Chiang Mai Expenses: week 7
My cheap Tuesdays are proving to be anything but! But this is okay, because collectively I want the posts to demonstrate a kind of journey through spending.
Obviously at the beginning I was smashing it with some killer cheap weeks, and thats a fun challenge for a while.
And then it gets a bit old and you have to start making some changes and relaxing a little.
Like living anywhere in the world, the key is to live within your means. Mine do remain meagre, but as the freelance money starts to trickle in (and I do mean trickle), I have allowed myself a few small luxuries.
The challenge is no longer to spend as little as possible; more to try and create the life I want for myself here.
Chiang Mai expenses: Where did my clams go this week?
I had a few more big costs this week; namely I bought a few bits on Monday to enable me to cook for myself after I purchased a little stove off my friend last week.
I got a puncture in my bicycle, and obviously went and bought the wrong pump *face palm*.
I also splashed out on a few more high-end food places … though relative to the actual cost in £ its still cheap!
Otherwise I’m living off groceries every day and cooking at home. Some oats and soy milk for brekky usually, and then some eggs and veggies for dinner!
My biggest expense was a gym membership for the month, at £28. This is mainly for the classes, as my usual yoga teacher has gone back to the States for a few weeks.
Also I bought it for my sanity, as I’m actually really struggling to adjust to the lack of outdoor sports here.
I know, I know, life is what you make it. But this isnt somewhere I feel I can just get up and bash out a 10k, living as I do right on top of a busy street… and without a scooter I find myself feeling quite claustrophobic and unhealthy, so an exercise class a day should get those endorphins pumping once again… and give me some much needed structure in my coffee-shop life.
Without further ado, here are the details:
To view on mobile click here
| Monday 20th | ฿ | £ | $AUD | $USD |
| Taxis | 120 | £2.26 | $4.80 | $3.53 |
| New headphones | 150 | £2.83 | $6.00 | $4.41 |
| Cooking utensils / pans | 400 | £7.55 | $16.00 | $11.76 |
| Bike pump | 250 | £4.72 | $10.00 | $7.35 |
| Shampoo | 100 | £1.89 | $4.00 | $2.94 |
| Conditioner | 100 | £1.89 | $4.00 | $2.94 |
| Coffee at work space | 50 | £0.94 | $2.00 | $1.47 |
| Corn kernals to make popcorn | 44 | £0.83 | $1.76 | $1.29 |
| Pizza dinner | 110 | £2.08 | $4.40 | $3.24 |
| Total | 1324 | £24.98 | $52.96 | $38.94 |
| Tuesday 21st | ฿ | £ | $AUD | $USD |
| Water refill | 5 | £0.09 | $0.20 | $0.15 |
| 7/11 coffee | 18 | £0.34 | $0.72 | $0.53 |
| Groceries | 150 | £2.83 | $6.00 | $4.41 |
| Total | 173 | £3.33 | $6.65 | $5.09 |
| Wednesday 15th | ฿ | £ | $AUD | $USD |
| Latte at work space | 65 | £1.25 | $2.50 | $1.91 |
| Vegetarian Lunch | 95 | £1.83 | $3.65 | $2.79 |
| Extension cable | 106 | £2.04 | $4.08 | $3.12 |
| Coffee and cake with friend | 100 | £1.92 | $3.85 | $2.94 |
| Total | 366 | £7.04 | $14.08 | $10.76 |
| Thursday 16th | ฿ | £ | $AUD | $USD |
| Coffee at work space | 59 | £1.13 | $2.27 | $1.74 |
| Beast Burger | 190 | £3.65 | $7.31 | $5.59 |
| Snacks | 40 | £0.77 | $1.54 | $1.18 |
| £0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Total | 289 | £5.56 | $11.12 | $8.50 |
| Friday 17th | ฿ | £ | $AUD | $USD |
| Kamboocha | 90 | £1.73 | $3.46 | $2.65 |
| Salad Concept | 105 | £2.02 | $4.04 | $3.09 |
| Water refill | 10 | £0.19 | $0.38 | $0.29 |
| Total | 205 | £3.94 | $7.88 | $6.03 |
| Saturday 18th | ฿ | £ | $AUD | $USD |
| Western Brekky | 70 | £1.35 | $2.69 | $2.06 |
| Tuk tukfor hiking | 40 | £0.77 | $1.54 | $1.18 |
| Coffee at work space | 75 | £1.44 | $2.88 | $2.21 |
| Vegetarian lunch | 95 | £1.83 | $3.65 | $2.79 |
| Total | 280 | £5.38 | $10.77 | $8.24 |
| Sunday 19th | ฿ | £ | $AUD | $USD |
| Gym membership for month | 1450 | £27.88 | $55.77 | $42.65 |
| Mexcian dinner | 130 | £2.50 | $5.00 | $3.82 |
| Chicken and rice | 35 | £0.67 | $1.35 | $1.03 |
| Total | 1615 | £31.06 | $62.12 | $47.50 |
| Week #3 | ฿ | £GBP | $AUD | $USD |
| TOTAL | 4252 | £80.84 | $168.73 | $125.06 |
<br>
What’s the crack generally?
