Where am I?
Placencia, Belize
September was a transition month for me. I wrapped up life on the little island and moved into the village. One of my good friends picked me up in her boat to help me move, and I house sat while she went on vacation. Then I used a friends golf cart to officially move into my new rental; a comfortable 2 bedroom, 1 bath house just steps from the beach.
Estimated Expenses & Goals My goal was to spend $2,250 USD in September and I came in a little over par.
Let's look at the numbers:
Total Expenses: $2,335.95
Largest Expense - Lodging: included rent and my monthly house cleaning.
2nd Largest Expense - Shopping: A friend connected me with her shipping broker out of Florida, so I was able to shop online in the US and have new clothes shipped down to me. I was in dire need of new shorts! It takes about 3-4 weeks to have packages arrive by cargo ship but it's worth it since I cannot have friends or family visit and bring down items. At least I have an alternative.
Savings Rate
I am proud to say I was able to save 86% of my income for the month of September. It was a good month!
What do I do with my savings?
This month I purchased more of my go-to ETFs: QQQ, VTI, IYH, and then bought Apple and Amazon stocks as I did not have those in my portfolio previously. All of my investments are purchases with the long haul in mind.
What have I learned?
I am taking advantage of lower prices for staycations and boat rides to the nearby Cayes. Since I'm only working around 10 hours per week right now and my savings rate is high, I'm trying to relax my feelings a bit about saving and investing, and enjoy the amazing sight seeing around me.
I love having access to fresh and affordable lobster!
I'm coming to the realization, I think I'm semi-retired. Most days it feels amazing, and then some mornings I wake up feeling guilty or that I should sit in front of my computer longer than I truly need too.
October Goals
In October, I anticipate to spend more because I'm moving into a house for a year, and want to make it feel like home. I don't need to worry about all of my belongings fitting into two suitcases anymore. My anticipated budget will be $3,000.
Questions? Suggestions?
Use the comment sections below, or send me a message.
Are you able to share contact details for the 2 bedroom / 1 bath rental?