Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 10:14 am

atst wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 10:02 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:41 am

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:34 am

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:03 am for me;
"quality of life"
having a relaxing place to live, somewhere i don't feel the need its Only for sleeping
eating what i want, either cooking at home or eating out
Traveling where and when i want
Having money in the bank for emergencies

This. I'm one of the $500 people. I don't pay rent but live in my own nice apartment. I have a $100pw budget for food and daily expenses but usually have >$30 left at the end of the week, which goes back in the kitty. Buy a few things at the supermarket but mostly eat local food and shop at the markets. Power bill has been $20/mo for the last four months as I haven't needed to use the AC. Water is less than $1/mo. Internet $16. I ride a bike. I don't care for bars, or girls. I'm comfortable enough, but it would be nice to have a bigger budget and splurge more.

So you cycle, buy food, cook food, eat food and check the internet, and call that a comfortable enough life? Serious question.

Can afford to pay for food and lodgings with a bit left over yep that's comfortable in my book what's he does in his spare time to be happy is his choice.
Theads about what it costing to live. I'd be very happy on $500 a month if not mongering.

Anyone claiming to live on 1.200-1.500 a month being able to happily live on 500 a month should be taken with a pinch of salt, don't you think?

If it was that easy and that comfortable you'd be doing it already, but for some reason you choose not to.

Living alone compared to living with girlfriend and all the cost of extended family , that's the difference.
Many have said they can live on $500 a month and I bet it's a lot more comfortable than living back in thier own country

$1500. $50 per day
$250 Rent and electric and water.
I cook a lot and make stews and curries that are frozen in meals. Cost for ten is about $10. I eat out a couple of times a week. I attend bars probably 3/4 nights for a couple of hours. Visit friends a few times a month. Entertain ladies , some cost a bit some cost neutral. Some days might spend $5 so it banks up for next day . Medications $30 per month. Medical is something that i save up for each month from budget.
I travel when and where I want in Cambodia. I dont stay at flash places but want clean safe place with reasonable locks. (use wedges under doors in rooms at night)
I find that I am so much less materialistic these days and am satisfied with what I have and not look for newest or best. Run an OPPO phone dont gamble as such and enjoy my own company without being lonely.
I help out some with financial assistance and others with an ear to listen to their problems. Not a soft touch these days (was before) but can recognise need instead of greed.

All in all I have a happy life here with no regrets about staying in KoW instead of going home when shit was hitting the fan.
This is where I live.

When I stay in phnom penh me and the wife stay at dad's house but when I'm working my company pays for hotels near whatever job site I'm at.

I can stomach most khmer food and it also helps that I usually just sit outside with dad smoking cigarettes and going "yup" as he rambles on in khmer about (maybe traffic) random bullshit, all and all its probably about 300-500 a month for whatever.

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 10:00 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:41 am

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:34 am

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:03 am for me;
"quality of life"
having a relaxing place to live, somewhere i don't feel the need its Only for sleeping
eating what i want, either cooking at home or eating out
Traveling where and when i want
Having money in the bank for emergencies

This. I'm one of the $500 people. I don't pay rent but live in my own nice apartment. I have a $100pw budget for food and daily expenses but usually have >$30 left at the end of the week, which goes back in the kitty. Buy a few things at the supermarket but mostly eat local food and shop at the markets. Power bill has been $20/mo for the last four months as I haven't needed to use the AC. Water is less than $1/mo. Internet $16. I ride a bike. I don't care for bars, or girls. I'm comfortable enough, but it would be nice to have a bigger budget and splurge more.

So you cycle, buy food, cook food, eat food and check the internet, and call that a comfortable enough life? Serious question.

Billions of people in the world (many Cambodians) believe it to be a comfortable way of life myself included. Should middle class western standards be applied as a universal benchmark as to what is defined as a "quality" or comfortable way of life?

It would be questionable, to the poorer people of the country probably not, they have the hard lifestyle of living from day to day. Difference, would again be for educated people, and those whom have access to media, those people will see what is in the world, the result would be some sort of gain, possibly to aim and better themselves. Also, the people who work fulltime have a wider choice, of what they can buy if they have spending monies or even savings. Again, how do you describe middle class, would it be someone who works fulltime or has their own business and living accommodation, working for the average wages of $190 per month (factory girls) or bank staff and teachers $300+ it would be easier to put into context in the western world, but here in Cambodia I am not too sure. In the capital and towns, also countryside, even the not so well off probably own their own house in the country, or have a small plot of land. I see many people comfortable, those many people are in a better situation then many of our own in the west. Then I suppose there are the successful, (and plenty of them) well off with plenty of spending power, with access to anything they wish, more than I could afford or wish for. To be a comfortable way of life, I would say that is someones outlook on how they see comfort, such as in material items washing machine, car or moto, camera and phone, good clothes, education, wellbeing. I have not had a bed for over six years, but I am still comfortable.
Another question. Who still has a bridge, if they had to leave Cambodia?

We could all cut costs from current budgets but it is quality of life that is important. Doing things that make us or family happy. Eating what you like to eat (within reason. Not lobster every meal)
A couple of years ago I had things different with a couple of houses at home and rates, maintenance etc and a missus. My available income was about $10 per day after rent and electricity. Was tough but got through it. Now things have changed and no costs at home (and no missus) so am having a great time.

Do I have a "bridge"? Yes I have $2000 that is never touched no matter what. It is my escape money. I can walk out with a backpack and a bag in 10 minutes if I have to go.

Can you?

Arget wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 3:43 pm We could all cut costs from current budgets but it is quality of life that is important. Doing things that make us or family happy. Eating what you like to eat (within reason. Not lobster every meal)
A couple of years ago I had things different with a couple of houses at home and rates, maintenance etc and a missus. My available income was about $10 per day after rent and electricity. Was tough but got through it. Now things have changed and no costs at home (and no missus) so am having a great time.

Do I have a "bridge"? Yes I have $2000 that is never touched no matter what. It is my escape money. I can walk out with a backpack and a bag in 10 minutes if I have to go.

Can you?

After over 10 years and one unpacked suitcase since i got here , i guess i could never get out of here hastily .

It seems like there is more then a bit of value judgement in this thread. I don't care to add more to it. What different people find necessary varies quite a bit.
I don't care about a new phone/moto etc. If you do, that's fine.
I don't pay rent or electric, my main beverage is filtered rainwater, moto is a pos, and breaks all the time.
My monthlies are:
Moto, averages $50 (required for work)
Phone, $4
Food, $36 (usually less)
Misc, toothpaste, a new shirt, soap $5
I don't monger, and I don't go to bars. I spend an inordinate amount of my free time cooking, reading, walking, and doing unpaid consulting work.
No complaints, I don't feel like I want for anything.
This all adds up to a reasonably cheap lifestyle, I take two weeks a year off on average, and then I don't worry about budget. Really, I don't worry about budget ever.
To me, the question isn't "how much do you spend?" But "are you happy with the funds available?".
Feel free to flame away and tell me how this isn't possible.