Firefan

Those natural "alum" crystal blocks... does the "Alum" not stand for "Aluminium"; what many people are trying to AVOID in their deo, and therefore look for natural alternatives without aluminium - after which they smear 100% aluminium crystal under their arms...

I generally avoid antiperspirants - and have been using various natural deos but nothing works like for me like the Gilette gel antiperspirants.

Cheers!

I have friends living on about 30.000 Baht a month (incl. rent, single in Bangkok) and others spending in the 200.000-300.000 Baht/month range (but generally covers international school, expenses related to entire family like travel Etc. - many hard to "divide per person" as requested by this poll).

Personally I am comfortable with paid condo and car, and an additional 30-50k Baht/mth in average (single in Bangkok). This is based on actual spending over couple of years - so it DOES include stuff that many forget (because yearly payment) such as health insurance(and meds/treatment not covered incl. supplements), visa costs, sports memberships, repairs/maintenance of all kind of stuff, replacing PCs/phones, sports gear, clothes, travel Etc.

Cheers!

There is plenty real concern that this technology is not safe - and the exposure can not be compared directly to other exposure as the scan will stop directly on your skin. Google Dr. Mercola and airport scanners for the latest studies - we simply do not know enough about this type of scans. If I get the option; I will go for the normal pat down - i just doubt that we will get that option here in Thailand.

Another concern is that the machines might be ok initially - but if they are mis-managed/serviced badly/settings changed they will certainly be able to do lots of harm. Another of Dr. Mercolas concerns too.

Cheers!

Sounds like a very good return indeed. I will go and check it out myself. Thanks. Cheers!

Does not work. Has to be personal ownership of either condo (not house - or company - or stocks Etc.), time deposit in gov. bank or Thai bonds bought directly.

Cheers!

What about if your property is in a company name?

if its your company name i have no clue .... my answers would be pure speculation so I prefer pass.....

OP already own a house in Thailand - and is married (Thai) always helps with the reply; if one bothers to read the post...

Prices here are going up about 5%/year a I see it over the last 10+ years. (except for a Coke at 7-11!)

Owning a home will already help as a hedge against inflation.

Personally I believe that most Asian currencies will only strengthen against the Western currencies. In the long run all paper(fiat) currencies will lose out to gold. (But in the long run we will all be dead ).

That said; the decision does not have to be an "all or nothing" decision. Diversify both when comes to asset classes, as well as currencies and regional exposure.

Cheers!

I imagine this could become really lucrative when flights are delayed due to technical issues, strikes, weather, volcanic activity Etc.! Immigration staff could run back into the "limbo zone/duty free areas" and bust every body there as the days went by!

Cheers!

Yes, from a tax perspective that would mean that the extra benefit (health insurance) should be taxed.

That said; It sounds like your employer is letting you get your own individual private insurance - rather than through a group/company policy - and that is actually an advantage as the insurance will then not expire/be cancelled should you lose your job. It is also an advantage in case you during the cover become sick with an illness - that could be considered "pre-existing" - should you have to switch to a private insurance later on (as they would NOT cover that) - I.e. as an individual private insurance you can simply continue to pay (by yourself) in the future - not having to re-apply with new illness (pre-existing) and that point.

So it might actually be worth paying the tax on it.... your mileage may vary

Cheers!

Hi Changraider.

Yes, that makes sense. It is like a company/group insurance/membership for expats - and does therefore not increase premium payments with age (besides normal inflation) - and the age limit of 65 ensures that premiums for all can be kept at a reasonable level. The Thaivisa/Thaihealth copper/silver/gold plan work the same way. Naturally; if one wishes to have cover for life - one would need to look for other plan - but for an expat and also; expat FAMILY - planning to be here/expat some years; this seems like a very well priced plan with great cover - and a more flexible approach (no sub limits, cover chronic issues arising after insured Etc.). Cheers!

At the moment I`m insured through a top Thai insurer which is also one of the main companies behind TV\AA Insurance (though I'm insured directly rather than through AA brokers). My comparison gives the same results as others on this thread - more or less the same costs but much higher payout with this membership product. If their claims handling and claims payment are reliable (should be if their insurer is Lloyds of London A rated) then this must be a great product for anyone under 55, working or not, especially with family. I guess one of the reasons they can offer such good terms is because of the age limits of 55 and 65 - younger people are lower risk.

