Shoestring Sailors (Cruising on $500 per month - part II)

[David_Old_Jersey]

As said previously, the USD500 figure was an arbitrary number (and a catchy thread title!)....this thread actually about living cheaply. Very cheaply..... With ideas that are also applicable to those with larger budgets.

So, no need to sweat on whether it is possible in every location for everyone (spoiler alert: it ain't. Lol).

Sent from my NEXUS 5 whilst sitting in my armchair tied to the dock.

[haiqu]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

As said previously, the USD500 figure was an arbitrary number (and a catchy thread title!)....this thread actually about living cheaply. Very cheaply..... With ideas that are also applicable to those with larger budgets.

So, no need to sweat on whether it is possible in every location for everyone (spoiler alert: it ain't. Lol).

Sent from my NEXUS 5 whilst sitting in my armchair tied to the dock.

I just noticed that was your 9,999th post. The next one had better be a ripper.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by haiqu

I just noticed that was your 9,999th post. The next one had better be a ripper.

I will try.



Sent from my NEXUS 5 whilst sitting in my armchair tied to the dock.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Doh!

Sent from my NEXUS 5 whilst sitting in my armchair tied to the dock.

[Strait Shooter]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Doh!

Sent from my NEXUS 5 whilst sitting in my armchair tied to the dock.

Touché David.......

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

HF - that might work for you, but it won't work for most people - especially those of the female persuasion - who are least likely to want to 'burn the bridges' by giving up all the 'home comforts' [never mind the home itself] before setting off on a sailing adventure.

You seldom see single female sailors whose husbands have abandoned them and swallowed the anchor....

Frankly, I think renting the house out to provide an income (or meet mortgage commitments, and thus avoid 'selling up') is far preferable to the 'what if' scenario of the totally indigent sailor, who has no 'back-up plan' readily available should the cruising life palll, or whose health deteroirates to the point that living aboard is no longer viable.

At some point, every old salt has to swallow the hook. What then?

Hmmm.... buy an RV, maybe? lol

I don't mean to 'criticise' in any way. For you, and for many others, being totally 'land independent', with no rates, taxes, registrations or fees (other than the boat itself presumably) works fine.

It's not that I am 'risk averse' (quite the opposite if the truth be told) but that each of us has a different level of personal and financial 'risk' we are willing to accept.

But......having said that......if I could make it work, I'd live aboard like a shot.

Should have done it years ago. Sigh.

Of course my wife, Nancie, never did "...burn any bridges by giving up all the home comforts, never mind the home itself, before setting off on a sailing adventure." She never had anything to give up and nothing to downsize and neither did I.

Forty-four years ago we could have rented a small apartment and done well. There's no personal or financial risk for us to accept when we are subject to heath loss or even the catastrophic loss of our boat. We've been living on less than our income aboard our simple boats for all of these forty-four years.

We've never seen this "risk".

[Blue Crab]

...
It's not that I am 'risk averse' (quite the opposite if the truth be told) but that each of us has a different level of personal and financial 'risk' we are willing to accept.

But......having said that......if I could make it work, I'd live aboard like a shot.

Should have done it years ago. Sigh.

Many folks say similar and lots even try it. Some sell all and go ... for awhile or forever. Most don't. Living aboard is very inconvenient. Forget the relative dangers and costs, high or low, the inconvenience gets under yer skin. For some of us, whatever benefits gained, real or perceived, is worth it.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Blue Crab

........................ Most don't. Living aboard is very inconvenient.
................ the inconvenience gets under yer skin. .....

I might not know this inconvenience, but then I've never lived in a house of my own. 'just grew up in my parent's house until I was 17. I can imagine the inconvenience of cold weather, but I've never lived aboard in cold weather. I can imagine an inconvenience of a daily dinghy commute for work, but I've never done that either.

Are there other possible inconveniences?

The simple space, the freedom, the lack of property taxes and the "off the grid" independence seem pretty convenient.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

The simple space, the freedom, the lack of property taxes and the "off the grid" independence seem pretty convenient.

Like I said, it's about what you are used to. If you have lived a champaign & caviar lifestyle prior to cruising, it is highly doubtful you're going to suddenly switch to beer & beans. The opposite is also true.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Like I said, it's about what you are used to. If you have lived a champaign & caviar lifestyle prior to cruising, it is highly doubtful you're going to suddenly switch to beer & beans. The opposite is also true.

The funny thing, for me, while reading your post; I read right past the champagne and caviar, but when I came to the beer and beans I felt the hunger pains and began salivating like Pavlov's dog!

Yes, I can sit on my 43 year old "chlorox bottle" boat and thrill with beer and beans! Well said!

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Do you ever shop in stores that cater to orientals or the Spanish community for many of your staples? Here in Washington I can get the same food at albertsons or Walmart but the price is about half of them at a store that mostly carries foods for specific nationalities. For instance cup noodles at Walmart about a buck a cup. In china town its 2 for a buck. And rice is about 30% lower per pound as well meats are also cheaper YMMV

YMSMV.

(your meat species may vary)

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Therapy

YMSMV.

(your meat species may vary)

That's half the fun of it. Also the reason for a well stocked spice rack.

[Ballenxj]

Originally Posted by Therapy

YMSMV.

(your meat species may vary)

Just beware of the neighborhood meat market that has a noticeable lack of dogs, cats, & squirrels in the surrounding area.
Hey, you set yourself up for that one.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by Ballenxj

Just beware of the neighborhood meat market that has a noticeable lack of dogs, cats, & squirrels in the surrounding area.
Hey, you set yourself up for that one.

Yes, but he did it purposefully ... for the old joke.

[newhaul]

Ain't nothing wrong with a good squirrel stew