RV-Dreams Journal

December Financial Summary

December 2007 Results

No point in reinventing the wheel each month, so the same format and same wording appears throughout much of this entry for those just tuning in (guess the longtime readers already knew that) .  :)

Campground Fees $0.00 ($0.00 per day) - Budget $750.00

Free campsite this month in return for volunteering at Brazoria National Wildlife Reserve.  At the time we did the budget, we didn't know we would be volunteering.   

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $0.00 - Budget $10.00

Propane is covered as part of our volunteering.

Cell Phones $84.93 - Budget $81.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.  The price is the same for 2008 (less a referral credit of about $70).

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $72.70 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $181.32 - Budget $50.00

Had our cracked gray tank replaced and our clogged faucet replaced.  Both replacements were covered under our extended warranty, but we had to pay a $50 deductible and we had to pay for the shipping of the gray tank and faucet.  Still under budget for the year.

Diesel $41.70 - Budget $300.00

We hoped we would not need any diesel in December, but had to fill up our small tank after towing the rig for service.  At the time we did the budget, we didn't know we would be volunteering and parked for December, and we didn't know we would have the Jeep for local travel.    

Gas $153.42 - Budget $0.00

Here's one of those new categories related to the Jeep which of course we didn't budget for in 2007.  We drove the Jeep 900 miles in December while exploring. 

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Jeep Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $575.22 ($18.56 per day) - Budget $400.00

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget for 2007 is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total).  We blew that by dining out a bit too much - $262.

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $0.00 - Budget $70.00

Laundry is free as volunteers.  And we had no other purchases this month.

Entertainment $107.31 ($3.46 per day) - Budget $200.00

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $180.48 - Budget $0.00

In the first two years of full-timing, we wanted to make sure we paid our health insurance up front as a safety net.  But financially, it's better to pay monthly and let the extra money grow in our investments.  So we switched it over and our monthly payments started in August.  Of course we didn't budget the rest of the year for monthly payments (we had budgeted for an annual payment in July).

Medical & Dental Expenses $120.14 - Budget $50.00

Had one last medical bill from our time in Louisville that was just billed.

Miscellaneous $210.80 - Budget $200.00

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $0.00 - Budget $420.00

Totals $1,728.02 ($55.74 per day) - Budget $2,641.00.

For the year, we finished $1,617 under our total budget.  (Of course that doesn't include the expenses related to the purchase of the Jeep - $15,457 including Jeep, new tires, sales tax, receiver hitch, etc.)

But that does include the electrical upgrade and the cruise.  So I guess I can't complain.  :)

If we take those two things (basically the RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion category) out of the equation ($6,366), we were $2,943 under budget in normal living expenses.  Those living expenses totaled $28,017 for the year.  Good deal.  :)

This is the last time we will include the following in these monthly reports.  Not because we no longer believe it, but because I'm sure our regular readers are getting tired of seeing it.  :)

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round (we made that number when we workamped in December 2006 through March 2007).

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping (if we took paid positions rather than volunteer jobs) or other income producing jobs and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

Note:  We got an email regarding the above statements.  It was well thought out, and I considered it carefully.  The gist of the email was the fear that the above statements make it sound too easy to live as a couple for $1,500 a month as full-timers.  He was concerned that we would be misleading folks about expenses and the ability to find workamping positions.  I agreed with the writer that finding year-round workamping opportunities is not that easy, but I still feel, speaking only for ourselves, that we can do it if we need to.  For tips on finding opportunities, check out our Earning A Living On The Road page, and my article on RV-Dreams Lifestyles called Finding Fulfillment As A Working RVer.   

For a look at this year's numbers through December go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. I included an extra spreadsheet on that page that shows the final expenses with the budgeted numbers by category for the year.  To see our budget month-by-month click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the business income side, it was a decent month.  We brought in $544 on our various ventures.  Our business expenses totaled $1,311.  That included $798 for satellite internet and $309 for web hosting.  So we had a net loss of $767 for the month.

Still, we finished the year with $2,541 in net income.  And there was at least $2,200 in expenses in 2007 that we shouldn't have in future years.  Hopefully, we can continue to increase as we go.

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

I will be posting a separate financial summary for the year sometime in January.  That one will go more in depth on investment results and what we have learned overall about finances in our 2 1/2 years on the road.

November Financial Summary

November 2007 Results

No point in reinventing the wheel each month, so the same format and same wording appears throughout much of this entry for those just tuning in (guess the longtime readers already knew that) .  :)

Campground Fees $352.58 ($11.75 per day) - Budget $750.00

Though our budget is $750 a month, our new goal after the purchase of our Jeep is now $450.  But we'll take anything under $500 since we figure the Jeep will cost us about $250 a month for gas, insurance, maintenance, etc.

