Author Topic: Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house  (Read 3373 times)

expatartist

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2270
  • Location: Hong Kong/Paris
Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house
« on: February 11, 2014, 12:15:57 AM »
An inspiring story about a couple who did whatever it took in today's "Communist" China to afford their home. They bought a home in a city ~200km SW of Beijing. In China's cities, housing prices have been going through the roof, even in smaller cities like theirs.
 
This couple makes about $650/month, and lived on under $1/day to save for their down payment -- including eating discarded cabbage leaves.

http://www.chinasmack.com/2014/videos/young-couple-live-on-5-rmbday-to-save-for-home-down-payment.html

soccerluvof4

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7161
  • Location: Artic Midwest
  • Retired at 50
    • My Journal
Re: Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2014, 05:08:04 AM »
I have mixed emotions on this. I think its great the Love and hardwork an all but also find it a bit overbearing. I can see where this is an extreme case of 2 people and there goals but I also think more balance would be healthier. Kudos to them however ,, its just a shame that   some see that's what it takes to buy a house. Thanks for sharing

limeandpepper

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4569
  • Location: Australasia
Re: Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2014, 07:28:50 AM »
Naw, they seem really happy together. I watched the video as well - I wish I could sum it up well for those of you who don't understand Mandarin, but suffice to say they are truly devoted to each other, and their goals. It's very touching.

reginna

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 172
Re: Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2014, 08:10:18 AM »
Young, in love and achieving their goals through hard work and sacrifice. I say extremely badass! 

expatartist

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2270
  • Location: Hong Kong/Paris
Re: Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2014, 05:00:05 PM »
@soccerluvof4 I hear you - it's pretty extreme what they went through. However for a young couple from small towns/border provinces with no access to a decent education, their employment prospects anywhere in the country are extremely limited. Their salaries aren't keeping pace with COL, and most people in their position would never be able to afford a home. Instead they'd have to commute longer and longer distances, and pay a higher proportion of their salaries. Also, with a home, their child will have better access to a hukou (basically an internal Chinese passport) which will make a decent education/healthcare possible.

One reason the message has gone viral here is that contemporary Chinese women are portrayed in the media as gold-digging and fickle - due to the imbalanced sex ratio, higher education, more job options, etc. This woman married a guy with not-so-good employment options, and helped make their dream possible.

soccerluvof4

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7161
  • Location: Artic Midwest
  • Retired at 50
    • My Journal
Re: Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2014, 07:39:50 AM »
@soccerluvof4 I hear you - it's pretty extreme what they went through. However for a young couple from small towns/border provinces with no access to a decent education, their employment prospects anywhere in the country are extremely limited. Their salaries aren't keeping pace with COL, and most people in their position would never be able to afford a home. Instead they'd have to commute longer and longer distances, and pay a higher proportion of their salaries. Also, with a home, their child will have better access to a hukou (basically an internal Chinese passport) which will make a decent education/healthcare possible.

One reason the message has gone viral here is that contemporary Chinese women are portrayed in the media as gold-digging and fickle - due to the imbalanced sex ratio, higher education, more job options, etc. This woman married a guy with not-so-good employment options, and helped make their dream possible.

I always wondered how that imbalance would eventually create problems. Thanks for the further insight and again for sharing! Good to see such a young couple so focused and so in love wanting the same dream!

SisterX

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3035
  • Location: 2nd Star on the Right and Straight On 'Til Morning
Re: Young couple in China live on less than $1/day to save for house
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2014, 02:34:10 PM »
Well, that story certainly makes me want to kick it up a notch!  Good for them.  I just hope they keep up the saving now that they've got the home.