Our Cruising Expenses for December 2008 & 2009 (Tuesday - May 18, 2010)

I've already posted our Year End cruising costs for 2009 here: http://expaticus.com/web-expaticus-com/files/u2/Files/expenses2009.htm. One of my many New Year’s resolutions in 2010 was to do a monthly expense report for the Blog, not just Year End... well, I’m a tad behind with all the repairs going on with the new boat. However, as promised, here is the beginning of our 2nd year cruising. (Remember, we initially set sail on Thanksgiving Day 2008, so that would make our second year technically begin 11/26. But to simplify things, I lumped the last few days of November 2009 into December 2009.)

In December 2009, we set sail from La Paz, MX for Mazatlan on our 35' Cal Cruising (Windfall) before Christmas with the intent to look at the 41' Tartan TOCK. In December, we also purchased a new Pactor Modem and parts for the modem, and new Air X blades for the wind generator for 'Windfall' (our old ones exploded in 50 knot winds when something blew into them!). Those were big expenses costing us almost $1,500! Yikes!

Here is the beginning of more entries to come. How much does it cost to cruise? How much does it cost to outfit a new boat? I wrote a comparison of our expenses for December 2008 to December 2009. Remember that in December 2008 we were fully provisioned because we were embarking on our new adventure. Later, you will find out what it cost us to outfit a new cruising boat for the second time in two years!

DEC 2008 expenses.....................DEC 2009 expenses

• Groceries: $235.69.....................Groceries: $481.39 (includes pet and household supplies)
• Transportation: $17.5.................Transportation: $47.44 (bus & taxi)
• Dining Out: $95.5.........................Dining Out: $139.96 (including tips)
• Boat Hardware: $14.....................I think this category got put in 'Repairs' for 12/09
• Boat Fuel: $206............................Boat Fuel: $121.60
• Gifts: $17.5...................................Gifts: $36.59
• Water: $3.63................................We make our own and don't buy potable
• Internet/Phone/Skype: $6.25.......N/A 12/09
• Laundry: $14.................................Laundry: $16 (I line dry mostly)
• Propane: $20.................................N/A 12/09
• Tourism: 0.83..................................N/A 12/09
• Boat Equipment: $110.25...............Boat Equipment: $1,446.47 (pactor modem, Air X blades)
• TOTAL for 12/08: $741.15
• .......................................................Crafts: $33.88 (fabric, jewelry making, crochet)
• .......................................................Mail: $30
• .......................................................Clothing/Shoes: $25.04
• ........................................................Extra tips: $4
• ........................................................Medical: $21.44
• ........................................................Boat Repair: $35
• ........................................................Education: $16.12
• ........................................................Booze: $66.02 (wine and beer mostly)
• ........................................................Misc: $9

• ........................................................TOTAL for 12/09: $2,529.95

Tomorrow, I plan to post January 2010, which is the month we purchased 'Hotspur' and had the upkeep of two boats! Double YIKES!