This month we left the rig on a dealer lot for almost two weeks while we drove the Jeep to Louisville for a funeral and a reunion.   

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $0.00 - Budget $10.00

Cell Phones $84.93 - Budget $81.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $72.70 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $200.12 - Budget $50.00

Had some minor work and maintenance done on the rig.  Still well under budget for the year.

Diesel $264.50 - Budget $300.00

We towed the rig 791 miles in November and drove the truck by itself another 19 miles.  In 2 years and 4 months, we finally passed 12,000 miles towing.  :)   

Gas $379.32 - Budget $0.00

Here's one of those new categories related to the Jeep which of course we didn't budget for in 2007.  We drove the Jeep 2,720 miles in November, including 1,600 miles from Mississippi to Louisville and back for a funeral and reunion.

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Jeep Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $320.13 ($10.67 per day) - Budget $400.00

Much better this month. 

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget for 2007 is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total).

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $98.61 - Budget $70.00

Entertainment $491.94 ($16.40 per day) - Budget $200.00

Yikes!  A little too much gambling this month.  Gotta keep those casino trips to a minimum.

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $180.48 - Budget $0.00

In the first two years of full-timing, we wanted to make sure we paid our health insurance up front as a safety net.  But financially, it's better to pay monthly and let the extra money grow in our investments.  So we switched it over and our monthly payments started in August.  Of course we didn't budget the rest of the year for monthly payments (we had budgeted for an annual payment in July), so we will have to be careful.

Medical & Dental Expenses $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Miscellaneous $131.65 - Budget $200.00

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $0.00 - Budget $420.00

Totals $2,576.96 ($85.90 per day) - Budget $2,781.00.

For the year, we are still $704 under our total budget.  (Of course that doesn't include the expenses related to the purchase of the Jeep - $15,457 including Jeep, new tires, sales tax, receiver hitch, etc.)

But that does include the electrical upgrade and the cruise.  So I guess I can't complain.  :)

If we take those two things (basically the RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion category) out of the equation ($6,366), we are $2,450 under budget in normal living expenses.  We are averaging $2,390 a month for those items, and our goal is a maximum of $2,500 a month.  Not bad, but we can do better - and will need to if our investments don't recover from the latest downturn.  :)

I'm not happy that we are going to end up spending around $3,000 a month total for the year.  But I'm pleased that our budget was on target and included some room for the unexpected. 

I suppose I'm proving my hypothesis that $3,000 a month in income is a real good, comfortable number for moderate, comfortable full-timing.  :) 

Now, I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round (like we did when we workamped in December 2006 through March 2007).

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping (if we took paid positions rather than volunteer jobs) and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

Note:  We got an email regarding the above statements.  It was well thought out, and I considered it carefully.  The gist of the email was the fear that the above statements make it sound too easy to live as a couple for $1,500 a month as full-timers.  He was concerned that we would be misleading folks about expenses and the ability to find workamping positions.  I agreed with the writer that finding year-round workamping opportunities is not that easy, but I still feel, speaking only for ourselves, that we can do it if we need to.  For tips on finding opportunities, check out our Earning A Living On The Road page, and my article on RV-Dreams Lifestyles called Finding Fulfillment As A Working RVer.   

For a look at this year's numbers through November go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, it was another light month.  We brought in only $298 on our various ventures.  Our business expenses totaled $194, so we had a tiny little profit of $105.00.

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

October Financial Summary

October 2007 Results

Campground Fees $494.50 ($15.95 per day) - Budget $750.00

Though our budget is $750 a month, our new goal after the purchase of our Jeep is now $450.  But we'll take anything under $500 since we figure the Jeep will cost us about $250 a month for gas, insurance, maintenance, etc. 

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $29.89 - Budget $10.00

Cell Phones $84.99 - Budget $81.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $72.70 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $116.00 - Budget $300.00

We towed the rig 406 miles in October and drove the truck by itself another 73 miles.   

Gas $129.54 - Budget $0.00

Here's one of those new categories related to the Jeep which of course we didn't budget for in 2007.  We drove the Jeep 921 miles in October.

Truck Maintenance $96.07 - Budget $120.00

Jeep Maintenance $48.03 - Budget $0.00

Linda got a premium oil change.  :)

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $443.54 ($14.31 per day) - Budget $400.00

Missed it again!  I'm gonna have to give serious thought to a budget increase on this line item for 2008.  We are averaging $470 a month so far this year. 

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget for 2007 is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total).

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $30.37 - Budget $70.00

That's more like it.  :)

Entertainment $167.45 ($5.40 per day) - Budget $200.00

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $180.48 - Budget $0.00

What happened here?!  Well, we finally got comfortable enough to pay our health insurance premiums monthly through automatic bank draft.  In the first two years of full-timing, we wanted to make sure we paid our health insurance up front as a safety net.  But financially, it's better to pay monthly and let the extra money grow in our investments.  So we switched it over and our monthly payments started in August.  Of course we didn't budget the rest of the year for monthly payments (we had budgeted for an annual payment in July), so we will have to be careful.

