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.
Pretty much the entire month of March, 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. That’s why these final numbers were a bit surprising to me; I thought we’d do better. But, there were some unusual additions to our normal spending habits.
One of them was the annual city tax for our camper, which ironically is rarely ever in Newburyport and when it is, it just sits on the driveway unused. We splurged on a whale tour, which was seriously worth the money – but not so much the effort getting there… Our annual Chase Sapphire Reserve visa card fee is always due in March. While this seems high, we get much more than $150 back in credits, points, and other benefits during a year of usage. We also had a wonderful dinner out for Mark’s 50th birthday.
One of the many whales approaching our little boat
The utility category is higher than usual, because we kept our affordable and discontinued AT&T plan in the US ($35/ month for unlimited data use) while also buying a Mexican equivalent from Telcel for our time in Baja. The same happened with our dog, Maya. We needed new dog food in Mexico, which wasn’t a good idea (more about that in an upcoming blog) and which resulted in ordering better food that awaited us upon our return across the border.
On the flipside, groceries were affordable. We only bought enough for a few days at a time and ate out frequently. Based on that, I did expect the dining out category to be higher, especially since it includes a fancy (very!) delayed birthday meal for me, joined by our friends Sandie and Karsten. On my actual birthday (and book launch), our bubble of friends only had snacks to hold us over because nobody felt like cooking.
While it sure adds up, camping appeared cheaper than anticipated as well. Half of the nights in Baja, we paid for Zesty to be parked at an official campground ($10 a night) or on the beach ($7 – $10/night), where Mexican concessionaries would collect their fees. I did bargain when we stayed longer in one place along Bahia Concepcion and we intermittently camped for free in Mexico and always once back in the US.
To see how fellow nomads Duwan and Greg made out in March, click here.
Compare this result to the one from last month – also in Baja California – here. 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.
April 12, 2021 at 12:19
Once again, an impressive job with the budget. I’m already preparing for the added fuel costs this summer for the 2,000 mile drive to WI 😏
April 12, 2021 at 12:25
We just finished our 3,000-mile journey from Tucson, AZ to Newburyport, MA in five days, Ingrid. It was grueling. And, this month’s report will surely reflect those gas and accommodation costs!!! Yet, your truck, pulling the fifth-wheel will guzzle diesel, so I’m sure it will affect your expenses a lot. Luckily, you only drive a lot twice a year. 🙂 Are you taking both trucks back north?
April 12, 2021 at 12:45
You had to splurge for that birthday and whale tour!
April 12, 2021 at 19:00
We did. And it was lovely. We should (and will) do this more! 🙂
April 12, 2021 at 14:22
Your post reinforces that there are areas we can probably cut down on our spending. Besides the variances between the United States and Mexico, I imagine that you see quite a bit of difference from regions within the country. One of our claims to fame (we all need to be famous for something) is that there have been times where we’ve had the most expensive gasoline in the country. That does discourage less driving. No one has offered a satisfactory answer as to why our prices are so high. We’re paying well over $4.00 per gallon these days.
What is the backstory on how your vehicle became known as Zesty?
April 12, 2021 at 19:08
You must live in California, Steve! Of all the states that we ever drove in and drove through, fuel was and is always the most expensive there. Must be the high taxes. And, right now the demand of oil as well. We picked a bad time to drive 3,000 miles and buy gas twice a day!
Yes, there are many differences between states on many levels, fuel prices and Covid protocols are just a couple of them. We now try to avoid certain states because of their Covid attitude. One of the things we were surprised at was the high sales tax in the southern states…
We named Zesty to rhyme with the brand of the camper van, which is a Westy (a Westfalia Sprinter). So, our van became known as Zesty the Westy, after our “zest” for life and adventure! 🙂
April 12, 2021 at 15:18
Snacks? We only had snacks on your birthday? We did have lots of margaritas though, right? (BTW – made a pitcher of those margaritas for some sailing friends – they were a hit!) Perhaps just snacks and margaritas explains all the late night dancing!
Eating out is so cheap in Mexico. It makes you wonder why it is so expensive here in the US.
You did stellar in the camping. I don’t have what it takes to bargain – although I think I did once in Cholula camping in a parking lot because I had expected a lower rate and we were staying two nights. Only parking lot I’ve been in that came with a shower.
April 13, 2021 at 16:48
You are right, Duwan! We had snacks AND margaritas. And cake! But, usually, Mark cooks me a fabulous birthday dinner or we go out for the occasion, so I still had that “on credit.” 🙂 I’m glad the Mark’s margarita recipe was a hit with your friends as well. Did they dance afterwards?
I didn’t realize how many nights we camped for free in March until I looked through my photos and found many boondocking spots and occasions, pointing towards a 50/50 balance. We spent much less time in Mulege that month compared to February, so that made a difference as well.
Maybe next winter we can all go back and get two-for-one deals. 🙂 (I made that up. But, once, I got a discount for three nights of camping and our Spanish friend showed up wanting to stay the same length of time. Without arguing the concessionaire of the beach immediately gave him the same price.)
April 12, 2021 at 16:36
Eek, Liesbet, that was a quick drive and totally get how grueling it was. We did something similar last spring and it was exhausting, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. We’ll leave my little red truck in storage for the summer like we always do and hope to hit the road WI bound around Mother’s Day. We were planning on leaving sooner, but family has asked us to stay a little longer. I won’t complain about being wanted. 😁
April 13, 2021 at 16:50
I assume it was your family in Arizona that asked you to stay longer there and not Al’s family in Wisconsin! 🙂 Just kidding. Yes, it is nice to be wanted!
