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Posts: 106

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Q: Electricity Bill !!!! Seriously !!!!

Guys my electricity + water + gas total bills were 3500 RMB for 2 month !!! So 1750 RMB per month utilities fee is normal here !!!!!!!! did the government change something about the pricing or something !!!!!! 

 

I am having real difficulties living here with a 9000 rmb salary .... and i don't even pay rent !!!!!! Ive been here (Guangzhou) for more than a year now and its the same. Any of u guys have advise on this matter?

 

Monthly expenses:

-Utilities : 1750

-Food: 150/day - 4500/ month

-Mobile: 400

-Ayi: 400

-Smokes & Booze: 60/day - 1800/ month

Total : 8800 rmb

 

So basically thats my whole salary gone !!!! and Im not even going out anywhere.

 

 

8 years 21 weeks ago in  Lifestyle - Guangzhou

 
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Emperor

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you bill sounds way to high.

 

I'd like to ask a couple of questions.

 

how many people are in the place you are living?

is there a 'stay at home' person who may be leaving things on all the time?

 

Do you pay your landlord for the utilities all together?

if so, you are probably being ripped off.

 

can you get a break-down of the electricity/gas/water as it sounds suspicions having a similar bill to pay every month - normally there would be monthly differences, even in Guangzhou.

 

my experience has been of meters that require a top-up so i can see the usage of each utility.

 

you could be paying a 'foreigner tax', which sucks.

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
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Posts: 421

Governor

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Who are the most friendly neighbors?  They're the ones who are spliced into your box!  Get the China Grid guy to come over and have a look.

 

Also of note: 8800/mo in expenses?  I guess you plan on going home broke?  Or did you use the number 88 to troll?

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 95

Governor

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Have you found out what was the problem?

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 106

Governor

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Guys seriously im not trolling. I checked with the management and the meter, and i got this  U USE TOO MUCH ELECTRICITY CRAP. so the only solution i guess is to find a new apartment. 

 

For the Phone bill I have to spend 400 cuz of my job. Im an export manager and i have to make international calls.

For the pizza / burger lunch comment, dude I didnt mean pizza / burger all the time. but i dont have a lunch break to go out and grap a bite, thus its always a tak out ( mcdonalds, subway etc, pizza 2 pizza etc ...)

And yes I shop at ole (beef & chicken) cuz i cannot find what i need in other markets.

 

And for the Ayi thing, I work from 10 am till 10/11 pm, thus i dont really have time to cook then do the dishes then clean the house. and yeah I dont have a day off to clean. 7 working days a week.

 

Ciggs and booze: 2 packs of 7 rmb ciggs & half a bottle of some kind of spirits.

 

Does this explain my expenses ??? 

 

P.S: yeah I have a shitty job :/

Kaiwen:

What appliances do you have in your apartment that could possibly use so much power? I have an electric water heater for the shower which is constantly on for instance but I have never paid more than 100 rmb per month for electricity.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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AhmadKoudrah:

2 ACs + water heater. rest are normal things like lights, TV etc ...

8 years 21 weeks ago
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philbravery:

So what is the advantages for you in China? Sounds like you need to change your situation more than just where you reside

8 years 21 weeks ago
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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1300

Shifu

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Change your job man, 9000 per month for 7 days a week is absurd. 

ScotsAlan:

Also, the company should pay his phone bill.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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AhmadKoudrah:

well im trying to change but its not easy here to get a non teaching job here....

8 years 21 weeks ago
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ScotsAlan:

Tell me about it angry

8 years 21 weeks ago
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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 5321

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Start noting down your daily meter readings, if they are different from what the company tell you then you know they are cheating you. The same thing happened to a guy I know here.

 

Either way, whether they're cheating or not moving is probably your best bet.

AhmadKoudrah:

im checking the meter from now on. but still the hell with this apartment. As u stated, moving is the thing to do

8 years 21 weeks ago
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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2855

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You work between 12 and 13 hours a day, 7 days a week...  FOR ONLY 9000 RMB A MONTH?!

