spend how much per/month?

bgottcha
By bgottcha

Hi,


I am considering taking a teaching position at an international school in Doha. They are offereing me 10,000/month. Is this average? I have my masters and 6 years teaching experience abroad. My contract also includes housing, separate from this salary. 

What can I expect to spend per month, when not having to pay for housing? I am looking for specific numbers, rather than answers that are vague, saying it depends on how I live, what I eat, etc.  I am the kind of person that doesn't like to watch every penny, but at the same time I don't live very extravagently.  I like to eat out at local restaurants sometimes, sometimes cook in, do a few things around town, etc.  Oh, and I am single with no dependents.  I am considering getting a car also, because I have heard it is necessary. 

 

Thanks for your help in advance!

Brenda

By bhingoy• 8 May 2008 23:39
Rating: 2/5
bhingoy

 

10T is breakeven.....

By SPEED• 7 May 2008 08:35
Rating: 5/5
SPEED

If you don't have any liabilities back home then 10K with accommodation is good for a happy life (but ensure that provide your full insurance coverage/annual passage)

New Car will be depending on your choice, if you go for a saloon car say

Toyota Corolla (bank loan) average monthly installment will cost your QR.1,100/-

Camary 2008: 1600 - 1800 (depending on the options of the vehicle)

Land Cruiser (4x4) will cost you from 2200 - 3000 (depending on the options of the vehicle)

 

In avarage you deduct QR. 2,000 for your transport and Qr 1500 - 2000/- for your monthly food expenses. Still you save QR. 6,000/- which is more then enough for shopping/ other expenses depending on your life style.

 

Best try to negotiate with them, as there is a shortage of qualified Teachers in Doha. I am sure they will increase your salary.

All the best

 

[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]

By tallg• 7 May 2008 08:32
tallg

Unfortenately it's hard to answer your question without first asking "how you live". There is such a wide range of people in Qatar, earning anything from next-to-nothing to more than you could ever spend. To some QR10,000 would seem like a fortune, to others it would be loose change.

So unless we know what standard of living you're used to it's impossible to answer your question. How much do you currently spend a month? How much are you planning to save? How often will you travel out of Qatar?

By qatarisun• 7 May 2008 08:31
Rating: 3/5
qatarisun

you ask not to say 'it depends on how you live'. But it DOES depend on how you live. You didn't like the idea of spending qr 7000-8000 a month.. well..so don't spend it! ... there are people (a lot!!), whose salary is QR 5000, INCLUDING HOUSING. It means, they pay for accommodation out of these 5000, they live somehow, and some even manage to send some amount back home every month.. Others are getting let's say 30,000, and do exactly the same: pay for the accommodation (of course for much better one), live somehow (of course much better than those who makes 5000), and send some amount  back home (of course, much larger amount)....so it DOES depend on how you live....Or rather I would say, YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU MAKE... it is simple.

To hardly meet ends at the end of the month you probably need about QR4500-5000 (2000 accommodation, 500 - transportation, 1000- food , 1000 - misc, 500 - send home). To live more or less a normal life (with some savings and travelling) you probably need between 23,000 to 30,000.

 

********** [img_assist|nid=102563|title=QS|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0] Copyright©Mr.PAUL

By manditojr• 7 May 2008 08:23
Rating: 4/5
manditojr

So I earn about 15000 and then I get about 40k for housing,

the housing part is covered, but the other side, eating out, groceries(about 600 for two wks) is rather expensive. I'm single, no dependants and it's still a bit complicated.  

By xcaliber999• 7 May 2008 08:18
Rating: 4/5
xcaliber999

you can save 50% if you lead a normal life for sure.

 

take care

By anonymous• 7 May 2008 07:49
anonymous

10K is not much and you will struggle in the long run coping with such a low salary.

 

By smoke• 7 May 2008 07:01
Rating: 4/5
smoke

Ola Brenda! Well i think u should have a rough idea bout whats the cost of living here in Qatar, that being said let me tell u this, 10k is just ur salary and from what you've posted, your company will provide u with housing and pay ur E&W bills so u dont have to worry about that. Now 10k approx converterd to US$ is around  what 2700$? So from that you need to cover ur food, travel (if not provied which they should) and buying ur daily other stuff. If you can do all that within 5000 u can easily save 5k to send back home.

 

Now how u do that really depends on your way of living, coz many people here are getting far less than that and are still surviving here. So this is a friendly advice to you, if you really stop worrying about money, save what u must and live according to what u can afford then 10k is pretty much ok. But if i were u and i mean you as in a US citizen with all those degrees i think I should be asking for MORE salary.

 

_[]~SMoKE~[]_

 

By bgottcha• 7 May 2008 06:47
bgottcha

I was offered a position at Newton International School.  I'm not in Qatar yet, just thinking things over, and finding out as much as I can before making a decision about whether to come or not.  If you have any information about the school, I would appreciate that too. 

By oabazeed• 7 May 2008 06:34
Rating: 4/5
oabazeed

HI BRENDA,

 

DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OFFER DIFFERNT KIND OF PACKAGES HERE,

ONE OF MY FRIENDS WAS OFFERED AROUND THIS NUMBER BUT WITHOUT HOUSING, IN WHAT THEY CALL HERE THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, BUT HE HAS LOW EXPERIENCE CPMPARED TO YOU.