Medical & Dental Expenses $238.30 - Budget $50.00

Our bills came in for Linda's immediate care center visit due to her back injury.  Also, bills came in for check-ups she had in September.  As long as we don't have any more surprises this year, we should be right on target for the twelve months.

Miscellaneous $100.98 - Budget $200.00

About half of that was for a new pair of Cobra walkie-talkies.

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $800.00 - Budget $420.00

This $800 was for our expenses on the cruise early in the month.  We actually spent more, but we won some in the casino, so I'm reporting the "net". 

We are $2,166 over in this category for the year - and that is very close to the cost of the unbudgeted cruise and expenses on the trip.

Totals $3,032.84 ($97.83 per day, $72.03 per day if we take out the cruise expenses) - Budget $2,781.00.

Well, let's look at it from a positive standpoint.

For the year, we are still $640 under our total budget.  (Of course that doesn't include the expenses related to the purchase of the Jeep - $15,457 including Jeep, new tires, sales tax, receiver hitch, etc.)

But that does include the electrical upgrade and the cruise.  So I guess I can't complain.  :)

If we take those two things (basically the RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion category) out of the equation ($6,366), we are $2,800 under budget in normal living expenses.  We are averaging $2,371 a month for those items, and our goal is a maximum of $2,500 a month.  Not bad, but I think we can do better.  :)

I'm not happy that we are going to end up spending around $3,000 a month total for the year.  But I'm pleased that our budget was on target and included some room for the unexpected.  Otherwise, I'd probably be jumping off a bridge.  :)

I suppose I'm proving my hypothesis that $3,000 a month in income is a real good, comfortable number for moderate, comfortable full-timing.  :) 

Now, I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

Note:  We got an email regarding the above statements.  It was well thought out, and I considered it carefully.  The gist of the email was the fear that the above statements make it sound too easy to live as a couple for $1,500 a month as full-timers.  He was concerned that we would be misleading folks about expenses and the ability to find workamping positions.  I agreed with the writer that finding year-round workamping opportunities is not that easy, but I still feel, speaking only for ourselves, that we can do it if we need to.  For tips on finding opportunities, check out our Earning A Living On The Road page, and my article on RV-Dreams Lifestyles called Finding Fulfillment As A Working RVer.   

For a look at this year's numbers through October go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, it was a light month.  We brought in only $368 on our various ventures.  Our business expenses totaled $220, so we had a tiny little profit of $148.00.

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

September Financial Summary

September 2007 Results

Campground Fees $450.00 ($15.00 per day) - Budget $750.00

Though our budget is $750 a month, our new goal after the purchase of our Jeep is now $450.  Happy to have made that goal again this month. 

RV Clubs $39.00 - Budget $0.00

Renewed my annual Good Sam Golf Club membership.  It more than pays for itself with discounted greens fees throughout the year.

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $10.00 - Budget $10.00

Cell Phones $84.99 - Budget $81.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $72.70 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $0.00 - Budget $300.00

We didn't tow the rig in September and didn't drive the truck at all. 

Gas $196.81 - Budget $0.00

Here's one of those new categories related to the Jeep which of course we didn't budget for in 2007.  We drove the Jeep 1,000 miles in September. 

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Jeep Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $359.83 ($11.99 per day) - Budget $400.00

Yay!  We finally stayed under budget in this category.

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total). 

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $432.95 - Budget $70.00

What!!!!?  Laundry has been free this month.   So it was all in Clothing & Hair Care.

Let's see.  There was the $100 salon appointment prior to the wedding we attended.  And the $93 fake hair which is supposed to pay for itself in the long run.  :)

And the $165 Mary Kay skin care purchase that covers us for the year.  And the new purse and new shoes for the cruise.  Oh, and don't forget the new bras for $89.  :)

Entertainment $39.00 ($1.30 per day) - Budget $200.00

Only one round of golf for this category this month. 

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $180.48 - Budget $0.00

What happened here?!  Well, we finally got comfortable enough to pay our health insurance premiums monthly through automatic bank draft.  In the first two years of full-timing, we wanted to make sure we paid our health insurance up front as a safety net.  But financially, it's better to pay monthly and let the extra money grow in our investments.  So we switched it over and our monthly payments started in August.  Of course we didn't budget the rest of the year for monthly payments (we had budgeted for an annual payment in July), so we will have to be careful.

Medical & Dental Expenses $326.29 - Budget $50.00

Well we had about $180 in expenses related to Linda's boating injury - doctor visit, prescriptions, etc.  And we had $146 in teeth cleaning which we self-insure.

