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.
Mark, Maya, and I spent the entire month of October on the road in our truck camper, getting from Illinois to New Mexico with stops in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado. Lots of driving and extra gear were the main source for our high expenses. We bought a new faucet for the bathroom, latches for the drawers (we had three break in one week – what to do with all their contents while we drove?), a grease gun, and a battery monitor. I have to stop stating that it was – yet – another costly month and face the fact that life has gotten incredibly expensive in the US. And I’m not only talking about fuel.
(As always, hover over or click on photos for captions.)
In 2020 (and previous years), our monthly average expenditure was around $1,300. We met this goal only twice in 2021. Prices of products in grocery stores and online have risen and the cost of fuel – which I realize is still much lower than in Canada, Belgium, or Mexico – is becoming cost-prohibitive for us. Now is NOT a good time for a cross country road trip or camper life as a nomad. It’s not that we can cut more in other categories as we’re pretty careful already. Mark and I have daily discussions about our options. Sitting somewhere for longer periods of time? Finding “real” jobs for a bit? Changing gears once again?
Camped at Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area, Nebraska
In the past, readers of this blog and people following our adventures have asked us how they can support us. Why don’t we have a tip jar, pizza/beer/coffee fund, ads on the website, or a crowdfunding platform? Apart from a few affiliate links, we are staying clear of any of this. So far. The best, easiest, and most rewarding (and beneficial to you) way to support us, is by buying my book – via links on this website, as a hard copy from me personally if your address is in the US, or elsewhere online.
Trying to save money has caused us frustrations in October (and this month too). Usually, we use the free app GasBuddy, but with prices fluctuating from hour to hour, we often show up at a station to a price that is 30 cents a gallon higher than last reported. This means we drive to a different station on the other side of town, costing us more fuel – and time – to get there than it is worth buying gas for a few cents less. If the price at station #2 is, in fact, lower. More often than not, it isn’t and we end up paying a premium anyway, despite the detour.
Getting expensive gas in Bayard, Nebraska
GetUpside is a wonderful alternative. This app gives a discount at certain stations and seems to be more reliable these days. If anyone is interested in signing up, feel free to use the promo code FE3MM7 or this link. It should give you a discount of 15 – 40 cents per gallon of gas or diesel on your first fill at participating fuel stations.
Another problem is our dismal fuel economy. We only get 10 miles to the gallon in this pickup truck, which is less than half of our campervan Zesty! This reduces our radius from 500 miles to 300 miles before we need to fill up again (despite the bigger tank), is twice as expensive as before, and makes us plan our routes a certain way (as in, avoid the Rocky Mountains in Colorado). And that’s with Mark not using cruise control and being extremely aware about how he drives, which is exhausting. Even then, our fuel cost last month was outrageous – over 1/3 of our total expense – and so was the expense for propane, which also has gone up substantially compared to six months ago.
What else did we spend money on in October? We bought a new gps tracker for Maya. Tractive (a company Mark researched in the past) had a special, offering the device for free and an annual data fee for $84. We switched from Whistle, because Tractive provides coverage internationally and has more usable features. We stocked up on the fish oil supplement for our dog as well. This container should last at least six months.
Alcohol was high, because we visited friends and brought stacks to share and leave. We also treated our friends in Chicago to a Thai take-out meal. On the flip side, wonderful friends treated us to lunch (thank you, Peta and Ben), dinner and fresh veggies from the garden (thank you, Gail and Jon), and other food (thank you Keith, Kavita, and Margaret).
Our TV swings out from the bed area towards the dinette.
Mark convinced me to get a Chromecast device on sale. For about $20 we managed to snatch the last one at a department store and now we actually use the TV that came with our camper by pairing it with a tablet and streaming Netflix, etc. to enjoy a bigger screen; luxury!
We bought a few new items for the camper household (our cereal bowls broke after I forgot to latch one of the cabinets; our drives are VERY rough and often on bumpy dirt roads) and shorts for Mark. We also paid the $30 entrance fee to Badlands National Park and renewed one of our domain names. Phew!
As usual, we camped for free in the most amazing places. Imagine we’d stay at real campgrounds with fees of $20-$40 a night.. We definitely wouldn’t be able to afford this lifestyle anymore! Hurray for boondocking spots and the American west that is full of them. 🙂
One of our favorite campsites, in Colorado, last month. Happy to report our heater works at 8,500ft altitude!
