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Cheapest ATM In Bangkok
Currently charging only 150 baht rather than 220 like most other atm's, these are the cheapest places to withdraw cash..
Cheapest ATM In Bangkok
Aeon atm's are the cheapest to withdraw cash from, currently charging only 150 baht rather than 220 like most other atm's.
Unfortunately they aren't as common as many other cash points.. Scroll down for help finding the most central Aeon atm in Bangkok, within walking distance of Khao San Road.
This is what the outside of the shop looks like that you will be searching for, the atm is located just inside the door.
Something along the lines of this, look for a purple atm.
Good luck and stay hydrated!
Thanks for reading!
Taran here, owner of Nomad'er How Far. I'm fond of psychedelic rock, photography & videography, anything to do with space and I'm also partial to the odd gaming session. Oh and I love to travel :P Get to know me here!
Be social and come follow me across the virtual world!
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Two Girls, 48 States & Zero Money
It may sound like the next viral reaction video, but this is in fact a triumph for the free travel movement!
Two Girls, 48 States Of America & Zero Money
This guest post is brought to you by Sarah and Lilly of Pretenniless, 2 ladies from the UK who just finished an adventure travelling all 48 mainland US states without spending a single cent. Not a penny. Spending 20 weeks on this major challenge, they are here today to answer their most asked questions!
So what was your trip all about?
We called the trip Pretenniless: meaning Pretend Penniless.
The challenge? To step foot in all 48 mainland US states without spending a single cent (on anything – food, travel, accommodation, ANYTHING!) along the way.
Did it work as you planned?
In terms of a route, that’s gone swimmingly as we’ve completed all 48 and made it back to Boston in time for our flight home. Food wise? That worked out a little differently. We were expecting mostly to be dumpster diving for our food, but as it turned out there are far more resources available than we realized, and plenty of opportunities to volunteer, ask for and scavenge leftovers *before* they hit the dumpster!
Expectation versus reality?
To be honest, we had no idea what to expect. It could easily have gone either way – five months of fun or five months of starvation. We had nightmares about both.
We’ve definitely found that when we first started, and definitely in the planning stages, we’d looked at the trip as a big picture, rather than drilling down to the day by day, hour by hour stuff. Reality hit us pretty hard when day one came around and we were starving with no idea where to even begin finding food! Luckily we’re quick learners.
What were the biggest Challenges?
The F word again…FOOD. Not having it, not being able to choose it, having to ration it… We’re definitely looking forward to food not being the number one thing on our mind. We really underestimated the power of a good meal when we started, and it’s crazy how quickly you get hungry again, even when it feels like you just ate a few hours ago…
Another challenge was us, and our ability to work as a team. Especially when hungry, or tired, or just plain in a bad mood, we had to keep the challenge in focus and not let the little things get in the way. Luckily we are both fairly patient, flexible people, and equally determined to succeed, so we found it easier with each other. Neither of us know anyone else we would have been able to do the trip with!
Best Experience?
We get asked this a lot and the answer has always ended up being the same…South Dakota! We were lugging our bags up a road – not even hitch hiking yet – in Rapid City when a woman pulled over in front of us. “What are you doing in this heat? You can’t be walking with those bags!” We explained our story, and that we were walking to the main road in order to hitch hike to Mount Rushmore. “Okay well if you come help me unload my shopping – I’ve hurt my neck – I’ll take you over to Mount Rushmore. I live in that direction.” Yes!
In the car we learnt her name was Angie, and she was one of the most loving, kind and open-hearted people either of us had ever met. Arriving at her ranch in the foothills of the Black Hills of South Dakota she explained that she had hand built it with her late husband: a beautiful wooden building with huge windows and a porch that overlooked an immense view of the hills and valley below. She asked if we would like to stay the night with her and, reluctantly, we said we were on a mission to go to the open day of an eco-village the next day, and would miss it if we stayed over. She dropped us at Mount Rushmore with all of our belongings and we sadly said goodbye and watched her drive away.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?! We looked at each other and instantly knew we were thinking the same thing – we HAVE to stay with this amazing woman! Screw the eco-village! Here we were with the offer to stay with and get to know this amazing woman in her beautiful home, and we were passing it off to see an eco-village that we might not even hitch hike to in time for the 1pm deadline. We text her to say we’d changed our mind, and she text back “YAY!”.
