Jaybonnaza

Play or rather the wife does, yet to win however her mum did win 60 k a few months back - I was bought a carton cigarettes

Me and the wife had lent a small amount of money to her sister to Finnish her home build .

We recieved it back 2 days ago so I suggested buying gold.

We went to the gold shop in big c as everywhere was closed or buying but not selling.

And bought 10 baht in bullion and 5 baht in chains/bracelet (horrible things to be fair).

We paid extra for the chain and bracelet as the lady said buy a different type gold that retains its value ? Has anybody heard of this before ?

Further more gold baht bullion was 19500 baht and gold baht chain was 20500 a baht

Is there any reason why the chain was more expensive price per baht per gold?

Also was this a wise move ? It was a snap decision and my aim was to sell immediately on 25k a baht

Thanks

Bangkok is a shithole. I don't care if its 1000% cheaper. I spent 5 years there and I wouldnt return for anything. Not even a holiday. Traffic and pollution is beyond comprehension.

Forget about running around town to get a few things done. Choose one thing a day because traffic will prohibit more than that.

About things being cheaper, that's because you're closer to the supply chain and less monopoly in place.

Phuket>>>>daylight>>>>Bangkok.

I take it you have never been on the sky train then? Or been around the nice areas such as central world?

Like any city there is a dump area and a nice area

The bottom line is that Thailand is not as cheap as it once was. With the popularity of the country soaring for tourism and retirees, coupled with he rising baht and the sinking USD, GBP, EUR and YEN, it is costing more and more for the casual tourist and especially for expats on fixed incomes to visit or live in Thailand. The USD hit 28.67 at the end of last week. Where will it stop? Some say 24 baht to the USD. Many will be packing up and heading to cheaper locales should this happen. No way to avoid it.

All the while the OP is talking about spending in excess of 15K baht a day on lodging, food, beverage and entertainment. That's 450K baht a month in spend. Either the OP is not your average expat or he's the biggest troll we've seen here in a while. Personally, I believe the later is true. In any event, the OP's claims have little to no bearing on the average expat living in the LOS.

I have to agree with you. Trolling! Holiday, versus an actual living budget!

Jim i believe i answered this above... not constructive looking for giving a bashing without actually talking about the comparisons....

It must be nice to read and respond selectively. I gave comments early on in this thread that were constructive. Now you accuse me of not reading and bashing? As far as I'm concerned I will keep my thought's to myself about your photos and what opinion I may form from them... Good luck with your life.

Photos what on earth are you on about?

Photos were loaded as a lot of posts on here people slate or make their own opinions - therefore I loaded to point out no I am not talking shit, no I am not a tourist, no I am not talking bs - nipping all the snide remarks in the bud before they are actioned.

As in your post it went off topic I was trying to stop any bashing that forum members love to do on here against other forum members or Thai people

Ok

Owning a gun is not illegal in Thailand if you have the required licenses - fact

There is more to this story , to do with drugs deal gone wrong - that is the word on the street in the people in the know ....

Best thing is they do time

I was offered to buy in a company in Thailand (9 years ago) for the cost of a car in Europe. This was from some one I had then met twice.

Business is always a risk there is no sure thing, especially out here. I took that risk,we still own the company we started and have done great from it. It also opened so many other doors that it changed my life.

Bottom line if it seems to good probably is, if they state it will be easy stay away.

Nothing in life is easy, the harder you work the luckier you get from my experience.

Must have been an escort company

Already involved in a sexy rooms investment ( yes it is legal we don't rent the girls out - just the rooms /toys )

Spk to a lawyer

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one and some tactics to use int he future so I don't look stumped lol

It was 1 million baht not pounds lol

The problem I see here is they will be gone in side 6 months yet another load will turn up lol never ending

OP, maybe you should consider the circles you move in.

hi there Gwelloman yes in regards to the madman thinking i was going to give him 1mill i just laughed and said nope, never heard from him again, as in the other two these were just young enthusiastic lads, felt sorry but ultimately what they have planned will fail, i mix with all sorts out here just if i feel they are shady i stop going near them or even replying to msgs or ignoring them when out.

but as ive learned out here, you dont really know anyone

Flame and reply moved.

...and another general warning to post in appropriate language.

