Just one more reason why Brent and Michael Are Going Places is so valuable. This is great info for everyone, whether they are digital nomads or, um, armchair nomads. I nomad part of the time, if that's a thing . . . Okay, I travel a bit. I'm grateful for all your helpful advice.
Please to see your Are Going Places but your sharing is a place on the internet for us to share. Your reflection of your actual spendings for 2022 was enlightening. We rarely see such details. Thanks for caring.
Loved this article and the breakdowns. Very helpful for potential immigrants and digital nomads alike in terms of budgeting and actual spending.
I'm not a defender of America in most senses, but I will say there are farmers markets here that cater to the middle and lower classes, and are not simply for the rich or tourists. Many vendors take EBT these days. Just an observation.
Fascinating to compare your spending whilst traveling compared to ours!
My husband and I spent about the same on food and going out that you did - and yes we definitely go out more when we're in Eastern Europe than when we're in places like Italy (although Split was more expensive to eat out than anywhere I've been in Spain or even many of our experiences in Rome, but perhaps a story for another day). As Brits we don't have the same insurances you guys have (I'm sorry for Americans on that one) and I was shocked to see how much phone plans are in America. Our travel insurance is like $100 for both of us for the year because despite Brexit, we still get emergency treatment in the EU for free.
I get you on the accommodation. We've been traveling for 2.5 years and we always get as nice an apartment as we can find, because of the same reason as you guys - you don't realize how important comfort is until you don't have it. We may also loosen our purse strings on that front this year (last year we spent £9k on apartments for 10 months - 2 months were spent at home).
Yes, Crotia (especially Split) is basically like Western Europe now. A VERY sophisticated tourism industry -- which is both good (convenient, easy) and bad (high prices).
With Flexiroam, we've decreased our phone costs considerably -- those numbers include Google Fi for half the year, an American international policy which we no longer have. And good riddance!
Posts like this make me so giddy, which is a nerdy thing to say. I'm pretty sure I'll be spending more than both of you did this year, but I'll also be spending a fair amount of time in Western Europe (working US East Coast hours in Eastern Europe is not a switch I'm ready for, but hope to be soon).
Oh totally, and I plan to make it to eastern Europe in 2024 - I wanted to get used to the change in schedule first (8am-3pm EST = 1pm-8pm in London (GMT); or 2pm-9pm in Copenhagen/Vienna (GMT+1); or 3pm-10pm in Latvia/Romania/Bulgaria ... etc. (GMT+2)).
My plan for the 2nd half of 2023 is to spend a decent amount of time in the UK, but also going to Copenhagen and Vienna, so I'll progressively make my way East (and, hopefully, in 2024, I won't NEED to work US East Coast hours - we'll see!) :D
Thank you for your openness in sharing your spending. It is really helps for my wife and me as we prepare for a similar life in 18 months and it gives us the confidence we can pull this off!
An absolutely fascinating read - it’s really great to see the nuts and bolts of the numbers like this. Thank you!
We’re not avid travellers, but that all changed the week before Covid hit, when my husband arrived home with a surprise campervan.... He’d been commissioned to shoot a book, and the job involved a raft of trips of various lengths around the whole of the UK once the first lockdown had lifted. We were entirely self-contained, which was a real gift for us immuno-suppressed in such worrying times. There’s now a second book commission, and after THAT multi-stop trip across the country is accomplished I would LOVE to hit mainland Europe....
I’m sharing this post with my husband so that he’s prepared for all the hints I’m going to be dropping!
Interesting! I haven’t buckled down and figured out my 2022. I’ve been waffling been doing accrued or what I actually paid in the year. I’ve found I save more on rentals if I booked in advance, which screws up the actually paid numbers. I think I’ll look at it both ways and see how it all shakes out.
I think the flexibility helps us too. Sometimes we go...wherever sounds best and is cheapest! Plus, we're always aiming for the shoulder and off seasons, at least in desirable locations.
Regarding insurance, since we have Obamacare as a primary policy, we signed up for GeoBlue Voyager Choice. Covers us for six months at a time abroad (about $300 per month for two 61-year olds)...including pre-existing conditions.
