I would usually give time estimates based on worst case scenarios, not cost just time. Then I would always be able to give the clients their projects slightly ahead of schedule. I had 1 client I fought and fought with because she started to catch on a little. I would say, I can have that finished by end of the week, being Monday. She'll come to me on Wednesday asking why the hell isn't it done yet!?
I'm doing this myself right now in a way in the Philippines but for only 2 months. What I did is get a cheap town home in a medium sized village outside of a major city. So living in the village gives me the to true culture and life style and when I need something I hope on a Jeepney and travel into town. I've learned to split up my time, I'll work a few hours in the morning when I wake up. Then walk around outside around lunch time and see if any street vendors are cooking anything good. If so will eat lunch with them and chat a little, sometimes been asked to help them with something in return for free lunch or even asked if I would like to join them on a trip with them to a beach or somewhere. Go back home and work a few more hours till 4-5 like a normal working day. After that and the sun starting to go down is when the city comes alive anyways. Will usually go into town then and do any number of things. Last night went to the tallest building here in Cebu and did their sky walk along the edge of the roof of the building. Then walked down Mango street (kind of red light district) just to see all the strip clubs, went into a few shops for clothes and then came home.
I'll also sometimes take the weekend or a few days to travel to different area. 2 weeks ago spent 4 days in Davao south of here and went wake boarding with the locals. Thursday driving south to Oslob to swim with whale sharks and a number of other things I'm trying to get planned.
The first week or 2 was a little rough, finding the place to stay, finding Internet for laptop (wifi sticks but limited to 800mb/day!!), random brown outs aren't uncommon here either. Of course also have no hot/cold water but have gotten use to that and find it refreshing now with the high heat here anyways.
It helps I found a beautiful lady here to keep me company and her cooking is AMAZING! I've never ate so good for so cheap.
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I would usually give time estimates based on worst case scenarios, not cost just time. Then I would always be able to give the clients their projects slightly ahead of schedule. I had 1 client I fought and fought with because she started to catch on a little. I would say, I can have that finished by end of the week, being Monday. She'll come to me on Wednesday asking why the hell isn't it done yet!?
I'm doing this myself right now in a way in the Philippines but for only 2 months. What I did is get a cheap town home in a medium sized village outside of a major city. So living in the village gives me the to true culture and life style and when I need something I hope on a Jeepney and travel into town. I've learned to split up my time, I'll work a few hours in the morning when I wake up. Then walk around outside around lunch time and see if any street vendors are cooking anything good. If so will eat lunch with them and chat a little, sometimes been asked to help them with something in return for free lunch or even asked if I would like to join them on a trip with them to a beach or somewhere. Go back home and work a few more hours till 4-5 like a normal working day. After that and the sun starting to go down is when the city comes alive anyways. Will usually go into town then and do any number of things. Last night went to the tallest building here in Cebu and did their sky walk along the edge of the roof of the building. Then walked down Mango street (kind of red light district) just to see all the strip clubs, went into a few shops for clothes and then came home. I'll also sometimes take the weekend or a few days to travel to different area. 2 weeks ago spent 4 days in Davao south of here and went wake boarding with the locals. Thursday driving south to Oslob to swim with whale sharks and a number of other things I'm trying to get planned. The first week or 2 was a little rough, finding the place to stay, finding Internet for laptop (wifi sticks but limited to 800mb/day!!), random brown outs aren't uncommon here either. Of course also have no hot/cold water but have gotten use to that and find it refreshing now with the high heat here anyways. It helps I found a beautiful lady here to keep me company and her cooking is AMAZING! I've never ate so good for so cheap.