gerry1011

Interesting how some people go to los and try to live a western life including only eating western food which is over priced BTW.

don't get to concerned about it, some of us have the western salary to pay for it all.

but price in Thai not western for western style:D ..

As I know many guys ask even doble sallary in coutry like Thailand - where western styule upper cost.

So your employer got good deal if pay ONLY western salary:D

what are you dribbling on about now ?

I think that he tries to make himself look smart...

Anotheruser, since you mentioned diamonds (rough or not), there was a few hundred millions' worth of them at the Beauty Gems jewelry show yesterday. Really glamorous evening, surrounded by marvelous (and seriously expensive) precious stones, in a cabaret atmosphere.

It was really great, and I saved a LOT of money !!!

Indeed, I only bought a little Judith Leiber pill box for a family member. That small box is probably 7 times the monthly budget of some who advise us on how to reach a cheap lifestyle in Thailand, but I succeeded in controlling myself. I could have spent millions on these beautiful stones

To bring this thread back to a pleasant level, I share a few pictures for all of you to enjoy

Miss Thailand Universe 2016 was one of the models

Oh, I forgot... I also saved a lot on my food budget yesterday. I was invited

I have a big budget...

Lower budgets are indeed not good enough... for me.

If the guys on here can live, and be happy, on a tight budget, I have no problem with it. Good for them.

Having said that, I much preferred the humorous comments about saving money that we enjoyed earlier on this thread.

I am amazed by how much money some can save, while still being able to survive.

Life can indeed be cheap in Thailand, but, to be honest, I could not live like that.

But as long as everyone is happy, everything is perfect

Bangkok Bank offers some good options if you put 2million BHT, I think it is in your account. They will still open a simple cash card (ATM) and passbook account on the strength of a temporary address and a passport. I did one quickly in December for a friend in Hua Hin. It all took about 30 minutes and you walk out with an ATM/Debit card and passbook. Vey quick and simple.

As I said the Thai Elite visa affixed in your passport will guarantee you need an additional document and an appointment will be set. They said just my passport and the card would be needed as my card is linked to my address I won't need any proof of where I live it is documented already.

Or that was the case for me in Bangkok anyway. Just remembered you are a member as well so maybe it isn't the case anywhere but that is the official policy I have been told by Thai Elite.

I am going to test the water when I next fly in in a couple of weeks. I agree though and I think it's the proper type of Bank accounts the TE give access too with a personal banking manager rather than just a cash card account which I have found possible to open in most places. If you look direct at the Bangkok Bank website, they do some good bank accounts if you can put a few bob in there. Lets us know how you get on anyway and what they offer you.

Well today I found the time to Test the water.

As I already have an Account at Bangkok Bank I thought I would attempt to open an account at Kasikorn Bank, Nana Nue Branch. I was greeted as per normal as I entered and was asked how they could help me. I explained I wanted to open an account, needed an ATM card and also needed Internet Banking. I was asked if I had my passport which I had. I was then asked if I had my work permit. I explained I don't work in Thailand so never had one. They insisted I needed a work permit with me insisting I never needed one because I don't work. No good Mr, you need work permit for bank account!

Now was the time to test the water with the PE Visa. I explained what I had and how I was entitled to stay in Thailand as long as the Visa was active.They looked and within 30 seconds, I had 4 of them looking. I was taken to a desk and asked to sit. Another girl came from out the back and asked me what I wanted and could she see my passport. She then picked up the phone and proceeded to talk in Thai to someone at there Head office explaining what my Visa was. I understood enough that they were telling her that as the TE Visa is a government backed program,it was good to open any account I needed and no work permit necessary.

Within 20 minutes I had the account book, ATM card (Extra 500bt), which is also a K-MY PLAY VISA Privileged Member debit card (Whatever that is!) and told I would receive a notice via email in 24 hrs of how to set up my Internet Banking. I was told that should I wish to open any other type of account, just to call in and they would do it for me. They are nice people there and a good service once we cleared the hurdles.

The minimum to open the account was 10000bt. All in all not too bad an experience once they found out what the TE Visa was.

Any members that now need a Bank account, try this branch of Kasikorn Bank which should now be a relatively straight simple process for you to open an account if you prefer Kassikorn to Bangkok Bank and not wish to wait to get a letter and appointment from TE.

I hope this helps TE members looking to open there first or another bank account.

That is a very interesting comment.

TE has an arrangement with Bangkok Bank.

