Introduction: maintain series of posts, Fun with Numbers, to share transparent summary of annual spending habits. 2025 expense, excluding income tax, totaled $43,000 (five-year average: $37,000), for comparison, US GDP per capita $79,000.
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, 15-pound backpack. Unsure if this is funny or sad, perhaps both.
2025 living expense:
– Rent: $3,000 (when not traveling)
– Medical: $5,700 (premium and expense)
– Supplies: $2,300 (clothing, electronics, accessories)
– Gifts: $1,000 (holiday & donations)
– Food: $500 (groceries & dining)
– Other: $7,200 (T-Mobile, mail scanning, Deloitte tax prep)
– Total: $20,000
2025 travel expense: Northern & Baltic Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland
– Lodging: $8,400 (hostel, AirBnB, hotel)
– Transportation: $6,700 (plane, train, bus, ferry, taxi)
– Food: $700
– Tourism: $7,300 (tourism, FX, motorbike, car hire, cruise, etc.)
– Total: $23,100
Five-year travel expense: (SEP 2021 – DEC 2026 | 48 of 65 months)
– Lodging: $36,900 ($26 per night)
– Transportation: $37,000 ($26 per day)
– Food: $4,000 ($3 per day)
– Other: $36,200 ($25 per day | tourism, FX, motorbike, car hire, cruise, etc.)
– Total: $114,100 ($80 per day | $29,200 annualized)
Conclusion: paid $30,000 in federal income tax, quarterly payments. $110,000 taxable income on $183,000 total income, which included consulting project 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 $840,000 (11.5%) during the year, primarily, capital gains.
Assigned Vanguard financial advisor; he called after I return to the United States. He asked what my money needs to do for me, and replied that I am giving it away.
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.
What’s in your wallet.
