Here’s how it breaks down this month…but I ask why. Why bother posting this? I think the reality of it is worth illustrating. It’s not really about how I can save more money on groceries. I certainly could avoid higher priced options, but I didn’t. I could learn to cook some more-cost-effective meals; I will. I could eat more beans. I do love beans. I could shop in bulk – oh no wait, I can’t… the basement floods often. But I’m more interested in this month’s data because I had a few unexpected expenses. And you have to expect the unexpected.

A fellow named Steve, who I shared a mooring with in Velcro Beach aboard a 28 O’day named Searcher said it best. After my starter finally gave up the ghost, on a Friday afternoon, I was complaining that there’s always something that needs fixing, and how I wish I had a spare starter aboard to avoid the delays of a rebuild. He replied with,”Ya know what the secret to successful cruising is? Carrying a spare boat.” That tickled me. I got stuck in Velcro Beach because of my starter, not because of the mandatory raft ups on the mandatory moorings, the 9:05  #1 bus, the Publix, or the food court. But it’s not a bad place to get stuck I suppose.

The unexpected:
1. Group 31 battery meltdown. ($194)
2. Bad alternator bearings. ($140)
3. Going for an accidental swim with my phone in my pocket. ($19.49)
4. Flipping the dink and sending my bike to the bottom of the Ashley River. ($12 for the diver; the bikes… well…we didn’t recover them)
5. Starter armature meltdown ($150 – not a Nov expense)

Here’s a quick breakdown of my expenses for the first month of being underway. Groceries dominate… I’m pretty sure it’s due to these particular cookies I buy, to use in a dessert I make, to bring to social boat gatherings. They cost $5 a box. I buy alot of boxes. Yup, I’m getting fat. In addition, the first month groceries figure includes alot of staples, that will last many months. Fuel is a necessary evil when you do the intracoastal waterway. The trip north next spring will be offshore and my wallet is looking forward to it already. Eating out includes the occasional coffee/treat and two nice dinners: one Thai dinner with my aunt and uncle, and one awesome All You Can Eat Crab Feast with Travis and Joanne. When in Maryland, one MUST go for crabs. Galley gear is non-skid plates and mugs, neither of which I had before leaving. Sailing gear is a logbook… yup, a waste of money. Yanmar is actually lube oil… should that go under fuel? Tools is a deck cap opener.

This cruising expense report  doesn’t include my other “grown-up” expenses like: cell phone, data plan, boat payment, boat insurance, car insurance, health insurance etc…

I suspect November’s expenses will be alot less…

It’s no wonder I’m always broke. I’ve kept a Quicken file of all my BCC Elizabeth related expenses since purchase.  It, however, does not include flights, hotels, car rentals, meals etc, during my THREE trips to Texas to look at her, survey, wrap up the deal, and get her ready for the truck to MA. I can gratefully assume this year will be one of the most expensive years of boat ownership. She has been a very financially needy little girl. Next year, she’s going to Financial Resource Consumption Rehab… cuz Sugar Daddy can’t support this habit.

The big ticket items this year were trucking, and boat yards: 2 haulouts, 1 launch, 1 mast drop, and nearly 8 months on the hard. She’ll never see so many boat yards in one year again if I can help it. And of course I don’t ever expect to have to truck her anywhere again.

New rigging was 3rd most expensive item and despite my efforts to save a little by splicing my own rigging, I didn’t save anything. The price of new toggles the marry the splice to mast or turnbuckle were equivalent to the Sta-Lok or Norseman fittings. Plus, I wasted alot of time in the process. I don’t think I’ll ever splice my rigging again, unless I own a very traditional wooden boat that ‘requires’ it. It’s cute and I’m proud of my work and the time I took to learn it and do it, but if sailing is the goal, then time spent splicing is time wasted.

My ‘Other’ expenses include categories like: Books, Caulk, Dinghy, Epoxy, Ground Tackle, Fuel, Head, Maintenance, Navigation, Plumbing, Safety, Yanmar, Zinc.