2018 Came to an end!!
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 4 full years, as of December 15, 2017 that we have lived here.
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 4 full years, as of December 15, 2017 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. Our rent includes internet, cable TV, water, and gas. We continue to pay our own electric and $10US more for upgraded internet.
January was an extremely busy month with High Season in full swing and multiple friends from the states that came to see us. We did a fantastic Whale Watching boat trip out on the Bay & Mike went fishing with the guys. We also made a 25% deposit on a 2 week tour that we're taking in March to see the states of Oaxaca & Chiapas in the southern part of MX. Other expenditures were for our pneumonia vaccines ($218). And, Mike's continued knee issues so additional medical/PT expenditures.
February continued to be a busy month with several friends visiting, more show openings, but mostly it was a month of trying to figure out what is going on with Mike's knees. It's been determined that he will have knee surgery on his right knee when we return from a vacation in Oaxaca & Chiapas in March. This will be our first claim on our health insurance. So far, they've been very good with our expenses towards the deductible.
March was a very busy. We entertained friends in from out of town. March 6-18, we went on vacation in the states Oaxaca & Chiapas, Mexico. If you've never been, you MUST! What a beautiful country this is! We not only enjoyed all the history and beauty, we did some major damage in the shopping of artisan goods. And, less than two days after returning, Mike had his arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus and have the cartilage scraped plus they injected fluid into his left knee. He did great! Within 3 days, he was walking without pain. A wonderful experience for what I consider our first major medical issue in MX. Couldn't have been more pleased with all facets of the medical service here!
May brought a wonderful week on the Baja in Todos Santos, MX with good long time friends from the states. It included wonderful exploring and delicious food while just visiting on the beach or by their pool.
June brought friends on vacation. We enjoyed exploring and showing them our beautiful paradise.
July more friends on vacation, so we entertained them and went on a few excursions that we don't do normally.
August brought the rains and anticipation of our impending 7 week US/Europe trip. We began our journey on August 22, so all expenses for the trip are included in our accounting for September.
September was spent on our journey. We visited Nanaimo, BC; Spokane, WA & north up where we used to live in the Colville/Kettle Falls area. While there Mike was able to celebrate his 70th bd with friends & family; Chicago; Saugatuck, MI; Raleigh, NC, where we flew right into Hurricane Florence; CT & MA. Departed late on September 20 for Barcelona, Spain and the second leg of our trip. From Barcelona, we took a week long Mediterranean cruise stopping in Menorca, Corrsica, La Speiza, Polimbio & Porto Fino before returning to Barcelona. From there we flew to Athens, Greece.
October saw us embarking on another cruise with friends joining us for that week. Athens, Mykonos, Volos, Santorini & Nauplio. Once back in Athens, we flew to Istanbul, Turkey for 3 days where I celebrated my 67th bd. Then back to Vallarta via New York & Mexico City. Arrived back in Vallarta on October 12, exhausted but very happy we experienced so much.
November was another month with some travel within MX. We went up into the mountains to celebrate Day of the Dead. It was incredible! Highly recommend!! It was also a month to celebrate friendships of returning snowbirds, the Theater season kicked into high gear & our refrigerator died, causing us to lose food.
December was a very busy month with many show openings at the Theaters, Christmas parties, snowbirds arriving, & the holidays.
OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR:
This was a year of travel all over the world for us. It wasn't our intention but one thing lead to the next. We started by deciding to go to Oaxaca & Chiapasm MX for 2 weeks last March. It was fabulous!! MX is a gorgeous diverse country & we intend to see as much as possible. This was supposed to be our big vacation. So, we decided to take a month a visit family & friends in the states. But, since we were ending up in New York, I was able to talk Mike into taking advantage of great deals in Europe. So off we went after our month in the US & did 3 more weeks in Europe, Greece & Turkey. Within a couple of weeks returning to Vallarta, we were off to the mountains of Michoacan, MX for Day of the Dead. Needless to say, we had a fabulous year!!