I’m afraid next weeks budget will be even bigger. It will mark the two month point and I can work out some more sweet averages!
Drum roll please…. it will include a scooter. I have hired one, yesterday in fact, for the next three weeks. Facing some fears there, because the traffic here is mental… and last time I rode a motorbike I crashed it into an oil drum and hurt myself pretty bad!
But it had to happen- you really need to be able to escape the city sometimes!
I’m trying to sell my bicycle now instead, which was crazy expensive and I should have given it more thought before buying it… but there you go, standard Mel rushing in without thinking.
But holy crap, how alive did I feel again chugging around on my scooter! Do something everyday that scares you, right?
Well It’s been a while since that was the case, and I felt so invigorated after nearly dieing a few times!
Cue moronic giggling, and feeling every bit the silly little blonde farrang girl at traffic lights!
Other good news, my shits finally stopped, for the most part. I’m inclined to actually put a lot of it down to stress if I’m being totally honest. And what do I have to be stressed about, I hear you cry? Living the dream in Thailand, as I apparently am?
Well, turns out freelancing isn’t actually that much fun. Turns out waiting for money from several different clients and wondering if you’ll make rent is kind of unsettling. Turns out forcing myself to sit still all day when I’m accustomed to mad adventures literally makes me sick.
I’m running to the toilet for something exciting to do, presumably. Because an overpriced latte and the glare of my laptop screen will only amuse me so long.
At least diarrhoea has a modicum of fight or flight humanity about it. Will she shit herself in Starbucks? Who only knows. Oh, the excitement.
And you get to use a bum gun. Yippee Ki Ay!
On this bleak note, I have something to confess. I have written a separate post about it, and i’ll be hitting publish very soon. But the upshot is… and hands up if youre surprised (not)… turns out I’m not mad keen on life here.
Is it Chiang Mai, or is it my desk-based work? I’m not sure… regardless, I have tried to force myself into a some kind of idealised life mould, and it’s pinching me painfully in my delicate places. Yikes.
This past week has been really shitty. I’m struggling to adapt to life in the slow lane. I thought I wanted to rest and work online and stay in one place… but I’m planning my adventures again. I’m plotting my next foray into the unknown. It’s my greatest love.
I’m starting to realise it is my calling in life- to be out there amongst it all and actively exploring. I don’t sit still very well, and quite frankly I’m done fighting it.
It’s time to embrace that strength. Because it IS a strength.
And while gazing at my navel and procrastinating like a boss, I have had some wonderful epiphanies about where I want to take this blog and how I want it to be. I now know what I’m doing and where I’m going (not literally, bitch please). It has almost nothing to do with working online, and almost everything to do with working more wild jobs around the globe.
And helping you do the same. Four years of expertise in this area is worth something, and I’m on the cusp of OWNING IT.
So somewhere in between chronic diarrhoea, tear-inducing boredom and an empty bank account… I am one step closer to figuring out what I want, need and love in life.
And I’ll be sharing it with you guys, every step of the way. This week I’ll explain everything.
Love your openness in your posts, not too many talk so openly about number 2 lol.
I’m guessing Bangkok is much funner/entertaining than Chiang Mai aye?
Earnestly awaiting where you trek off to next, safe travels..
Haha thanks man… What is my little slice of the internet good for unless I can be brutally honest about life! I actually m not a fan of cities… what I’m craving is some nature and some outdoors adventures! On that note… just booked a plane ticket… stay tuned!
Fantastic post Mel! One of the biggest challenges for me is being honest with myself. It sounds like you’re doing just that. I think deep down, we all know what we want to do. It’s a matter of listening to that I suppose. But I do get the sense you’re heading in the right direction.
Thanks Wayne. You make some awesome points, as usual! Learning to listen to our guts is all part of this mad journey- and I think its something that never really stops!
Random question..I havent seen this on blogs is drinking tap water safe in thailand and sea in general? Should one stick to water bottles and a water filter bottle?
Definitely dont drink the tap water my friend! I drink filter water… there’s big filter machines on the street and I just fill up some large bottles a few times a week.
Should be heading there in October for a couple months after Tbex Bangkok. Nice to get some inside info ahead of time.
Sweet.. see you in Bangkok Nathan!
Love it Mel can’t wait to hear where you’re off to next!
Thanks so much! We will see!
Honest post! I soon realised that working in a country in any sort of job be it teaching or whatever was the best thing for me and keep the blog as a hobby and creative outlet. I still get free hotels etc now and again but I dont rely on it as income. That way I still enjoy it. If I had to do the blog as a living Id hate it (I worked as an advertising copywriter for 7 years so Ive been there). My advice is find a job you like in a new place, make some money through it and write about your life in your free time. Have fun with it. This digital nomad life so many speak of, 98% of it is bullshit so just do your own thing!
So true, im learning that too. It is all bullshit from where I’m standing. I was honestly happier pulling pints in the outback haha! Thanks so much for your comment, so refreshing to hear that advice!