Escape
the "Empty Wallet"!
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The A to Z of Saving Money in Korea
Smart habits
to save on living expenses!
The saving methods available to you
depend on whether you have a Residence Card (RC).
Check the categories below
and grab the benefits
that fit your situation~! "I don't have a Residence Card yet"
(Passport holder / Offline stores mostly)
Don't worry
even if you don't have an RC yet!
You can immediately use on-site discounts
at offline stores and do basic shopping.
1. Hypermarkets & Traditional Markets
Use hypermarkets and markets
to cut down daily food costs!
Reducing fixed costs is the first step
to saving money
•
Night Sales
◦
Visit after 9 PM to buy fresh food (Sushi, Salads, etc.)
at a 30~50% discount.
•
Bulk Buy (Splitting the cost)
◦
Buying large quantities with friends
and splitting the cost is much cheaper per item.
•
Traditional Markets
◦
You can buy ingredients cheaply
with cash at the market!
If you're lucky,
you can also get "Clearance items" and "Freebies"
▪
Clearance (떨이): Bundling leftover items and selling them cheaply just before closing.
▪
Freebie (덤): The Korean culture of 'Jeong',
where the owner kindly gives you a few extra small items
when you buy something.
Wait!If there is no price tag,
make sure to ask "이거 얼마예요?” (How much is this?)
and compare prices with the shop next door before buying!
2. Convenience Stores
Do you have a prejudice
that convenience stores are expensive?
If you use them strategically,
you can Get items cheaply!
•
1+1 / 2+1 Event Products
◦
Pick event products for drinks or snacks you drink often.
The price per item becomes half.
CU - PB products
•
PB Products:
The King of Cost-Effectiveness
◦
"We removed the brand bubble"
By reducing advertising costs,
they are 30~40% cheaper than general brand products.
◦
CU - ‘HEYROO Deuktem’
(Instant rice, Ramen, Hotbar, etc.)
◦
GS25 - ‘Real Price’
Quality is similar,
but the price is much friendlier!
3. Daiso
If you live in Korea,
you must use this place.
From small household goods to groceries,
Daiso has everything!
•
"Is this really 1,000 KRW?"
◦
Storage boxes, cleaning tools, dishes, etc.
Daiso is the strongest in cost-effectiveness for daily essentials.
•
Everywhere in the neighborhood
◦
Daiso is located all over the neighborhood.
It's fun to browse and discover items you need.
4. Second-hand Trading _ “Karrot Market”
‘Karrot Market’ is the most popular
second-hand trading platform used by Koreans.
Can I join without an RC?
Yes!
If you have a Korean phone number
(010 number),
you can sign up for Karrot Market
<How to join Karrot Market>
Start → Set Neighborhood
→ Enter Info (Name, DOB, Telecom, Korean Number) → Verification Code
•
Direct Trade
◦
You can get furniture or household items that are hard to ship cheaply in your neighborhood.
•
Free Sharing
◦
If you are lucky,
you might get dishes or clothes for free
Wait!Since it is difficult to register a card without RC,
we recommend 'Cash Direct Trade'
where you meet in person.
🪪 "I have a Residence Card!"
(Online Shopping /
App Memberships / Secure Payment)
If you have received your RC
and Mobile Identity Verification is possible,
the "real" discount benefits of life in Korea open up.
5. Membership & Point Benefits
Get more discounts
with Memberships and Points
at large franchises or convenience stores!
•
Telecom Membership (KT, SKT, LG U+)
◦
Show your barcode at convenience stores, bakeries, movie theaters, etc.,
and get 5~15% always-on discounts.
•
Franchise Points (CJ ONE, Happy Point)
◦
Accumulate points at Olive Young, Paris Baguette, etc.,
and use them like cash.
•
Convenience Store App
◦
You can buy at the lowest price by stacking Telecom discounts
on 1+1 events + Membership discounts!
6. Smart Payment Methods
•
Simple Payment & Gift Certificate
◦
You can pay simply
by scanning a QR code.
◦
If you buy Onnuri Gift Certificates,
you can pay at traditional markets with a 10% discounted amount.
7. Online Shopping
•
Heavy Items
◦
Order heavy items like rice, water, and toilet paper online. They are delivered right to your doorstep.
•
Compare Prices
◦
It is often cheaper than offline stores.
Compare prices on platforms
like Gmarket, 11st, and Naver Shopping!
Summary
What is my status?
Immediately after Entry
(Passport Only)•
Hypermarkets & Traditional Markets
•
Convenience Store Discounts
•
Daiso Shopping (Offline)
•
Karrot Market (Cash Direct Trade)
🪪 After RC Issuance
(Verification OK)
•
Telecom Membership Discounts
•
Point Accumulation
•
Simple Payment & Gift Certificates
•
Online Shopping
Did these saving tips help you today?
It might seem unfamiliar and complicated at first, but if you follow them one by one,
you'll soon find yourself spending smarter than the locals.
HireVisa cheers for your richer life in Korea!
*The images above were created using Google Gemini.