Our Monthly Costs - Can We Afford Continuous Cruising On Our Canal Narrowboat? How Much'? 2020/2021 

Cheers for watching this week's video! Tim has promised to do all the washing up for a week to pay respects to the champion, Sam 🏆🎄🎅 Merry Christmas and thank you so much for your support 👍 Keep chugging! 😁

Really appreciate your "financial honesty" guys - some really useful detail. The most important thing though is that you will be able to manage as continuous cruisers - great news!

Great couple genuinely feel how well you get along together and very informative for someone who's looking at taking the plunge living the same wonderful lifestyle. Carry on chugging guys!

One thing I can guarantee is that the youtube money will only go up from here on out. You guys are lovely, safe where youtube and the "ad-friendliness" is concerned and you are fun to watch. You certainly gained my subscription. Where your average cost is concerned, David from Cruising the Cut has done a similar video a year or 2 back and he came out at 6 or 6 and a half grand a year, so about 500-ish pounds a month on average with a couple of months mooring over both the summer holidays and winter. So, with 2 datapoints very similar to each other, I'd say you're right on the spot with your costs! What blew me away is food and internet. I pay 7 or so times as much for my flatrate internet here in Switzerland, both landline and mobile combined. Also, with about a hundred quid I'd be able to eat for about 1 and a half weeks, maybe 2 if I stretch things. I mention that because of my plan to migrate over the channel and onto the canals during the latter half of the twenties and videos like this give me strong data points to know where my independent income needs to be to be able to do that. On top of the boat buying of course. So, as this is the video that brought me to your channel, I am happy to be here and I am also looking forward to all the mischief and fun you guys will be up to!

Had me worried for a minute! Glad to hear you’re still able to carry on chugging.

I really appreciate your frankness and the level of detail you included. I think this is my favorite 'canal living costs' breakdown so far because it's the closest to my own perspective. Thank you.

Brilliant vlog. We're going to start our search for a narrowboat in 2021; continuing our minimalist life. Thanks for that honest approach

My husband and I just found your channel and we're binging to catch up. We love you guys! Thank you so much for your openness. Keeeeeeep chugging!

Phew! I’m glad you’re continuing. I love your channel.

Wow only £95 per month for food for the two of you . I’ve been doing something wrong for years my supermarket bill much higher. Thanks for sharing your experiences with such enthusiasm. Love your cheerful positive attitude to life.

recently retired and thinking seriously about selling up and buying a narrow boat so I have been looking at the different channels on RU-vid for ideas and inspiration. I have just 'stumbled' across your channel and think it is brilliant. You are a smashing couple and I love your enthusiasm. After your chat about your income I have subscribed, so at least you will get a few more pennies. Keep "Chugging Along", and hopefully we will meet on the canals someday.

Wow. What a breath of fresh air you both are. Thank you. You have given me a brand new channel to watch, before I fit out our widebeam boat next year. 👍😊

Cute hairstyle Sam!! Have a safe Christmas xxx

Congratulations Sam! One thing that’s hard on shower drains is hair, we get these little round things with mesh in the center to collect hair to stop it going down the drain. You only have to clean one of those clogged drains to find some way to stop it clogging🤢🤮. Gross greasy and stinky. Hoping you get lots of work in the coming year. Thanks for this video, I’m sure it will help some other person who’s hoping to get a boat . Seasons Greetings🎄🙋🏼

Well done for being down to earth and I hope you continue cruising. Looking forward to meeting you one day when we pass on narrowboats 🎉

Love you guys, just came across your channel. I part-time car camp and that's my thing, but looking at where I could live next other than in a standard flat or house. Whilst a boat isn't for me, I love that you have found something that works for you and allows you some financial freedoms. Stay safe and blessed. 🙏🏾 solo female part-time car camper. 🇬🇧

Lovely real video about expenses on your boat. Thank you for your honesty. It's questions like finance that I think make your videos unique 👍

Another great video!! Welcome to home ownership. Love you both and wishing you a Merry Christmas and amazing healthy New year

My favorite vlog so far 😁💜 I just started watching this past week 👍

Good video, thanks for being so open and honest with the numbers. You’ll need to factor in a regular engine service, your batteries won’t last forever and as you’ve identified there are many parts that can and do break down when it is most inconvenient.

