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aecuperus
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
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 Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject: Pre-South Korea Budget Planning |
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Good day all... I'm leaving for my South Korea post on Nov. 24, start teaching the 26th. School's director says 1st pay day is the 10th and they'll prorate my salary etc. However, I've been trying to find a happy medium as to what I should budget for my first month there from my own pocket. I'd like to have about 500$ put away cash (USD), as well as my credit card for emergencies. Mind you, I don't plan on living extravagantly, this is just to see me through the 1st month until I can get a feel for things and set a budget.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Warnings? Thanks! |
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boatofcar
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Location: Sheffield, UK
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd bring a little more if you can. $500 is possible, but $700-1k is better. |
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jadarite
Joined: 01 Sep 2007
Location: Andong, Yeongyang, Seoul, now Pyeongtaek
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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Plan what you are going to buy too  |
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venus
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Near Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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It's not ideal but if it's all you can manage, 500 US - 500,000 Korean Won will get you thorugh a month if you stay away from whores, don't drink too much or eat out at non-korean restaurants too much / take taxis.
I've had six jobs here and never had a problemn getting an advance either.
So if you have your 500 dollars plus a few more available on c/card, you'll not be a playboy/girl that motnh, but you'll be a-okay, comfortable even. |
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Hank the Iconoclast
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I came with 400 USD but I have my settlement and my flight is being reimbursed next week. So I should be fine for my first week and plus my parents told me they would put money in my checking if I was in a bind. |
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RedRob
Joined: 07 Jul 2003
Location: Narnia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Have you travelled before? New cities are always more expensive for the first month, for obvious reasons. Bring a grand, take it easy on the beers and western food and you'll be fine. You shouldn't spend that much, but it is better to have a few hundy left at the end of the month than to be a few hundy short. |
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aecuperus
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:33 pm Post subject: 'Have I Traveled before' |
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Appreciate the concern, as it were...or rather disbelief that I'd only have about 500$ Unfortunately my budget is what it is...not currently working and recent college grad just making a life, ya know?
Yes I've traveled, luckily under the padded pocketbook of my grandparents, when I was a broke student.
Still broke, not a student. But I'll make the best of it. Thanks for the suggestions all! |
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venus
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Near Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: 'Have I Traveled before' |
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| aecuperus wrote: |
Appreciate the concern, as it were...or rather disbelief that I'd only have about 500$ Unfortunately my budget is what it is...not currently working and recent college grad just making a life, ya know?
Yes I've traveled, luckily under the padded pocketbook of my grandparents, when I was a broke student.
Still broke, not a student. But I'll make the best of it. Thanks for the suggestions all! |
Refer to my post. 500 will do fine. They'll most likely advance you if you need it too. I've scraped by on less when I've spent too much of my salasry, trust me.
Anyone coming without a credit card is a bit stupid though imo. You never know what kind of emergency may arise - needing a quick flight out / losing your wallet with the 500 in / being involved in a court case / unexpected medical fees... I've heard it all and shake my head in disbelief when I find out these folks didn't bring a credit card with at least 1000 USD on it...
Last edited by venus on Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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RedRob
Joined: 07 Jul 2003
Location: Narnia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck.  |
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aecuperus
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject: Awesome |
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Hopefully I won't be a horror story. No offense, but I'd rather not be interesting reading for the many lovely and inquisitve teachers I've seen on this forum;-)
I have a chance at some temp work through an agency in the U.S. That pays weekly...so I can peace out whenever I get my ticket. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| $500 will easily be enough for 15 days if you're frugal but you won't have enough to buy stuff for your new place or go out much. |
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aarontendo
Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Location: Daegu-ish
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah $500 is easily doable, you can eat a few cheap meals until payday it won't hurt ya. Stock up some Ottogi instant stuff or something I guess.
I'd definately bring my credit card for emergencies. I've never personally experienced it but I've heard of people getting paid rather late and such. And I understand ya completely I got here flat damn broke my first contract heh, think I had about $500 to my name at that time ;p |
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venus
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: Near Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| $500 will easily be enough for 15 days if you're frugal but you won't have enough to buy stuff for your new place or go out much. |
Oh, it's only 15 days...?
I could and DO do that sometimes on 250,000 K WOn!!!
If you can't you have issues.
There are (if you're not working for public school who'll kit your apt out anyway) these small shops everywhere (I call them 'everything stores') which sell buckets, cleaning materials, mops, brooms, toiletries, laundry detergents etc.... You can kit your place out cheaply fr about 60,000 I'd say. Sh!t, even if it cost you 100,000, the 400,000 left over for 15 days is EASY! I still maintain you can do a month on 400,000 without going under, bear in mind, you'll survive but wont go out drinking or doing retail therapy, but still.
100,000 a week. 10,000 a day for food. 4,000 for travel. 14,000 x 7 = 98,000 Won.
Like I said, not a fun month, but with a bit of gimbap for 1,000 won and ramyeon for less or mandu for 1,000 won for a meal or two a day, then you're talking of possibly an evening or two out drinking a few cheap local beers that month...!
Okay, I'm being overzealous.... But you could survive on 100,000 a week. It wouldn't be much fun though... |
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