Back in her car, after we got over our excitement, she asked us the one thing we would do in the area if we were able to spend money. We explained that on the way to Rapid City we had driven along the edge of the Badlands, and, being the kind of people who like nature over anything urban, we had been longing to see them. Without a second thought she then outlined the plan for the day: she would drive to the gas station and fill her car, we would drop her at home and pick up snacks and drinks, and Lilly and I would take her car to the Badlands for the rest of the day to explore. We couldn’t believe our luck, and her generosity. She even told us to text her when we were on our way home and she would put dinner on. That evening, after an incredible day, we ate dinner and drank hard lemonade on the porch, watching lightning roll in through the clouds.
What made this our favourite experience was only partly the generosity shown from Angie – the rest came from her. We talked a lot throughout the day and evening and what struck us was a woman who had been through a lot, yet had come out the other side with a belief in love and life and people. Through everything that had happened she would be totally forgiven for being bitter or resentful or resigned to feeling like a victim, but instead it truly seemed to have brought out her strength, and ability to step back and recognize the good things over the bad. She was really an inspiration to us both.
Share an anecdote that isn’t on your blog…
When we were in Kansas City we stayed with a couchsurfing host, Brett, and his housemate Hunter. They had a lovely dog called Sasha. This lovely dog called Sasha was one of those dogs who would eat anything left out, so we made sure to close the door to our bedroom – where our food was stored – when we went out for the day. Unfortunately Sasha also seems to have opposable thumbs…
Whilst out, Sasha opened our door and helped herself to our – by this point in the journey – ample food supply, eating an entire jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread and around 10 protein bars. It was a little hard not to shed a tear when we thought of that hard work that had gone into getting that food and rationing it, whilst Sasha grinned and wagged her tail amidst the wrappers. Hunter felt awful and gave us $20 to replace the food, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to spend it (was it cheating?! Could we live without it?) so we didn’t. Suffice to say we received a text from Brett the next day that Sasha had seen the error of her ways after a night of shitting and vomiting out protein-y chocolate.
(NB: This wasn’t the first, or the last, time we were given money on our trip and we will be donating all to suitable US charities on our return to England!)
How would someone go about doing it themself?
We’ve put this in a bullet point list, as there’s a lot of important things to remember should you want to do this trip yourself:
BE FLEXIBLE
Put it this way – Lilly started out this trip as a vegetarian before she realized she might starve to death. Beggars can’t be choosers. We’ve slept on benches, eaten half munched wraps off the floor and been able to quickly accept when a plan or a chosen route isn’t going to work out. You have to be able to adapt to whatever is thrown at you. On this note…
BE RESOURCEFUL
When the plan changes last minute, you don’t always much time to find accommodation or a meal. Know where to look for things – like Craigslist, Couchsurfing, Starbucks for free internet, Urban Outfitters for free dry shampoo – and keep them in mind for quick use. That said…
BE CREATIVE
There’s lots of things out there designed to help on this type of trip, but there’s also lots of things that help accidentally. Be creative in how you look at things and use things. We used the cloakroom at Macy’s to store our big bags when we wanted to explore New York City, and Tinder came massively in handy when we needed a place to stay in Santa Barbara…!
BE DETERMINED
Don’t give up. There is always another option, and no that option is not to send nudes to a trucker on Craigslist in return for a ride. There is ALWAYS another option, even if it means changing your plan, or your route, or your destination.
We’ve got a resources list on our blog that goes into more detail, so check it out ✌
Thanks for reading!
Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!
Be social and come follow us across the virtual world!
The D Word: Hannah and DEBT are DONE!
I feel like all the big 'D' words are always bad things that people don't like talking about i.e. Divorce, Death, Dentists. I suppose not everyone likes to air their financial laundry in public but I am an open book...
The D Word: Hannah and DEBT are DONE!
UPDATED POST: This post is from 2014, when Hannah finally cleared her debts and was able to begin saving up for our travels in Australia. In 2016 we remain debt-free nomads!
YAY!! No other word so majestically describes the feeling of finally being debt-free.
I did mention in a previous post that June would be a big month for me as I would finally clear my debts; debts in the form of a student overdraft and a credit card.
So here it is, June 2014, and I have paid everything off. I am now debt-free!
I feel like all the big 'D' words are always bad things that people don't like talking about i.e. Divorce, Death, Dentists.
I suppose not everyone likes to air their financial laundry in public but I am an open book; and I write a travel blog about minimalism and living a fulfilling life on a small budget. I have to be a good example to all our readers of course. Which is why I wanted to share this milestone, to inspire and enthuse everyone else, who is trying to eradicate their debts.
Clearing debts is not so easy for the likes of us who are self-employed or part-time employed, as it might be for people earning the big bucks.
But it's probably just as difficult for those on a hundred grand a year as it is for those on ten grand!
