I arrived in Ecuador on December 23, 2019; just in time to enjoy some holiday festivities. I could hear fireworks and music each night. Having just finished a two-week cruise with my mom and sister, where we celebrated the holidays early together, I was pretty beat and enjoyed relaxing at my cousins house, enjoying cuddles with their three dogs: Luna, Layla, and Rocky.
Ecuador was not a random country I picked by throwing a dart at a map. I have family that moved here 4 years ago, and I visited once for a 10-day vacation back in 2018. I knew returning would not only offer more time with family, but a huge learning experience that I wouldn't get anywhere else. I get the chance to ask the deeper questions about living outside of our home country, and I see first hand the happiness of the expat life. These first few weeks have been heartwarming.
Christmas & New Years
There were parades, festivities, music, food, and fireworks. One of the local expats arranged a solo's get-together for Christmas Day. We each brought a snack to share, met new people and enjoyed each others company. And New Years Day was a similar gathering at Traveler's, a local pub. Another expat prepared a wonderful meal for us: rice with black-eye-peas and ham, cabbage and sweet cornbread. It was nice to visit with the people I had just met on Christmas and I made some new friends too. Now as I walk the town streets, I can say hello to familiar faces.
Tell me more about food!
It's sooo affordable to eat in Cotacachi, and that it's exciting.
Double meat cheese burger with onions and ham, and a side of hand cut fries: $5.75
Eggs Benedict and coffee: $4.00
Large handmade lemonade: $1
Caramel latte: $3.00
January Budget: How is it going?
Typically I set an all-in average daily budget of $82.19 which is a $30,000 annual budget (365 days/year). However, knowing that I was going to be living rent-free while in Ecuador, I decided to budget $40 a day. I have been living in Ecuador since December 23, 2019, but I want to focus on my 2020 budget. So here's my breakdown for January 1 - 11, 2020; just because I didn't want to wait 4 more days to post on the 15th.
Spending for January 1 - 11, 2020
Health Insurance $50.91
Data & Streaming $47.23
Eating Out $67.00
Groceries $60.61
Transportation $10.00
Coffee $ 3.00
TOTAL $238.75
Average daily spending: $21.70
I do want to disclose that I'm visiting family and they beyond generous for letting me stay with them, and they have picked up a few of my meals; so my eating out costs should be higher. I have also had a few opportunities to make some side cash. Today I sold one of my backup iPhone's (iPhone 6s Plus 64GB in Rose Gold), and I finished a two-week house and pet sitting gig for a local. Between these two happenings, I made $500. So far, January appears to be a "free" month, where I won't be spending any of my own money. How crazy it that?! Plus, I have two more house/pet sitting opportunities lined up for part of my stay.
Even if I was spending my own money on living expenses, my daily budget for Ecuador is nearly half of what I had planned. This is great news especially because the next three places I have booked after Ecuador are expensive (Walt Disney World, Belize, Hawaii). So I feel good that my planning and preparation for 2020 is off to a wonderful start. I can only hope to stay on track as I have very lofty savings goals for this year to hit a particular milestone in my net worth. If you forgot, or didn't read my post about "My Why," I am on par to retire in 5 years, right around my 45th birthday. Hence, my financial goals are a motivator for my lifestyle choices and low annual expenditures.
Increase Income + Decrease Spending = Save like a Bandit and Invest
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