Job Discussion Forums

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

You could just get one of those beer hats that people wear at baseball games and walk around with that on wherever you go. Stock it up with some cheap Chinese brand. Actually you could carry a cooler around with you. You'll save a bundle.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

El Chupacabra · Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 378 Location: Kwangchow

5h09un · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 140

i'm finishing my second semester in a couple of weeks and i've managed to save over 20,000 RMB since the beginning of april, which is when i arrived in china. my base salary is 4,600, but i've put away at least 10,000 RMB in the last two months alone. i've only been in my current city for about four months, but i'm making more and more as time goes on.

you may find that money will pile up much faster if you stay out of bars and night clubs. i've stopped going out to bars and clubs because i never feel safe anymore. i've had a phone stolen and i've been there when some of my friends have been violently attacked without provocation...unless not being chinese is considered provocative. i figure it's only a matter of time before it's my turn to get beaten up, or worse, if i keep going, so i've given it up. and frankly, i don't miss that scene at all.

your mileage may vary, however. i live in a pretty boring provincial capital. if you end up somewhere more cosmopolitan, there will probably be plenty of opportunities to really enjoy yourself on weekends.

good luck!

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

swoodman · Joined: 15 Oct 2010 Posts: 8

I was anxious to discover Ive spent 10,500 RMB since arriving a month ago. Im living in a very big but supposedly cheap city. Ive paid three months rent but that only set me back 3000 RMB and I have little idea what I did with the rest........

1 night out in a club and 1 night out in a bar... admittedly quite a few taxis but seriously......

Ive been eating out a whole lot....but never spending much more than 15 rmb a meal. Would I really save that much more cooking at home?

Is this normal and is there any advice you could give me?

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Gotta track your expenses for a month, every last yuan. If you want to be fancy, use Excel. Otherwise, pen and paper will do. Only then will you know where your money is really going, and you can budget accordingly thereafter.

sharpe88 · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 226

Some talk about low teacher's wages but one can easily save 60% or more of your take home pay in China. I doubt you can do that back home with taxes and living expenses. So you'd probably save as much or more than an entry-level job back home.

Some real talk: the biggest expense is Chinese women.

El Chupacabra · Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 378 Location: Kwangchow

mdickun83 · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 41

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll mull it over.

swoodman · Joined: 15 Oct 2010 Posts: 8

seamallowance · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:37 am Post subject:

For yet another perspective, it is my first job in China, I live in a tertiary city, I buy DVDs and crap off of Taobao, eat lunch out every day and drink the local brandy, but only at home. I save about $500 a month.

mdickun83 · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 41

Kiwi303 · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:20 pm Post subject:

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Pretty much agree, except Springfield, whose metro area is only about 200,000 people, doesn't belong to the second tier. Are you thinking of Chicago?

I would say the U.S. goes like this:

First tier: NY, LA, probably Chicago

Second tier: Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, etc.

Third tier: Indianapolis, Charlotte, Albuquerque, Sacramento, Jacksonville, Birmingham, etc.

Springfield is probably in the fourth tier.