Korean Job Discussion Forums

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

How fast did the first year go by for you?
How much money had you saved up? How much did you end up spending?

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

I've been here going on 18 months.

I spent probably 1/2 of the money I made partying/travelling throughout Korea and paying student loans. However I did "save" lots of money by paying off all of my Credit Cards to the sum of about 6000 USD.

This year I am saving about 1 million won per month.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

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

First year flew by. I saved $12,000 my first year and $15,000 my second. I generally spent W10,000 a day during weekdays and W50,000 on weekends (things were cheaper in 98-99).

We currently save/invest 50% of my pay and 100% of my wife's.

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

Yeah, I'm hoping to pay off my credit cards (about 6,000 US Dollars). And have some money to settle and start a career after this year.

I've been here a month. It went by pretty fast, I guess. Was just wondering how the time went for y'all.

Kurtz · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Location: ples bilong me

How fast things go depend on how much you like your job. First year, very very slow, second year, very slow, this year blindingly fast.

First year saved 15 million Won

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

my first year I saved about 12 million won. I would have saved more, but i had a long vacation and did lots of traveling. I could have seen more, but seeing the different parts of the globe was more important to me.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

My first year was a real roller-coaster. Up on a new environment, source of income, and job. Down when I realised what shit the job was turning out to be (we lost one FT and got a higher workload) and finding out how rude and deeply racist some Koreans can be. And then the stress of changing jobs. Then up again with a new job I absolutely loved (and still do 3 1/2 years later).

I didn't save an awful lot because of a six-week unemployed period between jobs, but still saved a bit.

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

My first year was, in retrospect, the fastest of my life. The past 8-months have been faster still. I think time seems to go quicker out here than it does back home as you have a very distinct reference point i.e. the date when you first arrived. You're constantly referring back to it as your point of reference. Whereas, you don't really remember fixed dates back home.

As so far as saving goes, I can't really remember how much I saved tbh. My Masters eats up 25% of my net pay. I spent Christmas 07 in China and spent loads when I went home at the end of my first contract. This year, I send everything home. Usually about 1.1million to cover my study fees and pay off my credit card, while the remainder is being used to cover the cost of my wedding later this year. I think you can live on about 100,000 per week out here.

bundangbabo · Joined: 01 Jun 2008

inthewild · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Location: Korea

gregoriomills · Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Location: Busan, Korea

I've been here for 8 months now, and it's flown by. Starting to get a little weird about the idea of it being over in 4 months, actually.
Money is a big reason I came here, and here is how I break it down:

I live off about 100 000 - 125 000 per week, spending money (food, drinks, subways, etc).
Various Korean bills add up to about 160 000 give or take per month.
Then some people do Korean lessons/Hopkito/etc.
I live by this and even take an out-of-town trip once a month or so, and save amazingly.

The key is to not spend during the week, and not going "all out" both night of the weekend.
If I don't budget, I will piss it all away, I'm very well aware of this... Very Happy

Kikomom · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:53 am Post subject:

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

farrepatt · Joined: 27 Jan 2008

For my wife and I, I'd say that the first year didn't go too fast. It felt really slow at times, but the second year has almost flown by at times (we're 19 months in now).

In our first year we saved about 2,000-2,500 USD a month. This year we're saving about 3 million a month, but we've both got pay raises (about 300,000 total for the two of us).

Of course we don't live in Seoul, we live nearby in a city called Yongin, where I suspect things are slightly cheaper and there is less temptation to buy western or imported foods (which can be expensive compared to how cheap korean food is at restaurants).