jdudley14

Hi there

Due to move the move to Dubai this September, and I was wondering what, realistically I would be looking at spending each month.

I appreciate that this is a really broad and vague subject and question, but I'm just after a general ball park figure of what I'd expect to be spending each month.

Rent aside. I'm quite a social person and like to play sport as often as I can. I'm not a big drinker but will have the occasional beer.

My new job will involve working with a lot of non-white/British people (which of course is great) however I feel I will need to be able to socialise outside of work to make sure I'm happy out there!

Any answers I can get on this very vague subject would be great!

UKMS

A bit more background would be helpful

Although you say 'rent aside' will you be living in private rented, company provided accommodation, serviced apartment etc ?? ....... all have very different overheads.

Transport - Are you buying/renting a car, using taxis or metro again all very different costs.

What sport do you like to play ..... you can kick a ball around on the beach for nothing or pay 1000's for a gym

socialising - again depends what you like to do and what you mean by an 'occasional beer' ..... it means once a day to some people or once a month to others also whether you also mean eating out ?

All of the above is also very much relative to what you earn and how much you are willing/can afford to spend.

jam25mack

Why just dark skinned Brits....? Quite specific.

In answer to your initial question, the going rate for a hooker varies massively..... you need to be more specific on your taste.

Seriously though, its too broad a question. Excluding rent, bills, transport etc and solely talking cash in pocket money my outlays can vary considerably from near enough nothing (2,000) all the way up to silly (10,000+) depending on what month it is, how many birthday / leaving / visiting brunches there are, if i'm on a health kick or if I'm not....

nottmbantam

Did he really mean dark skinned Brits? I thought he meant he'd be working with non whites AND Brits. Though to be pedantic, the Brits *could* also be non white...

DXBtoDOH

If rent (and utilities and internet) and transportation are accounted for, then you can live comfortably on a thousand a week. Many live on less but a westerner will struggle to live on lower than 750/week without feeling that they're sacrificing their quality of life (mostly by forgoing any social life).

A thousand a week will cover groceries (250/week is probably average for a single), a few cheap meals out, a drink or two a week, taxi to/from the drinks venue and some mild social events.

Lots of sporting groups around. Check out duplays and meetup.com for groups.

Sabi Star

There is thread about this matter from a short time ago-'' expenses in Dubai- help'' - or something like that just on page 2.

jam25mack

I think Saudi has eroded your sarcasm meter!

nottmbantam

Yeah, it broke a long ago...needs fixing!

jdudley14

Thanks for all the replies guys. Appreciate the question was very broad!

As for the colleagues part, what I meant was, I'm going to be the only westerner/Brit working there. Probably should have said that in the first place.

I'm looking at taking around 12k a month plus commission. I know compared to some salariés I've seen on here that that isn't massive, but there's a carrot there for me to chase and increase that. Seeing as I don't want to spend all my money on rent, I am looking at around 5,000 pm tops really. Anything more at this stage and I may as well give up on trying to save any money.

I have maybe one or two beers a week, and try to eat as healthily as possible. I'll be given a car, money for fuel, phone and laptop...so I hope my costs of travel etc will be cut.

So o guess, as someone has already kind of answered. Food budget for one, social clubs/gyms, and the occasional meal out. I love sport so will look to go to the 7's, the tennis etc but I can research that separately.

I basically want to be able to save a fair amount each month, but looks as though that will be a bit tough on a slightly lower salary

Bahtatboy

I think you're lucky to have got any civil responses having stated that you'll need to socialise away from your non-white colleagues.

UKMS

Out of interest what is your line of work and the carrot you'll be chasing ?

DXBtoDOH

Eh.

He really meant non-westerners.

Most of us generally only socialise away from the non-western colleagues.

Just the way it is even if we didn't intend for it to be like that.

It's just one of the ironies of life that my crowd in the UK was more diverse (racially and ethnically) than in the Middle East.

DXBtoDOH

Estate agent.

Note the car.

As estate agents go if they're providing him with a base salary of 12k then he's doing really well already!

jam25mack

Obviously not knowing how much you are likely to earn in commission but a total of 12k is going to be tight as a tiger and unless you are very frugal you'll be lucky to save anything.

So Real Estate or Dodgy Financial scammer?

Millhouse

My credit card bill averages 12-15k a month and is never less than 10k. I have almost no cash expenses.

That number includes all bills (AC etc) and around 1 flight a month to the UK. So you can reduce it by around 3k.