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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:43 am Post subject: |
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To each their own.
I've been here since the mid-90s. I budget for 600 monthly on entertainment these days. Sometimes I spend a bit more; sometimes a bit less. I do like to eat some "real" western food at least once a week. That can mean anything from 10-100 depending on where I eat, or if I cook at home. If I go out(which is only around once a month nowadays) for a friend's birthday or something similar, I can easily blow a hundred plus, and that ain't including ho's blows or regular blow.
I could NEVER get by on 50 monthly, let alone weekly, for entertainment. I don't envy you, but I do kind of respect you for being able to be so spartan. |
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wooden nickels
Joined: 23 May 2010
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:01 am Post subject: |
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denverdeath wrote: |
To each their own.
I've been here since the mid-90s. I budget for 600 monthly on entertainment these days. Sometimes I spend a bit more; sometimes a bit less. I do like to eat some "real" western food at least once a week. That can mean anything from 10-100 depending on where I eat, or if I cook at home. If I go out(which is only around once a month nowadays) for a friend's birthday or something similar, I can easily blow a hundred plus, and that ain't including ho's blows or regular blow.
I could NEVER get by on 50 monthly, let alone weekly, for entertainment. I don't envy you, but I do kind of respect you for being able to be so spartan. |
If I see something I want, I will buy it. I don't go hungry. I would do more international travel if the cost wan't as high as it is. But the main reason I don't do the travel very much is because I need to be at my job/business.
I'm not a scrooge with money. I sometimes donate to what I feel are worthy causes. I've given blood several times since I have been in Korea. I've even done some volunteer work at an orphanage.
It's funny when I talk to hipsters and they seem to think that because I have a school that I'm probably very materialistic and focused only on money. Other than my home, I probably own less STUFF than some of them. 13 years in Korea and I don't own a car. The only big hobby purchase that I have made in Korea is a Leather Crafting Kit. It was very expensive. Other than the kit and a few international trips I'm probably about as spartan as they come. |
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SeoulNate

Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Location: Hyehwa
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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Kind of envy that to a degree, I don't think I could do without at least 400-600 a month on entertainment stuff w/o going crazy. I suppose a lot of that depends on work though, if you have a job that consumes 10+ hours a day of your time you probably are not going to have much free time nor spend a lot of money during that time as you will most likely be just winding down from the day or sleeping. |
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wooden nickels
Joined: 23 May 2010
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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SeoulNate wrote: |
Kind of envy that to a degree, I don't think I could do without at least 400-600 a month on entertainment stuff w/o going crazy. I suppose a lot of that depends on work though, if you have a job that consumes 10+ hours a day of your time you probably are not going to have much free time nor spend a lot of money during that time as you will most likely be just winding down from the day or sleeping. |
I can't say that I wouldn't be living from payday to payday if I was 24 again and living here. Being older I suppose most of the temptation has fizzled out. Don't get me wrong, there's still some fizzle in the old wood, it just doesn't stay in a constant fizzle mode. |
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PRagic

Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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Agree about the car, especially if you live in a city; no need. Here well over 20 years and haven't even ever come close to buying, or needing, a car. Waste. |
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wooden nickels
Joined: 23 May 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 4:26 am Post subject: |
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How much are you single guys generally spending on a date?
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Yaya

Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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PRagic wrote: |
Agree about the car, especially if you live in a city; no need. Here well over 20 years and haven't even ever come close to buying, or needing, a car. Waste. |
Yep, no car needed even if you have a wife and child. I'm sure the extra walking is good for health, plus the stress of having a car, esp. in Korea, is something I can do without. |
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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PRagic wrote: |
Agree about the car, especially if you live in a city; no need. Here well over 20 years and haven't even ever come close to buying, or needing, a car. Waste. |
When you have kids, you will find you need a car more than before. It's not a necessity though. Just something that makes your life more comfortable. Like so many other things these days.
Most everyone owns or does something that seems like a waste for others. I bet you spend more on your cigar hobby than I do on my car.
To me, paying 60-70-80k/month for phone is a big waste. We pay 40k together with my wife vs. 140k what others around us pay for two phones. In five years, we saved enough to buy a decent used car on that difference. And now it covers pretty much all car related expenses.
I agree though that buying a new car is not a great idea, unless you have to drive a lot. |
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PRagic

Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 2:05 am Post subject: |
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I make more on one or two high end humidor flips than I spend on stogies for the year. I make it a point to fund my hobby with my hobby. In fact, I'm well in the black in the stogie and stogie stuff department lol...
Old phone so no expenses there. University and grants cover all tech, book purchases and periodicals. Compared to what we make and have working for us, we live VERY frugally. We like the FU account concept; it's nice to know you can pretty much retire if, where, and when you want.
But, yeah, it see your point. If we had kids, we might consider a car. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 4:13 am Post subject: |
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Not saying cars are a necessity for anyone, but glad we have one(used to have 2 but realized that was wasteful). If I were still single, or childless, I would still think that shopping at costco 4x yearly would be a real pain as there's only one here in Busan, and I don't live anywhere near it...I buy a fair amount of frozen stuff and I don't want it to thaw(I usually place it on the front seat in front of the blasting a/c even in winter). You're single? Again. not saying it's necessary, but taking a lady out on a bus or subway may not be as impressive as taking her out in a Tico...cough!...cough! I guess cabbing it MAY be more impressive than a Tico.
Also, if you like camping, or to bbq at cabins, having a car definitely makes things a lot nicer, esp if you want to do things YOUR way...I don't like BBQing samgyupsal, I like to bbq a nice thick steak, potatoes, veggies, salmon, chicken, and hamburgers. If you don't bring that stuff with you in a cooler filled with ice, you're not going to get it in Korea in the middle of nowhere.
Climate control is also nice. Most Koreans love heat, while I hate it. That's not saying I'm a lazy ass. I walk up and down our school's mountain at least twice a week. I do it for the exercise, and the "fresh" air. |
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swashbuckler
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:35 am Post subject: |
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SeoulNate wrote: |
Kind of envy that to a degree, I don't think I could do without at least 400-600 a month on entertainment stuff w/o going crazy |
Have you ever thought about stopping drinking and/or going to bars? Might be easier than you think. |
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