edwardflory

Lived in Pattaya 2 years, BKK 2 years, visited a friend in KORAT 6 years ago - am still in KORAT, and in a good location ( for me @ 80 ) and live in a house with friendly Thai neighbors. A bonus being, I had a hospital stay at the Thai Army hospital ( 1 week ), SUPERIOR service and same low cost as Thai civilians using hospital.

I don't think a wife should have to, every day, ask for / or beg for money, to buy things SHE wants. Food budget in house average is 3000bt weekly. Occasionally she will ask for extra money, 90% of the time for some house wants - last time was 400bt for new dishes on promotion at Big C

Tell me where I can get for free " ...food, shopping, transport, fuel, housing, utils ... ," and I'll move there now. She does "housework, laundry, shopping, cooks 3 meals daily, has a garden for fresh veggies, washes my back in the shower, takes care of my physical needs" I think 5000bt is a bargain. Where the hell are you going to get a maid 24/7 for 5000bt a month - drop the shower & physical contact. I'm 80, was brought up that a husband "takes care of" the house bills and the wife.

"""would suggest Pattaya is not the place for long term relationships.....""" ((( NOTE: I'll defend the bar girls - MANY girls have NO employment possibilities in home areas so they end up in Pattaya because they are told 'plenty of work' there. SAD that they end up working in a bar.))) I have to agree with the statement. Lived in Pattaya 2 years - several non bar girls - nothing. BKK 1 year - didn't like the city, KORAT - still here 11 years and now married. As to """PAYING""" a wife, I give mine 5,000bt monthly ( under 1/2 of what she was making working in a factory ) to do with as she sees fit. As I have said many times, Thailand life is what YOU make it to be.

"""At your age pointless buying""". IF a person is over 65, agree with you 100%, UNLESS you get married and want to leave a home, assets, $$$ and etc to her. We have 3 homes. 2 of the 3 "we" own. We live in the KORAT rented house because of the LOCATION: Ease of MY BANKING at the malls, HOSPITALS and LOCAL, near the house SHOPPING and very 'close' to a major city, but away from the noise. In her home village, there are basically 2 mom & pop stores - NO Petro ( gas ) station, street lights or 'junk' food delivery. Amen!!

We rent. I am 79, she is 58. Why should I buy when I RENT a 2BR UNFURNISHED ( she chose furniture) house in KORAT for a average of $128.00USD ( see 3rd paragraph ) monthly in a gated community with friendly neighbors and a great soi dog, 4 major stores and Immigration 15 or less minutes away, a natural fishing lake ( free) 2 minutes away. One 20 minute round trip ( 260bt by grab ) to "downtown" monthly to the bank to transfer monies. We have a electric tricycle for 'local' shopping travel. WIFE owns unfurnished house and farm land in her home village - over 1 1/2 hours, and over the mountains, from any city in the middle of BFE. We also have a condo in BKK area she can sell - we stay there when visiting BKK. When I pass, she has KORAT furniture for her house in BFE, and money from the condo sale along with retirement monies.

"""The ones that speak English well have likely been already .......""" NOTE: RAMA IX had a nation wide program for Thai office workers and schools ( all grades ) to learn and speak English to be taught ONLY by volunteer native English ( English as 1st language ) speakers. Your post might not be 100% accurate.

Since covid, there are many "professional" ladies on the dating apks, but still good to meet a diversity of females. When single, I met factory workers, secretaries, nurses, farm girls, police officers and security guards, a good mix of ladies. It is usually possible to meet them WHERE they work. When / IF it comes to discussion of YOUR monthly income, say 25,000 - 30,000bt at the most. Many single Thai ladies live on 8,000 to 14,000bt a month working full time - some working 6 days a week. Meet 1st time at a public place like a restaurant or mall. Almost EVER female has a mobile no matter the money they make. Ended up married to a farm girl - we live on MORE than 30,000bt.

Be careful. Setting up a company to ""ONLY"' buy a house AND LAND is illegal - you can OWN a house as a foreigner, you can not own the land - there ARE several exceptions. Contact a lawyer!

