"Voyaging on a small income"

Re: The short answer

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More apologies to tiggertoo. Have smiled at your game of tennis Pops/Smiffy. I stand corrected but I don't think it's a Stuka (Ju 87). Looks more like a US Thunderbolt. Retires in haste to Anderson shelter.


If you get "drummed off" I promise to resign in protest!

Cheers, Ron

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Hush man! not another word, d'ya hear, you'll get us right in the crapper /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: \"Voyaging on a small income\"

When we left the UK in 2003 for the Med my better half (who had been in accounts all her life) started keeping an accurate (to the cent!) record of what we spend. We spend 7 months on the boat and 5 months back in the UK for winter. The record is now on Excel spreadsheets and if anyone wants a copy then please PM me - then you too will know the cost of the loo in wherever! The record includes fitting a new engine in the South of France last year. Without doubt it's possible to live less expensively but armed with the spreadsheets you may be able to see what saving you personally would make or possible think we were a bit tight in some area's. Remember these are not budgets - they are real accounts for four seasons!

Gareth
 
Re: \"Voyaging on a small income\" Av Budget is a myth

Dont think it makes sense to even try and work out any sort of average budget. People are so different in tasts and expectation and so are there boats. It also depends on where you are. In the 1990 a freind lived in Katmandoo two of them sharing an apartment and putting £10p/w each which not only covered all costs it paid the cooks wages as well!

The only realistic statment I have come accross was by the Pardies who said to estimate on spending 2/3 of what you would living ashore. That seems to me a good starting piont but of course you may be moving on board in order to change your life which could make it cheaper or dearer.

The other sage advice is by charle dickins - earn £19 0s 6d and spend £1 = misery, the other way round = happyness. I reckon the only reason to even think about budgets is to stay on the right side of this rule.
 
Re: The short answer

This is partly because of inflation - £15 in 1973 is the equivalent of the following in 2005
£155.38 using the retail price index
£158.89 using the GDP deflator
£280.09 using average earnings
£329.45 using per capita GDP
£356.55 using the GDP.

Am I right in saying that if I earned £15 in 1973 I should be earning £280 now and if I spent £15 in 1973 I need to spend £155 to get the same stuff now? If so that means I would have £125 to spend on stuff we have now and didn't have (or need) then. Sounds about right and the reason I want to get out this life.
Allan
 
Re: The short answer

Smiffy, fill out your bio - accurately. This may give you some credibility when arguing against peope like Charles Reed.

We met Charles in Cartagena some years ago. Did you?
 
Re: The short answer

[ QUOTE ]
Smiffy, fill out your bio - accurately. This may give you some credibility when arguing against peope like Charles Reed.

We met Charles in Cartagena some years ago. Did you?

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Have you been at the Grog a bit? I haven't been arguing with anybody, let alone Charles Reed. Charles Reed doesn't pop up on this thread until page three, and I have been back and checked, nope, sorry, can't see anywhere that I have argued with him. or anybody else for that matter.

If you wish to admonish me for thread drifting, I would say fine, terribly sorry, but I've already done that. I'm not sure what your point is?

I am sure that Charles Reed is a very nice chap, with absolutely oooooooodles of experience, but I am also pretty certain that he isn't the Messiah (correct me if I am wrong Charles, but please, no thunderbolts huh?) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I thought that these Fora, where here so that folks could discuss things, sailing, various. I did not realise that they were an old boys club, only privy to those who had met the right people or those that expressed the "right" opinions.

Regarding my profile, it's what you might call a low profile /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and if it's ok with you, that is the way it will stay, I don't feel that I have to establish my credentials, in order to discuss things with people on these Fora. If anybody wishes to know more about me, they are perfectly at liberty to to PM me and ask, conversely, I am perfectly at liberty to tell 'em to mind their own business, should I think it appropriate /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I was thoroughly enjoying this thread, and found all the opinions expressed herein, most interesting and illuminating, at least I was until you arrived on the scene.

Ho -Hum, twas ever thus, just the nature of the beast and all that, I suppose.

Toodle Pip old chap, and happy sailing.

Regards, Charles Smith Esq.
 
Re: The short answer

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Smiffy, fill out your bio - accurately. This may give you some credibility when arguing against peope like Charles Reed.

We met Charles in Cartagena some years ago. Did you?

[/ QUOTE ]

What argument? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: The short answer

I have a friend who lives on around £50 per week in the Caribbean... Likes beans and simple things. He did have a major financial problem when he fell and broke his leg - no health insurance of course so had to stomp up the cash.. Big repairs to the boat are also demanding on his budget.

To live on £50 per week in the Mediterranean or most of the EU waters would probably be impossible.

To live on £50 per week in the Caribbean is possible but probably not the lifestyle most people want although I have several friends out there living on low incomes.

