ebcal

Thanks for the suggestions.

If she would accept automatic, I definitely would recommend the Ford Fiesta to her. The Fiesta along with the Jazz are my top 2, although it is her decision. But, her preferences are her preferences, so MT and

5-dr are what she wants.

If ordering / reservation of the car before October is sufficient to still qualify for the first time car buyer's rebate, then she will most likely choose to stay with the Jazz, which is her first choice. I thought one had to receive the car. I will ask her to verify this.

I happen to prefer MT as well. Almost all the cars I have owned have been manual transmission cars. I did have one AT with auto shifter on the stick and also paddle shifters on the steering wheel. I tried them a few times, but disliked them, so never really used them. Shifting is just not the same driving experience without a clutch and just clicking the stick back to shift or clicking paddle shifters. Driving an AT just removes you from the driving experience. Maybe not all will understand that, but I am sure some will.

Hi All,

My GF (in Chiang Mai) is looking to buy a new car and is a first timecar buyer, so was hoping to take advantage of the first time car buyer's program, but have a bit of a dilemma.

Requirements: She would like a 5 dr car, so one with a hatchback, rather than 4 dr sedan. And she prefers driving a manual transmission. And she is looking to spend around $600k, but possibly up to $800k or so, if it was absolutely a perfect match in every other way. Dont want the very bottom of the line models that feel really cheap, but maybe a level above that.

1. First choice was the Honda Jazz. But problem is that cant find a dealer that can deliver by October in time to take advantage of first time buyer's rebate of 100k. Any chance they will extend this program another year? Or does it end for good this October 2012? Assume the car have to be received by this October and not ordered by October? One dealer in Chiang Mai said maybe Oct, but likely they cant and only saying that and will probably be next year. Brio is too small.

2. Second choice was the Ford Fiesta, I really like the 1.6 L Sport version, but of course that engine size does not qualify for the rebate and does not come in manual trans anyway. and even the in 1.4/1.5 L engines, only the 1.4L 4 dr sedan comes in manual transmission. The 5 dr only comes in automatic. And she is set on 5dr and manual transmission.

3. May have to consider some other cars. Can consider Toyota Yaris or Vios, but she is not too fond of those. I am not either. And she is not fond of the Mazda 2 or Suzuki Swift. She is not familiar with the Mitsubishi Mirage and I am not either, but doesnt look that great to me and dont think she will like it either.

4. Other options, scrap the idea of getting the first time buyer's rebate and stick with the Jazz. It would be very nice to get 100k rebate, but not if it means buying a car that one is not too thrilled about. Or maybe even looking a level up and looking at the Ford Focus, Mazda3, but dont think those have manual transmissions either and she wanted to keep in the 600k price range, but maybe would consider next level up, if found something that was perfect in every other way. Or maybe buy used, but with high prices for used cars and not always knowing if there were flood damaged, prefer to buy new.

Thanks for any suggestions. I think she is leaning towards giving up on the rebate and waiting until next year to get the Honda Jazz, unless there is a better solution, but looks like there isnt any. Thought I would post on here to see if any other suggested ideas. Thank you.

I also heard that one has to wait until next year to get the Honda Jazz. I was going to ask if this is true, but judging by the post, looks like either supply is low due to flood or demand high, or combination of the two. Guess it does not matter which cities, as I assume dealers can check inventory in other cities.

My GF was thinking of ordering one and was thinking of taking advantage of the first time buyer's rebate, but looks like cant do it with the long wait for the Jazz, unless they extend the first time buyer's plan. Anyone know if the first time buyer's rebate will be extended past this October or is October the final deadline? Thanks.

If not the rebate plan does not extend past October, then maybe she will look at the Fiesta.