Did i get a general warning? i thought the forum automatically filtered and reworded ???

...these are cheaper around 300 baht a pizza - 3 x cost of 100 baht dinner ive seen posted on here but more filling and more tasty ?

i just find it mad that people will eat the same food every day to save a buck when after all they happily spend 500b a night in the bar / cut bar bill eat differently - if ever i was in this situation i would certainly do that.

Now you're saving money but earlier stated that your budget is 120-200k baht per month. Good luck with that as you can obviously afford it.

The majority of expats would survive, comfortably, on your budget for two months.

Not exactly saving as mentioned late night snack so this is on top of my dinner .. yes some could but that is their situration not mine, im not comparing mine to theirs, im stating the obvious why eat cheap bland food every day in paradise when there are just as cheap alternatives such as the local pizza takeaway amongst many other food types.

I can't live unless I've done a bottle of Winston's 1999 Vintage before brekkie and then shagged every one of your women...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Ha ha never in a million years El dorado if you can find it!, no in thailand i have to make do with cocktails i learned how to make when i lived in Nassau, or Tiger beer.

JD cant stand any more loved it but drunk so much its horrible now, bit like the thai food discussion above it becomes boring and bland...

...and it is not a dick contest...

Doesn't sound like it, Jay.

Its totally not, i personally could not live on 35k baht a month, its impossible with my lifestyle and i would not change my lifestyle for anything, but i understand many do, or live to this life style which hats off too. but rushing to the bar for happy hour or eating in the cheapest resturant in town to save a buck???? doesn't make sense to me, ultimately you move here with a plan right? or finacial's right? and not to live off the bones of your arse so to speak???

finding it hard to type what im thinking lol - too tired !.

Edit

Ok, for the people moving here and wanting to live like a thai, fair enough, thats their choice, but ultimately, i could not do that, i detest thai food, (fish and so on) in the little thai restaurants but that is me not everybody, and to eat the same food daily is ludicrous !! how is that living in paradise???

you move to thailand because of what it has to offer, the sun, sea, cheaper standard of living going by many posts on here however you then eat the same food every day - it would get boring for me - for you ? im pretty sure also.

so why not mix it up, yes the places i eat like many others is pricier but there are many others which i grab late evening - midnight snacks from, modena, romantica to name a couple, these are cheaper around 300 baht a pizza - 3 x cost of 100 baht dinner ive seen posted on here but more filling and more tasty ?

i just find it mad that people will eat the same food every day to save a buck when after all they happily spend 500b a night in the bar / cut bar bill eat differently - if ever i was in this situation i would certainly do that.

OK in the last 3 weeks i have been asked to in the next "big" sausage takeaway company (hot dog), 300k baht, a stags and hens do company 500k baht, and many months ago i was asked if i would fund 1 million baht in a stock selling company - oh no!!!! lol

Ok the first two the gent was nice known him all of 5 mins and well his business ideas will fall on their face....

the last one i now know as a crook, and keep away from said crook. however it brings to mind the question on why or how many mugs fall for this???

A) 500k/300k is not a lot of money to any one moving here regardless of your circumstances, you should not be living here with out a medium to large amount sitting in the bank! false stop it isnt safe when you run out unless you are the chap who did a runner leaving a rental bill - <deleted>!!!

but what really makes these people think that they are going to move to the other side of the world and make a killing without a good investment at least???? come on you have to invest money or time which ultimately is money to make money...

further more what makes them think a complete stranger up until 5 days ago is going to give them money????

...........

the 1 million baht was from a very well respected in certain groups of people and a very un well respected person in other groups of people.

and being asked to front money for what could only be illegal i tightly nope !

but once again what makes these people think they are going to get money from others????

Whats your thoughts on this as seasoned expats? ever been in the situation?

buying land, or real estate yes if i believe it would pay off i would look at, but all these other things i cant understand why people think they will make a fast buck with this type of start up company and little or no initial investment from them self hoping i or you would invest in them a complete stranger???

............

Yes - we received the rebate some months ago just after the one year anniversary of having taken delivery of the truck. Payment was made directly to my GF's bank account.

Ours was actually just over 70k on a 4 door truck priced around 800k. I mention this as I am not sure if you are aware it is not a straight 100k reagrdless - it depends on the tax which varies by type of vehicle.

