Money saving tips.

Post by **bubbly** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:44 pm

I'm coming to Thailand in December for three months and can't help noticing the pound v the baht isn't very good. Its going to put a couple of grand on my trip for absolutely no difference on my holiday which to me is a lot of money.
Has anyone got any tips on making your baht go further?
I'm under the impression that you'll get the best exchange rate at the airport.Is this true or does anyone know different?
Thanks!!

Post by **buksida** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:18 pm

One suggestion would be to try and do as much out of town center as you can - restaurants, bars, shopping and accommodation. As soon as you hit Hua Hin central prices start going up, primarily due to the extortionate rents on places.

Also spend a few weeks somewhere else such as Bangsaphan where everything is pretty much half the price of Hua Hin. If you avoid the tourist spots you save money!

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:37 am

Its going to put a couple of grand on my trip

Blimey you must live well. I could live on that for around 4 months. There again I used to eat on the noodle stalls for about 40bht a meal. Drink is the real killer, its around 75bht for a small bottle in town but you can get a large one for 50bht from a little Thai store or even a bottle of sangsom for 250bht and drink yourself into the ground!!
However I realise that you are on holiday and will want to splash out a bit, and why not...

Post by **Big Boy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:11 am

Whichever way you look at it, it should be one hell of a trip. If we take £2000 pound as being 15% (the amount the Pound has de-valued against the Baht), then 100% will be in the region of £13K

That works out to £1000 per week.

Do you have room in your suitcase - can I be your friend ............ please?

How much of that is for the liver transplant at the end of the trip?

Post by **caller** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:15 am

I thought he meant Baht?

Post by **Big Boy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:24 am

I did consider that, but an extra 2000 Baht over 13 weeks works out to about 40 pence per day - not really worth getting excited about.

If you think about it, if 2000 Baht represents 15%, he would have survive on 13000 Baht for 13 weeks - 1000 Baht per week - I doubt it. Maybe Randy needs to start a new thread - Favourite Noodle Stalls

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:56 am

Big Boy wrote: Maybe Randy needs to start a new thread - Favourite Noodle Stalls

And Bubbly can buy if he's got that sort of budget.

Post by **Guess** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:29 am

Another money saving tip while on holiday is to turn your underwear inside out after one week and extend the life to two weeks. This will save the hotel's 30 baht laundry fee.

If you drink Leo beer then recycle it. You will be amazed when you find the taste has not changed.

Post by **bubbly** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:53 am

No no no bigboy. I spend around £4500 in three months. I came out last year and was getting 69bt to the pound. This morning i checked and it was coming in at 48ish and it could possibly fall some more but anyway, so i'm 21bt down on the pound. 21x4500=94500bt. £2000 at 48bt per pound 96000bt. I can't really afford that.
Do you think this is a lot in 3 months? I live quite good out there but i'm a fairly seasoned chap as far as los goes and i don't throw my money around. I do eat from the noodle store but occasionally like to go in Jasmine's or new nop nice.
That said,if i see any of you in Jings from new year onward,i'll buy you a beer

Post by **johnnyk** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:09 am

Guess wrote:Another money saving tip while on holiday is to turn your underwear inside out after one week and extend the life to two weeks. This will save the hotel's 30 baht laundry fee.

If you drink Leo beer then recycle it. You will be amazed when you find the taste has not changed.

Try recycling condoms.
Here's how.
First, shake the fcuk out of it....

Post by **Guess** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:17 am

bubbly wrote:No no no bigboy. I spend around £4500 in three months. I came out last year and was getting 69bt to the pound. This morning i checked and it was coming in at 48ish and it could possibly fall some more but anyway, so i'm 21bt down on the pound. 21x4500=94500bt. £2000 at 48bt per pound 96000bt. I can't really afford that.
Do you think this is a lot in 3 months?.......................

When you got 69 the pound was on a high and you got a bonus of at least 3 Baht. It is not 48ish now but 57ish. It hasn't dropped below 50 for years. So last trip you had 3450 Baht per day budget, this time you will have 2850 Baht per day. For a holiday 2850 is ample. As has been said already, you need to avoid the high priced drinking establishments especially carsies like the Hilton. Also over 3 months you should be able to get a good accommodation deal that may save you a bit.

The Thai Baht has been stable for months but recently rose a little but now seems to have stabilised again. The Pound was lowering but then flattened (bottomed out maybe) and then went up a little.

The best way to change your money is firstly bring enough UK pounds to last you the first few days. Change in Thai Baht at the airport in Bangkok (not UK). The remainder needs to be in a UK bank account that charges the least to convert your money when using ATMs abroad. Nationwide is good. Then get your cash when you need it from any ATM machine. All offer similar rates.

Check the exchange rate here:

Change the first drop down box to GBP, and ensure the second one is on THB, leave on Notes for any cash you want to change and set to TT for ATM withdrawals.

If you budget for 55 to one pound you wont go far wrong.

BTW. Most people waste most of their money in bars on both alcoholic and other products, so that's where the savings can be made.

Post by **hhfarang** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:13 am

...other products...

Post by **johnnyk** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:24 am

OK, not being facetious this time...
1) Rent a house or flat, don't stay in a hotel
2) Don't go out every night, stay at home and enjoy a DVD or two with bought-in libations
3) Avoid falang tourist restos in the Hilton area, instead enjoy authentic food in the market areas at 1/3 the price or less
4) Rent a girlfriend for the term instead of per night. Most of them can cook, too.
5) Avoid tuk-tuks, rent a bike or take mototaxis.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:13 pm

Think Guess is about right here, main drain on money is booze and "other products" related to that environment. Should be OK on that allowance though whatever, almost 50 quid a day, sweet.

Post by **hhfarang** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:33 pm

I do spend a lot on booze. I guess its a good thing I'm married and don't need those "other products" or I'd really be broke!