Category: June 2020

Financial Friday 127

Location: Borjomi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 127….

Transportation

Zero! Winning!

Accommodation

The AirBnB plus some food is $9.80 per day.

Other

Travel insurance: $3.15 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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

On Saturday, my local mobile base plan was refreshed: $0.39.

On Tuesday, my mobile data plan was renewed: $9.93.

Summary

Week 127
CategoryFriSatSunMonTueWedThuTotal
Travel00000000
Lodging9.89.89.89.89.89.89.868.6
Food004.7400004.74
Other4.735.124.734.7314.664.734.7343.43
Total14.5314.9219.2714.5324.4614.5314.53116.77

And for June….

Jun 20
CategoryWeek 123Week 124Week 125Week 126Week 127Total
Travel00055.56055.56
Lodging32.2448.3668.668.649266.8
Food14.7738.5116.2213.924.7488.16
Other18.9233.1133.1140.333.97159.41
Total65.93119.98117.93178.3887.71569.93

This is easily 1/3 of what I would pay in the West. Why Westerners with mobile jobs insist on staying in expensive places is beyond me. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 126

Location: Borjomi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 126….

Transportation

On Wednesday, I took a day trip to ვარძია (Vardzia), and a few places on the way: $55.56. That’s the cost of hiring a private driver for half a day, driving over 250km, and waiting on us to look around. That’s also me paying the whole fare; if anyone else that was willing to pay (with money) came along, it would be split with them. Considering what we got, I’d call that a pretty good deal.

Accommodation

I’m still with my hosts in ბორჯომი (Borjomi): $9.80 per day. This includes 2-3 meals per day as well as informal Georgian lessons. It’s amazing!

Other

Travel insurance: $3.15 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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

On Wednesday, we went to the Vardzia historical site: $7.19. Adult tickets are normally $4.90, but now (due to fewer tourists) it’s half price. I paid for 3 adults and a child. Considering my companions brought food with us, I thought it only fair to compensate them. Also, they’re Georgians, and could really use some subsidies.

Summary

Week 126
CategoryFriSatSunMonTueWedThuTotal
Travel0000055.56055.56
Lodging9.89.89.89.89.89.89.868.6
Food07.140001.145.6413.92
Other4.734.734.734.734.7311.924.7340.3
Total14.5321.6714.5314.5314.5378.4220.17178.38

So this week ended up not being super cheap due to the trip. Sometimes you have to be a tourist. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 125

Location: Borjomi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 125….

Transportation

On Friday, I traveled from თბილისი (Tbilisi) to ბორჯომი (Borjomi). Trains weren’t running at the time so I managed to hitch a ride. The person who chartered the van was nice enough to pay for transportation! I love Georgians.

On Tuesday, my hosts took me to a local monastery for sightseeing and a picnic. They paid for transportation!

Accommodation

Rent is $9.80 per day, and it includes a couple meals per day, as well as informal Georgian lessons! I’ve been supplementing the food they give me, but I’m sure if I asked, they’d feed me all I need. I just don’t want to be a dick, and ask more of hosts that are already so generous.

Other

Travel insurance: $3.15 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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

Summary

Week 125
CategoryFriSatSunMonTueWedThuTotal
Travel00000000
Lodging9.89.89.89.89.89.89.868.6
Food05.62006.2404.3616.22
Other4.734.734.734.734.734.734.7333.11
Total14.5320.1514.5314.5320.7714.5318.89117.93

This is going to sound strange, but it’s kind of hard to spend money out here. The locals are so generous! See you all next week….

Financial Friday 124

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 124….

Transportation

Zero. Winning!

Accommodation

I managed to get Thursday for free! Staying in the same place for 3 months has its advantages.

Other

Travel insurance: $3.15 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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

Summary

Week 124
CategoryFriSatSunMonTueWedThuTotal
Travel00000000
Lodging8.068.068.068.068.068.06048.36
Food08.544.9211.2111.4802.3638.51
Other4.734.734.734.734.734.734.7333.11
Total12.7921.3317.712424.2712.797.09119.98

So even with restaurants and bars reopening, I still didn’t spend much. I love Georgia! See you all next week….

Financial Friday 123

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 123….

Transportation

On Saturday, I walked to a market and took the metro back: $0.17.

Accommodation

The AirBnB rate is $8.06 per day.

Other

Travel insurance: $3.15 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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

On Sunday, I topped up my mobile data: $6.77.

Summary

Week 123
CategoryFriSatSunMonTueWedThuTotal
Travel00.17000000.17
Lodging8.068.068.068.068.068.068.0656.42
Food7.577.37.604.909.8737.24
Other4.734.7311.54.734.734.734.7339.88
Total20.3620.2627.1612.7917.6912.7922.66133.71

Nice! And for May….

May 20
CategoryWeek 119Week 120Week 121Week 122Week 123Total
Travel01.21000.171.38
Lodging58.3156.9656.4256.4224.18252.29
Food38.6439.434.7517.5422.47152.8
Other62.2433.1133.1133.4520.96182.87
Total159.19130.68124.28107.4167.78589.34

Even better! Lock-downs suck, but at least they save a lot of money.