Cruising Budget

[Blue Crab]

I'm curious about cruising budgets. We've all read and have opinions about the $500/mo budget. I think most of us acknowledge while you can cruise (maybe not around the world) on $500 most of us wouldn't want to be that limited financially. Hopefully, this will be an anonymous poll re your monthly budget if you are a fulltime liveaboard cruiser, or soon will be or just were, and not someone living on the hook because it's cheaper than living ashore. So please pick a category closest to where your budget is (if you budget at all) on the scale. This is just about how much you allocate to cruise, not what your monthly income is unless it's the same number. I think it might be interesting to know, in a general way, are we micro-budget cruisers or big buckers? Thanks.

$500 a month
$1000 "
$2000 "
$5000+ "

[Navicula]

honestly.........we dont care how much it costs, we want, and we will give it a try for a year, no matter how much it cost. (money is cheap, line of credit, dont be afraid of the cost)

could be the best thing I have ever done or could be the worst.

[boatman61]

Budget... Whats that....
Whatever I have is my budget

[UWOA]

I still have a land yacht, so the most I can allocate is $4,000 a month (and the way things keep breaking on this boat, it's barely enough ... sigh).

[lorenzo b]

Like I used to tell my clients in the garden construction business in San Francisco, " Budget? Budget? I'm not here to talk about your budget. Tell me about your vision."

[Unicorn Dreams]

My retirement brings in right at $3K per month. Planning on a budget of $2,500 per month and the rest in an emergency fund so I don't have to access my land account unless absolutely necessary.

[Mark Johnson]

Originally Posted by tgzzzz

I'm curious about cruising budgets. We've all read and have opinions about the $500/mo budget. I think most of us acknowledge while you can cruise (maybe not around the world) on $500 most of us wouldn't want to be that limited financially. Hopefully, this will be an anonymous poll re your monthly budget if you are a fulltime liveaboard cruiser, or soon will be or just were, and not someone living on the hook because it's cheaper than living ashore. So please pick a category closest to where your budget is (if you budget at all) on the scale. This is just about how much you allocate to cruise, not what your monthly income is unless it's the same number. I think it might be interesting to know, in a general way, are we micro-budget cruisers or big buckers? Thanks.

$500 a month
$1000 "
$2000 "
$5000+ "

Seems like a moot question, unless one specifies weather it is expenses for a single cruiser, or a couple. (BIG difference)! We had a total expense of about 1,000 per month, including boat maintenance averaged out over many years, and all landside expenses, like taxes, fees, and a storage building.

This is roughly equivalent to a monthly expense of $500 per month for a single sailor, with similar landside expenses, and averageing in boat maintenance as well.

Mark

[ThereBePirates]

I have been sailing and enjoying myself for the last few months on far less than 500 a month, all depends how often one goes for drinkies!

Boat maintenance is another fund.

[sailorboy1]

The poll skipped the $1000- $2000, which would have been my selection (1500-1750 is my plan). This is based on 2 people and has to cover all total expenses.

This comes up a lot and I wish real answers were given more often. Answers that go down the "it depends" road are of little use. If you can not put a number to your "depends" issues then you just don'ty have a planned budget.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

The poll skipped the $1000- $2000, which would have been my selection (1500-1750 is my plan). This is based on 2 people and has to cover all total expenses.

This comes up a lot and I wish real answers were given more often. Answers that go down the "it depends" road are of little use. If you can not put a number to your "depends" issues then you just don'ty have a planned budget.

I agree Don. I haven't done a poll before but was just looking for round numbers, now that the economy has been humbled somewhat. Based on your answer, I'd have put you in the 2k group. Mark Johnson and wife in the 1k group. Therebepirates: 1k give or take. Same group I'll be in more or less at the end of the summer (my money making time). To put a number on it, I'd also guess Boatman61, who is really 62, probably has 1k or so available a month based on his posts. It wasn't about how much you have stashed but how much you're spending. Boaty's actual answer is mine too: I've lived aboard several small boats (largest was 30') for many years; I'll spend what I have as this is where I live, I don't have a time limit, a house (see ex) or things in paid storage. Kids' education is covered. I'm free.

[Liam Wald]

I can skimp and do it on $1000. I can have a lot more fun with $2000. I average $1500-$2000.

[foamcore]

My last cruise I spent around $1,000 to $1500 a month. That was 2001 to 2005. This time I'll have between $1500 to $2,000 and that is just for me.

[RainDog]

Can you fix the poll, or do they not let you edit the choices?

It is a great idea for a poll, but with the $1000 - $2000 range missing, it kind of makes it useless.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by RainDog

Can you fix the poll, or do they not let you edit the choices?

It is a great idea for a poll, but with the $1000 - $2000 range missing, it kind of makes it useless.

Agreed, without the $1000-2000 catagory it is useless. Need also to define wether it is a perperson of couple cost.

Unfortunately if there a lot and i expect a lot in that catagory should start again.

[Unicorn Dreams]

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