simon43

Teaching jobs in Burma typically pay about $2,500 USD/month (after any local tax). Teaching science online pays me $29 USD/hour and I have more young students that I want! The demand is very high 🙂 (I used to have a waiting list of prebooked lessons on iTalki of more than 2,000 lessons, stretching out more than 1 year in the future. Now I wound that down a lot because - well - I'm getting old)

As I have mentioned on more than 1 occasion in my posts, I run my own educational charity in Burma that supports young students in orphanages and monastery schools (about 10 locations with a total of several thousand students). I fund the purchase of school books, design and print English language posters, record audio learning files, pay Adroid developers to create and manage an app etc etc. I've been doing this for years because I much prefer to use my money in this manner, rather than spend it on a greedy wife or waste it on beer and bar-girls 🙂 I receive no donations for my charity (except occasionally from radio amateurs). This is why I'm not sitting on a pile of $$$ in the bank, and I think it has been money well-spent 🙂 Garry, I have no savings to speak of, I have about $400 in my bank account and when I receive $2,000 from my online teaching in a few days from now, I will use a lot of that for my charity. I have lived in this financial manner for many years, often with only a few hundred baht in the bank. But everything has always worked out OK for me - perhaps someone 'up there' is looking out for me 🙂 Now that I start to receive my UK pension, I will return to the UK and stop teaching online, because it's getting a little difficult now (I sometimes have to abandon lessons mid-stream because of my uncontrolleable coughing). I guess that the authorities can't easily check if you have savings in a foreign bank account. I have no savings, so I don't have any concerns - they are welcome to see my bank details.

6th July: I grabbed this image from the Russian Meteor M2-3 weather satellite on their VHF frequency. This is an LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite that orbits the Earth about 450 km. Since the Earth's gravitational pull is still rather strong at this altitude, LEO birds have to orbit fast around the Earth to generate an equal and opposite Centrifugal force that cancels out the gravity. In fact, it only takes about 90 minutes for LEO birds to orbit one time around the Earth. There are not many VHF LEO weather satellites still operating. The USA NOAA-18 bird 'broke' about a month ago (after many years of good service), and their NOAA-15 bird is now experiencing technical problems. That leaves only NOAA-19, which is still working correctly, at least with its VHF payload. There are also the 2 Russian LEO birds Meteor M2-3 and 2-4.

[quote] ... You will probably find a place you like and can afford - then you can get a cheap place to rent (public housing?) ... [/quote] When you are a state pensioner in the UK (as I am), and have savings less than $16,000, (which is me again), the benefit systems pays about $750/month towards your costs to rent a private accommodation. So even though private rent is (IMHO) expensive, I will be able to rent a nice 1-bed apartment and can use my van to visit some nice places, national parks, coastal walks etc, without having to concern myself with paying for overnight hotel accommodation. Also, converting the small van will be a nice way to spend my spend time. And.... if everything is terrible in the UK, I can sell the van to get some cash so that I can fly back to spend my days in no-visa-hassle Cambodia, where my frozen UK pension money will be sufficient for my needs. There's no 100% perfect plan, but I'm trying to cover all eventualities.

Apart from the 'youngsters' who run out of money in Thailand (lack of job, lack of available type of visa etc), I think the most important reason for a foreigner to return back to their home country is for current or potential health reasons in the future. I've just reached 66 years old and now receive my UK state pension. If I remain in Thailand, that pension is frozen, (except if I relocate to the PI). Actually, I have no great interest in moving to the PI - if I'm going to make a permanent move, then it would be back to the UK, where my pension is index-linked and I get all of the other benefits that UK state pensioners without a pot to pee into also receive 🙂 My medical issues are managable right now, but that might not be the case in the future.. The only (unique to me) issue is that I might pop back to teach in Myanmar for 1 more year before I return to the UK. This is because I can save up some money (Myanmar teaching salary +my current online teaching income+UK state pension = about $4,500 USD/month), because I intend to buy a small panel van when I return to the UK. Why? Because 4-wheel transport would be useful, and I can convert the panel van into an overnight sleeper for occasional sleeps if I travel to visit other parts of the UK (I have the funds but absolutely refuse to pay the high rates to stay in some <deleted>ty hotel for a night - I'd rather sleep in my cosy van!!)

I think not at the moment. One should always plan (as much as possible) for the unexpected....