To live on £50 per week in the South Pacific is easy. No marinas, very low income locally excepting French possessions and easy to fish for your supper...

I think it just depends where you want to cruise.

Michael
 
Re: The short answer

I couldn't see any arguing either. This bio business is all very well, but I would say irrelevant. I don't care what credibility a forumite may have. I'll read a post and decide whether or not I like it or agree to it. I only look at bio's to see what a person's name is, if it's there.

Smiffy sounds like a fun bloke to deal with. Are you there Smiffy? If so, take this /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif !

Pops
 
Our answer

Last year we sailed from about the middle of May until 7th of October, travelling from near Perpignan, along the French and Italian coasts as far as Elba, across to Bastia and then a figure 8 around Corsica and Sardinia. We anchor as much as possible but this was not easy along the mainland coasts, where we used marinas and ports for most nights. The bonus here is that many Italian Porto Communales are free.

We eat well on board but don't eat out very frequently, rarely more than twice per week and often not at all. We spent money ashore visiting places, e.g. Pisa by bus but I would say we generally don't spend anything like excessively. We certainly did not pay to berth in the very expensive Sardinian ports, our highest single night cost being 55 Euros at Varraze, which the pilot described as a 'picturesque fishing port' but turned out to be a new, concrete marina.

During the season we spent a total over the 4.5 months of 6900 Euros. This sum includes berthing costs totalling 1884 Euros and 296 litres of fuel at roughly 1 Euro per litre. We had no major repair or maintenance costs but changed engine oil twice, fitted a new babystay, plus a few minor items. To this needs to be added 1100 Euros for wintering until end May next year.
 
Re: The short answer

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I couldn't see any arguing either. This bio business is all very well, but I would say irrelevant. I don't care what credibility a forumite may have. I'll read a post and decide whether or not I like it or agree to it. I only look at bio's to see what a person's name is, if it's there.

Smiffy sounds like a fun bloke to deal with. Are you there Smiffy? If so, take this /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif !

Pops

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Yeah! and this /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: The short answer

Hello Michael,

I think this is what I was trying to get at, I think that what other folks have said about cruising / living aboard in europian waters is pretty much on the button, but I do think there are still nice places to be in the world, where one can live very cheaply indeed, albeit dependent on what ones expectations are? (? invite to comment Pops) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Also, my feeling is, that the more you can do for yourself, the cheaper things become. If you are one of those folks that are just not of a practical frame of mind, then certainly, you are going to have to pay for other peoples services. Personally, I am able to attend anything I need to around my boat, I am a Joiner / Cabinet Maker by trade, I can wield a paint / varnish brush with best of them, wiring holds no horrors. The diesel is a single cylinder beasty (hence simple to maintain), and him and me are on good terms. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Medical insurance is obviously something to get sorted, I wouldn't want to be anywhere foriegn without it. I also think a fall back fund would be a wise thing to have, afterall, you never know when you might have to jump on an aeroplane and hightail it back to dear old Blighty or somesuch?

I am probably coming at this thing from a slightly different perspective to most of the contributors to this dicussion, in as much as I am just an ordinary working bloke, with a modest little boat, no big nest eggs, and no big wallet. (no, that isn't a plea for sympathy, but if you want to pass the hat round all contributions to.......) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I am also sure that I am not the only one like me, who just fancies bu99ering off now and again, or even permanently.

To you that have just given me one of these /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif all I can say is................................

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

With bells on! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: The short answer

I learnt the hard way that "cruising is fixing boats in exotic places" but once I understood that, I had more money and the boat was in better shape than if I had paid a yard to fix it (or usually make it worse as they did with my stern gland- you know who you are "yard" in Bellehaven USA /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
 
Re: The short answer

Smiffy

"...what ones expectations are? (? invite to comment Pops) "

Should have been a full stop! You are expressing an opinion there, and stating something that you think is the case. If you want more opinions on your opinion, you should invite that in a new question afterwards, eg (What do you all think about that?)

To new readers: This punctuation business has been running for a while with me and Smiffy and it is no more than a bit of fun!

Pops
 
Re: The short answer

"or usually make it worse as they did with my stern gland..."

Serves you right for letting another bloke anywhere near your stern gland!

Pops
 
Re: The short answer

[ QUOTE ]
"or usually make it worse as they did with my stern gland..."

Serves you right for letting another bloke anywhere near your stern gland!

Pops

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Probably bu99ered it due to lack of proper lubrication??????? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: The short answer

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Er, I really ought to get a job, oughtn't I....

Pops

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A job, or even a life maybe?????????????????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: The short answer

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[ QUOTE ]
Er, I really ought to get a job, oughtn't I....

Pops

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A job, or even a life maybe?????????????????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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Now THIS is shaping up into an argument. Fight! Fight! Fight!

I should stop having a job and go back to cruising /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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