Lisa
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 50,000
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
My full-time salary from a private school is 47,000 and I make 3,000 a month teaching a private student once a week.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
I save around 15,000 each month.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
Rent is 9,500 per month. I live in a 26 sqm condo that has a swimming pool, gym, sauna and a basketball court in the complex.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Around 500 baht per month, if not less. I usually walk to work as it's only around a 10-minute walk. Alternatively, I take a songteaw or if I'm running late, a motorcycle taxi.
Utility bills
Water and electricity costs me around 1,500 each month.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
My job serves really good food - morning snacks, a variety of meals at lunch and if I truly can't have anything on offer, the salad bar is my friend. My monthly groceries total to around 2,000 and I usually eat takeouts on the weekends, which can cost up to 4,000.
Nightlife and drinking
I only go out once a month. Drinks are expensive here and on a typical night out I end up blowing 2,000 on drinks and maybe another 1,000 on entry fees and taxis.
Books, computers
I spend 500 on Netflix and 500 for the wifi connection in my condo. English books are pricey here and I usually get books to keep from people passing through.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
My standard of living is great, but that is primarily due to the benefits of my job.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
The food is cheap and filling! It also tastes amazing.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
It depends on your lifestyle, I live a pretty basic lifestyle where I'm not out partying all the time so I could "survive" on less, maybe 35,000.
Phil's analysis and comment
I was going to say Lisa, you sound like someone who lives a 30K a month lifestyle and yet earns 50,000. You are living within your means and that's what it's all about.
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