Give Me Back My Five Bucks

Monday 16th – Seville, Spain
$45.62 (€35) roundtrip train to Seville
$7.56 (€5,80) breakfast
$1.69 (€1,30) entrance fee to Metropol Parasol
$15.64 (€12) lunch
$3.26 (€2,50) souvenir magnet
$9.12 (€7) dinner

Tuesday 17th – Malaga, Spain
+ $155.99 freelance income
$1.82 (€1,40) subway to airport
$10.56 (€8,10) breakfast
$19.55 (€15) taxi to Baden-Baden train station
$22.48 (€17,25) train to Stuttgart
$0.65 (€0,50) chocolate bar
$7.82 (€6) doner kebab
$8.12 (€6,23) groceries

Wednesday 18th
$26.07 (€20) dinner & drinks

Thursday 19th
+ $42.50 freelance income
$6.52 (€5) laundry

Friday 20th
+ $350 freelance income
$4.56 (€3,50) public transit

Saturday 21st – Munich, Germany
$3.26 (€2,50) public transit
$9.78 (€7,50) snacks
$3.84 (€2,95) souvenir
$23.46 (€18) dinner & drinks
$3.26 (€2,50) public transit

Sunday 22nd – Munich, Germany
$3.26 (€2,50) public transit
$5.21 (€4) breakfast
$3.78 (€2,90) coffee
$3.45 (€2,65) lunch
$27.37 (€21) Dachau Memorial Concentration Camp
$16.95 (€13) dinner
$3.26 (€2,50) public transit

WEEKLY EXPENSES: - $297.92
WEEKLY INCOME: + $548.49

TOTAL: + $250.57

I meant to get more organized this month so that I could have all of my posts written out in advance. Well, I had the topics in mind, I just couldn’t find the time to write them. So I apologize again for being a little behind in posting. It seems so spoiled of me to say this, but I’m getting a little tired of traveling. Not that I don’t love exploring new places, but I never seem to have enough time to work. I much prefer the pace of working during the week, and traveling on the weekends. I’ve only been home for 5 days this month, and that’s not nearly enough time to get a month’s worth of work done.

As for last week’s spending, I think I did okay considering I was traveling. In fact, we’ve been eating so much delicious food that I think I must have gained at least 5 pounds! :)

I headed on vacation to meet up with a friend from back home. We spent 5 days in the south of Spain, and we were also able to get to Gibraltar, which was a crazy experience. Last week’s trip to Portugal had me wanting to explore more of the country, but this was the first place where I can honestly say that I’d love to go back. There were so many things that I wasn’t able to do – like hike El Caminito del Rey – which is supposed to be the world’s most dangerous hike (check out this review) … and I would have loved to have taken a day trip to Morocco. But… maybe we’ll be able to make it back there one day. :)

Cost

Accommodation (6 nights): $62.28 (€48) – HostelBookers.com sponsorship
Transportation: $185.33 (€142,83)
Food: $201.77 (€155,50)
City Transit: $80.94 (€62,38)
Entertainment: $41.97 (€32,35)
Miscellaneous: $7.07 (€5,45)
TOTAL: $579.36

Transportation

This was another RyanAir flight, so I had to endure over 6 hours of roundtrip travel just to get to the airport. And the worst part was, my flight to Spain was so early on Thursday morning that I had to book a hotel at the airport (€48) – no trains or buses would run early enough to get me to the airport for 5am! So my $111.37 (€85.83) roundtrip flight actually ended up costing me $247.61 when you factor in train tickets to the airport, and the hotel I had to get. :|

Accommodation

(note: my stay was provided free of charge by HostelBookers.com and the Oasis Hostel Malaga, but my reviews are always my honest opinion of the places that I stay in.)

We stayed at the Oasis Hostel Malaga, which is conveniently located right in the city centre. Dorm rooms start at just €13/night, and we stayed in a mixed 8-person dorm room for the duration of our stay. Everyone who stayed in our room was extremely friendly and sociable, and the hostel had plenty of amenities to keep everyone happy – including a rooftop terrace and bar, free use of computers, a kitchen, and plenty of space to lounge around. And, since I was the only girl in a room of guys, I never had to fight for the washroom. :) I also liked how there was a full washroom located in the common area. There were a couple of super early mornings where I took my stuff down there to blow-dry my hair, so that I didn’t wake up my roommates.

The picture here is of my bunk. We had drawers to lock away our belongings, and that small backpack (which, when not stuffed full, complies with RyanAir’s super strict carry-on baggage rules) is all I brought with me – a week’s worth of clothing, toiletries, camera, purse, and all of my laptop stuff.

