Reet a general response to those genuinely interested and who are also offering advice and support...oh and to those arseholes who sent emails calling me a lying bastard.
Surviving on bugger all.
As and expat in a foreign country, I know an oxymoron, you can't be an expat in your own country, although it has felt like it at times.
What is your biggest outlay?
In all probability, with my monthly costs in brackets :
Accommodation. (zero)
Utilities. (Rp300,000)
Transport. (Rp60,000)
Provisions (Rp500,000)
Communication, internet etc. (Rp75,000)
Now throw in a few extras .
Sat TV. (zero)
Smoking. (zero)
Socialising. (zero)
Household staff (zero)
Some cost saving factors, which may seem small, have a habit of building up,
We only use one AC at night, fans during the day.
The kids either watch local TV, the free cable connection that I don't ask about, or are still going through the eight 50x45x40cm storage boxes of CDs and DVDs I somehow accumulated.
I don't need stationery, about the only other storage boxes that weren't stolen from my office were the ones containing all the admin supplies.
I print out items only when absolutely necessary.
We use rechargeable batteries.
We don't pay any 'fees' on our Kompleks - I teach security polite English and dirty fighting tactics.
Items causing concern that will soon need attention - Kid's school fees, kid's clothes, they won't stop growing...
House needs a damn good overhaul.
Things we have avoided, thanks to Mr. Higher Power - medical costs, although my son constantly pushes the envelope the way he plays footy and rides his bike.
The kids never go short on essentials like good quality food, and it has to be said, they eat a lot healthier than before, if we are coming up short on supplies, the answer is easy, I stop eating and stick to tea and coffee for a few days, it does me no harm and sharpens the savage quill producing some very nasty prose...and lately some very dark poems.
So there we are, not an ideal situation by any means, but its temporary, we are still waiting for a lump sum from the sale of our other house, I am still currently in litigation over a USD55,000 invoice unpaid from 2010, I have a wad of GST claims outstanding that only I personally can collect, my UK pension is currently in process, my December Amazon royalties are due and thanks to some very positive assistance and advice from some forum members, I have cleared up a lot of previously very annoying items.
..what was the OP about again?