Saving up $20,000 for a Sailboat - On a Benefit (Long-Term Accountability Post)

[resjudicata]

Income: $475pw average (benefit + part time job below cutoff point)Rent: $165 (caravan)

Goals: $200 a week. Could do up to $250 a week, but $200 is more realistic, and still achieves the goal on time (in 2 years - 52 x 200 = 10400. 10400 x 2 = 20800).Sailboat: Nothing less than 32ft. With plenty of room, and at least 185cm of vertical headspace.

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I currently have $209 saved up. Had to dish out $41 for some flu treatments + some $9 noodles (yes, $9 noodles!) because hot and spicy noodles are the only ones that help me clear my nose.

Also planning on investing some of that into high-demand items on TradeMe, by buying them on Aliexpress in bulk, and then selling them here in NZ. (It won't be a lot, but it's something..) I ship quickly and on time. Local stock only, no dropshipping. I have a 100% account rating (since 2009) and am not a time-waster. Also only use actual photographs as thumbnails, instead of stock images. My e-bike helps me get to the nearest NZ Post office in about 5-6 minutes.



I'm highly skilled in linux, electronics, pc repairs, laptop repairs, 3d printing, 3d modeling, arduino, raspberry pi, soldering, silicone casting. Was even featured on national TV at some stage.. but unfortunately - even the computer store down the road won't hire me. I live in a small town aaaand.... the only jobs they have is maybe milking cows, part time? If you have a car? If you don't have a car - you're basically screwed. It's hard enough to bike uphill at a 60% incline over here.. but it's great exercise.

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Saving money is 99% psychological, and 1% mathematical. It's literally just about avoiding temptation, not about knowing how to count.

It's about having the discipline to eat the exact same thing every day - fried rice/egg noodles with frozen vegetables, mushrooms, homegrown Kale + a cheese and avocado sandwich in the evening. (Trust me - eat avocados. Ignore the memes. Just buy them green for like $3-4 for 6'ers.. eat half an avocado at a time, then wrap the other half in aluminum - put in fridge. Store all ripe avocados in fridge.)

It's about not buying anything yummy. Obviously don't buy takeaways - but supermarkets already have plenty of temptations - vegetarian sausages, special cheeses, chocolate. If you can't control yourself, if you really really can't control yourself - then you'd be better off just going to the dairy shop to buy your groceries. Even though you pay more - there's less of a temptation to spend, because even the chocolates there will be like $4 a bar.



Popcorn is great to eat if you are bored out of your mind, or just fed up with eating the same thing every day. I recommend either microwave popcorn ($1.50 a pack) - or popping your own kernels with a bulk bag, over a stove. Great for anxiety, too! It's also a low-calorie meal, provided you don't soak it in butter or something..



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As soon as I purchase my sailboat, I plan on setting up a fully autonomous navigation system. It'll include not only autopilot (raspberry pi + linear actuator) -- but also mainsheet/jib/furling line/tacking/gybing control (geared Nema 23 + spool). Collision avoidance + Computer vision. (Or just get up and remote-control out of the way if the radar starts beeping..).



Why have a fully autonomous navigation system? So you can orbit the country indefinitely, without ever having to anchor in the same place for more than a day or two, and without drawing unwanted attention. And also so you can live your life and go on about your day without having to constantly control the vessel. Solar/Battery powered 3d printing. Using my laptop for 'work' and entertainment. Playing with my cat. Cooking. Doing repairs. Sitting out in the sunshine with a coffee and enjoying the view. etc. You could also leave the country and travel the world. (Which on a benefit is a little tricky, but that's a whole other topic...)



It'll just literally be free, floating real estate.



What's gonna happen to my benefit after moving into a boat? I'd rather not think about it, take things a day at a time. You're doing the equivalent of trying to escape prison, after all - so consider yourself Dead. (It would be a good idea to have up to $5000 or $10,000 in savings prior to living on the boat full-time).

How will I learn how to sail? I'm using eSail sailing simulator. It's basically like a flight simulator, but for sailboats. Bought it for $50 on Steam, works great on Linux using Proton. Also binge-watching sailing content on YouTube. I'll take the risk, but might ask for a hand or some tips here and there at the Marina if and when I get the chance.. in the beginning.



That's practically it. I'll keep this thread bookmarked and regularly updated.. or maybe do a yearly update if it gets archived.



We'll make history, in our own little way. Perhaps even start a small business selling cheap, but reliable autopilots - tested on humans. Use at your own risk. May not suit every boat type. Highly unlikely to even pay for my groceries, but will probably be enough just to offset the costs of repairs (rule of thumb is = %10 of the total cost of your boat is what you will spend on repairs every year).

Or maybe just stay on the benefit, and not even bother - because all of my skills will be worthless in 10 years, anyway! No.. correction: My skills are already worthless, and most people can easily teach themselves everything that I know by just watching YouTube videos, and asking ChatGPT. So...

 

[resjudicata]

@resjudicata I know you arent thinking about what happens to your benefit once you have the sailbot but more importantly what are u gonna do in terms of insurance or if it gets damaged?

Idk how much you have been out to sea but its proper fucked at times and your boat will take heavy damage at somepoint even if its docked

 

[withamightyhand]

@resjudicata Have you owned a sailboat before? This might not be the great idea you think it is… The running joke for boat owners is that they’re a hole in the water for your money. Insurance is expensive. You have to fill up with water. You need fuel in the engine for the times where there either isn’t wind or the wind is in the wrong direction. It gets really cold in winter and really hot in summer.

