Kirby
Working in Chiang Mai
Monthly Earnings 25,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
25,000 baht ( a government high school 30 minutes away from Chiang Mai) I have been married to a Thai with an 8 year old daughter for three years. My income from teaching supports my wife and daughter and goes directly into an account in her name.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Absolutely nothing! For two years we have been paying off a car, motorcycle, and other higher purchase items. During this month we are finalizing that debt.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
5000 baht per month for a three bedroom house about 15 minutes away from Chiang Mai.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Motorcycle 1200 baht per month if I take it to school during summer time. LPG 3000 baht especially when it is raining and my wife takes me to school. LPG is a life saver, for petrol if used all the time we would probably spend around 8 -9000 baht a month
Utility bills
2-3,000
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
5-6,000
Nightlife and drinking
No nightlife (I am married) Very little drinking (two times a year at Pattaya on a school trip with other teachers)
Books, computers
1,000
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I've had to bring in 1000 dollars extra per month to counteract the debt payments, but by doing this, life is quite comfortable
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
DVD copy movies, I have millions of them. Most are pretty good but you get the odd few crap copies
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
25000 baht for a single person is quite comfortable outside of Bangkok.
Phil's analysis and comment
Bloody hell Kerb! Your wages go straight into your wife's bank account (I thought that practice died out when the second world war ended) You don't get let out for a night out with the lads and a couple of light ales. You're bringing in the dollar equivalent of 30,000 baht a month from your savings. And twice a year you have to go to Pattaya! I'm wringing my handkerchief out here boss.
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