GarryP

9 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

You've been talking about that level of salary for years.

 

How come you don't have any money saved? Working as much as you say you did, you'd not have much time to spend. You should have been saving at least $2500 a month.

What I don't get is that even if you have paid in your whole life, if you have savings above a pretty low threshhold, you no longer qualify for a state pension. So why continue paying in once you reach such threshhold, cos you'll not get your money back (assuming you can live off your savings until you kick the bucket). 

Another question would be, if you are living overseas when you start drawing your (forzen) UK state pension, how can they check whether you are under the savings threshhold (assuming all your savings are based in Thailand).    

37 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

 

Not sure it isn't also now the case. Prices of both are dropping because banks are much more reluctant to lend, which does affect secondhand market if buying from a tent. It's a buyer's market now.

 

I recently bought a 5 year old Volvo XC40 (2L turbo AWD) for under 900K - cost new was something like 2.3 million.

 

 

Banks are certainly much more cagey about giving loans and mortgages. Maybe I should look into the used car market then. Was waiting to sell my house in Bangkok, but that has been on the market for 2 years now - only two potential buyers so far but the banks turned down their mortgate applications. 

50 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Neta V,

New 2023 430,000bht

S/H  2025 219,000bht

That's nearly 50% depreciation in 2 years.

 

Yeah I forgot the EV market. The second hand price tanks, but that is not the case with ICE cars. 

19 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

How come no one has blamed climate change? It must be feeling left out.

Maybe that is why they are depressed. 

13 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

I thought Sultana was a fruit.

Nah, she's a nut.

57 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

New and Used Cars have always been too expensive in Thailand.   The Banks and Dealerships love to Fleece the underpaid Worker Population with huge Credit Bills they know full well many people will never be able to pay back.   All just a massive con trick; especially by the Banks who just want to steal everyones Land to increase the rich Shareholders Dividens.

I think you'll find that the excise tax on new cars in Thailand starts at 30%. A bit lower for most pickups but still 20%. That certainly knocks the price up. If you want to buy an imported car then you will pay a hell of a lot more tax, i.e. 80% or more depending on the model. So it is the tax knocking up the price of new cars.

Having said that, I agree that the price of second hand cars in Thailand is insanely high.  

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yes, chicks wear their flip flops everywhere, you rarely see them in shoes, the skin on their feet is always so soft, not damaged.

 

I used to wear flip flops everywhere but found my feet getting damaged and skin around the heals cracking, rough. 

Now I don't leave home without wearing shoes. 

 

 

Similar for me, but seems to be seasonal. Now we are in the rainy season, walking barefoot in the garden causes no problems. Hot season I get cracking heels.  

15 hours ago, billd766 said:

The MG dealers here in Kamphaeng Phet closed its dealership down a couple of months ago.

Ford Kalasin closed a month or two ago too. 

Also considering buying a Stormtrak to replace my Honda Jazz. Can't decide between 2x4 and 4x4.  

8 minutes ago, transam said:

We are all different, remember that, not all thinking like you........😉

I personally could not live in an isolated village, even though a plonker on here says I do................ 😂

Your location is great. Haven't been in a few years and assume it has changed a bit, but not too much. Great for cycling and fishing. 

1 hour ago, James105 said:

 

So the Tories have proven that they cannot be trusted, and Labour are presiding over the worst and most detested government since records began, raising taxes, borrowing even more, lowering growth, increasing illegal immigration and now have a puppet as the PM who cannot implement changes despite the large majority.  I suspect actual headless chickens would not have fared any worse.  You think voting for either of these imbecilic parties again is a better option?  Crikey.  

Nope. I couldn't vote labour or conservative and wouldn't vote reform as long as it is under the Farage dictatorship either. 

On 6/28/2025 at 8:48 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

Plenty of time for Reform to implode, which they surely will!

I hope so. We do need change but Farage is about as trustworthy as a wet fart or a punctured condom. Perhaps, if it was under the leadership of someone that can be trusted, then it would be a good choice. But otherwise, it is all bluster. 

On 6/26/2025 at 5:49 PM, richard_smith237 said:

I know of two families who are returning to the UK this year solely for health purposes of their children.

 

They both suffer lung difficulties aggravated by the Air Quality in Thailand.

 

 

I think humidity here could be an issue too. When I visited our family doctor before coming to Thailand, he warned me that while the humidity should greatly improve my eczema, it may adversely impact my asthma (luckily it didn't in my case). 

4 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

"Trump Triumphs At NATO Summit" - more than a little false.  Trump's premature departure was certainly a triumph for NATO.

But he's well-known for shooting early, isn't he? 

On 6/22/2025 at 5:22 PM, youreavinalaff said:

Our daughter, now 23, has never had any issues at any time with regards to what you've posted. Even when I've been with her, she's been treated just as if she was Thai.

 

She does have a Thai Christian name. It certainly helps to keep her Thai identity.I wanted that for her. A Thai name, my surname and an English nickname. Best of both worlds.

My son, now 36, has never had those problems either. He has both an English first name and my family name. Always been treated as a Thai. Never a problem getting his first ID card and Thai passport.   

1 hour ago, marin said:

Denied twice and accepted it in true Thai style. With those numbers and basically one party rule the military would have no choice but to fall in line. You might be surprised at how different the officers who are 35-45 years old versus the "old guard". A lot of support for the Peoples Party. 

I hope you are right that the mind set of the newer generals is very different to the old guard. But don't forget who the military is beholden to (and I do not mean the people). 

3 hours ago, marin said:

Right here is what Taksin is terrified, literally terrified of. Smart people and the youth. The ones who dont follow mainstream old style news and want change. They have put up with having two elections stolen. Look at this poll from social media, not legacy news, Anyone can figure out the translation. Its time....

 

 

Not something he needs to worry about. If Prachachon wins the next election, they'll probably be either disbanded through Thai lawfare or there'll be another coup. The military wouldn't accept them. However, perhaps the military's support by the general public is continuing to decline so they would need to tread very carefully.

It would be nice if Tacky effed off back overseas though, never to be heard from again, divisive tvvat that he is. 

3 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Really? I know Thai women that have multiple guys that are out of the country sending them money.

Going back about 38 years ago, I knew a Thai woman that worked in a Japanese bar on soi Thaniya in Bangkok. She had four or five Japanese sugar daddies. If any planned visits clashed, she would make an excuse for one of them to delay tgheir visit. She was making a tonne of money. 80 percent of the year, those guys weren't even here. 

45 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Yes, and I've used two Thai/Foreigner legal firms myself.  I think Foreigners can't work as lawyers here, but the combination of a good Thai lawyer and a knowledgeable foreigner can make international legal issues much simpler to manage.

They can act as consultants on foreign laws, but not as lawyers.  

44 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

How did you live from 19 to 30?

44 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

How did you live from 19 to 30?

Teaching English and maths. Taught at a couple of colleges and language schools before I went totally private. Decided I needed a change in my life and more job security (paid health care and sick/annual leave, etc.) so applied for a job with the law firm.