van’s seats – Zesty’s seats would have never got this dirty.
I hope Maya had a good time with her dog friends.
September 8, 2021 at 21:02
Hi Duwan!
I am missing your posts, especially the expense ones! I hope you are doing alright.
The Mexican food was really tasty and the service excellent, but we are ready for the real Mexico! Including price tags in pesos. 🙂
Mark has been working full-time on the camper – either researching parts, dealing with packages that were messed up or delayed, or actually improving systems. I’ve been helping whenever and wherever possible. Not enough hours in the day. Ever!!!
Our biggest task now is to figure out how to transport our e-bikes, as we can’t do the swing-out rack anymore… It’s been an exhausting day, lifting the heavy bikes up, taking them down, adjusting hooks on the ladder 100 times, figuring out how to protect them from bouncing and chafing.
Maya has been really good with other dogs, but Dixie is a grumpy lady, who growls a lot at Maya, especially when there are toys around.
September 8, 2021 at 20:20
I love the look of this camper–and that powerful black truck! I wonder if I could live permanently in something that small. Maybe…
September 8, 2021 at 21:03
I hope you’ll be able to visit the camper in person one day, Jacqui, and then you’ll be able to tell. 🙂 I will post photos and maybe even a video of the interior one day. It is bigger than you think.
September 8, 2021 at 20:47
Liesbet, first off your new camper looks fabulous! Good that Maya has taken to it so well already. Now that it’s equipped that’s just a one time expense of course, so other than maintenance assuming that category of expenses obviously reduces.
Wow those were expensive tacos and burritos! I do hope they were good.
Thanks for the credit card information – we will look into it!
Peta
September 8, 2021 at 21:06
We do love the look of our truck camper, Peta. After all the work and improvements we are performing, I hope we will be able to live and travel in it for a few months, before the one we really want shows up… Imagine the meal you could eat in Mexico for $100. We once had an exquisite and fancy birthday meal for two in Baja – including (strong) alcoholic beverages – and it cost $50. A splurge.
September 8, 2021 at 20:58
Much luck breaking in your new ride and for all of your upcoming adventures. You’re probably feeling like a couple of kids on Christmas Eve in anticipation.
September 8, 2021 at 21:08
You are hitting the nail on the head, Pete. I am SOOOO looking forward to organizing all our belongings and food in this camper and hitting the road, but I have to be patient. We are still tying up loose ends and figuring out a few more things (like wiring for an inverter and charger, and transporting the bikes) before I can actually start making it our home.
September 9, 2021 at 03:03
That pickup looks both rugged and sexy. Now you are adding the necessities to get you on the road again. So exciting!
We too take advantage of “points” on credit cards, which we use for overnight stays (VISA) and air travel (American Express). I marvel how astute you two are with finances.
Again, an impressive report! 😀
September 9, 2021 at 09:55
Haha, our sexy pick-up.. I certainly hadn’t looked at it that way. We still need to come up with a “detachable” name for the truck and the camper. Right now, my brain can’t handle it, but once we are done with our projects, I hope to find “the one.” 🙂
Credit card points were new to me when I arrived in the US. We save heaps of money using them and the points. Because we do automatic payments and never owe any interest, it works out great. Good for you and Cliff to take advantage of them during your travels.
September 14, 2021 at 08:53
Sexy pick up. Ha. Love it. I wondered about the name(s) also. We all can’t wait to hear what you choose. Happy working at readying yourselves for the next adventure. xo
September 14, 2021 at 11:00
Thanks, Pam! We haven’t spent any time thinking about a name yet. First things first. Maybe the camper reveals its personality after we hit the road and the right name will come to us… It’s tricky, as the name needs to contain two parts that are separatable and replaceable…
September 9, 2021 at 20:37
Your new camper looks awesome!! I look forward to reading the adventures that you have with it!
