Financial Friday 113

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 113. And it’s been a crazy one….

Transportation

On Saturday, I took the metro to hit up a market: $0.17. My timing was impeccable since the next day (Sunday) the Georgian government announced their “no more than 10 people together” policy. That resulted in a lot of businesses deciding it wasn’t worth staying open.

Accommodation

The AirBnB is (for now) $9.68 per day.

Food

This dropped off a cliff. Most restaurants are closed due to the ‘lockdown’ (it’s not really a lockdown, but that’s a nice, short way to describe it). The few that are still open only have take-out. So….my food bill was limited to grocery store runs. That saved me a lot of money!

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.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

Summary

Week 113
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0.17	0	0	0	0	0	0.17
Lodging	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	67.76
Food	0	7.88	4.33	2.41	2.12	5.55	1.71	24
Other	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	46.27
Total	16.29	24.34	20.62	18.7	18.41	21.84	18	138.2

So yeah, this situation have been amazing for my wallet. It also ‘helps’ that the exchange rate is moving in my favor. Between the lack of tourists and the global US Dollar rush, there’s a huge demand for foreign (for Georgia) currency.

See you all next week….

Financial Friday 112

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 112….

Transportation

On Thursday, I took the metro twice: $0.17 each way.

Accommodation

The AirBnB rate for the month is $9.68 per day.

Food

This dropped off significantly this week since a lot of restaurants have closed due to lack of customers. The Georgian government advises restaurants to close, but it’s not mandatory so it all depends on what individuals are doing. The places that are hurting due to people voluntarily isolating have shut down while the ones that aren’t that effected remain open.

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.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

Summary

Week 112
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.34	0.34
Lodging	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	9.68	67.76
Food	0	24.59	2.43	14.38	13.61	0	11.11	66.12
Other	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	46.27
Total	16.29	40.88	18.72	30.67	29.9	16.29	27.74	180.49

So, much better than the last few weeks. Also, a strong US Dollar is making things cheaper in general. How long will people want cash? We’ll see. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 111

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 111, and what a crazy one it’s been…. With global stock markets crashing, travel shutting down, and general mayhem, let’s see how my spending went.

Transportation

I took the metro on Thursday to get dinner with some friends. Georgia hasn’t shut down. We’ll see if it lasts.

Accommodation

On Tuesday, I switched to the next month’s rate. Since there are 2 more days in March than February, it brought the cost per day 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.

Passport: $0.03 per day.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

On Thursday, I bought a three pack of underwear: $13.85. The last of the underwear I had from the States finally died. It’s at least 3 years old…probably closer to 5…. Use your cloths until they die.

Summary

Week 111
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.36	0.36
Lodging	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	9.68	9.68	9.68	70.4
Food	9.62	15.98	8.17	14.99	19.87	12.2	9.25	90.08
Other	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	20.46	60.12
Total	26.57	32.93	25.12	31.94	36.16	28.49	39.75	220.96

It looks like my expenses are gradually going up. It’s still far cheaper than other places I’ve been though so…winning! See you all next week….

Financial Friday 110

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 110….

Transportation

Zero!

Accommodation

AirBnB, living alone: $10.34 per night.

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.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

On Friday, I renewed my base service for my local SIM: $0.39.

On Monday, I topped up my internet on my local SIM: $10.80 for 20G of data + rolling over previous months’ unused data.

Summary

Week 110
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lodging	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	72.38
Food	15.98	5.81	22.68	10.8	22.76	10.65	0	88.68
Other	7	6.61	6.61	17.41	6.61	6.61	6.61	57.46
Total	33.32	22.76	39.63	38.55	39.71	27.6	16.95	218.52

A bit on the expensive side for Georgia, but not bad. And for February….

Feb 20
Category	Week 106	Week 107	Week 108	Week 109	Week 110	Total
Travel	1.62	1.18	0.17	0.53	0	3.5
Lodging	72.08	81.53	72.38	72.38	20.68	319.05
Food	60.67	59.36	54.52	83.37	21.79	279.71
Other	50.31	92.71	65.37	46.27	13.61	268.27
Total	184.68	234.78	192.44	202.55	56.08	870.53

I consider under $1000 to be a win. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 109

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 109….

Transportation

The only costs here are for the metro: $0.18 per ride.

Accommodation

The AirBnB is running me $10.34 per day. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but I’m getting more than just accommodation. For example on Saturday, I was invited to dinner with my hosts. We talked about Georgian history among other things. Experiences like that are priceless.

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.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

Summary

Week 109
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0.18	0	0	0.35	0.53
Lodging	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	72.38
Food	12.26	12.25	0	11.91	10.86	26.63	9.46	83.37
Other	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	46.27
Total	29.21	29.2	16.95	29.04	27.81	43.58	26.76	202.55

So…a bit on the expensive side. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 108

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 108….

Transportation

On Thursday, I took the metro to go cloths shopping: $0.17.

Accommodation

Rent for the month is $10.34. It’s not the greatest rate, but I have myself to blame.

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.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

On Thursday, I bought a new pair of jeans: $19.10. It’s interesting, length wasn’t important. The vendor just ensured the waste was correct, then went to a seamstress to have the length adjusted. So for half tailor-made jeans, I spent less than $20!

Summary

Week 108
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.17	0.17
Lodging	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	72.38
Food	2.86	0	23.9	5.54	0	12.15	10.07	54.52
Other	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	25.71	65.37
Total	19.81	16.95	40.85	22.49	16.95	29.1	46.29	192.44

So yeah….this turned out better than I thought it would. See you all next week….

Financial Friday 107

Location: Tbilisi [Republic of Georgia]

Week 107….

Transportation

There’s just a cab ride on here: $1.18. It was late, and cold outside so I got it to stay warm.

Accommodation

So through Sunday, I was on the weekly AirBnB rate: $13.39 per night.

On Monday, I negotiated a monthly rate with the AirBnB host: $300 total or $10.34 per night. In hindsight, I should have gone through the app for two reasons. 1) the host just took the weekly rate and multiplied by 4. While AirBnB did offer a weekly rate discount, it offered a much higher additional discount for monthly bookings. 2) February is a short month. In the app, I could have put in 30-31 days and gotten the same rate rather than being limited to this leap year’s 29. Live and learn….

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.

Password manager: $0.16 per day.

On Friday, I bought a video game pack: $38.50. It included Master of Orion 1 + 2, and the one simply called Master of Orion. I have a problem….

Also on Friday, my local carrier was running a sale on data packages which I grabbed: $3.47.

On Monday, a friend was trying to make a ‘normal’ phone call with my phone (I usually use an app that just uses data). So I bought some minutes to be nice: $3.47.

Summary

Week 107
Category	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Total
Travel	0	0	1.18	0	0	0	0	1.18
Lodging	13.39	13.39	13.39	10.34	10.34	10.34	10.34	81.53
Food	2.27	9.71	9.93	4.97	12.23	20.25	0	59.36
Other	48.58	6.61	11.08	6.61	6.61	6.61	6.61	92.71
Total	64.24	29.71	35.58	21.92	29.18	37.2	16.95	234.78

So…a little on the expensive side, but not horrible. See you all next week.