Location: Thessaloniki [Greece]

Week 57, and the end of February!

Transportation

Zero. This is why you slow-travel.

Accommodation

There’s less than a week left on the AirBnB I rented with a new friend. It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a month.

Food

This week, I did a really good job of not going out much. I’m also trying to eat everything I’ve bought. It looks like I’m not going to get through most of the spices I bought…and there are a few cookware items that will stay. You’re welcome next guest.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.57 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.

On Monday, I pre-purchased a game: $53.49. The makers of Age of Wonders: Planetfall did a really good job of advertising. This has also encouraged me to re-play Age of Wonders III. It’s such a good game. And all that playing has kept me inside and saving money. Not the ideal way to spend my time, but if it saves me money….

Summary

Week 57
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	87.78
Food	14.37	0	0	13.79	12.52	0	0	40.68
Other	6.96	6.96	6.96	60.49	6.96	6.96	6.96	102.25
Total	33.87	19.5	19.5	86.82	32.02	19.5	19.5	230.71

So this has been the cheapest week of this trip to Greece. Maybe I should spend more time playing video games…. Just kidding. And for February….

Feb 19
Week 54	Week 55	Week 56	Week 57	Total
Travel	3.99	0	0	0	3.99
Lodging	102.38	87.78	87.78	87.78	365.72
Food	108.67	85.94	92.06	40.68	327.35
Other	68.72	178.49	87.74	102.25	437.2
Total	283.76	352.21	267.58	230.71	1134.26

That’s not terrible. We’ll see how next month shapes up. See you all next week….

Location: Thessaloniki [Greece]

Week 56….

Transportation

Zero. It’s good to live in walkable cities.

Accommodation

The apartment comes out to $12.54 per day.

Food

I did pretty well for the most part about going grocery shopping, and cooking my own meals. Not being in a hostel makes this a lot easier. Though it does mean I have to try harder to socialize.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.57 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

On Tuesday, I did laundry: $4.02.

Also on Tuesday, I topped up my mobile data: $15.00.

On Tuesday night, there was a problem with the internet in the apartment so I decided to stream with my mobile data. That wasn’t a good idea as it burned though it all in one day. So on Wednesday, I bought some more: $20.00.

Summary

Week 56
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	87.78
Food	31.83	0	0	14.7	4.83	17.72	22.98	92.06
Other	6.96	6.96	6.96	6.96	25.98	26.96	6.96	87.74
Total	51.33	19.5	19.5	34.2	43.35	57.22	42.48	267.58

It looks like my costs are going to range between $250-300 per week. Which isn’t too bad. Your mileage may vary.

Location: Thessaloniki [Greece]

Week 55….

Transportation

Zero. I didn’t go anywhere, and managed to avoid taxis.

Accommodation

Last week, I made a big deal out of my travel credit being applied to the AirBnB booking. While this is awesome, it shouldn’t reduce the cost since I effectively pre-paid the $300 with the annual fee. So, accommodation for now is $12.54 per night.

Food

Some days, I ate out and bought groceries. So the cost is rather high at times. Then, on other days, I used mostly what I’d previously purchased. This made food costs highly variable.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.57 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.

On Saturday, I did laundry: $4.02.

Also on Saturday, I bought some knives: $5.75. The apartment only had butter knives, and those don’t work too well for cooking. So, 3 sharp knives for 5 euro. I think it’s decent.

On Tuesday, I got hit with a credit card late repayment fee: $25.00. Sometimes, I lose track of them. The lesson here: always try to keep track of your payment dates. It hurts when you don’t.

Summary

Week 55
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	12.54	87.78
Food	21.26	29.3	1.15	4.41	9.67	20.15	0	85.94
Other	6.96	16.73	6.96	6.96	31.96	6.96	6.96	83.49
Total	40.76	58.57	20.65	23.91	54.17	39.65	19.5	257.21

So, not terrible, and still under budget. But it pains me when I look back at how much cheaper the last few months were. See you all next week….

Location: Thessaloniki [Greece]

February is here, and so is another week of expenses….

Transportation

On Sunday, I was out with friends and we didn’t feel like walking up the hill to the hostel so we caught a taxi: $3.99.

Accommodation

I finally got off my lazy ass and paid for two weeks of staying at a hostel. It turned out to be $15.46 per night.

On Wednesday, I moved into an AirBnB apartment with someone I met at the hostel I was staying at. We got a huge discount (35%) for booking a whole month. If we take the straight-up price divided by two for 28 days (February), the price comes out to $12.54 per night. However, I used my Chase Sapphire Reserve to book the place and they applied my $300 travel credit (the card’s already paying off). If I take my half minus the credit, it comes out to $1.83 per night! That’s insane. The lesson here is use travel credit cards if you can.

Food

I went a little crazy with food this week. Maybe all the money I saved on accommodation has gone to my head…. Actually, it’s more like I’ve been spending a lot of time with people in ‘vacation’ mode. They tend to go out a lot and spend more money than long term travelers. I think that’ll calm down now that I’m in an apartment, and have made a couple grocery runs. We’ll see what next week’s food bill looks like.

Other

Travel insurance: $5.57 per day.

VPN service: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Skype: $0.08 per day.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: actually $0.41 per day now that my credit’s been used.

On Tuesday, I refilled the data plan on my travel SIM: $20.00.

Summary

Week 54
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	3.99	0	0	0	0	3.99
Lodging	15.46	15.46	15.46	15.46	15.46	1.83	1.83	80.96
Food	20.31	2.28	28.52	12.55	17.11	3.42	24.48	108.67
Other	6.96	6.96	6.96	6.96	26.96	6.96	6.96	68.72
Total	42.73	24.7	54.93	34.97	59.53	12.21	33.27	262.34

So, it’s pretty clear I’m not in Georgia any more. This is still far less than I’d spend on the US. Plus, my quality of life is significantly higher now that I’m not in ‘the West’. See you all next week….