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KiwiRob
Joined: 05 Feb 2013
Location: Wellington, New Zealand.
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 Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:38 pm Post subject: How much Won did you use during your 1st month in Korea? |
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So there are plenty of posts out there about how much you should bring but I am curious as to how much ₩ you actually did use during your first month in Korea. Please give figure in won not your home currency.
Did you end up bringing enough for everything you could have wanted or needed? Did you wish you had more? Any other comments welcome. |
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Dog Soldier
Joined: 29 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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Truthfully, I went a bit crazy in my first month. Out most nights, exploring/buying stuff on the weekend, never cooked a meal always ate out. That's what happens when 3 people of similar ages start at the same time and have a similar attitude.
In short. Had my flight money (748,000 won) and blew another 500,000 won so in total lets call it 1.3 million for a month of living like a king in a small/mid sized city. |
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Deja
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Depends.
Last time I think almost 1.500.000KRW, but about 600.000KRW of that was for the gym (6mo advance) and at least 200.000KRW for basic apartment stuff (cleaning stuff).
This time over 1.500.000KRW (I know I had to exchange more than 1.000EUR within 20 days of coming here), but I had to get almost all house items myself. I have spent at least 500.000KRW on those (blankets, towels, pans, utensils, house chemicals..) the first day. I had chairs, table, bed and TV (that I never used...) already. |
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Dog Soldier
Joined: 29 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Deja raises a good point...my apartment was fully furnished with all the kitchenware I needed so apart from some cleaning products and some airfreshener stuff I was good to go. |
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Michlerish
Joined: 08 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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I was surprised to find my apartment totally unfurnished (except for a bed), so I needed to buy pillows, blankets, dishes, utensils, cleaning supplies, organizing tools, etc. I also came here completely alone, and work at a small school with only 2 other foreign teachers that have been here a while (meaning there's no other "newbs" to make easy friends with), so that meant making almost all of my meals at home, which adds up. I also wanted to explore and meet people, so I spent money on a transit card, taxis, bars, spa, entry fees, etc.
It's been almost exactly a month now, and I've spent around 1.5 million won. That's cash, after landing. I haven't even gotten my phone yet, or paid my utility bills :-/
Edit: Another thing I wasn't aware of, that people should plan for, is that the required health check costs 100,000 won. |
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Michlerish wrote: |
| Another thing I wasn't aware of, that people should plan for, is that the required health check costs 100,000 won. |
The schools don't pay for those anymore? In the past the rule used to be teacher generally pays the expenses outside the country....visas, apostilles etc. and the school pays for everything regarding registration and legal requirements (ARC, medical etc) once you actually arrive.
Is this a new change that teachers must pay their own medical and another example of the former benefits of working in the ROK being slowly eroded, or is Michlerish's case an isolated one? |
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Deja
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Michlerish wrote: |
I was surprised to find my apartment totally unfurnished (except for a bed), so I needed to buy pillows, blankets, dishes, utensils, cleaning supplies, organizing tools, etc. I also came here completely alone, and work at a small school with only 2 other foreign teachers that have been here a while (meaning there's no other "newbs" to make easy friends with), so that meant making almost all of my meals at home, which adds up. I also wanted to explore and meet people, so I spent money on a transit card, taxis, bars, spa, entry fees, etc.
It's been almost exactly a month now, and I've spent around 1.5 million won. That's cash, after landing. I haven't even gotten my phone yet, or paid my utility bills :-/ |
Blankets and sheets are not that expensive if you don't want to just check the nearest shop. Strangely, I found OK prices at my e-Mart.
However, what they consider "sheets" and "blankets" I found to be .... barely related. I am yet to see actual cottom sheets except in an uber expensive Lotte/Shinsaege Dpt. store. Blankets.... didn't see anything good yet. Much less woolen blankets that I use even in the summer back home.
They are either some strange weave for cottom, or some polyester crap. Both give me skin issues  There are some winter "blankets" (I don't know the English word for those things that look like blankets filled with feathers or similar) but those are too hot for any season, at least for me, and quite expensive.
The only thing I found to be good are pillows! I just love those "stone" pillows since I prefer to sleep on the floor  |
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Michlerish
Joined: 08 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Deja wrote: |
| Michlerish wrote: |
I was surprised to find my apartment totally unfurnished (except for a bed), so I needed to buy pillows, blankets, dishes, utensils, cleaning supplies, organizing tools, etc. I also came here completely alone, and work at a small school with only 2 other foreign teachers that have been here a while (meaning there's no other "newbs" to make easy friends with), so that meant making almost all of my meals at home, which adds up. I also wanted to explore and meet people, so I spent money on a transit card, taxis, bars, spa, entry fees, etc.