Probably best to google it and see some course layouts and reviews. Many nice courses around Bkk area and Pattaya area. In Pattaya, many say Laemchabang is nice,though I have not played there myself.

http://www.golfinthailand.com/golfcoursesreviews.html

http://www.thailandgolfcourses.com/

1. If it looks too good to be true then it isn't

hmmmm.... that's a twist on the old saying.

of course you meant ..... then it probably is, rather than it isn't

Sorry to hear you were assaulted. What was the situation? Was it some altercation that escalated or just a mugging? Did you report it to the police?

Although from the frequent sarcastic posts on TV, I see that the BIB are unfortunately not very helpful. Hope you recovered without any lasting effect and they catch the bums.

Hi,

Thank you very much for the information. I see a S and V model. What is the difference? Is the V for Vtec engine? And also I see the SRS model is only available in automatic. So, one cant get dual airbag SRS in a manual transmission? Thanks.

Also, if anyone has any comments on comparison with the Ford Fiesta, appreciate to hear comments on the two. Thanks.

Hello,

What is the going price for buying a 2012 Honda Jazz?. Probably will buy in Chiang Mai area. Is it much cheaper to buy in Bkk or other area? If buy in Bkk or other area, then any problem to take it to another dealer for service? e.g. only dealer you buy it from may offer free service during warranty period, or can it be any dealer ?

Not sure on regular or S model, but wondering approximate cost. Is it around 700,000 baht? Thank you.

Getting back to the OP, I agree it will be difficult and may not work for many merchants, but I think it could work for some merchants/ places.

I think of it not like Costco or Sam's club, but like those coupon books or purchasing group cards that negotiate discounts with merchants for their group. So, approaching merchants and saying they have a group of x hundred or thousand people that will patronize their store and increase their business, in return for a discount. Some vendors will not do this, but some might. Some might try it for a few months or a year to see if it does increase their business and profitability and if it does not, would probably cancel. And it would only be considered by vendors who are thinking to increase their business. If they are happy with current business, then maybe they are not so motivated to do something like this.

Like for golfing in Pattaya, which I have never done, but hope to try, I read that there is a Pattaya Sports Card that is something like 600 or 800 baht, but then gets you discounts at the many courses around Pattaya and can pay for itself if you golf 2-3 times. Chiang Mai should try to organize something like this for golf clubs, for some restaurants, and maybe other merchants, auto dealers, etc.

So, this is not taking the angle of only "falangs", but from the standpoint of a large volume or group offering to direct business to merchants in return for discounts. But, obviously from starting out of this board, then it might have a larger percentage of foreigners in such a group, so may target merchants that have higher business by foreigners.

"I think if the OP had posted his initial inquiry in a more neutral manner, I wouldn't have over-reacted. Yes, it is a idea worth discussing, but what got my goat was the implication that:"

Any mistake on your reaction was the OP’s fault? It could not be that you misinterpreted or read into things that were not there? With all due respect, it seems more like projection bias and then blaming the OP for your over-reaction.

"1. all white people here are male and have female Thai partners" - The post is obviously for those that have a Thai counterpart and there are a significant number on this board, but if it does not apply to you, why should it bother you? If someone said "Every so often, we (golfers) have to pay a higher price at golf courses, would you get bent out of shape that they are assuming we are all golfers??

"2. none of the white people can communicate in the Thai language" – This one is really a stretch. Looks like a personal pet peeve that you have that people assume you cant speak Thai and you are very proud you can. Nowhere did the OP state anything about Thai language or any language used, the OP only said " if we open our big fat mouth", meaning that a foreigner will often get a higher quote, compared to a local approaching the seller. The OP did not say at all whether the communication was in Thai or other language. If you can speak fluent Thai, then hey I think that is great. But, this one was really reading into something that was not there.

"3. all Thai merchants intend to cheat white people – Nowhere did the OP say this, but it is true that many have dual pricing, at least the starting point. Many merchants will make the assumption that foreigners have more money, so will try to charge a higher price. I don’t think there are any doubts about this, are there? The golf courses are one clear example of this dual pricing and many markets are another.

