wwest5829

I have used the monthly income method for over a decade. My SS is directly deposited into my US bank account ($1380 per month). I then supplement my SS with additional retirement funds. I transfer $2200 via Wise once a month and check the reason on Wise for the transfer as long term living expenses in Thailand, thus assuring that the transfer goes into my Bangkok Bank Account directly as a foreign funds transfer. The critical thing is showing the monthly funds coming into Thailand, it does not need to be from SS or any one source before entering your account in Thailand. Hope this helps.

16 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Guess he means the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia but too embarrassed to say it?

You beat me to it!

5 hours ago, Gold Star said:

All having backpacks full of cash, spending billions of baht like the millionaires they are.

Tourism is saved!

Hmm, I am thinking there is something to the Cartier store model and the Tesco store model. Attract the few wealthy or the masses of the middle classes? Ah, ... go after both markets?

2 hours ago, FinChin67 said:

Soon it's cheaper to use rouble notes for toilet paper based on exchange rate / toilet paper price. 

 

8 rolls of toilet paper 4,29€ or 0,536€ per roll. One roll has 153 sheets = 0,0035€ per sheet. At the moment one rouble is 0,0066€. Not yet but maybe next week? Shame that it does not have Putin's pic on it.
 

But hey, who cares, Unionpay to the rescue!

Reminds me of my reading, during my studies that Germans, previous to Hitler's rise, found it cheaper to burn German Marks than to buy firewood.

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Would Thailand stay neutral if China invaded Taiwan?  How about SEAsia?

Reflecting on this, I believe my outlook would be equal in condemnation if Thailand were invaded by a stronger country because it is not just, all about me.. The Thai tourism folks seem to have a different standard.

I use the monthly transfer from my US bank into my Bangkok Bank account via Wise. It arrives as a foreign funds transfer (Wise asks for reason of transfer ... select "for long term stay living expenses"). Each year for my retirement extension (thus 65K baht a month for me), the Bangkok Bank letter and fund deposits document meets the immigration requirements here in Chiang Mai. While my US Social Security might cover a marriage required amount (I receive $1380 SS monthly), we spend the 65K each month without much effort.

I have faced the irony in my life since my Father's death in 1991. You see, he was a blue collar union worker for Texaco Oil for 17 years. As such, he participated in the stock purchasing scheme. After he died, I inherited the Texaco Stock (later bought out by Chevron Oil). The irony? I am a retired academic and as such, having been educated about various countries and cultures, lean left of center (at least in today's US political environment). Still, that Chevron stock dividends pays me half my dividend income per year. There is a balance in there somewhere, methinks.

15 hours ago, BritManToo said:

"Be Prepared For A Fuel Shortage"

Don't care, since COVID I've gone nowhere, and 7-11/BigC/Tesco is 500m from my front door.

If I don't cycle, I can walk.

 

Electricity shortages,

Don't care either, I'm almost entirely solar powered now.

Not enough for the shower heaters or air-con, but we can live without them.

I recall a fellow in my building that waited to shower until mid-day or afternoon as the water tanks were on the roof. By that time of day, here in Chiang Mai, the water heated up enough so that using an electric water heater was not needed. "Cheap" or "thrift" ... vocabulary is a great thing.

14 hours ago, Onerak said:

Do you know any Medicare Advantage plan that covers outside USA? Would enroll next year and looking for best Medicare Advantage plan. Thanks.

Sorry, I do not know what is publicly available. I only can address my own situation.

Dang, missed out again being a retired working middle class westerner. My $2400 USD a month income just under the needed funds to qualify. OK, granted Thailand should pursue all avenues to see what works but ... folks, how many of the rich and famous versus the number of working middle class who could be attracted to settle in Thailand? I suppose it is the old story  of Oscar de la Renta, NYC versus Target customers (note, I did not cite Walmart).

10 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Hahaha July??? All these remianing rules would be gone for most of the world by May at the most. Not surprised that Thailand acts slows.....

Looks like one more year on my "O-A" as I extend in May. Then exit and re-enter on an "O" Visa.

19 hours ago, giddyup said:

No. Years before the internet, so maybe the answer wasn't readily available.

You think? Although, as an educator, I would have replied with stating an "approximate" billion number while explaining that the number is constantly changing. A teachable moment to ask students what sort of things influence population ... war, famine, disease, etc. Depends, of course, on the age of the students as to how much depth to explore. Get them thinking, questioning at whatever age.

5 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Ignorance knows no bounds in Thailand !

Actually, the ignorance can be found globally. I really appreciate Charles Dickens warning given by the Spirit of Christmas Present in "A Christmas Carol". We are warned that Ignorance and Want spell doom for humanity ...

