Ability to save
I saw a great room for rent in BTP before i left for $80 a month. It was at the front of a nice shophouse that had been built with a few rental rooms and they all had external balcony access . Had a door opening on to the front balcony with a Mango tree at front and side window and was shady and quiet. It was just a 3m2 room with the usual closet toilet / wet shower but with some imagination you could have set up a galley kitchen and a loft bed etc. We almost rented it for storage.
I think if u found something like that and were careful u could easily survive PP on $1000 or less a month.
I think if u found something like that and were careful u could easily survive PP on $1000 or less a month.
Rated R for Ricecakes
- vladimir
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1. Ice-land...violet wrote:what has iceland got to do with it?
the OP didn't say anything about being a tight arse or that they needed to live frugally.
2. What is this, then?
"I have been offered a job in Phnom Penh and salary is about US$ 1800/month. If I live relatively frugally, how much if anything would I be able to save if I got a place for about US$ 300/month. Any estimates anyone?"
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
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I wish you had told us this earlier as it changes everything. What exactly are your savings goals? What are you able to save in the Philippines? I don't have any kids, but I would think it would be slightly difficult to save much off that salary with a wife who isn't a local. Is the wife American or Filipina? You might be able to save $200/month with both of them in tow, but it really depends. In my experience women (especially foreign ones) have more expensive palates/needs than the average joe. Either way, I think the three of you could live fairly comfortably on your salary. As you rightfully assume, saving would be a bit more difficult though ($100-400 tops would be my estimate).philippine phenom wrote:Thank everyone for your responses so far. Any additional information/advice/etc. would be greatly appreciated. In answer to some who made some assumptions, I wish to live near CIA school, not single (but not sure if my wife and youngest son are going to come with me for a few reasons). I am asking my question about savings and cost because if they do come with me will we be able to save money (amount), or if I there myself living a life of austerity/frugal how much can I send back to them. I don't really drink so blowing money on beer, women, etc. is a none factor. Really trying to make a informed decision about family situation financially. There by myself- motorbike, one bedroom apartment, feed only myself (rice and veggies, spaghetti, etc.), be mostly a home body besides work, send money home to support family also. OR with wife and youngest son- two/three bedroom apartment, purchase car, pay partial tuition fees, eat out more often, etc., but not supporting two households. That is the reason for these questions really; What is going to be best financially for us as a family?!?!
More questions:
1-Where would the family live? In the Philippines or back in the US? Do you expect to visit them or them to visit you? If so, it might make a dent in your savings.
2-Is your wife American? Does she have expensive taste in terms of housing and so on? If you hadn't considered it, it would be fairly easy for her to find some work and help contribute to the family household.
The salary offered is by no means bad for Cambodia. However, if saving is a bigger priority, you should just bite the bullet and head to the middle-east or something. Lot's of IB schools there and saving will be much easier. In my pinion, Cambodia is a country where life is meant to be enjoyed. It shouldn't be a place where you deprive yourself of simple pleasures for the sake of saving a paltry sum. So my opinion is as follows. You have three options:
1-Go alone and save some cash ($200-600 can be done comfortably)
2-Bring the wife and kid along. Enjoy yourselves. You won't save much if anything, but it'll be a life experience. ($100-300 could likely be done).
3-Head somewhere alone where the money is bigger. Live like a monk and save $$$.
You should easily be able to send them around $1000 p m. Not sure if CIA pay holidays, if they do you'll be just fine for the whole year.philippine phenom wrote:Thank everyone for your responses so far. Any additional information/advice/etc. would be greatly appreciated. In answer to some who made some assumptions, I wish to live near CIA school, not single (but not sure if my wife and youngest son are going to come with me for a few reasons). I am asking my question about savings and cost because if they do come with me will we be able to save money (amount), or if I there myself living a life of austerity/frugal how much can I send back to them. I don't really drink so blowing money on beer, women, etc. is a none factor. Really trying to make a informed decision about family situation financially. There by myself- motorbike, one bedroom apartment, feed only myself (rice and veggies, spaghetti, etc.), be mostly a home body besides work, send money home to support family also. OR with wife and youngest son- two/three bedroom apartment, purchase car, pay partial tuition fees, eat out more often, etc., but not supporting two households. That is the reason for these questions really; What is going to be best financially for us as a family?!?!
Afa apartments go - It's a bit like how long is a piece of string here in PP. You often find people who have been living here years posting that they are paying $400 upwards for one or two bedrooms near the center ( probably means the wealthy expat area of BKK1). I personally live as central as you can get -Orussey market area. Old French style apartments. Washing machine, fridge, A/C in the bedroom, balcony. Restaurants and 24 hr shops two mins away. Bustling market all around the streets and a main market. 65 m2 in total. Including water, electric and moto parking comes to an average of $200 p c m. Been hear 2 years now and feels very safe any time of the day or night.
I also know two people that are paying $130 p m for 2 bed houses just south of where I am.
My apartment is minimally furnished, big bed, table chairs not really much else. If you pay 450 you should be getting new Italian style furnishing in a secure complex with guards. I personally don't want to spend as much as I was in a first world country ( well second - it was Glasgow) as I do in a third world shit-hole. Not being derogatory, just accurate.
I agree with everything you say except what's in bold. $800 is a good wage here for rent and accommodation. You need your own transport though - whether bicycle or moto. As it's likely to save you around 2-300 bucks p m.Jackal wrote:My experience is that there's a much larger range of affordable accomodation available all around PP than ever.