"4. no white person can negoiate a good price on their own -- they need the help of a Thai person". I would say this is the one point where there is some validity. OP is stating he is not as successful, compared to Thai partner. But, I would also say that OP is still correct, as merchants will assume foreigners have more money, so will try to get more money from a foreigner, as compared to a local. It is not to say that all foreigners cant negotiate a good price on their own, but it will be a bit more difficult, as the starting point and willingness to move will be different with a local compared to a foreigner. If you can always negotiate your own good price and dont run into the dual pricing, like at golf courses (if you golf) then that is great. I would hope you can take it in a positive light and maybe you can share some your knowledge and experience how you do this, rather than take the OP as an insult that OP is saying you are helpless and foreigners need Thai help.

"4a) white people blunder thru life; thank god they have a Thai partner, otherwise they'd never survive here." Nowhere did the OP infer that white people blunder thru life. Amazing how one gets this out the OP. OP was only stating that their Thai partner can often get a better price being a local and foreigners are often charged more. Seems more like a chip on the shoulder. Obviously, someone has a chip on their shoulder that they interpret his post as somehow saying no white person can negotiate a good price. If you can, great, but fact is foreigners will be charged a higher price initially compared to locals in many cases.

"5. only white foreigners need this type of assistance. Presumably Japanese nationals, etc, aren't helpless victims." Maybe the OP should have used a different word than falang, since it applies more to foreigners, but dont think people should get bent out shape using falang. And again, nowhere was the OP stating that they are helpless victims. It is that sometime locals will get better prices, at least initially, because it is assumed by many that foreigners have more money and merchants will try to get the most money they can.

"6. white people routinely buy big tickets items" - OP = “especially if we are buying furniture or big items” nowhere did he state that only white people buy big ticket items. He was saying that such a purchasing group would be helpful for buying big ticket items.

No offense meant, but clear we took the OP completely differently. And I think good for all of us to look at our projection biases, insecurities or feelings and how they shape how we interpret the world around us. Seeing how you inferred from the OP makes me also think about how I should word things better or be more careful how some things could be taken.

Hi Ray,

Thanks, appreciate the invite. Unfortunately, I am leaving town on Wednesday. Maybe next time I am in town on a Wednesday, I can join you. Thanks anyway.

Sorry, should have stated in the Bangkok Area. I am staying at a hotel in Sukhumvit area.

Hi All,

Anyone interested to book a tee time and transport? Prices are much cheaper with more than 1 person, so looking to see if anyone is interested to book

a tee time tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday. Prices are listed below.

Just looking to get out and hit for fun and not anything competitive or too serious. I am not very good and have not golfed in awhile, but wanted to get out and play again when I am in town. So, it maybe be an adventure in terms of how my golf game goes. At one point, when I was golfing more, I was about a 19 hdcp, but probably much worse now. If anyone is interested in going out, please let me know and maybe we can use the website below. Thanks.

http://www.golfasian.com/golf-services/tee-time-bookings/bangkok/

Hi All,

For driving range, looks like maybe All Star seems to be a good choice. 42 Tee off is in the Sukhumvit area, but dont like the idea of hitting directly into the blinding sunlight and not being able to see my ball flight. Now just to find out about best way to get to a course and book a tee time. Thanks.

1. All-Star Golf Complex

A popular one-stop destination for Bangkok golfers, All-Star has plenty of demo clubs for rent, short-game practice facilities and a quality long-distance driving range. For regulars, All-Star is more of a community than a complex. Open weekdays, 10am-11pm; weekends, 9am-11pm.

518/5 Ramkhamhaeng 39 Road, tel +66 (0)2 934 8000

2. Bangkok Golf Training Centre

About 35 minutes northwest of central Bangkok, this is the city's best all-around golf destination, the place where the well-off come to play alongside committed golfers. While the range is standard, the chipping, putting and sand practice areas are well-maintained and not overly crowded.

