Joey
Working in: Nonthaburi
Monthly Earnings: 25-40,000
Q. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
A. 25,000-40,000 baht per month private teaching Monday thru Friday 2-4 hours per day
Q. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
A. 5,000 baht
Q. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
A. 3,300 baht per month for an apartment rental. Room dimension: 15’x15’. Includes refrigerator, microwave, screen door to 3 ½ x 6’ balcony, and daily announcements, dogs barking, tuk-tuk traffic
Q. What do you spend a month on the following things?
| a) Transportation | (private teaching lots of traveling) 3,600 baht teaching and another 400 for social. |
|---|---|
| b) Utility bills | 2,300 baht electricity/air-conditioning (Note: for one year I had no air condition. Four months ago by a doctor’s order I was told air conditioning was necessary). |
| c) Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping | Average 5,000 baht per month. 1,000 baht per week at the supermarket: Only fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and water. Every fourth week of the month I spend 2,000 baht for cleaning supplies, lotions, soaps, detergents etc. |
| d) Nightlife and drinking | 0 baht per month. Jogging, yoga, tai chi, swimming 70 baht per day |
| e) Books, computers | 200 baht books, and 300 baht internet |
Q. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
A. Undeniably frugal!!!
Q. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
A. In general, food! But, I live for fruits and vegetables, and lots of them; they are not so much ‘bargain’ items
Q. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
A. The first six months to a year 35,000-40,000 baht per month minimum. When you begin to create a support network, then MAYBE you could “SURVIVE” on 25,000 baht per month - doubtful. You will not enjoy 25,000 baht per month! 30,000 baht per month is fun for the first 3 months, then reality will suck you dry of all your ambitions. 40-50,000 baht would be a conservative, but relatively OK living situation. Above 60,000 and you may actually be living socially, while taking part in activities which are not free.
Phil's analysis and comment
There's a huge difference in what you can achieve between a salary of 25,000 a month and a take-home of 40,000 a month but I like Joey's honest summary. It sounds as if 60K a month is his target. Given that he only teaches 2-4 hours a day there's certainly ample opportunity to get out there and earn more.
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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.
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.