I asked ChatGPT about this. The answer is very interesting and informative: Will I be financially better off living as a pensioner in the UK, (and receiving my UK state pension, housing benefit and other benefits that state pensioners are entitled to), or living in Thailand? ChatGPT said: Simon, the decision between living as a pensioner in the UK or in Thailand depends on a few key financial factors. Here's a direct comparison to help you decide where you'd likely be better off financially, focusing on income, living costs, benefits, and other considerations. 🇬🇧 Living in the UK as a Pensioner Income UK State Pension (2025 full rate): ~£221.20/week → ~£11,500/year (before tax) Pension Credit: Topped up to ~£218.15/week (if your pension is low) Housing Benefit or Universal Credit: May cover part or all of your rent if you rent Winter Fuel Payment: Up to £600 per year Free NHS healthcare Other perks: Free travel passes, council tax reduction, etc. Expenses Accommodation: Rent is high unless you own your home or qualify for Housing Benefit Utilities & food: Higher than Thailand Council tax: Can be reduced or waived depending on income Transport: Free or reduced with pensioner travel cards Bottom line: If you are low-income, the UK government heavily subsidises your living, especially with housing, healthcare, and top-ups. 🇹🇭 Living in Thailand as a UK Pensioner Income UK State Pension: Still ~£11,500/year (BUT it will not increase each year—frozen at the rate you first receive it there) No UK pension-related benefits: No Housing Benefit, no Winter Fuel, no Pension Credit, etc. Private pension? Only personal pensions or other income you bring Exchange rate risk: Pound vs. Baht fluctuates Expenses Accommodation: Much cheaper than the UK. You could rent a modest place for £150–£300/month Utilities, food, internet: Much cheaper than in the UK Healthcare: Not free. You’ll need private insurance or pay out of pocket Decent Thai private healthcare is good, but costs can rise with age No free NHS access unless you return to the UK Visa fees: Annual retirement visa (~£50–£200), plus financial proof or income Bottom line: If you’re healthy, don’t need UK benefits, and have a modest lifestyle, your UK pension stretches much further in Thailand. 🔍 Summary Table Factor UK Thailand State Pension ✅ Yes (annual increase) ✅ Yes (frozen) Pension Credit ✅ Yes ❌ No Housing Benefit ✅ Possibly full rent covered ❌ No Healthcare ✅ Free NHS ❌ Private, out of pocket or insured Cost of Living ❌ High ✅ Low Climate & Lifestyle ❌ Cold, variable ✅ Warm, relaxed Exchange Rate Risk ❌ Not applicable ⚠️ Yes Visa Requirements ✅ Citizen ❌ Annual renewal + financial requirement 🧾 Final Thoughts If you need help with rent and have no other income, you will likely be better off in the UK with state top-ups and housing support. If you are reasonably healthy, don’t qualify for Pension Credit or Housing Benefit, and want a better quality of life on a tight budget, then Thailand might be better financially. However, factor in healthcare, which can become a major cost as you age. In other words, for my own financial and medical circumstances, I should return to the UK 🙂

Can she do the same with a King Cobra??

What does it matter? I thought cannabis was for medical reasons to alleviate some illness etc.

Because UK attacking military aircraft is a terrorist action.... if that happened in the USA, the security guards would have been shooting to kill...

Lol, I was joking!! I'm waiting on replies from several properties for rent on the rightmove website

Easy! He was wearing a big sombrero...

Some weird trolling replies to the OP...... I live in a rural area in south Thailand. I spend about 20,000 baht/month on renting a detached house 10 minutes from a beach, $400k meecical insurance, internet, electricity and food. That's all I need to spend - I don't need to spend any more than that for a healthy and enjoyable life as a single person. My neighbours are village Thais, very friendly, always say hello. They know that I'm a retired teacher and no doubt assume that I'm poor (which I'm not!). I only need 1 pair of shoes - I only have 2 feet 🙂

Where do you live in the south-west? Got a spare room? 🙂 (or know someone with a house to rent)?

