Korean Job Discussion Forums

ABC KID · Joined: 14 Sep 2007

While you are in Korea do you take every money making opportunity presented to you? Answers might vary according to visa status.

Option 1 - You have multiple jobs and perhaps a few privates too and rarely say no to a quick buck. You can work at almost any hour of the day within reason in search of your next few million won.

Option 2 - You have been known to take the odd job or opportunity to supplement your income but you like your spare time too and don't overdo it.

Option 3 - You only have one job or your visa doesn't permit you to work more than one job. You probably value your spare time more than money.

Please vote according to the options and elaborate on your reasons especially if they don't fall into the brackets above.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Option One. I have two part time jobs, both legal. One is in the morning from 6:40-11:00 plus one Saturday per month from 10-5, and the other is in the afternoon from 1-4:50.
I usually end up working three Saturdays per month at job one though because people want the day off and I want the money. I'll sometimes work the evening shift there if someone wants the night off or whatever.

When you're paying off student loans and saving for grad school, it's all about the money.

teachteach · Joined: 26 Mar 2008

Good on you cdninkorea. Saving money for something useful, compared to the other ninkampoop expats in Korea who are waiting to blow it all on their next (tri-yearly) trip to Thailand.

Suwon23 · Joined: 24 Jan 2008

I'm definitely type 3. With just one job I can still save 60% of my paycheck, so what's the point in doing privates? And working while you're young to have money when you're old is retarded; life isn't worth living when you're old, no matter how much money you have, so don't waste your good years working. And besides, time is what counts, not money. Money is only there so you can stay alive to enjoy your time.

(yes, I know this is the antithesis of what most Dave folks think, and yes, I imagine they will have some very harsh words for me.)

WoBW · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: HBC

I like my free time to much to work all the time. I love just hanging around at home doing nothing in particular. If an opportunity to make more money comes along I'll consider it as long as it's not actually teaching - I'm trying to get out of the classroom, not spend more time in it. So last summer I gave up a few weekend co-writing a set of textbooks with a sweet royalty fee. Same again this coming summer. But hell, I can do that sitting bollock naked at home and set my own hours as long as I meet the deadline.

KumaraKitty · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

I was option 1 for the year after we got married. After our first anniversary being pregnant slowed me down to option 2. Hubby is the same. It worked well because we made some excellent contacts during that year who have continued to recommend us and keep the cash rolling in. Debt free with a large amount saved up makes for a comfortable life. I don't have to worry about taking time off to enjoy our son when he arrives and neither does hubby!
That being said, we're both used to working full time so our work ethic didn't change too much when we came to Korea.

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

Option 1 for me. I teach 62 hours a week. No student loans but I do have a small morgage. I plan on retiring in 5 years so the more $ I can sock away the better.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

62 classes a week. All else is extra, but not all that much.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

I choose type 2.5

I started teaching a couple of hours a week privates, because my university hasnt' given us a raise in 3 years and it's getting a bit tight to feed and educate the kids. Otherwise i'd prefer to enjoy my free time. Even just working 2 hours a week extra I can feel the quality of my teaching has gone down for my university classes.

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

Option One

I'm trying to save enough to allow me to live in China for a couple years and not have to work unless I want to. I've been working six days a week for the past year and a bit, but hopefully it will be worth it.

teachteach · Joined: 26 Mar 2008

Start posting pictures of those bank slips to see if you are all on the level.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

What about someone like me who grew up in an upper-middle-class neighborhood with two workaholic parents that were never home? I was making my own meals at 5 years old (lots of Kraft mac and cheese) because the parents usually didn't get home until really late or they were on business trips.

I lived in an expensive house, but I sure didn't feel rich. I think that made me a little strange with my spending habits today. I go from being really stingy (just with myself - not others) to spending money like a drunken sailor.

Hmm...

nicholas_chiasson · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Location: Samcheok

Atavistic · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject:

I work one job, save money well, spend money on fun things (travel, photography equip, cute lingerie) and don't take on any other extra jobs.

The ones who save nothing for the future are stupid because they're only thinking about today and will probably need that money. The ones who work and work thinking they can retire in ten years remind me of parents who put off travel and fun stuff "until the kids are gone." They might be hit by a bus tomorrow.

This balance works for me.