That is totally true. Just this past week my chinese FAO told me of two elder western men, one canadian and one australian, who both came to Sichuan without a pot to piss in. One only managed to save money by giving his wife his teaching salary every month, and saved nothing in his first 8 years in China, as I was told. He arrived at 40 with nothing, and by 48 still had nothing! It was only by his wifes efforts they managed to get an apartment, he is now 56, still teaching and unable to afford a house in australia. The canadian man, younger, is taking his daughter back home with him, but has to stay with friends at first and then rent due to owning no house there, and having only been a teacher in Sichuan since the 90s.

You are right, there are many 40 and 50 something blokes with young or middle aged wives with only their FT salary.....[edited]