| Living Expenses: | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | ||
| Rent w/util | $ 928 | $ 1,008 | $ 957 | $ 1,024 | $ 980 | $ 935 | $ 928 | $ 994 | $ 973 | $ 973 | $ 972 | $ 971 | ||
| Electric | $ 9 | $ 8 | $ 11 | $ - | $ 13 | $ 33 | $ 42 | $ 41 | $ 7 | $ 9 | $ 17 | $ 10 | ||
| Cell Phone | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 32 | $ 32 | $ 20 | $ 20 | ||
| Groceries | $ 198 | $ 211 | $ 171 | $ 452 | $ 263 | $ 395 | $ 201 | $ 230 | $ - | $ 290 | $ 448 | $ 194 | ||
| Meals Out | $ 463 | $ 371 | $ 216 | $ 559 | $ 220 | $ 357 | $ 422 | $ 324 | $ - | $ 293 | $ 471 | $ 472 | ||
| Drinks Only | $ 215 | $ 219 | $ 91 | $ 185 | $ 115 | $ 154 | $ 160 | $ 78 | $ - | $ 115 | $ 228 | $ 210 | ||
| Entertainment | $ 35 | $ 145 | $ 61 | $ 46 | $ 92 | $ 88 | $ - | $ - | $ 42 | $ 20 | $ 46 | |||
| Massages/Nails/Hair | $ 35 | $ 66 | $ 128 | $ 61 | $ 182 | $ 214 | $ 86 | $ - | $ 112 | $ 70 | $ 80 | |||
| Bus/Taxi | $ 112 | $ 148 | $ 74 | $ 171 | $ 55 | $ 143 | $ 88 | $ 70 | $ - | $ 52 | $ 143 | $ 138 | ||
| Dental | $ 40 | $ - | $ 94 | $ - | $ 81 | |||||||||
| Incidentals | $ 97 | $ 126 | $ 132 | $ 81 | $ 87 | $ 52 | $ 45 | $ 48 | $ - | $ 68 | $ 83 | $ 65 | ||
| Medical Insurance | $ 365 | $ 365 | $ 365 | $ 365 | $ 365 | $ 365 | $ 365 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | ||
| TOTAL | $ 2,479 | $ 2,623 | $ 2,166 | $ 3,073 | $ 2,181 | $ 2,730 | $ 2,575 | $ 2,381 | $ 1,406 | $ 2,380 | $ 2,866 | $ 2,681 | $ 29,541 | |
| TOTAL W/O RENT | $ 1,551 | $ 1,615 | $ 1,209 | $ 2,049 | $ 1,201 | $ 1,795 | $ 1,647 | $ 1,387 | $ 433 | $ 1,407 | $ 1,894 | $ 1,710 | $ 17,898 | |
| Discr Spending: | ||||||||||||||
| Clothes/Shoes/Gifts | $ 139 | $ 247 | $ 27 | $ 422 | $ - | $ 77 | $ 49 | $ 155 | $ 182 | $ 675 | $ 338 | $ 159 | ||
| Tours | $ 263 | $ 177 | $ 110 | $ 10 | $ 197 | $ 26 | $ 26 | |||||||
| Home Improve | $ 11 | $ - | $ 47 | $ 123 | $ 127 | $ - | $ - | |||||||
| Medical | $ 218 | $ 496 | $ 1,862 | $ - | $ - | $ - | $ - | $ - | $ 184 | |||||
| Dental | $ - | |||||||||||||
| Trips/Vacations | $ 174 | $ 4,541 | $ - | $ 641 | $ - | $ 73 | $ 3,963 | $ 8,917 | $ 1,061 | $ - | $ 19,370 | |||
| TOTAL Discr. | $ 631 | $ 917 | $ 6,654 | $ 532 | $ 764 | $ 214 | $ 246 | $ 228 | $ 4,145 | $ 9,592 | $ 1,609 | $ - | $ 25,532 | |
| TOTAL ALL | $ 3,110 | $ 3,540 | $ 8,820 | $ 3,605 | $ 2,945 | $ 2,944 | $ 2,821 | $ 2,609 | $ 5,551 | $ 11,972 | $ 4,475 | $ 2,681 | $ 55,073 |
* Meals Out: Jan16x; Feb 11x; March 11x; April 18x; May 9x; June 18x; July 17x; August 13x; October 13x; November 15x; Dec 20x
* Drinks Only: Jan15x; Feb 13x; March 7x; April 16x; May 10x; June 14x; July 13x; August 5x; October 8x; November 16x; Dec 17x
* Taxis/Bus/Uber: Jan 39x; Feb 46x; March 26x; April 51x; May 19x; June 48x; July 31x; August 20x; October 22x; November 39x; Dec 44x
* Trips/Tours & General Rationale for some additional expenditures:
January: Whale watching, extra medical PT for Mike.
February: Weekend in Mascota & Talpa, doctors, meds & MRI for Mike's knee.
March: We did 12 days in Oaxaca & Chiapas (included flights, buses, hotels, entry fees & breakfasts), went on a boat trip for a friend's bd party & all of the meds, payment of remaining Insurance deductible.
April: Increased meals out, groceries, & taxi/Uber rides.
May: Baja trip including bus, airplane, gas, food, meals & drinks out, entry fees. I purchased a new dresser to finally be able to put away some clothes that were still in a suitcase.
June: Friends visiting and we enjoyed being with them and showing off our beautiful paradise.
July: Friends visiting so a few extra meals out and Rhythms of the Night evening ($197).
August: Just enjoyed our beautiful Vallarta.
September: All expenses for our trips included EVERYTHING. Flights, car rentals, hotels, meals, drinks, Traveler's Insurance, tours, gas, & ferries. I only account for the US/Canadian portion of our trip in September.
October: All expenses for our European trip are included in October.
November: Our trip to Morelia & Patzcuaro for Day of the Dead.
December: We did a day trip to a Raicilla making distillery up in the mountains.
June: Friends visiting and we enjoyed being with them and showing off our beautiful paradise.
July: Friends visiting so a few extra meals out and Rhythms of the Night evening ($197).
August: Just enjoyed our beautiful Vallarta.
September: All expenses for our trips included EVERYTHING. Flights, car rentals, hotels, meals, drinks, Traveler's Insurance, tours, gas, & ferries. I only account for the US/Canadian portion of our trip in September.
October: All expenses for our European trip are included in October.
November: Our trip to Morelia & Patzcuaro for Day of the Dead.
December: We did a day trip to a Raicilla making distillery up in the mountains.