Doug
Working in: Bangkok
Monthly Earnings: 54,000
Q. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
A. I earn around 54,000 per month. Sometimes more if I have to substitute teach.
Q. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
A. Not much, sinceI have a child on the way. I figure my expenses just about match my income. However, Sometimes I can hide 5,000
Q. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
A. I pay 13,000 per month for a 50 square meter apartment.
Q. What do you spend a month on the following things?
| a) Transportation | 3,000 |
|---|---|
| b) Utility bills | 3,500 |
| c) Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping | 5,000 |
| d) Nightlife and drinking | 1,500 |
| e) Books, computers | 1,000 |
Q. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
A. Pretty much equal to what I had in America, just minus the car. Luckily, I don't need one here
Q. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
A. The public transportation system.
Q. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
A. Probably 50-60,000 baht/month in order to maintain a lifestyle equivalent to "the west." With that said, you can survive with a small level of comfort on 35,000 baht/month.
Phil's analysis and comment
Doug earns a very nice salary - make no mistake. I just feel that he could be saving (or hiding) more than 5,000 baht a month (even with a kiddy on the way) Perhaps he needs to eat more Thai food and take public transport a bit more often. That said, I never begrudge a man sinking his teeth into a hearty rump steak or jumping into an air-conditioned taxi while the Bangkok massive stand sweltering at their bus shelters.
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Ajarn Guests
Fear of change?
In Thailand the government has set 2012 as English Speaking Year with a goal of encouraging students to converse in English every Monday. Such policies are useful but the major leap of enacting legislation to make English an official language for Thailand is also needed
Software for student tests
The integration of internet and computers with education and English learning is something students find normal, and classrooms without some access to educational software may seem quaint. Some students may even feel they can get more ‘professional' teaching from the numerous online ELT sites if a school is behind in IT.
Whatever happened to the shopping mall teacher?
They are the shopping mall English teachers - gliding like pale, undernourished phantoms amid the hordes of weekend Thai shoppers. The main reason I empathize with the shopping mall teacher is because I was once one myself. I know how desperate and soul-destroying it can be.
Most recently answered question:
Are there any teaching agencies in Bangkok that I can just walk into?
About Ajarn.com
Ajarn.com was started as a small hobby website in 1999 by Ian McNamara. It was a simple way for one Bangkok teacher to share his Thailand experiences and pass on advice. The website developed a loyal and enthusiastic following. In 2004, Ian handed over the reins to Phil Williams and 'Bangkok Phil' has run the ajarn website ever since.
Ajarn.com has grown enormously and is now the most popular TEFL site in Thailand - possibly even South East Asia. Although best-known for its vibrant jobs page, Ajarn has a wealth of articles, blogs, features and help and advice. But one principle has always remained at Ajarn's core - to tell things like they are and to do it with a sense of humor. Thailand can be Heaven or Hell for an English teacher. It's always been Ajarn.com's duty to present both sides of the equation. Thanks for stopping by.
