Why This Former Microsoft Engineer Now Lives On A Sailboat By Paying Rs 1.5 Lakh Per Month

After working for 60 hours every week as a software engineer at companies including Microsoft, Brian Trautman eventually realized that the best part of his day was the bus ride to and from work.

And it was on during one of those rides when he decided he needed to make a change.

When Did He Decide To Live On Sailboat?

cnbc

It was in May 2008, after two years of saving as much as possible, he sold all of his possessions, including a three-bedroom townhouse in Redmond, Washington and embarked on a two-year sabbatical to sail the world.

¡å[I thought to myself] after two years, I¡¯m going to be ready to come back and know exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I just never came back,¡± Trautman said. As per a CNBC report, he purchased a 53-foot sailboat called the SV Delos for $398,000 with a $81,000 down payment. It has three cabins and two bathrooms. He made his final payment on the boat in 2019.

Also Read: 5 Tips That Can Help You Save Money When Travelling Abroad

How Much Money Did He Have?

cnbc

When Trautman set sail, he had two years of savings, or about $48,000. It ran out three different times, he says. He maxed out his credit cards, cashed out his 401K and took odd jobs while travelling the world to survive, according to documents reviewed by CNBC.

Then, in 2011, while docked in New Zealand, he met his now wife, Karin. The two started filming their adventures on the boat together and launched their YouTube Channel, Sailing SV Delos.

¡°It was not supposed to be a full-time job. It was just going to sustain us and help fund the trip a little bit. And now it¡¯s all we do,¡± Trautman says. The couple uses the money they make from their YouTube channel and crowdfunding to sustain their lifestyle.

What's Inside The Sailboat?

cnbc

The sailboat has a cabin in the back that serves as Trautman¡¯s and his wife¡¯s bedroom, a cabin in the front of the vessel for his daughter, and a third cabin for guests. The boat also has a kitchen area with a convection oven, dishwasher and toaster.

businssinsider

¡°We have many modern appliances and conveniences that you might find in your own house. Everything¡¯s just kind of on a smaller scale,¡± Trautman says.

Though the SV Delos boasts three refrigerators that allow the family to store a lot of meat or fish, a big problem is fresh fruit and vegetables. The couple can only keep enough to last a few weeks before they have to go back to land for more. Which is a lot harder than it seems.

¡°We live and die by the weather out here, so the weather determines everything we do,¡± Trautman says. ¡°This life is often uncomfortable. It¡¯s way more work than living in a house.¡±

How Much Does It Cost?

insider

During a typical shopping trip in town, the couple spent about $500 on groceries that should last them between several weeks and months, depending on what¡¯s perishable and what¡¯s not. In addition to groceries, the couple spends about $1,900 a month (approx Rs 1.5 lakh) on boat insurance, maintenance, fuel and utilities. They also pay $250 a month for satellite Wi-Fi.

Since he started travelling the world by boat, Trautman has visited over 45 countries and has racked up 70,000 ocean miles. ¡°It was a huge change to our lifestyle, but very rewarding. We can sit on the back of the boat and see the sharks, the rays, the puffer fish, the dolphins and whales,¡± Trautman said about the experience.

For the latest and interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here.