atpeace

I'm not a regular here but find many of his post entertaining. I'm not brave enough to completely let myself be bizarre but he does it with ease.

I had crabs in high school before the internet and I wasn't living with my parents and probably wouldn't have told them any. Rubbing alcohol was my choice. Figured it was really good at killing germs... It will kill most things including scabies but thinking a whole body, In my case, -only my Johnson, might have complications. Definately clean all surfaces with rubbing alcohol or something powerful. Take all your clothes to the new laundromats they have all over Thailand that have HOT dryers. Can be upsetting. Do you feel them now frolicking in your epidermis?

Do it often but never for prescription glasses. I could see that being a pain. Them telling you to show them what is wrong and how would you do that? Hard to resell prescription glasses or maybe not and you're wearing the last person's glasses that successfully returned them. 20k - ouch!

How would that work? At checkout or only for online transactions? I like the email authentication that most banks use here and feel it is the appropriate security under 50-100k baht daily limit that you can place on an the account. Is a pain though when you hit the daily limit. I had to pay a friend some money over three days so I wouldn't go over the limit.

I get it. It is hard at times being a foreigner here when it comes to banking. Can't speak of other countries x-pat banking because I've never had an account in them. A simple process for us becomes complicated more times than not. My Thai friends don't have the same experience with the exception of long wait times. My latest gripe is that Bangkok Bank and Krungthai keep rejecting monthly payments to Google. No idea why but my solution is to pay annually and do it manually. In the end, banking here today vs banking in America prior to 2008( when I retired here) is wonderful. Probably even better back home than here but wouldn't know.

You do if when setting up your account you or the bank set the limit at 50k. I just found this out with Bangkok Bank. You can use the app as customer service tells you to do to up the limit but that will just add another 15 minutes to the ordeal with the same result which is an online message at the end of the process telling you to go to a bank branch.

I'm sure your experience is honest but I have had many bad experiences with Bangkok bank. Probably just an x-pat issue in many cases. Don't think we were really ever that important but less so now and international regs (FACTA, etc) make dealing with us a pain in the buttt. I had to drive 30 minutes to find a Bangkok Bank branch but that now has closed and the next nearest is 90 minutes away. Bad luck because I see Bangkok Bank branches on every corner when I don't need them. Also VPN's need to be turned off with all my banking apps for a couple years now.

Not just a Thai problem or possibly it isn't a problem. I've been waiting with semi dread since the financial crisis and governments resorting to war time deficit spending and QE for the economic collapse but not the case. It seems like all issues can be fixed by just adding more debt and QE. Covid - no problem - just double down and ignore deficits because they seem not to matter. I'm bitter because I was so wrong but still believe eventually I will be proven right albeit my timing was off by at least a decade. I wonder how long I'll be in cash and short term treasuries waiting for a debt crisis that may never happen.

Agree but who? Like many people Biden has made them question voting democrat. I know many/most love him and just like Trump, he could kill someone and they would still vote for him. Why all the lousy baby boomer President candidates? Baby boomers seem to rule the world at the moment and I for one would love some churn.

Interesting! I have been messing around with solar for a few years and could do this for much less but it wouldn't be pretty and probably electrocute myself in the process. Interesting times...

Like the other poster stated, definitely BigNok. Agree with the above post. Why would anybody buy a bar here with VERY few exceptions.

Roughly 40% of Americans don't pay federal taxes. Why ? I don't know exactly or really care 🙂 Sorry - I don't understand your second question. Had a couple drinks with the wife so probably me.

The concern is that almost 50% Americans, myself included, pay little to no tax on their federal tax. Most to many Americans through legal tax deductions/credits pay little to nothing for the first 50K dollars each year. In Thailand that number is reduced to around $4kand theoretically retirees would have to pay taxes on the amount above 4k that was never taxed if brought into Thailand. All this is a guessing came but interesting nonetheless. Very little concern on my end and doing things to reduce the risk. For example, drawing down my 800k retire visa amount so I don't bring much money into the country this year seems wise? We will have a better idea in the coming year but why take risks that can be avoided with little effort. This is why this thread is interesting - easy to plan for something with more info.