Maybe Kasikorn is happy to pull a few "quality" customers away from a competitor...

Good for you

swimming in lacs

You're French!

Or (non native English) Canadian, maybe?

francophone Belgium!

Not sure that the people from the French speaking part of Belgium swim in lakes

swimming in lacs

You're French!

Or (non native English) Canadian, maybe?

Americans are bizarre...

They want Chiangmai to be policed like in their own country, where you get shot by police quicker than anywhere else in the world.

I much prefer to drive in Thailand than in all those "developed" countries...

I will never go to these fancy restaurants anymore (Burger King, Somchai's Cuisine, Pizza Company, Hot Pot,...)

...except for stealing toilet paper.

Argh

Let's come up with new money savings ideas ).

let's find half a dozen cretins who claim they are rich because they live like paupers, put them in a cage and charge spectators an entry fee to watch them.

then use the proceeds to short the UR and after taking the European Central Bank down transfer all profit opening a savings account with a Thai bank.

Entrance fee could be 100 baht and a 5 litre box of Mont Clare.

Tbat would help with the wine lake.

Not everybody is equal when it comes to make great savings in Thailand. The ones with a motorbike license have a serious advantage

i am not convinced but tomorrow i will show my German motorbike license (issued in 1961) to a motorised noodle soup vendor and demand a bowl of soup for 25 instead of 30 Baht. if he/she refuses i will refer to my pen-pal "Retard of Siam" and his 999 ways how to save.

With a big smile you may even receive an additional extra 5 baht discount... And, as you know, smile is totally free!

That would amount to a full 10b discount on your noodle soup !!!

I can't believe life in Thailand is so cheap.

Imagine now that you eat two bowls of soup per day and that you live till 100 years old... Amazing savings

I will never go to these fancy restaurants anymore (Burger King, Somchai's Cuisine, Pizza Company, Hot Pot,...). Cheap noodles only from now on !

This drawing of the Paknam incident was done by Pierre Ortz, one of the foreign advisers in the field of law to the government of Siam during the reign of King Rama V.

The drawing names 3 forts:

- Fort de l'ilot (Fort of the small island).

- Vieux fort (desarmé) (Old fort (disarmed)).

- Fort de la Pointe Ouest (Fort of the west point).

The last one being the Chulachomklao Fort, it would be interesting to know if the other ones are still there...

Chulachomklao Fort.

The fort from where three French ships were fired on, during the Franco-Siamese War in July 1893 (Paknam incident).

Let's come up with new money savings ideas ).

let's find half a dozen cretins who claim they are rich because they live like paupers, put them in a cage and charge spectators an entry fee to watch them.

then use the proceeds to short the UR and after taking the European Central Bank down transfer all profit opening a savings account with a Thai bank.

Entrance fee could be 100 baht and a 5 litre box of Mont Clare.

Tbat would help with the wine lake.

Not everybody is equal when it comes to make great savings in Thailand. The ones with a motorbike license have a serious advantage

I don't even wear sock. I save on washing, socks, ... all I need is a pair of shorts, t shirts and flip flop.

I buy all on second hand market except flip flop.

I spend probably 1000 or 2000 baths a year vs 20k baths in farang land.

food, oil and fuel for my bike, I spend around 5 dollars a day. my rent is 3 $ a day, I spend 8 bucks a day. where in this world can you live decently (high rise building, sea view, nice food and fruits, scooter, beach, movie theater, ...) with 8 bucks a day?

yes, that s right. some month I spend 8k and some month 10k.if i travel around Thailand I m at 14k average. I m just amazing!

But try to be funny, it would be even better

We are all sure you can do it

Life is beautiful, with or without super great money savings.

seriously guys, think about it, all the money we spend for nothing at the end. could have been invested intelligently instead.

a good example is marriage, I m sure many of you would have not been married if they know how bad their relation would be.

all this money spent on marriage, dress, rings, house, cars, then even more on divorce, lawyer, ...

and people still don't get it. they get remarried 2x, 3x, even 4 times and many finished assisted by their nanny state.

what's wrong with farangs?

Why do you want to speak seriously?

Life (and your posts) should be fun

Economies of scale, that is where marriage can be a great deal to save even more money

Regard shoes: Well i was going to suggest going barefoot, however the risk of generating medical costs is high.

For the shoes there are some great ideas too.

With only one carton of Chang beer you can make yourself wonderful and very durable shoes, same as the example I show here.

And not only that !!!

