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.
During the entire month of August, Mark, Maya, and I lived in our “room above the garage” in Newburyport, MA – no side-trips in Zesty. As I mentioned before, he has a job with the US Census bureau for two months and I’m 100% focused on my upcoming travel memoir. Other than a neighbor I’ve gotten friendly with, we are not seeing friends or eating out, which is reflected in our expenses. I did finally buy some shorts online, because clothing shops and thrift stores don’t let you try anything on yet; fitting rooms remain closed in Massachusetts.
Maya and I met Mark after work for drinks at a brewery – with picnic tables outside – once, I treated my new friend for ice cream (that’s the eating out category – yep, $5 a scoop in this touristy town!), and we cooked all our meals at home last month.
Our twin nieces celebrated their seventh birthday at a socially distanced family party, which called for a few gifts. Groceries is on par with a “normal” month and my editor is, once again, our biggest expense in this report. In general, August was a decent spending month, all things considered.
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.
September 13, 2020 at 10:23
Monthly expense reports always reflect one’s priorities.
From yours I take frugality (“we cooked all our meals at home last month”), generosity (buying gifts) and investment in your long-term goal of book pub (editing). You are not ever going to regret spending a penny of this.
As you know, Liesbet, both Cliff and I are self-employed. Our accountant can tell at a glance what we value too, but I’m not as brave as you are to publish ours – ha!
September 13, 2020 at 10:41
You have such an analytic mind, Marian! I never thought of a/my expense report in relation to what it actually tells about priorities – I just focus on the numbers, haha. I don’t think I’ll ever need an accountant; at least I hope so. I cannot imagine my life and money situation getting complicated at some point, but you never know.
I’d love to see what you value in an expense report, Marian, although I already know how generous you are, with your time and your finances. Most people would never share their money situation with “the world”. For good or for bad, I have few taboos. 🙂
September 13, 2020 at 10:40
What an expense list, with your investment at the top! I hope your editor knows the value you place on her!
I get pretty inexpensive clothing on a site called Zulilly. Though I do worry about where they’re made so I try to buy less rather than more. I bet you wait until your clothing is past-done to replace it!
September 13, 2020 at 10:49
This month will be another big bill from my editor, Jacqui. When the total cost is paid, it will be the most I ever spent on anything. Not kidding. But, like Marian said, I won’t regret it. I don’t think my editor knows how frugal I am. She is scrutinizing my memoir, but being frugal is not a main theme in that one.
You are starting to know me well!!! I ONLY buy new clothing when my old stuff is either too dirty with no washing machine being able to do something about that anymore, or ripped. I was down to one decent pair of shorts. Now, I have four or five. Luxury! I only have two pairs of jeans, so we better head south soon. 🙂
I hate shopping and I never throw things out that are still usable. Thanks for mentioning Zulilly. I should check it out one day, except, I won’t need more clothes until another five years from now. I am still in the market for a bathing suit, though.
September 13, 2020 at 12:19
Your editor was a big chunk of it. Probably a good thing you weren’t traveling.
September 14, 2020 at 13:51
You got that right, Alex! It is a good thing we aren’t traveling right now. Not so much from an expense point of view but from a time (to work on my book) point of view! 🙂
September 13, 2020 at 16:12
I’m salivating over the huge lobster Mark is devouring. Lobster is my favorite! I’m happy you were able to celebrate your twin nieces seventh birthday, Liesbet. They are adorable! Looks like they had a great time.
September 14, 2020 at 13:53
While everything seems weird these days, having the dinner with my in-laws and the birthday party with some family members did resemble a certain kind of normalcy. Both events were mostly a success because it allowed us to finally see and interact with loved ones. Those twins are beyond adorable – every year we see them. 🙂
September 13, 2020 at 17:23
Since Covid, all of our expenses have been reflected on our visa statement. I’ve had the same paper bills and change in my wallet since March. Although our statement (so therefor our monthly expenses) is a bit higher than yours, it’s not by much. I know that some of that is due to the your editor’s services, but I also know that we are spending a lot less too. I think the last piece of clothing I purchased was in February (and that was only because I was traveling and didn’t pack enough cool weather clothes).
Covid has brought with it many personal adjustments, spending less (and not missing anything) is a big bonus as far as I’m concerned.
September 14, 2020 at 14:09
Hi Janis!
I wonder whether everyone is noticing a decline in spending during this pandemic… That certainly would be a big bonus. A decline of consumerism. But, then again, I’ve often said that if more Americans were like us, the economy would take a nose dive! 🙂
I find it easier to pay everything with credit cards. Not handling the money saves time and cooties. We often have the same bill in our wallets for months. But, if we end up spending a few dollars here or there, because cards are not accepted or to avoid small businesses having to pay the hefty credit card fee, we often forget to record that and have to wreck our brains at the end of the month!