I'm very confident this is the case and retirees might have substantial tax due that wasn't the intention. My bet is it will have little to no impact once it is implemented and the government excludes or provides loop holes for expats. On paper the new regs are a definite concern especially for younger and unmarried retirees that have fewer means to reduce their tax bill vs the 65 up crowd. I seriously doubt the intention of the new regs is to squeeze xpats for little gain in the end. Governments throughout the world are trying to implement tax schemes that are more fair for everybody considering the current ease of working abroad or investing abroad. Seems like a good idea and everybody should contribute but not be double taxed.

I just gave the pre 2024 income some more thought. They don't state that other income isn't taxable. If you have substantial saving and have investment income(eg, usa stocks) while you are in Thailand, it will be taxed in the same manner as income for those without savings. Loophole closed! Honestly, the pre 2024 seems to good to be true but Oh I hope it is true. It is still a wonderful loophole for wealthy Thais which why it was included probably. Thais can repatriate all their money tax free. In addition, I wouldn't be surprised to see an amendment excluding assets purchased prior to 2024 are excluded that would for example eliminate tax for wealthy Thais on real estate sold after 2024.

If this ends up being how taxes on pre 2024 income is treated then I would think many retirees have nothing to worry about at least for the next 5-10 years. For example if you have 400k US dollars in savings prior to 2024 and transfer 25k each year, disregarding inflation, you are cool for 16 years. I'm a US citizen and FACTA is a mutual agreement that requires foreign banks to provide account balances as well as other info. Here is KrungThai's FACTA link - https://krungthai.com/en/content/about-ktb/corporate-governance/fatca#:~:text=FATCA requires foreign financial institutions,and US-Owned Foreign Entity. . I've read many of your posts on this subject and appreciate all the personal effort you have put into providing factual info. I'm still uncomfortable a little with what will be implemented because I sense even you are only guessing on the outcome. If pre 2024 earned income can be brought to Thailand without having to mess with current investment earning, I'm as happy as a clam.

I was one of those people. Took me some time to let go of my hate which I only have felt for a few people in the past. A person would have to be a terrible person IMO for me to hate them. many of my friends respected him which to this day I don't get. With time I became more level headed and started to see some of the good he was doing that transcended his horrendous character. In the end, his presidency was bearable and I could deal with another 4 years of Trump this time around without the meltdown. Live and learn I guess.

What does short have to with anything? I'm not short but not how I would rate people. He is funny IMO but to each his own. It's comedy and have fun with it and by all means don't take it personally 🙂

I have had fun during Songkran water hurling but mostly dread the experience. A 1-2 should be the limit IMO with the exception of Pattaya. Now that I no longer live there, I would be fine with making it the only place water can be used to douse people. Hell, extend it a month and possibly allow mud cannons and clothing optional zones for those with a BMI <30 which sadly would exclude 90% of x-pats but they could still enjoy albeit without exposing what nobody really wants to see.

and choke on the smog. spent 7 years in Chiang Mai and going back during the pollution peak months seems ludicrous. Do you live in Chiang Mai and know the PM 2.5 numbers the first 2 weeks of April? I had to waste a few days recovering in a hospital 10 years ago after a fun Songkran day and the hospital was full with people hacking and spatting - disgusting experience.

Must be reading a different thread. Most posters from the NE have stated it is bad but better than most areas. Lived in Chiang Mai for example and the PM 2.5 was "MUCH" worse than the NE. It is terrible everywhere but living in cities with bad inversion that just keeps the bad air in the same place is not a healthy choice. Also cities produce more of the pm 1.0 and less that "might" be the main contributor to health issues. Lots of new research coming out and my bet is that scientists will conclude that the PM < .1 is the real concern.

My viewpoint exactly. The air in the far east is bad but most years is manageable. Air filters and indoor exercise on the treadmill while watching youtube during the worst weeks. The far eastern parts of Thailand can be lonely but with some adjustments can be quite satisfying.

Look for areas without severe air inversion. I also have asthma and exercise everyday outdoors. Finally had to give up on Chiang Mai after 6 years and multiple hospital visits. Without inversion in the last 3 cities I have lived in the last 8 years the pollution fluctuates daily and usually I can adapt my outside activities. Chiang Mai is basically a toilet bowl for 3 months each year which can be seen from Doi Suthep and is atrocious near the city center all year. Looking down on the city from any of the surrounding mountains is depressing.

10% per month is no longer the norm ( much lower now) and 5% a day doesn't happen excluding the extremally rare exception. Who is telling you this?

How often are you getting boosted? No plans for myself since I can now do anything without proof of vaccination now but it might be a good idea for my 84 yo mother in law.