There was a long thread on this in the motor forum of you want to take a look........

Topt - thank you for clarifying this for both the truck payment and also the amount, i was led to believe it was 100k on both however hearing that they are still making payments i am very happy indeed,

what was the truck? we have ford ranger 4 door ?

thanks again,

my mrs says its bad karma to do anything and should just leave him be, as he seems to be digging himself deeper into a hole.Grassing on him might be helping him, i think she thinks.

Fair play however, you may regret it, word gets around quiet quickly on this little island!

Your joking right ? 40k a month!!! More like 120-200k a month when you add eating out 7 days a week, shopping, bar bill nightly for the man 2k. The wife drinks water.

Villa staff costs 20k ,

Then bills such as car fuel ,

I've met people out here who say they live on 30k their lives are very fugal (right word ?)

I'd love to know how you accomplish that!

I assume you're a tourist?

What's wrong with eating in - probably 90+% of the world do exactly that.

2k a night bar bill is throwing money away.

Frugal is the word you're looking for and it'd the wrong word - economical is better.

I used to live on 35k a month with 2 kids, car payments of 7000 and rent 3500. Actually, I look back on those days with very fond memories.

All do respect, no im not a tourist ,

i have not eaten in unless you consider cooking a paella here in august on the beach since well honestly i cant remember when, i always ate out or ate with friends than at home as i could not be asked with the cleaning, and why should i\? just because most do??? im not most im me after all, just because its fit for 90% of the world does not mean i need to follow the lead.

2 k a night depends on budget??? <deleted> me my clubbing bills were up to 300.00 a night some times in London, let alone the bar tab!!

35k? baht??? ok fair enough that was your situation and it is not a dick contest, and i dont want to insult any one however for me personally not everyone else i could not manage on that?? and i am sure there are few others out there in the same boat so to speak.,,,

It seems to me the substantive issue is that both central Bangkok and Phuket are extremely expensive places (by Thai standards), comparable to major international cities in Europe, at least in terms of some of the most visible expenditure categories (accomodation, food/drink, leisure) for visitors (not residents). A high end steak or italian restaurant or an upscale bar in Bangkok or Phuket is comparable in price to central London. This is the biggest change over the past few years and reflects the strength of the baht versus the weak pound, significant land price inflation in central Bangkok/Phuket, and a flood of foreign money pouring in from Asia. Phuket really is the playground of the super rich in SE Asia for whom 7000bt green fees or 40000bt boat day charters or 20000bt hotel rooms are normal. This stratospheric inflation at the top end of the market seems to be pulling all prices up. At the high end of the market I am not sure there is much difference in price between the two, not least because it is hard to compare a 5* city centre hotel with a beach resort.

At the margin, Bangkok is cheaper for hotel rooms, mainly because of the over-supply of 5* hotels - which charge 4* prices. You can still get amazing hotel deals in Bangkok at the upper end - Bt5000 at the brand new 5* Marriott Residence on Sathorn for a 65 sq m room. Golf is vastly cheaper in Bangkok. I think restuarant and bar prices are comparable. Taxis, car hire broadly similar. Likewise spa/massage. Retail is much the same as all the malls have the same chains. However in Phuket you can spend all day at the beach on a sun lounger for 100bt - try doing anything in Bk for 100bt all day. Nightlife, Bk wins hands down.

I am just back from a business trip to Singapore. That really is an expensive place and makes Bk feel quite cheap by comparason.

Yes Singapore is more expensive however there is choice in price swisortel is approx 12 k a night or mandarin oriental is 35k safe to say mandarin as nice as it was i will never stay at again as it is taxi journeys everywhere where as swisortel walk out off to your left you have a lovely italian resturnat, further on past mcds you have the tapas bar and resturnat. far better food, however for 2 people price for food was 104 singaporen dollas, plus drinks at 84 dollas rings to mind, we fancied going there for a short 5 day holiday.

singapore days 10th march to 16th march

Malaysia we travelled to on the 1st april to the 6th, i drove it as i fancied taking a drive around, the major highlight of malaysia was george town however we stayed on Miami beach and i must admit there is little if any entertainment but we did like bora bora beach bar which was very cheap when you compare to either Phuket or bkk,

The bottom line is that Thailand is not as cheap as it once was. With the popularity of the country soaring for tourism and retirees, coupled with he rising baht and the sinking USD, GBP, EUR and YEN, it is costing more and more for the casual tourist and especially for expats on fixed incomes to visit or live in Thailand. The USD hit 28.67 at the end of last week. Where will it stop? Some say 24 baht to the USD. Many will be packing up and heading to cheaper locales should this happen. No way to avoid it.

