Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Realistically speaking, it seems like most salaries start arond 3500 - 10000 for those at schools, universities, not international schools.

So how much of this can you save? If your employer gives you housing, you don't have many costs do you? I know that it depends on your lifestyle. But I'm married, we don't go out too much and cook at home. How much could we save a month?

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Our experience in Shanghai: a couple with a young child, saw us spending around 3-4000 a month. Previously in a small SW city we needed half that. Eating out can be cheaper than home cooking.
How much you save will depend on how much you make, but we averaged 9,000 a month in SH with one and a bit jobs.

dave_merk · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 208

Don't automatically assume that your employer with pay everything. I pay all the utilities in my apartment (that my school owns).

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

The important question is: how much do you spend per month?

atruelove · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:12 am Post subject:

I live with my boyfriend. The apartment is already paid for.
Together we spend about 4000 every month. We eat western food about once a week, take taxis when we feel like it - which isn't too often actually, and don't generally think too much about what we spend money on.
Last year I sometimes spent the same amount every month by myself - but I went to foreign bars then and was in a city with very expensive taxis.
I think a somewhat thoughtful single person could live off about 1500-2000 comfortably. A couple, 3500-4000. Especially, if you, like you say, don't go out much.

One danger that I've seen others fall for is the ridiculously cheap stuff - if you or your wife is a shopper you can end up denting your bank account considerably.

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Just don't get sick, and you'll be able to live off a fairly small chunk of your salary.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

In Hohhot I was only able to save about 45% of my salary every month because of the high cost of living and having to pay for my own Internet access. Here in Changchun I've been saving about 65% of my salary.

SheZook · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 187

I save 90% of my salary every month. I live in a school apartment, my utilities are paid and I generally cook for myself. I do visit the Western restaurant once a week for pizza or a good steak but that's my most lavish expense (about 70RMB). I'm not a shopper (hate it, in fact) but I do go to the best hairdresser in town once a month and I always take taxis. I live in a relatively small city in Shaanxi province which is comparably cheaper to many other areas.

Songbird · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:00 am Post subject:

I also live in a city that is not Xian in Shaanxi Very Happy

, and I save at least 75% of my salary per month. Apartment and ulilities (except drinking water and phone) paid for by the school, I am norty and get Western food a la Maccas once a week and taxis....still, I am frugal with shopping expenses because saving IS my objective Smile

dave_merk · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 208

But once the OP finally gets around to having kids like she wants...you can say bon voyage to your salary and savings! Though I suppose that's true everywhere. I suspect that those school fees with be a real pain unless you get a job at an elementary school where they'll take your kid for free or at a discount.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Dave, have you had kids in China? You sound like an expert, so I assume so. What kind of [local] school fees are we discussing here? My experience doesn't match your opinion.
A more serious issue will be the nature and quality of education on offer. That's why we abandoned the experiment. Money wasn't even in the picture.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Ha! I COULD save more if I really try. I generally try to convert half my money and send it home. I still have those pesky student loans and a smallish credit card payment and then I have comics sent to me once a month from the states. So, all three of those are taken out of what I send home. If I can do this faithfully (and I do), then I spend my other half throughout the month as I see fit without feeling too guilty. However, I have a nice bump in salary next contract, so I'm going to try and do better . . . really, I am . . . no, really.

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

ESLstudies is right. The local school fees are not expensive. Probably around 10,000 RMB a year at most. However, international schools would cost, well, way too much for most ESL teachers to think about!

dave_merk · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 208

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

My salary is at the lower end of the scale at 3300 pcm ( but my working hours are very low too). All my utilities are paid so I dont have any real expenses.

However, I never cook at home, I eat out where I want, when I want, and I often take students out for lunch or supper. In fact, I would say this would average at treating 8 people a week to a nice meal.

I also pay for health club membership at the local 5* hotel, and hit the nightlife at least once a week.

Even with this lifestyle...I can still save around 1000 rmb per month. the cost of living in Hainan is very very cheap!

I could save up to 2500 if I really had to, but why would I want to? I have never earned so little as I do now...but I have never had life so good either!

If I had to live like my students, Im not so sure I would enjoy being here quite so much. I dont find China especially stressful, but there are things here that are not quite like they are at home...and of course I miss some comforts. The trade off, is that I want to treat myself and my friends whenever I wish. I guess saving isnt a priority for me