As I may have mentioned once or twice, I’ve been hanging out in Bali for the past two months – working, surfing, doing the odd spot of yoga, drinking cocktails and then rehydrating with fresh juices.

Larissa Ham has been living it up in Bali.

Of course, being a fan of a bargain, I’ve also been figuring out a few ways to save a dollar while still living the high life.

It’s true that Bali’s a cheap destination – if you’re watching the bottom line. But it’s also easy to spend a fortune, particularly if you’re headed for upmarket Seminyak.

• More ash, more cancellations in Bali
• The cheap airline ‘trap’ that’s snaring travellers
• I’m spending winter in paradise and so can you

So here’s a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.

And don’t forget to use some of your savings on leaving a few generous tips on your travels. After all, the minimum Indonesian wage is only just over $160 a month.

Tourist visas

The Indonesian government recently made it free for a whole host of nationalities to get a tourist visa.

However if you’re Australian, bad luck. You’re not on the list. So it’s still $US35 (about $48) to get a 30-day visa on arrival. You can pay in cash or by card.

If you’ve paid for your first 30-day tourist visa (i.e., if you’re a sucker Australian), you can extend it for a second 30 days, either by visiting immigration yourself, or going through an agent.

I did it through an agent, and only had to visit the immigration once in Denpasar to have a photo taken. It cost 850,000 rupiah (about $85) through the agent to have it back in my hot little hands in about four days. If you’re not in a rush, an agent usually costs 750,000 ($75), or as little as 600,000 ($60) if you find a cheap agent in Kuta.

Doing it yourself will cost as little as half that – but you’ll need to visit immigration three times, which can suck up time and money if you’re paying for taxis or drivers.

Of course, you could also take the popular option of whipping over to Singapore for a day for a visa run. Check out Skyscanner in advance for cheap deals.

Transport that’s Uber good

After a long, or short flight (if you’re from Perth or Darwin, or Singapore), you’re likely to want an easy ride to your hotel/villa/homestay.

Uber is now available in Bali. Photo: AAP

If you think your hotel’s transport is too expensive, consider trying Uber, getting a taxi (make sure the meter’s on) or even trying Go-Jek – an app that allows you to summon a motorbike rider. Might be a tad tricky if you have anything more than carry-on though.

You’ll need wifi or data to use Uber, and you’ll likely need to direct your Uber driver by text to a specified location at the airport.

You could also join a Facebook group such as this one in advance, and pre-organise a local driver that way.

Hiring your own scooter should cost around 30,000 rupiah ($3) a day if you hire it by the month, otherwise somewhere around 40,000 ($4) or 50,000 ($5) a day, depending on your haggling abilities.

That price should include a helmet – and surfboard racks if you’re in the market. Driving home after 40 Bintangs is not encouraged, at least by me.

Accommodation

A large villa with all the trappings could cost close to $15,000.

The longer you stay, the cheaper it is. I’ve stayed in a few different places, but am now staying in a brand new studio apartment/guesthouse in Canggu for six million rupiah ($600) a month. It comes with a fridge, daily cleaner and free water. For the longer deals you’ll usually need to pay cash upfront.

A three- or four-bedroom villa with a pool can cost about $15,000 a year.

For particularly cheap short-term prices, avoid high season (July-August and Christmas/New Year’s).

Other good deals can be found on Airbnb, or just outside the traditional tourist hotspots.

Those looking for short-term or long-term villas can also check out Facebook pages such as Bali Canggu housing and accommodation, Bali Seminyak housing and accommodation, or Ubud House Shares, Monthly Rentals and Sitting and scroll the ads. Or just post a message saying what you’re looking for.

And don’t forget Kuta – there’s still bargains galore in party town.

Denpasar is even cheaper again, though harder to navigate if you don’t speak the language – and further from the usual tourist attractions.

The mighty moulah

Take security precautions if you’re bringing large sums of cash to Bali.

You might get a slightly better deal if you bring Australian dollars from home and exchange them here in Indonesia.

If you’re an Australian with a Commonwealth Bank account, it’s worth bringing your card as there are several CBA ATMs around town.

ATMs vary in the amount of money they will allow you to withdraw. To cut down on withdrawal fees, try and find one that will allow you to access 2.5 million rupiah ($250) or 3 million ($300) in one go.

Many a person has had their card swallowed after forgetting to take it out of the ATM, as in Indonesia, the money spurts out before the card. You’ve been warned!

Cheap drinks

If you’re a fan of good wine, bring it yourself, otherwise you may find yourself paying $30 at a bottle shop for a drop that you’d spend about $8 on at home.

The good news is that there’s now a Balinese brand of wine – Plaga – that you can buy out and about, which is not too bad.

Cocktails can get more expensive than you think. If you’re on a tight budget, avoid Potato Head. If you’re not, may I recommend the Kookaburra cocktail!

In Kuta, the famous Sky Garden nightclub offers an all-you-can-eat BBQ and free flow beer and vodka for 99,000 (about $10) from 5pm to 9pm.

Eating out

A local warung is your best bet for bargain food.

Local warungs (small restaurants) are your best bet for a bargain feed. Ask around for the most popular, or just pick one that’s packed to the brim to make sure the food’s fresh.

Usually you’ll just point to what you’d like on your plate, and you’ll be given a token with the price, which you pay at the end.

It can be even cheaper if you eat at a stall in a local market.

Massages

When one massage (per day, preferably) is never enough, why not try every place in town? If you’re not fussy about decor, you can still get a great massage for less than 80,000 rupiah ($8) an hour.

Sometimes you will even get an unexpected comment thrown into the mix, such as when a masseuse pointed to my stomach recently and laughed: ‘Baby? You have big belly? Baby coming soon?’

Er, no. No baby. Little bit awkward. Probably never going to eat again.

For fancier massages – hopefully minus the comments – keep an eye on sites such as Canggu Chronicles for special offers. Some places also offer discounts during off-peak times.

Stuff that’s cheaper (or better) to bring from home

When in Bali, massages a staple.

• Tampons (not for you fellas). They’re surprisingly difficult to track down, and when you do spot a box of Tampax, you’ll be paying at least twice the price you normally would, if not more
• Good quality razors
• Books. There’s a shortage of book stores in Bali, so bring your own, or buy an eBook before arriving
• Electronics, unless you’re planning to fly to Singapore any time soon. It’s particularly hard to find good quality chargers and adaptors
• Good quality make-up
• Healthy snacks
• Cereal (if you’re planning to eat brekky at home)

A version of this story was originally published on www.heylittlespender.com.