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kirby42
Joined: 14 Nov 2014 Posts: 55
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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nomad soul wrote: |
scot47 wrote: |
US$2,000 a month in savings ? Comments ? |
The OP never mentioned any financial obligations such as student loans, but that's easily doable if his monthly salary is more than 10000 SAR ($2700), and he refrains from taking trips out of KSA during short semester breaks.
Some teachers secretly tutor on the side for extra money. However, they risk immediate deportation from KSA if caught. Some food for thought if the OP is considering tutoring. |
I have absolutely no debts and spend very little apart from a gym membership and going out to eat or the cinema once a week. I also like to take language lessons though maybe I could cut that out... Saving 2000 a month would sound ideal, most contracts are for 2 years as far as I know so that'd bring me to just under 50k.
I wasn't aware of that about private lessons. It appears there's a lot I need to read up on about life there. I'll survive with no booze, no problem. Lack of socialising or dating might get me down though. |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Immediate deportation for doing a bit of moonlighting. ? I never heard of a case in the 17 tears I was there. Some teachers spend every waking hour doing extra work with ELS et, or privately. I did some, including a few stints at Larsen-Nielsen who has a school in the outskirts of Mecca. |
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twowheel
Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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scot47 wrote: |
in the 17 tears I was there |
17 tears??? Oh, oh, Freudian slip?
...but only 17 tears is good. I presume others have shed many a thousand more while in the Magic Kingdom.
twowheel |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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I did the 17 in chunks. The ones I saw who spent that sort of time without breaks were crazier than me |
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nomad soul

Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 1:45 am Post subject: |
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twowheel wrote: |
I presume others have shed many a thousand more while in the Magic Kingdom. |
Huh? The Magic Kingdom is a theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  |
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Knedliki
Joined: 08 May 2015 Posts: 160
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:50 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't make any drastic lifestyle choices based on the opinions of the regular posters on Daves.
Some people find ways of saving money, others write ten thousand plus comments on the Internet. I think their reasoning is something like "I couldn't do it therefore other people won't be able to". |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 11:08 am Post subject: |
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I had a life to lead, wives, ex-wives, children and grandchildren to support. What have you done ?
Life is about living, not about accumulating things .Would you be like Silas Marner, contemplating the gold that you have accumulated in a life of parsimony ! |
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kirby42
Joined: 14 Nov 2014 Posts: 55
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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Does anyone have any advice on finding a job in the ME? I know that there's postings on this site and another site called tefl.com
When is the main hiring season? I'd be thinking of starting in the summer, should I manage to stick with my plan.
Are recruitment agencies worth trying?
Is it normal to be offered free accommodation as part of the package? That'd be a big thing for me.
How hard would it be with no Arabic? Should I learn some? I don't think I'll ever become that good at as most of my efforts are spent learning Russian and German. |
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nomad soul

Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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kirby42 wrote: |
Does anyone have any advice on finding a job in the ME? I know that there's postings on this site and another site called tefl.com
When is the main hiring season? I'd be thinking of starting in the summer, should I manage to stick with my plan.
Are recruitment agencies worth trying?
Is it normal to be offered free accommodation as part of the package? That'd be a big thing for me. |
Recruiting will pick up over the next few months for the 2017-2018 academic year, which is in late summer/early fall. Just start applying for posted positions you qualify for -- direct-hire and contracting companies put out ads on various TEFL job boards. Postings usually state if accommodation is included or a housing allowance is provided. Salaries indicated are general; you'd find out what your specific qualifications will get you when you receive a job offer.
You really need to head to the Saudi discussion forum for your questions and info about working in the kingdom. And no, you're not expected to know Arabic; KSA is quite diverse with expats from every corner of the world. There are websites about culture and Arabic language. |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Kirby42
I have sent you a PM. Given the similarities in our numbers I think we must be cousins
scot47 |
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Jmbf
Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 3:54 am Post subject: |
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If you were able to make it onto the EDB NET scheme in Hong Kong and lived VERY frugally you might be able to save US 100K in 3 years. |
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dragonpiwo
Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 4:27 am Post subject: |
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Go for the military gigs or and Aramco contractor: Vinnell, Booz Allen, Dyncorp or get QTS and work for ADEC in the UAE.
I make $100,000 a year. It can be done. Although I spend a lot of it  |
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nomad soul

Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 5:44 am Post subject: |
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dragonpiwo wrote: |
Go for the military gigs or and Aramco contractor: Vinnell, Booz Allen, Dyncorp or get QTS and work for ADEC in the UAE.
I make $100,000 a year. It can be done. Although I spend a lot of it  |
In fairness to the OP and for context, you have nearly two decades of experience in the oil industry. Plus, you have to pay for your UAE housing out of that 100K.
That said, the OP will need stronger qualifications/experience for those Saudi military gigs. |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 7:20 am Post subject: |
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"Getting and spending we lay waste our powers." |
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danshengou
Joined: 17 Feb 2016 Posts: 434 Location: A bizarre overcrowded hole
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2017 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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If money is the main focus, the savings range for most gigs will depend on different factors. Ultimately, you need to maximize income and minimize expenses. The former comes with experience, training, and contacts, etc. The latter requires cheap housing and low taxes (or zero), as well as a frugal lifestyle, which takes time to develop the knack for. If all factors are in you favor, I would say the absolute max savings per month would be $5k per month in TEFL, rarified air indeed. $24k saved per year puts you well above the median TEFLer, and $36-48k per year is well in the top 10% of savers. Finally, those at the top end are generally living in less than desirable locations and/or dealing with low-end students, which means very few will actually be able to sustain the level of savings year over year.
I guess the main message is to avoid burnout, either from spending too long in a miserable place, or by working too much. This is why only a small percentage reach $100k in savings (from doing TEFL), though a smattering may even reach $250k+ over a good career. It takes discipline and sacrifice and dedication to the goal for a long time, and often in a boring, loathsome place. But it can be done. That said, for a well-qualified TEFLer, a sustainable career-long savings rate is probably $1500-2000 per month, assuming maximum company paid benefits and a good salary in an otherwise cushy job. So $20-25k per year over 30 years, well-invested, might lead to a TEFL-made millionaire, of which there must a couple in the world. Work solidly for many many years in a good job and live frugally and invest wisely. Seems the advice applies not just to TEFL. |
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