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Feb. 6, 2006 — I’ve just done some math regarding the costs of living and traveling in Mexico for us in December and January. These were not exactly usual months, but they give at least some idea. I’ve left out any bills that related to things back in Colorado or to our business. Also, even though we’ve been logging our expenses for years and both of us do it in a little notebook, no doubt a few things get overlooked.

In December, we left Colorado on the 2nd, entered Mexico about a week later, and were here by Lake Chapala before Christmas. Gasoline for the trip was $313… our old Toyota Dolphin RV gets about 17 mpg. I didn’t sort out costs for the two countries. We also spent $100 for clutch repair in Mexico (would have easily been 5x that in the US!), a $50 fee to get the RV into Mexico, and $123 or maybe a bit more to take the toll highways. Total transportation, $586. Campground fees were $230. We spent $200 on groceries and $175 on eating out. We spent $50 in NM for our dog Larry to get updated on his shots and get the papers needed to get into Mexico. (Nobody asked for them, as it turned out, but they will also work for getting him back into the US.) Just before we left, we got a cellphone with a Colorado number that works in Mexico and that cost us the monthly fee of about $60 plus $60 in setup fees. Supplies and miscellany, including some clothing, came to $142. Total $1528.

In January, we didn’t drive our RV at all, as it’s parked in a backyard in San Antonio Tlayacapan, by Lake Chapala. It was a very quiet month as Kelly fell off a roof and broke a rib on the 5th, and we did very little for a couple of weeks. The total costs for the ambulance, clinics, xrays, several doctor visits, medications, etc., was $400. Yep, no typo there. Just before the fall, Kelly had spent $576 going into Guadalajara three times to an excellent periodontist, getting started with four dental implants. So total medical expenses in January were $1076.

Other January expenses were buses and taxis for $76, miscellany including propane for the RV $100, $30 for entertainment, $170 for groceries and $155 for eating out (about a dozen times), $60 for the cellphone, and $320 for the month’s camping fee. Total $909.

Interesting, huh? I might add that we feel we lack for nothing. We are both rather frugal by nature, but we eat very healthfully and well. We don’t drink much alcohol.

Your mileage will vary… so will ours.