Issue 11: The Cruising LifeIssue #11 - July 10, 2010 It sounds like a wonderful lifestyle. Christine Couch knows. She actually lived it! I came across her website Cruising Women on Yachts and I asked her to contribute an article about the costs of this lifestyle. She sent me the following tips, ideas and estimates (Note that all estimates are in Australian Dollars, since that's where Christine is based.) But first, an update: Financial Freedom Guide is on Facebook!Click here. Feel free to use Facebook to communicate with me. Stay tuned for cool links and thought-provoking polls! And now back to Christine... FoodFood is individual and costs vary between cold and warm climates and coastal or off shore sailing. Always shop where the locals shop it’s always cheaper than the smaller stores on the tourist strips. If you’re lucky to catch a few fish it’s a great supplement for meat that may be expensive in some areas. At some islands you can exchange goods for fruit, vegetables and seafood. For example at Minerva Reef on the way to Tonga we swapped cans of beer for whole lobsters. One of the ‘must haves’ in the galley is a pressure cooker. It saves time, money and in the tropics is so fast in cooking it keeps the heat down in the cabin. A pressure cooker makes a great pot roast, can turn cheaper cuts of meat into tender and savory meals. In a different country part of the fun of cruising is tasting the local cuisine. Some countries are fantastic with cafes and delicious meals without breaking the budget. The Cost of FuelThe best part of the cruising budget is the wind is free, and we are sailors so cruisers prefer to use their engine as little as possible. Entering and departing anchorages or at times marinas there is minimal use of fuel. My diesel inboard motor runs on the smell of an oily rag. Based on cruisers I’ve talked to your total fuel budget can range from $20 to $50 a month on average if most of the time you spend sailing or at anchor. EntertainmentTravel a few hundred miles or over seas and part of the enjoyment is getting out there and exploring the sites, natural wonders, history and all that the culture has to offer. There are the simple pleasures to be experienced for free: walking, hiking snorkeling or scuba diving and beach combing. Books, games and DVDs can be swapped between sailors. Marina laundries are notorious for have a large range of books left for the next person to read. Hobbies like writing journals of the places traveled, or paintings are enjoyable too. Some play musical instruments and sing -- great at pot-luck parties or barbeques on the beach; entertainment for everyone! Other CostsMedical and dental expenses vary in different countries and the individual’s health. Health Insurance can be a protection in cases of emergencies, some have it, some don’t; this is no different to when you’re on land. You may have to consider other costs as well, such as fishing licenses, prescriptions and souvenirs and flights home. These things are all individual and things like Customs and Immigration fees for off shore travel must be considered. The Bottom Line?Low budget cruisers can live on small fixed incomes such as a pension, living extremely simply with none of life’s luxuries. It is the freedom and pleasure of the cruising life that give them satisfaction. Some cruisers can live on as low as $5,000 a year. Others say they live on around $10,000 a year on a pretty strict cruising budget. You can live extremely well when the budget reaches $20,000 to $30,000 a year. Most people can cruise for less than they can live on land. And good news! You won’t have mortgage payments or rent, electricity bills, car payments and fuel for your car and all the land based costs that eat into your finances very heavily. Update on My ProgressAnd here is my latest personal financial update:
Jars UpdateThe Jars System is billed as the world's simplest, easiest and most effective money management method. My wife and I started following it recently, and I plan to publish them here every month. Here are our numbers for the this calendar year-to-date (compared to the percentages recommended as targets):
I RecommendMozy: Get peace of mind by backing up your precious data automatically.
|