After you made superb new shoes with the box, you ALSO can drink all that free beer that was inside the carton !!! How lovely

For those who want to push the exercise even further, and make new shoes for free, forget the beer and just collect Chang carton boxes in front of any bar early morning.

Life can be sooooo cheap in Thailand, but one really needs to think smart!

Can the wood come from trees cut in my own garden, in order to save a bit more?

NO! to maximise savings the wood should be stolen.

Uhm... I suspect that you will soon come up with the benefit of eating for free in a prison

Good point, maybe not a lavish party.

I must highlight that even a coffin made out of cardboard boxes nicked from the back of Tesco will still incur funeral director, transport, and burial fees.

I am therefore proposing an amendment to my previous suggestion; no party, just an Indian style farewell where your body is wrapped in hessian and burnt atop a pile of wood (for 6 hours). Prior to lighting of the fire a printed bank statement showing your net wealth will be placed into your dead cold hands so that you can take it with you to the afterlife and feel satisfaction with your frugal accomplishments

Can the wood come from trees cut in my own garden, in order to save a bit more?

Yes, but in order to get wood from your own trees you wil require and axe/hacksaw. It is cheaper (and healthier) to just go on daily walks and accumulate already fallen wood. This healthy activity will also keep you alive longer yo save more money. Of course you cannot increase your food intake as a result of thus activity

But but but... If I live longer and walk so much, I will have to spend a FORTUNE on shoes !

The wood would be free, yes, but what is your suggestion to save on the shoes then?

I can't offset my great savings by spending it all on these bloody shoes. Help!

Let's come up with new money savings ideas ).

let's find half a dozen cretins who claim they are rich because they live like paupers, put them in a cage and charge spectators an entry fee to watch them.

then use the proceeds to short the €UR and after taking the European Central Bank down transfer all profit opening a savings account with a Thai bank.

Evil you are

But good idea for sure.

Good point, maybe not a lavish party.

I must highlight that even a coffin made out of cardboard boxes nicked from the back of Tesco will still incur funeral director, transport, and burial fees.

I am therefore proposing an amendment to my previous suggestion; no party, just an Indian style farewell where your body is wrapped in hessian and burnt atop a pile of wood (for 6 hours). Prior to lighting of the fire a printed bank statement showing your net wealth will be placed into your dead cold hands so that you can take it with you to the afterlife and feel satisfaction with your frugal accomplishments

Can the wood come from trees cut in my own garden, in order to save a bit more?

Heres a money saving idea: dont get buried, containers for ashes are cheaper than coffin.

Or you could forgo the container for ashes by putting in your will that you want a big party when you die, and all your family/friends can come and smoke you. Tobacco papers are real cheap

No way I am going to use my great (life) savings to pay for such a lavish party after my death.

I think it is wiser to invest in a cheap coffin.

You can find one at £100 on internet.

And with the British Pound diving due to the Brexit, you save even more !!!

Best deal ever I think.

And during your lifetime you can still use your very own cardboard coffin to store old clothes or something. No need to buy a wardrobe anymore. Double savings again.

Now, for real super great savings, you would of course buy a "dot it yourself" coffin kit, made of recycled carton boxes.

Not only life is cheap in Thailand when you know how to save. Even in death you can continue to gain a lot!

I never thought about it (yet).

But wouldn't it be a good idea to already choose my coffin?

I really don't want to spend more than necessary on that item.

And I would feel very bad if my heirs spend too much of my great (life) savings without my approval.

Saving money even till after my death... I am really good at it I think

(From a humorous tone, this thread seems to slowly come back to its original depressing state... And return has returned. Let's come up with new money savings ideas ).

Yeah there are plenty of threads on all of the alternative options for sure. Also for the record I know how to plan a trip. TE just makes the planning much easier and makes it actually cost less.

The interesting thing is that - and I think you already said that - Thailand Elite members have the great privilege to be able to plan their trip whenever they want, as their schedule is not dictated by any requirement to leave the country.

Some members travel a lot, at their chosen dates, and feel welcome back in the country each time they fly in (with a fresh 1 year stamp in their passport each time they come back).

Other members take full advantage of the 1 year stamp, and extend the stamp once per year as long as they don't feel the need for a vacation abroad... till the end of the 5or 20 years' membership.

That flexibility is priceless.

I checked out of hospital yesterday and the bill was 150k, my free health insurance covered it.

today i feel 150k richer..

iam a winner too much

A real winner !

We should all try it