Job Discussion Forums

[ashanmari]

... If you had 2 years teaching experience, one in the states (college level) one at a language school (currently teaching in Indonesia), a TEFL cert and a degree. Prime concerns being:
a) A good salary (wanting to save IDEALLY 1000 USD/mo if possible?) I'm a penny pincher--
b) A nice quality of life-- meaning friendly faces, cheap food, some culture and the option of friendship.
I don't think this is too much to ask for--
Has anyone experienced this type of situation?
Where do you recommend to find such things?

[creztor]

I think Korea would offer you the best chance of saving right now? I could be wrong, but Korea or Japan? Either way you'd probably be living VERY tight and the job would have to provide housing.

[Chris_Crossley]

For me, it's China (believe it or not - I wouldn't have done years ago) because I have been fortunate in landing the kind of job where I could, in theory, have saved 1,000 USD/mo had I still been single with nothing to pay to any creditors (although I used to when I first arrived in '01 as I owed plenty).

However, I have been married to a local lady for almost eight years and we now have two children, the younger one being just 2 1/2 months old. From my income, therefore, I have to allocate money for my kids' education as well as siphon off about 20% per month to make mortgage repayments since we jointly own property.

Oh, well, this is the side-effect of deciding to get hitched, reproduce and climb the property ladder!

[ashanmari]

Indeed. I figured that Korea and China would be the places offering the most savings-- What city in china do you teach in Chris, if I may ask? Language school or Uni? Also, outside of Seoul, where in Korea offers savings?

[Glenski]

You're going to find it hard to save that much right away in most countries. Korea, perhaps, but there are more things to consider than just money.

Japan will let you save that much...

if you have no other debts to pay off, and
if you are very frugal.

Don't know about the Middle East, but some say that's the other place to make money. Not my sort of lifestyle or culture, though.

[creztor]

I thought most of the jobs advertisied for China offer no more than about 6000 - 10,000 RMB, with very few advertised at 10k? I'd expect someone to earn around 8000RMB and even with free housing, wouldn't it be difficult to save $1k USD a month on that? You are just earning on or around $1k USD a month and that doesn't take into account at least some food and buying the occasional stuff.

[tomstone]

8000 RMB is (right now) about 1170 USD. With free housing and being very careful, you could save 1000 USD a month. I do.

[Chris_Crossley]

[denise]

You could try some of the regional colleges in Oman. Furnished housing is provided, so it's quite easy to save. The lifestyle is pleasant, although it is very different from everywhere else I have lived (limited opportunities to befriend the locals, and most people are here for the money and not the culture).

d

[tomstone]

I should add that I smoke cigarettes and drink lots of (instant) coffee. I don't do without; if I need something, I buy it. Average savings per month is about 1000 USD. I don't drink, so that probably helps.

[runthegauntlet]

Korea might do the trick.

I save about 1100 USD a month with eating out about 8 times a week, bar once or twice a week, a trip abroad once a year and other entertaining activities like Martial Arts and cycling, etc.

[Sadebugo]

[fat_chris]

[runthegauntlet]

[runthegauntlet]