Quote:
Originally Posted by bobconnie
Connie and I cruised on just my SS Retirement, for several years ! but we were not staying in marinas ! We had to anchor, or sometimes we used Yacht Clubs with reciprocals that accepted ours LOL We seldom eat out , but do sometimes ! We banked the money she made as a RN and used it to buy our Property with dockage here in Louisiana! If ya can do ALMOST all of work on your boat, and want to, you can cruise on a heck of a lot less money then you think !! As we almost don't drink, don't buy beer LOL we can cruise cheap LOL
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I think cruisers living on fixed incomes get a whole lot better at budgeting out of necessity. But better than most they become aware of the relatively small costs that add up. Many who do eat out, find reasonably priced places, find specials and then find quantities that allow them to take leftovers back to the boat and get two
meals for the
price of one. They find places that are price sensitive because they cater to cruisers. Those cruising also find locally fresh products that save money. Many catch
fish for dinner regularly. If they drink, they sip on the boat rather than a bar. Also, learn to buy what where. Certain things are best purchased in the mega supermarket or Walmart while others cost no more picking them up as needed while cruising and sometimes less.
If you read some of the money threads here on living for different amounts you'll really learn a lot even if you choose to not live as frugally as the posters.
Transportation when away from your home port is an area that can vary greatly. Walking and bicycles cheapest along with loaner cars from marinas.
As to entertainment, it's amazing how
water towns are always having something, from festivals to gatherings to concerts, much of which is free.
Limited space is a great money saver. You think before you buy of whether you have a spot for something and often then pass it by. Also by traveling a lot you're able to find deals here and there in
clothing at local shops. Most of the
ports are small towns where people live more economically than larger cities.
Many boaters do an excellent job of planning
fuel to the best prices. When I'm filling my car I don't pay a lot of attention if the place down the street was 3 cents per gallon cheaper. So I save 48 cents by going there. When you're filling a boat at 200 gallons and the price difference is 40 cents then you're talking $80. Then toss in Boat US or Active
Captain or Check/Cash discounts and it's better. Oh and if they won't take a check or give a cash discount, then use a credit card with rewards for
fuel. Ours gives 3% back on fuel purchases. You do need to make sure they actually give it as they may not recognize it was fuel charged.
If you're a
DIY type, as you cruise you'll meet more who are as well. You'll find that in helping them occasionally they help you in return. So some of the
DIY jobs you might be reluctant to tackle, they will and also teach you at the same time. Like anywhere else, you help your neighbors and they'll help you.
My wife and I are far from frugal but even we have some ways we save, simply because we feel we're wasting money. We haven't purchased a newspaper in 10 years or more. It's all online. We also don't have to dispose of it that way.
We are big amazon shoppers and have Amazon Prime so two day free
shipping on those items, lazy. But also certain things in quantities you find great. All the people who take Zyrtec. You'll find the Kirkland (Costco) Generic on Amazon for a years quantity costing you about what a month would otherwise. Band Aids. Neosporin. Many similar things. Large volumes of hair products. We shipped
Toilet paper from Amazon to our boat in
Washington. Two month trip. 60 Rolls. I know many boaters who love Costco and Sam's. I'm not one of them.
Batteries on
sale at
Batteries Plus or
Radio Shack.
Radio Shack always has them on
sale, just different packs. The other day I wanted 160 AA's. They had 40 Packs, 20 Packs, 8 Packs and 4 Packs. I got 40 x 4 packs. They were on sale buy one get one free.