I follow a couple of boat-tubers avidly and you are now added into that small group, i live up north my advice to you is winter down south its a few degrees warmer, i hope you get to venture to the northern parts of the canal network in the future. I wish you both a merry xmas and remember "keep chugging"

Hi. Firstly, I love your videos and thanks! About five years ago I wanted to move and live on a narrowboat. However, I didn't know how I would make a wage. I have taught English in Thailand for 14 years and seeing that you teach online, and on the boat too has made me seriously think about making the change. Thanks! Merry Xmas!

Have you thought about putting out more than one video a week? (Or longer vids with more ads) More vids=more income. Since I'm trapped at home, I will watch just about anything on an entertaining channel like yours. Daily life on the boat. More cooking. DIY stuff. Having to run the boat to top off the batteries vs. how much solar you get in the shorter daylight. Dealing with laundry. I personally would love a video of the struggle/comedy potential of trying to make the bed in the limited space you have. But I'm weird like that. Oh, and heat the hot water for the bedtime water bottle on top of the diesel heater instead of using the stove. That will save on gas costs. Love your vids. Keep them coming.

Awesome video! I watched all the ads without skipping so I hope that helps your RU-vid funds. Thank you for being so honest & open as this channel is so valuable to newbie boaters like me lol.

Thank you, really helpful and a good insight to the costs. Hope you had a nice Christmas on Mary L x

“ Happy Christmas & Continue The Love” !

Merry Christmas guys, love your infectious outlook to chugging . Keep chugging

You guys are awesome. Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us. Happy Christmas. May you have a great one. 😁

A great honest video, the cold would be my biggest problem, Have a great one both of you!

Thank you for the informative video, your following on the internet is growing, so well done. I wish our both a Merry Christmas, I am sure you will both have a good one, keep up the good work.

Money can't buy the happiness you share!! Great information as ever. Well done Sam and as for Tim's cooking........ keep practicing the singing!!

Great information! Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

You two are great! I might suggest a couple of things, with your permission? 1 - the first 6 months in a new home does not really reflect actual costs. Whether it is a house, a boat or a van, several purchases are made that might not be made again for around 5-10 years. Rugs, curtains, toilets, initial pantry stocks (which, after initial purchase are bought individually based on usage) so you may see a decrease of 10-15% for the next year. 2 - people often think that they cannot afford to save when the opposite is true. When money is tight, you can't afford not to save. Easy for me to say, right? Saving £10.00 every week or every other week, or saving £20.00 per month will put £250.00 aside for unplanned issues. Putting the money aside immediately after you are paid so that it is not something you ever count on means you won't miss it. I think you could do that, based on the numbers you reviewed. Same for known expenses, like blacking. That has to be done every 2-3 years if you don't want to fork out more for damage to the hull from not blacking soon enough. Decide if you will do it, or have it done and calculate the cost plus 30%. Divide the total by 30 months and run your numbers to see if you can afford to set that aside right away. The extra 30% is a cushion to allow for supply costs increase, delays getting it done as quickly as you thought because it is the first time you did this so you have to pay an extra day or two in shed rental or whatever. If it costs less, you can roll the funds over to the next blacking and decrease your monthly contribution by your surplus. You could have projects that you wanted to do and the extra could help pay for that. Whatever. 3 - The funds you are seeing now as RU-vid revenue will increase by 100%+ based on your current activity. Having any revenue after only4 months is pretty impressive. I never thought your videos were bad but they are improving. You will see more followers based on your current performance, which will result in an increase in ad revenue. Unless you get bored with the video production and stop uploading routinely or you change your subject matter to Tupperware sales or cult recruitment your numbers will grow. I think that they will grow more than the number I threw out but it would be a gamble to presume more. Counting your chickens and all that. I am surprised that the voting was so polarized. I couldn't decide who should win. I did not know what bread sauce is so the Reddy Bready was lost on me. And you tossed in so much srircha sauce that I thought it was a fail. But you both liked it. You earned more points for originality, in my book. I knew everything that Sam cooked but that cost her points in my book because it was the standard meat, potatoes and a veg. Meat and potatoes has stayed popular for a reason, it is just not on my list of favorites. Ah well. Another good video! Thanks!

Just found your channel and subscribed. I follow quite a few narrowboat channels and I really like your no nonsense, honest style. My last video was about my running costs. I'm always surprised how few vlogs there are on the subject. Your video will be very informative for those looking and thinking about Boating. Thanks guys and take care. Alan x

Nice to see that you're both getting ahead with it during these crazy times. I'm sure that your RU-vid revenue will increase over time. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

What an ABSOLUTELY wonderful new discovery YOU TOO. Beautiful delightful, refreshing, engaging, bright, fun, interesting and then some. Thank you..

