Provisioning Once You’re Underway There are a number of expenses to anticipate once you’ve begun your voyage.  They should be figured into your preliminary calculations before you leave, even though they are quite variable.  The following section highlights the kinds of costs you’ll likely incur, both the inevitable and the controllable.  Food This factor more than any other will determine how often you go ashore.  By stocking up on provisions at key stops, you can limit your spending regardless of how many people are on board.  The price of food is something that will vary significantly depending on where you are.  Eating at restaurants can get expensive, but in a lot of foreign locations throughout Europe and the Americas ,you can find bargains.  Figure, that at some point, you will probably want to eat out in order to at least sample some of the local cuisine.  Remember to check out the popular restaurant guide books, such as Fodors, for example, to help you with your restaurant selections.          Shopping Some ports are more developed than others when it comes to shopping facilities.  Larger, more popular ones, are bound to be oriented toward visiting consumers.  It’s your choice as to whether you’ll be budgeting much for shopping or not, but you never know if you’ll have a need for some new clothes, or a trinket to remember the place by.  The amount of time you stay in port can also be a factor in your propensity to go shopping, and your temptation to spend. Fuel You’ll need fuel even if you doubt you’ll be using it.  Depending on how reluctant you are to turn the engine on when the wind is lacking, budget accordingly.  Remember that gas prices will vary more than any other provisional prices.

Going Ashore Marinas You can choose to anchor offshore whenever possible, but sometimes in certain conditions you’d rather tie up to a dock.  Fees at a marina will vary depending on the season and the location, and some charge more for electricity and water usage than others.  Pulling into Monte Carlo might strain your finances, but pulling into one a few miles down the coast might not.  You can save a lot of money by limiting your marina stays in general, but sometimes it’s a good idea if you’ll be going ashore for an extended period of time. Repairs You’re sailing, but engine troubles and other equipment problems are bound to happen.  Being handy  will save you a lot of money and time sitting at a dock.  Assuming you can’t fix your own equipment, you should anticipate some spending in this area.  Add to that the amount of equipment on your boat, and the age of the boat. Entertainment You are probably planning on going ashore over the course of your voyage to take in some of the finer things land has to offer.  You can go simple and just enjoy the beach or a stroll through town.  However, you may want to engage in some activities that cost money, such as museums, sightseeing tours, or car rentals.  This part of the budget will really depend on your preferences and where you go.  More developed areas and cities will be bustling with popular tourist locations, as well as nightlife.  And more rustic destinations will probably have more to offer in the way of natural parks and beaches, which may or may not cost money.  It is a good idea to budget liberally for entertainment, especially if cruising is a family affair.  Communications Staying in touch with the outside world might not be on your agenda, in which case you need not worry about budgeting for it.  But if you plan on using a phone or checking email, you should realize it can get costly.  Using a cell phone from a remote location can add up quickly.  Phone cards and email at internet cafés are usually a cheaper alternative. Additional Considerations Navigational aids are a wise choice when you’re traveling to foreign waters, and it’s good to have current charts wherever you go.  They don’t necessarily come cheap, but can more than pay for themselves when you find yourself in shallow waters around unfamiliar island chains. And finally, health problems are a possibility if you’re going to be cruising for an extended period, or if you’re in a foreign place.  Besides having some first aid supplies on the boat with you, you may want to budget for some unforeseen health issues that may arise, and/or have adequate travel insurance coverage.

Set a Course for Calcutta                                                           Cast Off You can live very well aboard a boat for relatively little money by enjoying the simplest pleasures cruising has to offer.  Or you can pull out the stops and enjoy both life on board and ashore to the fullest.  Plan your trip like a vacation and budget for weeks or months, and by establishing a practical budget, you'll find you can live the cruiser’s lifestyle for a while longer.