Miscellaneous $258.06 - Budget $200.00

Various gifts and Sam's Club renewal.

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $0.00 - Budget $420.00

Totals $2,450.11 ($81.67 per day) - Budget $2,641.00.

Well, it looks okay.  But I was hoping to be $420 under budget rather than just $191 under.  That last category, RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion, is used up, so it's out of play.

So I'm a little disappointed.  But hopefully we will finish the year strong and under budget.  :)  

Now, I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

Note:  We got an email regarding the above statements.  It was well thought out, and I considered it carefully.  The gist of the email was the fear that the above statements make it sound too easy to live as a couple for $1,500 a month as full-timers.  He was concerned that we would be misleading folks about expenses and the ability to find workamping positions.  I agreed with the writer that finding year-round workamping opportunities is not that easy, but I still feel, speaking only for ourselves, that we can do it if we need to.  For tips on finding opportunities, check out our Earning A Living On The Road page, and my article on RV-Dreams Lifestyles called Finding Fulfillment As A Working RVer.   

For a look at this year's numbers through September go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, we brought in over $1,481 on our various ventures.  Our business expenses totaled $300, so we had a nice little profit of $1,181.00.

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

August Financial Summary

August 2007 Results

Campground Fees $444.00 ($14.32 per day) - Budget $750.00

Though our budget is $750 a month, our new goal after the purchase of our Jeep is now $450.  Happy to have made that goal this month. 

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $15.94 - Budget $10.00

Cell Phones $116.35 - Budget $81.00

Yikes!  Apparently, I was on the cell way too much back when we were trying to coordinate the purchase and delivery of our electrical upgrade components.

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $71.04 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $140.00 - Budget $50.00

We had to replace our water pump.  We went ahead and purchased a second one to carry as a back-up and included both in this category.

Diesel $410.06 - Budget $300.00

We towed the rig 1,355 miles in August.  And we drove the truck 269 miles shuttling ourselves to canoe put-ins/takeouts while in the Ozark National Scenic Rivers area in southeast Missouri. 

In August, we drove a lot farther faster than we are used to in order to meet some scheduled obligations.  So we expected our Diesel to be over budget.  However, we will be staying put in September and our Diesel next month should be close to zero.

Gas $280.46 - Budget $0.00

Here's one of those new categories related to the Jeep which of course we didn't budget for in 2007.  We drove the Jeep 2,357 miles in August.  About a thousand of that was exploring.   The good news is that we are getting about 23 mpg as opposed to the 15 mpg we were getting while exploring with the truck.

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Jeep Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

We will be paying for this next month.

Groceries & Dining Out $451.65 ($14.57 per day) - Budget $400.00

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total).  We had our one nice dinner out, but we were still over budget.  I can only think it was a combination of not shopping at Walmart during the month and buying more expensive, healthier food while on our diets.  I guess I'm gonna have to increase this category next year - but not by much!  :)

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $16.50 - Budget $70.00

Nothing but laundry this month.

Entertainment $53.28 ($1.72 per day) - Budget $200.00

We had splurged a couple times earlier this year and were over budget.  Now we are back under budget for the year in this category. 

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $180.48 - Budget $0.00

What happened here?!  Well, we finally got comfortable enough to pay our health insurance premiums monthly through automatic bank draft.  In the first two years of full-timing, we wanted to make sure we paid our health insurance up front as a safety net.  But financially, it's better to pay monthly and let the extra money grow in our investments.  So we switched it over and our monthly payments started in August.  Of course we didn't budget the rest of the year for monthly payments (we had budgeted for an annual payment in July), so we will have to be careful.

Medical & Dental Expenses $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Miscellaneous $49.65 - Budget $200.00

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $487.62 - Budget $420.00

Well, we knew we were going to do some upgrades to the RV this year.  We just didn't know when.  So we budgeted $5,040 for the year in this category and spread it out evenly.  In June we bought an inverter, batteries, and various components to upgrade our electrical system and prepare for possible future solar panels.

This month we purchased just a little additional wiring and reimbursed Jack for components, wiring, and parts that he had purchased for our project.

With the electrical upgrade and a cruise we purchased, we will be over in this category for the year by about $500.

Totals $2,717.03 ($87.65 per day) - Budget $2,641.00.

Well, not too bad.  Even with the extra driving, gas for the Jeep that was not budgeted, and monthly health insurance that was not budgeted, we were only $76.03 over budget.

We should still come in at our $2,500 per month goal for basic living expenses for the year.  And, even with the electrical upgrade and cruise, we should be within our $3,000 a month maximum budget.

We've used up our RV Upgrades & Budget Cushion category for the year, so the $420 we have budgeted in that category each month the rest of the year, needs to be ignored.  We should be in the $2,200 a month spending range the rest of the year.

