Living on 1000 baht per day

[brianks]

Living in Thailand with Farang wife? Oh, my you must have a larger budget to consider that as viable. If only you can get her on the same page financially that will support the residence here, you might have a chance. Might be some restrictions on her lifestyle that she may not like.

[aragon]

Living in Thailand with Farang wife? Oh, my you must have a larger budget to consider that as viable. If only you can get her on the same page financially that will support the residence here, you might have a chance. Might be some restrictions on her lifestyle that she may not like.

Well as I say, I am still working in a well paid tax free job and the place in HH is paid for, but certainly bht. 1,000/day wouldn't cut it even now, never mind in several more years time with the cost of living going up the way it has, which is why I wonder. The wife is not an issue as she isn't extravagant by any means, just likes a nice glass of wine and some simple pleasures, no the big issue I think will be being a farang couple and being expected to pay accordingly.

[Takiap]

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!!

If you and your wife already have a place here of your own, then I assume you will more or less have completed the "tourist trail" such as visiting the different temples and etc in Bangkok? If so, forget 99% of the nonsense you hear about double pricing. I can buy anything I want here, and pay no more than the average Thai. Of course a lot boils down to common sense, and you may even get stung once or twice, but you soon learn where and how to shop. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen Thais pay more for something compared to what I have paid. Thai vendors for example wouldn't even dream of only trying to rip Farang off when they can quite often rip other Thais off as well. Yes, they often aim higher with us, but like I say, you soon learn how to spot and counter such an attack.

In general, you'll find double pricing only exists is the tourist areas and I think you'll find the same in many countries, including the UK and South Africa.


Cost of living? Yes, it certainly has gone up, but I'm sure it's gone up everywhere. Friends who come over to visit still think it's far cheaper here than it is in the UK. I think most expats who find themselves spending a lot of money do so because they want to retain a part of their western lifestyles. Eating out can in itself cost tens of thousands of baht each month, and I'm sure many don't fully realize just how much money they spend on this front. Others own huge homes, and huge homes cost a lot to maintain, as I'm sure HHF will attest to. His lawn alone sets him back 15K per month

Also, one doesn't have to live on 25 or 30 baht dishes of Thai food everyday. Food can be prepared at home..............why not? I had a good job in the UK, but I certainly couldn't afford to eat out every single day, so why do it here?


Drinking...................yes, it's nice going out for a few beers, but it's also nice having a few beers at home, and as an added bonus, it costs less than half.

To give a few examples of the cost of living.................ten years ago, I was pretty much paying the same as I pay now for a plate of Thai food. Things have gone up, but if you ask me, Thailand is still very affordable. Let's just say, you'll have a far more comfortable life here on 1000 baht per day that you could ever hope for in the UK.

Cars are another money eating waste of space. Leave your 3 liter 4x4 in the garage and use your scooter instead, and just your fuel savings would probably be enough to live on. Well maybe not, but I'm sure you get the message.

Someone mentioned that you wife might need to sacrifice a few luxuries? My wife can afford a lot more luxuries here than sh could in South Africa or the UK, and that on considerably less money. Over here she can go for manicures, pedicures, and any other types of cures they can think of, and it costs next to nothing.

Personally, from what you've told us, I don't think money will be your biggest reason for concern. I think a great deal will depend on whether or not your wife is happy to live here. Many Farang women aren't, sometimes for good reason. sometimes not. If the two of you are close, then I would say go for it, and live your dream. You might not get another chance.





PS: Ignore spelling errors and etc. I don't have time for proofreading......

[PET]

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!!
[/quote

But have you sorted out your electricity costs?

If you and your wife already have a place here of your own, then I assume you will more or less have completed the "tourist trail" such as visiting the different temples and etc in Bangkok? If so, forget 99% of the nonsense you hear about double pricing. I can buy anything I want here, and pay no more than the average Thai. Of course a lot boils down to common sense, and you may even get stung once or twice, but you soon learn where and how to shop. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen Thais pay more for something compared to what I have paid. Thai vendors for example wouldn't even dream of only trying to rip Farang off when they can quite often rip other Thais off as well. Yes, they often aim higher with us, but like I say, you soon learn how to spot and counter such an attack.

In general, you'll find double pricing only exists is the tourist areas and I think you'll find the same in many countries, including the UK and South Africa.


Cost of living? Yes, it certainly has gone up, but I'm sure it's gone up everywhere. Friends who come over to visit still think it's far cheaper here than it is in the UK. I think most expats who find themselves spending a lot of money do so because they want to retain a part of their western lifestyles. Eating out can in itself cost tens of thousands of baht each month, and I'm sure many don't fully realize just how much money they spend on this front. Others own huge homes, and huge homes cost a lot to maintain, as I'm sure HHF will attest to. His lawn alone sets him back 15K per month

Also, one doesn't have to live on 25 or 30 baht dishes of Thai food everyday. Food can be prepared at home..............why not? I had a good job in the UK, but I certainly couldn't afford to eat out every single day, so why do it here?


