Top 10 Ways to Save Money in Seoul
10. Abandon your nice apartment and move into a cheap Goshiwon (고시원) or boarding house ( 하숙집)!
9. Utilize a Jjimjil bang (찜질방) rather than a hotel if you stay over night away from home. It’s not the best sleep you’ll ever get, but it only costs between W6,000-W8,000 and you can soak in the sauna.
8. Trips to E-Mart or Hyundae Department Store for free samples or si-sik (시 식) is a great way to sample a variety of Korean foods and eat free. Just say, Si-sik chu-sey-yo(시식주세요)! This is a very popular place to eat among high school students. Although, I have observed all ages enjoying these mouth watering samples.
7. Take a late night nap in the PC bang. It will run you around 1,000 per hour and you can relax in the comfortable computer chair until the public transportation re-opens at 5:30am.
6. Buy alcohol from the supermarkets and pre-party at your house. When you go out you can “Post-up” and buy drinks from the myriad of convenience stores instead of the bars. Soju (소주 ) is cheaper than beer (맥주) and Makgeolli (막걸리 ). Though you might pay for it the next morning.
5. Don’t eat in western restaurants instead stick to the local cuisine. Try the inexpensive Korean fast-food franchise Kimbap Jeong guk (김밥천국) for dishes ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 Won each or small mom and pop Korean restaurants (식당).
4. Go to the a low-cost eatery frequently visited by taxi drivers and truck drivers known as a Kisa siktang (기사집). A lot of food for the price.
3. Locate your local university (대학교), get in line, and grab a tray! In the student cafeterias a delicious meal will run you between 2,500 – 4,000 won.
2. “Magam Sale! (마감세일) ” Buy food from supermarkets, department store grocers, and bakeries just before closing time. All the prices are significantly reduced in order to prepare for the next days items.
1. Go out to eat and then for drinks with your hyeong (형) or oppa (오빠).^^
Written by Kevin J. Brenneman
How do you save money in Seoul?
