TBK tries- Learning to live on less money

    Bayanihan means good deeds, its also one of the 5 pillars of Islam- Charity

Learning to live on less money was another challenge that I came to achieve after a few years here. It’s easy to be seduced into a life-style accessorized by Houseboys, Gardeners, Brunches in 5-star hotels, laundry service, concerts, and so on. However the costs mount up. My aim in coming to Bahrain was to save for 10 years so I did not need to work again at age 60, and I could retire to the Philippines. So how did I manage it?

      

 Aimea , age 10, who I support at Aberawan Elementary school through HOPE

It was actually my Phillipino friends and Anis who helped me. I soon realised that I earnt 10 times their salary and had a free house, utilities and transport allowance. In addition to paying for rent they sent half their salary home to support their families. So I was spending 2000 bd a month and they were spending 50 bd a month! So how did I cut my spending so I too could save more and support my friends in the Philippines?

Laundry- I was paying 80 bd a month in Awali when I first arrived to have my clothes ( and bedding/ Towels' etc.) washed and ironed. Anis took me to a place in Al Fadhel that his family used and I saved 60 bd a month! Later I bought a washing machine and Jake put the washing in and hung it out to dry and Corleen ironed it.

            

           A very young Patrick and Corleen at the famous Bapco Brunch

Brunches- When I first arrived Anis and I would go for Brunch every Friday at one of the 5 star hotels. We did the Sofitel, Crown Plaza, Muju at the Dragon hotel on Amwaj, and many others. 

For his 21^st Birthday I took him, Fatima ( his then girlfriend ) and Waqas ( his younger brother)  to the Ritz Carlton. 

The Friday Brunch prices ranged from 25 to 35 bd a head, so I was spending from 70 to 140 bd a week for two or 3 people.  That’s more than some Eastern Expats earn in a month.

Then we discovered the Bapco club where you could have all you wanted for just 6 bd a head. I always treat those less fortunate than me so the Bapco Brunch, pre COV 19, became a monthly treat for Corleen, Patrick and I ( before Jake started) at 18 bd a month instead of 280 bd a month!

    

   A very slim Neil dining at Fusions at the Gulf Hotel- 30 bd for dinner for one

Eating out- I sat the other day, when the idea for this blog entered my mind, on a balcony overlooking the Grand Mosque and the Gulf Hotel. I had a selection of 3 dishes from Senor Paco's at Oasis Mall Juffair ( Super Nachos with Chicken, Coke, Half a portion of Hot Bites and a kids Chicken Nuggets and chips ) for just 7 bd.

As I took in the view and enjoyed the sun I looked up at the new rooftop restaurant at the Gulf Hotel – Fusions by Tala. I remembered how I used to eat there once a week. The then Restaurant Manager, John, would always offer me a a Gin and Tonic when I arrived. Then I would have  sparkling water, Melon Gazpacho, Steak and Dessert  ( and sometimes Cheese , Biscuits and Port) for 30 bd! 

Now I only go there maybe twice a year when I have visitors ( Like when it was Phil’s Birthday, or for my farewell dinner with Miss Andrea ). 

Likewise i dispensed with visits to La Mer at the Sofitel, The Fish Market at Al Bander and so on which never cost less than 100 bd for two with wine. ( in the days when I drank alcohol)

Corleen , Patrick and I tuck into half a chicken, a tray of rice , salad and water at Mohammed Noor in Bukawara for less than 10 bd for the three of us! 

Nowadays I eat at Mohammed Noor, Hajis, Tony Roma, Dome, Red Croissant , The Frying Scotsman and its usually around 5- 10 bd a head, and just as enjoyable.

Actually I remember once when I took Corleen to the Copper Chimney, an upmarket Indian Restaurant favored by Lord and Lady Parkinson, that he did not feel at ease there it was so posh! 

The British Kabayan and Elba at the one and only Great Bahrain Beer Festival in Awali, 2010

Alcohol- is very expensive in the Middle East as there are only a few places licensed to sell it like BMMI, Gulf Brands etc. When I first arrived in Awali I ran the Swimming club bar so I went booze shopping weekly and got some good discounts for buying in bulk. 

I had a lot of beer in the fridge ( I bought a second fridge just for beer in fact) and we had wine with meals. I had friends visit from Saudi who would come and drink a litre of Gin in a weekend. I had regular parties and barbecues when my “friends” would  arrive with out of date beer or cheap wine and then spend all afternoon and night drinking my booze. 

On one occasion I turned off the electricity and said I had a power cut at Midnight to get rid of them! Eventually I realised that if I carried on drinking like them I would be sent home in a coffin so back in 2016 I stopped drinking, saving about 200 bd a month!

My Car- Many expats splash out on BMW, Mercedes , Porsche, etc. but I have had a Nissan Sunny rental since I arrived changing from company to company to get better deals. At first Bapco gave me a car from Avis and when I had to take over the bill after a month I discovered it was 190 bd a month so I got rid of it . That was with the Bapco corporate discount! I found a place in Sitra for 150 bd but when I was in a car accident they charged me for another car while mine was repaired so for a month I paid 300bd ! Then Anis’s Girlfriends sister got me a car for 130 bd from Sixt but when I went on vacation they sold the car and wanted to charge me 150 bd for a new one . Finally Elba recommended Yacouby car hire at 130 bd a month and I have been with them ever since. They gave me a new car last year and they had to charge VAT so it crept up to 140 , and then they gave me a Mazda as someone else wanted my Nissan. When I returned from Oman in October they gave me a new Nissan for 120 bd a month as they now have 24 cars on rent to people at Bapco thanks to me ( and Shawn!)

             

                   Patrick all set to sail off to Germany from the Sofitel

So you can see how I cut my expenditure, and yet my friends and I still had a lot of fun . Eventually I was able to save enough to retire at 60 years old. So my message to all new expats is don’t be sucked into the “Western Expat” lifestyle. Look around for the cheap bargains and negotiate a little on car hire, ask when the next sale is at Hush Puppies and so on. You will be amazed at how much you save. 

        

            Eat local fresh lamb at the farm- with your hands- 10 bd for 3 people

Now there's lots of money for my good deeds in the Philippine's- for the Alimurgan Skimmers Christmas event, for a new skim board for Jack, for Aimea's school uniform and books, for Grecil to go to college at WPU and Jhoanna to continue her studies at PSU. There are Christmas and birthday gifts for Making, Elay, Althea, and in Thailand for Wanchai's brother Way. I achieved all my savings targets and there is money for my new house and car in the Philippines and my pension from when I am 65 , so I never have to work again.

     

Enjoying lunch at the Refinery with Ate Hazel and Kuya Ronnie in days gone by

My special thanks to Anis, Corleen, Patrick and friends for pointing out all the bargains… so I am now ready for the 20 bd a week shopping challenge that Chester has sent me- bring it on! 

Special thanks also to my brother Richard for investing my savings so wisely.

 Finally thanks to Miss A for helping me with my English.

As usual Chester created the bog headers and footers and will be doing the TBK FB page trailer for this blog next week!

Until next week , as we approach the middle of Ramadan....