All the while the OP is talking about spending in excess of 15K baht a day on lodging, food, beverage and entertainment. That's 450K baht a month in spend. Either the OP is not your average expat or he's the biggest troll we've seen here in a while. Personally, I believe the later is true. In any event, the OP's claims have little to no bearing on the average expat living in the LOS.

I have to agree with you. Trolling! Holiday, versus an actual living budget!

Jim i believe i answered this above... not constructive looking for giving a bashing without actually talking about the comparisons....

You want Cheap? , Clear, warm waters, not so many tourists, friendlier locals? Ok, maybe not as much to choose from. Forget Thailand, Move on over to Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Waste of time since they closed down The Dolphin and built a supermarket where Poco Loco used to be!

Trang is untouched and beautiful and very very cheap currently (before krabi really takes off anyway).

70 baht a large/yai tiger

food mixture of chines and thai, editable and nice,

accomodation - trumpet something huge one 2.5k baht a night but seen better years !!!

nightlife is less atomic than Phuket but still has a huge nightclub.

In 10 years, I've never seen an aggressive english drunk. Just happy ones.

Fail to see how this stereotype came about on Phuket.

Must have been a fight in the bus station as that is the only place he has been.

More likely to see arrogant bogon aussies fighting here now the Brits can't afford it here any more.

Oh spare me the poor, poor Brits. Can't afford it? How many baht do you get to the sterling? Then do some research and work out how much us "arrogant bogon aussies" get?? Funny, I had a night out last night in Patong and was surrounded by maronic, halfwit poms, making an absolute fool of themselves. Poor Brits, colonialism has surely died, have to work a little harder and save a little harder like the rest of us have been doing since day dot.

Oh yes, the Aussies are a nice bunch, to a certain degree, however we are going off topic please keep on topic, not bash each other, you would not do in public so why on here???

IMO Phuket is the worst place of Thailand Way too many tourists (mainly russians), the only place in Thailand where I have heard a Thai vendor say to a customer:"<deleted> OFF!", in general the Thais in Phuket are UNfriendlier than anywhere else, traffic is horrible, transportation is over-the-top expensive and corruption is the rule.

I have stayed there for 5 months and it was 4 months and 30 days too long; ever so happy I escaped that hellhole Hopefully I never have to go back there! I can't think of any reason anyway

PS Kang Eang is a notorious hangout for high-class mafia.... It also gave me a 'good' food poisoning for high price . Better to avoid that place at all costs...

Yeah if you hang out in Patong, sure. I personally live a great life here, live in middle of island, have a good job and earn good coin. I am surrounded by Thai people who are pleasant and who don't have to deal with the s@@t that those further south deal with every day!

Yes that is sometimes the better way, the expats are far worse to themselves as a group than they are to the Thais, Russians are ok (well a few of them, Alexandria of Eva group is a real charmer).

IMO Phuket is the worst place of Thailand Way too many tourists (mainly russians), the only place in Thailand where I have heard a Thai vendor say to a customer:"<deleted> OFF!", in general the Thais in Phuket are UNfriendlier than anywhere else, traffic is horrible, transportation is over-the-top expensive and corruption is the rule.

I have stayed there for 5 months and it was 4 months and 30 days too long; ever so happy I escaped that hellhole Hopefully I never have to go back there! I can't think of any reason anyway

PS Kang Eang is a notorious hangout for high-class mafia.... It also gave me a 'good' food poisoning for high price . Better to avoid that place at all costs...

Kang Eang, i like because of the view, and only has there been trouble there once many years ago, someone was shot, however since then it is relatively calm.

each to their own on the views. but off topic...