The practice facilities are part of the Bangkok Golf Club, which also has an 18-hole course and a 9-hole par-3 course with replicas of world-famous par-3 holes, such as Pebble Beach's 7th hole and the 12th at Augusta National. The training school is popular among junior talents. Open daily, 6am-6:30pm.

99 Moo 2, Tiwanon Road, Bangkadi sub-district, Muang district, Phatum Thani, tel +66 (0)2 501 3370

3. Sports City

In addition to a large driving range, Sports City has squash courts, yoga facilities, weight machines and a pool. The three-story driving range at Sports City has 72 hitting bays and a handful of golf vendors on site. Open daily, 10am-7pm.

20/262-4 Moo 9 Prachachuen Road, Bangtalad, Pakkred, Nonthaburi, tel+66 (0)2 575 0078

4. 42 Tee Off

A short walk from the BTS, this two-story driving range is a hot draw for Sukhumvit Road residents, especially in afternoons when crowds shank balls into the blinding sunlight. Note that you'll be hitting into the sun at these hours, too, and that parking at 42 is extremely limited and in the line of (errant golfer) fire -- cabs or BTS are worth considering here. Open daily, 7am-11pm.

1022 Sukhumvit Road, between Prakanong and Ekkamai BTS stations, tel +66 (0)2 712 1541

5. 247 Yard Driving Range

An open-air facility with 40 driving bays, this range on the grounds of the Chaophrya Park Hotel is known for its cheery staff and well-maintained facilities. The hitting area is narrow, but presumably that just helps to hone your fairway game. The food is good, too. Open daily, 8am–10pm.

247 Rachadapisek Road, tel +66 (0)2 276 0177

6. Dusit Thani Hotel

On the Dusit Thani Hotel's rooftop practice range players tee up in the middle of the city. The range gets crowded with hotel guests and students of the resident Doug Hood Golf School, so it's best to go during off-peak hours (weekdays before 3pm). Lessons are available from USPGA pro Doug Hood, who has more than 25 years of teaching experience and plenty of video technology at the ready.

Open Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm; weekends, 8am-6pm. Make lesson reservations by emailing [email protected].

Hi All,

I have a few days off while I am visiting and wanted to play some golf in the next few days and had a couple of questions that I hope someone could help answer. Thanks all.

1. Can anyone recommend a nice driving range in Bangkok? I am in a hotel in the Sukhumvit area.

2. I was looking to play a couple of rounds and was looking at maybe playing a course like Bkk Golf Club or Subhapruek, as those seem a bit cheaper than others. But, wondering the best way to get there and book a tee time. Is it cheaper to just take a taxi and show up as a single? Or book tee time and transport through website like GolfAsian.com

GolfAsian.com is quite expensive for a single and much cheaper, if it is multiple people booking together. Regarding course, looking for a decent course, but not too difficult. I used to be about a 19 hdcp, but have not played much in the last few years and only recently started going to the driving range again, so I will probably be even worse than before. So, hope to find a nice course that is not too difficult in terms of OB's/hazards.

On Golfasian.com, a single is $5950 for Bkk Golf club and $3900 B for Subhapruek. Most of the others are around $5600 - $6000 for single. This includes green fee, caddie fee and transport to and from the course. Price goes down with each additional person booking, with the price about $1800 - $3000 cheaper for a foursome booking.

I have to admit wasting some time on reading some of these threads, but then got tired and skipped to the end. I was interested more in the OP on balls people use. I am truly a hack and cant shoot anywhere near the scores others shoot here, however, do enjoy the game. I have not played in a long time and suck worse than I did before, but thinking of getting back into it, as I miss going out on a nice day with some good natured ribbing with friends and enjoying a good drink afterwards.

Regarding balls, I picked up some different ones to try. They dont make as much difference at my level, but I still enjoy trying some different balls and seeing if I can tell any difference in feel or performance. Although at my level, I am just trying to hit the ball and not at the level where I can really judge a ball well, as I dont strike it very consistently at all.