September 13, 2020 at 19:14
Hi Janis! Wow once again you’ve managed a very frugal month even after such an investment in your book. But like another person commented, I think we all “vote” with our dollars and show what is important to you so once again you are demonstrating that to us all. Like all of us we are looking forward to seeing the final result from your hard work and as always, we enjoy seeing how we spend (pun intended) your days. ~Kathy
September 14, 2020 at 14:12
You must have just read Janis’s comment before you left yours, Kathy. 🙂 That’s a good way of looking at expenses – we vote with our dollars. I hadn’t thought of that yet. These months, it is quite easy to not spend too much money. Plus, we are not using Zesty either, so no diesel expenses and few repair costs. It’s a good time to invest in the book – editing and (hopefully soon) cover design.
September 13, 2020 at 19:45
HI, LIesbet – You and Mark are incredible. Your priorities, your abiliity to live life non-materialistically and your honest, open nature are beyond admirable!
September 14, 2020 at 14:14
Thank you so much for all those compliments, Donna! Every time a comment of yours arrives in my inbox, it’s guaranteed to produce a smile on my face. 🙂
September 13, 2020 at 22:49
You remind me Liesbet how my daughters and I became fans of thrift shops before this virus. We called it “recycling.” Many restrictions with thrift shops these days.
Like you say, “…all things considered.” What type of gifts were a hit for your 7-year-old nieces? Just curious, since I have a granddaughter, Sadie, turning 7. Lately, she is really into bugs. I could just go in the garden and find her some bugs and she would be thrilled. Cost- effective gift. 🙂 By the way, 5$ for one scoop is expensive.
September 14, 2020 at 14:20
How cool your granddaughter is into bugs, Erica. That’s quite special! Many books and “gear” focuses around that kind of hobby. You could get her a magnifying glass or identification book – the children’s versions of course.
The new bikes were certainly a hit with the twins. They love them and try to ride them every day. We saw them on Saturday – on their bikes and with their new t-shirts on, which Mark and I gave them. A coincidence as they swung by to see my in-laws and had no idea that we would be home. 🙂
The other popular item is one of those coloring/puzzle books where they have to find something and then color it. Apparently, this is a popular kind of coloring book as Mark grew up with it as well. It used to be part of the newspaper/magazines. Let me see whether I can find the name for it… Aha: “Highlights Hidden Pictures”.
September 15, 2020 at 10:22
Oh, great! Thank you, Liesbet. I made a note of the books and I will look for them. Thanks, again, and take care. xx
September 14, 2020 at 18:12
It is amazing that you live so thriftily that your editor expense doesn’t really push your expense total past what one (Greg and I) might normally spend as a nomad.
I think it is wonderful to be able to treat a friend every once in a while. In fact, Greg and I were treated to ice cream this past month too!
Your nieces are adorable. I hope they had a nice party.
How did you fare at “fishbowl” pong?
September 16, 2020 at 13:59
Hi Duwan! I did poorly at “fishbowl” pong. The table had some interesting features that made the ball bounce every which way. And, if it wasn’t that, I’m sure I could come up with ten other excuses why my balls never ended in the bowls. 🙂
If we would be on the road right now, like you guys, or had to deal with one of those extra expenses or van repairs, the editor cost would put us over the top. I was hoping for another stimulus check and then those two would have paid for it. Luckily, these Covid-months are relatively cheap, so the timing is right. Although, it all evens out by the end of the year and that’s when our expenses really matter.
September 14, 2020 at 21:43
In my dreams to be able to live on that. Your monthly groceries are our weekly! 🙂
September 16, 2020 at 14:04
Maybe that has to do with your diets and with Toronto being a tad more expensive than Newburyport? Or, maybe it means that you two splurge more than we do, which is not difficult at all. 🙂
September 16, 2020 at 17:23
As far as groceries go, I’m not sure what you mean about splurge, but if that includes some organic stuff and 2 shops a month at the health food store, then that’s our splurge 🙂 But it’s very expensive to live here. We don’t eat out and we don’t eat a lot of meat. Our groceries are rarely less than $300 a week! For two people! I saw a girl I follow on Twitter who lives in Alberta, asking if anyone else pays a ridiculous price of almost $300 a week for a family of 4. I LOL’d her back and told her we spend that for 2 in Ontario. 🙁
September 17, 2020 at 15:04
Hi Debby!
Yes, Toronto seems crazy expensive. We don’t eat out and rarely eat meat as well, so from that perspective our diets are similar. Plus, my husband is diary-free as well and I’m in the process of cutting down milk products. We’re not gluten-free and we don’t visit health food stores, because we manage to find what we want/need in regular grocery stores. Luckily.
