It varies hugely and depends on what constitutes a good life to each person. Some people live like they're on holiday, eat like they're still in the UK, don't shop around, have expensive TV packages, drink daily. it all depends what makes people happy.
I absolutely love life here and most of the days I enjoy most cost next to nothing.
Today is stretch & tone, 10tl, free Turkish lesson, then teaching English voluntarily, then a home cooked meal with ingredients bought at the market ( usually 30 tl a week or less for all our fresh fruit and veg ) chicken breast which was on offer at 11.90 a kilo in Migros
This eve will be catching up on First Dates and Kiri.
Tomorrow is walking group, a hike up the mountains in Uzumlu with views over Kemer and a packed lunch with a great bunch of people and another meal at home.
Thursday is rummicub with a group of friends, coffee and a snack where we play and so on...
We don't eat out often, i prefer my own cooking to be honest and find most of the restaurants hit and miss, nearly always have lunch at the market as still love the atmosphere and people watching after 7 years, lunch in Calis or Fethiye once a week, prefer to eat local toasties, soup, or a döner etc .
Had a full English on the prom yesterday in the sunshine, has to be done sometimes ( 48tl with coffees etc) bought a couple of pillows and some coffee cake at the Haydos table top sale.
Went to Shine for curry last Saturday ( 113 tl)
Got a couple of charity do's this month, 35tl a ticket plus drinks and raffle. Monthly quiz in Uzumlu, usually have dinner there.
I make all my own sauces, soups, curries and waste nothing. Even made my own mincemeat & Christmas cake, cranberry sauce & so on. It's so much more satisfying than going to Tesco.
Only use the pork shop for noodles and baked beans. We rarely eat beef or lamb, although the Bim cubed beef makes an amazing Tagine.
Don't buy loads of clothes, it's low key here and you don't need to get dressed up to go out for an evening.
This months electric was130 tl, it's been incredibly mild this year, ttnet 68tl. Have an android box so no subscription. Sgk 480tl.1gb mobile internet 20tl. Don't get a calling package, use WhatsApp etc.
Weekly bits in Bim, fresh bread, eggs, cheese, cleaning stuff etc about 50tl.
Gas for cooking lasts around 3/4 months and is 80/90 to depending on the dollar.
Car tax is twice a year and was 400tl as car is 2 litre. It went up 25% this year.
Fuel is crazy expensive but we have lpg which helps.
My Turkish is at a level now where I can shop online from GittiGidiyor, Hepsiburada, N11 etc which is so much cheaper.
We play pool & darts league and on average are out 2 evenings a week, we don't drink much.
We choose to live frugally because we love to travel. Now we're not tied to 4 weeks leave a year we've done Asia, Sri Lanka, Bali, Borneo, Croatia since coming here and off to Oz this year.
Biggest expense is having family and friends over as eat out more, visit places etc and of course have to factor in trips to UK.
Everyone will be different. I retired at 50 so my savings have to ( hopefully) last a long time and I don't have any pension yet.
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