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.
November 12, 2021 at 10:50
Gas buddy does come in handy! Things are definitely more expensive these days. Another ‘awesome’ fallout of COVID. Boo.
November 13, 2021 at 16:18
You are so right about the Covid consequences, Pam. That’s why we are personally being hit harder in 2021 than in 2020. Hopefully, issues with the supply chain and delivery of products, as well as getting people to work again, can get figured out soon…
November 12, 2021 at 11:06
For much of our life, it was either feast and famine, so I appreciate what you are accomplishing. I couldn’t have done it myself and you are fortunate not to have health issues. Everything in life involves choices, and I am interested in the choices you are making.
November 13, 2021 at 16:32
Hello Ray and Alie!
Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment. It is always so nice to hear from – and read about – fellow travelers. I’m looking forward to browsing your blog a bit this weekend! 🙂
I guess our nomadic lifestyle hovers somewhere between the feast and the famine. We have never experienced either and never will, the way we live and prioritize.
I 100% agree with your comment about choices in life. That’s exactly how I feel and what I “preach”. It’s up to all of us how we decide and choose to live our one precious life. It’s not about luck, it’s about choices. I do think you will enjoy reading Plunge one day with that philosophy! 🙂
Unfortunately, we DO have health issues. My husband is a cancer survivor (and at high risk of reoccurrence and new cancers based on genetics) and I have ongoing back and knee issues in addition to brutal migraines. I recently went to a Mexican dentist for a root canal procedure and crown as well and might have to return for a second one…
Being spared from health problems is a fortunate and rare thing. 🙁
November 12, 2021 at 12:23
Fuel costs are nuts. My cross country drive–fuel bumped up to $5 a gallon in CA but $3-4 in other states–still very expensive. I get we want everyone to drive electric cars but really???
Going to check out those dog GPS sites. My pup won’t leave the house but it might still be a good idea.
I love how lots of new TV have that casting function built in–no Chromecast required. Not older ones, though, so we have Apple TV for one of ours. I love the options that provides.
Great update, Leisbet.
November 13, 2021 at 16:35
I was wondering about your fuel cost on your recent road trip, Jacqui. And you had to go both ways across. But, I’m sure you could do more than 10 miles to the gallon! 🙂 This is the first time Mark and I have a TV in seventeen years! (And a freezer.) A luxury that we are not used to. We never watch cable or “real” TV – because we never had a chance but also because we couldn’t handle the ads.
November 14, 2021 at 09:53
The Audi got 28 mpg–great mileage that help offset the gas prices. My son and I were going to have him pay hotel fees and me gas but thanks to the mileage, I got off a lot cheaper than he did!
November 14, 2021 at 14:49
Hi Jacqui! I guess you picked the right expense category for the road trip! 🙂 If you would have stayed at Motel 6, the costs might have been reversed, haha… Great mileage for the Audi – Mark used to love his TT back in the day (when he still lived the “American Dream”) and my brother swears by Audi. He’s on his third or fourth one and even convinced my parents to buy one, so I am part of an Audi family (across the pond)! 🙂
November 12, 2021 at 15:09
Traveling now is going to be so darn expensive. Gas here is over a dollar what it was nine months ago. And I know our grocery bill has gone up almost twenty percent. This is just crazy.
November 13, 2021 at 16:36
Thing is that we are all in this together, Alex. Everyone is suffering from the increase in prices. Not traveling by vehicle is the solution, except if that’s your lifestyle and you don’t have a house to wait things out…
November 12, 2021 at 16:48
Thanks for sharing! You do manage to keep grocery expenses very low. I need to work on that!
November 13, 2021 at 16:39
Hi Kristin! Once you are back in Mexico, your grocery cost will go down. 🙂 We are looking forward to that ourselves. Not sure if you’ve ever heard of the grocery chain El Super? They are in Albuquerque, Tucson, and San Diego. Not sure about elsewhere. The cost of produce there is awesome and – even now – so much cheaper than any other grocery store. We just stocked up our fridge with fresh lunch and dinner veggies again (in Tucson) for $25.
November 12, 2021 at 16:57
I got quite the chuckle about trying to find the cheapest gas in town. Way back in the day (way for apps like GasBuddy) this was my dad’s favorite move when we got into a town when we were traveling. Even as a kid, I wondered if we were saving money looking for gas that was 2 cents cheaper per gallon.
