Has it been 4 weeks already? Holy crap. How time flies.

I will just say that being sick is great for the wallet. I was taken down with a nasty stomach bug so for a couple days I didn’t really eat much. Spent a lot of time lying on my bed which was conveniently located right next to the bathroom. Although because I was so weak, I spent more on motor-taxis as I kept attending my classes but didn’t have the energy to actually walk there myself. Oh yeah, and I GOT PAID THIS WEEK! YAY!

For my second week (Nov 25-Dec 1), I spent an average of $13.88 per day (263,700 dong/day). Compare that with an average of $20.54/day from last week. This is directly linked to the fact that I was ill so my beer and food consumption went sharply down and I managed to sneak into the Loreto Fest to see Ratatat which was normally a $25 ticket. Here’s a general breakdown of where it went:

lunch/dinner at restaurants: $30.26 for the week, average of $4.32/day

water/snacks/drinks/groceries for breakfast: $9.95 for the week, average of $1.42/day

beer: $0 (you now know how sick I really was)

taxis and buses: $15.85 for the week, average of $2.26/day

motorcycle rental: $1.32 for one day

hotel accommodation: $42.41 for the week, or $6.06/night

.

So, for my fourth week, I spent $99.79. I got my first paycheque which was 7,000,000 dong ($368.00). My balance from the end of week three was $72.59, so that leaves me at $340.80. I have started renting a motorbike ($1.32/day), but that will actually work out cheaper than the taxis I’ve been taking. Now if I can just manage not to kill myself…

A bit of a bummer is that our accommodation cost is going up. We had an “arrangement” to fix the price, but apparently the owner forgot about that initial conversation and effective December 1st, our housing is going up by 20% for the remainder of our time here (for “high season”). It’s a bit late to start looking for a proper apartment (we’re only here for two more months), and we all really like it where we are so we will probably suck it up. Still not cool, though, Hai Ha!

Well, the answer to that question is: progressively broker.  I am working, but I don’t get paid until the first of each month (no bi-weekly pay here).  And I’ve been spending more because I know that money will be coming in…eventually.

For my second week (Nov 18-24), I spent an average of $20.54 per day (3.655 million dong).  Here’s a general breakdown:

lunch/dinner at restaurants: $34.05 for the week, average of $4.86/day

water/snacks/drinks/groceries for breakfast: $9.27 for the week, average of $1.32/day

cover charge for clubs and beer: $21.97 for the week, average of $3.14/day

taxis: $11.80 for the week, average of $1.69/day

gambling: $5.62 (lost a bet)

1 hr massage: $12.36 including tip

hotel accommodation: $42.41 for the week, or $6.06/night

unaccounted for: $6.30

I’m planning on getting a motorbike this week which will save me on taxis…it will cost me about $8.50/week to rent my own. Easy choice if you’re willing to brave the traffic.  I also separated the beer budget out because lumping it in with groceries and snacks is simply misleading.  And I’ve been drinking a lot more beer lately.

.

So, for my second week, I spent $143.78.  My balance from the end of week one was $216.37, so that leaves me $72.59. I will have to dip into the credit card until I get paid because the money won’t stretch until the 1st of the month.  But my first paycheque will be about $364.00 so I’ll catch up with that.  But waiting until the 1st of the month to get paid will screw me for a bit…December will be tight but then my cheque in January should be over $1300.  The idea is more longterm…

I’ll have to admit, knowing that I have a job has taken a lot of pressure of the whole financial situation.  However, in true Kris form, I neglected to ask when I get paid so things could get a bit tight before that first cheque comes in.  But I’m spending under $20/day including accommodation, transportation, food, etc., which was my goal, and there’s a lot of room to save in there if need be.

For my second week (Nov 11-17), I spent an average of $19.69 per day (2.454 million dong).  Here’s a general breakdown:

lunch/dinner at restaurants: $36.91 for the week, average of $5.27/day

water/snacks/beer/groceries for breakfast: $27.81 for the week, average of $3.97/day (to be honest, the majority of this is beer)

taxis: $5.06 for the week, average of $0.72/day (this was 3 separate rides!)

sightseeing: $0.84 (War Remnants Museum)

tailors: $17.98 for two custom made shirts

hotel accommodation: $42.41 for the week, or $6.06/night

unaccounted for: $6.80 (give me a break, I’m not an accountant, all right?)

Considerations:  3 days a week, I will be teaching at a school quite far north from where we are.  It’s around $2.25 roundtrip for a taxi, which works out to close to $30/month, or I could rent a motorcycle for around $50/month.  I’m currently having a dilemma about which route to take.  For just a bit more every month I could have my own vehicle which would be awesome, but you are taking your life into your hands every time you enter traffic here and I’m not sure I’m a skilled enough motorcyclist to pull it off. We’ll see.

.

So, for my second week, I spent $137.87.  My balance from the end of week one was $354.24, so that leaves me $216.37. Hopefully I get paid soon and the balance starts going up!

I am always telling people how cheap it can be to travel, especially in Asia, but often I don’t think people understand just how cheap it really is.  It’s been just over a week since I arrived, and I’d say I’m doing pretty well by my standards.  I’m living pretty modestly by eating in the inexpensive local restaurants and eating street food and we’ve got a fairly good deal on our accommodation.  But I’m also enjoying myself – massages, dessert, and beer are on the menu if the mood strikes me.  This is one of my rules for travelling – I’m not going to bother if I have to count every penny and not do the things that I want to do.  I took the “cheap as we can do it” approach when I was a younger backpacker, but now that I’m a bit older, if I want a $4 pedicure, I’m going to get a $4 pedicure. Here’s a breakdown of my first few days in Saigon (keep in mind, it’s 18,000 dong to the US dollar):

(more…)

I’m usually pretty good with spending.  Since I’ve been in HCMC, not so much.  This place is cheap, I mean REALLY cheap, and I’m blowing through cash a little too quickly.  I told myself before I came here that if I spent any more than $400 of my own personal funds before finding a job, I would start freaking the hell out.  I need to cool down the spending, fast, before I find myself begging on the street corner.

I started with about 3,600,000 dong, which is equivalent to about $200.  Now, I’m at 1,400,000 dong (about $80).  $120 for a week is definitely not the worst I’ve ever done, but when you put things into perspective, I suck at life.

Here’s a general idea of how much food costs here:

(more…)

I’m working an insanely demanding job, with a long commute spread across many buses and trains, which take me a 10-hour stint of intense concentration.  Unfortunately, I’m still on our travel budget, which is still hobbling along after Japan.  So what sees me through the day?

Starts with a 900 KRW ($.75) can of coffee.  I like this brand because it’s not packed with sugar, which usually just leads to a sugar crash midday, always an awful experience at this job.  Also, I ate some instant ramen: 600 KRW ($.50). Total: 1500 KRW ($1.25)

Then lunch…

(more…)