Robert
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings A minimum of 50K a month but my income varies considerably depending on how much work I want to take on.
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
I'm on the books of several language schools, where I tend to do hourly paid evening work, and also at several colleges and universities, who use me for substitute teaching. Because I retired in my early fifties and only see teaching as something to keep me busy, schools know that if they have a staffing problem, I'm their go-to guy and can be there at a moment's notice. I also do the odd corporate teaching gig and help out a couple of company marketing departments. I make a minimum of 50K a month but can make over 100K in a busy month.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
I don't really set a figure on this but what I earn more than covers my living expenses, and that includes paying out for health insurance and an annual trip back to the UK to see family and friends. I'm lucky enough to have had a good career in business consulting and so saved hopefully enough to keep me for the rest of my days.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a very modest one-bedroom apartment, which costs 12,000 baht a month. I never feel that there's a need to spend any more than this if you're a guy living on his own - even in Bangkok. 35 square metres and walking distance to the skytrain is really all I need!
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Probably about three thousand a month on skytrain and MRT fares. And I'm still waiting for the day that the two mass transportation systems are combined on one ticket!
Utility bills
2,000 baht a month for water and electricity. I've recently changed the aircon unit in the bedroom and the bill has gone down considerably.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Because I'm buzzing around the city a lot going from one teaching job to the next, I tend to just reach out and grab whatever is convenient. I'm a big fan of Thai food courts because they are great value and minimum hassle. I don't really bother with swanky restaurants or fast food chains (I might have a maccy dees once a month). I sometimes make a sandwich at home or put a salad together. It's difficult to put a figure on this one. Shall we say around 10K baht a month.
Nightlife and drinking
Oh, I'm far too old and ugly to go trawling around Bangkok's bars, although I meet friends for drinks and a meal a couple of times a month, usually at a place they know and frequent regularly in quieter, less touristy parts of town.
Books, computers and gaming, etc
Yes, I do like my computer games and probably spend 5,000 a month on this. You have to be careful though because once you get into an addictive new game, it can quickly become way past your bedtime.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
It's everything I dreamed off when I decided several years ago that I had had enough of trying to start the car on freezing cold English wintry days. You don't need to be earning a fortune in Thailand in order to be happy... but you need to be earning a small fortune in Europe these days.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
I think most costs are very reasonable although I do baulk at the price of some imported foodstuffs in the supermarket. Thankfully I never feel the need to fill my basket with them!
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I think you could do OK on 50,000 baht in Bangkok but you'd have to watch your bottom line and plan and budget accordingly. I wouldn't like to live on less than 50K. On that amount you are seriously going without.
Phil's analysis and comment
Robert, you sound like one of those go-out-and-get-em types who always do well in the big city. And that's often how things work in Thailand. Earn a reputation as a professional who does a good job, is culturally aware and easy to get along with, and you'll never be out of work. You find your first few jobs and word-of-mouth takes you the rest of the way.
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