Month 67 Expenses of Cruising and Living on the Boat

[sailorboy1]

For planners, budgeters, wannabes, and hecklers below is real amount spent in month 67 of living and cruising on my boat:

• General Living - Food, soda, alcohol, clothing, sundries, other $1,038.86
• Boat costs - upgrades, repairs, maintenance - $ 1,001.43, Getting ready for a haul out so that includes $715 for new shaft packing gland assembly, a flex coupling, and some prop Glide for the shaft and prop.
• Fuel (diesel, gas, propane) - $ 194.60
• Dining and drinking out - $ 865.81
• Entertainment - $ 56.38
• Communication, storage, shipping - $ 97.50
• Fees - $ (49.71) money back on credit card
• Marina - $ 348.19
• Electric - $ 36.2
• Medical - $ 31.19
• Transportation and travel - $ 6,659.85 ($5500 used car, $567 to register, $493 6-month insurance)
• Boat Insurance - $ 84.00

Total for the month $10,403.81

[Drek4]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

For planners, budgeters, wannabes, and hecklers below is real amount spent in month 67 of living and cruising on my boat:

• General Living - Food, soda, alcohol, clothing, sundries, other $1,038.86
• Boat costs - upgrades, repairs, maintenance - $ 1,001.43, Getting ready for a haul out so that includes $715 for new shaft packing gland assembly, a flex coupling, and some prop Glide for the shaft and prop.
• Fuel (diesel, gas, propane) - $ 194.60
• Dining and drinking out - $ 865.81
• Entertainment - $ 56.38
• Communication, storage, shipping - $ 97.50
• Fees - $ (49.71) money back on credit card
• Marina - $ 348.19
• Electric - $ 36.2
• Medical - $ 31.19
• Transportation and travel - $ 6,659.85 ($5500 used car, $567 to register, $493 6-month insurance)
• Boat Insurance - $ 84.00

Total for the month $10,403.81

I hope this reply will not be considered as offensive by me or any disrespect towards you in any way.
But you state that you use to be in the top 15% and now you are on the poverty line, well with your expenses that you divulge to us, I find this to be a rather "plush" and comfortable existence.
I don't live at the poverty line and I could never afford to spend as you do.

[Bill O]

Even with a couple of major purchases (~$10,299 for water maker & car w/associated additional fees) in the last few months, your overall monthly average is still very good.
Good job!

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Drek4

I hope this reply will not be considered as offensive by me or any disrespect towards you in any way. Oh no, why would I ever think that

I don't live at the poverty line and I could never afford to spend as you do.

If you think I am on the upper end of boat scum you are wrong. In the 5.5 years of doing this full time I am maybe average. Maybe someone will come along here and post some long term low cost numbers. Wait, I have made the challenge and it never happens other than a blanket statement.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Even with a couple of major purchases (~$10,299 for water maker & car w/associated additional fees) in the last few months, your overall monthly average is still very good.
Good job!

Thanks, I thought so too considering

I bet If I applied the "not counting" method of tracking cruising and boat living costs I could get my average below $2k/mo. Wonder if that would help anyone with planning

[Drek4]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

If you think I am on the upper end of boat scum you are wrong. In the 5.5 years of doing this full time I am maybe average. Maybe someone will come along here and post some long term low cost numbers. Wait, I have made the challenge and it never happens other than a blanket statement.

Well I guess I'm in the lower end, that kinda sucks, ah well life goes on.
Hope this cheered you up.
Once I get mine will do, I might be mocked, but I will keep good note of my expenses, I always do anyways.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Drek4

Well I guess I'm in the lower end, that kinda sucks, ah well life goes on.
Hope this cheered you up.
Once I get mine will do, I might be mocked, but I will keep good note of my expenses, I always do anyways.

LOTS of wannabes show up here with low cost dreams. We never heard back from most. Only a few here are even willing to share their spending numbers (with no "not counting" items) and provide it long term with a category breakdown.

[Drek4]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

LOTS of wannabes show up here with low cost dreams. We never heard back from most. Only a few here are even willing to share their spending numbers (with no "not counting" items) and provide it long term with a category breakdown.

Well it won't happen this month or this year, I might not do it for as long as you do, but anyways, time will tell.

[Montanan]

Thank you Sailorboy for sharing your exceptional detailed financial records revealing the reality of liveaboard and cruising lifestyle.

All the best,

Dan

[argosail]

Seeing as you like living on the edge why not just buy a cheap motorcycle for a few hundred with dirt cheap insurance, saved you $6000

But hey, with the used car market the way it is, you can definitely break even selling that car back later on!

[sailorboy1]

Only a few days left in the current month. This month we hauled out and did the bottom. We already had the paint and I had the yard do the sanding and painting because I had other things to do. We also do a condo vacation for a few days.

Who wants to guess at what the month will come to be cost wise?

[PushingThePen]

Can I assume you're not spending the $6.7K each month in the car? That would be seriously luxury! Lol

Outside of a few things, I'd say you've got a very reasonably budget there for a high output month. The car, repairs, etc. that wouldn't be usually incurred each month. Displacing those costs over the whole year puts you about where I figured when I was part-time.

On a side question: What's your on the boat liquor budget?

I'm getting things together to do a year of sailing around the world. Always interested in getting input and tips from those doing it.

[Talk Story]

Thank you for your numbers! It will be interesting to compare now to a year from now with inflation, food and fuel costs!

[Iwannarelax]

Thanks for this!!
I am always looking for actual costs and seeing I'd be able to remove the transportation cost and travel category, that puts it at 3743.96...not too bad...not too bad at all.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Only a few days left in the current month. This month we hauled out and did the bottom. We already had the paint and I had the yard do the sanding and painting because I had other things to do. We also do a condo vacation for a few days.

Who wants to guess at what the month will come to be cost wise?

Is this like the Price is Right show? If so, I'll go in at $3,899.