Now, I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

Note:  We got an email regarding the above statements.  It was well thought out, and I considered it carefully.  The gist of the email was the fear that the above statements make it sound too easy to live as a couple for $1,500 a month as full-timers.  He was concerned that we would be misleading folks about expenses and the ability to find workamping positions.  I agreed with the writer that finding year-round workamping opportunities is not that easy, but I still feel, speaking only for ourselves, that we can do it if we need to.  For tips on finding opportunities, check out our Earning A Living On The Road page, and my article on RV-Dreams Lifestyles called Finding Fulfillment As A Working RVer.   

For a look at this year's numbers through August go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, we brought in over $600 on our various ventures.  Our business expenses totaled about $160, so we had a nice little profit of $473.84.

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

July Financial Summary

Well, I guess we better go ahead and get the Jeep purchase out of the way first.  As you know, we had been contemplating a running around and offroading vehicle since early this year.

As the year progressed, we waffled on the decision.  But, in July, we decided to do it and didn't waste any time.  We found the vehicle we wanted for the price and mileage we wanted.  And the stock market was up at the time of our purchase, so everything fell into place.

We bought a 2003 Jeep Liberty Sport 4WD with 39,000 miles on it.  Now that wasn't in the budget anywhere.  :)

At the time of the purchase, we could still pay cash and be even on the year with all of our expenditures compared to investment growth.  Of course the last few days of the month in the stock market pounded us a bit, but we are still in good shape.

The Jeep was $13,700 out the door.  Then we added new tires for $710, a receiver hitch (with wiring harness) for $215, and a couple of other accessories.

So we spent $14,700 in July on the Jeep.  Yikes!  But it has already enhanced our lifestyle, and we believe it will be a good long-term "home addition" for us.

Now we had to add categories to our expense spreadsheets to accomodate the Jeep - "Gas", "Jeep Maintenance", "Jeep Insurance", and "Jeep Taxes/Registration".  It is our goal to reduce expenses in other areas as we do not intend to increase our budget for each month.

On to the living expenses results for July.

July 2007 Results

Campground Fees $545.99 ($17.61 per day) - Budget $750.00

Campground Fees is an area we will reduce to cover the costs of owning the Jeep.  By the time we leave Colorado, we will have our electrical system in place so that we can boondock more often or at least in less expensive campgrounds.  Our new goal will be $450 a month rather than the $750 we have budgeted now.

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $0.00 - Budget $10.00

Cell Phones $85.09 - Budget $81.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $71.04 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $295.00 - Budget $300.00

We towed the rig 366 miles in July.  And we drove the truck 378 miles exploring the various areas where we were parked for a total of 744 miles.  Once we got the Jeep, we haven't driven the truck at all.

In August, we have to drive a lot farther faster than we are used to, so our August Diesel will be over budget, but it should be close to zero for September.

Gas $99.44 - Budget $0.00

Here's the first of our new categories, which of course we didn't budget for in 2007.  We drove the Jeep 554 miles in July to try it out offroad, and we drove back and forth to Colorado Springs often for tires, etc.

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Jeep Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Insurance $311.88 - Budget $0.00

Another new category.  This represents six months of insurance at $52 a month.  That's right on what I expected and planned for before we made the purchase.

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Jeep Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Since we are registering in Kentucky, we didn't have to pay the higher Colorado sales tax.  But we will have to pay Kentucky taxes when we get there at the end of August.

Groceries & Dining Out $447.29 ($14.43 per day) - Budget $400.00

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total).  After being an average of $200 over budget in May & June, $47 over doesn't seem too bad.  But I still want that lower.

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $19.50 - Budget $70.00

Nothing but laundry this month.

Entertainment $127.55 ($4.11 per day) - Budget $200.00

We're still over budget for the year on Entertainment, but not by much.  We can get it back in line pretty easily.  This month helped.

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $0.00 - Budget $2,500.00

What happened here?!  Well, we finally got comfortable enough to pay our premiums monthly through automatic bank draft.  In the first two years of full-timing, we wanted to make sure we paid our health insurance up front as a safety net.  But financially, it's better to pay monthly and let the extra money grow in our investments.  So we switched it over and monthly payments will start the first of August.  Of course we didn't budget the rest of the year for monthly payments, so we will have to be careful.

Medical & Dental Expenses $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Miscellaneous $418.05 - Budget $200.00

Bought a 17' multi-purpose ladder ($138), a bike rack for the Jeep ($125), and various items at Camping World.  One $60 item needs to be returned. 

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $1,691.35 - Budget $420.00

Well, we knew we were going to do some upgrades to the RV this year.  We just didn't know when.  So we budgeted $5,040 for the year in this category and spread it out evenly.  In June we bought an inverter, batteries, and various components to upgrade our electrical system and prepare for possible future solar panels.

This month we purchased an additional $300 in components and wiring.

