Spend less when you speak Khmer

Pisshead · Post by **Pisshead** » Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:30 pm

explorer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:03 am I recently started the topic: If you learn Khmer, you may save on accommodation topic27860.html

There are also other situations where you may pay less.

I am in a lucky situation now with regards to buying meals.

I pay often $1 for breakfast. It is at a restaurant for tourists. I have been going there for some time, and the staff are my friends. It seems I am getting a special price. You can become friends with people like that easier if you speak Khmer.

I pay often $1.50 for my evening meal. It is at a place run by Cambodians for Cambodians. I have never seen another Westerner there. What I eat is very nice food. I normally buy drinks in addition.

I am only eating twice a day in an attempt to reduce body fat.

So I normally spend a total of $2.50 a day on food.

At some point in time I will move to another town and pay similar prices to others.

People on this forum sometimes talk about how much they pay for taxis and other transport. I normally pay less than the prices they talk about.

A good guide to transport prices is the bus prices. They are quite standard.

Some people hire taxis and dont even have enough people to fill the taxi. They often pay much more than bus prices. In some cases it seems they are being charged excessively high prices, and dont know what realistic prices are.

Minivans are often slightly less than bus prices. I often travel by minivan. Minivans often take you all the way to the guest house as well.

Even things like buying a bicycle. The bicycle shops which have a lot of foreign customers tend to ask high prices. Those which sell mainly to Cambodian people often have cheap prices.

If others have had experiences where they pay less when they speak Khmer, please share.

We are walking ATMs .

pczz · Post by **pczz** » Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:32 pm

Khmer treat rich khmer the same. Its not just becasue we are barang, it is because we are perceived as rich

Post by **Jamie_Lambo** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 3:35 am

i think, what is often the case,
is if you can speak Khmer, you have more confidence to go visit/stay/shop/dine/drink/hang out in local establishments, where the prices are aimed at locals not tourists/foreigners,
where as if you dont speak Khmer, you will find yourself more drawn to the places that look more foreigner friendly, and such have to pay the more inflated prices,

yes, because i speak Khmer i often pay less for things,
but its probably not down to the fact i can speak Khmer, its probably just because i will go to a local establishment where the prices are lower in general,
i guess its hard to say whether they would have charged me more or not, or when im buying veg etc down the market they throw in some extra freebies because im speaking Khmer or not, or get better deals, there are times though when people (usually the elder folk) will try over charge you, but thats usually down to the fact you are a foreigner as even if you speak Khmer or not they will try it on regardless

Paulo · Post by **Paulo** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:38 am

I don't think life should be an economy run. I usually shop at places where the prices are marked. I prefer to pay more at the an air-conditioned supermarket instead of shopping in hot and stinky markets. I hate to play guess today's price. As long as I am happy with the price, I don't care if I pay more than locals as I am paid more than most of them. If I am in a position where I have to bargain; talk and walk is my main tactic. I just state what I am prepared to play, if their counter offer is too high, I just say thanks and walk. They will call me back if they want to make a sale at my price.

explorer · Post by **explorer** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:11 am

Paulo wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:38 am I don't think life should be an economy run.

In some situations I agree with you. For example, I would rather pay more for good food, than eat cheap rubbish. I am fortunate to be getting good food cheap at the moment.

However, there are some foreigners who finish up homeless in Cambodia. Some of these people would not be in that situation if they had been smarter with their money in previous decades.

I am in a situation where I am able to assist students from poor families get a university education. If I had not taken a smart approach with my finances, I would not be in this situation. If I dont take a sensible approach now, my money may run out in years to come.

Paulo · Post by **Paulo** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:26 am

explorer wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:11 am
Paulo wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:38 am I don't think life should be an economy run.
In some situations I agree with you. For example, I would rather pay more for good food, than eat cheap rubbish. I am fortunate to be getting good food cheap at the moment.

However, there are some foreigners who finish up homeless in Cambodia. Some of these people would not be in that situation if they had been smarter with their money in previous decades.

I am in a situation where I am able to assist students from poor families get a university education. If I had not taken a smart approach with my finances, I would not be in this situation. If I dont take a sensible approach now, my money may run out in years to come.

There's some valid points there, but as I am of the age where I might die by a "heart attack" soon, I like to live a little before I'm sent back to the Universe to be recycled, but to each their own.

The Last Word · Post by **The Last Word** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:46 am

explorer wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:11 am
Paulo wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:38 am I don't think life should be an economy run.
However, there are some foreigners who finish up homeless in Cambodia.

How do foreigners get to this point?? i mean get a job or go home?? This is something i do not quite understand i would rather give money to a homeless local then a homeless foreigner.

Queef · Post by **Queef** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:59 am

The Last Word wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:46 am
explorer wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:11 am
Paulo wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:38 am I don't think life should be an economy run.
However, there are some foreigners who finish up homeless in Cambodia.

How do foreigners get to this point?? i mean get a job or go home?? This is something i do not quite understand i would rather give money to a homeless local then a homeless foreigner.

Mental issues, cheap prescription drugs, cheap booze, bar girls... Can't get a job when you smell like a brewery and look like an abandoned meth lab.
Don't give money to anyone. If they really need help, ask them what they need and buy it for them

explorer · Post by **explorer** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:04 am

Dont give money to lazy people.

Only help those who put in the effort to help themselves.

I have mentioned, I assist students from poor families go to university.

The Last Word · Post by **The Last Word** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:12 am

explorer wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:04 am Dont give money to lazy people.

Only help those who put in the effort to help themselves.

I have mentioned, I assist students from poor families go to university.

i would certainly not give 1 cent to a homeless foreigner that's for sure!

Spend less when you speak Khmer

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