Pattaya is what YOU make it to be. You can be lonely or a drinker, or explore the area I started my Thai experience in BKK. I was meeting Ladies via the apks available on the net. ( since COVID, the "professionals" are using the apks - beware!!! ) Found a lady that was a secretary at a shoe factory - I went there to meet her, and started the romance at 67 - she in her 50's Went back to USA, returned 3 months later to Pattaya because it was closer to her. 1st "room" was smaller than a shoe box, lasted 1 month there had my own entrance to the room and a friendly Soi dog that guarded the steps to the room at night. Rented a motor scooter ( monthly ) and went looking for a place. Found a Thai residence hotel, in the downtown area, for LESS cost than the mini shoe box. A corner roomn that contained 2 sofas, table, refrigerator, TV, and a queen bed, monster shower and a balcony, 1 big window with black out drapes. Transportation, restaurants, convince stores almost at the door. 5 farang residents - 1 lived there for 12 years, out of 70 residents. Farang were of mixed nationals. Girlfriend stayed on the weekend with no management problems. Since I had a scooter, I would go to Chon Buri to pick her up on Friday, (or holidays), take her back on Suunday. Otherwise I explored on scooter all of Pattaya, some of Chon Buri and Suttahip to keep myself busy.

I'm lucky I guess I give my wife 5,000 personal spending money, she is a housewife, doesn't work outside the house. As to "family" support, on occasion, help out with 500 to 1000bt, usually her daughter with 2 rug rats - insists on pay back ( not required ), or niece in college - a gift. I pay all housing, utilities, food and etc for us.

Navigate the TM-30 waters the easy way. AS ALWAYS, Depending on LOCAL IO POLICY, YOU can do your own TM-30's as: House Master - most common, Possessor, or tenant. ( Have proof of where you live, rental agreement, deposit receipts, etc. ) Ref: Immigration Act, Sections 4 & 38 I have done 5 so far this "retirement extension year" due to holiday hotel stays, due to "returning home". I live 15 minutes from my local office so I do in person.

DEPENDING on LOCAL IO POLICY, a person CAN DO their own TM-30 as House Master, Possessor or Tenant. ( Immigration Act Sctions 4 & 38 and revisions - I do at IO. Have your lease or rental agreement and any monthly bills as proof of residence. My LOCAL IO is very STRICT on paperwork, I have done 5 TM-30's so far this retirement extension year since I have stayed at hotels on holiday - Check in a hotel with a PP, they do a TM-30

When you stay at a hotel, use your PP to check in, the hotel does a TM-30 as required by Immigration. When you return "home" you should do a NEW TM-30 ( within 24 hours ) so it matches with your next TM-47. You CAN DO your own TM-30 as House Master ( most common ), Possessor or tenant. As usual, it DEPENDS on your LOCAL IO POLICY if you can do. I have done TM- 30's, so far, 5 times this extension of stay year

Rule #1 for living in Thailand: Find out your LOCAL IO POLICY for ANY paperwork. Thanks to a immigration Officer friend ( drinking buddy ) 12 years ago, I have never had paperwork problems at the border or LOCAL office after he told me to ALWAYS follow Rule #1. I do my own TM-30's after holiday hotel stays as House Master ( a legit hotel does a TM-30 on you if you check in with your PP - some IO will NOT let YOU do a TM-30 ) and crossing the border - LOCAL policy, even returning to same home address - 5 TM-30's this year. TM-47 done up to 5 days early - just to get it done. My IO is 15 minutes away via bike, 7-11 stop on way home for daily junk food so I do a office visit. My LOCAL office is very STRICT on paperwork, BUT, EXTREMELY helpful assisting with any questions / problems. My longest time at MY LOCAL IO has been 15 minutes - NEVER go on a Monday or Tuesday, I usually go after 13:30 on a Wednesday.

"""Include Lazada on that too""" Lazada is a market place for VARIOUS vendors from SEVERAL countries. I would give purchases thru their interface at about 85 - 90% of the EXACT order - about the same as ordering in the USA. There IS sometimes a problem translating English to Thai or Chinese or ?. Occasionally I have received a double order, but charged for only for my single order.

"""The only thing I would be concerned about if it's a scam,I probably wouldn't take the risk""" Just about everything my wife has purchased on Facebook has been a mess, especially fruit and clothing. I would be concerned because of all the scams the Thai police have uncovered and arrests made.