But the biggest thing in this category this month falls under the "Budget Cushion".  We were asked to join a good friend on a cruise for her 50th birthday celebration.  We couldn't say no, so we used some frequent flyer miles and booked a cabin for $1,400.

We didn't want to use the "cushion", but that's why it's there - you just never know what might come up.  :)

Totals $4,112.18 ($132.65 per day) - Budget $5,141.00.

Well that looks better than it was.  If we had planned to pay our Health Insurance monthly, our budget would have been about $2,800 and we would have been $1,300 over budget for the month.  Yep, the cost of that cruise got us there.  If not for that, we would have been fine even with the extra Gas and Jeep Insurance.

The good news in all of this is we will still come in at our $2,500 per month goal for basic living expenses for the year.  And, even with the electrical upgrade and cruise, we will be within our $3,000 a month maximum budget.

So, aside from that unexpected Jeep purchase, we budgeted well for the year.  And, hopefully, next year we can be down around that $2,500 a month including a little cushion.  :)

Now, I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

Note:  We got an email regarding the above statements.  It was well thought out, and I considered it carefully.  The gist of the email was the fear that the above statements make it sound too easy to live as a couple for $1,500 a month as full-timers.  He was concerned that we would be misleading folks about expenses and the ability to find workamping positions.  I agreed with the writer that finding year-round workamping opportunities is not that easy, but I still feel, speaking only for ourselves, that we can do it if we need to.  For tips on finding opportunities, check out our Earning A Living On The Road page, and my article on RV-Dreams Lifestyles called Finding Fulfillment As A Working RVer.   

For a look at this year's numbers through July go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, we brought in over $1,100 on our various ventures.  We had a new hummingbird feeder order for over $500 and total expenses of almost $700.  But we still made a neat profit of over $400.

We have almost $2,000 in profit for the year and that's after paying for a new camera and a new laptop (about $2,000 which we expensed through the businesses).  So, we may not get rich at this pace, but at least we can do some extra things like go on a cruise for a friend's 50th birthday.  :) 

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

June Financial Summary

Before you get into this entry, you may want to check out the first couple of comments on the entry above.  I think the first comment was meant more for a financial entry like this one.  :)

June 2007 Results

Campground Fees $647.04 ($21.57 per day) - Budget $750.00

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $0.00 - Budget $10.00

Cell Phones $85.09 - Budget $81.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $71.04 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $464.14 - Budget $300.00

We towed the rig 696 miles in June.  And we drove the truck 1,099 miles exploring the various areas where we were parked.  So, at 1,795 total miles, once again we were WAY over our 1,000 miles per month anticipated driving.  That was again largely due to parking in remote locations and taking long drives to attractions.  And we also have been moving much more often than we like in order to get closer to a July appointment in Colorado.    Fortunately, we are still under budget for the year on Diesel, but we will need to slow down.  :) 

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $640.56 ($21.35 per day) - Budget $400.00

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total).  Well, we had a really, really, really nice dinner out for our 21-year anniversary at $160.  Plus, due to so much driving, we grabbed a bite out here and there.  It adds up quick.  :)

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $73.92 - Budget $70.00

Entertainment $477.70 ($15.92 per day) - Budget $200.00

Yikes!  Well, we had another splurge of $248 for a scenic train ride/whitewater raft trip combination.  And I played one round of golf - an expensive one.  But those expenses were worth it!

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $953.00 - Budget $953.00

Our annual life insurance policy premiums came in at exactly what they were supposed to.  :)

Medical & Dental Expenses $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Miscellaneous $167.48 - Budget $200.00

Bought a new tent, replaced hiking poles, and bought a birthday gift. 

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $3,387.16 - Budget $420.00

Well, we knew we were going to do some upgrades to the RV this year.  We just didn't know when.  So we budgeted $5,040 for the year in this category and spread it out evenly.  So in June we bought an inverter, batteries, and various components to upgrade our electrical system and prepare for possible future solar panels.  The installation will occur in July.

Totals $6,967.13 ($232.24 per day) - Budget $3,594.00.

Yikes!  That looks really, really bad - $3,373.13 over budget!  But on closer review, it's not so devastating.  :)

Just about $3,000 of the difference is in the electrical equipment.  In the long run, over the year, we will make that up in the budget.

Ultimately, we want to come in at $2,500 per month plus whatever it costs us to upgrade our electrical system.

