2019 came in with a roar & went out 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 increased 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.
Mike became the Chairperson for our local Democrats Abroad chapter. It's very active with about 900 members. This keeps him very busy, as we head into an election year. He also plays the bongos with the local ukulele group every week on the beach.
On November 18th, I celebrated the 5th anniversary of my starting the Facebook Group, Puerto Vallarta: Everything You Need or Want To Know. As of now, I have 53,700+ members from around the world in 121 countries. It's extremely active & takes up much of my time. a labor of love!
On December 15th, we celebrated our 6 year anniversary of living full time in Vallarta. Where the heck did it go?? So much to still enjoy.
* Meals Out: Jan 20x; Feb 18x; Mar 17x; April 16x; May 10x; June 12x; July 5x; Aug 16x; Sept 12x; Oct 19x; Nov 19x; Dec 10x
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.
Mike became the Chairperson for our local Democrats Abroad chapter. It's very active with about 900 members. This keeps him very busy, as we head into an election year. He also plays the bongos with the local ukulele group every week on the beach.
On November 18th, I celebrated the 5th anniversary of my starting the Facebook Group, Puerto Vallarta: Everything You Need or Want To Know. As of now, I have 53,700+ members from around the world in 121 countries. It's extremely active & takes up much of my time. a labor of love!
On December 15th, we celebrated our 6 year anniversary of living full time in Vallarta. Where the heck did it go?? So much to still enjoy.
| Living Expenses: | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||
| Rent w/util (Int/TV) | $ 1,001 | $ 1,027 | $ 1,030 | $ 1,044 | $ 1,033 | $ 950 | $ 970 | $ 963 | $ 1,023 | $ 1,029 | $ 1,067 | $ 1,042 | ||
| Electric CFE | $ 11 | $ 7 | $ 8 | $ 9 | $ 7 | $ 9 | $ 22 | $ 23 | $ 36 | $ 25 | $ 24 | $ 16 | ||
| Internet (TelMex) | $ 31 | $ 32 | $ 31 | $ 31 | $ 30 | $ 32 | $ 32 | |||||||
| TV (KS Hosting) | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 5 | |||||||
| Cell Phone (TelCel) | $ 20 | $ 22 | $ 22 | $ 56 | $ 27 | $ 22 | $ 26 | $ 23 | $ 25 | $ 25 | $ 27 | $ 26 | ||
| Groceries | $ 349 | $ 431 | $ 36 | $ 244 | $ 515 | $ 387 | $ 329 | $ 428 | $ 208 | $ 299 | $ 335 | |||
| Meals Out | $ 412 | $ 526 | $ 451 | $ 418 | $ 293 | $ 300 | $ 105 | $ 471 | $ 367 | $ 514 | $ 584 | $ 336 | ||
| Drinks Only | $ 343 | $ 218 | $ 122 | $ 111 | $ 148 | $ 120 | $ 8 | $ 77 | $ 103 | $ 137 | $ 247 | $ 295 | ||
| Entertainment | $ 90 | $ 281 | $ 22 | $ 109 | $ 44 | $ 25 | $ 97 | $ 116 | ||||||
| Massages/Nails/Hair | $ 80 | $ 103 | $ 70 | $ 121 | $ 137 | $ 103 | $ 95 | $ 172 | $ 56 | $ 85 | $ 148 | $ 78 | ||
| Bus/Taxi/Uber | $ 160 | $ 96 | $ 111 | $ 107 | $ 118 | $ 116 | $ 26 | $ 124 | $ 82 | $ 97 | $ 204 | $ 198 | ||
| Dental | $ 42 | $ 196 | $ 75 | $ 42 | ||||||||||
| Incidentals | $ 112 | $ 217 | $ 20 | $ 180 | $ 59 | $ 40 | $ 43 | $ 39 | $ 22 | $ 16 | $ 16 | $ 17 | ||
| Medical Insurance | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 394 | $ 495 | $ 495 | $ 495 | $ 495 | $ 495 | ||