ANYWAY, IF YOU CAN TELL US THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL, WE CAN GOVE YOU THE AVERAGE SALARIES THEY OFFER FOR THEIR STAFF, JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THEY'VE BEEN FAIR WITH YOU.

BUT IN GENERAL, WITH THE EXPERIENC EYOU'RE HAVING, I BELIEVE YOU DESERVE MORE.

 

GOOD LUCK

By bgottcha• 7 May 2008 05:52
bgottcha

They said they will provide shared housing, which I am okay with.  They also pay for water and electricity.  Beyond that, I emailed with more specific housing questions, but I am waiting to hear back. 

 

I'm more worried about the cost of living day-to-day.  If it truly would be about 7-8000QR/month to live there, I don't think I could afford it.  I have about $400/month bills to pay at home, and still would need money to travel when I have time off.  It sounds like my salary wouldn't be enough to allow for my bills and day-to-day expenses, without thinking about extra traveling. 

 

Some have said that my salary (10,000QR/month) is average.  Are others that are working as English teachers qualified teachers?  I am a qualified EAL teacher and have my masters in teaching.  If the average English teacher is unqualified, and only has their undergraduate degree (in whatever), than I feel like what I've been offered may not be appropriate for my education, qualifications, and experience.  That said, are other English teachers qualified?   

  

By Aisha-Taweela• 7 May 2008 05:43
Aisha-Taweela

If you are single, what kind of housing will they provide? Utilities? Phone? Tickets? are these included? 

Aisha-Taweela

By oabazeed• 7 May 2008 05:36
Rating: 4/5
oabazeed

IN THE OTHER HAND, THE GOOD THING ABOUT YOUR DEAL, THAT THIS KIND OF SCHOOLS WILLPROVIDE YOU WITH MOSTLY EVERYTHING, MAINLY HOUSING, WHICH IS THE MAJOR ISSUE HERE IN QATAR.

 

REGARDING YOUR BILLS BACK HOME, I THINK YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU FOLLOW A SPECIFIC PLANS OF LIVING.

 

THE NUMBERS I GAVE YOU ABOVE CAN'T BE MORE SPECIFIC THAN THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GIVE MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LIFE STYLE, BUT BELIEVE YOU YOU WILL BE OK.

A SHORT REVIEW WHENEVER YOU ARRIVE WILL BE HELPFUL IN THE BEGINNING.

 

WELCOME AGAIN, AND BEST OF LUCK

By oabazeed• 7 May 2008 05:26
Rating: 5/5
oabazeed

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR NUMBERS HER IT IS: (ALL NUMBERS ARE AVERAGE).

 

THE CAR WON'T BE CASH, SO CONSIDER PAYING 3000QR AMONTH AVERAGE INSTALLMENT, YOU CAN PAY LESS THAN 2000 FOR CHEAP CAR AND LONG PERIOD.

CONSIDERING THAN YOU WILL COOK IN FOR 15DAYS A MONTH, SO YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER 15DAYS IN THE RESTAURANTS X 2 MEALS PERDAY X (50-100)QR PER PERSON, SO IF YOU DID NOT INVITE ANYONE IT WILL BE AROUND 2250 FOR FOOD OUT, BUT AGAIN, YOU MIGHT SPEND MORE THAN 7000 FOR THIS, BUT I'M GIVING YOU THE AVERAGE LIVE.

 

FOOD SHOPPIN WILL COST YOU 500QR A WEEK, AS YOU ARE SINGLE AND YOU WON'T NEED MANY STUFF.

 

SO YOUR 10,000 SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR A NORMAL LIFESTYLE, BUT IF YOU GO A LIL BIT FURTHER, YOU WILL END UP LOOSING MONEY, BUT GENERALLY IT'S A GOOD DEAL YOU'VE GOT, SINCE MOST OF MY FRIENDS WHO WORKS AS A TEACHERS GET AROUND THE SAME THING.

 

GOOD LUCK & WELCOME TO QATAR.

By bgottcha• 7 May 2008 05:26
bgottcha

7000-8000QR/month for living expenses without housing?  Really?  Is it that high?  Could some other people give me their thoughts? 

By anonymous• 7 May 2008 05:07
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

it's not enough!!

if they provide housing,than it's reasonable

because, here you cann't find any living place less than 2000Qr

so, think about it

tell them to provide housing

if they agree,than come

By goblue• 7 May 2008 04:17
Rating: 5/5
goblue

Hi Brenda,

That's good money, just make sure they offer medical and they pay your utility bills. My wife has landed a teaching position for 12000 QR/month plus housing, medical, private school for the kids. I think If you eat out and shop on regular basis you are looking at spending 7000-8000.

By bgottcha• 7 May 2008 04:08
bgottcha

Could you please be more specific?  I need to plan my budget regarding day-to-day living and know whether I can save money and pay my bills back home.  Vague answers really aren't helpful.  I want to make an educated decision here with specifics to help me. 

By blueqat• 7 May 2008 03:54
Rating: 4/5
blueqat

 

 

 You'll be fine dear, come on here and start teaching....

 

 

 

 

"fear not the dead...but the ghost of your past"

By casanova• 7 May 2008 02:06
Rating: 5/5
casanova

Well   ;;;;     If housing is provided by the organization, then now its you to decide how much you are going to spend for living, do u prefer to eat out in the restaurant or u cook, which car you wanna drive, your shopping habits, night life etc etc.. 

Im not sure about the salary status of a teacher here but, i think its fine... 

 

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

 

Martin Luther King.

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