Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeteJB]

I don't know if there has been a thread like this (if there is point me to it), but for those serious savers I think we should have a top list of ways to save money in Korea. Either for those of us who are students, or those who are in need of all the money they can get. Maybe we can't get a thousand ideas so I went with a hundred.. And there are plenty of obvious ones which may or may not save money depending. So to get started with ten...

1. Don't buy imported products unless you absolutely need to.
2. Don't use too much water.
3. Or electricity...
4. Or gas...
5. Don't just stick to department stores and supermarkets.
6. Don't hop in 모범 taxis. Use cheap ones or take a bus.
7. Use phone cards for making calls back home.
8. Don't drink more liquor than you need to.
9. Don't just put a few things in the washer. Wait until you have a good load.
10. Slow down on sending those text messages boy.

Be sure to edit your post if your number gets mixed up Gags are also welcome since it wouldn't be Dave's without them.

[mercury]

11. Take an empty water bottle to Mcdonalds, and fill it with their hand soap.
12. Make a roll out of carboard, go to the Lotte bathroom stalls and roll your own rolls of TP.
13. Take plastic containers to restaurants, snag the left over kimchi and side dishes (after people have left)
14. You know those half empty bottles of soju you find early in the morning? Take them, 90% of the time they are still okay to drink, if you are a little afraid, give them to your Korean relatives when they come to visit you.
15. Buses- Use coins, any kind of coins. The bus drivers dont care WHAT you put in, as long as it makes a clanking sound. I have used thai baht, mexican pesos, Egyptian pounds, not once was I ever stopped.
16. Azumas are your friends. When you see them sitting on the side of the road selling a pile of onions, or peppers, just sit by them and make them laugh. I guarentee they will let you walk away with one free onion. It will add up fast.
17. Free water at emart, bring your empty coke bottles and fill em up.
18. Blind subway beggers...... they can't see, pretend you are putting in money, you can take out some change. Make sure you sit alone with out anyone near you.
good luck~



p.s this is JUST a joke

[ajgeddes]

11. Don't eat.

[sojourner1]

20. Fill your empty water bottles up at a mountain side spring if one is located within your reach. You only know about these if you walk and hike around any green wooded area trails, but they are very common in Korea.

21. Drink bottled Hite beer at home or at a friends place instead of going to the bar if you must enjoy a beer after work.

22. Hike a mountain trail instead of shopping a fancy marble clad department store to make you feel comfortable on a lonely Saturday afternoon.

23. Look for the discounted food in Homeplus stores.

24. Avoid E-mart as it's more expensive than Homeplus.

25. Limit unnecessary things like cigarettes, beer, and junk food.

26. Avoid trips to Seoul every weekend if living outside of Seoul.

27. Bring jeans, shoes, underwear, spices, and OTC meds from your home country.

28. Shop 5 day outdoor street markets for your fruit and vegetables. You might find more things in other towns, but mine is fruits, vegetables, and seafood oriented. They typically have it on the 1st, 5th, 11th, 16th, 21st, 26th and 31st if a month has 31 days.

[Masta_Don]

29. You can haggle even with prostitutes.

[PGF]

21. 1000 won gimbop for lunch

22. buy your hite or cass in pitchers, not bottles.

23. Korean business men are not only a free dinner and drinks ticket; they are a gateway to private lessons- make them your friends

24. work 7 days/ week

25. walk or bike instead of hopping on the bus

26. ramen noodles

27. unplug your refrigerator if you do not use it. If you do this; switch off the main breaker when you leave in the morning/evening

28. borrow books from work to use with your privates- always return them, of course

29. unless you are a fat, stinky pig, you can probably wear your dress shirts/pants more than one day before laundering them.

30. when you do go to the love motel; leave no free stuff behind

[JongnoGuru]

40. (yes, 40. Please, keep track of how many tips were posted before yours and we'll get to 100 and be done with this "How to Save Money in Korea -- Take 4,322" in one page) You know those cardboard spindles for toilet paper? Stop throwing those in the paper recyclables bin; instead, collect them and fashion them into handsome, go-anywhere leisure suits that are perfect for the office but, you know, aren't too dressy for bumming around town.

[mercury]

41. Eat at EMART twice each day for free. The random food samples will provide you with enough calories to get you through the week.

42. Hold BINGO GAMES and take 10% of the profits. How does this work? Simple, have each child bring 1000 won to each English class. Play bingo and the winning student gets the pot, minus your 'gaming' fee.

43. Play "find the money". Have your class go on field trips outside. Divide the kids into groups of 3, and have them look for money. The group that finds the most will get a piece of candy (the candy can be found at any KEB bank (INSIDE THE GUEST AREA) YOU pocket the change.

[IncognitoHFX]

Why do people gripe about saving money in the first place? Korea is a dirt cheap place to live. Everything is cheap. Just avoid rich people stuff (classy restaurants, classy anything) and you're set.

[HapKi]

44. If you pay more than 10,000 for pants of any kind, you are paying too much.

[mercury]

[renzobenzo1]

46. Use bonegi.com for free text messages (10 per day)

[ajgeddes]

47. Live a miserable life.

[VanIslander]

[Ya-ta Boy]

48. Take empty jars to Mr. Pizza and just ask for water while you check the menu. While the waitress is away, fill the jars with their Parmesan cheese and hot pepper flakes, then 'answer' your cell phone and looked shocked. Rush out the door muttering something about an emergency.

49. Accept any and all invitations to go out for dinner and drinks and even suggest singing rooms with girls but always 'forget' to take your money. Be prepared to change friends often, but enjoy the freebies while they last.

50. (We're half-way there!) When you are out with your boss on the monthly group dinner thing, keep filling his glass with soju, then when he is sufficiently drunk, complain about being horny and how it is beginning to interfere with your work. It's fairly certain he will spring for a prostitute for you on company money. If not, be sure to let him hear you moan while rubbing up against doors and furniture during the next month. Repeat Step 1 at next month's dinner.