10 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I think I agree with you to some point, I have a 5 year old daughter that 100% I am asking for a dowry for if marrying in Thailand - along with his good prospectus ! That said she told the next door neighbour she was going to marry a farang when older as they had more money for the 7/11 !

 

BUT, would you still be asking for a dowry for her second marriage after 2 children ? Having a sliding scale seems obscene.

 

I paid no dowry for my current wife (her wish), she's worth millions to me, but when meeting her at 37, she's a bit ragged - like me - with history. Anyone paying a dowry for a woman with some baggage is just plain nuts.

 

Just plain nuts ... or not having knowledge of Thai culture. Fortunately, I came to Thailand at retirement age. The "sweet spot" for me was finding a traditionally raised Thai girl, 26 years my junior but ... being older, having had children, previous relationships? No need for Sin Sot.

10 hours ago, baansgr said:

It's a money making scam....

 I can still see the expression on a Thai girlfriend's face as I explained the western tradition. Unbelievable, the Bride's family was to pay a dory to the Groom. We still have a vestige of the old tradition in the Bride's family being responsible to pay the cost of the wedding. Knowing a bit of history helps us understand the world around us today. After a lifetime of study, I know my own culture but have become very understanding of other traditions. Reading more about Thai culture also gives one the knowledge of the "sin sot" according to the status of the Bride. Never married? No children? Young? Family status and the Groom's status? All play into the "formula".

19 minutes ago, superal said:

Had my left eye done in the UK but never had an injection , only a series of eye drops  . Post op I was given a plastic eye shield cover ( to wear when in bed ) that was taped to my cheek and forehead . It was to protect my eye from me inadvertently rubbing it when sleeping . I was also told no washing hair or water in the eye for 1 week and no air flights for 2 weeks . 6 eye drops a day . Also operation is apparently one of the commonest and straight forward operations performed globally however it still make sense to do a search on the hospital and surgeon IMO . Finally I have been told that cataract operations can cost as little as 22,000 baht in a Thai government hospital with the surgeon being a well qualified Ophthalmologist .  The cataract operation will give you your youthful sight back and improve the quality of your life . 

Agreed

15 minutes ago, Onerak said:

Does the medicare supplement cover in Thailand? 

I am not sure if the supplemental private insurance is a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Medigap policy. It is provided as a retirement benefit. It covers up to $5000 per year for care outside the US.

5 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Health insurance doesn't cover eyes !!  Another reason to avoid these scams.

I actually have a U.S., Medicare supplement policy that covered the cost of both eye lens replacement so coverage evidently varies.

4 hours ago, Thailand said:

Declaration of neutrality is not such a stretch as it is unlikely they will become NATO members anytime soon.

The other requirements suggest putting it to a vote or something similar for the Ukranian people to try to stop the fighting.

The fact that these options are on the table probably means Russia realise that they made a bad decision.

 

A compromise or similar would be a better solution than even more deaths and potential escalation of the current crisis?

Complicated … another sell out by the democracies as took place with Germany’s taking of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia? Correlations are real.

3 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I don't know, it's all Greek to me.

The Turks are not going to be pleased with your statement!

2 minutes ago, itsari said:

You advocate a Russian revolution as in 1917 

I think if the west keeps the economic pressure on Russia that could well be reality

Well, not as in 1917 but ... let us call it a radical "adjustment" away from authoritarianism as embodied by Vlad, et. al. He is not alone in the world but, sticking to the current issue ...

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

wrong,  it's not only the russian government.. it's also the millions of russian's who did nothing to oppose the murderous regime for the past decade,  it's the millions of russian's who support Putin and his filthy Oligarchs getting richer by the day.  It's the millions of russians who are so gullible to this murderous regimes TV propergander tactics. 

It does beg the question whether it is to be blamed on any county's government, or whether it is the citizens in each country that bears the ultimate responsibility. Russians currently protesting in the streets certainly are demonstrating not being in agreement with Putin, et. al. Yes, I hold my own country's citizens responsible for wrongful government actions (of which there are many examples). Still, I had no difficulty of demanding severe punishment for Afghanistan for allowing the training camps for those who attacked the US. I do not propose that I know where to draw any lines but there is a recognized mixing of responsibility with "government" and the citizenry.

8 hours ago, steven100 said:

These stranded rusky's should tell their embassy in BKK to call Putin's rich Oligarch's .....and have them bring their  $200Million dollar yachts over and pick them up on the beach.  

 

 

Sorry, I am reading that some of the yachts have been seized, at least in Italy due to the sanctions.