I’ve made plenty of gaffes myself, but a favorite to tell of my dad’s was when he crossed the border in their motor home to save a little money on gas and promptly put a hole in the top of the motor home when he got in the wrong line with a low clearance.
November 13, 2021 at 16:43
So funny, Pete! We can totally relate to your dad, except for the decapitation of the RV! We are super aware of height restrictions and vigilantly check the signs and restrictions when driving. But we have wondered ourselves how much it’s worth to find better fuel prices. Usually, we do the calculations and it makes sense. Except when the prices are not as stated online… That being said, we have to relax more about these things and about carefully planning out where to go, which route to take (most effective and cheap), and when to buy a certain item, as it makes this lifestyle even more challenging, stressful, and time intensive!
November 12, 2021 at 17:10
I think $1458/month expense sheet is phenomenal. Don’t beat yourself for not sticking to the $1300.00 figure. The price of gas reflects country-wide inflation. Thanks goodness for your apps. You introduced me to GasBuddy; now I’m learning about GetUpside.
P.S. In my mind, hospitality to friends is a plus, not a minus. Seriously! 😀
November 13, 2021 at 16:45
Hi Marian! You are so right about hospitality. We love receiving guests whenever we can and spoiling them with home cooked meals and drinks whenever we are able. Yet, when we are on the other side of the spectrum, we feel self-conscious about imposing, accepting help and goods, and overstaying. Funny how that goes… 🙂
November 12, 2021 at 19:24
Great update, Liesbet! Inflation rate has gone up so be kind to yourself when it comes to higher cost of living. My main spend is groceries and I’ve noticed the price increase.
November 13, 2021 at 16:47
Hi Natalie! True thing about inflation. Everyone is feeling the increase in prices. Our problem is that we don’t have much income. We managed before by being careful, but with these price increases (which we can’t control or work around), we either have to find new ways to make money (and travel less) or go to cheaper countries. Time will tell what we decide and where we find ourselves, financially and physically.
November 12, 2021 at 22:45
Hi, Liesbet – It is so true that prices are insane just about everywhere. Despite this, you and Mark did exceptionally well with your budget. Very impressive!
November 13, 2021 at 16:49
Thanks, Donna. We try to stick to a budget (by spending only on items we need) but it’s getting difficult to justify these expenses, just to keep our life on the road going. We rarely spend anything on fun activities and everything seems to be about work or being careful. We will have to see if it’s still all worth it.
November 13, 2021 at 03:57
Liesbet, you and Mark are masters of frugality. Particularly in the current scenario of inflation, prices really have gone up a lot. Here in the UK the price of fuel has gone crazy and we even had a fuel shortage due to lack of HGV drivers. Food has also gone up a lot.
How amazing that you are able to stay in some incredible locations for free, truly wonderful.
November 13, 2021 at 16:52
Hi Gilda! If we couldn’t wild camp right now (or all those previous years), we wouldn’t be able to afford this lifestyle. The same thing was true when we sailed for eight years. 99% of the time, we anchored for free. That’s the way Mark and I can see the world. And why we never go on vacations, stay in hotels, or splurge. Our camper life is not luxurious and comes with lots of challenges (as you can imagine) but it’s the only way we can and want to be nomads right now. 🙂
November 13, 2021 at 19:19
Hey Liesbet! Great job as usual. With gas the price it is (and stay away from California!) I’m not surprised you spent more than you hoped. And I’m guessing you and Mark probably weigh about the same amount as Maya so her food costs are also to be considered. At any rate hopefully some of your other expenses will go down in MX. When do you cross over and how long will you take going through MX? We will be in Ajijic in December. Let’s hook up if you are nearby. ~kathy
November 14, 2021 at 14:44
We sure are staying away from California right now, Kathy. If we cross the border, we will stay close to Arizona, so we can hop back to Yuma to fill our gas tank again… Luckily, the price of dog food hasn’t gone up yet. We are planning to buy four 30-pound bags soon to last us through Baja. Where to store it all will be another challenge. 🙂
We are only planning to drive to Baja California again, as far south as the Loreto area (a compromise regarding distance/fuel costs), and not cross over to the mainland. So, we won’t be anywhere near Ajijic.The ferry from La Paz to Puerto Vallarta is pricey too. We have to weigh our options even more carefully than usual. Will you fly to Mexico or drive? Enjoy your time there!!
