Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Depends on where you are, but I'd plan on having at least $3,000 US dollars.

First-timers often get overcharged or 'cheated' when buying items. Not always, but it is common. I say 'cheated' because most everything here is negotiable, including salary.

[Mike E]

I'd be glad to be able to plan on having that much... if it were anywhere near possible for me.

[Mike E]

What you said makes me think, though, that a very helpful thing for a newbie would be a list of reasonable prices in the area, to help him spot unfair laowai prices.

[7969]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[Mike E]

7969 (may I call you 79?), i would rather have more than less as well... i just meant that i don't presently have anywhere near $3,000 to either carry or not carry.
great wall, i know that sort of thing would vary by region. i will be in zhongshan. i think it'd be rock solid information to find out, for instance, what in that area is a reasonable/fair amount for a cabbie to charge per km.

[7969]

if you have accommodation already set up you certainly won't need $3000. Most people advocate having a few grand on hand in case the job goes pear shaped, you leave and have/want to go home. For the first month at a job with accommodation provided (university/college job) $500-1000 will do.

[choudoufu]

[Mike E]

My funds are down in the range that 7969 just said "will do." I'm currently charging all the expenses that I can charge, and that will include the airfare, until I get to the school.
Whether any of those things you just mentioned -- for instance, the need to seek a cash advance -- are real possibilities is part of what I was trying to get at with my initial question. If places tend to take credit cards in the area of Zhongshan/Macau/Hong Kong (and I understand that not every place in the world takes credit cards, but just if most of them do) I'll have to rely on that until I'm able to have more cash again.
Similarly, if one can charge flight tickets out of China, then the last-resort maneuver would be covered in the same way.

[Opiate]

[Mike E]

Probably.

[Zimmer]

Emergencies aside, you may not need enough money to last a month. If, for example your school pays salaries at the end of the month and you arrive on the 15th you'd (in theory at least) get paid for the 2 weeks, which should be enough to keep you going until the next payday.

[Ariadne]

Unless you're a one spoon, one cup, one bowl, one towel kind of guy... think about some of the items that many folks want to have for daily use.

Bath/hand towels, bed linens/comforter/pillows, dishware, pots/pans, groceries like coffee/milk/rice, lamps, waste baskets, hangers/detergent, personal care items, broom/mop/bucket, etc. Some of it can wait until your first paycheck but some things you will need right from the git.

Just because you bring the money doesn't mean you must spend it, but it can be quite uncomfortable to be broke in a strange land. Make sure you know who will pay for your RP and physical. Some schools pay, some don't. It should be addressed in your contract.

.

[mrwslee003]

I think a couple thousand dollars would be plenty.

On the other hand if you feel so insecure about getting cheated and doing
a runner maybe the best decision is not go at all.

Common sense tells me that you have asked all sort of questions and talked to a reliable source like an Ft that is already working there, and I don't mean email talking I mean on the phone talking to your Ft contact and you employer contact and your agent contact.

And the first month there you should connect with the Ft that is already there for a while and connect with a few students, your neighbours, etc so you can go to the local market with assistance on your side.

And your attitude should be I am here to experience differences in culture, etc and not be discouraged by the first ant hill you come across.

Be positive and don't let the negative thinking take control. You are going to China, not some jungle.

Good luck.

[macroidtoe]

I found that I was able to just use my Visa debit card at Chinese ATMs to withdraw money from my American account as RMB if I really needed it (which I never did, but it was good to know).