September 14, 2021 at 10:51
I’m glad you like our new wheels, Donna. Soon, we will be able to check them out long-term and long distance. Welcome aboard! 🙂
September 12, 2021 at 05:58
That’s a great offer on the credit card, Liesbet. I’m always looking out for deals like that. Whenever I shop online , I always go through a site called Quidco (a cashback site) and get cashback on all my purchases. Over the years I’ve been doing this, I’ve had nearly £3,000 back in cashback.
Good to see the work in progress on the new vehicle. Won’t be long now before the next adventure starts?
September 14, 2021 at 10:54
Hi Hugh!
I had not heard of Quidco – must be British. Mark always checks to see if we can use our Chase credit card for big purchases, like plane tickets, which brings extra savings. Now that we are using all our points for living expenses, we have to pay for plane tickets again. It evens out. Luckily, we rarely fly.
The adventure – reclaiming out lifestyle on the road – starts this weekend. But, the big, epic adventure in South America will have to wait until traveling in that area is possible, safe, and recommended again…
September 13, 2021 at 00:59
Wow, that credit card gave you a nice little discount on your expenses! I wonder if there’s a Canadian counterpart?
I can tell you’re getting excited about hitting the road again! I’ll look forward to your new adventures. 🙂
September 14, 2021 at 10:57
Hi Diane!
Not sure if Canada has similar reward programs. I know Belgium doesn’t. There, you pay for a credit card and don’t get any benefits apart from being able to buy on credit.
We always pay off our balance quickly, so credit cards make no money on us. Yet, they come in handy to make money or save money ourselves. It’s all about the right mindset and approach. Last year, our points saved us about $3,000. That’s a big difference in a $16K budget.
How can you tell I’m excited to hit the road? Is it that obvious??? 🙂 Last preparations this week and we are outta here this weekend. Yay!!
September 13, 2021 at 22:02
It’s getting expensive everywhere. Definitely time to hit the road here too. The camper’s looking good on the truck. When are you hitting the road? xx
September 14, 2021 at 10:58
Hi Debby! Looking at this weekend to hit the road – if the last packages arrive on time and we can install everything without hiccups. I can’t wait to move in and roll on!! 🙂 I hope you get to have an escape soon as well.
September 15, 2021 at 10:05
Oh fabulous Liesbet! Looking forward to your new ventures. As for me, I’m still awaiting my UK BFF, another few weeks til she gets here, so by the time I get to UK, I think I’ll hang around for Christmas, come back and head off to Mexico end of January. Them there’s the plans, and I can’t wait! <3
September 16, 2021 at 14:27
Sounds like a good plan (and a relatively long-term one), Debby! I will be so excited, happy, and relieved when your BFF from the UK finally arrives!!!! Which also means their house is ready to be visited, probably. 🙂
September 17, 2021 at 08:38
You got it my friend! 🙂
September 22, 2021 at 14:15
Happy travels!!
September 15, 2021 at 17:22
The truck and camper look great, Liesbet. I can’t wait to see some photos once you’re on the road. I’m still not getting your posts, so I have to rely on my brain to pop over…uncool! Drive safe!
September 16, 2021 at 14:30
Jill, you have no idea how I have been craving to get back on the road, or, more importantly, get back to OUR lives. It’s been a long five months, not without the necessary stress and disasters. We honestly need a (long) break from Newburyport and its chaos. This weekend!!!
I’m so sorry you still don’t get my posts in your inbox. I tried to subscribe you, but got an error message (“There was an error when subscribing. Please try again.”) Probably because your email address is already signed up. If I think about it, I can tag you on my Facebook posts, so you at least know there is a new story up.
Have a wonderful weekend!!
September 16, 2021 at 18:05
I’m glad your long break is coming up, Liesbet! I know you and Mark are ready to get the show on the road.
Yeah, it’s strange about the subscription. Your replies to my comments come into my feed, just not the post. I have a couple other email addresses. I’ll see if I can subscribe with one of those instead of my WP email. Enjoy the weekend and be safe!
September 18, 2021 at 16:41
Thanks, Jill! I hope another email address works out as I love having you along for the ride. <3