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December 2009
Welcome to December, Hopefully NEVER as
expensive as last month!
While the expenses are on this page, the
cool parts about the road trip and its pictures are on the
Road Trip pages, like the
California page and Joshua Tree, plus other pages as well.
We are also going to be experimenting with
trying to live off of our "grid" by getting enough food,
water and fuels to last us at least a month. I do not think
the water will last that long (because of Sasha's long
showers, hint, hint,) but not having to go to the grocery
would be a good idea. We shall see if it works.
Expenses:
Hopefully not too bad. Well, traveling means major moola
towards diesel.
|
Categories |
Things Bought |
Amount |
|
Food |
Food&Household |
186.88 |
|
|
Provisions |
63.54 |
|
|
PYO & Farm Market |
26.48 |
|
|
Meals to Go |
129.05 |
|
Clothing |
Laura |
23.85 |
|
Transportation |
|
|
|
Truck |
Diesel |
585.37 |
|
|
Parking |
3.00 |
|
|
Fuel Pump Replacement |
128.76 |
|
|
Inspection (&Camper) |
29.00 |
|
|
Registration/Taxes |
310.58 |
|
Camper |
Registration/Taxes |
1100.00 |
|
Motorcycle |
Tools - bracket |
6.67 |
|
|
Inspection |
15.50 |
|
|
Registration/Taxes |
161.80 |
|
Both of Us |
Licenses |
63.00 |
|
Utilities |
Propane |
80.03 |
|
|
Campground |
174.00 |
|
|
Laundry |
10 |
|
|
Generator Fuel |
|
|
|
Electricity |
21.79 |
|
Camper |
Equipment |
288.38 |
|
Communication |
|
|
|
|
Verizon |
60.07 |
|
|
Postage |
7.87 |
|
|
Cell Phone |
30.45 |
|
|
Mail Service 3 years |
295.00 |
|
|
1st Class Postage |
50.00 |
|
Health |
Insurance (L) |
152.00 |
|
|
Insurance (S) |
169.46 |
|
|
Other |
3.64 |
|
Recreation |
Fun Stuff |
80.74 |
|
|
Gifts |
50.00 |
|
Total Spent |
|
4,307.40 |
Well, all in all, not too bad, as we became
Texas residents and spent some major time in Livingston, TX
(over two weeks).
So the Food & Household is relatively on
average the same as before, but the meals to go was a little
higher than we would have though, because when we went to
Livingston TX (that is where Escapees main camping and
services are located), everyone was so social, so we did
Christmas dinner there, and quite a few other meals. We did
find a farmers market in California, it was kind of like a
farmers market/flea market, Mexican style. Got some great
strawberries and oranges plus a couple pairs of leggings for
me. We also checked out a winery and got a nice bottle of
wine.
Transportation: We did not spend as much in
diesel as we did not go as far, we spent 2 weeks in
Livingston. That really helped us out, as we spent money on
becoming Texas residents. I separated out the amounts as
best I could...Since we did not pay taxes on the Camper, we
paid for them in Texas (I think that is how it works, plus
registration). While we paid taxes on the truck and
motorcycle, we still had to pay registration fees, so I
believe that is where there is the price difference.
Slightly confusing, but in the end, all paid up, and now
have Texas plates and licenses!
The fuel pump replacement - I am going to
use Sasha's words that he used on Facebook (because I really
did not understand it at all):
Changed the fuel filters in
the SuperDuty yesterday. Researched the procedure online and
it looked like a easy 20 minute job.....Wrong. Long story
short: yada, yada, yada, truck was towed to nearest Ford
dealer for new fuel pump to replace the one I burned out.
Air in the lines.....Bummer.
And then the comments started:
Back to me again, I just wanted to show you
all how Facebook helped us so much. Sasha of course is an
excellent writer, and puts up very good comments, also he
has been able to connect back to so many of his old friends
on Facebook. The money spent on Verizon has been very good
for us, but especially I think for him, because of the
re-connection to old friends. Jeff was a friend from High
School, who he had not seen since High School, so his advice
was invaluable, and truly this Christmas we had a lot to be
thankful of.
And from Facebook, Sasha was able to
communicate to another old friend from Colorado, a skiing
buddy. We met up with him in Houston, TX for drinks and
dinner, had a great time. First time in a long time paying
for parking, but we did not bring in the rig to Houston,
just the truck.
For the utilities, we spent money on the
campground in Livingston, I think it was 2 weeks that we
were there, they have the weekly rental which was good, and
a separate bill for electricity, we were very prudent on the
electricity, and so it was not a high price. We also spent a
bit on Propane, as before we got there, we used propane for
the heat. Going through some cold spots here and there, so
has to be done.
Regarding Camper Equipment: We got an extra
blanket, reflectix roll and a new faucet - Sasha was on a
roll getting the rig as warm as possible. Since the windows
are not double paned, wind was whipping through the area and
into our camper. Putting Reflectix inside the window pane
area, while we would not be able to look out, it would help
keep the camper warmer. Plastic over the windows does not
work for us, but this does. We also got a new Faucet as the
old one just did not work. So Sasha became a plumber too
this winter. He is so handy, I think I'll keep him!
Communication: It was big this month as we
signed up for Escapees, a Mail Forwarding Service for three
years. This gives us a physical address that works well for
banks and other places; Texas will now be our "domicile", a
physical address. But you have to be a member of Escapees in
order to get the mail service, so that price is factored in.
Then there is the mail that is sent to you, you give them
$50 to start it off, and they will send you an email when
the account is getting low. You decide how often you want
your mail to come. It is pretty simple and easy to do, and
there is such a piece of mind once it is done.
Then of course, you have to change
Everything over to the new address. We let family know the
new one, because a forwarded forwarded letter would take
forever to get to us! We also put more minutes on Sasha's
phone, I had put minutes on mine last month. Plus I bought
postage for some packages we sent out.
Health - what can I say, even with all the
other expenses, it is still pretty high, and we don't go to
doctors...just kind of sad really. I had some major back
problems this month, I think I might have twisted my back or
something, don't really know what it was, got some bengay,
heat warmers for the back, stayed flat out on my back for a
couple of days, and took the advice of my sister and stopped
exercising for a few days, and it worked itself out.
Sasha was also sick during this month, but I
plied him with so much liquids and Vitamin C through oranges
and grapefruit, that he weathered the storm real quick.
We got a few gifts for the niece and nephew,
it was a little tough this year to not be with family and
old friends, but we met some new friends at Escapees, and
had a nice Christmas dinner.
We left Livingston, Texas to head to
Lake Mead
National Recreation Area where we were expecting to stay
the rest of the winter....
Check out Next Month:
January a new year, the start of a new decade, and a ton of
catching up to do!
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Bo
Glen
Sasha
Brian
Jeff
Mike