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Jennad
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 31
Location: San Diego
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 Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 4:32 am Post subject: $400/month in bills: crippling in Bangkok? |
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I have about $350-400/month in student loan payments every month.......will I be able to survive on an average budget as a starting teacher in Bangkok with this kind of debt?
I've read beginning teachers make about 900 USD/month starting off, so I guess the question is, is it possible to live on 500 USD/month? I'm not looking to live lavishly by any means, but I don't want to end up in some roach motel either. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:00 am Post subject: Re: $400/month in bills: crippling in Bangkok? |
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| Jennad wrote: |
I have about $350-400/month in student loan payments every month.......will I be able to survive on an average budget as a starting teacher in Bangkok with this kind of debt?
I've read beginning teachers make about 900 USD/month starting off, so I guess the question is, is it possible to live on 500 USD/month? I'm not looking to live lavishly by any means, but I don't want to end up in some roach motel either. |
It would certainly be a long stretch to start off at the entry level in BKK and pay off $400/mo in bills at home.
It might be do-able outside the city 35k baht goes a lot further out in the provinces and there is less "western" stuff to spend your money on but would still be very tight.
Until you get past the entry level (get a couple years of experience in the classroom under your belt) you would be better off in places like Korea or the JET program in Japan.
In those cases, even at an entry level, you can easily bank $500 per month (after your living expenses) and many manage up to $1000 and still live comfortably.
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Jennad
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 31
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:33 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice. I realize I could make a lot more cash in other countries, but at the same time I know I wouldn't want to live in China, and S. Korea isn't all that appealing to me. Application process in Japan sounds like a hassle.
Suck it up for a year and live in a place I don't have my heart set on so I can eventually live comfortably in my dream spot? Guess that's the question.... |
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Skyblue2
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 127
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:17 am Post subject: |
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| Jennad wrote: |
| Suck it up for a year and live in a place I don't have my heart set on so I can eventually live comfortably in my dream spot? Guess that's the question.... |
BKK would be miserable on $500/mo. It may be a great town, but not when you're flat broke. End of story. |
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Jennad
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 31
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| Hmm...well what is a decent amount to live off of while in Bangkok? $600? $700? If most starting teachers only earn $900....that's what, $700 after rent? |
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Skyblue2
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 127
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:46 am Post subject: |
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| Jennad wrote: |
| Hmm...well what is a decent amount to live off of while in Bangkok? $600? $700? If most starting teachers only earn $900....that's what, $700 after rent? |
$900 a month is hand to mouth and the absolute minimum salary (and was the same a decade ago, to give you some perspective). If you want to have good memories of good times when you leave Thailand, you don't want to be there with $500 a month after loan payments. Just my two satang. |
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