How Shall We Then Live?

Lately, I have been receiving almost "frantic" e-mails that go something like this: "Do you think we can possibly live on $3,000 a month in Cuenca?" I'm sorry, I have to laugh out loud and then I respond very nicely (of course!).

The answer is not always easy; I think it depends on your level of comfort. We have $1,400 a month to live on, but we can still save $500 a month. We won't receive Social Security for another seven years (at age 62) which will then triple our income, but we're not counting on Social Security so we're saving each month. The way things are going in the States, you just never know.

We're fortunate in that we have a great condo for $210 a month plus condo fees --  right along the Tomebamba River. We couldn't ask for a more beautiful place. But we have noticed since we have been here that rents are going up and so is the price of food. I left for America at the end of July and when I returned, cappuccino at the Oro Verde Hotel went up from $1.00 to $1.50 -- in part because Americans frequent the Gourmet Deli at the hotel.

So how shall we then live? Very carefully. Life can change for all of us in an instant, so we have taken some preventative measures. Since my hubby's hospitalization last month, we have decided on medical insurance through Humana which will defray the costs of hospitalization; they pay for 80 percent of our prescriptions and help with the cost of office visits (which are only $25 per visit). We also have kept our life insurance policies which are a combined total of $100 a month. You never know when you're going to get run over by a bus (a very likely possibility in Cuenca!). We will keep both life insurance policies until we reach age 65 which is in another 10 years. Some may think life insurance is not a necessity, but we do. If we both die simultaneously, our boys will be millionaires. I'm sure they're praying for our deaths right at this moment!

That being said "yes" you can live comfortably on $1,400 a month and still save. I'm usually not one to divulge our budget, but in this case I think it's important because if you only have one pension it's vital that you see the realities. I did not include my writing income which varies from month to month (usually $300 to $600); I write for compilations, the Internet and "royalties" on my books(s). Trust me, authors do not get rich, unless they're New York Best Times Sellers (I am not!).

So here it is...the truth...the whole truth:
Rent                                     $210
Condo fees and water               90
Electricity                                15
Food                                      200 (we shop at the Coop)
Transportation                          40 (bus, taxi) We do not own a car.
Life Insurance                         100
Medical Ins.                              80 (for both of us: hospital, prescriptions, office visits)
Cable TV                                  30 (Direct TV)
Dining Out                                40  (once a month at a nice place or a lot of coffee/pastry/ice cream)    
Misc.                                        40 (you never know what you might find at the mercado!)
Cell Phones                               20 (pre-paid phone cards)
Medical                                     25
Savings                                     500

____________________________________
Total                                      1,390

As you can see, we are well within our means. We do not have a maid (I need my exercise!); we don't have a gym membership (we walk a lot -- especially around the Tomebamba River that's in our "backyard"); we don't have a car (our feet carry us where we need to go); we shop mostly at the Coop which is incredibly cheap. I use vinegar to clean almost everything (it does a superb job without harsh chemicals). And my writing income is a bonus; I write for the Internet on several sites which goes directly into savings (via PayPal). We use my writing income for special trips, vacations and for dining out on special occasions. I do not include it in our monthly budget because I may decide not to write some day (I'm retired...remember?).

We use the envelope system; the money goes in at the beginning of the month and when it's gone...it's gone! Oh, I forgot to mention; I cut my hair myself and my husband is bald (it works out well for both of us). We have a land line in our condo, which the Oro Verde will hook up soon and we receive free Internet through them because we are part of the condominium complex.

With our present condo, it came partially furnished: washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, credenza, and lamp. We bought living room furniture and bedroom furniture (grand total:  $1,000). We have two bedrooms, two baths, and 1,400 square feet. It feels just right, especially when the kids come to visit. Our balcony is our favorite place and where we spend the majority of time. Our Internet is FREE (we are associated with the Oro Verde Condominiums).  If a medical emergency arises, we have enough savings to cover it and what our insurance doesn't pay, we can supplement with our savings. We have no debt (we sold everything and paid off all our outstanding bills before we left the States).

So how shall we then live? It all depends on you! I feel that we live better now than we ever did in the States and knowing that we have no debt certainly makes life more enjoyable. It's a win-win situation. There is no way we could have retired in the States. We would have been working two jobs (possibly 3), wondering how we were going to pay for doctor bills or pay the premium on our medical insurance which is $1,400 for the two of us. And then there's that little matter of heating/air-conditioning which we don't have to worry about in Cuenca (perpetual spring). Extra bonus: No need for snow shovels or snow blowers!

Some retirees prefer to wait until Social Security kicks in before calling it "quits," but we figured we would be kickin' the bucket about that time, so we prefer to live out the next ten years in a place where there is a river that runs through it and where the price is right! That's how we have chosen to live.

Until Next Time...Hasta Luego!

Consuelo y Marco

P.S. Mark just informed me that they gave him a "raise" of  $75 in his retirement (I didn't think you got raises when you retired; he explained it to me but I had no clue about what he was talking about!). It looks like the kids will be visiting sooner than I thought.