I was trying to find some balls with low driver spin. So, I bought a box of the Bridgestone E6's, since these are supposedly low spin, but anything will still slice, when hit badly enough. I also found the Callaway HX Diablo Tours at a Walmart for only $21 usd, so bought a box to try. And I bought a box of Top Flite Gamer V2's for $19 usd, as I read some good reviews on these, so wanted to try them. And I have a box of Titleist DT SoLo's too. So, will give all these balls a go and see how I like them, if I can ever get a vacation to play somewhere.

looks like the format did not come out too readable, so here is the link.

http://www.taylormadegolf.asia/sg/burner-09-specifications.php

I have tried hitting the TM Burner 2.0 clubs at a golf store and liked them. I think they are nice looking too, although I have heard some say the dark finish wears off in spots, if that is any concern.

I saw below specs on TM asia website, although looks like these look like the earlier Burner irons and not the 2.0, but gives you an idea of the difference between the global spec and asian spec.

You can see the irons look to be about 1/4 inch shorter in the steel shafts on the asian spec, but only on the non-wedges. Some have slightly different loft and swing weight.

If you decide to buy them, good luck.

Burner® Irons Specifications (Global / Asian)IronLeft HandedLoftLieOffsetGraphiteFlexGraphite SWSteelFlexSteel SWGripGrip Weight3 / NoYes / No19°60.25°6.5mm39.5"S,RD2.539.5"S,RD3.5Arrow 2 58R47g4Yes21°61.0°/60°6.1mm38.875"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D238.875"/38.625"S,RD3.5/D2Arrow 2 58R / C500 Red Cap 60R47g / 47.5g5Yes24°61.75°/60.75°5.7mm38.25"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D238.25"/38.0"S,RD3.5/D26Yes27°62.5°/61.5°5.3mm37.625"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D237.625"/37.375"S,RD3.5/D27Yes31°63°/62°4.6mm37.00"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D237.0"/36.75"S,RD3.5/D28Yes35°63.5°/62.5°3.7mm36.5"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D236.5"/36.25"S,RD3.5/D29Yes40°64°/63°2.8mm36.0"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D236.0"/35.75"S,RD3.5/D2PWYes45°64.5°/63.5°2.0mm35.5"/35.75"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D435.5"/35.5"S,RD3.5/D4AWYes50°64.5°/63.5°1.5mm35.5"/35.75"S,R,M / S,RD2.5/D435.5"/35.5"S,RD3.5/D4SWYes55°64.5°/63.5°1.0mm35.25"/35.5"S,R,M / S,RD4/D535.25"/35.25"S,RD5/D5LW / NoNo / No60°64.5°1.0mm35.0"S,R,MD435.0"S,RD5Arrow 2 58R47gOverall Club Weight #5 Iron Graphite Shaft: NA / 369gGraphite Shaft: RE*AX SuperFast 65 (65g, Parallel tip .370), Torque 3.0°/RE*AX (60g, Parallel tip .370), Torque 3.3°Overall Club Weight #5 Iron Steel Shaft: NA / 400gSteel Shaft: Burner SuperFast 85 (85g, Parallel tip .370), Torque 1.7°/N.S. Pro 950 GH (95g, Parallel tip .370), Torque 2.0°

Hi,

From my understanding, the asian spec clubs usually have different shafts. These shafts are usually softer flex and/or lighter and/or shorter, at least when talking about drivers. For example, an Asian spec Reg flex shaft is softer than Western spec Reg flex. And they even have SR stiff regular flex type, which they dont have in the West. For drivers, sometimes shaft length can be slightly shorter too. For your irons, not sure what specifically is different, but I would check the shafts on the clubs and you will probably find they are different than the shafts sold on the same clubs sold in the West. What clubs are you looking to buy? And do you know what shafts they have?

