Jacob
Working in Phuket (at a beach resort)
Monthly Earnings Almost 60,000 baht plus great benefits.
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
50,000 baht plus an 8,000 baht food allowance plus free accommodation near the beach and use of resort facilities.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
On average about 40,000 baht.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
The resort provides a studio apartment. It's small and pretty old and the walls are a bit thin - but it does the job. I'm only a hop and a step from probably the nicest beach in Phuket, where I can surf, boogie board and practice tai chi under the stars.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
About 550 baht a month but I never go very far from base.
Utility bills
All utility bills are covered by my employer.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Because the resort provides me with 'three hots and a cot', I spend very little on supermarket shopping - probably about 3,000 baht a month.
Nightlife and drinking
Being part of the hospitality industry is cool because many restaurants or clubs can give me a VIP card with discounts or free entry. I also know when the happy hours are and have a few friends running bars and clubs. Personally, I am more into meditation and Buddhism than I am into nightlife, however I end up going out approximately once every two weeks or so. In total I spend no more than 600 baht/month on nightlife so it’s a very small part of my budget.
Books, computers
Virtually nothing. I'm not into material possessions that much - although I do have a 10,000 baht smartphone.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Sometimes humble, sometimes extravagant. Salaries can be low in the hotel business but the benefits can be great. I think I'm very lucky to have such a nice job in such a nice location but I do work hard six days a week so I'd like to think I deserve it.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Even though Phuket can be expensive, I know where to go fot the best and cheapest food (if I don't eat at the hotel) Clothes are also a bargain.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
In Phuket, I would say 20-30,000 baht a month. But you certainly wouldn't save anything.
Phil's analysis and comment
A nice job at a five-star resort. Free accommodation a stone's throw from one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket. An 8,000 baht hotel restaurant allowance every month. VIP cards that allow him to get into the nightclubs for free. Plenty of friends running bars with happy hours. Oh and he manages to save 40,000 baht a month. Who's jealous? Can we have a show of hands?
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