mentalist

I found that I started saving more by cutting down on the Thai massages

Welivehere

22k a year - 2 courses + Yas Links on week days FOC, range, cart, water, tee's course guides, UGA + discount in pro shop / lessons etc....

Havent played Faldo for years, love the Majlis.... Maydan is well organised with good staff but the fairways needed some serious work when I played there in Sept.

scrubbedexpat141

That's not bad. Similar to Creek /Emirates (24k I think).

Faldo front 9 is horrific when you think you've tamed your slice on the driver (thought i had) but actually haven't. Water to the right on every hole.

Back 9 is lovely, 49 on it which is my best ever

Meydan needs some serious tlc.

scrubbedexpat141

Of course I don't.

The thing for me is I'm not saving money. I still have a touch of debt in the UK which is getting ever closer to being gone....which is why I'm not saving, it seems counter productive to me at the moment.

My target was to reach 25 and have enough money in that year to buy a house in the UK. It's not going to happen bar a miracle and I'm gutted.

I've got a basic rule of save 10% of whatever I get paid. Apart from big bonus months when I save a lot more (read: transfer to UK for debt and maintain a 10,000 slush fund here for bigger buys / flights / insurances etc).

I think I'm just going knee-jerk after blowing an absolute fortune on Xmas at home. Just had to transfer my sister another 200 quid for presents she bought. This month is tight (I'll live) but I need to make sure I'm making the most of money out here.

britexpat76

If you find a way let me into the secret, Had the most expensive xmas of my life followed by the wedding in 3 weeks, my brothers in Greece in may and another wedding in August. I did buy the Entertainer this year though and saved 300 chips on a Kobi steak last night.........

scrubbedexpat141

Stop buying Kobi steaks.

How much was the bill before and after the voucher?

britexpat76

QR750 before, QR450 after. No messing around with starters etc....And only QR150 in drinks, I didn't buy a bottle of wine for once (well not in there anyhow)

If you can eat that once a week for less that 500 chips, thats a bargain.

GB1982

Also a member at JGE, granted the 22k is payable in one hit, or 24k if you want to pay it over 2 installments but still not to bad.

Can join the Monty and pay monthly but thats a tad more expensive and not great quality.. fairways are shocking at the moment.

Emirates / the Creek are 24k a year, however they still have that horrible joining fee of 10k which you cannot get around!! JGE seems the best on offer at the moment.

scrubbedexpat141

Still 75 quid spent vs dinner at home.

This is my new thinking. The Entertainer is good for making you spend spend spend and feel good about it. Sucker!

britexpat76

But if I went to the supermarket to get the same steaks, by the time I had walked around filling a trolley full of shit I dont need it would still cost me 300+

150 extra and I get to choose whether I use a french, Japanese or English steak knife. I have never been to a restaurant where I choose my steak knife.....................

scrubbedexpat141

Fair enough. I've stopped agreeing to go to Nezza's on a tuesday for free ladies food. By the time i've got a pie and a beer and she's decided that 60dhs is reasonable for a magners we end up at 300+.

Was going to ask if some let you pay in fewer installments. JGE is good value and the Fire course is lovely. Monty is only one course as well.

I'm going to save up and join JGE.

Millhouse

If you are really struggling, take out the money you want to be saved at the start of the month rather than the end. You can only spend what you have at that point.

GB1982

Yep, with the Monty membership you get discounted rates at Arabian Ranches plus the other Troon courses.

Splitting the JGE membership its 13k when you sign up and the remaining 11k 6 months down the line. Think it gets pro rata'd down if you join midway through the year.

Meow

Scampi, put the golf membership on the back burner. Sort out your budget, build up some savings (three months outgoings minimum) and then save up to join a club.

scrubbedexpat141

Money to the saver is first out...