Korean Job Discussion Forums

[twg]

While working out my budget for the rest of my contract today (going home this summer), I came to the realization that I have long forgotten how to live frugally. The free rent and low cost of living here has caused me to be very willing to open my wallet, and I'm wondering what happened to that university student who could get by on $200 a month.

Has anyone else noticed that they've become a complete money-bags since they got here?

And those of you who are able to live frugally, how are you pulling it off?

[yingwenlaoshi]

The more you make, the more you spend.

[brento1138]

I spend. SPEND. S P E N D!!!

I'm a consumer. And I like to consume!!!

[Lizara]

I was pretty poor all through university and never had much spending money until I moved here. So now that I have the money, yeah, I'm bloody well going to enjoy it. heh. Eventually I know I'll have to go back to the real world, and go back to budgeting, so I figure I may as well have fun while I can.

[twg]

[tzechuk]

I save for Letty's future, but we enjoy life.. so no I don't pinch the penny, but I don't waste it, either...

[jlb]

I had been a student for so long before coming to Korea that I have a hard time spending money. Budgetting comes natural to me and it's hard to break out of it.

[bixlerscott]

Things are quite expensive on the Korean economy due the ROK being like an isolated island where anything familiar has to be imported, particularly anything that is familiar to a westerner. I.e. Pizza, TGIF, Outback Steakhouse, Pizza Hut, milk, cheese, meats, good beer, and well you get the point. That Hite beer is pricey for being such low quality with bad hangovers (draft at the bar is better than bottle, but pricier), while a familiar good beer from the west will set you back twice as much. The Won can go fast I am finding unless you stay home and watch TV or use your own computer nightly.

My first paycheck a month ago was 1,460,000 Won take home and I still have 900,000 of that and my second payday is this Monday so I if I spend 200,000 going out to Busan or Seoul this weekend, then I will have saved 700,000 Won.

Still not to shabby, but if I had not drank so much beer and milk and ate western foods like beef and smoked cigarettes, I would had saved 400,000 more for the month. If I had my own computer in my apartment, then I would be saving about 80,000 more won per month as I can not just lay in bed and watch TV full time so I go to PC room and foreigner bar often. If I had used a 20,000 Won phone card for 400 minutes of calling the States, I would had saved 180,000 Won off the phone bill using 00700 (someone told me it's 500 won per minute) coming off my paycheck next Monday, but I just did not know this secret until recently when discussing it with more experienced guys at the foriegner bar. Had I drank Soju instead of beer when in the PC room all those lonely nights, I would had saved about another 80,000 Won so I am learning the in's and out's of doing things in a thrifty manner.

If you are new or coming over here, don't expect to save a whole lot in your 1st month or 2 in Korea as you will have to learn it all on your own Won by yourself through trial and error, no one else has the time to help you other than showing you where the local E-mart is located and that you can call home using 00700. If you do make a good friend outside of work quickly (been here 2 months and still alone outside of work) or have English speaking people around you outside of work, consider yourself very lucky.

This is good thread to get ideas on how to save money by doing things for less and cutting back on non-essentials. I.e. drink less milk, smoke less, use PC less, walk to the foreigner bars and E-mart instead of taking taxi. It all adds up quickly.

[bixlerscott]

double posting

[tzechuk]

How come you only got 1.4m for your first paycheck?

[Corporal]

[Harpeau]

Our new place is on the 5th floor of a villa. We've just turned off the ondol today. We get heat coming from the units below. That'll be nice for our bills. We'll keep it off until around Nov.??

Get a T-fal cooffee maker and make coffee at home. Drink some in the morning and put some in a thermose and take it to work with you. (I never drink instant coffee~ my doctor says it'll kill you!!)

Get an electric juicer and juice carrots, etc. Drink it right away. Feels great!

Shop at a grocery store once or twice a week (or more, if necessary). The one we've started going to does free delivery for anyone who spends more than 30,000 won (before 7:30pm). Don't go when your hungry. Eat first and you'll buy less. Stick to a grocery list as much as possible.

Those who used to get a kick out of shopping at Frenchies, Value Village or the Sally Ann, will enjoy places like Shindang Market. Lots of cool clothes. Check out a dry cleaner as well. People die, don't return to pick-up their stuff. Many would sell you stuff that's been hanging there for years. Just ask.

Eat at your school cafeteria and save a bundle. Do English exchanges where a person takes you out for a meal & drinks for an English lesson.

Take some old clothes and get them repaired, altered or cleaned at a dry cleaner. You'll be surprised how you can give something in the back of your closet a second life.

Cool thread.
When going to rest. we usually don't order a drink with our meal. You would be surprised how much you can save.

[seoulkitchen]

[JMO]

[yingwenlaoshi]