The Budget ✔

The Official Estimated Budget = $15,000 $20,000

Estimated amounts of money I will need to save for The Cross America North Tour hosted by America By Bicycle (AbyB), June 20 - August 9, 2010:

• AbyB 3-Occupancy Tour Rate: $6750 $6850 (2010 rate increase)
• Access America Travel Insurance: $375 (Access America Classic Comprehensive)
• Employee-paid Medical Insurance Coverage while on Unpaid Leave from Job #1: $1000 $190
• Avalon Fort Greene renter application/deposit: $500
• June rent 2010*: $1150 $1364 (prorated: June 11-30)
• July rent 2010: $1150 $0 (new renter's promo: 3-months free)
• August rent 2010: $1150 $0 (new renter's promo: 3-months free)
• Manor Moving & Storage (from Hell's Kitchen to Brooklyn): $1080 + 20% tip
• One-way airfare from NYC to Portland, OR, June 18: $500 $219
• One-way bus fare from Portland to Astoria: $18
• Hotel in Astoria, OR, June 18-20: $295
• Hotel in Portsmouth, NH, August 9-10: $93
• One-way shuttle fare from Portsmouth to Boston: $25
• One-way airfare from Boston, MA, to NYC: $250 $80
• Standard, diamond frame Touring/Racing bicycle: $1,500 $1895
• Bicycle upgrade components and other bells and whistles: $500 $1000
• K-9100 Compact AirCaddy container: $99.95 + $20.00 S&H
• Bicycle shipping costs from NYC to Astoria, OR: <$100.00 (ShipBikes.com)
• Bicycle shipping costs from Portsmouth, NH, to NYC: <$100.00 (ShipBikes.com)
• Cycling gear (e.g. packs, cycle computer, miscellaneous equipment): $500 $1000
• Cycle attire (e.g. helmet, shoes, changes of clothing): $500 $1000
• Base layers, undergarments, socks, other miscellaneous attire: $100 $500
• Cycling lessons: $65/hour (minus discounted rate) = $200
• Daily allowance ($15/day)**: $750
  Wireless cellphone plan with reliable nationwide service (with unlimited out-of-network texts for all my tweets!): $50-$100/month = $200
• BONUS: AT&T Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB ($299) or Verizon Wireless Motorola Droid ($TBD)*** (I'm allowing my Verizon Wireless contract expire in May 2010 so that I can explore AT&T and Verizon discount offers as a new customer)
• BONUS: 13-inch: 2.26GHz Apple MacBook Pro ($1,199)***

***BONUS items not included in the Official Estimated Budget; to be purchased if there are additional earnings or the overall estimated costs are under-budget.

Here is an additional breakdown of expenses per my inventory of the luggage.

*My portion of the monthly rent for the two-bedroom Hell's Kitchen apartment I share with a roommate - just in case I cannot find a suitable renter to sublet my bedroom from June 20 - August 9, 2010 [No longer applicable; I moved to Brooklyn].
**Overnight accommodations, breakfast, dinner and SAG stops are provided daily (minus rest days) throughout the 50-day tour.