Financial Friday 51

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 51 on the road….

Transportation

Zero. I didn’t go anywhere.

Accommodation

The hostel is $3.76 per night. Not too shabby.

Food

I managed to not go out for food at all this week. All the expenses here are from grocery shopping. For reference, I buy mostly eggs, liver, vegetables, nuts, and the occasional seasonings. I don’t do complicated….

Other

Travel insurance: $8.64 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

On Wednesday, my Skype subscription renewed: $29.94. It gives me a US number people can call if needed, and enables me to freely call US (and I think Canadian) numbers for free. Annualized, that comes out to $0.08 per day!

A couple weeks ago, I applied and received a new credit card: the Chase Sapphire Reserve. My readers from the US will probably recognize it as one of the better travel cards. For the $450 annual fee, I get $300 in travel credits, access to Priority Pass (airport lounges), a nice sign-up, and a lot of other cool travel perks. The original charge comes out to $1.23 per day, but I’m going to assume I use all the $300 travel credit and go with the effective rate of $0.41 per day. It’s a bit pricey, but I think worth it.

On Friday, I did laundry: $1.13.

Summary

So what’s all that look like?

Week 51
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	26.32
Food	2.35	0	12.17	0	12.95	3.76	3.91	35.14
Other	10.12	9.95	9.95	9.95	9.95	10.03	10.03	69.98
Total	16.23	13.71	25.88	13.71	26.66	17.55	17.7	131.44

It looks like one of the cheapest weeks ever! I’m going to miss Georgia….

Financial Friday 50

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 50 on the road! Let’s see what my wallet has to say about this….

Transportation

Zero. I didn’t go anywhere.

Accommodation

The hostel is super cheap at $3.76 per night. It’s awesome.

Food

Yeah…nothing exciting going on here….

Other

Travel insurance: $8.64 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

On Friday, my local phone plan renewed itself: $0.38. How convenient.

On Saturday, I bought a new coat: $11.28. Because…why not? I was getting annoyed with the old pull-over jacket I have been using as a coat. Plus, the ‘new’ one looks amazing. It’s that puke, military green that seems to be popular in these parts, and looks like an absolute piece of shit. Nothing to steal here would-be thieves; I’m just a random hobo.

On Thursday, my local data plan was renewed: $11.73. That’s for 15G of mobile data. There’s no way I’d get a deal like that in Europe.

Summary

Week 50
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	3.76	26.32
Food	12.82	0	14.62	0	11.69	3.16	13.12	55.41
Other	9.92	20.82	9.54	9.54	9.54	9.54	21.27	90.17
Total	26.5	24.58	27.92	13.3	24.99	16.46	38.15	171.9

So, that’s pretty good. I’m going to miss these prices in a few weeks. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 49

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 49, and the end of the year….

Transportation

Zero. I went nowhere this week, and walked when I left the hostel.

Accommodation

For December, it’s $3.75 per night. I’m not sure what I’m paying in January as I haven’t paid yet, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be under $4 a night. So to err on the high side, I’ve gone with $4 per night.

Food

So….parties on Sunday and Tuesday aside, there isn’t much happening here. It’s so cheap!

Other

Travel insurance: $8.64 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

Summary

Week 49
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	4	4	4	27
Food	7.94	7.56	16.14	2.26	9.47	6.17	0	49.54
Other	9.54	9.54	9.54	9.54	9.54	9.54	9.54	66.78
Total	21.23	20.85	29.43	15.55	23.01	19.71	13.54	143.32

So New Year’s week was pretty cheap! Let’s have a look at December….

Dec 18
Week 45	Week 46	Week 47	Week 48	Week 49	Total
Travel	0.93	0.19	0.19	0	0	1.31
Lodging	22.5	26.25	45.23	26.25	15	135.23
Food	46.04	55.86	39.03	68.74	33.9	243.57
Other	78.5	95.63	65.23	98.87	38.16	376.39
Total	147.97	177.93	149.68	193.86	87.06	756.5

This was the second least expensive month so far! My wallet is looking really good.

And for the year…. I started traveling in late January so this is roughly a month short of a full year, but…. In 2018, my expenses came out to $12,097.80! That includes a week in Iceland, a little under 3 months in Greece, a bit over a month in Turkey, and about 7 months in Georgia. So, for all my fellow Westerners that think full time travel in affordable, well…you’re just wrong. I’m pretty sure most people earn more than this with their side-hussle(s).

So my challenge to everyone is to get out, and see the world. It’s a fascinating place that’s full of opportunities.

I’ll see you all next week….

Financial Friday 48

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Hmm…it looks like I forgot to post this on Friday. Better late than never?

Transportation

Absolutely nothing to report here. I’m so boring….

Accommodation

The hostel’s running me $3.75 per night this month. I love Georgia pricing.

Food

I went out a little more than usual so it was a tad more ‘expensive’. Wait, who am I kidding? This is Georgia; nothing’s crazy expensive.

Other

Travel insurance: $8.64 per day.

VPN service: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

This blog: $0.31 per day.

On Sunday, I decided to take advantage of a sale on a video game: $32.09. It’s titled Star Control: Origins.

