Introduction: maintain a series of posts, Fun with Numbers, to share transparent summary of spending habits for the year. 2024 expenses, excluding income tax, totaled $53,000 (five-year average: $37,000).
Dave Ramsey once suggested, “live like no one else, so that you may live like no one else.” Do not own a home, do not rent an apartment, do not own a car. No spouse, no kids. Nine months a year, life fits inside 22-liter, 12-pound backpack.
2024 living expense:
– Rent: $3,000 (when not traveling)
– Medical: $6,500 ($4,000 Shouldice hernia surgery | $2,000 premiums)
– Supplies: $1,500 (clothing, electronics, accessories)
– Gifts: $2,000 (holiday & donations)
– Food: $1,000 (groceries & dining)
– Other: $7,000 (T-Mobile, mail scanning, Deloitte tax)
– Total: $21,000
2024 travel expense:
– Lodging: $5,600 (hostel, AirBnB, hotel)
– Transportation: $10,500 (plane, train, bus, ferry, taxi)
– Food: $600
– Tourism: $15,000 (tourism, visa fee, FX, etc.)
— Camper rental: $4,000 (AUS, NZ)
— Motorcycle rental: $2,500 (AUS, NZ)
— Antarctica expedition: $8,500
– Total: $32,000
Long-term travel expense:
Four years | SEP 2021 – DEC 2025 | 1160 of 1600 days (73%)
– Lodging: $29,500 ($25 per night)
– Transportation: $29,100 ($25 per day)
– Food: $3,000 ($3 per day)
– Other: $31,200 (tourism, FX, etc.)
— Camper: $4,000 (AUS, NZ)
— Motorcycle: $2,500 (AUS, NZ)
— Cruise: $16,500 (Alaska, Antarctica, Svalbard, QM2)
– Total: $92,800 ($80 per day)
Conclusion: paid $10,000 in federal income tax, quarterly payments; $82,000 taxable income on $98,000 total income. Deloitte continues to prepare tax return until I exit carried interest, within the next five years.
Modest investment allocation; 75% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX), 25% Vanguard Federal Money Market (VMFXX). Allocation ensures that I do not need to convert to cash during a protracted down market. Portfolio increased $800,000 (13%) during the year, primarily, capital gains.
Net worth resides in revocable trust, reviewed annually, 85% allocated to family; parents, brothers, nieces and nephews. Balance is allocated to the National Park Foundation, to protect some of the most beautiful, sacred space in the country.
Open the kimono, and free to criticize; spend too much, do not spend enough.
garthmonroe 