Right now we are averaging $2,400 a month (not including the electrical) through June with some big expenses out of the way.  We still have Health Insurance to pay.  That will bump our monthly average up toward about $2,600.  So we will have to knock off around a $100 a month the rest of the year to meet our goal.  Very doable.  :)

Now, I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

For a look at this year's numbers through June go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, we brought in made $518 on our various ventures.  And we had $75 in expenses for a net income of $543.  Cool.  :) 

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

If not for $2,000 in expenses for a new camera and new computer so far this year, we would be averaging close to $600 a month of net income on the businesses.  As it stands, we still have a net income of almost $1,500 on the year.  Slow and steady wins the race, right?  :)

May Financial Summary

May 2007 Results

Campground Fees $656.00 ($21.16 per day) - Budget $750.00

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Propane $0.00 - Budget $10.00

Cell Phones $85.09 - Budget $81.00

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $71.04 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $389.58 - Budget $300.00

We towed the rig 663 miles in May.  And we drove the truck 1,087 miles exploring the various areas where we were parked.  So, at 1,750 total miles, we were WAY over our 1,000 miles per month anticipated driving.  That was due to parking in remote locations and taking long drives to attractions.  Most of that occured with our exploration of Big Bend National Park which requires a tremendous amount of driving.  Fortunately, we are still about $200 under budget for the year on Diesel. 

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $120.00

We anticipated an oil change this month.  However, with our 30,000 mile service last month, it wasn't necessary.

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $584.32 ($18.85 per day) - Budget $400.00

Our Groceries & Dining Out budget is based on $10 per day per month PLUS 1 really nice dinner out or a couple of medium priced dinners out ($100 total).  Well, we ate out eight times for a total of $280 in May.  We have to have more discipline than that.  :)

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $93.44 - Budget $70.00

We bought some nice water shoes and a wide-brimmed hat for protection from the heat while in Big Bend.

Entertainment $249.72 ($8.06 per day) - Budget $200.00

We bought an $80 Annual National Parks Pass which covers our entrance fees in national parks and federal lands for the next year.  That put us over budget this month, but we should make up for that in time.

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Medical & Dental Expenses $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Miscellaneous $149.95 - Budget $200.00

Couple of Mother's Day gifts and a bike repair. 

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $0.00 - Budget $420.00

Totals $2,279.14 ($73.52 per day) - Budget $2,726.00.

Another $447 under budget!  But let's take out the Budget Cushion/RV Upgrades figure of $420.  Now we are only under budget by $27.  Still, under budget is a good thing.

Ultimately, we want to come in at $2,500 per month plus whatever it costs us to upgrade our electrical system later this summer.

Right now we are averaging $2,160 a month through April with some big expenses out of the way.  We still have Life Insurance and Health Insurance to pay, so those items will bump our monthly average up toward that $2,500 figure when they occur.

I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

For a look at this year's numbers through May go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, we made $636 on our various ventures.  But we had $1,381 in expenses for a loss of $745.  That loss was due to a purchase of a new laptop by RV-Dreams.com in the amount of $1,343.36. 

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

If not for $2,000 in expenses for a new camera and new computer so far this year, we would be averaging $600 a month of net income on the businesses.  As it stands, we still have a net income of $1,000 on the year.  We are quite happy with our slow and steady growth.  :)

April Financial Summary

April 2007 Results

Campground Fees $307.60 ($10.25 per day) - Budget $375.00

We didn't budget for campground fees for the first half of April since we were workamping volunteers at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.  We averaged about $20 a day for the rest of the month. 

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $0.00 - Budget $950.00

Budgeted $950 for RV Insurance in April, but Linda paid the bill in March.  :)

Propane $0.00 - Budget $0.00

We got propane for free as part of our workamping and shouldn't need to fill tanks for quite awhile.

Cell Phones $14.19 - Budget $81.00

Lost my cell phone and had some unauthorized charges in March.  Verizon reversed the charges, and the credits showed up in April.

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Satellite TV $71.04 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $247.80 - Budget $300.00

We towed the rig 370 miles in April.  And we drove the truck 571 miles exploring the various areas where we were parked.  So, at 941 total miles, we were under our 1,000 miles per month anticipated driving. 

Truck Maintenance $423.42 - Budget $35.00

We did a 30,000 mile service on the truck in April.  We never know exactly when the maintenance expenses are going to occur.  But we are budgeting $590 a year for maintenance.  So we still have another $160 left for oil changes the rest of the year.  :)

Truck Insurance $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Groceries & Dining Out $379.44 ($12.65 per day) - Budget $400.00

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $61.13 - Budget $70.00

Entertainment $481.00 ($16.03 per day) - Budget $200.00

Because we spent very, very little on entertainment January - March, we splurged on the events of Nature Quest 2007 in Concan, TX.  The total cost for all the events was $404 (but that did include a few meals as well).  :)

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Medical & Dental Expenses $42.60 - Budget $50.00

Two teeth cleanings in Mexico while in the Rio Grande Valley.  $2.60 was for parking and border crossing tolls.

Miscellaneous $305.83 - Budget $200.00

After sitting in one spot for 4 1/2 months it was time to get a new grill, replace our patio mat, get an new exterior water filter, and a couple other RV accessories.

