2019 came in with a roar! Time in Paradise is amazing!
As a brief explanation for any new folks that might be reading this blog. Mike & I decided to call Puerto Vallarta, MX our home after living in 5 other Latin American countries and 11 towns/villages. (You can read all about our journey by going to the Archives listed on the bottom right of the blog page.) It's now been 5 full years, as of December 15, 2018, that we have lived here.
The posted budget/expenditures are for 2 people and are reflected in US Dollars, since that's the method we get paid in.
As of September 1, 2017, we moved up the hill into Amapas into a condo complex with 11 units and larger pool. We more than doubled our space and our view increased 1000%. It's a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, fully furnished, with a very large outdoor terrace. We now pay rent in pesos, so our rent fluctuates monthly based on the bank exchange rate with the US Dollar.
As of our renewal lease on September 1, 2019, our rent of 19,800 pesos/month does not include internet, TV, or electric. We pay for 50 mbp of download but get closer to 75 for internet.
As of June, I decided to make separate line items for all of our utilities rather than include them in our rental amount. Since we are paying for all of them, I thought it would be easier for people to understand.
Our Health Insurance is with VUMI. It's a Global policy and covers everywhere in the world EXCEPT U.S. We purchase travel insurance when we go to the U.S. We have the VUMI Bronze policy with a $2,500 deductible. We have no preexisting conditions. The premium is for both of us. We renewed August 1, so our premium will increase due to age. I'm 67 and Mike is 70.
* Meals Out: Jan 20x; Feb 18x; Mar 17x; April 16x; May 10x; June 12x; July 5x; Aug 16x; Sept 12x
As of June, I decided to make separate line items for all of our utilities rather than include them in our rental amount. Since we are paying for all of them, I thought it would be easier for people to understand.
Our Health Insurance is with VUMI. It's a Global policy and covers everywhere in the world EXCEPT U.S. We purchase travel insurance when we go to the U.S. We have the VUMI Bronze policy with a $2,500 deductible. We have no preexisting conditions. The premium is for both of us. We renewed August 1, so our premium will increase due to age. I'm 67 and Mike is 70.
| Living Expenses: | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September |
| Rent w/util (Int/TV) | $ 1,001 | $ 1,027 | $ 1,030 | $ 1,044 | $ 1,033 | $ 950 | $ 970 | $ 963 | $ 1,023 |
| Electric CFE | $ 11 | $ 7 | $ 8 | $ 9 | $ 7 | $ 9 | $ 22 | $ 23 | $ 36 |
| Internet (TelMex) | $ 31 | $ 32 | $ 31 | $ 31 | |||||
| TV (KS Hosting) | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 5 | |||||
| Cell Phone (TelCel) | $ 20 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 56 | $ 27 | $ 22 | $ 26 | $ 23 | $ 25 |
| Groceries | $ 349 | $ 431 | $ 36 | $ 244 | $ 515 | $ 387 | $ 329 | $ 428 | |
| Meals Out | $ 412 | $ 526 | $ 451 | $ 418 | $ 293 | $ 300 | $ 105 | $ 471 | $ 367 |
| Drinks Only | $ 343 | $ 218 | $ 122 | $ 111 | $ 148 | $ 120 | $ 8 | $ 77 | $ 103 |
| Entertainment | $ 90 | $ 281 | $ 22 | $ 109 | $ 44 | ||||
| Massages/Nails/Hair | $ 80 | $ 103 | $ 70 | $ 121 | $ 137 | $ 103 | $ 95 | $ 172 | $ 56 |
| Bus/Taxi/Uber | $ 160 | $ 96 | $ 111 | $ 107 | $ 118 | $ 116 | $ 26 | $ 124 | $ 82 |
| Dental | $ 42 | $ 196 | |||||||
