I'll be glad to share details of my expenses. I am a bit of a tightwad, but I think most people could get by without too much more than I spend – especially people who share expenses with flat mates.
I've already told you what I spend on groceries and sundries.
My rent is 412.40 a month. When I rented the place two years ago it was 400. For some reason the landlord did not raise my rent until this year, which is my third year. It is a small, unfurnished one bedroom apartment. It's not a renovated apartment. It's an atico that I have to walk 6 floors up to, but it is worth the hike as I have a nice little terrace with a view of the sea. Like many good housing deals in Barcelona, I found it through friends.
When I first moved to Barcelona I rented a room in someone else’s apartment. I found that place through one of the local notice boards. I don't recall how much I paid, but it was cheap. I lived with a Spaniard, an Italian and a Dutch person. It was fun! Later I moved into a studio on Plaza del Palacio, which is near Barceloneta. I paid 390 euros for that place. That building had an elevator and the apartment was renovated and furnished – including a clothes dryer! (I’ve found that clothes dryers are a rarity in Spain.) I found that place by walking around looking for ALQUILER notices on street corners, sides of buildings, etc.
I'd have to look back at my last few electric bills, but I think it's usually around 20 - 25 a month. The bill comes every two months. Water is 13 euros a month -- no bill, I pay the landlord. I think that's rather high, but he didn't start asking me to pay anything for water until this year. So, I figured, two years without raising rent, two years without paying water, I'll go along with it.
Gas is about 6 euros a month. (I buy a little
bombona -- one often one lasts me longer than a month.)
I am really tight, tight, tight with my mobile phone. I almost never make long distance calls from it. I even send text messages rather sparingly. I have my mobile phone's voice mail turned off, so people have to call me again if they miss me. (I said I was a tightwad!) I've been spending 10 to 15 euros a month on my mobile phone lately. The few times I make long distance calls, I usually do so from the Plaza Urquinaona Post Office's
Locutorio, which has the best rates I've found. Since it is free to receive calls on mobiles in Spain, I encourage family and friends abroad to call me.
I spend essentially nothing on internet. I have a British Council membership for 55 euros a year and I get free internet use there. I also belong to the public library, where I can get free internet access, too. I have a laptop but do not have a fixed phone line, so I go to free hotspots in my neighborhood.
Transportation -- Since all of Barcelona, and a little bit more, is in Zone 1, I buy a Zone 1 30 day pass for €40.75 unless I am going to be out of town for a week or more. In that case, I buy a cheaper ticket. Which one I buy depends on how long I will be gone. For example, a 50 / 30 ticket for €26.25, which allows for 50 trips in a 30 day period, usually works for me any month I am going to be out of town for a week. (If anyone teaches classes outside of Zone 1, they should negotiate with their academy for extra pay or assistance with paying for transportation.)
I use the Spanish social healthcare system, so I do not pay for medical insurance. (Well, I do, but it’s via taxes.) My first year here I was sin papeles, so I paid for private health insurance through a company called
FIATC. I paid about 40 euros a month for that. It was excellent. It worked like PPOs do back in the States -- a list of providers to choose from. There were no co-payments.
Regarding other expenses and saving money, here are some things I do:
I buy clothes, shoes, and major things during
rebaja time -- January/ February and July/August.
When I go to the beach, I try to bring my own little ice chest with refreshments and snacks.
I prepare most meals at home -- a light breakfast like the Spaniards (except for Sunday, when I usually cook up a big American breakfast
); I bring my own lunch to work everyday, except for Friday when I treat myself to a cheap menu del dia someplace; dinners in. Often on Saturday and Sunday I do eat either lunch or dinner out. So, usually that's a total of eating out in restaurants three times a week. In addition, once or twice a week I may either have someone over for a meal at my place or enjoy a meal at a friends.
I go to movies once or twice a month -- almost always on the reduced price night. My friends and I bring our own drinks and snacks in back packs or purses. I see lots of others doing this!
I check out books, DVDs, videos and CDs from the British Council and the BCN public library, both of which have great collections.
As far night life, I lead a pretty sedate life but when I do go out, I avoid going to expensive places, places with cover charges, etc. House parties can be just as fun and a lot cheaper!
That's probably more than anyone wants to know about my particular habits, but I hope it helps a bit. :wub:
