Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Want to save $20,000 in a year?

English teachers abroad are in very high demand and just by being a native English speaker you are qualified to get some pretty high-paying jobs in foreign countries like Thailand, Korea and China. I say high-paying because while they may not be as much as you can make in the States, the cost of living in these countries is extremeley low. Even if your income was about $30,000 you could get by easily on $10,000 a year, especially if they provide you with housing. You can command even more money if you have a TESOL certification and can make money on the side working as a private English tutor.

Not only will you be able to save up money but you'll be able to experience another culture first-hand. You can never truly grasp a country in 1-2 weeks while on vacation and you never get below the surface of the tourist traps to see how people really live. Plus you won't have to go away on vacation because there will be plenty of exciting places to explore in your new home.

Living abroad is probably not for everyone. You'll most likely have to live without a lot of the creature comforts that we take for granted in the States like huge living spaces and air conditioning wherever you go, but once you live without them for a while you realize that you don't really need them and you appreciate them a lot more when you do have them.

I most likely won't be able to save up loads of cash while I'm living abroad because I plan on doing a lot of traveling around Asia but the good thing is I won't have to go into debt to it!

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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I've been a silent reader of yours for some time. :) I live in Malaysia, which is just south of Thailand. So, if you want to visit Malaysia, particularly Kuala Lumpur, the capital, drop me an e-mail.

Glad you're doing this thing. You're right, teaching English is a great opportunity for you to not only earn so me money but experience culture at the same time. I hope to do the same but in Japan one day. :)

Terri said...

I lived in Japan for 6 years. You're definately in for some culture shock! LOL I'd go back tomorrow if I could. My best advice to you is to get to know the people. We had more fun with the locals than with most other Americans we knew there.

bringingdownthedebt.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great experience!!!

mapgirl said...

Good luck with this. I hear that you can make a lot of money. I hear that you can end up with very little when you get back. Shop wisely. Bargain. And travel light! At least you have the debt baggage off your back now!

:-)

Anonymous said...

Hello…another new poster…Make sure you stay out of trouble down there…Last I heard, canning is still used as a criminal punishment down there!! I wish you te best!

Anonymous said...

God bless and good luck! I wonder what it would be like to have no material ties an just up and fly... I've got a lot going on right now and couldn't do it, but I'll have fun living vicariously through you!

Bailey said...

Wow, I've been busy moving also (To St. Louis) but I missed the big news. Thailand! That should be fun.
Will you keep the blog alive?

StePHen said...

wow, what a fabulous idea!

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Anonymous said...

Good luck with the move to Thailand. Personally, I would sell the car and pay everything off before you go, that way you don't have to worry about any debt after you get there. In the grand scheme of things, if you come back and get a used car, you still will be in a better place financially by being debt free.

I wish I was debt free so I could do what you are doing.

The fantastic Y said...

I thought about the same thing but I want to teach science or math at a international high school in Japan. I fell in love with Japan during my last vacation. And I also love Hong Kong. I'm also planning to go to China. Maybe next year. To bad I'm not a native English speaker. I wonder if there is a demand for Dutch native speakers ^_^. I'm in a relationship right now, but my 'man' promissed me to follow me where ever I go because I can't stay at one place for too long. Wish you a the luck in Thailand.

Anonymous said...

Enojoy it while you can! If your not getting into debt to do it - go for it! Let us know how you get on.

Anonymous said...

Anywhere where you can get by on $10,000 a year sounds good to me!

Anonymous said...

All the best! I hope it works out for you :)

Debt Advice said...

Sounds fantastic to me... A comment to wish you all the best!

Umpa said...

I managed to bank $30,000 last year making only $39,000 living above poverty line eating wonderful Indian food. To do that in Canada, you got to be making around 60,000 in disposable income which would come to around $85,000 CAD!! Better teach English in a third world country!!