April 12, 2021 at 17:51
Pretty impressive despite a few unexpected expenses and splurges. I’m curious, did the Airbnb for Mark’s b-day appear on last month’s summery?
April 13, 2021 at 16:51
Hi Janis! Yes, Mark’s B-day present of the AirBnB stay was on last month’s report. It was the first – and highest – category! 🙂 I’ve linked to it at the bottom of this post.
April 12, 2021 at 20:19
I love your minimalistic lifestyle, Liesbet. I’ve been not buying stuff from countries that have slave labor produce the products, which turns out to be so much of what’s available. So, I don’t spend much on clothing and stuff anymore, reuse, recycle. Which is my long way of saying it actually feels good to get by on less.
April 13, 2021 at 16:56
You are so good, consistent, and conscientious, Jacqui. I respect and appreciate that. We reuse and recycle as much as possible as well and only buy what we need, but we could do better with avoiding products from the Far East. That’s where our frugalness plays us parts. Luckily, we rarely buy gadgets and clothes.
It does feel good to do with less. I have been so happy to get rid of items as we packed up and prepared for our return back to MA. And, even now, I’m constantly looking around the room for items that can go… Thing is, there’s not much left, haha. I can’t wait to backpack again at some point in the future and only have to worry about what I can carry!
April 15, 2021 at 06:48
Liesbet, I am envious of that whale tour. We did one in Iceland that was expensive and we did not see any whales…so disappointing. I am glad you were able to cash in your Birthday credit and did have a very deserved meal out. Great that Mark has also had a great Birthday treat.
Interesting that fuel is more expensive in Mexico than the US? Perhaps the US charges less taxes on fuel? I do remember the fuel in the US being a lot cheaper than here in the UK.
April 15, 2021 at 12:10
Hi Gilda! I thought that if you’d book a whale tour and didn’t get a chance to see any, they might give you a rain check for another day or refund your money? I guess that’s wishful thinking of me? I’m so sorry it was a disappointing experience for you.
The US must be cheap for gas, compared to other countries. At least that has been our experience driving through Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Europe. I don’t remember how the prices compared to Central America and I hope to find out how they compare to South America one of these years! 🙂 Yes, I do think the high prices have to do with the added taxes or with the fact that said country extracts their own oil and has their own refineries, or not.
May 7, 2021 at 12:21
Recently I took a trip from Phoenix to Guaymas Sonora, Always I fill up the gas tank at the border and I arrived at Guaymas still with one quarter of a tank.
Before leaving Guaymas three days later, I fill up the tank again and before 90 miles South of the Border, I had 1/4 of a tank, I had spend 20 dlls for gas in order to make it to the border, but was not enough because I had to put it another 10 dlls of gas before crossing the border to make it.
Yes, gasoline in Mexico it is bad and expensive.
In Guaymas I put premium gasoline, it cost one peso more per litro ( litter ) years back same trip I fill it up with regular gas and at Hermosillo had only 1/2 tank.
Same vehicle dodge ram 1500.
Very soon this month of May, I’m going to make a trip to la Baja California, All the way to Los Cabos, but this time I am driving. a different automóvil, a 1999 Toyota camry 4 cilinders, better in gas and with a good engine.
May 7, 2021 at 16:01
Hi Leo! Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment and for elaborating on your experiences getting fuel in Mexico. It sounds like you are a seasoned traveler. It’s always best to fill up before crossing that southern border and fuel up with just what you need to return back to the US. Your Toyota will drink much less than your truck during your upcoming trip to Baja. More affordable all around. Enjoy your time in Cabo! Hopefully it won’t be too hot yet. 🙂
April 18, 2021 at 13:46
Impressive as always Liesbet. The whale tour expense, especially the second, worth every penny. Glad you had the time in the Baja to rejuvenate after your hard work on getting Plunge to publication and then marketing.
April 19, 2021 at 10:08
We enjoyed Baja so much that we hope(d) to return there this fall, Sue. Things didn’t work out as planned, bu we might still make the 4,000-mile trek again. We will see what happens. Things are a bit up in the air for us right now…
April 19, 2021 at 23:29
You did well! Just to put things in perspective, I just finished spending almost exactly that amount to have one dental crown replaced. Sad but true.
April 21, 2021 at 13:42
Dental care is so expensive in the US and in Canada as well, if the procedures aren’t covered by health insurance. Which is the same in Belgium. I once went to the dentist in Nova Scotia to have a filling fixed and that cost CA$200, which I think was cheaper than it would have been in the US. Now, I have dental insurance in the US, but it doesn’t cover crowns, root canals, and such. Hence my side trip to Los Algadones, Mexico, this past January. Maybe something to look into for the future? 🙂
May 2, 2021 at 20:30
Yes welcome to baja mix
May 4, 2021 at 21:19
Thank you. We hope to be back this fall!
June 28, 2021 at 14:06
Certain months are always a bit more expensive. For us, June is an expensive month because we have to pay our property tax AND home insurance, and also there are four birthdays of kids or grandkids in the month.
Jude
June 29, 2021 at 03:47
Hi Jude! Same with us. May has generally been a really expensive month because of car and boat insurances in the past. This year, it was plane tickets. My time in Belgium is usually not expensive on certain levels, but because I want to treat people it adds up. Although many treat me, so that part is probably a wash. 🙂