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adventure, cutting the dock lines, debt free, falmouth cutter 22, freedom, freegan, frugal, independent travel, living aboard, minimalism, minimalist, one hundred dollars, photography, sailing, sailing blog, simplicity, SOCIETY
I broke into my secret savings today and pulled my last hundred dollar bill, its laundry day. I wasn’t sure what to do with my new found wealth so I did a Google search, I typed in one hundred dollars. I remember back in the day when I turned in my student Id for a press pass, I could live quite easily on $100.00 per month for food and entertainment.
My first year as a professional photographer I made $3,000.00 and I felt like a millionaire, for all intensive purposes I was. I owned the world, had no debt, boss, no schedule, and no responsibility, not much has changed.
Every day started with a long run through La Jolla in the cool morning mist followed by naked body surfing. The sun would usually start to peek its head out by 10 AM, I would sit on my deck in the warm sun eating my Wheaties contemplating what amazing things my precious day had in store for me. Life was simple back then, I didn’t have a cell phone, car, computer, television, or the monthly payments attached to them, I still don’t. Even back then I understood that it was easier to save buck than make a buck. My days would end on the beach body surfing after spearing a fish for dinner. Sunset with an ice cold beer is and was a great way to end the day.
My Google search turned up tones of interesting things, this was my favorite, http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/. I still can and do eat quite well off $100.00 per month and am always learning new tricks. I received this email this morning and it reminded me that I’m not the only one.
”Arrived in Hawaii with $150 after spending the previous five months cruising the south pacific living off texturized vegetable protein I bought in Mexico for U.S. $1.30 a kilo. It was always nice to catch a fish.
I left in 2006 on the current boat with “a lot ” of money. It lasted till 2010 which is when I really began cruising. The quote by Sterling Hayden is really true, you should go cruising when you can’t afford it. Everything else is just a “purchased” experience.” http://www.lucidsalt.blogspot.com/
I would do your laundry in exchange for all the brilliant posts you write. But not to get too serious, as if I’m not, I would…
~ No need to break into the piggy bank.
On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 9:39 AM, Art Of Hookie
Great post, your days sound idyllic!
We don’t spend as much since we moved on board our boat, but the live aboard life isn’t as cheap as we thought it would be. I suppose that will change when we’re finished fixing the boat up and cruising full time instead of living tied to a dock. Although I doubt we’ll ever get down to $100 a month.
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Not sure I could live off of texturised vegetable protein, I don’t even know what it is but it doesn’t sound great. As Crocodile Dundee would say “well, you can live on it, but it tastes like shit’
I’m not sure what it is either but your right I think I will stick with my beans and rice. I love that you guys are gardening on your boat, I cant let Serena see your blog or she will make me buy a bigger boat. We have been eye balling a BCC 28 but ouch they are expensive. I should remind you that the hundred bucks is for food, my total monthly expenses are 400, on the rare occasions that I get paid I put everything extra into finishing my refit. It might take me along time to finish but she is close enough and sails like a dream. Love your Blog, A
Thanks for reading our blog, i’m glad you like it! I enjoy reading yours and love the photography.
I’m curious how you prepare your beans and rice? Do you have any favourite recipes? We’re trying to eat less meat as it’s just getting so expensive. $100 a month just for food is still a good effort, trying to eat cheaply and healthily is proving harder and harder. I’ve actually got to do a menu plan today and I doubt i’ll be feeding us for under a $100, but i’ll give it a shot.
Gardening on a boat is proving to be hit n miss, but i’m slowly learning what to do and what not to do. I’m either very determined or very stubborn but I will make my little garden grow.
TVP is gross. Trust me. They fed it to us as children. I think it was a punishment.
After google image searching TVP i’m pretty sure it was a punishment too! But I guess if I had to eat it to survive I could but only if my life depended on it.
Ok, Sarah I’ve got a dirty little secret, when Serena is around she brings food that isn’t my normal man cooking. With the exception of spring I don’t need any meat, I’m not sure what it is about spring but I want as much as I can get and as raw as possible. Our three basic staples are beans, rice and cabbage, not necessarily all together. We are also experimenting with sprouting. Serena is like a witch with her big cauldron, I have no Idea what she puts in that big pot but it is always amazing. I don’t know about your area but we have one of the best food banks in the country, if you volunteer for 4 hours a week you get a huge box of free food, most of it organic or at least from Trader Joes, This alone would feed your whole family and you would be helping the needy at the same time. I have yet to do this but its on my list. here is another tip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbbW6WpXWjw . When I see anything on sale that I usually use I buy a six month supply, the last major stocking I did on the boat was July and I still have 20 percent of that left. I’m always looking for better solutions should you have any tips you would like to share.
The “$100 a month” was a great find…thanks for sharing.
keep smilin…..warmer temps are on their way
Do a sun dance for us