A few small complaints: my key card stopped working every day for some reason, the front desk staff were often not at the desk (although to be fair, it was later in the evening when it was less busy, but still), and even though they had signage for reading lights and hair dryers, they didn’t actually have any for rent. But really, you can’t beat the price or the location of the hostel, and I’d definitely stay here again.

So if you’re looking for hostels or cheap hotel accommodation in Malaga, make sure you check out the HostelBookers website.

Food

I will be the first to admit that I spent way too much money on food. But I got to try all of the dishes people recommended to me – spanish omelette, seafood paella, and lots and lots of tapas. :) And the wine! It was always so, so good. My favourite dish was at a restaurant called Gorki – it was chicken gizzard pate (hey, don’t get grossed out, it was amazing) over artichoke hearts. Growing up in Vancouver, I’m used to a steady diet of seafood. So the last two weeks spent in Portugal and Spain have really been a treat because, well, in Germany, there’s not much seafood. :)

Entertainment

We based ourselves in Malaga, and it was a cute city. I really liked the walkway down by the water, although for a beach destination, it was a bit of a disappointment. The beach was not nearly as nice as Faro in Portugal. But it was just a little too cold to go in the water anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Our first day trip was to Gibraltar! The bus was just €12,29 each way, and it was completely worth it. The station is located in La Linea, then you have to walk across the border into Gibraltar – which is a British territory. It was kind of weird to go from all Spanish people, to hearing British accents everywhere. :) There, we spent €25 on a 2 hour guided tour of The Rock. And while I don’t usually like tours or tour groups, this one was well worth it because the area is just so big (we were just there for the day), and the lift that goes up The Rock was broken. Afterwards, we went down into the city and ate fish and chips.

Our second day trip was to Seville, and what a beautiful city! I got to see the Metropol Parasol – and is supposed to be the largest wooden structure in the world. From there, I just walked around the water, and all the way to the Parque de María Luisa, which is quite possibly the most beautiful park I’ve ever been to. In my opinion, it even rivals Central Park in NYC!

Immediately after high school, I moved out on my own for the first time – heading to a university in Michigan on a full athletic scholarship. It was so exciting (and scary) to be living away from home for the first time, and my years living in Michigan were a great experience. But, as expected, moving back into my parents home was tough – and it wasn’t long before I had moved out again into my own apartment in downtown Victoria.

When I was 22, I moved back in with my parents. I was in debt, about to go back to college, and just couldn’t afford to live on my own anymore. I didn’t want to go back home, but I knew it was for the best. Looking back on it now, if I hadn’t moved back home, my debt could have easily doubled by the time I finally graduated.

My story isn’t uncommon; many 20-somethings end up moving back home. Some might move home until they’ve graduated and can find a job. Others might move home to get out of debt, save for a specific goal, or just get their lives back in order. Whatever the case may be, it’s almost never going to be a smooth transition from freedom to, well, living with your parents. :)

So for those of you who are reluctant and unsure of how to transition back to living with your parents, here are a few tips I’ve learned that might help:

Get a part-time job

Chances are, your parents won’t be charging you “real life” rent while you’re still in school, or trying to get back on your feet. When I lived at home, even with my reduced expenses, I still took on three part-time jobs, along with attending college on a full-time basis. It was extremely difficult, but very satisfying. Maybe taking on three jobs is a little extreme, but make sure to at least have some income coming in.

I didn’t have to pay rent while I was taking full-time classes, but I was expected to pay for everything else on my own – like utilities, groceries, car expenses, and of couse, my education. Having my own source of income allowed me to stay independent, and it also made me much less of a financial burden on my parents.

Contribute to the household

Cooking your family dinner, doing the laundry, or cleaning the house will show that you value and appreciate your parents – and they are all things you would have to do if you lived on your own anyway. If your parents pay the household utilities, cable/internet bill, and your food, consider contributing a little money each month as well. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money, but your gesture might mean a lot to your parents. Remember that moving back home does not mean you get to completely mooch off your parents! Doing your part to help the household will go a long way to building a good relationship with your family.

Take advantage of your opportunity

The worst thing you can do when you move back in with your parents is to squander the opportunity to change your financial future, so don’t get lazy or comfortable. Your time at home is likely limited, and this could be your only chance to really put a dent in your debt, or save for that emergency fund.

It’s also a good idea to set some money aside from when you have to leave the nest again. But how much should you save before moving out? It will vary for each person, but aside from having an emergency fund, you should also think about the cost of rent (including damage deposit and first month’s rent), apartment insurance, utility set-up fees and expenses, furniture, moving van rentals, as well as any other miscellaneous expenses.

