Financial Friday 84

Locations: Telavi, Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 84….

Transportation

On Friday, I took a bus from თელავი (Telavi) to თბილისი (Tbilisi): $2.54. It was cheaper than the same route going the other way!

Also on Friday, I took a taxi from the bus station to the new AirBnB: $1.90 when split between 2 people.

Friday evening, I went out and took the metro a few times: $0.54. As well as taking a taxi home: $4.35. This was a bit more expensive than normal as it was late and Yandex didn’t work so I had to negotiate with the driver. That typically means you get a worse rate. Always use an app when possible.

On Sunday, I took the metro twice: $0.36. I met up with some friends, and ended up getting free wine! Friends are awesome.

On Monday, I took the metro into town and back again: $0.18. It was quick enough that I was only charged once.

Accommodation

Because I left Telavi a day earlier than planned, I ended up paying for two AirBnBs that day. The new AirBnB in Tbilisi is running me $4.71 per day (for my portion; I have a roommate).

Food

Between going out and buying initial groceries, this week was a little ‘expensive’ when it comes to food. The following weeks should be better.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.03 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: $0.41 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.69 per day.

On Sunday, my local phone plan was renewed: $0.40. It’s a pay-as-you-go plan that lets me call within Georgia, the US, and Canada for $0.01811 per minute. It’s surprising that I can get North America at those rates. The next cheapest country grouping (Ukraine, Russia, and CIS countries) is $0.07245 per minute.

Summary

Week 84
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	9.33	0	0.36	0.18	0	0	0	9.87
Lodging	8.17	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	36.43
Food	21.89	8.8	4.26	1.45	17.77	0	5.92	60.09
Other	7.11	7.11	7.51	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	50.17
Total	46.5	20.62	16.84	13.45	29.59	11.82	17.74	156.56

So, this week is a bit on the ‘expensive’ side for Georgia. But it’s still pretty awesome. And for the month of August….

Aug 19
Category	Week 79	Week 80	Week 81	Week 82	Week 83	Week 84	Total
Travel	4.53	0	0	0	0	9.33	13.86
Lodging	3.46	24.22	24.22	24.22	24.22	12.88	113.22
Food	21.72	25.44	32.34	39.01	11.34	30.69	160.54
Other	7.11	49.81	110.27	49.77	49.77	14.22	280.95
Total	36.82	99.47	166.83	113	85.33	67.12	568.57

While not the cheapest month ever, it’s pretty close. While not the cheapest month ever, it’s pretty close. მიყვარს საქართველო (I love Georgia)! See you all next week.

Financial Friday 83

Location: Telavi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 83….

Transportation

Zero. Next week will be a little more exciting, but for now….

Accommodation

The AirBnB continues to be super cheap: $3.46 per day. Finding a friend to share accommodation costs with is amazing.

Food

I spent most of the week trying to finish the groceries I’d bought previously. I failed, but at least my spending on food was down.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.03 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: $0.41 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.69 per day.

Summary

Week 83
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	24.22
Food	0	0	5.45	0	5.89	0	0	11.34
Other	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	49.77
Total	10.57	10.57	16.02	10.57	16.46	10.57	10.57	85.33

So yeah…. I spent almost nothing. I love Georgia.

Financial Friday 82

Location: Telavi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 82….

Transportation

Zero.

Accommodation

The AirBnB is $3.46 per night.

Food

I’ve been doing the typical ‘buying groceries’ thing. As a fun note, I went to the market on Tuesday to look for vegetables. I typically get them from random street vendors, but I was feeling adventurous. The woman kept adding more vegetables to my bag(s). I ended up with 4 full plastic bags full of assorted vegetables that I’ll have trouble eating before they go bad. And all of that cost me less than $7! So yeah, produce is super affordable here.

And it’s all naturally organic since it all came from someone’s garden. Also, in the US, all the vegetables taste like plastic. Here…let’s just say getting real produce that’s not grown on huge farms is delicious! The difference can be clearly tasted.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.03 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: $0.41 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.69 per day.

Summary

Week 82
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	24.22
Food	0	0	14.38	0	17.6	0	7.03	39.01
Other	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	49.77
Total	10.57	10.57	24.95	10.57	28.17	10.57	17.6	113

Oh that’s odd. It came out to an exact dollar amount…. Anyway, it’s been another wallet friendly week in Georgia. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 81

Location: Telavi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 81 of perpetual travel. Let’s get into it.

Transportation

Zero! Not moving has its advantages.