Honestly you’re better off buying a campervan! Still so many places to camp for free esp if you get your wings.

Why don’t you get a remote job given your skills and background? You can even search for remote jobs on Seek.

Also…given you want to go and live on a sailboat it doesn’t seem like you’re tied to staying in your tiny town. Apply for a decent job in a bigger place and move?

 

[needadviceplease]

@resjudicata Well at least writing that gave you something to do this morning.

So no plans to get off of the benefit? Not gonna buy a car to get to a dairy job? Or no chance to work online with those skills of yours?

Labour will be gone soon, so keep that in mind, remember, you aren't allowed savings and benefits, benefits are for when everything is gone.

 

[ess]

@needadviceplease Love how your immediate assumption is that they are able bodied.
Humble yourself. You don't know their position..
EVERYONE is one job loss, one accident, one illness, one familial death or bereavement away from being in the same boat.

 

[ofel22]

@ess Did you miss the bit where they said they e bike up 60% incline hills , they’re able bodied. Do you think they’re gonna run a ship by themselves if they’re not able bodied? Get a clue

 

[glorytothefather2245]

@needadviceplease

you aren't allowed savings and benefits, benefits are for when everything is gone.

The main benefit is income tested, not asset tested. Their savings will only affect their main benefit if it starts to generate actual income.

Their savings would directly impact any supplements, like the accommodation supplement, but given they would lose most of that with their part time job income anyway and they probably aren't in Auckland (which has much higher rent/supplement cutoffs), they probably aren't getting much or anything from the accommodation or temporary assistance supplements.

So yeah, they can save their money. If they can manage to be frugal and save on the same income that somebody else spends to live, then they don't get fined for that later.

 

[preston1982]

@resjudicata This will probably get me downvoted to hell but here goes.

Have you been tested for aspergers? there's a quite few red flags, an obsessive hobby, a desire to not have to interact with society, going into excessive detail, your strong intersest in technical areas but also not wanting to live a normal life - most people will take whatever job they can to earn money - but you only want something that would align with your interests. Everyone has the skills to do basic manual labour (although in saying that I don't know the detals of your part time job). Is having a fulltime job more of an issue of not wanting someone to tell you what to do for 40 hours a week? Besides that you don't appear to see the moral issue of using a benefit for an expensive hobby. I work 40+ hours a week and would love to spend more time with my child . I could do that if I paid less tax that is turn funding your boat.

It's not free money from the govt, it's from someone else's pocket, so:

No don't use the benefit for a sailboat, if you can't find decent full time work that suits your skills, move. Otherwise take a milking job

Also you can't learn to sail from a sim, you need to go on actual (expensive) courses and get a decent amount of boat time, it's just like learning to fly. You need to build situational awareness and muscle memory. Otherwise you're going to kill yourself. And you want to build an autonomous version? blind leading the blind until you're very experienced.

Have dreams, but be smart. Get off the benefit. Find a decent job somewhere. Use money to take sailing courses (there are fantastic ones in auckland) Make friends at the yachtclub. Talk about your idea. Get input. Save. Buy boat. Maybe quit job and then take boat around the country when you're ready.

 

[glorytothefather2245]

@preston1982

Have you been tested for aspergers?

With what money? If they aren't nonfunctionally severe, they aren't getting a public health referral and private diagnosis for mental/any health conditions is very expensive. And if it's autism, there isn't really a treatment for them so beyond opening some possible doors for support, a diagnosis isn't going to change any of their plans or options in any meaningful way.

It could just as easily be ADHD, or a creative writing exercise to try and enforce a budgetary habit on themselves.

 

[marilines]

@resjudicata So if you are able to do all this, why are you on a benefit then?

 

[blackhole]

@resjudicata Holy Iamverysmart this post is cringe.

Dude, work on your validation seeking behavior. It will help in the long run

 

[pak]

@blackhole Social ignorance is probably halve the reason he wants to sail around alone with a cat

 

[blackhole]

@pak There are very strong "Everyone else is the problem but not me" vibes.

 

[preston1982]

@blackhole Nek minut, mail bombs

 

[elmerrm2007]

@resjudicata Get a fucking job and save up waaaay quicker. Hell, you may even meet someone at your job who is into sailing and will be your companion boatmate.

 

[benoz]

@resjudicata Or, go get a job so you can make a contribution back for all that benefit you've had? Why are we paying for your ideal lifestyle?

 

[buckeye_momof4]

@benoz From what I just read, I'd assume this person has a medical reason to be on the benefit. So just "find a job" might not be as possible as you imagine.

Also, if you aren't making much yearly you shouldn't be paying for other peoples benefits. Ideally should be taxed from the wealthy.

Or maybe anyone thinking of spending money on a scam like SafeMoon should go to the government instead

 

[pak]

@buckeye_momof4 But Its not just the benefit payment - its a free ride for all the nz infrastructure - ie hospitals, roads, water etc etc

 

[buckeye_momof4]

@pak yea social welfare and infrastructure is very important. I wouldn't of gotten a decent job if it wasn't for the beni and i repaid what i got given in under a year (in tax).

 

[glorytothefather2245]

@pak

all the nz infrastructure - ie hospitals, roads, water etc etc

Yes, it's very important to stop using the socialist benefit system in order to... (checks notes)... support the socialist system.

Benefit money goes right back into the economy anyway, them trying to save money is the real selfish act here. Pulling all your money out of the general cashflow is a great way to hurt the economy.