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Costa Rica: full disclosure budget take 2

By on February 13, 2012 in Costa Rica, Debt Free!, Lifestyle, traveling

it’s been too long since the first budget post. here’s an update.

January 22-28

$6.64 Jumbo [popcorn, salt, tortilla flour]
$7.99 Netflix [stupid tax - being that the free trial screwed up]
$100 [translation of papers for kids' dual citizenship and our marriage registration]
$32.57 Price Smart [bread flour & tortilla flour]
$3.50 yummy bread [2 loaves]
$2.10 good bread [1 loaf]
$21.30 feria [fresh produce]
$12.97 Walmart [stuff for pasta salad + $2.64 shampoo]

Total: $187.07

January 29-February 4

$3.50 yummy bread [2 loaves]
$5.03 Jumbo [nail polish remover & 2 polishes]
$23.20 beach [admission]
$86.43 Price Smart [bulk food + $6.59 cleaning supplies and $19.49 TP]
$14.90 feria [fresh produce]
$16.30 souvenirs [bracelet/ring for Tina, 8 postcards for Maeve, and something for a friend]

Total: $149.36

yeah, these are not impressive totals again, but maybe I should start tracking the food cost separately.

January 9-14 $191.62
January 15-21 $39.62
January 22-28 $112.56
January 29-February 4 $78.75
Food Total: $422.55

yeah, still not liking that at all. well have to see how much we can stretch some of that stuff, but we won’t really know till it’s gone, which will probably be when we leave or not long before.

in other food news, I just had something tonight that if you ever come across you should definitely not hesitate to score some for yourself. Maverick somehow got ahold of the bag and kept growling when other people tried to get some out. Tronaditas – go find some.

I even found a little commercial, haha.

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Costa Rica: living on a TIGHT budget…

By on January 23, 2012 in Costa Rica, Debt Free!, Transitions, traveling

earlier this week I promised full disclosure on our expenses while here in Costa Rica. part of being able to spend some time here is doing our very best to stick to a budget (ie. spend as little as possible, essentially) well, dun dun duuuun… here we go!

thankfully we have very generous family here who provide a place for us to stay! so our main expenses are getting here, food, and occasional transportation costs (though we just try to walk as much as possible).

the first week we were here we went around pricing food items at various locations and figuring out our options. for some reason we didn’t really do that last time we were here, just got what seemed like the best, closest deals. it is good that we did this time because there is a definite variance. we have been rather surprised at how expensive some thing are – particularly makeup – some of it a good 2 or 3 times as expensive as in the states.

January8-14
$49 gas to chicago
$5.21 airport breakfast
$4 airplane snack

$23.80 [forgotten makeup - LAME (mascara, sponges, concealer) + razors]
$3.40 yummy bread for bread day [2 loaves]
$2.10 regular good bread [1 loaf]
$44.24 Mega Super [food + $1 gel, $8.26 hair dye, $2.96 hangers]
$154.48 Price Smart [bulk food + $30.19 diapers (92 Huggies size 6) yeah we need to potty train ASAP]
$20.60 feria (farmers’ market)
$2 [green mangos from a cart]
$3.07 + $0.84 [conversion fees from our bank for using our debit card (we couldn't remember if they did this or not. we'll aim to use cash from now on, obviously.)]

Total: $308.83 (NOT good, but a bunch of this will not be repeat expenses)

January 15-21

$15.58 Jumbo [seasonings + $5.82 paper for the kids, $2.40 for 2 bath poofs]
$3.50 yummy bread [2 loaves]
$5.06 chicken
$21.30 feria [fresh produce]

Total: $45.44

I know, technically the makeup and razors were not necessities, but I don’t want to feel like a total schlep the whole time we’re here… (not that that is what schlep means, but it fits in my head, so I’m using it)

(that’s my un-edited attempt at keeping myself entertained while waiting for Mr. D by learning how better to take self-portraits like a teenage girl – as mentioned before, it is a lot harder than it looks to get the right angles and such!)

I’ve actually been trying to be a better version of myself here, as opposed to my usual frumpy home-self. as mentioned on our facebook page, Maverick noticed, lol! thankfully Mr. D is fairly easy (although still never overly impressed at posing for pictures).

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