I just bought an Asian spec Ping G20 driver that had a different shaft (TFC330D) than sold in the West (TFC169D). Reg flex, but softer than the Western Regular. And I think it might be slightly shorter too, but that is what I wanted, since the shafts keep getting longer in the West, so manufacturers and golfers can say they hit it farther, but often at the cost of accuracy. So, I was looking for a driver shorter than 46", but now hard to find on new drivers. I also bought some irons in Asia, but the irons were the same spec as Western version.

Rosbif,

I also can sympathize with you. I have had 2 ex- GF's over the years that had mental illness. One, in the USA, diagnosed with bipolar and have many stories of the experiences there. So, I can related to your experience and how hard it must be. It is amazing how little we(medical science) know about mental illness. The different medicines they try are all trial and error and see what works.

Then, I encountered with a GF in Thailand, who was seemingly fine for a couple of years, then had some mental issues that started not too long after a accident she had on a motorbike. I dont know if that triggered anything, but do wonder. She was more unipolar and mostly depressed, when she got really sick, but also lost touch with reality a bit. When she see seemed fine initially, I did not see the manic side so much in terms of personality, except that she was very hard working and got by on little sleep, going for a Masters degree at the same time running two businesses. I dont know what her final diagnosis was, but she ended up seeing a doctor and was diagnosed with some mental illness. We did not stay together, more on her part, then mine, but better for me it ended. I saw her not too long ago and she seemed to be doing better, but we remained only friends.

After encountering 2 cases, it did make me wonder how common it really is. And how many borderline cases are never even diagnosed and maybe people just think someone is quirky or moody or a bit eccentric or a bit wild.

I would echo the suggestions to make sure you collect clear evidence to support your case of her problems or being dangerous.

Hope you can find a not too painful or messy way to settle the situation that works for all. Good Luck

Like many others well on planning for the rest of your life. I think you would be fine here so long you think about what you do, how you do it and dont get ripped off. Be cautious as you abviously are and you have a lot to look forward to.

If you marry your g/f "officially" and buy a home of your own, she will get a blue book which will give access to free state healthcare, as the husband you will get a yellow book which gives you the same, I mention this because healthcare is important ans costly and many schemes here I have seen will abandon you in the 80's and likely will not cover any emergencies inbetween.

Like you I invested in companies that pay dividends, nice when they arrive and UK premium bonds also nice when you get a winner.

I have just bought a house for the G/F so I dont have rent to find each month and our electric and internet, water comes to under 1000 bts a month.

The jolly UK govt will freeze my state pension when they find out I have left the UK,so, I have put off claiming it thus giving me, until the time I do, 10.4% increase for each year I wait and the inflation rises too,so, my plan is to wait for 2 1/2 years or so when the current £102 will then be up to about £130-£135. until then I will get by on about 28000 bts a month and it can be done without eating noodles at every meal, that figure does not include my dividends by the way and this month have had 5500 bts so far. It will be a bit tight for us for the immediate future but it will be worth it and then there is her income too, so we will be fine and we eat out 4 or 5 times a week and have 3 or 4 holidays a year.

Planning is the key, so dont forget your holidays, border runs if thats what you are going to do and all those little amounts that you spend all the time that mount up.

Wherever you are the interest in the bank is bad at the moment and does not look like its going to improve any time soon. The stock markets are a state of volatility and driven more by sentiment and worries than how companies are really performing so I would look at more of those solid companies that pay a good dividend and have a good track record for a long term future. I am now 65 for the record and started my retirement planning when I was 45.

I also have income to from investment funds which turn up twice a year from both and 2 bonds which I can draw up tp 5% a year tax free but have not done so as yet.

Annuities are waste of time and money, the bonds I have taken out would go into my estate should the worst happen.

I hope this helps you, even if only one thing has it has been worthwhile, now make the move and spend most of the year here its a good option.