It all depends on LOCATION. Have lived in Pattaya ( 2 years ), BKK (3 years ) and KORAT 5 years. MY look at BASIC MONTHLY it in detail, LAST MONTH 2 Mobile phone's 440 Internet / cable TV 445 Water 147 Electricity 1650 ( fan day AC night ) Food 8000+ Transport 260 round trip 1 time a month to bank. Mortgage ( Her condo in BKK) 2200 Rent ( 2BR "now" furnished in Korat ) 4500 ( Furniture / stuff taken from BKK condo and new 16,000 on move to Korat. Electric tricycle 10,000 ( saves 3000+ monthly for transport ) Locally: 4 MAJOR stores, FARMERS market, free fishing lake, many mom & pop stores. & 7-11, Immigration ... 15 or less minutes from my location via tricycle - now, 10 new strip mall stores opening. .....If I take away 2BR house COSTS, Remove tricycle COST, and MOVE back to condo outside BKK, under 20,000 WHY NOT: No money down on a LARGER condo purchase and NEW LARGER mortgage - I'M 80 Years old, QUIET neighborhood in Korat and services are close. I could do if I was in my 50's and single, depending again on LOCATION where living, and have monies left over. BUT I DO bank monies for FUTURE medical services - INSURANCE is impossible. Oh, no pool, I have to swim in a natural lake - thus save 20,000 a month for pool cleaning. 😁 Side note: Today wife went to farmers market, bought 10+ days ( 2 daily side dishes ) of veggies for 460bt. 😀

It was a snake doing what snakes do, eating. Leave the snake alone, the people called people who are qualified to remove the animal to a safe location for snakes. I've seen a SMALL snake(s) several times traveling thru our yard - "Thanks for the visit, good bye."

80 year old Yankee, married 2 years Pattaya 3 years Bangkok ( We have BKK condo also ) 7 years in Korat now Renting a 2BR Unfinished house, indoor kitchen, fenced yard, veggie garden (4500bt a month ) in gated community - 3 years. Living expenses including 2 mobile's, 5g WiFi and cable TV, electric, water, garbage, AVERAGES under 10,000bt a month - FOOD NOT INCLUDED. 4 major stores within 10 - 12 minutes on electric tricycle ( Bike cost 10,100bt ) 7-11 and 6 mom and pop stores, 2 restaurants, laundry 3 to 12 minutes. Truck delivered drinking water when called. Immigration 14 minutes away, usual visit under 5 minutes after 13:30. 7-11 stop ( munchies ) on way home. Fishing lake 2 minutes from front door. ( Free ) 20 minutes from center city and Korat bank, 260bt round trip via grab, 1 time a month to bank. 2 foreigners in area ( married to Thai ), basically a 30 house Thai community, friendly neighbors, 1 great friendly female Soi dog, several Soi cats. Couldn't live in BKK for this kind of lifestyle.

Go to. TextNow.com Free USA in / outbound calls using their APK on WiFi, if using local data, data charges apply You can choose state and phone number. Landline's and mobile's supported. VOICE and TEXT only. Have been using for several years - I can do MY US mobile banking also NOTE: Will NOT work on SOME mobile's and tablets. You must USE the apk, or you will LOOSE the service

Just for the record. Maneerat ( in Pattaya ) has been in business over 22 years that I am aware of.....

As an AMERICAN I sent my PP for renewal 8 weeks before expired. 5 days ( including a weekend ) before my extension expired I got a EMERGENCY ( 1 year ) PP from my embassy. Used it for my extension. 2 days AFTER extension stamps in EMERGENCY PP, I received my 10 year. NO problems transferring stamps to 10 year PP.

12 years ago you could live in comfort ( DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND LIFESTYLE ) on $600.00 to $800.00USD a month. Today you WILL need $1200.00USD MINIMUM to live a decent lifestyle. It all depends on LOCATION 1st, then LIFESTYLE. I live in a 2BR UNFURNISHED house - spent $2000USD to furnish on move in, yard with veggie garden, gated upper class community, 15 minutes from 4 major stores and the IO, many mom & pop stores in area, fishing lake 2 minutes. Rent averages $129.00USD ( 4500bt ) a month for last 3 years. Our ( 2 people ) monthly costs range from low end $1500USD to $2000USD+ a month for everything including: 2 Mobile's, fiber WiFi and TV, Mortgage on her BKK Condo and food. Many Thais live on less than $500USD a month. Holiday trips and travel NOT included. Over time we have furnished the house completely.

You can USALLY do 30 days before, ( some offices 45 days early ) it expires. It is NOT a visa, it is a 1 year "extension of stay", reason being retirement. READ YOUR STAMPS FIRST LINE. Make sure your TM-30 is up to date as well as your TM-47 ( 90 DAY ) NEVER do a overstay, you have a 30 day window to do your extension. My extension is done in less than 15 minutes, I do my own TM-30's when returning back home from hotel holiday stays NOTE: EVERY IO has their own LOCAL POLICY on all paperwork. Learn what yours is. Follow YOUR LOCAL IO policy.