Cruising on $500 / Month

[Springbok]

Between 1995-2002 we cruised the Caribbean on the above amount which included boat maintenance/food et al. The boat was well equipped ie solar panels, wind charger etc etc. Can this be done today- always on the hook.
Then the ICW and Cheasepeake Bay on this monthly sum. I pan-fished often to supplement the pot. Would fit into the thread "where has the cruising sub-culture gone?", which I see has today again appeared re discussion.
Clyde

Definetely not an elitist cruiser.

[Ram]

I THINK it would be hard to cover food and fuel on $500, let alone any unforseen things that always come up- I think those days og $500 a month are gone-

[Therapy]

This might occupy you for a bit.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ing-31575.html

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Springbok

Would fit into the thread "where has the cruising sub-culture gone?", which I see has today again appeared re discussion.
Clyde

Definetely not an elitist cruiser.

One on a strict, strict budget.

Just like many.

I doubt you can do it on $500 per month easily today ubnless the boat was very well set up prior and had a few bags of provisions already on board not counted in the budget.

I just put on 10 cases of beer today. that would have stuffed you for a month or 2


Here it was only $130!

[Vasco]

Extremely difficult. In 2002 diesel was about $1.20 a gallon. Fuel was not a big part of the budget. Very different today. If you do the ICW, you're motoring most of the time.

[defever]

$500 a month??....whoa there, pardner... if ya catch lots of fish, don't have any repairs to do, sail almost all the time, single-hand and DON'T DRINK, you probably could do it. but then, what's the point???

[nautical62]

Does that $500/month include health insurance and boat insurance? Did you ever do any non-boat travel during that time (rent a car, fly home, etc), and if so is that included in this average?

Also is that $500/person or $500/couple?

[Ram]

I have a very good friend who could do it on $500 a month most months, hes a wonderful guy and quite wealthy- but beleave it or not he gets a large part of his food by going to dumpsters at supermarkets,hes never had a girl friend for more than a month because of his cheapness and yet ive known him 20 years and think hes my best friend- i only found out he had about a million in the bank along with 6 rental houses paid for by chance-- yet he carrys no insurance, and drives a moped because he "cant afford the gas" so if you can live like him $500 will do!

[gonesail]

it can be done .. homeless people get by on much less than that .. if you stay on the boat and catch a lot of fish to eat and don't need to see a doctor or dentist and don't need to run your engine much and stay out of trouble. one night at a marina with a meal could blow your budget.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Ram

I have a very good friend who could do it on $500 a month most months, hes a wonderful guy and quite wealthy- but beleave it or not he gets a large part of his food by going to dumpsters at supermarkets,hes never had a girl friend for more than a month because of his cheapness and yet ive known him 20 years and think hes my best friend- i only found out he had about a million in the bank along with 6 rental houses paid for by chance-- yet he carrys no insurance, and drives a moped because he "cant afford the gas" so if you can live like him $500 will do!

One of my BFFs, while not living "that far out" right now has certainly done it in the past. One of the most interesting persons on the planet (mine anyway ) and exceptionally well read and talented.

[phorvati]

my wife and i have on about 1000$/month, and it is frugal, but we had lobster, tuna, mahi, snapper, grouper. I ran the engine about an hour per week and that is mostly to make water. We did go grocery shopping about once per month. Try to avoid small island grocery stores as they are expensive. Large chains like the ones in PR or DR are good to stalk up, assuming you have a large fridge and freezer.

[sailorboy1]

Sounds like it comes down to what you have to give up compared to what you get. If you are happier cruising on the $500/mo than your other chioces then I bet you find a way. Seems lots of people respond to this question with "if this happens" "if that happens". Appears a little crazy to say it can not be done when Springbok says he did it. Yeah that was in 2002, so at a 5% inflation that's $607 now.

[creakyboy]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

One on a strict, strict budget.

Just like many.

I doubt you can do it on $500 per month easily today ubnless the boat was very well set up prior and had a few bags of provisions already on board not counted in the budget.

I just put on 10 cases of beer today. that would have stuffed you for a month or 2


Here it was only $130!

$13 per slab???!!!...where are You Mark? might have to alter my plans

[marujo.sortudo]

You can TOTALLY cruise on $500/month just like you did back then! Only your boat will have gotten smaller...

[Navicula]

we are talking 2009

are you going to crusie without insurance.....
what about health care...............
and toothpaste and fruit and soap

at 48 years old I will NOT be living on 500-800 dollars per month
unemployment pays me 400 bucks per week