Living on 1000 baht per day

[margaretcarnes]

All very useful comments SuperJoe. I hadn't seen those estimates of inflation in HH before and can't disagree to be honest. While a small annual increase in my hotel costs there for example can be managed, as well as prices in the Mall (which are noticeable) it is certainly much different for expats who have to buy all their daily needs in HH.
I would add a point about UK pensions. This year the annual increase was 5.2%. Same applies to UK public service pensions. That was the highest increase for several years of course. Most times it is much less - and in any case UK state pensions don't increase at all for expats who have gone by the book and notified that they are no longer UK residents. For those who risk it and maintain UK bank accounts, addresses etc there is now the additional burden of tax changes, so it will be swings and roundabouts next year for many.
I would think many other EU countries are more generous, but for UK expats there is certainly a worrying discrepancy there, particularly when potential rent hikes are factored in.

[Takiap]

SJ...............very good post indeed. When I responded earlier, I was really suggesting that at present, 1000 baht per day is ample. As you say though, if that 1000 baht a day is going to stay at 1000 baht a day, then there's no chance one would still be able to live here a few years down the line.


Like you, I had no intention of ever getting married, let alone having kids, but that was 12 years ago. Now with 3 kids and an exchange rate that's seen better days, life is not nearly as comfy as it once was. Also, I think all of us can agree, the cost of living has gone up quite a bit over the last ten years or so. I remember petrol cost less than half of what it does now for example. I remember being able to buy four big Chang beers for 100 baht, whereas now you only get two for that. Also, with more choices in shopping/foods these days, there's more temptation to buy things we were once happy to go without.


So, in my opinion, 1000 baht per day would be fine just now, but certainly not in a few years time.

[johnnyk]

1000 a day is certainly doable outside of accomodation costs. Avoid falang restos, keep the boozing and smoking down, don't chase women every night and forget about golf.

[Coldmike]

1000 a day is certainly doable outside of accomodation costs. Avoid falang restos, keep the boozing and smoking down, don't chase women every night and forget about golf.

[hhfarang]

In other words, why bother?

[dozer]

If a person is fit and able, then surely rather than being held hostage by rising costs, is not time to get back to work?

[PET]

If a person is fit and able, then surely rather than being held hostage by rising costs, is not time to get back to work?

It rather depends on ones age and work permit ( if staying in Thailand with a family), because the vast majority are on pensions.

[dozer]

^
The point I was making was not with regard to people here on a pension, but rather the people who opted for a early retirement, which sounded feasible at the time, but now it’s becoming more and more difficult.
If they are fit and able and have another 30 or so years ahead of them, then surely there has to be something they can do to at least top up their funds.

[johnnyk]

In other words, why bother?

I don't drink much, don't smoke and eat mainly Thai. It's not a total loss!

[johnnyk]

Sometimes people retire too early or are away too long to fit back in the workforce. Bridges burned and a fixed income with 40 years more to live is not a good scenario.

[Dannie Boy]

^
The point I was making was not with regard to people here on a pension, but rather the people who opted for a early retirement, which sounded feasible at the time, but now it’s becoming more and more difficult.
If they are fit and able and have another 30 or so years ahead of them, then surely there has to be something they can do to at least top up their funds.

Although as we all know, it isnt easy for farangs to find bona-fidi work here in LOS due to the work permit restrictions

[dozer]

^
The point I was making was not with regard to people here on a pension, but rather the people who opted for a early retirement, which sounded feasible at the time, but now it’s becoming more and more difficult.
If they are fit and able and have another 30 or so years ahead of them, then surely there has to be something they can do to at least top up their funds.

Although as we all know, it isnt easy for farangs to find bona-fidi work here in LOS due to the work permit restrictions

Why would you restrict yourself to seeking gainful employment to here, surely you need to explore all options and as you say with the WP restrictions then here is not really an option.

[Dannie Boy]

^
The point I was making was not with regard to people here on a pension, but rather the people who opted for a early retirement, which sounded feasible at the time, but now it’s becoming more and more difficult.
If they are fit and able and have another 30 or so years ahead of them, then surely there has to be something they can do to at least top up their funds.

Although as we all know, it isnt easy for farangs to find bona-fidi work here in LOS due to the work permit restrictions

Why would you restrict yourself to seeking gainful employment to here, surely you need to explore all options and as you say with the WP restrictions then here is not really an option.

Well I thought we were talking about living here on a 1000 baht a day, otherwise we would need to talk about living in the UK on £40 a day or the US on $60.

[dozer]

Sorry I thought it was clear, I have been making the point that many people have probably retired a bit too early and the rising costs are making life difficult. So in order to continue living their dream, maybe they should consider getting back into the workforce.

[aragon]

Sorry I thought it was clear, I have been making the point that many people have probably retired a bit too early and the rising costs are making life difficult. So in order to continue living their dream, maybe they should consider getting back into the workforce.

From reading through this thread I'm no longer sure the "dream" is even possible anymore. I am still working and probably will not be retiring for several years yet; our place in HH is paid for and I'm fortunate to be working in a tax free location that pays pretty well, so hopefully can continue to stash away some funds for the future, but even then I worry based on much of what I read here. My biggest concern is that if all of you seasoned HH expats with Thai wives and G/Fs are concerned by the rapidly rising cost of living, what chance do us farangs with farang wives have of being able to mitigate the cost of living, particularly as we have to pay the farang price for everything and get no breaks whatsoever!!