Just not true, they went out for a beer every evening, sat in coffee shops, the occasional freelancer.
I don't understand what so many foreigners spend all the money on.
The condo's at the end of my road rent for 2,500bht/month and they're really nice.
If I were a single OAP on a limited pension, I'd much rather live in one of those than a UK housing estate.
Most of the world is 'just surviving' as far as I can see.