gerry1011

I am pleasantly surprised by this survey.

I myself was convinced that the vast majority of farangs in Thailand were indeed totally miserable... to the point I avoid contact with the farang community.

But it seems that I was mistaken, and that my bias came from reading the comments on thaivisa too often.

So, good news.

I am in the happy group too

Thailand is amazing.

Thai people are amazing.

Thais may well believe that I am here because their country is amazing.

If not, I will make them believe it.

15 years ago I came for the first time to Thailand by coincidence, and ended up staying. Amazing.

Amazing country.

Amazing people.

Concerning the VAT refund.

Just another angle... As a Thailand Elite member, I cannot get a refund in Thailand because I registered with my embassy and my passport is issued in Bangkok.

However, for those who do the same, the advantage is that when you buy something abroad, you can get the refund on the way back to Bangkok.

Same same but reverse.

Being a pro-EU myself, I think that it is quite good that Europe can finally get rid of the UK.

In a short time, both the EU and the UK will be just fine.

But about Farage and Johnson, I think that when it comes to leaving the boat... the word "rats" is indeed suitable. Or cowards maybe?

But, after all, the Brexit will probably be smoother without them.

many farangs in Thailand are now gone. strange no? .. seem you didn't save enough when the <deleted> hit the fan...

with your little pension of 1200$ going down and down, what will you do in 5 years? british guys just lost 10% in 2 days and they made fun of me... now who is laughing.?

You look down and laugh at your own kind now?

You will never stop to surprise us :)

(Not speaking about the nationality).

Uhm Uhm...

I was trying to buy a ticket to LHR via Istanbul but somehow my mind was thinking of the Turkish government many disagreements with few countries and org that gave me concerns over security. I eventually opted for a MAS direct flight ex KL.

I agree with you, with not using the services of companies such as Turkish Airlines or even Egyptair.

However, I don't think you are much safer on other airlines, or going through other airports, the Brussels Airport bombing being the proof.

And for Malaysia, not sure either... This was in the news lately too: "BARBARIC Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists could be planning deadly terror attacks on Westerners in and around the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, the Australian government has warned".

When traveling nowadays we can only hope that we don't get unlucky to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I love the "smuggling" theories

£20,000 is peanuts when it comes to diamonds.

Maybe they opened the suitcase and decided to keep the "treasure" because it was worth more than his clothes?

The real owner may have made a complaint about a pendant, a ring or something like that. Not a "bag of smuggled diamonds"...

I am not sure I like the sensational and alarmist way the mother tries to gather sympathy...

Just check the exchange rates- the pound has slipped in Thailand to 46.40 to the Baht which is a 3% drop again. It has also slipped against the Dollar. This is a shock for British expats abroad- and if one is on a fixed income ones purchasing power has declined. I certainly feel for them. I really thought the Pound would recover today as nothing has really changed. The UK will not be out of the EU at the earliest 2 years from the date Article 50 is invoked. The markets are overreacting. The UK still has a huge economy . When will the markets come back?

I am not a specialist.

However, I also think that the UK still has a huge and strong economy.

In my very own opinion, the fall of the Pound is more related to some kind of panic.

Soon things will stabilize. The UK will find its way, as well as the EU, and the Pound will go up.

Only my opinion, of course.

But, since this is what I believe, yesterday I bought some Pounds.

I am from continental Europe.

I am a pro EU

However, I think that, in a while, the UK will be better off outside the EU.

I also strongly believe that the EU is better off without the UK.

I have a tendency to think that the EU has become too big. Too many members. With less countries the EU would be more manageable. The problem is, in my opinion, that the EU has become detached and too vague for most British people and most Europeans. The people don't see anymore what opportunities the EU brings to them.

The UK should see this divorce as a new beginning.

Soon it will be business as usual. Just need to redefine a bit the business.

But now that it is done, I hope that the UK gets out as fast as possible. It's better for both sides.

I always give money. and look at me today? I m a successful money maker and brilliant ideas always come to my mind everyday.

just today :

this morning when taking my usual cold shower, I calculated briefly that I was using 30 litters/daily for 2 showers and water to brush teeth. my bill is for 100 liters a day, where these extra 70 liters comes from? probably flushing the toilet . so this is where I need to save now . flush less or drink less. as I m a genius saver(and a winner) , I got the bright idea to hold my pee. 2 advantages (if you are not too old) : 1.you create muscle body and 2.you waste less time and electricity in toilet.

total saved after a life : 2.5 millions baths that can be invested in something else than wasting flush water(time, electricity, toilet cleaning...) .