The figures for the UK govt pension is a weekly figure in case anyone is wondering and on top that there is serps, wo I will be happy

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Yes, agree that healthcare costs are a major concern and getting health insurance is something I plan to look into more. Wherever I retire, needs to have good enough healthcare, in terms of affordability and quality. You mention a blue book and yellow book and getting free state health insurance only when buying a house? Is the house in your wife's name or if a condo, is it in your name? Curious why health insurance this is tied to house ownership. And I did not know there was any free national healthcare plan.

While some really do not like annuities and they sure have their drawbacks and maybe many can outdo them via other investment vehicles in most cases, there is something to be said for guaranteed lifetime payments, not subject to market volatility and the peace of mind that brings. For some, that peace of mind also has a benefit that others may not feel or see or need, but should not be discounted totally as part of the benefit. I think annuities can have their place as a diversified portion of a total retirement investment plan for many people, though not all. But, I agree probably sticking it in some high quality dividend stocks or some bonds may be a better approach for many.

And as others have mentioned, need to factor in inflation and the dropping USD, for those that have their retirement savings tied up largely in USD investments. I will go through the numbers in a bit more detail.

Hi All,

Thanks for all the replies.

1. Yes agree that $2 million may sound ok, but as one poster mentioned, it can go faster than one thinks, and given the financial instability in recent years, one's investments can really get hit. And has me thinking about putting another chunk into an annuity, so I have multiple guaranteed income streams besides my company pension. I agree with the comment to put it into several annuity companies, if you put more than $100k, since the state guarantee insurance is only up to $100k per, if the annuity company would default.

2. I am 50, but want to retire early. How early depends on when I feel comfortable to pull the trigger. If the relationship continues to go well with my GF, I hope we can get married, which means have to factor in her and her 8 yr old son. My GF works at a low paying government job. She doesnt spend much or does not ask for anything is fine to live very modestly.

3. I am not into the bar scene, but enjoy going out to eat at restaurants and some travel. I dont need a big lavish place, but want a fairly nice place, like maybe a nice two bedroom condo in CM. I would not buy at first, but would consider renting in CM. After renting for some period of time, if I really planned to settle down there permanently, then might consider buying, or maybe will keep renting even long term to keep more flexibility. I have looked at rental prices in CM online and see a huge range from reasonable to quite expensive. From scanning things online, I would figure on around $15k -$18k baht / month for a fairly nice 2 BR condo in CM.

4. my previous company pension is not very good and will only pay out about $2200/month starting when I am 62. My rental incomes are about $3600 gross, but only about $2100 net. properties net worth is about $1 million.

It sounds like the couple of posters who are planning or have retired are set up pretty well. $7,000 / month pension sounds great, although you have to consider if you will want to work until 65. If you do, then you will be well set with that pension amount.

Hi All,

I am starting to think about when I can retire and going through some numbers on some retirement planning sites on estimating amounts I will need. I might also consider retiring in Thailand or maybe live part-time in Thailand and part-time in the USA. I like the Chiang Mai area of Thailand and have a GF there and have visited there and Thailand many times. I will try places out first on an extended basis before making anything permanent however.

But, my question is more for those that have retired in Thailand or are planning to, what kind of amounts you have planned for your retirement there.

1. What total savings target are you shooting for or did you have? And if you care to share, what different investment types do you use or plan to use - social security, IRA / 401K, real estate, stocks, mutual funds, pension or other deferred or immediate annuities, other, etc.

2. What your age is (if you care to share) since your life expectancy impacts how much you will need.

3. What your monthly expenses are or planned for? I have asked on an earlier thread what people's monthly expenses are and got some interesting feedback. Of course, the numbers are all over the map depending on what lifestyle people have, but it was good to get an idea on that. And good to add that into this, since that is related to the target retirement savings. And is this for only you or for a family?

As some ballpark figures I am starting to throw around, I am trying to think about planning to live on somewhere close to $4,000USD / month in expenses, if in Chiang Mai, but plan for maybe something like $6,000 - $7,000 USD / month income in retirement, so I have a buffer for inflation and any unexpected costs.