Drinking...................yes, it's nice going out for a few beers, but it's also nice having a few beers at home, and as an added bonus, it costs less than half.

To give a few examples of the cost of living.................ten years ago, I was pretty much paying the same as I pay now for a plate of Thai food. Things have gone up, but if you ask me, Thailand is still very affordable. Let's just say, you'll have a far more comfortable life here on 1000 baht per day that you could ever hope for in the UK.

Cars are another money eating waste of space. Leave your 3 liter 4x4 in the garage and use your scooter instead, and just your fuel savings would probably be enough to live on. Well maybe not, but I'm sure you get the message.

Someone mentioned that you wife might need to sacrifice a few luxuries? My wife can afford a lot more luxuries here than sh could in South Africa or the UK, and that on considerably less money. Over here she can go for manicures, pedicures, and any other types of cures they can think of, and it costs next to nothing.

Personally, from what you've told us, I don't think money will be your biggest reason for concern. I think a great deal will depend on whether or not your wife is happy to live here. Many Farang women aren't, sometimes for good reason. sometimes not. If the two of you are close, then I would say go for it, and live your dream. You might not get another chance.





PS: Ignore spelling errors and etc. I don't have time for proofreading......

[Super Joe]

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.

Totally agree now I've experienced it first hand. Anyone expecting to last decades in a popular beach resort... that's fast-developing in a wealthy-Asian/moderate wealthy-Western direction... that involves x-rates you have no control over... with fast-rising land prices... when you then need to rent that land back to provide a roof over your head... best be a bit of an investment guru or have a spare $300-400k tucked away, imho.

One of your biggest costs if you're planning on staying, which imo will be a run-away cost (historically it usually rises in excess of inflation & your income growth), is property. Anyone on moderate budgets considering coming out here without their own property are doomed to failure imho. Why anyone would choose to expose themselves to this massive risk, inflation & exchange rate wise, once they decide to actually stop earning money... is beyond me. Add to that the fact that property is actually people's best asset, that can get you out of schtuk.
Look how the recent changes in the way UK pensions are increased, has affected retirement incomes...

article-1293284-0A60A396000005DC-444_233x337.jpg (44.05 KiB) Viewed 2980 times

If you didn't fancy buying property outright just yet, or haven't got the funds/not sure you'll stay etc, then why not just secure cheap'ish land on the outskirts of town or wherever. If that means working a few years more it could just be the wisest retirement decision you ever made. You can get a rai for 600k-1.2m Baht in respectable areas 5,6,7kms out. Get a 30 year lease/lifetime Usufruct agreement on it and you've secured somewhere to throw up a cheap house, wood shack, caravan, tent whatever whenever you want. Actually you could throw 3 or 4 up and rent them out in the future or sell them off.

It's really a no-brainer imo, anyone telling you it'll end up cheaper in the long run to rent than buy, doesn't have much of a clue what they're talking about imo, cos for the average person rental costs will grow and grow as a % of your overall spend. Historically they increase way in excess of income growth, this a UK example so not saying the exact same will occur here, but it's certainly a good indication of what can occur....

chimage.jpg (14.77 KiB) Viewed 2980 times

For example, if as the UK property/rental prices increased 3.5% in excess of what incomes grew by, then if you started off with your rent being a third of your spending... by year 15 it would consume 50% of your income
Here's how inflation can devalue your retirement pot, 3% is what I assume any growth I achieve will be in deficit to Hua Hin's growth by...

Capture-1.jpg (23.87 KiB) Viewed 2979 times

SJ

[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!!

If you and your wife already have a place here of your own, then I assume you will more or less have completed the "tourist trail" such as visiting the different temples and etc in Bangkok? If so, forget 99% of the nonsense you hear about double pricing. I can buy anything I want here, and pay no more than the average Thai. Of course a lot boils down to common sense, and you may even get stung once or twice, but you soon learn where and how to shop. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen Thais pay more for something compared to what I have paid. Thai vendors for example wouldn't even dream of only trying to rip Farang off when they can quite often rip other Thais off as well. Yes, they often aim higher with us, but like I say, you soon learn how to spot and counter such an attack.

In general, you'll find double pricing only exists is the tourist areas and I think you'll find the same in many countries, including the UK and South Africa.


Cost of living? Yes, it certainly has gone up, but I'm sure it's gone up everywhere. Friends who come over to visit still think it's far cheaper here than it is in the UK. I think most expats who find themselves spending a lot of money do so because they want to retain a part of their western lifestyles. Eating out can in itself cost tens of thousands of baht each month, and I'm sure many don't fully realize just how much money they spend on this front. Others own huge homes, and huge homes cost a lot to maintain, as I'm sure HHF will attest to. His lawn alone sets him back 15K per month

Also, one doesn't have to live on 25 or 30 baht dishes of Thai food everyday. Food can be prepared at home..............why not? I had a good job in the UK, but I certainly couldn't afford to eat out every single day, so why do it here?


