I just got back from a wonderful honeymoon on the island of Koh Phangan. It was a really amazing two weeks and we really enjoyed ourselves but we did it on a budget. We had a very simple wedding and stayed in budget, yet cute, places everywhere we went. We didn't go on any fun tours or go shopping. We didn't even really drink minus some champagne and a bottle of vodka we bought at Big C and brought with us. Yet somehow, between the wedding, travel and everything we spent about 2,000 US dollars. That's a lot of money to me. ALOT. More than I make in a month. And we did everything on the cheap. Turns out, Thailand is not so cheap for vacation if your making the currency. I tried to enjoy my vacation, and I did, but every time I had a coke and it was double the price I would spend at 7/11, I died a little bit inside.

Before coming to Thailand, I never thought it would be expensive here. After traveling in Vietnam, we arrived and I was aghast our first night trying to find a cheap place to stay and compared to what you would get in Vietnam, it was much more, or much less in our case (a lumpy mattress next to a bumping club for the more than a cute bungalow on the beach, seriously!?) Yeah you can live cheaply in Thailand, many people do it, including me now. But it is almost more common for people to live much like they do in my home country, paying the same prices and living a very materialistic lifestyle.

The current exchange rate for the US dollar to the Thai Baht is about 30 baht to the dollar. So for example, most meals I buy during my busy work week are about 30-40 baht. Awesome. Anytime I want a western treat I usually have to cough up at least 150 baht (which is like normal US prices, granted) but when your paying those prices in Thailand, it just doesn't feel right. You can even go to a trendy Thai restaurant and spend western prices for a Thai meal, its all up to you. That is the beauty of it, you can choose to live cheaply, but any luxuries will cost you. Everything is relative I suppose.

My wise friend who has lived in Thailand for many years now gave me this advice when I got my first paycheck and was like “but it’s only 20 bucks!” – she reminded me, I am no longer getting paid in dollars so instead of thinking “wow, this is so cheap” in dollars, think “man, that is a good portion of my paycheck.” It has helped me spend a lot less here and turned me into the thrifty consumer I am today. The concept of money and values is totally skewed in my head and what used to seem like a small amount, now translated into baht is an huge sum I hate to part with. 

The baht also does not travel well. When I want to travel around other countries in SE Asia it is fine, but just a one way ticket back to my home country costs one months paycheck. I save about 800 USD every month, which is the most I have ever been able to save but I know that when I go home, that pathetic sum of savings will go pretty quick when it comes to setting up a life in the "real world."  It is eye opening to know that it is possible to live on so little and bit depressing to know I can't do it back home as well.

Thailand may have a reputation for being a cheap country to travel in, and it is if you do it right and are coming in with a stronger currency to back you up. Living and working here are a different story and while you can save a lot, you have to learn how to live cheaply, stop converting into your home currency when shopping and try not to spend all your money at 7/11. Apparently it took moving across the world to figure out how to budget, but I am getting there and still enjoying myself along the way. I will never be the same again!

I am trying a new game, I need to save a lot of money in the next few months so instead of moping about when I don't have any money to spend, I am turning it in to fun challenge that I can feel proud of and keep me entertained. There is tons of money to be saved and lots of free things to be done. And I am gonna do it all and document it here in my new feature - Frugal Friday.  I will share tips on how to extreme budget while living and traveling abroad, fun things to do that don't cost any money and of course a little humor, that is all that will get me through this. If you have any budgeting advice please share with me in the comments, I am gonna need all the help I can get! 

This was a post written for and published on ajarn.com. Check out the website for all information about working and living in Thailand.