Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gmat]

Matko, parents and parents to be:

Saw this recently on The Cost of Raising a Child. Not Korea or Japan specific, but thought you might be interested in the 'frightening' numbers. US$250,000 Ouch.
http://tinyurl.com/bxx1

[The King of Kwangju]

[kimcheeking]

well we are into month 15 and haven't had to buy much in the way of clothes... lot's of gifts from when she was born and also for the 1 year birthday party. Plus my folks regularly send clothes for her (mom loves to sew).

Breast-feeding saves lots of money and is healthier for the baby. My wife breast-fed for the first 7-8 months and when she quit we had to start buying formula. 15,000 won every 10 days. But she was also eating solid food - a new baby would be about 15,000 won every 5-7 days. Immunizations and regular check-ups are not so expensive though there was one shot that cost us about 80,000won plus the doctors fee.

diapers are expensive ouch ouch ouch... There are a lot of one off expenses to consider also like car-seats (2x what they cost in Canada) bottles, nipples, cribs, rocker, blankets etc...

I figure we could have saved an additional 6-7 million over the last year without the baby, that's party because my wife is working less and making less money as well as the actual baby expenses. My Daughter has also only been sick once in 15 months (knock on wood) so we haven't had to deal with unforeseen medical expenses.

[crazylemongirl]

I know have a baby is still expensive but I feel for people here. Back home at least baby stuff was truely the last branch of communism people share and share a like... But this is coming from a very boring practical person who's idea of great baby presents are boxes of nappies.

CLG

[waterbaby]

[justaskdan]

Waterbaby - I did the research and this Luxemburg one is the best, at least for what I am doing which is investing in AMEX and NYSE stocks. Commissions for each trade are 30 eruo compared to 60 Cnd in my TD Waterhouse account back home.

I will pm you with the ULR. And it was easy but I had to provide my Canadian bank account information, that was about it.

[rapier]

Avoid Itaewon.
take weekend trips in the countryside instead- cheaper and more rewarding.
I have a sugar mommy who takes me out to meals, buys and gives me stuff, drives me around, and pays me to teach her sweet daughter. I'm lucky- but i did'nt go looking for her...
Cook cheaply- i often make a big veggie bolognaise or currie that lasts for days if re-heated. no ordering pizzas etc..

[Stunted Wookie]

My wife and I saved 11,000 in 3 months.....She holds the bank cards.
Our son is 1 year old now, after he was born our savings dropped..others already mentioned the diaper, formula costs.

Offshore account..great idea.
eat at home.
soju is cheaper than beer
watch tv.
eat rice

[sickboy]

I always pay for things like subways and shit with cash. All my beckers and obeckers go into this change jar. That stuff adds up, before I head off to Tokyo, it will pay for 4 or 5 nights accomodation!

Thank *beep* the fags are cheap!

[gmat]

Justaskdan (Waterbaby):

If you are just using the offshore account for US stocks, curious why you didn't use Interactive Brokers. No advice provided, but the best price and user interface available. I have no affiliation, just a satisfied customers .

I do not use IB to trade stocks (I trade futures) but the stock commissions are dirt cheap!

http://www.interactivebrokers.com/index.html

USD 0.01/Share For up to 500 shares

USD 0.005/Share Incremental shares > 500

(Minimum commission USD 1.00)

I realize j-a-dan, that you are probably using the offshore account for other reasons, but if it is just commissions, IB is the best. Hands down.

ps, Your orders at IB go direct from your computer to the relevant exchange, executions are instantaneous.

[Homer]

I am also married to a Korean women and she is great with money....I aint half bad either.
We both work, I send about 3000cdn home per month and she invests locally. We live on about a million won a month doing most of what we want. We live in Busan which is cheaper than Seoul.
We bought a house in my home country two years ago and are now renting it and paying it off quickly.
You just have to budget properly if you want to save. Also, our situation is favorable since we both work.
Before I met my wife I ws managing to send home about 2000 cdn a month out of my wages and living well.
My job now provides us with a spacious appartment by giving us a housing allowance. They key money was covered as a wedding gift (luck again).

[waterbaby]

Here's a savings tip - a real meal saver!

Just walk around EMart (or another big chain hypermarket) during peak time, say Sunday afternoon (if you can deal with the 3 trolley pile ups and 5 minute waits to make a left turn into the dairy aisle) and sample all the goodies that lovely ladies and gents are cooking up on every corner. Yum Yum. Made for a good and expansive Sunday lunch for hubbie and I

[jajdude]

Well, I haven't anything. Must be the booze and pizza, and some other little things...

[yetanotherSarah]

I kept my first paycheck to live on and sent the next two home for student loans. It works well and I don't have to actually budget. When the loans are paid, I will be able to bank a sweet chunk of change.

[Tokki1]

Drink at home or at a friend's or at a cheap watering hole. Most of my money goes into my liver.