$150 to $250 would get quite decent accomodation within easy commuting distance of C.I.A. I rent in a Teuk Thlaa cul-de-sac (though I'm usually never there) for under $150, the 1st, second and third floors of a new building with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, roof terrace, large living room, decent sized kitchen, well finished, unfurnished - but have never had a furnished place so have all my own stuff.
Electric runs around $40pm (no a/c - hate it) ,water, $4. Rental Moto $30/60 per month, or buy your own new Honda wave or similar for $1100, secondhand $400/600
And everybody who says BT etc are really distant areas . . . Around 4km to riverside/BKK1 which really isn't "central" anyhow.
If you like to eat out and drink daily you can still do so for under $1000 of your salary, but obviously it's cheaper and healthier to cook at home, and other hobbies like sport, social clubs etc can fill gaps for very little cost.
I wouldn't be able to save on $1800 per month, but I have dependants - a singleton could easily save $6000 in a year without resorting to self deprivation and a terrible time.
I think if somebody lived like a middle income Khmer and spent $800 per month it would be a bit grim but could still save $12k if determined.
Or, go to Vietnam, Korea, China for higher wages, I guess.
Also you'll need to cook at home for a decent sized meal that costs around 2-3 dollars in ingredients from a supermarket. That's for pork or chicken - beef is double or more. Don't go buying Kiwi fruit as they're around $8 each.
I spend about $300 p m on food with Italian imported coffee included. Plus the $200 for the apartment. So $500 leaves you $300 to go out with etc.
- Lucky Lucan
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That makes a big difference. If you're planning to stay here a while you're much better off buying good furniture and renting unfurnished places. The alternative is paying loads more for a place full of tacky wood-chip and rattan crap that will fall apart in no time.Jackal wrote:... but have never had a furnished place so have all my own stuff.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
You're obviously a heavy drinker.scobienz wrote:Abou-Gor wrote: $800 is a good wage here for rent and accommodation..
And deluded. I think trying to accommodate Trump into your capitalist fantasies must be getting too much for you.
If you want the French duke version, where you get to live the dream - laying around in hammocks all day getting the natives to feed you soft cheeses - see my post on another thread.
Last edited by Abou-Gor on Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
OP is brown. Philippinos seem to always complain about getting paid lower for the same job. I believe them. There are also reports about companies withdrawing their job offers after people have already got here. Be aware.violet wrote:wait... if the OP has a proper teaching qualifications, shouldn't he/she get more than $1800 a month?
If everything fails, play Black Jack.
Bless
Last edited by Alexandra on Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Lucky Lucan
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I'm pretty sure he means the $800 is good to live on once he's sent off the other $1000 to his wife and family.scobienz wrote:No.Abou-Gor wrote: $800 is a good wage here for rent and accommodation..
Abou-Gor wrote:You should easily be able to send them around $1000 p m.
Last edited by Lucky Lucan on Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
Abou-Gor wrote:You're obviously a heavy drinker.scobienz wrote:Abou-Gor wrote: $800 is a good wage here for rent and accommodation..
And deluded. I think trying to accommodate Trump into your capitalist fantasies must be getting too much for you.
If you want the French Duke version, where you get to live the dream ( ) see my post on another thread.
Heavy drinker? Not at all AG. Perhaps a beer or two once a fortnight, and that's that.
And I'm not deluded at all. $800 a month is not a decent amount to live on for someone lucky enough to have secured a free western education, regardless of where they live. When we get to a place where we are positing that a good income for an expat in Cambodia is $800 a month, then we have pretty much abandoned all hope. It isn't. It never was. It never will be.
You have a kid, that's different.Lucky Lucan wrote:You should easily be able to send them around $1000 p m.
BTW I that figure also includes fuel - currently doing around 400k p m. Fuel costs are $10 per month.
I don't drink - that makes a huge difference. Say 10 beers a day - even @ shop prices that's still almost $200 bucks. Once you start going to bars that increases by double or more.
My advice - lay of the kiwi fruit and the French cheese. Did you note that the OP doesn't want to eat at BKK1 restaurants every night either. He has a family to support.scobienz wrote:
Heavy drinker? Not at all AG. Perhaps a beer or two once a fortnight, and that's that.
And I'm not deluded at all. $800 a month is not a decent amount to live on for someone lucky enough to have secured a free western education, regardless of where they live. When we get to a place where we are positing that a good income for an expat in Cambodia is $800 a month, then we have pretty much abandoned all hope. It isn't. It never was. It never will be.
- Lucky Lucan
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To be fair, this was the OP:
Many suggested that if the aim was to cut costs, you could find something cheaper, but it might be more than 3km from the Riverside etc.
These are valid responses.
I think daily living expenses add up a whole lot though, travel, meals, beers, house stuff etc. Even if you live like a close-to monk style you are going to spend at least $30 a day on that, that's another $900. So I don't see how $1000 is getting wired back anytime soon.
So he is specifically asking about how to live frugally here, not slum it, I think $300 can get you something quite comfortable if you look about.philippine phenom wrote:I have been offered a job in Phnom Penh and salary is about US$ 1800/month. If I live relatively frugally, how much if anything would I be able to save if I got a place for about US$ 300/month. Any estimates anyone?
Many suggested that if the aim was to cut costs, you could find something cheaper, but it might be more than 3km from the Riverside etc.
These are valid responses.
I think daily living expenses add up a whole lot though, travel, meals, beers, house stuff etc. Even if you live like a close-to monk style you are going to spend at least $30 a day on that, that's another $900. So I don't see how $1000 is getting wired back anytime soon.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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