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $0.00 - Budget $420.00

Totals $2,334.05 ($77.80 per day) - Budget $3,206.00.

Another $872 under budget!  Oh, but how did that happen with us being over budget on Truck Maintenance, Entertainment, and Miscellaneous?

Well, we had budgeted that $950 for RV Insurance that was paid in March.  And we have yet to use any of the $420 Budget Cushion we have each month.  And we were under budget by a little bit in several other categories.

Ultimately, we want to come in at $2,500 per month plus whatever it costs us to upgrade our electrical system later this summer.

Right now we are averaging $2,100 a month through April with some big expenses out of the way.  We still have Life Insurance and Health Insurance to pay, so those items will bump our monthly average up toward that $2,500 figure when they occur.

I will keep including the following in these monthly reports until we believe otherwise:

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

For a look at this year's numbers through April go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, we made $1,074 on our various ventures.  And we had $308 in expenses for a very nice $766 profit.

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

We are averaging $450 a month of net income on the businesses.  We are quite happy with our slow and steady growth.  Of course, that is likely to decline a bit without our workamping income.  :)

March Financial Summary

March 2007 Results

Campground Fees $0.00 ($0.00 per day) - Budget $0.00

No campground fees for March as workamping volunteers at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.

RV Clubs $0.00 - Budget $0.00

RV Insurance $913.77 - Budget $0.00

Budgeted $950 for RV Insurance in April, but Linda paid the bill a little early.  :)

Propane $0.00 - Budget $0.00

We get propane for free as part of our workamping.

Cell Phones $155.40 - Budget $81.00

Lost my cell phone and had some unauthorized charges.  Verizon reversed the charges, but that won't be reflected until April.  So we should be way under budget in April.

Satellite Internet $0.00 - Budget $0.00

Note:  Satellite internet is no longer included in our regular expenses.  We now classify it as a business expense and we paid $798 in December 2006 for all of 2007.

RV Taxes/Registration $624.10 - Budget $700.00

Since we have decided to keep our Kentucky domicile, the one big negative is property taxes on the RV and truck.

Satellite TV $71.04 - Budget $75.00

RV Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Diesel $229.50 - Budget $200.00

We didn't tow the rig at all in March.  We still drove the truck 936 miles touring The Rio Grande Valley.  With only $30 bucks spent in February, we figured we would go over a little in March. 

Truck Maintenance $0.00 - Budget $35.00

Truck Insurance $704.64 - Budget $745.00

Truck Taxes/Registration $626.68 - Budget $600.00

Ditto the RV Taxes/Registration.

Groceries & Dining Out $456.10 ($14.71 per day) - Budget $400.00

Once again, we eat out more when we are not on the move.

Laundry, Clothing, Hair Care $0.00 - Budget $70.00

Entertainment $110.99 ($3.58 per day) - Budget $300.00

Just not spending much on entertainment.  :)

Insurance - Health, Life, Umbrella, Etc. $128.00 - Budget $200.00

Annual premium on our $1 Million umbrella liability policy was due.  A bargain at $10 bucks a month.

Medical & Dental Expenses $0.00 - Budget $50.00

Miscellaneous $70.30 - Budget $200.00

RV Upgrades/Budget Cushion $0.00 - Budget $420.00

Totals $4,090.52 ($131.95 per day) - Budget $4,126.00.

Whew!  Barely under budget for March!  :)

But we knew we had a lot of big expenses coming.

The good news is that we were still under budget even though we paid a $900 bill that we didn't have in the budget until next month.

The bad news is we are going to have over $2,000 in taxes and accountant fees next month that I didn't budget for.

Good thing we have a $420 per month "budget cushion" and that extra $900 for April that was spent in March.  So maybe we can come close to the April budget anyway.

I am still completely convinced that we could live on the road for $1,500 a month all-inclusive if we workamped year round.

And I also have no doubts that we could cover that $1,500 number with a combination of workamping and our little businesses.

We choose not to work that hard, but it is very comforting to know that we can do it if we have to.  If our investments tank, we are gonna be just fine.  :)

For a look at this year's numbers through March go to Our 2007 Actual Expenses. To see our budget click on Our 2007 Budget.

On the income side, we made $812 on our various ventures.  But we had $877 in expenses for a $65.00 loss.

Of those expenses, over $700 was related to adding a second camera and getting our main camera fixed.  We would not spend that kind of money if we didn't have the business income to cover it.  So, even though we certainly would like to have a good profit every month from the businesses, being able do things like buy a camera without using savings is extremely important.

Our business income & expense summary statement is now available at Our 2007 Business Financial Summary page.

If not for the camera purchase, we would have continued our nice $500-plus-a-month net income going on our businesses.  We are still happy with our progress - slow and steady growth.  :)