Establish an exit strategy

Before moving back home, take some time to discuss an exit plan with your parents. Will you be allowed to live at home as long as you’re a full-time student? What about once you graduate? Having the answers to these questions will help you and your parents better prepare for your future.

After I graduated, my parents allowed me to stay at home until I found a permanent job. However, once I graduated, I started paying rent as well. It took me 18 months of going from temporary jobs and contract positions to finally land a permanent full-time job. But that extra time at home also allowed me to eliminate all $20,000 of my student loan and credit card debt, create a small emergency fund, and save enough money to make the move to Vancouver.

What tips do you have for moving back in with your parents?

Monday 9th
No Spend Day! 

Tuesday 10th
No Spend Day! 

Wednesday 11th – Baden-Baden, Germany
$5.31 (€4,10) sandwich
$27.18 (€21) train Baden-Baden
$4.53 (€3,50) bus to airport
$62 (€48) hotel at airport

Thursday 12th – Malaga, Spain
+ $350 freelance income
$1.81 (€1,40) subway to Malaga
$10.35 (€8) breakfast
$10.35 (€8) lunch
$20.71 (€16) dinner & drinks

Friday 13th – Malaga, Spain
+ $422.50 freelance income
$11 (€8,50) lunch
$9.71 (€7,50) iced coffee & pastries
$24.59 (€19) dinner

Saturday 14th – Malaga, Spain
+ $82.22 Great Canadian Rebates
$9.06 (€7) breakfast
$4.59 (€3,55) entrance fee to Alacazaba and Gibralfaro Castles
$1.68 (€1,30) bottle of water
$5.82 (€4,50) lunch
$3.82 (€2,95) souvenir magnet
$19.41 (€15) dinner
$3.88 (€3) ice cream

Sunday 15th – Gibraltar
$9.06 (€7) breakfast
$15.91 (€12,29) bus to La Linea
$32.36 (€25) 2 hour tour of the Rock
$3.24 (€2,50) tip for tour guide
$1.29 (€1) chocolate bar
$16.82 (€13) lunch
$2.59 (€2) coffee
$15.91 (€12,29) bus to Malaga
$2.33 (€1,80) dinner

WEEKLY EXPENSES: - $335.31
WEEKLY INCOME: + $772.50 (+ $82.22)

TOTAL: + $519.41

Well, I traveled for the majority of the week, and it was still fairly expensive. I didn’t try as hard as I could have to keep my costs down, and as a result, I made many little purchases throughout the day. I also made the mistake of leaving my foldable water bottle at home, so I often found myself wanting to stop for a quick snack or a drink because I was thirsty. I also could have definitely cut down on dining out expenses. It will be interesting to see what kind of spending I’ll be doing next week when my mom and sister come to visit!

Now that I’m halfway through this month, I can see how hard it would be to be constantly traveling and trying to work at the same time. I’m grateful that I have a few days every week to be at home, so that I can concentrate on work, and I’m also glad that I don’t have anymore crazy travel like this scheduled until August.

We  headed to Portugal to meet up with two of Nic’s University friends from Quebec for a few days (they now live in Sweden), and it was a lot of fun! So far, all of our travel has been just the two of us. Being with other people meant being a lot more flexible in terms of how (and where) we spent our money. $537.16 seems like a lot of money to me, but it works out to $134.29 per day. Which isn’t bad.

Cost

Accommodation (4 nights): $0 – HostelBookers.com sponsorship
Transportation: $261.67 (€198.76)
Food: $114.60 (€87.05)
City Transit: $74.90 (€56.95)
Entertainment: $78.76 (€59.89)
Miscellaneous: $7.23 (€5,50)
TOTAL: $537.16

Transportation

This was our first RyanAir flight, and it was interesting. The closest RyanAir airport is in Baden-Baden, located about a 75 minute train ride from where we live. It’s kind of a pain because even though the train ride to get there takes only 75 minutes, the entire process takes 3+ hours each way. We have to walk to the train station (45 minutes), take the train to Karlsruhe (60 minutes), transfer to Baden-Baden (15 minutes), then catch a bus (30 minutes) to the airport. But that bus only runs once every hour. So if we miss it, like we did on this trip, we’re stuck hanging around for a long time. And once we finally get to the airport, we still have to fly to our destination! :|

We have 2 or 3 more RyanAir flights scheduled this summer, and while the prices are really cheap, it’s such a hassle.

