Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting and relatively adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂 That being said, Mark and I seem to manage one big expense a month for some reason, whether it is camper, plane, travel or computer-related. Luckily, we live totally rent-free, wherever we end up.
This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for the two of us. Under groceries we incorporate all the 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 Mark's vitamins and supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor's visits. Health insurance and costs are related to my health care as a permanent resident in the US. Mark is still eligible for free health care in the state of Massachusetts as of today. If a non-emergency were to happen outside of that state, it will be expensive! For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast. I still pay a small quarterly fee in Belgium for health care (required to retain citizenship), which I mention in my year report.
Mark and I recently bought bikes, which, as an exception, I haven't included in my expense overviews.
April was quite the month. Not only was it extremely busy for us, but also extremely expensive. The culprits this time? Zesty, and planning our trip East for this summer. In light of that, we tried to keep the other categories low. Our camper needed two new batteries, which we installed ourselves. The two rear shocks Mark bought months ago, had to be installed by a mechanic.
Furthermore, we bought some bike accessories, like a quality cover and swivel for the rack. And, we went on a weekend trip to Southern New Mexico, which set us back quite a bit in fuel. The following photos give you a preview of my upcoming post about that. Our prospects for this summer? A return Amtrak train ride from Santa Fe, NM to Boston, MA (the cheapest way to do this trip), and a flight to Belgium for me. I depleted all our United miles for that one, only needing to pay for the taxes and fees. Phew!
May 6, 2018 at 10:26
Hi Liesbet! Still an EXCELLENT job of managing your finances even with the extra costs for your vehicle. That you were able to get your train tickets AND your plane tickets so cheap is a real testament. Sorry to see you heading east but it sounds like you have a good plan. ~Kathy
May 6, 2018 at 10:30
Thanks, Kathy. Equipping our van for full-time living requires some effort and money, but we will get there. It’ll be nice to see our family and friends again, but we’re looking forward to the rest of the summer, and afterwards, back west! 🙂 All the transportation prices are for both of us, return.
May 6, 2018 at 19:23
It seems the investments are a must and the bike cover an excellent idea to maintain the integrity of your two-wheelers. That is one incredible deal on the flight. Wow! Safe travels and enjoy your time with family and friends.
May 9, 2018 at 11:03
Thanks, Sue. Prepping Zesty for a life on the road requires improvements, and therefore, expenses. 🙂
May 7, 2018 at 15:15
Zesty sure is expensive, but considering it is your home probably comes in cheaper than immovable real estate.
May 9, 2018 at 11:05
I’m 100% sure that living in an RV is cheaper than living in a real house. Less work, maintenance and expense! 🙂 I should have been clearer that the costs for Zesty are actually parts and improvements, instead of repairs. I’m changing that right now!
May 7, 2018 at 17:32
Well done, Liesbet! Sometimes big expenses like repairs are just unavoidable.
May 9, 2018 at 11:07
Thanks, Natalie. The repairs are actually “parts” and work we’re doing to our van to improve it. Not really repairs and maintenance, but ways to let us drive more comfortably and live “off the grid” longer. 🙂
May 7, 2018 at 19:47
You guys are amazing! Now, what happens to Zesty when you make your way back east by train?
May 9, 2018 at 11:10
Good question, Debby! The owners of the house we’re currently taking care of in Santa Fe generously offered us a spot in their big driveway to store Zesty for six weeks this summer. 🙂
May 10, 2018 at 07:22
Oh, that’s a lovely offer. Grab it! 🙂
May 11, 2018 at 14:34
We did. We actually needed to have that confirmed, before we made our plans and transportation arrangements. Six weeks is a long time, though, to leave our little home behind. But, at least, it’s not on a mooring ball in choppy seas, like we experienced so many times with our boat, leaving her to fend for herself…
May 7, 2018 at 23:45
Amazing what you can achieve when you’re resourceful. 🙂 🙂 At least Zesty is kitted up and good to go again, AND you get a trip home. 🙂
May 9, 2018 at 11:11
The summer is looking promising for us, Jo. As long as I manage to get to a stopping point with my memoir, I’ll be able to breathe again. 🙂
May 8, 2018 at 05:41
Wow, those repair costs must have hurt, but things like that have to be done. Well done on your plane ticket and paying for it with miles. That’s a huge savings.
May 9, 2018 at 11:12
Whenever we face a high expense category (to get Zesty ready for a life on the road, last month), we try to make up for it in other categories. So, less eating out and smaller grocery bills. This month our camper insurance will be the biggie!
May 8, 2018 at 23:25
Inspiring as always, Liesbet. You’ve reminded me of one of the things I don’t miss about driving–the cost of repairs. Still, I’d love to get a vehicle again someday.
May 9, 2018 at 11:13
Luckily, they weren’t real repairs (we have one of those coming up in the fall – postponing that expense :-)), but improvements to make our van more comfortable and “sustainable”. 🙂 Not having a vehicle is a huge cost savings, though. Good for you! I never owned a vehicle (or a house for that matter) when living in Belgium.
May 15, 2018 at 09:01
Sadly, I really don’t have a choice, at least at the moment…unless I wanted to go back to an office job, and I’d rather take the bus for the rest of my life.
May 16, 2018 at 16:50
Imagine the money and frustrations you’re saving, though… And, it’s better for the planet. I’d choose public transportation any time as well (if I were to live in a city).
May 10, 2018 at 13:01
I don’t know how you can eat for a month on $179 worth of groceries! I spend that in one week, but I am definitely not frugal.
May 11, 2018 at 14:42
Under $200 for groceries rarely happens to us, Leslie. One answer here, though, El Super grocery store in Albuquerque. Mexican prices, and our overflowing cart lasts forever. Plus, we brought a lot of food from the previous house sit, and the owners here had leftovers in the fridge. Also, we did extra effort to not go crazy grocery shopping, since we knew the Zesty category would explode. The same is true this month… Camper insurance is due, and we might replace our windshield here in Santa Fe, instead of in San Diego next fall. It’s becoming a priority.