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Today, eChinacities published an article with the title "Big Money: What are Expats Spending their Cash on?". In it, they claim most ExPats do spend their monies in four general areas, western food and kitchen appliances, train tickets, electronics and home furnishing. From my personal experience, and my circle of friends, to me they have really missed the boat.
I happen to like Chinese food, and when I want western style, I do cook it myself. Kitchen appliances could be a maybe, but it is a one time purchase. I do have an oven and a microwave, a coffee pot, and a wok, that is less than 5,000 Rmb. I do like to travel but that is limited to major holidays and vacation time, maybe 5 trips per year maximum, less than 2,000 Rmb. My apartment was rented with big TV, home theater system, DVD and CD player and fully furnished, so have not spent a dime there in electronics or home furnishing.
Is your experience similar to mine ?. I will say there are other areas where ExPats do spend money every day and not accounted for in this article.
Im in a different boat as I don't live in China more than 5 weeks a year at this time.
The only electronics I buy is a stove that I took with me and a shaver when I get there
with the exception of this year as I will use my points to get it.
we do buy things for the house like the hot water system and did up the bathroom
and a few other home things
the rest goes on restaurants (not western and not all the time)
and every day things that we need to survive
I basically spend my money on food (including snacks) and necessities. I rarely go shopping and rarely travel.
I dont' end up spending that much on food but I do buy a fair amount of western stuff. I spend about 500 a month on various western foods, I'd estimate.
I spend more on train and travel tickets just because they tend to cost a lot more.
I haven't spent much on electronics yet. I think next year I might buy a computer.
I spend 10,000 to 15,000 Y a month here in China and my house in Canada costs me about $1000 each month average. I do spend too much here in other areas. My Thailand trip cost $5300 last month.
I'm always buying something I think I need like the iron, so I'm paying for less massage girls now.
Well I think it depends on if you are a teacher or not. If you are teaching then things like food and appliances are mostly provided by the school (or should be) so they spend most of their money on travel.
I am taking a year off from teaching so I am having to rent/decorate my own apartment so I am needing to buy new appliances and now provide all my own food.
I would say travelling, hotels, booze, and women set me back the most.
I would far rather buy my technology back home and western food for me here is an occasional treat.
They should do a study on how much expats spend on massage girls..ktv girls...hotel girls...or street girls. Not my thing but I would love to see some hard data on those numbers.
TedDBayer:
more than you think,, I think the entire country is supported on the run off from hard data.
Kitchen appliances? Electronics? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!! No way "Jo-say"
I spend it on:
1- Travel and sight seeing tickets
2- Food. I eat out every night, mostly Chinese.
3- weekly massage session (legit).
4- Once a month or so, i will buy a bottle of Jack Daniels or Gin to supplement my beer ration. Used ti be cigars too, but they are hard to find and when I do find them, they are much more expensive than in Guilin. So, i take it as a sign from God to quit. And i did.
I suggest the author of the article talk to some real expats next time, do some basic research perhaps?
My money is spent in these catagories:
1) Kids (Clothing, education, toys, etc...)
And in a FAR distant placing:
2) Western food (About once a week, other than that it is home cooked Chinstern food)
3) Gas (2 cars), utilities, etc...
It's about 50% correct. They should do a report on how what expats with Chinese wives spend their money on. It's not going to be the same, frugality is not just a word for my wife, it's a way of life
I would have to disagree with the report, and agree with Jnus... most money goes on just living day to day - and most of that on food.
Sure, I can spend up big occasionally, but really, most of my spending is basic stuff (at least, as far as when it's spent).
Otherwise, when my money comes in, it tends to disappear in paying off my credit card... (whcih I'd also imagine is similar to a few others here - paying off debts back home).