| Incidentals | $ 112 | $ 217 | $ 20 | $ 180 | $ 59 | $ 40 | $ 43 | $ 39 | $ 22 |
| Medical Insurance | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 495 | $ 495 |
| TOTAL | $ 2,882 | $ 3,131 | $ 2,545 | $ 2,684 | $ 2,773 | $ 2,499 | $ 1,835 | $ 2,796 | $ 2,869 |
| TOTAL W/O RENT | $ 1,881 | $ 2,104 | $ 1,515 | $ 1,640 | $ 1,740 | $ 1,549 | $ 865 | $ 1,833 | $ 1,846 |
| Discr Spending: | |||||||||
| Clothes/Shoes/Gifts | $ 145 | $ 79 | $ 364 | $ 40 | $ 137 | $ 566 | $ 262 | $ 90 | |
| Miscellaneous | |||||||||
| Tours | $ 165 | $ 188 | $ 50 | ||||||
| Home Improve | $ 544 | ||||||||
| Medical | $ 100 | $ 20 | $ 271 | ** | ** | $ 176 | $ 40 | ||
| Dental | $ 1,596 | $ 662 | $ 102 | ||||||
| Trips/Vacations | $ 1,911 | $ 317 | $ 3,400 | $ 475 | |||||
| TOTAL Discr. | $ 1,841 | $ 244 | $ 2,295 | $ 311 | $ 799 | $ 1,151 | $ 4,142 | $ 352 | $ 565 |
| TOTAL ALL | $ 4,723 | $ 3,375 | $ 4,840 | $ 2,995 | $ 3,572 | $ 3,650 | $ 5,977 | $ 3,148 | $ 3,434 |
* Meals Out: Jan 20x; Feb 18x; Mar 17x; April 16x; May 10x; June 12x; July 5x; Aug 16x; Sept 12x
* Drinks Only: Jan 21x; Feb 13x; Mar 10x; April 8x; May 9x; June 8x; July 1x; Aug 5x; Sept 5x
* Taxis/Bus/Uber: Jan 45x; Feb 29x; Mar 36x; April 35x; May 31x; June 32x; July 8x; Aug 39x; Sept 28x
* Trips/Tours & General Rationale for some additional expenditures:
January: Mike's new tooth implant plus friends visiting.
February: Excursions & Oscar Party plus out of town friends
March: Friends visiting & a 12 day vacation to Queretero, San Miguel de Allende & Guanajuato.
April: I had a colonoscopy ($345 all inclusive; some insurance reimbursement); my computer needed a new hard drive ($144), cell phone issues ($25).
May: 2 Costco grocery trips; Mike finished his dental implant & crown; Tricia had an ER trip, abdominal ultrasound, parasite test = all OK.
June: I continued to have stomach issues so back to SanMare clinic for an Endoscope ($387). Bingo! An infection so meds to kill it. Computer issues, cost of getting MX driver's license, & renewal of some computer programs pushed our budget. We did the Pirate Ship with friends.
July: Spent 3 weeks in the U.S. All costs affiliated with the trip included in amount shown.
August: A full month at home spending time enjoying Vallarta with our full time friends.
September: Took a 4/3 trip with friends to Tequila & San Blas, MX. Our rent increased 10%.
** All ER, meds, ultrasound, full cbc blood analysis, & endoscope were reimbursed in full by our medical insurance.
April: I had a colonoscopy ($345 all inclusive; some insurance reimbursement); my computer needed a new hard drive ($144), cell phone issues ($25).
May: 2 Costco grocery trips; Mike finished his dental implant & crown; Tricia had an ER trip, abdominal ultrasound, parasite test = all OK.
June: I continued to have stomach issues so back to SanMare clinic for an Endoscope ($387). Bingo! An infection so meds to kill it. Computer issues, cost of getting MX driver's license, & renewal of some computer programs pushed our budget. We did the Pirate Ship with friends.
July: Spent 3 weeks in the U.S. All costs affiliated with the trip included in amount shown.
August: A full month at home spending time enjoying Vallarta with our full time friends.
September: Took a 4/3 trip with friends to Tequila & San Blas, MX. Our rent increased 10%.
** All ER, meds, ultrasound, full cbc blood analysis, & endoscope were reimbursed in full by our medical insurance.