CORONADO JOURNAL, DAY 49 – LIVING RENT-FREE

CORONADO JOURNAL, DAY 49 – LIVING RENT-FREE

It’s been a while since I last blogged! During this quarantine, I’ve decided to get back into the habit of journaling and blogging. Hopefully, this keeps both of us entertained. You might feel like you’ve missed a lot, and that’s true! I’ll try to catch up as we go along. In the meantime, stay safe and don’t forget to wash your hands!

So, here we are at Day 48.

If you check out the link for Day 48, you’ll see the breakdown of our monthly costs living in an RV in San Diego. But if you don’t feel like clicking, here’s the quick summary: it costs us around $1,400 a month for the rental spot, RV and truck payments, insurance, propane for cooking, and gas to move the RV between campgrounds. While that might sound like a lot, it’s actually not bad by San Diego standards. Before this, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment where rent, utilities, and gas totaled $2,250 a month. So, we’re saving $850 each month now, and I’m saving even more because I don’t pay rent.

If you know me and my blog, you know I’ve always proclaimed that I’m a strong, independent woman who insists on splitting joint expenses right down the middle. But I’ve made an exception for my husband, lol.

Here’s why I think it’s fair not to pay rent.

Before moving in together, I made it clear that I expected him to cover the rent. San Diego is ridiculously expensive, and the only reason we’re here is because of his job. He’s a Marine and can’t just move somewhere else. His housing allowance, which is tax-free, is $3,165 each month, regardless of how much his rent is. Thanks to my suggestion to move into an RV, our expenses dropped from $2,250 to $1,400. Plus, after marrying me, his housing allowance increased by $468. So, thanks to me, his effective rent is now $932. I’ve reduced his rent by 58%, which is more than the 50% I would have contributed if we’d moved into his old apartment.

There are more reasons why I don’t think paying rent is fair.

I left my home, or rather the two homes I own outright in Guatemala, to be with David. We could have lived there rent-free, or we could have been in Colorado finishing up my cabin, also rent-free. We could be traveling the world in the RV or renting cute Airbnbs in Europe, where I’d be more than happy to split the costs. For now, I cover the costs at RV parks when we go on holidays, plus I pay 100% for groceries, alcohol, and RV improvements. We often enjoy expensive treats like salmon and steak, and I brought a $450 mini split air conditioning unit, which will cost another $450 to install. I also bought a $210 memory foam mattress, a $100 vapor barrier to prevent mold, a $200 bike rack, and more. Whenever David needs something, it usually shows up in a smiley box from the post office.

Every couple handles finances differently, and this system works for us. David is thrilled with the reduced rent and free groceries, and I’m happy to be living almost rent-free. Life in Guatemala would definitely be cheaper, but for now, let’s call this an investment in love and happiness.

How do you handle finances in your relationship?