Joey
Working in Nonthaburi
Monthly Earnings 25-40,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
25,000-40,000 baht per month private teaching Monday thru Friday 2-4 hours per day
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
5,000 baht
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
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
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
(private teaching lots of traveling) 3,600 baht teaching and another 400 for social.
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).
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.
Nightlife and drinking
0 baht per month. Jogging, yoga, tai chi, swimming 70 baht per day
Books, computers
200 baht books, and 300 baht internet
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Undeniably frugal!!!
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
In general, food! But, I live for fruits and vegetables, and lots of them; they are not so much ‘bargain’ items
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
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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