November 13, 2021 at 22:51
Your expenses may feel high to you, but in fact $1,450 for an entire month’s budget is pretty amazing. Here on Vancouver Island, we’re paying $1.65/litre ($6.24 per U.S. gallon) for gas. Needless to say, we’re glad we rarely have to drive very far!
November 14, 2021 at 14:46
Ouch about gas prices on VI, Diane. That’s very similar to Belgium, but then in euros… 🙁 Yes, luckily you live in an amazing place where you can’t drive too far (too get in trouble). 🙂
November 14, 2021 at 11:40
If I were you, I would just find somewhere warm to set up for a few months (an area with lots of BLM options) and then go find a seasonal job to make some money for a couple months. Everyone and their mother is hiring right now and wages are going up. Employers are desperate for workers and the holiday season is starting so they will be willing to pay max rate for help. You don’t have to go back to work forever and ever. Just 2 or 3 months of not driving around burning high priced gas while simultaneously padding your bank account would alleviate much of this stress. Just my two cents….
November 14, 2021 at 14:54
A very good point and option, Laura. And one that we have considered multiple times. It so makes sense right now.
It would be just Mark taking one of those seasonal jobs, though, since I have my freelance work and Maya can’t be left alone for more than three hours, because of her separation anxiety. If that… Last time she was alone for two hours, she messed up the screen of an open window above the kitchen counter in an attempt to get out and find us. How she managed to reach that is still a mystery…
Going to a cheaper country is more appealing than finding a temporary job, of course. That being said, your comment has Mark looking into Amazon jobs in Phoenix again right now. We will see what happens! Thanks for the sound advice and the nudge. 🙂
November 14, 2021 at 13:10
Hello! I downloaded the GetUpside app, but have no idea how to use it. Can you possibly provide a quick explanation. I did a search for stations but have no idea how to get the deals presented. Thanks.
November 14, 2021 at 14:37
Hi Leslie,
It takes a bit of logistics, but once set up it’s pretty straightforward. You just follow the prompts. You have to register a credit card with them and then use that same card for every gas purchase.
On the map, or a list, you find the gas station you want to use and then you have to “claim” that price, by clicking on the “claim” button. You then have four hours to show up at that station. Once there, you “check in”, which is the next step. Then, you get gas with that registered credit card and you will pay the full amount. The discount will show up as credits in your GetUpside account and once your credits have amounted to $20, you can get that money back in different ways, transferred to you, as a gift certificate, paid by Paypal…
It’s only really worth it if the discounts are substantial. When we first signed up over a year ago, our first five fills had discounts of 40 cents per gallon, which made all this worthwhile. For a few cents a gallon, it’s not worth the trouble.
I hope that makes sense.
November 15, 2021 at 09:09
Do you ever feel like the various stressors you mention could be less stressful than a short-term job? I promise that is not not meant in a challenging or obnoxious way! I am a “work to live” sort – I have never found a full-time job that fulfills me the way some people’s do – so I totally and 100% understand your disinterest in settling down to a full-time, multi-year job, but I still feel curious about why some work is not a good thing? I guess you are used to it, but for me, fretting about every single price and purchase and repair and even place to sleep might make me more anxious than stocking up the coffers every so often and then relaxing into my travels a little more! That said … WOW – what an amazing job you do with controlling your expenses even in a “bad” month!
November 15, 2021 at 20:23
Hi Lexie!
Stressing about money and every penny is tough, for sure. Luckily, we didn’t stress about it all too much, until recently, when we are actually stating to feel the inflation. Our habit of only spending on things we need and therefore making less money than the ordinary person requires to maintain a certain way of life has served us well.
Yet, like you indicate, I sometimes wish we could splurge a bit more. Ours is a lifestyle, though. Very different than working for a bit (from a comfortable, strategic home) and then enjoying the travels with that money. But I do understand what you mean – work more to be able to relax a bit about spending money.
I also like the achievement of completing job assignments and reaching goals. Speaking of which, “some work” is a good thing, of course. Apparently, most readers of this blog don’t realize that we do work. Mark picks up random multiple-month jobs once in a while and I work as a freelancer – writing, editing, and translating on a weekly or daily basis, depending on assignments and deadlines. Plus, I spend a lot of time on book promotion and blogging as well, which – unfortunately – doesn’t pay anything.
