Month seven for a middle-aged couple on a modest boat

[Cthoops]

As we were getting ready to cut the dock lines, I found Sailorboy's monthly posts listing his cruising expenses were very helpful as a real world example of the costs of cruising. In the interest of paying it forward, I thought I'd list our monthly expenses for those who are dreaming and planning as we once were.

As background, we are a middle-aged couple (I'm 49, Mr. cthoops is 59) and we are cruising full-time on our 1977 Bristol 29.9. This is our second boat and we've spent the last few years sailing her in the summer and refitting during the winter.

We spent the entire month of March in the Bahamas which, once again, is proving to be very good for the budget. Here's what we spent, keeping in mind that Mr. cthoops has congestive heart failure so we don't drink alcohol (his cardiologist says no) and we eat out infrequently (because of his sodium restrictions).

Expenses:

Groceries/Non-food Groceries: $175.53

Diesel/Gasoline: $64.00 (15 gallons in Rock Sound, Eleuthera)

Medical: $90.00 (prescriptions)

Cell phone and internet (2 phones, iCloud storage, Garmin inReach subscription, and myislandwifi because the T-Mobile service is so slow in the Bahamas): $219.26.

Ice: $9.00

Restaurants/Entertainment: $118.00

New York Times subscription: $20.20

Mooring ball for one night: $25.00

Non-Owners Auto Insurance policy for six months: $74.80

Random: $22.88. Trash disposal in Georgetown, one Kindle book, and plastic spatulas.

Total: $818.64

September, 2018 through March 2019 monthly average: $4,055.33


I hope this is helpful.

[MV Wanderlust]

You had a good month.

[wolfgal]

what a good month!

i'm very thankful for your expense updates!

good things to both of you


wolfgal

[Cthoops]

Two good months in a row. I think we need to stay here.

[Pete17C]

Originally Posted by Cthoops

Two good months in a row. I think we need to stay here.

but then we'd have to change the name of the website to 'Anchorers Forum'

[BenBowSirocco]

Thank you for posting your numbers you two! We really appreciate it.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Cthoops

Restaurants/Entertainment: $118.00

Nicd to see you guys living it up a little

[chuckr]

No boat expenses then again hard to spend money on the floating mistress when in the Bahamas - nice month

[mr336]

Please clarify. $4,055.33 average month from sept. to March totaling $4,055.33 x 7 months or total spending for 7 months? Apologies but I haven't followed your spending thread.

cheers

[sailorboy1]

maybe just go and read the other 6 months expenses threads if you are interested in the topic???

[Cthoops]

Originally Posted by mr336

Please clarify. $4,055.33 average month from sept. to March totaling $4,055.33 x 7 months or total spending for 7 months? Apologies but I haven't followed your spending thread.

cheers

It’s $4,055.33 x 7 months. We have definitely spent more than a total of $4,055.33 since leaving in September. Heck, we spent more than that in the first month alone.

We had a few very high expense months which is why the average is so high, but it’s starting to come down now.

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by Cthoops

It’s $4,055.33 x 7 months. We have definitely spent more than a total of $4,055.33 since leaving in September. Heck, we spent more than that in the first month alone.

We had a few very high expense months which is why the average is so high, but it’s starting to come down now.

Exactly -- expenses go though cycles - the high expense months get you ready to go cruising or repair the result of recent cruises and lower expenses when out actually cruising.

Of course Bahamas are one of those places where spending money is difficult and boat prep post cruising is minimal unless you decide to do major upgrades after finding out a few things you need to continue the lifestyle (as we did)