NOW you become creative

Good. At least you made me smile. It is a very good start

Saving money seems a more inspirational activity for you than donating it though...

Well, yes.

But nowadays charity / social responsibility / sustainability goes along with business development.

The good thing is that, in today's world, large corporations and wealthy business individuals, see that helping the society in a way or the other can be beneficial to the business.

Of course, philanthropy is usually more discreet. But not always.

The disadvantage of keeping good deeds too discreet is that we also keep the good examples too discreet.

I save lot of money by giving money and for each baht I give, I make 100x more for my next life. for me it's a good investment. Again, I m a winner here.

I think you are losing your inspiration...

You should lift the level up a tiny bit

I've never seen you use humor, but you could give it a try.

When combativeness is gone, humor is a good alternative.

Thanks for your post(s) anyway

Looks like returnofthailand keeps his donations to the poor guys and beggars secret.

I, for once, would be happy to learn if his donations match his money savings.

This new turn in our conversation may even lead to the set up of a new charitable foundation: The Great Savers Foundation (Farang chapter).

Let's help the society a bit.

Besides making savings, it is also a great way to reach happiness in Thailand

Oulaaaaaa... returnofthailand is persistent indeed, even in defeat.

Here we go, now we switch from savings to giving money away for charity.

That is certainly another veeeeeeery interesting subject to chat about.

If some of you are in, I'm in

But be ready to speak about large amounts then (but not as large as the mega savings we made previously in this thread, of course).

Same for me.

Thanks everyone (the troll in first place) for all the fun.

Lovely speaking with you all.

I am on my way to count all that money I saved thanks to this thread (tons and tons of money).

Keep happy in Thailand

(If return returns, I may drop by. But I have the feeling it is no fun for him anymore).

Cheers

Wow this train wreck of a thread finally got moved to the pub forum.

Are we supposed to have a beer then?

100 Baht represents a saving of an entire 1% I assume you have phoned your accountant (collect of course) to schedule a meeting to discuss how best to leverage this saving?

Haha nice picture I hope you get that framed.

I think we should work on this together, so that I can get rid of my accountant, and make some extra savings...

I also made a few transactions today, taking advantage of all the new opportunities the Brexit brought us to humbly make a few extra bath.

BUT, even if these transactions will certainly top up my accounts even more (on top of all the savings we already made together), this is not the purpose of this particular comment of mine.

INDEED, I have another good news, anotheruser!

We are now EVEN, at least when it comes to your 7/11 "Smart Purse" card.

Here is the story:

- Today I sent my driver to buy apples (it's quite filling and you save on the lunch that you don't need anymore).

- When he brought me my apples, I noticed some type of leaflet inside the plastic bag (Picture 1).

- After putting my apples in the fridge (set to "6" to save on electricity), I opened that suspicious leaflet, expecting for the worse (Adds that invite you to spend more money that you should, for example).

- BUT... As incredible as it may sound, the was a CARD inside !!! (Picture 2).

A beauuuuuuuuutiful "V Plus Card".

- I read the leaflet and nearly FAINTED of joy when I learned that after spending only 10,000b I will be entitled to a FULL CASH REBATE of 100b !

God himself seems to watch over our saving and send us more innovative ways to become super rich each day...

Unbelievable!

And since I am afraid you would not believe me, and maybe to make some other seriously jealous, I allowed myself to take a similar picture as yours, with your own personal VIP 7/11 Smart Purse Card (Picture 3).

Pure happiness, coupled with extra savings.

British Pound is going down because of Brexit...

If you have British friends living in Thailand, tell them to visit this thread. Many will have to start saving as much as we do

don't be jealous Gerry.

more savings I did in my life : I didn't pay one penny to study when I was young . all paid by my government. I saved 150'000$ plus compound interest. with the money saved I can buy your house (probably filled with junk) . but why should I? I have a great life in my high rise condo and lot of free time for myself. I rent.

you don't impress me with your Ferrari, Caviar and expensive watches. my account is fully loaded and I can rent a car if I want . I can change car every day if I want, get a Ferrari today and a Lamborghini tomorrow, ....you don't impress me but you know that already.

having a car parked is a waste of money. think about it , 1 million baht spent (not invested, many people use the wrong word, the right word is spent, not invested ) on a dumb car used only a few hours a week, you have to pay for maintenance, insurance, depreciation, tires, fuel ... idiots even borrow money for these dumb plastic cars.

solution is the bus baht, 10 baths and you are good to go anywhere you want . even idiots pay 20 baths because they think farang should pay 2x more.

I save probably another 15000 baht a month by not owning a car. what about that?

You would save more if you would not drive your car every day iso a few hours per week. Does this qualify for membership of the top savers?

