In Korea the monetary system is quite simplistic and easy to use.
units can be broken into 10 won 100 won 500won and then the bills 1000, 5000, 10000, and 50000 bills.
The coins are listed with their counterparts in American
10 won----------------1 penny
100won---------------dime
500won-------------half dollar
1000----------$1.00
I don't know if its in light of the economy, having only a part time gig or just our common sense but my wife and I are really putting our change to good use.
100 won in Korea is much more in value than a dime but I have managed to save $40 dollars worth that combined with my 500 wons equate around $110 dollars right now. That's just from this year collecting change discretely!
One of these days I will go dump it at the bank and collect my $200 dollars or so back! It basically is my insurance for at least 3 weeks where I won't have to withdraw money or care where my money is!
Sadly, this is one of the more interesting things I find here in Korea since there's very little else that's interesting. Anyone who has been here also should know that money is too damn important to these people. I can't understand it since all of my change can be used to pay for the big enchiladas like transportation cost, ordering food, grocery stores etc. but people think that they don't have enough.
Once they buy their big apartment in the skyscraper after marriage they are really set for life. They have the mortgage as their insurance and future lifesaver but I can't see it since my change is gigantic. I feel that this is because Korea is so cheap. I only need 10,000 won =10 dollars on me per day and most of the time I don't use all of that. If I added up all of my costs I think I spend 6-8 dollars a day. Wow the cost of living is so damn cheap what do these people need to worry about? Am I crazy? Are they stupid? Whats the point to all of the money talk?
Let me here your goddamn pennies clink and let my head roll in your dough I have some change for your thoughts^^
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Yes, but these married folks also have kids. Kids=EXPENSIVE. They need money to send them to the private schools, feed and cloth them, and save for college. Plus they have to pay to care for their parents when they are elderly. Besides, you are from America, it's simple capitalism, right? Imagine getting by on ten dollars a day when you have kids running around.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with Katherine. Sadly, this is a myopic post, indicative of self-centered and selfish thinking. It's also a simplistic neo-scrooged account of living to count change, bordering on the pathetic. I really hope for your sake you have more than this to occupy your time. Have you thought about picking up an instrument? Or learning new ways to cook? The news, the gym--there has to be something more interesting than counting small change and noting how far it gets you.
ReplyDeletei will agree with you too, my writing has gone to shambles I don't write much anymore and the topics are a little boring ... I also think my life is too much like Scrooge Bryant but I don't think I am selfish I wish it wouldn't have came off that way. Sadly, Koreans pride themselves in how much money they make, have and are always comparing ridiculous things like cost of a subway verses a bus. My wife is very much so korean and thus it rubs off on me. I really want to show her American dreams so the continual fuss and worry over money can go away...
ReplyDeleteNever mind the economy, etc just think on the difference in mentality of how we were raised.
I do have other things that occupy my time but for now its just trying to get focused... I may have mentioned I quit my job and now I am working full time as a part timer 2 hours a day and Saturday work. Maybe money is a little tight for me right now since I am not working even a full base salary and am married.