Chonnam Tribune asked CNU students two questions: How much do you get a month for pocket money and what do you spend the money on?
1. Jang So-hee, Freshman, Dept. of Computer & Information Technologies
I am wholly dependent on my parents for my living expenses. My parents allow me 150,000 won a month. I spend about 20,000 won on buying religious books because I want to be a sincere Christian. I also spend about 30,000 won on clothes and 100,000 won on food, bus fares and so forth. Whenever I meet my friends, I always feel that I don’t have enough money. There is no choice, though. I never think of working as a part-time job worker as long as I can depend on my parents for now. Therefore, I’m trying to be satisfied with my present economic situation.
2. Lee Ho-sung, Freshman, Division of Applied Bioscience & Biotechnology
I usually spend 200,000 won a month: My father allows me 100,000 won a month and I earn 100,000 won for myself as a labor scholarship student. I spend about 20,000 won on clothes, 30,000 won on my favorite hobby--reading classic literature. I know the importance and value of money because I’ve been working for half a year as a labor scholarship student. So, I do not waste my money on useless things. Some of my friends always say that they run out of money, but I absolutely disagree with them.
3. Lee Kyung-hwa, Freshman, Dept. of Mathematics Education
I earn 200,000 won by private tutoring, and I generally live on it. Sometimes my mother gives me 100,000 won. If I attend drinking parties four times a month, I spend around 20,000 won each time. In addition, if I stay at the party until late, it is unavoidable for me to not take a taxi (opposed to bus) and my place is quite far from the campus. Then, I spend more than 100,000 won under the name of entertainment costs. In spite of earning some money on my own, I manage to eke out a living because of expenses for pleasures. In this case, I receive some money from my parents.
4. Shin Sang-hyun, Sophomore, Dept. of Business Administration
I am independent of my parents for my living expenses, earning 250,000 won a month by working as a part-time job worker. I regularly spend 25,000 won on religious purpose, 50,000 won on bus fare, 50,000 won on food, 25,000 won on cellular phone payment and 50,000 won on expenses for pleasures. Though I earn some money, I think that I am financially strapped. Therefore, I make a desperate effort to economize some parts of my expenses like bus fare. That is why I ride on a bicycle within an hour’s distance from CNU.
5. Oh Chang-hwan, Senior, Dept. of Philosophy
My parents give me an allowance of 50,000 won a week for pocket money. I solely spend it on food expenses and bus fare. It means that I only spend about 7,000 won a day. I do not agree with the students who work part-time just to spend their money .I think that the time for study is more important than spending time making money. Besides, I cannot understand people who waste the money their parents give them. Therefore, I have led a thrifty life and I devote myself to studying my major instead of getting a part-time job.
6. Moon Sang-hee, Senior, Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering
My parents allow me 300,000 won. I generally spend money on food and bus fare. I attend drinking parties three times a month, spending about 30,000 won at a time. However, I sometimes use more money than I expected. Then I use my credit card. To discharge my card balance, I work a part-time job. It makes me busy and it is difficult for me to concentrate on studying for employment.
7. Kim Tae-hyun, Junior, Dept. of Ethics Education
I earn 250,000 won by private tutoring and I live on it. Though I am in need of money, I do not receive money from my parents. Checking my spending list, I spend 50,000 won on bus fare and meals, and 10,000 won on buying books to broaden my knowledge. Furthermore, working on my duty as head of department, I have to meet many people. It is natural that I spend much money. This costs me 120,000 won a month. So I always feel that I do not have enough money. However, I never ask my parents for money except for tuition fees.