Where to waste your money as an expat?

2049POSTS

last year

Apart from buying a property and get a residence permit (which is also tricky_

I saw so many posts on trivialities (phones for example). But furniture, TV, Internet, service, restaurants, shops,...

As a foreigner you are going to be ripped off (massively), unless you are recognized as a real resident and a loyal client (even if once per week or two weeks).

By now we are recognized and respected I have to say by businesses around (good service, good prices (a bit of negotion is needed from time to time (there are many more shops around).

We live in Mahutlar (Alanya) and in our street people know me and my wife and we are loyal clients (example I am not too mobile and when I fell down many people ran out of their shops to help me (I was impressed).

Also because they know they bring orders to home.

Restaurants are very important to me (unfortunately walking is difficult (but ordering a taxi for 300 m only is going too be to decadent). Many restaurants offer home delivery as well, but I prefer to go there.

I have made quite some posts on costs and considerations, but honestly the thread on phones is strange to me.

Just having a good life (even not so healthy) is important, saving a few USD or EUR or a phone is again decadent.

I will post more (in essence repeating myself)

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2049POSTS

last year

@Gino_C

Again you are not offending me at all, but when we came here, the phones were relatively cheap, OK expensive comparing to Western Europe, but who worries about EUR 200, a normal Samsung will do, Internet is cheap, and monthly fees for mobiles are low (I think), I pay EUR 10 pm (international) and my wife even less (local only)

Internet (stable) is important, we pay EUR 12 pm, but also furniture (TV (we have 200 cm) at a good price (including of installation and connection). 100MB is good.

Cleaning carpets or curtains regularly are also important (you can get a good price with good connections)

Water deliivery, we are very happy by the way

I am not too mobile, so I am also happy with other home deliveries of cigarettes, whiskey and restaurants (they are happy and I am as well)

Smaller repairs, the previous might neglected damp issues, local specialist repaired and repainted (for a price far less then mobile phone costs), but it was important for us

Of course one can have some issues wth electricty, but hese guys made another cable to my wife connected (not WIFI) directly to Internet.

Of course you have to spend money, but much, much less then in Western Europe.

Bottom line, people should think about what is important in normal (but comfortable) life. An initial investment in a mobile is not important.

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