Teaching English and Scuba Diving in Phuket

[Globaltrailblazer]

LK please go away and stop turning my question thread into an argument over something that although related is not in anyway helpful or productive. If you want to discuss a different topic. Please start your own thread. Same goes for others who are fighting with LK. Thank you

 

[Quero]

As for where to live on the island, you'd want to get a job first and then look for housing nearby to travel time low. Most teachers ride scooters, and you have to keep in mind that weather conditions make scootering unpleasant at times. You will be able to find relatively inexpensive lodgings in all areas of the island. There are areas in the southern end of the island that are closer to the jump-off point for diving, but since you'd be doing that with less frequency than you'd be traveling to school and back, that shouldn't factor into your plans unless you've got two jobs to consider, all else being equal, with one closer to dive services than the other.

 

[lord khram]

LK please go away and stop turning my question thread into an argument over something that although related is not in anyway helpful or productive. If you want to discuss a different topic. Please start your own thread. Same goes for others who are fighting with LK. Thank you

You are being a little touchy don't you think? Where is the argument? May i suggest if you do not want to attract a variety of opinions from different individuals, maybe you should question the wisdom of asking a question on an open internet forum?

 

[Globaltrailblazer]

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my questions. I'm not sure what you consider a short or long stay. I'd sign up for at least a year so hopefully that would be long enough. Assuming I'd earn 30,000, I've Budgeted out
Apartment 5000
Water 500
Electricity 700
Telephone 300
Internet 700
Motorcycle 4000
Total 11200
4 boat dives a month at 3500, 14000
Leaving 17400 for food, petrol, and other things like washing powder ect
Does it look at all reasonable or am I missing an expense that I haven't thought of?
Thanks

 

[limbo]

That will be a real effort as a Westerner to live on that, but it's not impossible.

 

[supergaijin]

OP- your living-cost estimates are a little low I believe.

A general rule of thumb for living in a foreign country is to research, then estimate your costs, and then double it.

 

[lord khram]

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my questions. I'm not sure what you consider a short or long stay. I'd sign up for at least a year so hopefully that would be long enough. Assuming I'd earn 30,000, I've Budgeted out
Apartment 5000
Water 500
Electricity 700
Telephone 300
Internet 700
Motorcycle 4000
Total 11200
4 boat dives a month at 3500, 14000
Leaving 17400 for food, petrol, and other things like washing powder ect
Does it look at all reasonable or am I missing an expense that I haven't thought of?
Thanks

Your figures as well as many being on the low side, and having no contingency for all the additional things that will crop up in day to day life and cost money, also do not add up. 30000bt - 11200 - 14000 = 4800bt remaining. (I am not arguing, just pointing out an arithmetical error)

4800bt equates to 158bt per day and that is simply not enough to live on. I dont know if or when you have been to Thailand before, but it is no longer the 'cheap' inexpensive place to live as it was years ago, some things are indeed less expensive than my native UK, but many are on par and some are indeed more expensive. Cut out your diving and you may have enough left from your 30000bt for a very meagre existence. I think a little more research may be a good idea before committing yourself to an extended stay in Thailand that could quite easily turn out to be anything but enjoyable.

I don't know what sort of visa you are proposing to get? There is usually a cost every several months to maintain your stay in Thailand legally, whilst not massive amounts of money, it will be very significant on such a tight budget as the one you are proposing.

 

[gekodivebali]

All these numbers were very low estimates even when I was living there... And that was 5 years ago!
Also I should have taught English... Pays better than scuba!

 

[Globaltrailblazer]

Thank you for correcting my math error LK, I'm not sure how I managed that.
And thanks for the feedback about prices - I did research them, they are from a website called Know Phuket which has lots of cool info. Thanks for letting me know that they are on the low side.
I may be able to not have the apartment phone - I don't have one in China and I still have internet fine.
I could also just use buses for transport although a motorbike would be more convenient.
Does anyone know how the market is in Phuket for extra private classes to earn money on the side?
And lastly I may not be able do dive quite as much as I would like to. I will work it out.
Thanks for the feedback

 

[Quero]

Thank you for correcting my math error LK, I'm not sure how I managed that.
And thanks for the feedback about prices - I did research them, they are from a website called Know Phuket which has lots of cool info. Thanks for letting me know that they are on the low side.
I may be able to not have the apartment phone - I don't have one in China and I still have internet fine.
I could also just use buses for transport although a motorbike would be more convenient.
Does anyone know how the market is in Phuket for extra private classes to earn money on the side?
And lastly I may not be able do dive quite as much as I would like to. I will work it out.
Thanks for the feedback

A couple of things.... as many of us have mentioned, if you want to dive on a teacher's pay, you will have to live fairly frugally otherwise. I have met quite a few English teachers while living here and one thing they do to economize is to share lodgings. It's sometimes cheaper to rent a two bedroom bungalow house and split the cost than it is to rent a "room" (sleeping area/bathroom/fridge/balcony). Once you're here, there's a decent chance you will be able to join somebody else as a housemate. This place is popular among teachers working at Thai public schools (mostly near Phuket City): Patra Mansion, Serviced apartment with suitable price in Phuket Town

There is a whole discussion forum populated by expat teachers working in Thailand called ajarnforum.com In your situation, I'd join that and ask specific questions of teachers currently working here on the island.