The thing we are considering now is working for a longer stint again. Unfortunately, the logistics are not ideal. We just inquired at campgrounds in Phoenix to rent a site for a month or two and, believe it or not, but they don’t accept truck campers. I would have never guessed that. Or, they’re full.
Finding an on-location job means finding a suitable campground as well and one that’s not too far away from the job or too expensive, as otherwise, when most of your wage goes to accommodation, it defeats the purpose. Anyway, we are in the midst of trying to figure something out. 🙂
November 17, 2021 at 15:31
So complicated! I know you will figure something out!
November 18, 2021 at 14:33
Yup. 🙂
November 15, 2021 at 15:57
I’d say with the price of everything, you guys are still doing great. And I will add, gas is NOT cheaper in Canada. We go by the litre which is approx. 4 to make a gallon. Our gas prices right now would be be equivalent to over $7 a gallon! Oye! <3
November 15, 2021 at 20:26
I am totally aware of the crazy gas prices in Canada (and Europe). It’s pretty insane. Certainly not a good time for road trips there. Gas in Mexico is also more expensive than in the US. We are considering a quicker departure to South America. Apparently, gas is still not too bad (for us, westerners) in Colombia! 🙂
November 16, 2021 at 10:05
Wow, I can’t imagine Mexican gas being so expensive with their cost of living. Maybe you better run fast to South America lol 🙂
November 16, 2021 at 11:04
We are starting to look into getting ourselves and the camper to South America, Debby. But, that involves a big sum of money as an initial cost, to ship the camper and for the three of us to fly. (There is no road connecting the two continents.) We will need to earn some more before this can happen.
November 17, 2021 at 10:05
Sounds like a major project Liesbet. Somehow, I know you’ll get there. Imagine all your new discoveries there! 🙂 xx
November 18, 2021 at 14:32
We will get there at some point! 🙂
November 18, 2021 at 06:38
The cost of living seems to be going up everywhere. The inflation rate in the UK just hit a 10 year high, driven up by the cost of fuel and energy. Even the Black Friday deals I’m already seeing aren’t tempting anymore. But that’s good for me because I don’t need anything else.
I hope you guys are still enjoying yourselves on your travels, though? I’m sure you are, Liesbet.
Happy travels.
November 18, 2021 at 14:37
Sounds like you are experiencing similar situations in the UK than here, Hugh. In the US, it’s the highest inflation rate in 30 years. We are not shoppers by nature and only buy what we need, but we have been holding out on new, high-quality tires for our truck in the hopes of finding a serious discount over Black Friday. So far, nothing of that kind has panned out. This is usually our strategy of buying parts online – keep an eye on it for days/weeks/months and buy the item when the price is “right.” We save hundreds of dollars each year this way. But this strategy has become harder and harder, as prices only see, to go up these days. We’ve paused our travels to work in December.
November 19, 2021 at 10:52
I’m a savvy for a bargain, Liesbet. I never buy anything at full price. If there is something I want that I can’t get a discount on, I use a cashback site which pays me to buy the item through them. I use the cashback site for all my online purchases anyway. Over the last 5 years they’ve paid me just over £1,500 back. My Grandmother always told me – ‘Look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves.’
November 22, 2021 at 11:38
I love your grandmother’s quote, Hugh. So true! Good for you, being savvy about your spending habits. Few people are like that, hence the debt problem and success of credit cards. Most people don’t realize how much money they could actually save by being careful about their expenditures and by waiting or “shopping” for better prices. It’s an art and it takes time and research, but we’ve found it worth the hundreds if not thousands of dollars we save every year. Have a great week!
February 14, 2022 at 07:36
It’s wonderful to see how you guys managed to run your life on a truck camper. Is there a way to grab a card that offers discount on filling gas?
February 16, 2022 at 00:45
Thanks, Aparna. Make sure to check out our annual expense report for 2021 as well, if you’re interested.
There are several gas station credit cards that offer discounts, but this wouldn’t work for us as we always pick the cheapest gas station to fill up instead of being loyal customers to one of them. We have a credit card that sometimes offers rewards for any gas purchase.