Why? Because we generally adjust our lifestyle to our income, and plenty of people become quite accustomed to a life of luxury when it becomes affordable; sometimes wealthier people who feel more financially secure and actually accrue a lot of debt (despite a high income) in order to go for the bigger, better, more expensive; the house, the car, the holiday, the new kitchen extension.
But I doubt these people are the same whom might be wanting to ditch material possessions, escape the trappings of 9-5 society and go all nomadic.
Maybe they are! Who am I to generalize, we can all become tired and disenchanted by our lives and want to enact big change.
- Choosing to leave behind the 9to5.
- Embracing minimalism to let go of my material obsession.
- How travel turned out to be the best thing I have ever done.
- Where my dreams have brought me today.
Either way, I am proof, that despite living on a low and unpredictable income (my tax return for that period showed that one month I earned £1000, the next only £500, all whilst paying out £100's on fuel) I still got myself out of debt in the space of 7 months.
7 months, it really has gone by so fast.
I so clearly remember envisioning this time; it seemed so far away but so exhilarating, because I was determined, and I knew I was going to get here, with time and pressure. Not to say I haven't slipped up, because I certainly have.
On one occasion I went to my local town to buy 'a couple of new tops' and spent way more than I had intended. I am not perfect but I have still come along way.
My top three realistic suggestions for debt clearing:
1. Always Question.
When you are in a shop, holding something, weighing up buying it, is it a NEED or a WANT; is it something that will be useful and that will last?
Is it worth the expenditure when that money could be elsewhere clearing debts quicker?
If the answer is YES, then to maintain balance you'd need to spend less in the coming days/weeks after making the purchase.
Is this sacrifice now, worth further sacrifices later?
Is the item going to bring instant gratification or long-term satisfaction?
People waste their cash and then don't repay their debts as fast as they'd like, when they consistently spend money on random and useless stuff.
Buying a good-quality pair of trainers is not a spending sin, but buying a new pair each week? Buying duplicates of things simply because you enjoy the new and trendy?
There is no room for excess and luxury when it comes to debt clearing!
2. Don't let disposable funds sit in your current account or wallet.
A sure-fire way to accidentally (on purpose) spend your cash is if you leave it sitting there in your wallet or debt account, tempting you with it's come-hither papery pull.
I always move my funds away, either straight toward my debts, bills, or into a savings account which isn't linked to my debit card, so that I can't waste that money on day-to-day life.
If I am using a cash method (leaving debit cards at home) that week to pay for my groceries, I will resolve that I can't then touch my debit card to pay for food.
If I frivolously blow this cash, I also then can't eat for a week...the way I organize my money has actual painful consequences, so I manage it more strictly.
I move funds for each bill into a specific bank account and I do the same with spare cash, but I usually just send it into the black hole of debt straight away and then I can't feel the loss of that money too acutely.
When I would get a large influx of cash, say, when a customer pays an invoice, if I can spare that money and if it isn't required for bills, I don't then view that as play money, instead I send it straight to the debt!
I believe extra cash influxes aren't truly yours to enjoy whilst debts linger over your shoulders.
3. Always look for the best deals.
When I do my weekly food-shop I always buy the cheaper version of what I need.
I do try to buy healthily and organic where possible, but I will help my bill with buying the cheapest meal staples plus buying frozen fruits and veg.
I always take a list to the shop with me, which is based on a meal-plan I would have designed the previous night.
I account for snacks and a few treats also within my meal plan. If you have nothing in the house to eat, the temptation to head and out spend outside your budget will be your undoing!
I also always write on my list what I already have at home to prevent extra wasteful spending.
Other ways to maximize debt repayments:
So here I am.
I have reached this pivotal moment when I can enjoy the relief and bask in the fruits of my labours. Now, I get to watch my savings mount up, knowing each earned penny is all going toward an awesome, life-affirming travel adventure. My money is now going to work for my goals and my dreams, as opposed to making me feel enslaved by its pull and the push to consume mindlessly.
Of course I'm not yet rich, I am merely unburdened by debt, and I won't get too far travelling on a couple grand, but I will get to Australia with my gorgeous partner within a few months, and that makes all the sacrifices feel so justified.
Thanks for reading!
Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at Nomad'erHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!
Get social and follow us across the web!
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The First Step to Nomadic Life
If your lifestyle choices and behaviour are incongruous with your nomadic aspirations, then something has to change, right away!
The First Step to Nomadic Life
UPDATED 2016: This was the first post on Nomad'er How Far, written over 2 years ago when travel remained a pipe dream for us. Well, the dream did come true and you can read our more recent adventures here. But first, let's start at the beginning...