Drinking...................yes, it's nice going out for a few beers, but it's also nice having a few beers at home, and as an added bonus, it costs less than half.

To give a few examples of the cost of living.................ten years ago, I was pretty much paying the same as I pay now for a plate of Thai food. Things have gone up, but if you ask me, Thailand is still very affordable. Let's just say, you'll have a far more comfortable life here on 1000 baht per day that you could ever hope for in the UK.

Cars are another money eating waste of space. Leave your 3 liter 4x4 in the garage and use your scooter instead, and just your fuel savings would probably be enough to live on. Well maybe not, but I'm sure you get the message.

Someone mentioned that you wife might need to sacrifice a few luxuries? My wife can afford a lot more luxuries here than sh could in South Africa or the UK, and that on considerably less money. Over here she can go for manicures, pedicures, and any other types of cures they can think of, and it costs next to nothing.

Personally, from what you've told us, I don't think money will be your biggest reason for concern. I think a great deal will depend on whether or not your wife is happy to live here. Many Farang women aren't, sometimes for good reason. sometimes not. If the two of you are close, then I would say go for it, and live your dream. You might not get another chance.





PS: Ignore spelling errors and etc. I don't have time for proofreading......

Yes we have pretty much done the tourist bit in LOS, though I'm sure there are places we haven't seen yet that we will want to get around to, though chances are we will have ticked the boxes on those before we take up permanent residence there.

You make some interesting points and I'm sure most of them are accurate, particularly as to where you can spend a lot of money on certain things, I've read on here that utility charges can be steep and recall seeing somewhere on here also about the cost to maintain HHF's lawn, which is a bit disconcering.

Cars are an issue as I'm never going to get my wife on a scooter, but she'll be happy with a small car (we usually rent a Toyota Yaris or Vios when in town), so that shouldn't be too much of a strain.

I don't think the wife will have any trouble living in HH, we both really like the place and have lived outside the UK for most of our working lives and that includes spells in SE Asia and the Far East.

Thanks for the advice, appreciated.

[hhfarang]

the cost to maintain HHF's lawn, which is a bit disconcering.

Don't let that bother you. Unless you're stupid like I was you won't end up with a lawn or garden like I have. I didn't want this much but the seller didn't want to break up the land so we ended up with twice the land area we wanted for nearly the same price as the half we actually wanted.

It's been called a "park" by many who've seen it first hand. Maybe I should just open it up to the public for picnics and such and charge admission!

[aragon]

the cost to maintain HHF's lawn, which is a bit disconcering.

Don't let that bother you. Unless you're stupid like I was you won't end up with a lawn or garden like I have. I didn't want this much but the seller didn't want to break up the land so we ended up with twice the land area we wanted for nearly the same price as the half we actually wanted.

It's been called a "park" by many who've seen it first hand. Maybe I should just open it up to the public for picnics and such and charge admission!

Must be some size then HHF, but I'm sure you enjoy it, despite the cost and after all it has to be a good investment if you got twice the plot size for almost the same money. We have a reasonable sized garden that we have planted with bushes, trees and plants around the periphery and then a mixture of grass and stone on the inside, so hopefully that will not be too high a maintenance.

[Super Joe]

HHF, are you still having problems with mower engines overheating... ???

You did used to fly around a bit in them though,... didn't you!!

Still, you did seem mighty proud of it when we popped round... well, at least a little bit.


SJ

[dtaai-maai]

Thanks, SJ, my neighbour's 5-year old daughter is now convinced there is a full frontal photo on the Net of lung D-M before he shaved off his beard. And by now, so is everyone else in the soi...

[Super Joe]

Anything to help, D-M

SJ

[hhfarang]

HHF, are you still having problems with mower engines overheating... ???

You did used to fly around a bit in them though,... didn't you!!

Still, you did seem mighty proud of it when we popped round... well, at least a little bit.

I must not be wearing my British humour hat today SJ as I didn't get any of those (usually now I get your and D-Ms posts).

My mower has never overheated... but the person pushing it has.

Fly around it what? I think I'm flying sometimes, but that's usually after too many beer Changs.

As far as I know, you've never popped round..., but I'm getting rounder by the day and threatening to pop!

[Super Joe]

The links explain all HHF


SJ

[hhfarang]

Ahhh, didn't notice the links, and wish it had remained that way on the last one... however, now I understand D-M's lament...

[Dr Michael]

Today is taken care of.
I have won 1000b on the lottery
How do I claim my winnings?????

NO begging letters please!