| TOTAL | $ 2,882 | $ 3,131 | $ 2,545 | $ 2,684 | $ 2,773 | $ 2,499 | $ 1,835 | $ 2,796 | $ 2,869 | $ 2,766 | $ 3,245 | $ 3,033 | $ 33,058 | |
| TOTAL W/O RENT | $ 1,881 | $ 2,104 | $ 1,515 | $ 1,640 | $ 1,740 | $ 1,549 | $ 865 | $ 1,833 | $ 1,846 | $ 1,737 | $ 2,178 | $ 1,991 | $ 20,879 | |
| Discr Spending: | ||||||||||||||
| Clothes/Shoes/Gifts | $ 145 | $ 79 | $ 364 | $ 40 | $ 137 | $ 566 | $ 262 | $ 90 | $ 280 | $ 43 | $ 207 | |||
| Miscellaneous | $ 83 | |||||||||||||
| Tours | $ 165 | $ 188 | $ 50 | |||||||||||
| Home Improve | $ 544 | |||||||||||||
| Medical | $ 100 | $ 20 | $ 271 | ** | ** | $ 176 | $ 40 | $ 130 | ||||||
| Dental | $ 1,596 | $ 662 | $ 102 | |||||||||||
| Trips/Vacations | $ 1,911 | $ 317 | $ 3,400 | $ 475 | $ 268 | |||||||||
| TOTAL Discr. | $ 1,841 | $ 244 | $ 2,295 | $ 311 | $ 799 | $ 1,151 | $ 4,142 | $ 352 | $ 565 | $ 548 | $ 173 | $ 290 | $ 12,711 | |
| TOTAL ALL | $ 4,723 | $ 3,375 | $ 4,840 | $ 2,995 | $ 3,572 | $ 3,650 | $ 5,977 | $ 3,148 | $ 3,434 | $ 3,314 | $ 3,418 | $ 3,323 | $ 45,769 |
* Meals Out: Jan 20x; Feb 18x; Mar 17x; April 16x; May 10x; June 12x; July 5x; Aug 16x; Sept 12x; Oct 19x; Nov 19x; Dec 10x
* Drinks Only: Jan 21x; Feb 13x; Mar 10x; April 8x; May 9x; June 8x; July 1x; Aug 5x; Sept 5x; Oct 10x; Nov 17x; Dec 22x
* Taxis/Bus/Uber: Jan 45x; Feb 29x; Mar 36x; April 35x; May 31x; June 32x; July 8x; Aug 39x; Sept 28x; Oct 32x; Nov 59x; Dec 60x
* 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%.
October: My birthday month, so a few days were spent in Mayto, a small village south of Vallarta on the beach, with friends. The other purpose of our trip to Mayto was to deliver a huge amount of aid to the small village of Garciano, where the 35 families lost everything inclding their water system. I also continued my treatment for TMJ with my dentist. We also made an acquisition of a beautiful glass lamp.
November: Town comes alive with the return of the snowbirds & the tourists begin to arrive as the weather turns cold in the rest of the world.
December: The theaters start to have openings. Christmas get togethers & parties. Christmas gifts for our younger grandchildren, donations of clothes & gifts for charity organizations. Plus, we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on NYE. A very busy month!
** 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%.
October: My birthday month, so a few days were spent in Mayto, a small village south of Vallarta on the beach, with friends. The other purpose of our trip to Mayto was to deliver a huge amount of aid to the small village of Garciano, where the 35 families lost everything inclding their water system. I also continued my treatment for TMJ with my dentist. We also made an acquisition of a beautiful glass lamp.
November: Town comes alive with the return of the snowbirds & the tourists begin to arrive as the weather turns cold in the rest of the world.
December: The theaters start to have openings. Christmas get togethers & parties. Christmas gifts for our younger grandchildren, donations of clothes & gifts for charity organizations. Plus, we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on NYE. A very busy month!
** All ER, meds, ultrasound, full cbc blood analysis, & endoscope were reimbursed in full by our medical insurance.