Accommodation

The AirBnB is a nice $3.46 per day.

Food

Nothing too exciting to report here. Just grocery runs.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.03 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: $0.41 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.69 per day.

On Sunday, my mobile data plan refreshed itself and carried over the previous unused data: $10.94. I haven’t used a lot of mobile data so my balance is now ridiculous.

On Tuesday, I pre-paid the next 3 expansions for Age of Wonders: Planetfall: $49.56. Video games are expensive, but I’ve gotten a lot out of this game in the week I’ve had it so…I think it’s worth it.

Summary

Week 81
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	24.22
Food	0.91	11.46	0	2.9	0	13.56	3.51	32.34
Other	7.11	7.11	18.05	7.11	56.67	7.11	7.11	110.27
Total	11.48	22.03	21.51	13.47	60.13	24.13	14.08	166.83

So…a bit more expensive than the last few weeks. I place all the blame on my video game obsession. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 80

Location: Telavi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 80 on the road….

Transportation

Zero. I’ve been in თელავი (Telavi) all week. There are only around 20,000 people that live here so getting around is as easy as using my feet.

Accommodation

The AirBnB for the month comes out to 3.46 per day (for my half). It’s far cheaper than rates in თბილისი (Tbilisi). Actually, almost everything is cheaper out here than in the capital.

Food

This has been super cheap. I go to the grocery store to buy most things, and hit up street vendors for produce. We’re staying pretty close to the city’s market so it’s pretty easy to find just about anything.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.03 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: $0.41 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.69 per day.

On Friday, my local, pay-as-you-go phone plan renewed. To roll everything over it cost me a whole $0.04. The ‘big bucks’ are spent when I buy data; not that that’s very much either.

Summary

Week 80
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	3.46	24.22
Food	4.09	6.56	6.4	0	6.14	2.25	0	25.44
Other	7.15	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	49.81
Total	14.7	17.13	16.97	10.57	16.71	12.82	10.57	99.47

Holy crap, I’ve never spent less than $100 in a week! If anyone out there is looking for a place to save money, I have an idea. Getting out here isn’t exactly easy, but once you’re here….

See you all next week….

Financial Friday 79

Locations: Tbilisi, Telavi [Republic of Georgia]

This week, I actually moved! I’d been in თბილისი (Tbilisi) for over 2 months so it was about time to go somewhere new.

Transportation

On Thursday, I took a taxi from the a hostel to Tbilisi’s main bus station: $0.91 was my half.

After that, I took a маршрутка (bus in Russian which is what they call the things that are half-way between buses and vans) to თელავი (Telavi): $3.62. It took about 3 hours between all the stops along the way. About half the stops were not at bus stops; people just jump on and off wherever they like.

Accommodation

This week, I discovered a glitch in how I calculated my AirBnB stay. It turns out I scheduled 30 days rather than 31 (which is kind of annoying because it’s the same price so I should have included the extra day). That takes the price for last month to $6.89 per day.

On Wednesday, I stayed at a hostel since there was a day’s gap in my scheduling: $4.35.

On Thursday, I moved into an AirBnB in Telavi with a friend: $3.46 per night for my half.

Food

This is pretty standard. Thursday’s a bit high because I bought all the “you’re in a new place, and need a few ‘expensive’ but slowly used” items.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.03 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: $0.41 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.69 per day.

On Saturday, I bought a the game Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus: $32.09. Because I can’t resist strategy games…. I think I have slight video game problem….

Summary

Week 79
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.53	4.53
Lodging	6.89	6.89	6.89	6.89	6.89	4.35	3.46	42.26
Food	0	5.42	0	2.9	0	10.51	21.72	40.55
Other	7.11	39.2	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	81.86
Total	14	51.51	14	16.9	14	21.97	36.82	169.2

So this is pretty good. Even with the change of scenery, it’s below $200. Thanks Georgia for being extremely affordable. And for the month of July….

Jul 19
Category	Week 75	Week 76	Week 77	Week 78	Week 79	Total
Travel	2.1	0	0	0	0	2.1
Lodging	27.56	48.23	48.23	48.23	38.8	211.05
Food	29.74	32.06	24.14	32.33	18.83	137.1
Other	34.23	53.53	60.77	49.77	74.75	273.05
Total	93.63	133.82	133.14	130.33	132.38	623.3

This is a bit higher than June, but still really good. The main difference is accommodation was a bit more expensive, but it’s expected for AirBnBs to be more expensive than hostels so….

See you all next week….