Cruising on $5,000 / Month

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by hpeer

A MONTH or a YEAR?

WHOOPS A MONTH - sure wish it was the other through

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by Red Sky

SNIP

In fact, I think those that do, live a truer existence to their beliefs than those that are in the "I drive a Prius, therefor I'm better than you crowd".

SNIP

Wow, I am very conflicted. My monthly expenses would probably put me in your 'truer existence' group. Problem is that I drive a Prius. But I do not self identify as being in the 'I'm better than you crowd'.

Just because someone has advanced professional degrees and spent several years working for the big bucks and was able to accumulate real estate, retirement accounts, a car, a van, and a nice catamaran does not mean they are not able to keep the monthly expenses down.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by tomfl

Wow, I am very conflicted. My monthly expenses would probably put me in your 'truer existence' group. Problem is that I drive a Prius. But I do not self identify as being in the 'I'm better than you crowd'.

Just because someone has advanced professional degrees and spent several years working for the big bucks and was able to accumulate real estate, retirement accounts, a car, a van, and a nice catamaran does not mean they are not able to keep the monthly expenses down.

Lets hope!

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by tomfl

Wow, I am very conflicted. My monthly expenses would probably put me in your 'truer existence' group. Problem is that I drive a Prius. But I do not self identify as being in the 'I'm better than you crowd'.

I got lost somewhere here. Is the Prius an expensive car where you live? It is about the cheapest car you can buy (for TCO) where I live.

I thought the "better than you crowd" was driving Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Infinity, Land Rover, Porsche, etc.

[Blue Crab]

Nah. Tomfl has the bucks but still lives frugally. I'm fer it. The antithesis of the checkbook sailor.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I got lost somewhere here. Is the Prius an expensive car where you live? It is about the cheapest car you can buy (for TCO) where I live.



I thought the "better than you crowd" was driving Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Infinity, Land Rover, Porsche, etc.

There you go busting my bubble, I was beginning to think I was special

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I got lost somewhere here. Is the Prius an expensive car where you live? It is about the cheapest car you can buy (for TCO) where I live.

I thought the "better than you crowd" was driving Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Infinity, Land Rover, Porsche, etc.

Not sure what TCO means in this context, but there are plenty of cars cheaper than a Prius.

If it makes you feel I am more qualified to be in the 'better than you crowd' because I also have a Mercedes Sprinter van I am happy to post that information.

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by tomfl

Not sure what TCO means in this context, but there are plenty of cars cheaper than a Prius.

If it makes you feel I am more qualified to be in the 'better than you crowd' because I also have a Mercedes Sprinter van I am happy to post that information.

I drive a Nissan Frontier, so I don't care much either way Just never considered a Prius a fancy car, so was surprised to see the comment.

TCO is total cost of ownership. Price + Gas + Maintenance.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Words of wisdom, those! The realities of long term cruising are difficult to grasp until you actually try it on for size.

Sounds to me like you will prosper, mate. Good luck, and see ya out here someday.

Jim

Thanks for the kind words.

I want to start walking around with a check this summer but it may have to wait till next year. Who knows. I may start another $500-to-find-me-a-boat thread.

[undercutter]

When we were in Cuba 5 years ago on our very first boat, my wife met a couple in a 14-16 footer that I am sure they sailed on no more of a budget than the costs of food. The boat had no motor (oars or sails for propulsion) no electricity, (cooler for food storage and a couple of fishing poles), the cabin was so small that you had to enter horizontally.

She said that she chatted with these people for quite awhile and they seemed to be very happy with their experiences with at least the man being permanently based on the boat and having sailed everywhere.

I guess the moral of the story is that it is all in what makes you tick.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I drive a Nissan Frontier, so I don't care much either way Just never considered a Prius a fancy car, so was surprised to see the comment.

TCO is total cost of ownership. Price + Gas + Maintenance.

Well, I don't judge people by the car they drive or the boat. Don't judge based on rich or poor. Don't judge based on whether they live frugally or spend every penny they take in. I don't look down on any people based on their finances or how they choose to live in that regard.

While not illegal in any regard, judging based on factors such as above are just one more form of bigotry and we have way too much of that already.

I do pay more attention to how people treat others. Do they show respect? Are they ready to come to the aid of others when needed? Do they exhibit human qualities of kindness?

And if you judge me on the basis of my boat or car or spending habits or other such factors then it says far more about you than it does me.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by tomfl

Not sure what TCO means in this context, but there are plenty of cars cheaper than a Prius.

If it makes you feel I am more qualified to be in the 'better than you crowd' because I also have a Mercedes Sprinter van I am happy to post that information.

Nice. How is that working out? I have heard good things. Unlike lots of their cars these days.

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by Therapy

Nice. How is that working out? I have heard good things. Unlike lots of their cars these days.

I am very happy with my Sprinter van. Have had it for several years. Been from Florida to Death Valley twice and once to Lake Powell. No problems with snow or going up in the Rockies. It is not the latest generation, has the five cylinder engine. I upgraded from the plastic to an OEM metal turbo resonator and am very serious about getting the oil changed. Never had any problems. The five cylinder engine models, mine included, get around 25mpg or more at highway speeds. This generation is more like a truck. The newer models are more like vans, more comfortable, quieter, and mpg is much worse.

There is a very active yahoo users group if you want more information, and a couple of more yahoo groups with less activity. Here is a link to the big one

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/sprintervan/info

[DWT]

Originally Posted by BandB

Well, I don't judge people by the car they drive or the boat. Don't judge based on rich or poor. Don't judge based on whether they live frugally or spend every penny they take in. I don't look down on any people based on their finances or how they choose to live in that regard.

While not illegal in any regard, judging based on factors such as above are just one more form of bigotry and we have way too much of that already.

I do pay more attention to how people treat others. Do they show respect? Are they ready to come to the aid of others when needed? Do they exhibit human qualities of kindness?

And if you judge me on the basis of my boat or car or spending habits or other such factors then it says far more about you than it does me.

Nicely said!

[carstenb]

When we cast off in a couple of years, we will have more than use 5k per month (two white collar high pensions).

What will our budget be? difficult to say off hand, but we find as we get older, we no longer buy anything (except for on the boat - sigh). As a matter of fact we are actively getting rid of things.

I'm semi-retired and I haven't bought any clothes (except boat shoes) for years. MY wife still works full-time so she has to buy some, but otherwise we really don't spend very much money.

We will spend money on sight-seeing and car rental etc and since we do like to eat out occasionally (casual dining) this will also be an expense..
I've come up with the number use 3k for cruising. With an additional 1k per month for unexpected boat repair (i fix almost everything myself).

We plan on liquidating everything, house, cars etc. so we'll also a substantial back-up kitty. The boat is paid for.

I'll have a small income from my writing (maybe as much as use 500 per month).

Good thread Don - but you're a terrible mathematician - guessing wrong by a buck on a 3k budget