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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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 Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: 4500Y Shaoyang per month |
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I am being offered a university job in Shaoyang, Hunan, that pays 4500 rmb (for 16 hours a week) a month. Here's what I get.
- 2 bedroom furnished apt
- All utilities paid.
- Free cafeteria meals.
- Health insurance.
My only financial obligation is 1600rmb a month in student debt. My only real vice is a few beers on the weekend. By American standards, I live pretty frugally. I'm not much of a shopper.
I also get a 2200 travel allowance.
Thoughts?
 Yes, I know this is the third thread in the "Is this enough to live on?" arena. |
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Laurence
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 401
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:11 am Post subject: |
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My thoughts are:
As your accommodation is taken care of, that leaves you with 2900 disposable income and no room for any kind of extravagance - all your money will probably be spent on your day to day living costs, much as mine were when I lived in the UK. You will have to budget, but if you are not used to an extravagant lifestyle it should be easy enough to adjust your lifestyle accordingly. You probably already own a computer and mp3 player and all the clothes you need.
You will be pretty restricted in terms of shopping and eating. Although cheap options for both are prevalent, you will meet other foreigners (and indeed Chinese), some of whom will be teachers, earning more (maybe much more) money than you and you will probably resent it a little. 'Cheap' here seldom represents better value.
Chinese people might wonder why you are paid a low wage, but at least you won't get people chasing your favour just because of your wealth.
I lived like that when I first came to China,
and it was great.
I wouldn't want to do it again though. |
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defenestration
Joined: 16 Jul 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Wait, what?
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| That's what I make, and I eat out and shop quite a bit and am still able to save nearly half of my earnings. But I think that's because A) I deferred my student loans back home so I have no such expenses to cover and B) I live in Pizhou, where pretty much everything costs peanuts (except peanuts, they're even cheaper). |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Look everyone. I make just over 12,000 a month. And I am not full-time.
If I was full-time, I would be making 18,000 RMB+.
Why people are accepting --or even thinking about accepting---such low salaries is beyond me.... |
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happigur1
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 228
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Chinese people are always asking me how much I make (once they find out I am a foreigner). I always tell to guess. So far, I've gotten between 2,000-40,000 RMB .... hmmm....
But 4,500 RMB with accommodation and food (probably not so great because it's from the canteen) is not that bad especially if you are here more for the culture and experience. |
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Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
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| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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It is a bit amusing that people think there is a huge difference between 4,500 RMB/month and 5,500 and 6,500.
The conversion is about U.S. $146 per 1,000 RMB. That is a difference of about $36 or $37 per week. Not a major difference in your standard of living and not going to make any difference in your long-range goals. |
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happigur1
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 228
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| Zero wrote: |
It is a bit amusing that people think there is a huge difference between 4,500 RMB/month and 5,500 and 6,500.
The conversion is about U.S. $146 per 1,000 RMB. That is a difference of about $36 or $37 per week. Not a major difference in your standard of living and not going to make any difference in your long-range goals. |
True that it might not make a difference with long-range goals but for short-term goals and standard of living, 1000 RMB does make a difference. Heck, I can spend that extra 1,000 RMB going to a nice spa once a week (get your head out of the gutters!) or make a difference between eating out at a nice restaurant or sticking to my 2.5 RMB noodles.... heck, it will pay for 2/3 of my visa to India! |
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A man called Roger
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 96
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 5:04 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| or make a difference between eating out at a nice restaurant or sticking to my 2.5 RMB noodles... |
Eating cheap in China can come with serious health safety consequences - I don't think many experienced members of the forums relish the idea of eating day after day on the cheap!!!
Here's some pictures of illegal cooking oil extraction - from restaurant slops. This oil is sold to cheaper restaurants - the 2.5RMB variety - just looking at the pics tells you why eating cheap in China may come with a serious risk.
http://www.wayangtimes.com/recycled-cheap-cooking-oil-from-discarded-food-waste-inchina.html
Regardless of what wage you're getting make sure a job comes with decent cooking facilities - a microwave is also pretty handy. Own cooking not only allows you to select safer ingredients - as in fresher, branded and better stored (even then you ain't 100% safe - but it leads towards a bit more security) - but its also cheaper in the long run.
