Job Discussion Forums

[william wallace]

Nothing to say.

[Sinobear]

Waiting for "permanent residence" is a drag. I love China and the Chinese people. I couldn't imagine any other life. Like Norman Bethune (the poster here on Dave's as opposed to the long-dead doctor), I despised life in Canada where political correctnes took precedent over ability and common sense.
As I approach 7 years of full time work and living in China, I realize that I have no retirement plans - I figure my smoking and drinking habits will insure that I either die at work or I'll get hit by an errant meteorite...

But no, people who are earning less than 10K a month are fooling themselves if they think that the "China dream" is perpetual. To establish a normal life (as oppsoed to just an existence) requires a generous, steady, reliable income.

I think the beauty of living in China is that one cannot easily fall into the same trappings as in the west - the debt-fuelled lifestyle of easy credit.
Without the benefit of being a Chinese citizen, one either learns to exist hand-to-mouth or becomes financially responsible and enjoys life here to the fullest.

Cheers!

[Babala]

WW,
You were absolutely right that when I referring to living comfortably on 5000RMB I was thinking in terms of someone around for a year or two. I agree with you that if you really want to set up house for good here, you need to make alot more than that to build a life here.

I am a lifer here in China. I love my job and I am getting married in the next year or so.

I may have started in China at 4000RMB but I make substantially more than that now

[NorbertRadd]

I wish I'd come here in '02. Possibly my chinese was better than but the time in ROK was a speed bump at best.

[bendan]

Just like all the other threads about incomes and standard of living, there's a lack of mention of where you are. Property prices in Bejing/Shanghai are four or five times what they are in Urumqi or Lijiang, so that would have a huge bearing on how much you need to live well. there's also the question of whether you're single or married, and whether you stand to inherit anything from back home or not.

I make what I consider a decent income here, and so does my wife. There hasn't been a stage in my adult life where I had as few financial worries as I do now, and I'm convinced that my standard of living is vastly higher than it was, or would be currently, back in my home country.

If you stayed away from the big cities, you could make a decent life on 5,000 a month. You could also ask for an accommodation allowance instead of an apartment - some places are surprisingly generous when you ask.

Anyway, I reckon I'm here indefinitely. It might not be forever, but unless something dramatic happens, it'll be for many more years at least.

[lagerlout2006]

You come to China because you want to---not for savings.

If you are a deadbeat-----stay away we dont need you here.