Jamie
Working in Pattaya
Monthly Earnings 40,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I earn 35,000 baht from my school job in Pattaya and I also get another 5,000 sent from home.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Around 5,000 baht. Possibly 10,000 baht at a push.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay 5,000 a month for a very nice apartment with a swimming pool. I'm sure it would cost almost double that in Bangkok from what I've seen.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
2-3.000 a month because my school is on the other side of the city and I like to stay 'near the action'. I refuse to drive here because of the idiots on the roads and the cops looking for a handout.
Utility bills
I don't use air-con because I don't like it so my bills are relatively low. About 500 baht a month covers electricity and water.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Question not answered.
Nightlife and drinking
I go out every Friday and Saturday and spend about 1,500 a night because I party from midnight to 6am. I love it! So entertainment accounts for about 12-15K a month, possibly even more.
Books, computers
Books are expensive here so I always go to second hand bookstores. I have a laptop that works well.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I have a great life in Pattaya on not a great deal of money if truth be told. It helps looking like Justin Bieber for the Thai girls as I get to do what most men dream of for free.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Rent is a bargain and if you like a drink, there are some great happy hour deals across town if you know where to go.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
In Pattaya I guess it depends on you. Most guys come here and blow it all on girls. My boyish good looks save me loads of bucks and I get to live well here.
Phil's analysis and comment
♪♫♪ If you're gorgeous and you know it, clap your hands ♪♫♪♫
Some teachers are here to devote themselves to their students and make a career out of TEFL. Other teachers are here to fund a life in Pattaya - and all that the resort offers. There are all sorts of folks here for all sorts of reasons and they all have a place on ajarn dot com. At least Jamie is honest and he only parties at the weekend (and why shouldn't he?)
I bet you can burn through 40K pretty easily if you can't resist the lure of Pattayas neon lights and sinful nights.
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