Perhaps you should consider a  different vocation.

Kaiwen:

I wonder how many Audi's, apartments and mistresses the boss has? 

 

 

8 years 21 weeks ago
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Spiderboenz:

2, and a BMW.

3, but 1 is TECHNICALLY a condo.

2.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1845

Shifu

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You are making about 25rmb per hour. You have a language skill that the company needs and you are underselling yourself. Were these the conditions you agreed too in the contract or has your boss slowly increased your work load?

AhmadKoudrah:

Increased workload. and when I say something about it, I get this take it or leave it crap.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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Lord_hanson:

Call his bluff, leave.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1838

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None of this really rings true to me. Export Managers have to possess a certain skills set that includes an exceptional ability to negotiate. It is one of the prerequisites of such a role. Another skill that I would be looking for in such a role would be the ability to sell.

 

Despite your background and the fact that you live in one of the areas of China where export sales personnel are in rich demand, you appear to be getting ripped off with your utility bills, fleeced by your company and even paying substantial phone bills from your own pocket that anybody with any sense would be claiming back from their employer.

 

I don't think that export sales positions are that hard to obtain in China (especially around Guangdong). As for permission to work, I assume that you have a valid work permit and RP.  If your current employer can get you a RP, then so can other companies.

 

If you don't have a valid WP and RP, there could be the reason why you are getting fleeced left, right and centre. If that is the case, you do not have much recourse. You would be much better off getting a low workload teaching job with the correct visa then doing your export manager job on the quiet on a commission only basis.

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 106

Governor

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I have a valid RP but no WP. But on the upside I have 15 days vacation twice a year (summer + winter) fully paid. Tickets and visa reimbursement. and they pay the the lease. A teaching job will get me around 12000 rmb max, although i need to pay my own rent, tickets and visa fees in which its the same as after all.

 

 

 

 

Shining_brow:

"in which its the same as after all."

 

Except - for teaching, you're working a LOT less hours! And, thus, hourly rate is a LOT higher... and gives you time for doing other things (like managing an export business!)

8 years 21 weeks ago
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AhmadKoudrah:

To manage and export business I need a start up capital which I dont have :/ on the other hand the current market is not encouraging enough as European and turkish markets are selling as low as their chinese counterpart. China is dying business wise, unless they do something about it.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2855

Emperor

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An RP but no WP?  What visa are you on?

AhmadKoudrah:

tourist

8 years 21 weeks ago
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Spiderboenz:

You are working illegally. This is why you are getting taken advantage of.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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Hotwater:

Then you haven't got an RP. You've got a tourist visa only. Very different to a Resident Permit. 

8 years 21 weeks ago
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AhmadKoudrah:

Isnt the RP that pink piece of paper that u get from the police station ? if thats the case then yes i do have one.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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Spiderboenz:

No.  The RP is the thing that the Entry/exit guys put in your passport.

8 years 21 weeks ago
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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 284

Governor

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Are you living in business apartment? that electricity bill would be higher than normal apartment. but even though, your bill still too high! 

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
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General

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Generally the fee of electricity here is 0.6rmb/degree. So all that matters is how often you have the A/C on and how much electricity you have used. You changing your condo or not has nothing to do with the electricity expense.

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
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General

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Generally the fee of electricity here is 0.6rmb/degree. So all that matters is how often you have the A/C on and how much electricity you have used. You changing your condo or not has nothing to do with the electricity expense.

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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lol

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 230

Governor

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You cant beat it, trust me...in order to save in China, learn how to live like Chinese....whoooaaah dont go and try live your western style out here buddy, it just wont work...

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 106

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like chinese !!!!! dude cmon , im not that desperate..... also i dont really live up to the western style in here. get up go to work, go home, cook, eat , shower, watch TV and sleep. Thats basically my life style in here . 

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8 years 21 weeks ago
 
Posts: 456

Shifu

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You must be an American who has never learned to conserve anything?

AhmadKoudrah:

not rly lol. 

8 years 21 weeks ago
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