So, you fancy a little trip around the world?
Not so little, a big one, maybe a year?...
Now if you are anything like me and like to dream of when you will win the lottery (despite not even playing it), you have grand plans and an even grander hole in your bank balance.
I have been it all; part-time checkout girl, a teenager spending all my money on cheap clothes; scruffy student, spending all my money on cheap clothes..., customer advisor in a bank, spending all my money on cheap clothes.
Ah, ok, so something of a trend that caught on at a young age and stayed put well into my 20's.
However, thing's are a little different now. Now, a 23-year-old self-employed grown-up, a business owner, running a small pet-care company in my local area, I now spend all my money on dog treats and petrol...
Times have-a changed.
Yes my circumstances have become a little more stretched, and disposable income is not a term i am now familiar with, but that hasn't stopped me dreaming BIG.
I want to travel and work abroad, and do it for as long as I possibly can.
Wherever you currently are in your life, your path remains undecided, malleable and somewhat in your control.
If your lifestyle choices and behaviour are incongruous with your nomadic aspirations, then something has to change, right away!
Prioritize Your Debts.
Do you have debts hanging over your shoulders?
Do you owe something on your credit card, or a lingering student overdraft you just pretend does not exist?
Maybe you have been putting off doing that balance transfer and are paying back almost nothing.
Maybe you keep choosing to buy more and more, piling on the debt! Well it is time to face the debt situation, head-on.
Make it your priority to clear these debts/ stop building them, because:
1. You cannot save effectively whilst trying to also clear debts.
2. You will find deep satisfaction in knowing that your hard-earned savings are purely growing to make your travel dreams come true, not line the credit card companies pockets.
3. You can't travel with debt! You want to be focusing on enjoying those savings on amazing day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, not fumbling around trying to make debt repayments. Plus income is totally changeable and unpredictable during working travel, so debt, well, that stuff will drag you down.
You can make sure you leave debt behind and here's how:
List Your Debts
Be honest, and write down each and every debt, be it between you and a creditor, or even small amounts owed to family or friends.
List them from smallest to largest. Note what you currently repay and work out how many months it would take to clear debts paying only this amount monthly.
The financial flexibility that can come with travel can't really ever be truly experienced if we embark on amazing adventures but don't square off certain financial burdens first.
Analyse Your Spending
Honestly review how you spend your money. I prefer to keep receipts and write down the amounts I spend and relate them a specific category, but if you don't do this then use your recent paper or online statement for reference.
Even just a quick scan on your transaction list on online banking may provide some shocking discoveries.
When you spend something, maybe a small amount for example, you weigh that up in low terms, and neglect to add it on to all the other things you have recently spent money on; you aren't thinking of the bigger picture each time you spend.
Re-direct Your Income
It's time to realize that you have to redirect some of your income flow to clearing debts or nothing will change. You will continue on the same path and not create a new destination and a healthy set of habits designed to get you there.
You need to reassess how much you need those things or activities which you view as essential treats or fun. You need to imagine yourself experiencing worse financial circumstances, the kind where you are forced to find other cheaper or creative ways to fill your free time, because there doesn't have to be a correlation between how fulfilled you are and how much money you are making at a given time.
For example, when I made a decent income at a bank I was also suffering from depression, and when I was the poorest I had ever been, I was also finding love and inner peace.
Crazy how we can scramble our way to happiness despite our financial situation.
So I suggest you wholeheartedly use this mindset to channel your energy toward using your money differently; it should be seen as a tool to get out of debt and into your chosen dream, not a short-cut to momentary gratification.
Start Small
It makes sense to focus on clearing the smaller debts purely so you reach a positive stage in your overall goals sooner. Plus, when you remove the smaller obstacles you gain the momentum needed to muscle through the bigger debts. Once the clutter of the small numbers are removed you can focus larger chunks of money toward one large debt.
Celebrate each and every debt that's cleared, and recognize each success as proof that with time, effort and energy, you can create a better life, whatever that might look like.
So first things first on this journey to nomadic life, start being wiser and more thrifty with your pennies, and throw them at your debts. Then the fun of saving and scrimping can begin...
Thanks for reading!
Hannah and Taran here. We hail from Southern England, where we met online and are now realizing our mutual passion for travel here at NomaderHowFar. We discuss Nomadic Living, Simplifying your Life and Long-term Travel, to empower, motivate and inspire our readers. Get to know us here!
Taran & Makoto here, together we form Nomader How Far photography.
Check out my photo journals