The cost of company...
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 5:32 pm
Ok here we go... This subject got me banned from another forum but it's an interesting subject on so many levels.
Many expats living here come to an arrangement whereby they give their female companions a monthly allowance.
In return, the woman agrees to live with the guy, being his companion and lover, and sometimes doing the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and helping with the guy's business activities.
I'm not talking about the guys living abroad, visiting here occasionally and sending regular payments to their 'girlfriends' here, (I think they are nuts) but the expats actually living here.
Some people see this as gross exploitation, others as a business transaction and some as being the same as in the west in cases where the female isn't going out to work, doesn't have a salary, and needs some daily money.
I'm interested in the amounts given. They seem to have gone up in the last year or so. It used to be $250 a month or so, but now is often over $1,000.
I'm a bar owner, so I'm constantly faced with staff coming up and telling me they are stopping work because their boyfriend doesn't like them working in a bar and is giving them x amount a month. This x amount is now $800 to $1,500 a month, plus sometimes a free apartment as well.
There's nothing I can do except shrug, wish them well and know that they may be back in six months or so if the relationship falls apart.
For those willing to discuss details it would be interesting to know the amounts and terms involved.
For me personally I give $250 a month. Most of this goes back to the family in the province to pay for her childrens' food, health, clothes and education. I also hand out $200 a month to cover all food and household items that she buys for us. Plus probably another $100 for one-off items like wedding payments, friends birthdays, taxis to the provinces etc.
Many expats living here come to an arrangement whereby they give their female companions a monthly allowance.
In return, the woman agrees to live with the guy, being his companion and lover, and sometimes doing the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and helping with the guy's business activities.
I'm not talking about the guys living abroad, visiting here occasionally and sending regular payments to their 'girlfriends' here, (I think they are nuts) but the expats actually living here.
Some people see this as gross exploitation, others as a business transaction and some as being the same as in the west in cases where the female isn't going out to work, doesn't have a salary, and needs some daily money.
I'm interested in the amounts given. They seem to have gone up in the last year or so. It used to be $250 a month or so, but now is often over $1,000.
I'm a bar owner, so I'm constantly faced with staff coming up and telling me they are stopping work because their boyfriend doesn't like them working in a bar and is giving them x amount a month. This x amount is now $800 to $1,500 a month, plus sometimes a free apartment as well.
There's nothing I can do except shrug, wish them well and know that they may be back in six months or so if the relationship falls apart.
For those willing to discuss details it would be interesting to know the amounts and terms involved.
For me personally I give $250 a month. Most of this goes back to the family in the province to pay for her childrens' food, health, clothes and education. I also hand out $200 a month to cover all food and household items that she buys for us. Plus probably another $100 for one-off items like wedding payments, friends birthdays, taxis to the provinces etc.