When you are on Medicare your cost will increase. Between part B, a supplement and part D you can expect to pay about $400 each per month and then you will still have deductibles and some co-pays. We have been told not to drop or let anything lapse except the part D for Medicine as the penalties will be substantial and the supplement policy would not cover any preexisting conditions and be completely unaffordable.
Hi Guys - Still in La Paz - Yuck. Loved your latest post and if you tell me where you got a non-owner driver's insurance policy for $150 a year I'll tell you how much I LOVE Mint Mobil for $180 for the entire year!!!
Is that pretty easy to do? Can you turn it on and off in the app or something? I never really thought about wanting to have a car insurance policy when I don’t own a car.
Actually, no, it's not easy. You need to work with an agent, let them know your situation, then monitor your premiums. They will try to (a) reinstate you, esp after six months and/or (b) suspend your policy. But you'll be given lots of notice before the actual umbrella policy is discontinued. Six months is easy, a year is more difficult. But yeah, talk with an agent. I use State Farm.
This is great info! Thanks for sharing it! I have two questions: who do you buy your non-owner auto insurance from? I have been looking for a company in the US but have not found one. And what tool or software do you use to do your budgeting? Many thanks!
We use State Farm. But all agents are not equal!! I've had several shitty ones. Definitely interview several and explain your unique needs and situation.
The software I use is "my notes and estimates" and a calculator. 🤣🤣
Awesome article. Thank you for breaking down each category! Wow. impressive and you are living, what appears, to be the grand life! So excited for you two!
Just one more reason why Brent and Michael Are Going Places is so valuable. This is great info for everyone, whether they are digital nomads or, um, armchair nomads. I nomad part of the time, if that's a thing . . . Okay, I travel a bit. I'm grateful for all your helpful advice.
Awww, thank you! And back at you.
Part-time nomad sounds good to me!
It does sound a lot more hip, I'll give you that. Part-time DIGITAL nomad, because I have a phone. :)
Please to see your Are Going Places but your sharing is a place on the internet for us to share. Your reflection of your actual spendings for 2022 was enlightening. We rarely see such details. Thanks for caring.
Thank you!
A life worth following loved finding you on substack and I'm grateful for all your helpful advice
Thank you!
that is very nice of you to say!
Thank you for sharing. I’m looking forward to reading about your 2023 adventures.
You're welcome!
Loved this article and the breakdowns. Very helpful for potential immigrants and digital nomads alike in terms of budgeting and actual spending.
I'm not a defender of America in most senses, but I will say there are farmers markets here that cater to the middle and lower classes, and are not simply for the rich or tourists. Many vendors take EBT these days. Just an observation.
Fair enough!
Fascinating to compare your spending whilst traveling compared to ours!
My husband and I spent about the same on food and going out that you did - and yes we definitely go out more when we're in Eastern Europe than when we're in places like Italy (although Split was more expensive to eat out than anywhere I've been in Spain or even many of our experiences in Rome, but perhaps a story for another day). As Brits we don't have the same insurances you guys have (I'm sorry for Americans on that one) and I was shocked to see how much phone plans are in America. Our travel insurance is like $100 for both of us for the year because despite Brexit, we still get emergency treatment in the EU for free.
I get you on the accommodation. We've been traveling for 2.5 years and we always get as nice an apartment as we can find, because of the same reason as you guys - you don't realize how important comfort is until you don't have it. We may also loosen our purse strings on that front this year (last year we spent £9k on apartments for 10 months - 2 months were spent at home).
Thanks for the insight!
Yes, Crotia (especially Split) is basically like Western Europe now. A VERY sophisticated tourism industry -- which is both good (convenient, easy) and bad (high prices).
With Flexiroam, we've decreased our phone costs considerably -- those numbers include Google Fi for half the year, an American international policy which we no longer have. And good riddance!
You're welcome! Thanks for the nice words.
Posts like this make me so giddy, which is a nerdy thing to say. I'm pretty sure I'll be spending more than both of you did this year, but I'll also be spending a fair amount of time in Western Europe (working US East Coast hours in Eastern Europe is not a switch I'm ready for, but hope to be soon).
haha that seems fair. (But Eastern Europe is only an hour later. Or earlier? Looking forward to hearing how it goes!
