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

[sailorchic34]

Part of getting food costs down is watching the prices and knowing which store has the lowest prices on different things. Of course using simple or raw foods and not frozen dinners cut down on costs a lot.

Though they add to prep time. Dumping the car, car insurance, slip and living on the hook is about the only way I know. Plus I don't smoke or drink so that cuts lots right there. Plus no health insurance.

Really at $500 a month your looking at food, fuel and maybe phone.

My basic costs per month are
Food = $150-$170
cat costs = $50 (food, litter)
fuel = $50 ish (sometimes more sometimes less
maintenance = $60 (includes haul out every 3-4 years and basic repairs / maintenance). I believe on using the best paint I can find for the area I'm in.
boat insurance = $44
internet = $40
Slip (2 x one night per month) =$50 (not at the higher end marina's either) Actually the inland areas of the SF bay area have some pretty cheap rates so you have to shop around.
misc. = $50 (cloths, makeup, hair, propane, sundries)

Clothes are goodwill or really good clearance sale price items.

Food for me is generally hamburger, rice, onions, garlic, lettuce, potato's, tomato sauce. coconut milk (for curries), pasta, bread, flour, milk, butter, celery, spices. Plus some canned chicken, roast beef or ham sometimes. Maybe some fish if they are biting but I'm a not so great fisher woman. Oh some cheese too. Bell peppers when they are on sale for 3 @ $1.00.

That plus spices and I'm pretty much good to go. Most meats are off the table as they are just too much $$$ for a $500 a month budget.

I shop in two or three different places and shop prices. You can easily spend over twice what I do for the exact same things depending on where you shop.

Lots of curries and gumbo's on this girls boat.

If I was no careful about where I shopped or if I kept the boat in a pricey marina, my costs would be $1100-$1200 a month easy. Add a car, car insurance, phone, cable, dinner out, movies, etc. and the costs go up and up.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by capttman

Hmmm maybe I will clean someone's bottom to fill my cruising kitty. I'm trying but can only get my costs down to 900 a month. Boy food is expensive and I like to eat!!
I need help. How do you guys get down to 500?

Sailorchic needed her bottom cleaned. DOJ has probably handled that by now.

How to get to $500? Read man.

You've got some great reading ahead.

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Bobnoxx99

i am beginning to fall in love...

with someone mean and ugly?...DVC

[onestepcsy37]

i have a friend who lives not on $500 a month but close - $600. that's his social security check; he has no other assets except his boat - an irwin 37. he hasn't been to a dock in the three years i've known him and hasn't hauled out either. lots of diving and bottom scrubbing i guess. can't say he's living well, more like just surviving, and yet he truly enjoys his lifestyle, says he will never live on land again.

[Bobnoxx99]

i missed a comma, egads...

[Bobnoxx99]

with what she knows... I am from Bama.
i can almost see what's coming...

[Ballenxj]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Glass houses and all that stuff...

Maybe you should find the quote button. The last three posts relate to what????

I'm glad it's not just me. I thought maybe I had missed something?
-Bruce

[Cacique]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

Lots of curries and gumbo's on this girls boat.

What's a gumbo?

[frank_f]

Originally Posted by Cacique

What's a gumbo?

It's actually classed as a soup but done properly, it's probably the best thing you will ever put in your mouth. The roux will make or break it.

Jambalaya is right there with it for extremely good things to eat.

Sorry, gotta go eat now.

[zeehag]

gumbo rocks..
capttman livin too large...lol cant drop under 900/mo?? i can teach ye....

[sailorchic34]

Shrimp Gumbo, Yum. Though any type of meat works. Jambalaya is right up there near the top too...

[Bobnoxx99]

Originally Posted by Doodles

And you complain about someone else's grammar!

Sorry I apologize for earlier remarks, I want to make friends with people, just had a bad day...

[Bobnoxx99]

Sorry I apologize for earlier remarks, I want to make friends with people, just had a bad day...

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Glass houses and all that stuff...

Maybe you should find the quote button. The last three posts relate to what????

[Cacique]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

Shrimp Gumbo, Yum. Though any type of meat works. Jambalaya is right up there near the top too...

Looks very nice, do you catch your own shrimp?
I will be looking up the recipie. Yum Yum.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Bobnoxx99

Sorry I apologize for earlier remarks, I want to make friends with people, just had a bad day...

Do-overs are free with me. I'll chalk it up to PUI...

I don't have time to stay mad at anyone - LOL

Welcome to CF if I haven't said it before...