Daniel
Working in Samut Prakarn
Monthly Earnings 42 - 55,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
My basic salary is 35,000 baht a month for 12 contact hours. We also have something called ‘special pay’ (Mon-Thu 3.30pm-4.30pm) for extra classes and I get 7K a month for that on top. I also do worksheet-based classes for 3 hours on Saturday mornings at school for 3 hours for another 8K. I think I’m quite well-paid for what I consider fairly light and easy work. I’ve been working just about every weekend, but sometimes it’s not on or I can’t work it. Most months, I’ve had full pay.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
20k-25k. To be honest, I could probably save 30k some months, if I felt like it. It’s mainly one-off purchases that dictate what I have left at the end of the month, but it’s never less than 20k. Before I came to Thailand, I wasn’t earning much more than I am now, and I know, even with living at home, I could not save almost half my wage each month.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a new condo with my girlfriend, which costs 10,000 per month. We split that, as she is also working. There are cheaper options available, but as I’ve heard Phil say many times - it’s important to be happy with what you’re coming home to at the end of the day.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
My transport to and from work is between 2000-2500 p/m. The variation is because of how I choose to come home. I sometimes get a moto taxi, or sometimes get the songtaew. It really depends on my eagerness to get home or wherever I am going. I find myself getting a moto taxi more often than not, just because I don’t see the need to save money on this aspect of life.
Utility bills
I pay the internet (850 p/m) and water (>150 p/m), girlfriend pays the electric (700-600 p/m). We don’t always have the air con on in an evening, but will have it on for a few hours while we sleep, and it’s always on during the weekend. I pay 89 baht a week for my phone too.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I spend a lot on food and it’s definitely my biggest spend (probably 10-15K) I usually cook for both of us during the week and it’s often a chicken dish. I’m always going to Big C after school to buy food to cook. My girlfriend sometimes gets sick of eating the same thing but I love my spicy chicken and tuna, so she brings home her own stuff. On weekends, we either go out to eat or have food delivered.
Nightlife and drinking
I no longer drink late in to the evening, so big nights out are a fat zero. I do however play football with friends once a week and basketball on after school with teachers on a Friday. Both of which will result in the spend of a few 100 baht. 1000-1500 would probably go on social activities.
Books, computers
I bought a cheap Thai language kids book so I could start learning to read and write Thai. This is the only book I’ve bought in years. My laptop is 4 years old and has nothing wrong with it. Not looking forward to the day it pops its clogs, but on average, I spend nothing on tech.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
The increase in salary from my first year is certainly affording me greater financial security, but I don’t feel like my spending habits have changed much. I like my life, and I’m happy living here. I don’t have to worry about anything, but I don’t typically like spending my money. My main goal at the minute is just to see some capital build up. My girlfriend has her own job so that’s good for me, but I still find myself spending what I’d say is enough of my own money on her.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
I’d say everything is a bargain outside of booze and some groceries (milk… expensive). I particularly love how cheap chicken is here. Transport is cheap, too. I Don’t think you could pay £7 back home to get a taxi for 20 miles.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I’d say 30k is comfortable outside of the busy cities and 40K if you live in them. It all depends on the person you are. When I first came to Thailand, I was earning about 18k a month and got by for 5 months by adjusting accordingly. I do think that has helped set the tone for the rest of my time here though. Then I saved a bit of money (5-15k) each month on a 30k salary out in the sticks. Now I believe living from pay cheque to pay cheque is not the way to live - even if you’re young.
Phil's analysis and comment
Thanks Daniel. First of all, it's nice to hear that someone listens to my advice and takes it on board :) I'll repeat it - living in a cheap apartment is a false economy. ALWAYS rent the best apartment you can afford! If you have a home environment that you are happy with, then you won't mind spending time there. Rent a noisy, cheap apartment that you hate and you'll be spending more and more time outside to get away from it. And you'll be going through spending money like water.
Yes, I love the cheap chicken here as well. There are always three or four big chicken breast fillets go into my supermarket trolley each week. I think I pay about 30 baht a fillet. Grill or fry in a little olive oil and with a baked potato and a nice salad, you have a fantastic meal for about 60 - 70 baht.
You've also come up with another interesting point. Who pays for what when you live with a working Thai partner? For some reason, my wife and I have never sat down and come up with a plan and said I'll pay for this and you'll pay for that.
I pay for the electricity and water (about 5,000 a month) because I'm the one who's at home all day sucking on the air-con. I pay the supermarket shopping bills (about 10,000 a month) because 75% of the food goes in my stomach. My wife buys her own breakfast and lunch at work.
We go half each on the laundry bill and when we go out to eat, we'll take turns to pay. When we travel abroad, my wife pays for her plane ticket and visa and I'll take care of the rest.
It's all about fairness and coming up with a system that works for you both. But it's a very interesting point.
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