Hello, and welcome to join this great money saving exercise

Actually, I did not reply to the above returnofthailand post because I was confused.

In his post he speaks about a Lamborghini, ... and then 1 (one) (uno) (een) (un) (หนึ่ง) (just to make it clear in different languages) million baht.

Reading that, I did not know what to think.

A strange feeling took control of my mind... and I suddenly became hesitant...

Was returnofthailand really as good as he was trying to portray himself, at least when it comes to save money and live comfortably on crackers?

I was suddenly feeling very diminished and losing confidence. I even hesitated to trust my own self, common sense, and own judgement...

Because it was a matter of real importance this time:

Did returnofthailand really buy a Lamborghini for only 1 (one) (uno) (...) million, while I bought mine for 39,5?

I still don't have the answer, and this feeling has not left me. I still have nightmares...

NOW, ... On the bright side, YOU and I are indeed TOP SAVERS ! Your own way to save money by driving less is super smart, and that is exactly what I do. I take the Lambo out of the garage maximum twice a month!!!

Great savings on fuel !!!

(The other days I use the Hummer)

(H2)

How much for the half nut, Gerry?

For nothing in the world I will sell you that half nut found under the pillow of my sofa !!!

It is true that I have (very) recently become extremely rich, only by saving my money and saving on all those materialistic - but totally useless - needs that were until now part of my life.

I have been enlightened by this inspirational thread, in which I learned that I do NOT need that extra box of beluga with my breakfast, NOR change the tyres of my Lambo before it is needed just because it looks nicer, NOR invite my old friends on my yacht when I know very well that their body weight will add to my fuel costs, NOR fly First Class on Thai when any low cost carrier can bring me there in a nearly as good seat, NOR eat at these ridiculous fancy restaurants while fruits and crackers can equally fill my stomach, NOR do I need that ugly tourbillon watch while the time is exactly the same on an old Nokia phone,...

I learned a lot in this thread.

That knowledge transformed me. I am a new person.

My bank account is now flooded with all that money I saved.

But, ... I also became wiser by reading this thread.

I know that, even if I am super wealthy today, thanks to my savings, and the advices of all my new money savers' good friends, anything can happen.

Life can suddenly change for the worst (tsunami, earthquake, IS, zika, meteor, the return of the Jedi, Irchblumikalabu alikaboba krimsacluk,...).

So, I keep the nut !!!

(Half a nut, but ok).

Ok on the advice of some posters here I went and bought a Rolls Royce the salesman showed me the free umbrella so I paid in cash saving on any credit charges, took the car home parked it outside my 2 bed council house, could not resist opening the door and taking out my free umbrella I very carefully opened the free umbrella when suddenly a car came speeding up the the road nearly knocking me over the free umbrella got tangled up on his passenger side mirror the drive did not stop even tho my free umbrella was being toe to shreds as it bounced off the road and back again I gave chase on footi did eventually retrieve my free umbrella but it had unfortunately been run over by several cars and trucks. So now I have returned to Rolls Royce told them what happened they refused to give me another free umbrella so I had no choice but to buy another Rolls Royce I will make sure nothing happens to my free umbrella I will not remove it from its space inside the door, that's where my free umbrella will stay.

Your story reminds me that diamond I bought last week.

I wanted a nice 3.01 carats F vvs1 to make a ring.

All my savings (and saved money) being at the bank, I asked to pay by credit card.

The lady said that she would have to add 76,000b to cover her credit card costs...

I was not very happy about that.

It would have offset all my savings of the previous day...

So I asked her: "If I take the 4.50 carat E vvs2, do you also add the credit card costs?".

She said: "No, if you take the bigger one I will not add any credit card costs".

It was a not brainer.

I bought the bigger diamond and saved 76.000b on the spot !

I was, again, so proud of myself.

Saving money is piece of cake, really (piece of cracker for some). Super cool

Naam advised me to take a blue diamond, much bigger, but I keep it for my next ring

By the way, even with only one Rolls Royce, and it's free umbrella, you seem to be a man of good tastes. But I understand you couldn't resist that second free umbrella

How will i tell my wife (soon to be married)?

Believe me, if returnofthailand is "living a very nice life with half of a poverty line salary" and "woke up with a very sexy lady sleeping near him, watched TV, and ate fruits and crackers with his coffee" (post 339), ... you can be totally reassured. Even undervalued, you future wife will still think very highly of you

Come on kids, no matter how much we save at the end of the day we are all of equal value.

I allow myself to disagree with you.

We have saved so much in this thread that I am afraid you and me are now undervalued