Monday started out pretty well. I usually have tai chi after school, which I had already paid for in advance and still have one lesson left after this. So I decided I would get a taxi to work with my flatmate (18.5rmb) and walk home instead.

I then met up with friends I hadn’t seen since way before Christmas for my once-a-week meal out, which was great. We went to a different place than usual and I got the metro rather than a taxi there, which made it 2.85rmb to get to Baishizhou instead of the 20 ish it would have been by taxi. It wasn’t too expensive a meal out either, with a total of 150rmb for all food and drinks I had. Another bonus was I got my Secret Santa present! I was away over Christmas in Johannesburg, so didn’t get to exchange gifts with my friends on Christmas Eve. Instead it was a pleasant surprise as I’d completely forgotten about it. I got a lovely watch, a proper fountain pen and ink set and an antique-style notebook. I know I said that I’d be getting rid of things this year, but as this was arranged a long time before I even thought of this challenge, I’m not counting this!

Tuesday I managed to only spend shared taxi fare from work to a friends’ apartment for games night, then another shared taxi fare to get home, totalling 12.5rmb.

Wednesday was more expensive as I bought 2 containers of protein shake because I’d almost run out. Unfortunately the shop I usually get it from on Taobao (the best website for shopping in China) had closed, which meant paying more than I was expecting – 408rmb. It seems like a lot I know, but that’s basically all my breakfasts and lunches for about 6 weeks, so it works out quite reasonable overall.

Thursday would have only been 10rmb for a glass of wine at our work social ‘sausage sizzle’ (I had jacket potatoes), except that as I was walking home I came across some friends at The Brew, which is one of our regular haunts. I ended up spending 90rmb on wine, mostly because my friend kept ordering another glass for me!

The only money I spent on Friday was the taxi to get to work, so I did pretty well then, and I cooked dinner for myself with food I had in the cupboard (noodles with peas, sweetcorn and leeks, and of course cheese on top).

Now you may be wondering what happened to my plan of walking to work every day. This week we’ve had really bad pollution; it was 234 AQI at the start of the week – very unhealthy. This is because the factories have all upped production to get their targets met before they close for the Chinese New Year holiday, and it’s the same every year. The pollution levels got better as each day went on throughout the week, so I walked home instead of to work instead, apart from Tuesday when we went straight to a friend’s and Wednesday when I walked part of the way with my Head teacher then she made me get the metro instead of walking as the pollution level was still too high. At least I managed 3 days of walking! Hopefully back to the mornings again next week, depending on the pollution levels.

The only money I spent on Saturday was going to a friend’s surprise birthday party (and he was genuinely surprised!), which added up to 222.54rmb for taxis there, to KTV and home, paying for KTV and putting in for the fab birthday cake we got. Not too bad really for a night out!

Sunday was very chilled out. I spent most of the day in bed reading (Origin by Dan Brown) and just popped to the market across the road to buy some veg. A large head of broccoli, a large white onion, a bulb of garlic, a red pepper, a corn cob (with the corn cut off it), a leek and a courgette came to the grand total of 29rmb. Friends came round for dinner and a movie, and as I’d been going to cook for myself anyway I cooked for them too – pasta with pesto, pepper, courgette and leek. There was even enough left for my dinner tomorrow.

My total spending for this week came to 1094.79rmb, which is about £123. Better than last week but still not as good as my first week (when I didn’t go out at all). Although that’s with going out 3 times, and I resisted buying food I didn’t need, so not too bad overall.

I don’t think there’s any birthdays next week, so hopefully it’ll be cheaper again!