Thanks for your comments! Actually, I did return to the UK (Blackpool) 2.5 years ago in the winter for a few months. I stayed in a cheap hotel. Despite the 'horror stories' on You Tube about Blackpool, I found it quite reasonable, nice beach, healthy walking, healthy food at the same price as Thailand 🙂 So I'm fairly confident that were I to return permanently to the UK, all would be fine. I'm already registered with a GP and on the ER in Blackpool, and with a basic UK bank account, but I prefer to live permanently in the south-west where my family comes from. I already receive a UK pension, and legally will also receive about 550 pounds/month as Pension Credit. Financially, I don't need this to be able to afford to rent a property, so I'm not being restricted by financial reasons - it's more to do with the lack of rental suitable properties for a retired single person. To sort this out, I do need to return to the UK and to bite the bullet and stay in an expensive Airbnb and rent an expensive car for transport while I find a suitable property to rent. But once rented, and with the pension credit as well, things will get much easier 🙂

Were I to move back to live in the UK, and were I to find it totally unsuitable, a move back to south-east Asia would be relatively easy, since I know the ins and outs of living here. If I were unable to afford a Thai visa, then there is always Cambodia or Laos. Realistically, no destination is perfect and I must accept compromise. The UK rental market is relatively unregulated and there is always a risk that rental prices in the UK might rise so much that I'm forced out....

^^^ Thanks for your thoughtful comments! Right now, I live at Khanom Beach in south Thailand, and the healthy salty air is excellent for my lungs. So my present location is good, the house rent is cheap and so on. But as a single person, I have no support net, and so I am considering the worst case 'what if?" scenario, if my physical or mental health gets worst, or if the means to legally stay in Thailand (long term visa etc), becomes more difficult. Of course, such a scenario might never happen, and I'm worrying about nothing. As far as moving back to the UK is concerned, there are good points in respect of costs and discounts for retirees. But one factor which might hinder my return is rented accommodation. No, not the rental price, but the availability of accommodation. My investigations over the past few weeks indicates a great shortage of suitable accommodation, with 'basic' properties being rented at crazy rental rates. I can afford this, but I know that I would not be getting value for money. I had forgotten how 'boring' most UK properties actually are in their design, with bland exteriors and no individuality. It seems that for every property that is advertised for rent, there are literally dozens of people queuing to rent it! no wonder landlords are converting garden sheds into rented accommodation... I'm at the end of the queue for renting these properties because I have no credit score. This is because the credit agencies only keep records for 6 years.... I would have to return to the UK, rent an Airbnb, rent a car to visit properties, and then try to persuade the landlord to rent to me. Difficult but not impossible of course.

Because I spend most of it on my educational charity in Myanmar (I've mentioned this before).

I do not need the housing benefit in order to rent a property - I have enough income myself. But as a state pensioner, I will receive housing benefit also, so that's a bonus...

Well, that would work if Thailand doesn't have such ageism 🙂 Zero chance of teaching in Thailand, which is why I've always taught in Myanmar.

If you haven't got anything useful to day, don't post! You're adding nothing useful to this thread which has generated a number of interesting comments and questions.

I visited the UK (Blackpool) about 2.5 years ago and found it quite reasonable 🙂 Perhaps my standards have dropped! In any case, I plan to return to the West Country (Minehead/Exmoor region). I seriously doubt that Exmoor is awash with Syrian immigrants! These types of immigrants tend to stay in the cities where they have more chance of scamming and stealing (harsh but true!). Looking at various YT videos, the rural villages of the West Country are still relatively unchanged. I can still walk by the River Lyn and still go horse-riding on Exmoor. I don't think the riding stables that I used before has signs in Urdu nowadays..... Many thanks for all the suggestions for Thai visa agents, but after 23 years living here, I miss the UK countryside. Because I live alone, the main advantages of Thailand (for me) is the sun and the sea, nothing else). The kind of food that I eat daily (fruit and vegetables and a little chicken) is the same price in the UK. I've done the maths and having hit 66 years old, the UK welfare system/benefits means that I will be better off living in a Somerset village, and with no visa requirements 🙂

I recall the post, but was he a pensioner and receiving a monthly state pension? I don't have to be homeless because I currently receive $1100/month in state pension and $2,000/month in online teaching income. I can rent a property and then drop/reduce the online teaching... (since that income will reduce my housing benefit)

I plan to live in the West Country, where I previously lived. I have already checked many properties on Rightmove. Remember that I am a single person, living alone. So I require a 1-bedroom flat or a cheaper rural small house. In the West Country (but not in the tourist hotspots), there are properties listed from about 450 pounds/month (not a house share). Remember that I'm not trying to live rent-free 🙂 If I rent a small house for 900 pounds/month, then I will only have to pay about 325 pounds from my pension income, and of course no Coucil Tax to pay. If I wanted to live in a big city or near London, then rents are much higher. But a modern flat near to the sea and Exmoor etc is still reasonably priced.

Thanks, but in view of my age and potentially-worsening health issues, and also because I have no support network in Thailand (divorced etc), and also in view of the likelyhood of stricter visa rules, I think (realistically) it's time to return to Ol Blighty!