The bottom line is that Thailand is not as cheap as it once was. With the popularity of the country soaring for tourism and retirees, coupled with he rising baht and the sinking USD, GBP, EUR and YEN, it is costing more and more for the casual tourist and especially for expats on fixed incomes to visit or live in Thailand. The USD hit 28.67 at the end of last week. Where will it stop? Some say 24 baht to the USD. Many will be packing up and heading to cheaper locales should this happen. No way to avoid it.

All the while the OP is talking about spending in excess of 15K baht a day on lodging, food, beverage and entertainment. That's 450K baht a month in spend. Either the OP is not your average expat or he's the biggest troll we've seen here in a while. Personally, I believe the later is true. In any event, the OP's claims have little to no bearing on the average expat living in the LOS.

My comment was not in regards to what i spend daily, monthly or yearly however more in regards to the physical cost difference, as in holidaying yes i live on a potential permeant holiday going on nearly 2 years now.

with breaks away from thailand.

this is not a dick size contest, but infact a discussion as to why it is more expensive and dont give me the rubbish its an island - phi phi is cheap, koh lanta is cheap compared to bkk or even phuket.

as stated i do not intend on leaving, i am not a arm chair warrior sitting in the UK i live in Rawai (the nice part lol, without all the bar girls anyway pestering me).

my comments are facts not fiction

even comparing the cost of the fiesta buying it was 670k baht where as in england 437k baht = 233k baht more expensive, minus 100k baht mentioned in another post, as i believe we are meant to get this back but unsure as to whether we will as apparently the government have un-budgeted by 30 billion baht ;(

Occasionally and very occasionally tonight in fact i didnt fancy wine connection whilst in there for 3 hours having a discussion with a friend and by the time i left we stoppe of at a thai resturant however i cant stand the food (i did not move here for the food) and that cost 560 baht ! 2 chicken rice. 2 large leos, rice in water, green thing, so thai food is not cheap like you all mention 110 baht. and i asked for the bill (normally the wife sorts it) so as to put feedback on here.

food was crap (not thai bashing but to me it was horrible, to many others they would like it) and drinking leo well it isn't nice is it!

Car insurance - 15k baht ppc per car - bloody cheaper than swampy especially as some little runts like to smash into it every bloody month!!

Picture of me on Koh Lanta, you may know me or seen me about, (i find it very strange how expats hate each other and call each other liars on here. everyone i know i like and i respect other wise i would not talk to them yet you see all the bashing on here, and you wonder why people even come on here, and i mean the bashers as well). - live in peace.

I have never been to chang mai even though i want too but the thought of driving that distance is off-putting and the admittedly we could fly but would need to rent a scooter and the wife does not allow me any where near the things!

On a big boy!!! before i was banned from ever setting foot near one again got a lovely burn mark on my leg lol and 2 broken bones in the foot to contest to it .

Me and my fiesta - great car, dont know why i never got one before for quick run arounds, handles corners at speed well, decent on the fuel. and never a problem bar the iphone connection to the car cd system!!! 3 times ive had to replace it but at 90baht a piece it is cheap

for your last comment, i did not say the average expat living in thailand however it depends, i know people here with 35 million euro in the bank buying a new merc one month and range rover last week, partially owns every bar, resturnat he goes to as he bails them out, then another who spends more on his nose habit a day than the "avg expat" spends on beer a week/2 weeks.

there are people here who spend a lot of money, im not being compared to them nor to you, the entire point of this post was to do with cost difference compared to like for like.

not comparing fine dining to street venders, also not saying ive got more money than you or any of that old tripe you will come back with, but quiet simply to the cost difference, like for like taxi is more expensive, like for like food, like for like wine. the list goes on.

dont believe me your more than welcome to join me in my daily routine when i am back from Singapore (leave tomorrow night) however you are paying for your self.

Hope that cleared it up, now no more bashing, please keep this constructive. and ask questions why this is allowed to happen, explain why if you know why. compare to other parts of thailand.

Just out of curiosity has anyone had the 100k back yet? I've got the fiesta not sure the ranger gets it but we applied regardless and I read somewhere he Thai government were short of 30billion baht at the beginning of April

Obliviously 100k or 200k is no small amount thus made it more worthwhile to buy brand new than second hand so to be stiffed in July would be a piss take to say the least - thoughts?

Responses on payments?

No Thai bashing please just straight facts