It's been almost exactly a month now, and I've spent around 1.5 million won. That's cash, after landing. I haven't even gotten my phone yet, or paid my utility bills :-/ |
Blankets and sheets are not that expensive if you don't want to just check the nearest shop. Strangely, I found OK prices at my e-Mart.
However, what they consider "sheets" and "blankets" I found to be .... barely related. I am yet to see actual cottom sheets except in an uber expensive Lotte/Shinsaege Dpt. store. Blankets.... didn't see anything good yet.
They are either some strange weave for cottom, or some polyester crap. Both give me skin issues There are some winter "blankets" (I don't know the English word for those things that look like blankets filled with feathers or similar) but those are too hot for any season, at least for me, and quite expensive.
The only thing I found to be good are pillows! I just love those "stone" pillows since I prefer to sleep on the floor |
Yeah, thankfully I live very close to a Lotte Mart so the school rep took me there right away when she found out I didn't have a pillow or blankets for the night (I arrived around 8pm). Bought a shitty pillow for 15,000, a comforter for 29,000, a sheet/blanket for 15,000 and another fuzzy blanket for 10,000.
I've since been back there to buy a better pillow... a latex ergonomic style one, for 30,000. I hear you an buy legitimate sheets at specialty bedding stores, but they're a little expensive. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| I had about 700,000 won for the whole month or so until I was paid. I ended up with about 100,000 by the time I got paid. I could have saved that if I didn't eat out all the time and cooked. I didn't go to bars or anything for that first month since I was too worried that I would spend all my money. This was in a small city in the country-side. |
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slinks
Joined: 02 Mar 2013
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:18 am Post subject: |
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| Dammit! These estimates are more than what I'm anticipating. Looks like I have to skip the long term gym membership (and pay a higher rate for a single month membership) until my first paycheck |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| What about doing crossfit style workouts outside? |
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Michlerish
Joined: 08 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| slinks wrote: |
| Dammit! These estimates are more than what I'm anticipating. Looks like I have to skip the long term gym membership (and pay a higher rate for a single month membership) until my first paycheck |
It was more than I was anticipating as well. But keep in mind I'm in Seoul, and my apartment was unfurnished. If you're in a smaller city and have a furnished apartment, you could probably spent much less. |
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| lemak wrote: |
| Michlerish wrote: |
| Another thing I wasn't aware of, that people should plan for, is that the required health check costs 100,000 won. |
The schools don't pay for those anymore? In the past the rule used to be teacher generally pays the expenses outside the country....visas, apostilles etc. and the school pays for everything regarding registration and legal requirements (ARC, medical etc) once you actually arrive.
Is this a new change that teachers must pay their own medical and another example of the former benefits of working in the ROK being slowly eroded, or is Michlerish's case an isolated one? |
Anyone??? |
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Deja
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:58 am Post subject: |
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| slinks wrote: |
| Dammit! These estimates are more than what I'm anticipating. Looks like I have to skip the long term gym membership (and pay a higher rate for a single month membership) until my first paycheck |
I seriously doubt these estimates should be anything to go on, if you need to know the "comfortable minimum" needed.
I never ate "cheap" food, it was always the Alaskan salmon, AU/NZ beef ribs or round (strangely one of the least expensive meats in Korea LOL), eggs, plus quite a lot of vegetables. Those things are all uber-expensive in Korea. I also plan on staying a longer time and got the long-term chef knives, pans and some good utensils.
Bring your bed sheets, and if possible a pillow; that'll save you a good deal of money and frustration
Simple utensils, a few glasses/cups, cheapest (but remarkably good) cooking things (one pot, one pan) can all be had for well under 50.000 at e-mart. |
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Aine1979
Joined: 20 Jan 2013
Location: Incheon
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| Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:43 am Post subject: |
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| lemak wrote: |
| lemak wrote: |
| Michlerish wrote: |
| Another thing I wasn't aware of, that people should plan for, is that the required health check costs 100,000 won. |
The schools don't pay for those anymore? In the past the rule used to be teacher generally pays the expenses outside the country....visas, apostilles etc. and the school pays for everything regarding registration and legal requirements (ARC, medical etc) once you actually arrive.
Is this a new change that teachers must pay their own medical and another example of the former benefits of working in the ROK being slowly eroded, or is Michlerish's case an isolated one? |
Anyone??? |
My contract stated that I was responsible for the cost of the medical and the ARC, however the owner paid for both, and those of my co-workers (this was within the last month). Having recieved several offers prior to accepting this one, I took a look through my email at the other contracts, and every single one clearly stated that those costs were my responsibility, and several also stated they would not be reimbursed. Not sure if this is the norm in all cases (as some of the contracts were terrible), but it seems to be more commonplace now. |
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