Thanks for another great episode, guys. You are funny and very fun to watch. Please make more ! Congratulations, Sam, on a well deserved win cooking your yummy looking food.

I have just bought a narrowboat after selling my house I have never done this before and after watching your video I have gathered some quite useful information guys. Appreciate that. Even considering setting up a video blog of my own with my girlfriend. Hope you are both living the life on you're boat. Much love from Manchester ❤

How nice and informative! Merry Christmas and some really good and plentiful Chistmas dinners! 🌶🍗🍠🥟🧄🥓🥨🍖🧀🍦🍻

Like the transparency. Thumbs ups, I've just subscribed.

I love it, many people follow and/or develop philosophies of alternative lifestyles, but Rosie and Jim's way of life is fine by you two and long may it continue

Thank you both. This has been a great help for me ;)

Well I've just subbed and I'll be sure to watch every ad to the end✊ good luck to you both!

Loved this video folks, very honest appraisal. I know these costs and your bang on. Such a helpful vlog. Much love Richie.. from our narrowboat home

This is an excellent video. Thank you for this great advice! I hope that you stay safe and well and have a fantastic Christmas ✨🎄💖

Another well presented and informative video, a pleasure to watch and thank you x.

Have a lovely Christmas guys. Love watching your informative vlogs..

This is my first visit. Good on’ya!

Another great vlog guys, wishing you a merry christmas

I thought you covered the subject very well, providing numbers around some of the narrowboat-specific 'must-haves'. Very useful as I'm costing out my own water-borne 'Plan B'

all i can say Is that I am really relieved for Tim that he has Sam to organise him! Youre not alone TIm as I would be in a terrible mess without my Christine!

Thankyou for your honesty on the costs very useful information, Interesting and good banter ^^

Love the positivity!

Thanks for sharing this information! It was really helpful ☺️ I'm hoping to get a boat this year so doing lots of research!

Great vlog guys , good to see an honest answer to how you earn your money , have a great Christmas and new year xx

Nice Vlog guys and useful for us in our planning for next year. We had worked it out very similar but some of what you added was great to know. Keep chugging guys!

The competition was stolen from you Tim. Must have been that Dominion electric voting system 😂

Just came across your channel good to see you both cooking healthy recipes!

Fantastic show,a credit to both of you.Respect from Liverpool UK

Great video both, and as others have said, really useful financial information there, and really open sharing income figures. Was really interested in the youtube income - I watch many vloggers and I think you are the only ones I have seen that have talked about actual numbers, so thank you, have always wondered. Hope you both have a wonderful Christmas, stay safe.

good to hear you will continue " chugging along . " hope 2121 will be a graet year for you both .

Congratulations on your victory Sam, washing up is much more Tim's level ☺️. Also, great to see there is a bit of cash left over for family Christmas presents by the way... that Rolex you were chatting about will be enough for me this year 😅.

Hope you know that your low-costs are really impressive, especially on food. We've been spending more on our boat lately, e.g., on power tools to pull up a floorboard, and this has made me think that we should look more closely at our expenditure. Thanks for your openness :)

Just found your channel and seen a few videos. I like the style and energy from you two!

Great and interesting video guys. Love your positivity. Have a wonderful Christmas on MaryL🎅🌲

Well done, I liked this video. You should do a video about where you are from, family and what other things you like. Tell us more about you guys. Like the boat and thank you for the insight. All the best

Really enjoy your simply honest style of videos ..... IMO you are very lucky to have each other and also to have a home on a boat. I feel there are so many benefits of living on the narrow boat such as privacy away from neighbours, close to nature , clean air and freedom to move around the country. GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE .

Great video guys.. but shocked at your food bill per month! We spend that per week!!! Most impressed! Well done to Sam on winning the cooking competition xx

You guys are great....rarely heard anyone as honest as you are...thank you...stay safe 💜🎸👍

You are lovely people, speak from the heart. Just a little tip, the loop on the mooring pin should face away from the boat so that the strain is on the pin not the loop. Otherwise the loop is at risk of snapping off (as appears to have happened to you). The loop aids the rope to stay connected to the pin that's all. When you cast off you won't leave your pin behind as it will be attached to your rope. The loop can also be used as a guide to knock another pin in at right angles - good for softer ground/bad weather & if you are moored for a period of time. You could use your broken pin for this extra support. You should also wrap some fluorescent covers over the pins so that any walkers on the towpath won't trip on them. Supermarket plastic bags do the job. Keep chugging!

