| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
YAMARI
Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Posts: 247
Location: shanghai
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:31 am Post subject: Confused about savings |
 |
|
| I am not in Vietnam but I read this forum. I am confused in that people say that they are saving money in Vietnam. What confuses me is that they say that are paying 600 dollars a month for their apartment. How can somebody save money on a low wage when their apartment alone costs over 600 dollars. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
jestert79
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 44
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
Maybe it was me you read - I don't know if I mentioned it, but I pay $600 a month for my apartment but I share with my girlfriend so it's actually $300 (and this is actually kinda expensive for an apartment). I'm about finished with my year contract and I'm pleasantly surprised with how much I've saved over the year.
People are saving because they're getting paid $1500+ per month. This combined with low living expenses makes it hard not to save.
That said, prices are going up. When I arrived in the end of 2007, a taxi from my place to one of the centers was 30,000 dong. The same trip, with the same taxi company now is 70,000! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tanker
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 72
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject: Re: Confused about savings |
|
|
| YAMARI wrote: |
| I am not in Vietnam but I read this forum. I am confused in that people say that they are saving money in Vietnam. What confuses me is that they say that are paying 600 dollars a month for their apartment. How can somebody save money on a low wage when their apartment alone costs over 600 dollars. |
We are all feeling the pinch of rising prices.
Apartments going up. Food in the supermarkets and restaurants. Gym fees, and other costs.
Wages seem kind of frozen. We have to work more hours to stay in the same position.
If I was interested in saving money I would never have gone into EFL. That said, I still need to save for down the road, and when I eventually return to my home country.
I see less saving for teachers in the future, as prices will continue to rise for basic things. It's worldwide but Viet Nam has much higher CPI at this time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ajc19810
Joined: 22 May 2008
Posts: 214
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:25 am Post subject: COL |
|
|
Yeah, $600 is a fair price for an apartment and I am sure it would be a modern place with plenty of facilites.
To give you an idea my last house in HCMC was 3mill ($185)/month. After expenses, internet, power (running aircon 12 hours a day), gas, water etc it came to about 4million/month for everything. So thats about $250 per month for a house with 2 bedrooms, large kitchen, large living room and 2 bathrooms. Salary over $2000 per month = real easy to save cash.
Saying that I have made a sea change and have left my last job in HCMC and headed for a lower cost of living. Now my house costs 2mill / month and I am 3 mins by moto to the sea. Cost of living was a major factor in leaving the city. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Teejay
Joined: 25 Jul 2007
Posts: 59
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
Saving is easy as long as you don't go out every night. Let's say twice or thrice a week of party 
Everything is going up but you can still save. Outside district 1 and 3, you can find cheaper accommodation. Have a partner and split the bill. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tanker
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 72
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Teejay wrote: |
| Saving is easy as long as you don't go out every night. Let's say twice or thrice a week of party |
But when I go out and "party" I don't spend much at all. Yes, the prices of beer and restaurant food, and drinks have gone up, but I still don't spend that much of my budget when I go out. It's the fixed expenses that have risen, eating into my income.
| Quote: |
Everything is going up but you can still save. Outside district 1 and 3, you can find cheaper accommodation. Have a partner and split the bill. |
Having a roomate means more cost as well. Deposit, utitlities, etc. I'd rather continue to have my own apartment. Expats come and go so much that once you get a roommate that is dependable, and you get along with, he/she leaves Vietnam, and you have to fill the vacancy by finding someone else. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
