Korean Job Discussion Forums

[teachteach]

Every second post in this forum uses the terms 'bank, coin, save, exchange, money, salary, newbie salary' and the line I've heard 100 times in the 5 years I been here in Korea: "I make 7 million a month."

My friend, a Canadian engineer working here living rent free in one of the most exclusive apartments in Korea, absolutely balked at the idea of ordering a stuffed crust pizza that would have added an extra 1,000 won to the bill. (He makes 5 million a month take home with a free car BTW) So I ordered 2 stuffed crust pizzas and paid for them myself and told him he needs to loosen up a bit.

A guy I worked with cried foul when his heating bill was 3,000 won ($3.00) more than what he had planned on paying (the total was 18,000 won for 1 month of heat in January)

Anyways, it's pretty sad when you save every penny in 'savings' rather than on equity and investments which is where real wealth comes from.

As well as health and well-being.

[PGF]

one of my best friends from university was a thift-a-holic. Today he owns two houses on a river in Virginia, paid for his MBA at william and mary with cash, and drives a beat up 1985 diesel jetta.

He used to drink the Pabst and I always had the tasty import.

I don't know. Savings isn't that bad.

[DRAMA OVERKILL]

Foreigners are cheapskates. Big difference between being thrifty and stingy.

[ciccone_youth]

most people come to korea to save money, maybe that's why.

[DRAMA OVERKILL]

People can come here to work and save lots of money, of course. Probably the biggest appeal of this place. But, worrying about 500 won here and 1000 won there (splitting taxi fares, for example) is just being cheap. It's pathetic.

[cdninkorea]

TeachTeach:

Some of us are that way because we're saving toward something. You seemed to be impressed, in another thread about money, that I'm working toward undergrad loan payments and grad school savings.

Some foreigners definitely go overboard though (and to those may I say: 오바 하지마! ㅋ). A good friend of mine, for example, doesn't turn his heat on until January to save money, and sleeps with a winter hat some nights to compensate.

Others spend too much: a guy I work with takes taxis almost everywhere and spends his weekends and some weeknights at expensive restaurants and booking clubs. Every few months he spends a weekend in Hong Kong, Japan or Thailand.

I'm a little cheap myself, but I don't think I'm too bad: I workout at a decent gym, don't skimp on workout supplements and groceries, and go out to moderately priced restaurants once or twice a week. I live on under 2 million a month (600,000 of that is to rent and utilities).

But now you've piqued my curiosity: what are your spending habits like, OP?

[bondjimbond]

Geez, I only MAKE about 2 million a month.

[Draz]

What a silly question...

[crusher_of_heads]

Actually, it's not unreasonable for those new to travelling or fresh out of university. Lots [relatively speaking] of disposable income, some don't want to be frivolous-before I started filling my water bottles at my gym, I would get the chepest 2L bottle.

I don't like taxis, period.

Also, if I am of the opinion that owners of establishments are narrowminded bigots, or ***rude*** they get nothing and they can feed their soju habit on someone else's dime.

[bassexpander]

It's because it soon becomes painfully obvious that in many countries around the world (Korea being one of them) the locals will gladly screw you out of money every chance they get.

In Korea, they seem to take some great level of satisfaction in being able to do so. Your buddy probably didn't care so much about the money -- it was the principle of the thing. That's how I approach it.

Koreans can take money to the level of it being a control issue. I don't like to allow them any sick control pleasures, even if we're just talking a few thousand won.

[teachteach]

Cdninkorea. Don't misunderstand. What I mean is general cheapness over a few dollars here and there which is a little mindboggling. Saving money is great. I was just commenting on pennies here and there.

Because of Korea, I was able to put down 10,000 cash for a private pilot license and hopefully again for the Commercial pilot license.

[teachteach]

My spending habits? 1 mill a month for me on whatever suits my fancy, and 1 mill back home.
If I haven't spent the 1 mill on myself before the end of the month, I splurge.

[OnTheOtherSide]

I think people have different ethics about money, depending on how they were raised and how spoiled or poor they were. And these habits are deeply ingrained into you from childhood. If your parents didn't have much money and they made you eat every morsel of food, you're probably going to be a little more frugal than someone who grew up in a huge house with every toy they ever wanted.

If you had to go from rags to riches, you'll probobly be a little cheaper than someone who was a spoiled brat.

[demaratusinTW]

Many er stuck 'tween rock n hard headed place, they's homes nowhere really, they's stinking 'bout their lives back there. You know, nothin here either, so gots to make dough, be someone when they return to nothin.

[cdninkorea]