Accommodation

(note: my stay was provided free of charge by HostelBookers.com, Hotel Faro, and This Is Lisbon Hostel, but the reviews are always my honest opinion of the places that we stay in.)

Faro
We stayed at the lovely Hotel Faro for 2 nights, and the location really couldn’t have been better. It has an unobstructed view of the harbour – probably the best view of any hotel in the city, and the rooftop bar was amazing. It was located less than 100m to the bus stop (to take you to the airport or the beach), and less than a 5 minute walk down the street to the train station. The room was bright, modern, and clean, and I can see why it’s rated one of the best hotels in the city.

I think it was the added touches that made the stay so pleasant: the ice cold sunshine tea offered at the reception desk, free WIFI in the front lounge area, and of course, a really, really delicious breakfast: salmon, cheese, tons of fresh fruit, croissants, bacon … my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Rooms at the hotel start at around €99, and include the buffet breakfast. :)

So … if you’re looking for hostels or cheap hotel accommodation in Faro, make sure you check out the HostelBookers website.

Lisbon
I really liked that we stayed in very different places during this trip. In Lisbon, we were put up in a family-style apartment in the This Is Lisbon Hostel, tucked in the corner of a hillside in the old part of town. The location was really cool – just 5 minutes away from the Castelo de São Jorge, and it’s just a maze of winding streets, cool buildings, and staircases. I think the best part of the hostel is the huge, amazing terrace. It has terrific views of the city and the hillside.

The hostel has both private rooms and dorms available. The dorms start at around €15 per night, and it goes all the way up to €65 per night for a private room. Across the street is the apartment that we stayed in (for 3-4 guests), and that goes for €96 per night. It had two bedrooms, a full kitchen and dining area, and a spacious washroom. It was a place I could actually live in, not just stay for a few days. :) I can see how you could be comfortable during an extended stay there. The hostel feels more like a B&B, with home cooked meals served every evening, and fresh bread, juice, and eggs in the morning.

And, if you’re looking for hostels or cheap hotel accommodation in Lisbon, make sure you check out the HostelBookers website.

Food

Well I’ve already mentioned how great the breakfast was at the Hotel Faro, so I won’t talk about it again. :) I think what really surprised me about Portugal was how amazing the cheese was. I don’t know what kind of cheese I was eating, but everywhere we went, we kept getting served this delicious cheese that tasted like a mild version of goat cheese. I couldn’t get enough of it!

We also had a really bad dining experience in Lisbon, at a restaurant called Solmar. We should have read the reviews online before going in, but it was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions. They placed a basket of bread and a tiny plate of prawns on our table as an appetizer. Later, we found out that we were charged for both items – to the tune of €30 (that’s over $40!)! We were upset, because being from North America, you just assume that the bread they bring before the meal is free. Especially since they didn’t say anything about the price, or having to pay for it. But I should have known. So when the bill came, we got into an argument with the waiter, he yelled at us in front of the entire restaurant (everybody was staring, not very professional of him), and threatened to call the police if we didn’t pay. So we paid, but we weren’t happy with how we were treated. And you just know dozens of tourists fall for that every single day.

At first, I thought it was a European thing – they put something on your table, and if you touch it, then you pay for it. But that’s not the case. Some restaurants you get charged for it regardless if you eat it or not. And other places, you get it for free. There doesn’t seem to be a rule – so wherever you go, the best thing to do is just ask.

Also, I don’t know if it was just me, but I found a lot of the traditional Portugese food I was eating to be extremely salty. I don’t cook very much with salt, so I could taste it everywhere.

Entertainment

We spent a lot of money keeping ourselves entertained. On the first day, Nic and I rented segways and toured the old town of Faro. It was €10 for 25 minutes, so not too bad. It was our first time on segways, and I felt super dorky, but it was a lot of fun.

The second day, we took a 3-hour train ride out to Lisbon. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and drinking by the water (a bottle of wine was only €1,89!), wandering the city, and eating food.

The third day, we went to see the Castelo de São Jorge, which is an old castle you can walk around, with a cool archaeological site too. The cost of admission was €7,50 and was well worth it. I’m glad we went early in the day – around 10am – because when we left 2 hours later, the place was packed! In the afternoon, we headed to Sintra – a town about 30 minutes outside of Lisbon. There, we went for a little hike and visited the Palácio da Pena. It cost €13,50 to go inside the palace and look at everything, but I personally didn’t think it was as interesting as the old castle ruins we saw earlier in the day.

And on the last day, we took the train back to Faro and spent the rest of the day at the beach. The weather was perfect, and the beach was amazing. I bet it can get really crowded there in the summer, so I’m glad that we went during the shoulder season.