Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chinook]

"And remember, saving 1.5 million on a salary of 2 million takes some impressive budget skills."

"If you're single and spending more than 600,000 a motnh you drink too much."

I must admit, as someone planning to come over, with student loan payments to make, I am fairly interested in how much I may be able to save. I've read all the budgeting posts in the FAQ, but those two recent posts (in the thread about the guy that made 60mil and said reading Dave's makes you paranoid) are interesting cause they contradict each other nicely.

It is difficult trying to figure these things out, cause things seem to get quoted in won, US$ and CAN$ to me which makes it difficult to make it all come together in my head (and after having my first full time job in Scotland, I occassionally still convert to pounds to try to understand the value of things...)

[Badmojo]

I think you can save half and still have a good life. If you make 2.0, that means you're clearing 1.8, so you have 800 000 to spend doing whatever in one month.

I was thinking about starting a thread about food, as in why is it so expensive here? I'm dropping 325,000 a month, and I don't eat anything. It's outrageous.

Anyway, minus food, you're looking at 500 000. It's not enough to go crazy every night, but you'll be able to get out, see some places, and do some things.

Get a girlfriend, though, and you can forget it. You can throw your savings plans out the window.

Personally, I can save 1.3 out of 1.8, but I don't do anything. It's a sad state of affairs out here in A-san.

[the_beaver]

These days I'm getting by on 800~900,000 a month and I'm living fine (that includes paying 100,000 for rent and 70,000 for hapkido).

I don't drink though, so that helps.

[kangnamdragon]

[justagirl]

My husband and I spend between 1-1.2 million a month. We don't go out and drink, though. When we were single, we spent more--about 700,000 each a month.

When I worked my first job in Korea, I was bringing home about 1 million a month working at a university . Now I know better. I was living on less than 400,000/month back then.

justagirl

[just because]

As a rule I try to save about 10 million a year.
It doesn't sound much but after you take out all the overseas holidays and little trips plus the little treats it is more realistic. It is achievable and if you roll it over into savings and investments it does the work for you.

I do like to live and have a good time.

Remember the saying you only live once so you might as well live it to the fullest

I notice a lot of people everywhere forget this but once your dead and buried you can't do it again.[/u]

[dutchman]

[chinook]

[Zyzyfer]

[chinook]

i suppose i may end up spending a lot on phone bills, since my boyfriend will be back in scotland.

[t bear]

My girlfriend and I live on 900 000- 1million a month.
not to dificult, although I live in small town. drink maybe once a week, eat out regularly, and go on weekend trips around korea maybe twice a month.

[sadsac]

My wife and I bank 2 mllion a month and then whatever is left over from the previous month is then banked. We have our own money of 500,000 won each and then we have 800,000 for living expenses.

[osangrl]

I make 2.5 and save 500,000 W a month. But minus about 400 for tax, insurance and bills. Not good, but i like nice stuff. So i still buy about 400 in clothes a month, another 100 on make up, another 100 on shampoo and then face creams add another 100.
So if your not a girl, and don't spoil yourself, you can save alot more.

I spend about 1 million on dining out, groceries and partying.

[ryleeys]

For spending that kind of cash on female crap, you should never have to ever buy anything at a bar. The men should buy for you.

[Zyzyfer]