Job Discussion Forums

Ferfichkin · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 140

How much money should I bring? If I'm coming over without a job how much money will I need to keep myself afloat until I get a job and my first paycheck? I imagine most people rent an apartment somewhere between the time they get a job and the time they get their first paycheck, plus food, and furniture, and everything I'll run into, how much would you suggest I bring? Not including flight, I'll figure that out seperately. I'm Canadian, so if you happened be a Canadian and can give me a figure in Canadian dollars that would be great, otherwise you can just tell me in whatever currency you want to and I'll and figure it out myself.

Thanks,
fich

Xenophobe · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 163

Go back over some of the past threads. This is a frequently asked question so you should have all the info you need plus some, if you go back a bit.

Ferfichkin · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 140

Boy, you were right Xenophone, there are a lot of threads about this. I looked through the first ten pages and found a bunch, I guess I should have checked first. I'm still a little confused though because of the wide range of figures that have been suggested. Some people say 1000US is good, while others have given advice claiming that 100000NT (3152US) is a good start up figure. A lot of other people seem to think 1500US is a good amount to come over with. Now, I realize that there is no final, definitive, end of discussion amount , but it seems to me that if 1000US is enough then 3152US is overkill. Would you be able to cover the expenses of your apartment along with everything else with only 1000 or 1500US? I know the amount you ultimately bring depends on the amount that you plan to spend, and that there's not an exact amount where it's like, " You need 1500US, period. If you have 1501 you're going overboard, and if you only have 1499 you'll be dead within a week." I know it's not like that, but for the average person, who does the average things, and incurs the average expenses, is the appropriate figure 1000-1500US, or is it closer to 3000US?

Any advice on this would be really appreciated. I guess it's just confusing trying to figure things out when you're not in the country and don't have a clear picture in your mind about how much things cost and how things are gonna go.

Anyways, thanks
fich

Xenophobe · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 163

I brought 2500 because it's always better to have too much than not enough for any incidentals.

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

The other thing a lot of us advocate is having enough cash on hand for an emergency. If you suddenly have to leave for family reason or TW is just not working out you may need money for a plane ticket. You might need to change jobs. You could have a health problem and want to see a non-NHI service provider. The extra money gives you peace of mind. Jobs here don't pay until after you have worked, gerenally after the first month.

Ferfichkin · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 140

The reason I ask is because it will, obviously, take me twice as long to save 3000 as it would to save 1500, and I would like to leave asap. I would definately like to have that extra money for peace of mind, but the question is, am I willing to work, and postpone my trip, for a few more months to get it.

Thanks for everybody's help,
fich

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

Try to bring more money instead of less. A credit card would also be handy but cash is better. A lot of it depends on how quickly you can find a job and how long until they pay you. I have previously advocated needing NT$100,000 FOR PROOF OF FUNDS FOR A STUDENT VISA. Which is different to the whole ARC route. Even then, this amount is not necessarily needed (to discretion on visa office staff among other things).