Oh totally, and I plan to make it to eastern Europe in 2024 - I wanted to get used to the change in schedule first (8am-3pm EST = 1pm-8pm in London (GMT); or 2pm-9pm in Copenhagen/Vienna (GMT+1); or 3pm-10pm in Latvia/Romania/Bulgaria ... etc. (GMT+2)).
My plan for the 2nd half of 2023 is to spend a decent amount of time in the UK, but also going to Copenhagen and Vienna, so I'll progressively make my way East (and, hopefully, in 2024, I won't NEED to work US East Coast hours - we'll see!) :D
Thank you for your openness in sharing your spending. It is really helps for my wife and me as we prepare for a similar life in 18 months and it gives us the confidence we can pull this off!
You're welcome! And good luck!
An absolutely fascinating read - it’s really great to see the nuts and bolts of the numbers like this. Thank you!
We’re not avid travellers, but that all changed the week before Covid hit, when my husband arrived home with a surprise campervan.... He’d been commissioned to shoot a book, and the job involved a raft of trips of various lengths around the whole of the UK once the first lockdown had lifted. We were entirely self-contained, which was a real gift for us immuno-suppressed in such worrying times. There’s now a second book commission, and after THAT multi-stop trip across the country is accomplished I would LOVE to hit mainland Europe....
I’m sharing this post with my husband so that he’s prepared for all the hints I’m going to be dropping!
That's fantastic! I look forward to hearing about that!
I did the same. We'll see if my wife gets the hint!
LOL LOL LOL
Interesting! I haven’t buckled down and figured out my 2022. I’ve been waffling been doing accrued or what I actually paid in the year. I’ve found I save more on rentals if I booked in advance, which screws up the actually paid numbers. I think I’ll look at it both ways and see how it all shakes out.
I think the flexibility helps us too. Sometimes we go...wherever sounds best and is cheapest! Plus, we're always aiming for the shoulder and off seasons, at least in desirable locations.
Regarding insurance, since we have Obamacare as a primary policy, we signed up for GeoBlue Voyager Choice. Covers us for six months at a time abroad (about $300 per month for two 61-year olds)...including pre-existing conditions.
That's good to know. Not sure what we'll do this year... will research soon!
When you are on Medicare your cost will increase. Between part B, a supplement and part D you can expect to pay about $400 each per month and then you will still have deductibles and some co-pays. We have been told not to drop or let anything lapse except the part D for Medicine as the penalties will be substantial and the supplement policy would not cover any preexisting conditions and be completely unaffordable.
Hi Guys - Still in La Paz - Yuck. Loved your latest post and if you tell me where you got a non-owner driver's insurance policy for $150 a year I'll tell you how much I LOVE Mint Mobil for $180 for the entire year!!!
State Farm, but most of the year the policy is suspended! That's only 1-2 months of actual coverage.
Is that pretty easy to do? Can you turn it on and off in the app or something? I never really thought about wanting to have a car insurance policy when I don’t own a car.
Actually, no, it's not easy. You need to work with an agent, let them know your situation, then monitor your premiums. They will try to (a) reinstate you, esp after six months and/or (b) suspend your policy. But you'll be given lots of notice before the actual umbrella policy is discontinued. Six months is easy, a year is more difficult. But yeah, talk with an agent. I use State Farm.
Curious to hear more about Mint Mobile.
You certainly do appear to eat very well. Interesting analysis.
Are you saying I look like I've gained weight! LOL.
Not at all...just that you folks have a nice food budget.
I was just teasing, which I'm pretty sure you know.
Sorry about the repeats. It kept telling me there was an error posting, so I kept trying and finally gave up and switched to Facebook!!
This is great info! Thanks for sharing it! I have two questions: who do you buy your non-owner auto insurance from? I have been looking for a company in the US but have not found one. And what tool or software do you use to do your budgeting? Many thanks!
We use State Farm. But all agents are not equal!! I've had several shitty ones. Definitely interview several and explain your unique needs and situation.
The software I use is "my notes and estimates" and a calculator. 🤣🤣
Thanks Brent! I had Gieco one for a bit that fell into that "shitty" category!
🤣🤣
Awesome article. Thank you for breaking down each category! Wow. impressive and you are living, what appears, to be the grand life! So excited for you two!
Thank you, very nice of you to say. 😀😀😀
Thank you, very nice of you to say. 😀😀😀