No way miss out on the cheap stuff - but as a staple - which allows you happily live on a lower wage - well that's just madness!!!!! |
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randyj
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 460
Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:14 am Post subject: |
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| happigur1 wrote: |
| Zero wrote: |
It is a bit amusing that people think there is a huge difference between 4,500 RMB/month and 5,500 and 6,500.
The conversion is about U.S. $146 per 1,000 RMB. That is a difference of about $36 or $37 per week. Not a major difference in your standard of living and not going to make any difference in your long-range goals. |
True that it might not make a difference with long-range goals but for short-term goals and standard of living, 1000 RMB does make a difference. Heck, I can spend that extra 1,000 RMB going to a nice spa once a week (get your head out of the gutters!) or make a difference between eating out at a nice restaurant or sticking to my 2.5 RMB noodles.... heck, it will pay for 2/3 of my visa to India! |
You make valid points. I have considered this issue in the past and decided that, bottom line, money indicates respect. |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Regardless of what wage you're getting make sure a job comes with decent cooking facilities - a microwave is also pretty handy. Own cooking not only allows you to select safer ingredients - as in fresher, branded and better stored (even then you ain't 100% safe - but it leads towards a bit more security) - but its also cheaper in the long run. |
I'm all about keeping eating out at a minimum. I saw enough dropped meat making to the customer during my stint at restaurants in high school to keep me away.  |
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A'Moo
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 1067
Location: a supermarket that sells cheese
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| Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Zero wrote: |
It is a bit amusing that people think there is a huge difference between 4,500 RMB/month and 5,500 and 6,500.
The conversion is about U.S. $146 per 1,000 RMB. That is a difference of about $36 or $37 per week. Not a major difference in your standard of living and not going to make any difference in your long-range goals. |
Then there isnt a big difference between being 5'6" and 6'2"....Its only 8", or less than 1 1/2" per foot...Or 17percent...
Actually, I know what you mean, but would have to disagree...That extra 2000y, if savings of your own are not to be had, would make a tidy difference...
Have to agree with Whiner...I just dont get how native speakers (even those not qualified) seem to be lining up for volunteer wages, under the guise of "culture" and "experience". |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:37 am Post subject: |
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| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
| Look everyone. I make just over 12,000 a month. And I am not full-time. |
I find few job listings with salaries above 10,000 RMB. What is your secret? |
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The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| A'Moo wrote: |
| Zero wrote: |
| It is a bit amusing that people think there is a huge difference between 4,500 RMB/month and 5,500 and 6,500. |
Then there isnt a big difference between being 5'6" and 6'2"....Its only 8", or less than 1 1/2" per foot...Or 17percent...
Actually, I know what you mean, but would have to disagree...That extra 2000y, if savings of your own are not to be had, would make a tidy difference... |
most people teaching in china will return home one day. unless you have another means of income (pension/ savings/ investments), you need something in the bank to help soften your return home while you get re-established and find new employment. an extra RMB2000 per month (if saved in the bank) over a period of a year, or two, or three, will give you enough to at least go home and have a small financial cushion while you sort out your new life. this isn't rocket science, just common sense.
so an extra 1000-2000 per month can make a big difference to many people.
| Old Surrender wrote: |
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
| Look everyone. I make just over 12,000 a month. And I am not full-time. |
I find few job listings with salaries above 10,000 RMB. What is your secret? |
it's no secret really. more time in china, networking, lots of searching around.
many of us can find these high paying jobs, or find ways to increase our base salaries. but most of it comes down to how much time and effort you want to expend in finding them. |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:28 am Post subject: |
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On a side-note, the offer got bumped up to 5,000 RMB and a free puppy.
I'm kidding about the puppy. |
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Hansen
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Posts: 737
Location: central China
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:25 am Post subject: |
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Mr. Whiner,
Would you reveal your educational qualifications, teaching experience, special awards/accomplishments, and province?
Sincerely,
 |
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