Another excellent, fun, and informative vlog! Congratulations, Sam, on the win, and Tim, on being so gracious about it. Better luck next time! Sam, absolutely love, love, love the new hairstyle!! Have a very Merry and Safe Christmas!

Hi guys...another great vlog. Health is wealth, you have a great time chugging on that smashing narrow boat. Keep safe. Jonathan from London

you got yourself a new subscriber it can be tough in all walks of life but stick together on the plan. I shall enjoy more videos from you in the future.

The main thing is being happy and you two are. Well done.

Congratulations Sam. Fantastic review.

Excellent video, your living the dream and I love it, I will definitely have one in the future Please keep the videos coming 🙂

Great video, great info. Thanks for sharing

Very informative. Its a great adventure you're on. Life can be stressful if you're getting up to go to work day in day out. To have the freedom to go where you want is the goal of most people but never attainted. The problem is if you both decide to have children. Unless you home school them of course. I'd imagine that in itself would be a money earner for people who live on the canals like yourself. I'd also imagine small communities of 'boat dwellers' rely on home schooling. Good luck with your RU-vid channel and I hope it starts to reap proper dividends. You both have engaging personalities which can only be a positive.

Some really useful and interesting information. Keep up the good work and Netflix might come calling one day!

Very interesting. We'll follow your progress.

Brilliant vid guys all the best 👍👌

You've probably been told this by now but when using mooring pins don't hang the boat on the welded ring but rather put the rope around the pin and through the welded ring. Stay safe :-)

Found your channel today. Wasn't expected much, but got much more than I expected. Throughly enjoyed your video, you both have great chemistry together. Needless to say I've now subscribed and looking forward to watching your new ones, while I'm waiting I will start at the beginning. Just an observation for you. You both speak so clearly and were easy to listen too. Have you ever thought about giving English lessons to foreign students? You would be easily understood so I believe maybe that could be where your niche lies. (I'm probably going to find you already do this once I start viewing your other vlogs). I didn't realise how much income you can make from you tube. In future I will let the ads play in full even though they annoy the hell out of me. Warmest wishes to you both.

So good to see its all working out for you both and you living the dream so you go for it as your both young and I hope you make many memories 🙂

Nice show. Will keep an eye on this channel. Cheers

Best video 🙏thank you guys

Hi guys, that was so helpful as im just trying to work out if i should buy a boat. thanks again.x

A very honest video keep them come 🌲🌲

Have a great Christmas, Stay well and safe,

Keep on chugging, love you guys.

Good luck to you both, you are lovely people...enjoy your relative freedom.

Good rundown on costs hidden and otherwise, one thing I found was engine oil, stern greaser grease, and engine servicing (can be expensive if engine has to be lifted out), one other thing is do you maintain a car? However, the value in the lifestyle is a hugely beneficial in non-monetary terms, happy holidays.. ...Drew

Hi Tim and Sam, a very interesting video thanks. I saw a quick shot at the beginning of a mooring pin with the welded ring at the top. Can I pass on a tip I was given when I started out? Those welded rings do give way in time so place the pin with the ring facing away from the boat, that way the shaft of the pin is taking the strain and not the weld. Still put the rope through the ring as it makes it easier to handle and if the pin gets pulled out of the bank when idiots go past without slowing down it will stay on the rope. I have encountered two boats drifting across the canal in the last month and in both cases I was able to pull the boat back and reset the pin - which was very clean after its wash!

Very informative we hope to get our own boat in the new year . We will be renting out our home and hope it will cover costs . Great to see you guys well done for winning Sam but I did vote for tim bread sauce 👍💕😃

...you two rock !!! ...good fun...

Thank you so much for shariing....you are both so funny .....I'm sure you'll be able to cruise for quite some time.. Merry Christmas to you both as well...safe travels 💕

Great video guys.

Boat equals cheap! Laughed so much. Thanks for the honesty, we found out the hard way. 🤪😎😂😂😎🤪🤪🤪

You two are great.

Sam your hair is super incredibly cute ☺️