My net worth target is about $2 million USD, which should provide enough to meet/exceed my monthly income target plan. However, the recent market drops have set me back a little on reaching this target and the recent volatility has made me realize I need to rebalance my portfolio and reduce some exposure in stocks.

I currently have the following types of investments that I plan to generate the retirement income from, although I am thinking of shifting some of my stock holdings into an annuity.

1. 401k / IRA - mostly in stocks and small percentage in bonds

2. real estate - a couple of properties generating rental income

3. stocks - focused on dividend paying stocks

4. pension - can be a lump sum or taken as annuity

5. social security

Thank you.

My opinion is that some posters jumped a bit far in concluding he wants to force her or make her something she is not. I don't think that is the OP's intention. While they are correct that you cant force someone to like something or be interested in something, but it doesn't have to be forced. I think many of us have found an interest in something later in life that we did not have an interest in before, either through some new exposure or life experience, or through personal growth. Everyone of us has developed interests in things we did not have before. I think the OP is only looking for suggestions to expose or encourage an interest in other areas, not force.

My suggestions would be to expose her to some things and see what might strike a chord. It may be more difficult to expose things out of the blue. Maybe one way would be to find out some things she is interested in and then try to link that interest to some other areas.

Yes, maybe an interest in erotica could lead to reading Anais Nin. Or an interest in children or nature or animals could lead to volunteering to help some non-profit cause or an interest in photography, or an interest in music could lead to taking music lessons, which could lead to better appreciation of the musical arts. Or an interest in some aspect of Thai culture can lead to learning more about Thai history or more about Thai culture. Maybe travel can get her more interested in different cultures or photography, that might lead to appreciating arts or architecture or sociological differences, maybe an interest in eating can lead to taking cooking classes and getting an interest in world cuisines, etc. Maybe these might work, maybe they wont, but they may be worth a try. And yes, you cant force change, as many have stated, all you can do is expose and see if it sparks any interest. And it could very well be that something may not spark now, but later in life, it does. We all change over time.

Also, some immediately questioned why are the OP is with this girl and suggested he was with the wrong girl. Maybe correct, but a bit too presumptuous. People are attracted to others for many different reasons. And maybe we don't alwayschoose our partners for all the best reasons, but there are many reasons. And sometimes we may not always think about intellectual compatibility, although we probably should. We all have to decide if we don't get the mental stimulation enough through our partners, if the other reasons we love our partners is enough to fulfill us and if we can live with the shortcomings. In this case, if we could get the mental stimulation through other means, like reading or discussion with others or attending events, etc. And maybe this means we need to find a new partner or maybe it means we don't.

And of course, intellectual compatibility does not insure a happy relationship either. There are the many other things we need or want from a relationship that are also important, security, companionship, having fun, emotional support, intimacy (not just sex), romance, and many other areas that we need from our partners and why we are attracted to our partners that need to be considered.

Ultimately, we have to choose if the shortcomings our partner has are enough to make us consider another partner or if they are something we can live with. It is too easy to make a broad statement to question why the OP chose his GF and he should be with someone else. There were many other areas that attracted him to his GF and that is clearly why he is with her. Whether they are the right reasons is only for him to decide. And whether the reasons are enough to continue the relationship is only for him to decide.

Just my 2 cents.

For those that enjoyed reading the RS article he wrote, I would recommend reading his book. I really enjoyed Matt Taibbi's book. Maybe he went a bit far in his personal insults that went down to the level of how someone looks, rather than focus on criticizing the actions, but I guess it makes for a more entertaining read. But, the story of greed and lack of ethics and accountability are both interesting and a sad commentary on the USA. Not that the USA is alone is this, but an interesting glimpse into the inner workings.

Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America by Matt Taibbi

And if you enjoyed reading his book, then would also highly recommend The Big Short that describes the story and players in more detail. A very interesting and illuminating read.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis