There are 2 unconventional ways to save money in Korea.

1. Be fat.
- OK, maybe not even fat. Just be bigger than your average Korean. I'm sitting with half my paycheck left and it's mainly because I cannot buy clothes or shoes.
- If you know me, you know I am a bigger girl. I will not say that I'm obese, but I know that I am definitely overweight. (This is not fishing for compliments -- merely stating a fact -- so you can forego the "oh amanda you're not fat" comments).
- Koreans are tiny. Which I chalk up to the fact that they don't have ovens. How does not having an oven equate to skinny people? South Korea is 75% mountains, meaning no usable land for wheat fields. Ergo, no flour. Ergo, no need for ovens. Ergo, not eating bread/cake/cookies which means not eating the obscene amount of carbs that Americans eat.
- Koreans do eat carbs, but they come in the form of rice. When one cannot make a wheat field, one makes a rice patty. Rice is eaten with every meal -- breakfast, lunch and dinner. Desserts are made with rice because of the lack of flour/lack of ovens. Every Korean home has a rice-cooker which they probably use more than any appliance in their house.
- Shoes also run small. The largest women shoe size in most shoes is 250 which = USA Size 9. Now I don't know about you, but I know quite a handful of normal girls with feet bigger than a size 9. We are forced to buy unisex shoes (which thankfully are very popular here, like Vans and Converses), which run in male sizes up to 290.



2. Eat out.
- What kind of bizarre universe is this? Well it's Korea, where get a lavish, full Korean meal costs you less than 5,000 won (less than $4.50). In fact some restaurants call themselves "3000" restaurants, where most meals are only 3,000 won.
- Traditional Korean meals include meat that you grill yourself, a variety of side dishes, or 반찬, maybe some rice, and "service" which is something free, usually some soup, noodles or tea.
- It is always cheaper to eat with others and split the tab. Koreans do not do "split checks," so be prepared with cash on hand.
- Want some booze? A bottle of soju will only set you back another 2,000 won.
- For a nice Korean dinner with plenty of booze split between 3 people, expect to spend anywhere from 5,000 - 10,000 won ( or $4.50 - $9).
- It is actually more expensive to cook at home. Not only are you using your gas for the stove, but let me give you a rundown of expected costs for easy things to make at home.
Grilled cheese sandwich?
Bread = 2,000
Cheese = anywhere from 3-7,000 for the cheese.
Butter = 2- 3,000.
TOTAL = 7,000 - 12,000 won
Spaghetti?
Package of pasta = 3,000 - 5,000
Can of cheap spaghetti sauce = 4-7,000.
TOTAL = 7,000 - 12,000 won
Omelet?
Carton of eggs = 2-3,000.
Cheese = 3,000 minimum
Green peppers = 3 small ones for 1,500
Ham = local supermarket varieties are more a mixture of SPAM and paté, so I advise heading to an E*Mart or HomePlus and spend 2,000 for about 6 sandwich slices.
Garlic = luckily is very cheap here, but expect stronger garlic than normal. Maybe 1,000 won.
Onions = also very cheap. I suggest heading to an outdoor seller. Maybe 1,000 won.
TOTAL = 10,000 - 12,000 (depending on ingredients)

And those are the cheap things. Forget chicken, ribs, hamburgers and steaks. They will easily cost you more than necessary.
Needs an oven? FORGET IT! YOU DO NOT HAVE AN OVEN!
Microwaveable things? FORGET IT! YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A MICROWAVE!
Need toast? FORGET IT! YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A TOASTER!

Of course, you can buy microwaves and toasters. But then you remember that you're only here for a year. You will either have to sell or give away these things when you leave. You also have no space for them in your shoebox apartment.

Conclusion:
Do not cook at home. Eat out. But do not get fat because Korea has no clothes or shoes to fit you. Either way, you're saving money.