Patrick
Working in: Bangkok
Monthly Earnings: 65-70,000
Q. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
A. Between 65,000 and 70,000 a month, at a good university
Q. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
A. Up until recently, about 35,000 a month. I just bought a car, so my savings is down to 20-25k a month
Q. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
A. Nothing, my wife (who is Thai) and I bought a small row house out in the suburbs which we stay in. (but see my transportation bills….)
Q. What do you spend a month on the following things?
| a) Transportation | 22,000 (12,000 for a car, and 10,000 for taxis |
|---|---|
| b) Utility bills | 4,000 |
| c) Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping | 10,000 |
| d) Nightlife and drinking | 4,000 |
| e) Books, computers | 5,000 |
Q. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
A. I love my job, I only have to go in four days a week (Tuesday to Friday), and teach about 15 hours a week. Outside the class work is high, but when and where I do it is flexible. The only thing I want is a nice, big house with a yard. I will buy it in about 3 years. When kids come along though……
Q. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
A. Taxis (the “magic car” as I call it, since it is a car that drives, parks, fuels, navigates and maintains itself). Also food is great and cheap, and anything that involves labor (maids, laundry, gardeners, electricians).
Q. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
A. I was quite happy back when I lived on 20,000, but I saved nothing. Now, I would have to say 35,000 – and that is only if you already have all the toys you need, and can stay away from sukhumvit.
Phil's analysis and comment
Patrick sent this to me by way of introduction
"I and my (Thai) wife are both university professors at a good Thai University (I teach economics and government). We live in a small row house up in Don Muang, about 30 km from work, while we save money for a larger house. Our combined income is about 1.5 million a year, and we save a bit more than half of it -- most months. Our biggest expense by far is taxis, we both use them a lot.
Phil says - You can have a very nice lifestyle with a combined income of 1.5 million a year and you can see from the figures that Patrick doesn't skimp on food and utilities, he runs a car and also fills his shopping trolley with gay abandon. I like the point that Brian makes about labor. I'm always amazed how little it costs when you hire a Thai worker or 'handyman' to come and do a job for you. The most difficult part is finding one!
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Ajarn Guests
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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.
