Financial Friday 89

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 89, here we go….

Transportation

On Tuesday, I stopped by the US Embassy to pick up my shiny new passport. Between the metro and buses, transit cost me a whole $0.36.

On Wednesday, I took the metro once to reduce the time to get to English Club (where people practice speaking English): $0.18. I normally walk, but I was running a little late.

Accommodation

I got a roommate on Friday so my lodging cost got halved: $5.63. I love it when that happens since it has a major effect on my budget.

Food

Ever since I’ve moved closer to downtown, I’ve been going out a lot more. So my food bill is a bit higher…. It’s just so much more convenient here….

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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.71 per day.

On Thursday, I renewed my data plan on my local SIM: $10.94. That’s for 20G of data and rollover from the previous months.

Summary

Week 89
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0.36	0.18	0	0.54
Lodging	5.63	5.63	5.63	5.63	5.63	5.63	5.63	39.41
Food	12.62	3.26	0	9.78	30.4	0	0	56.06
Other	7.16	7.16	7.16	7.16	7.16	7.16	18.1	61.06
Total	25.41	16.05	12.79	22.57	43.55	12.97	23.73	157.07

So definitely better than last week. Most of the difference comes from lower accommodation costs. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 88

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Transportation

On Monday, I took a bus and metro to change accommodation: $0.18. 45 minutes of transit on multiple transportation methods, and it still comes out super cheap.

Accommodation

I moved into a more expensive AirBnB on Monday. The bonus: the new location is a block away from the city’s largest market! Winning.

Food

So I went a bit crazy on Tuesday. That includes a grocery store run, and a night out. The time at the bar includes dinner, several glasses of wine and a couple beers for the bartender. She has this not so subtle way of getting her patrons to buy her drinks. I’m clearly in the wrong profession….

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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Pimsleur’s Russian: $0.71 per day.

On Monday, I bought a cutting board since the new AirBnB didn’t have one: $2.54. It’s a pretty nice wooden one, and is far cheaper than I expected.

On Tuesday, I bought a spatula ($3.62; which I later discovered I overpaid for), laundry detergent ($1.00), and a coffee/tea press ($3.44). The hidden expenses of moving into a new place….

Also on Tuesday, I bought a handkerchief: $0.72. Its purpose is to be placed over a lens of my reading glasses. My right eye has become seriously nearsighted from sitting in front of the computer for long stretches while my left has maintained 20/20 vision. So, I’m handicapping my eyes by wearing reading glasses while sitting in front of the computer. It’s amazing how your eyes adjust to their environment. After around 15 minutes with the glasses on, the visual acuity range increases dramatically. I just need to look like an idiot with handkerchief over my glasses. I haven’t been brave enough to try that in public yet.

Summary

Week 88
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0.18	0	0	0	0.18
Lodging	9.42	9.42	9.42	11.26	11.26	11.26	11.26	73.3
Food	0	0	0	11.41	47.72	12.09	18.75	89.97
Other	7.16	7.16	7.16	9.7	15.94	7.16	7.16	61.44
Total	16.58	16.58	16.58	32.55	74.92	30.51	37.17	224.89

So, not great, but not terrible either. And for the month….

Sep 19
Category	Week 84	Week 85	Week 86	Week 87	Week 88	Total
Travel	0.54	0	0	1.26	0.18	1.98
Lodging	23.55	32.97	32.97	51.81	73.3	214.6
Food	29.4	45.06	45.67	45.69	89.97	255.79
Other	50.08	78.21	49.87	75.69	61.44	315.29
Total	103.57	156.24	128.51	174.45	224.89	787.66

That’s actually pretty good too. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 87

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 87. Let’s get into it….

Transportation

I’ve done a lot of running around this week. I gathered a bunch of documents for a new passport, and got a pair of glasses. So I’ve been pretty much all over the city. Fortunately, public transportation here is very affordable. The buses and metro are all on the same system and cost 0.50 Lari ($0.18) per 1.5 hours of use. So you can move between modes of transport, and as long as it’s within that time, you’re not charged any extra.

Accommodation

Early Monday morning, my roommate moved out. So from then on, I’ve been paying the entire $9.42 per day for the AirBnB. Considering I get a decent apartment all to myself, I think it’s a pretty good deal.

Food

Nothing new to report here.

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: $0.71 per day.

On Wednesday, I submitted the paperwork for a new passport. I needed to take a selfie which I did via a booth in the Georgian Public Service Hall. Those pictures are good enough for Georgian government documents so they should work for US ones too. That cost me $1.09. I ran by one of the many printing shops that can be found almost anywhere to print out the application form(s): $0.36. And submitting the documents to the US Embassy for processing would normally be $110, but I paid in local currency so it was $119.53. Which brings the total to $120.98. Hopefully it’ll last me 10 years which would take the cost to $0.03 per day.

Also on Wednesday, I stopped by a local optometrist. I was looking for some over the counter reading glasses, but the doctor went ahead and gave me an exam to determine what strength I require. The next day, I came back to pick them up along with a case. All together it set me back $25.72. There’s no way I’d get anything close to that price in the ‘west’.

Summary

Week 87
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0.36	0.36	0.36	0.18	1.26
Lodging	4.71	4.71	4.71	9.42	9.42	9.42	9.42	51.81
Food	0	0	15.01	5.98	0	24.7	0	45.69
Other	7.13	7.13	7.13	7.13	7.13	32.88	7.16	75.69
Total	11.84	11.84	26.85	22.89	16.91	67.36	16.76	174.45

Another sub-$200 week. Can I stay in Georgia forever?

Financial Friday 86

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 86…. This is going to be short and sweet.

Transportation

Zero.

Accommodation

I’m in an AirBnB split between two people: $4.71 per day.

Food

I buy groceries. I cook groceries. I eat.

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: This changed on Sunday from $0.69 to $0.71 per day. Thanks 30 day month….

Summary

Week 86
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	32.97
Food	0	5.74	3.59	13.42	14.43	0	8.49	45.67
Other	7.11	7.11	7.13	7.13	7.13	7.13	7.13	49.87
Total	11.82	17.56	15.43	25.26	26.27	11.84	20.33	128.51

So yeah…. Another cheap week in საქარტველო (Georgia). See you all next week….

Financial Friday 85

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 85 of full time travel….

Transportation

Zero. I’m boring….

Accommodation

The AirBnB split 2 ways comes out to $4.71 per day for my portion.

Food

Nothing to report here; just the occasional grocery run.

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 Tuesday, I topped up my mobile data: $10.94. That’s 20G more.

Also on Tuesday, I ordered a copy of my birth certificate: $17.50. It’s more expensive because I ordered it remotely. If I was in the US, I could have just gone to the city hall where I was born, and gotten it far cheaper. I’m also going to have to pay for it to be mailed out to me once it arrives at the address I gave in the States. So…not cheap, but it’s a small price to pay for living in a place that’s far cheaper than the west.

Summary

Week 85
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	4.71	32.97
Food	21.66	0	0	2.54	5.29	15.57	0	45.06
Other	7.11	7.11	7.11	7.11	35.55	7.11	7.11	78.21
Total	33.48	11.82	11.82	14.36	45.55	27.39	11.82	156.24

So…pretty standard. See you all next week….

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.