Summary

Week 48
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	26.25
Food	15.95	12.39	0	9.49	9.74	7.94	13.23	68.74
Other	9.54	9.54	41.63	9.54	9.54	9.54	9.54	98.87
Total	29.24	25.68	45.38	22.78	23.03	21.23	26.52	193.86

Another under $200 week. I love Georgia! Until next week…if I don’t forget again….

Financial Friday 47

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 47…

Transportation

I’ve barely left the hostel this week unless it’s been going to the grocery store. I did manage to hitch a ride on the metro on Tuesday though: $0.19.

Accommodation

The hostel’s costing me $3.75 per day.

On Tuesday, my former roommates contacted me, and told me the gas bill for last month had come in. It had actually been there for a while, but no one had paid it since I usually handled it. They noticed when it was cut off. Anyway, the [inefficient] heating is gas powered, and my portion came out to $18.98. That’s a lot for here.

Food

Nothing interesting happened here. Really, nothing….

Other

Travel insurance: $8.64 per day.

VPN: $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

On Wednesday, the service for this blog came up. It tacks on another $0.31 per day.

Summary

Week 47
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0.19	0	0	0.19
Lodging	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	22.73	3.75	3.75	45.23
Food	5.5	5.56	0	9.87	5.77	5.69	6.64	32.39
Other	9.23	9.23	9.23	9.23	9.23	9.54	9.54	65.23
Total	18.48	18.54	12.98	22.85	37.92	18.98	13.29	143.04

It turns out not doing anything is super cheap. I should consider being boring more often. Just kidding. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 46

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 46….

Transportation

The hostel I’m in is pretty centrally located so I only used the metro once on Friday: $0.19. Winning.

Accommodation

I paid for the hostel for the entire month, and I got a crazy discount. That combined with it being off season, and the currency (the Georgian Lari) being in a low point results in a cost of $3.75 per night!

Food

Nothing unusual’s happening here. I will say it’s pretty awesome having the hostel being practically empty. So I have almost completely free reign of the kitchen.

Other

Travel insurance: $8.64 per day.

I upgraded my VPN service so now it’s like a turbo VPN. All for the low, low price of $0.26 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

On Monday, I bought more data for my local phone: $11.84 for 15G.

On Wednesday, I bought a book: $17.30. It’s titled The Alzheimer’s Antidote: Using a Low-Carb, High-Fat Diet to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease, Memory Loss, and Cognitive Decline. I bought it because…well, let’s be honest; who isn’t scared shitless of Alzheimer’s?

Summary

Week 46
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0.19	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.19
Lodging	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	26.25
Food	8.24	3.85	7.17	10.74	6.07	15.48	4.31	55.86
Other	9.1	9.1	9.1	20.94	9.1	26.4	9.1	92.84
Total	21.28	16.7	20.02	35.43	18.92	45.63	17.16	175.14

So here’s another average week. See you in 7 days….

Financial Friday 45

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 45 down. Here’s we go….

Transportation

All travel costs this week are metro runs: $0.19 each.

Accommodation

Rent for November was $5.67 per night.

On the first, I moved out of the house I’d spent the last few months in, and checked into a hostel. I know one of the owners who gave me a fantastic rate: $3.75 per night! It would have been a downgrade, but one of the roommates at the house got a dog that has an annoying habit of biting people so…. Yeah, getting away from the demon dog pushes the scales heavily in the hostel’s favor.

Food

Despite going out, and getting fairly drunk on Saturday and Sunday evening, I managed to keep my food budget under control. It’s so cheap here….

Other

Travel insurance: $8.64 per day.

VPN: $0.13 per day.

Amazon Prime: $0.33 per day.

On Saturday, there was a sale on a computer game. I figured 20% off was worth the final price tag: $21.66. It’s called Thea 2: The Shattering if anyone’s curious.

On Tuesday, I did laundry: $1.12. One of the downsides of hostel living is I can’t just buy a huge package of laundry detergent. It’s still worth the extra expense though.

On Thursday, I got ‘professional’ pictures taken for an ID: $1.12. I also picked up the paperwork to file for Georgian Residency. I didn’t have a pen with me so I still have to go back and finish the submission process, but I got a good start.

Summary

Week 45
Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0.19	0.37	0.37	0	0.19	0	0	1.12
Lodging	5.67	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.75	28.17
Food	12.66	7.12	17.38	14.83	3.45	3.26	0	58.7
Other	9.1	30.76	9.1	9.1	10.22	9.1	10.22	87.6
Total	27.62	42	30.6	27.68	17.61	16.11	13.97	175.59

So another mid-range week has passed. Also, the month of December began.

Nov 18
Week 40	Week 41	Week 42	Week 43	Week 44	Week 45	Total
Travel	0.37	3.36	3.74	0.19	1.52	0.56	9.74
Lodging	5.67	39.69	43.42	39.69	39.69	9.42	177.58
Food	7.09	49.65	48.3	46.62	39.35	19.78	210.79
Other	9.1	102.33	86.16	73.49	129.82	39.86	440.76
Total	22.23	195.03	181.62	159.99	210.38	69.62	838.87

As we can see, November was a fantastic month! I love Georgia!

See you all next week….