We ended 2009 where we started it, at anchor in San Blas, Nayarit Mexico and we are looking forward to another great year of Cruising in 2010. Looking over our expenditures for 2009, I see lots of room for improvement, because it seems like the longer we cruise, the better we are getting at stretching our cruising dollar. In the next few days I will post the updated monthly cost tracking data to our website which will contain Nov and Dec, but to summarize we spent $23,562 cruising in 2009 which comes in at an average monthly expenditure of $1,962. That's not bad for a family of four, but we will attempt to dramatically cut that number down in 2010. Some of the major expense categories are as follows:

Marinas and dingy landing fees:
Total $913
Avg/month $76

Beer and Booze
Total $178
Avg/month $15

Food
Total $3702
Avg/month $308

Fuel including diesel, propane, and gas
Total $1216
Avg/month $101

Restaurants and taco carts which included any soda and snacks purchased from street vendors
Total $819
Avg/month $68

Routine Boat Maintenance
Total $2250
Avg/month $188

Unplanned Boat Fixes
Total $3938
Avg/month $238


Besides food, it's clear that our biggest expenditure was keeping THIRD DAY in ship-shape cruising order. Of the unplanned boat fixes, the new anchor windlass accounted for $2000 of the $3938 spent, but it's a perfect example of how even newly installed cruising equipment can fail and dramatically affect your cruising finances. The windlass that failed was newly installed in Port San Luis prior to us heading to Mexico; however, like many pieces of boating equipment, it would have most likely lasted for 10 or more years of typical weekend trips, but failed when asked to perform 365 days a year.

When I look at the monthly numbers, it's often one item or incident that pushes our monthly expenditures above our target point of $1000/month. In addition to unplanned boat fixes, trips back to the States are a proven budget killer, not just for the amount of things often purchased and brought back, but for the expense associated with leaving the boat in a marina, rental car, etc. This isn't just true in our case, but for many other cruisers we have spoken to regarding trips back to the States. For many cruisers, marina fees make up a larger portion of their budget, but other than to leave the boat for trips home (of which we made 3 in 2009) or for repairs; we did not spend a single day in a marina for simple convenience.

At this time next January 2011, I hope to be able to report that our monthly cruising expenditure was $993/mounth, just under our target of $1000. By looking close at our monthly numbers, it's certainly easily doable, without that much of a change in our cruising lifestyle, which I still think is pretty damn comfortable. With the boat finally configured as we would like, with no additional equipment or toys to purchase, all we need is a little luck in not having expensive gear break and we should be able to make it. This is where a little budget reality sets in, because as our cruising kitty shrinks to where we can see the bottom of the barrel though the coins, every dollar spent brings us closer to the end of our current cruise. Unlike the current crop of politicians in Washington and Sacramento that spend money they don't have, the crew of THIRD DAY understands the basic economics of income and expenditures. So we will be doing everything possible in the upcoming year to do the "limbo style" of cruising and see how low we can go.