With splurging I meant items from the store that are a “like to have” (such as ice cream and some yummy treats) instead of a “need to have” for feeding purposes. Some people end up spending a lot on items like that – salty and sweet snacks, nice cheeses, different flavored drinks… While we should probably splurge ourselves with something nice from the store, we rarely do. 🙂
September 18, 2020 at 11:48
Yes, I’m both gluten-free and dairy-free, and sadly, anything healthy costs more than junk, lol. We’re not real dessert eaters or splurgers on junk food. But hubby does require his ice cream LOL 🙂
September 18, 2020 at 12:19
The fact that healthy food is more expensive than junk just drives me up a wall, Debby. No wonder so many people suffer from health issues and obesity. But, that’s another giant cultural battle. Let’s just get through the recent ones first…
By the way, my in-laws each eat a bowl of ice cream a day too. I make sure their fridge is always stocked with it. (They require three items to never run out: ice cream, pretzels, and gin.) Even then, I splurge with ice cream only once a week, even though all I have to do is take my bowl and spoon downstairs and scoop some up. I’m being a really good girl!! 🙂
September 18, 2020 at 17:30
Lol, that is sweet! 🙂
September 15, 2020 at 09:11
Liesbet, you have done well again, considering the expensive Editor. But publishing your memoir will be worth this expense for sure. How adorable are the twin sisters? Are they identical twins? I have often been mistaken as a twin to my sister Virginia (ever since she caught up with me in height), when in fact she is 2 years younger than me, but I think it was because my mother liked to dress us the same. We are spending a little bit more now that we are traveling, but we are keeping an eye on expenditure and trying to keep to a reasonable budget.
September 16, 2020 at 14:13
Hi Gilda!
The twins are non-identical. One is a real daredevil and a tad chubbier, while the other is more cautious and has bigger feet. 🙂 How did you like being dressed up the same as your sister? These girls rarely wear the same clothes, except on birthday parties it seems.
I’ve been reading your recent travel blogs with excitement and a bit of envy, as you are smart to spend money on excursions, sights, and activities. I keep telling myself that I want to travel more like you two, whenever we hit the road again and switch from work-mode to travel-mode. We are missing out on too much by being this frugal! 🙁
September 16, 2020 at 10:22
You have a wonderful family. I’m salivating over the huge lobster too… As our expense reduced a lot this year due to coronavirus, this year our investment income so far surpassed our expense. But I do expect our expense up a lot once coronavirus goes away or being controlled.
September 16, 2020 at 14:17
Hi Christopher! We were waiting for the lobster to drop down in price as it usually does at some point in the summer here in Massachusetts. But after avoiding to buy it for months, we gave in and prepared a tasty dinner for the entire family. That’s so nice that your investment income has gone up a bunch. Maybe this pandemic will have taught people to spend more wisely and less extravagantly? 🙂
September 17, 2020 at 13:21
Liesbet, I love that you share this with us – it’s such an affirmation of your priorities and dedication to your plans. Like you, we’re huge fans of thrift shops – both for donating and acquiring. I turned my sisters and nieces on to the practice, so now it’s a family affair! 🙂 ~Terri
September 17, 2020 at 15:17
Hi Terri! I miss not going to thrift stores right now, although I would only shop there (or elsewhere) when we really need something. Thing is, not having a house and only having space for (or the desire to have) limited amounts of clothes and personal belongings has us search and shop infrequently for such things. Now, food, alcohol, and necessary parts for our camper… that’s a different story. 🙂
September 17, 2020 at 23:33
Another frugal month – well done! And I noticed lobsters in one of your photos – YUM! We’ve gotten so used to cooking at home that I’m not sure whether we’ll really change our habits when COVID is finally under control. So often we can cook meals that are just as good or better than a restaurant for a fraction of the price. After all, how hard is it to boil a lobster? 😉
September 18, 2020 at 12:09
I couldn’t agree more, Diane. And, we actually bought these lobsters already boiled in the store, since our current makeshift kitchen does not have a pot big enough to boil lobsters ourselves. My husband is a fantastic cook, but now that he is working 50 hours a week, I have taken over those duties and have impressed him – and myself! We always cook healthy, tasty, and affordable meals. Going to a restaurant (outdoors these days) or doing take-out never checks all those boxes. 🙂
Side note: my husband receives a meal stipend this week that lets us both eat out or order take-out every day without any costs incurred for us and I’m still at home, cooking and eating my meals. Part of that might be laziness, though. I’m a very happy hermit. 🙂
September 18, 2020 at 19:33
Same here! 🙂
September 19, 2020 at 10:51
🙂
September 21, 2020 at 11:51
The investment in editing seems like money very well spent Liesbet. Second hand shopping is something I am very dedicated to. Not only from the frugal aspect but keeping clothes out of the landfill.
September 23, 2020 at 11:54
Yes! Recycling and reusing makes so much sense. It is one way to help our poor planet out a little bit. I still need the final bill from my editor, Sue. It will be another big one…
October 27, 2020 at 21:38
How nice that you could be there for your nieces’ birthday party!
Jude
October 28, 2020 at 10:26
Yes! It felt good to catch up with members of the family after a long absence and “isolation”. Because we spent so long in the area, we managed to attend two socially-distanced birthday parties this year.