Hi Joe,

I have been using the Thaivisa plans - and I will probably shift to Rbipremium membership myself.

How you can say that the Thaivisa plans are better is a mystery to me. Thaivisa plans(the high end ones even) have a lifetime max, several sub limits, dental not automatic included, no claim bonus, no chronic cover, large self pays needed to get price down, outpatient doubles the price Etc.

This Rbipremium even has 2x3 day holidays in Bali and Malawi in a 4 star hotel... That, and the USD 500 Baht cash back if no claim practically pays for this insurance by itself. They are a membership program and therefore these extras will hopefully keep coming beyond the health insurance. Outpatient/dental automatically included with no self pay and adding spouse/children is cheaper here than any other insurance I have seen.

They also have much less sub limits and small print - and believe me; I have read through quote a few (you can search this forum to see for yourself).

Oh, they also give a real Master or Visa (debit) card for settlements - but one can also load oneself,and use as ones own (foreign) card - if one is sick of having to deal with Thai banks trying to get a credit card there.

I would however look forward to the first actual claims report here - just hoping it will not be me!

Cheers!

Went happily to immigration 2 weeks ago and as I have a new passport (old one was full) I expected a loooong day ahead.

I went, got the forms, had copies done downstairs of old/new passport Etc. Took ticket for transfer of visa (well; extension actually) to new passport, and waited 2 hours (from 1000 to noon) before we were asked to leave for lunch.

While waiting I realized that my transfer of visa extension was at the SAME counter as I would later have to go back to to apply for the visa extension (another 2 hour wait?) - so I decided to use the time to fill out as much as possible and arrange the needed docs for the visa extension. Naturally; since the extension application copies of (new) passport can only be done AFTER the transfer I feared another wait.

Meanwhile I finally got my turn after lunch and requested BOTH the transfer, AND the extension. The officer accepted - and I I had to do was to run down again - for copies of (new) passport WITH the transferred (old) visa - skipping the line and they handled that too in same session.

I DID have the copy shop staff confused, as then also went down to do the copies for my multiple entry permit - so they saw me 4 (!) times in 1 day!

Cheers!

I have the same hassle as my extension is right in the middle of August, where I am often travelling on home leave.

Lopburi; correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the rule is that extension can be granted UP TO 365 days - and naturally that is the logical choice, from a cost benefit point of view, but I guess one COULD decide to extend for say 300 days or whatever, thereby moving the next extension date to a month more suitable? I am sure it would confuse them utterly, and it would be quite a hoot to get sorted - but the rules seems to allow it.

Cheers!

I can see it already: "Jingthing's going SHORT trading program"! Just do the opposite! He,he - appreciate the honesty - one of the reasons I always enjoy your posts! I have had periods where I felt the same way (and my job involves portfolio management - however I do not get involved directly with currencies -too much politics, pride, government manipulation involved for us mere mortals! )

That said; if somebody came to me with "casino money" - and did not want to go for casino odds (unless u count cards, or is a very good poker player of course) I actually think that, currencies is an ok gamble(not investment!). Odds are 50/50 from the start - beating any casino game (the ones where no skill involved) and if one then add the "skillful" traders edge from the above or other "free" service (and deduct the loss on the spread mentioned in the small print) there might actually be a small edge left.

What I DO like about it, is that you actually have to open a real forex/other broker account - so there is no direct link into your cash, except for losing it trading of course - but at least not an obvious rip off.

I might give it a shot in my personal "casino" account and report back!

Cheers!

Believe me, I have a long track record in losing trades!

Thaibob; careful; your Schwab brokerage card DO charge 1% according to my precious post above. The Checking/bank cards do not. Cheers!

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......

Since the ATM route would have required 9 visits at 30,000 Baht per transaction from an AEON ATM ( to save a couple of thousand Baht or $75 ), I guess it all comes down to a matter of the priorities of the individual doing the transfer . . .

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Good points. I am not in Thailand at the moment so I used BB (ACH) versus a typical international wire transfer. BB as noted is cheaper. If I was in Thailand I probably would have used my Schwab ATM card. In your analysis I could have reduced the number of trips in half since I have two Schwab brokerage/checking/ATM cards (one I use as a backup). Also, consider we would be at the mercy of the currency exchange rates over a 9 day period (assuming a $1000/day limit).

As mentioned - for non US clients of Schwab it will be the brokerage account (Schwab-global) debit card one can get. I just emailed them to check for card fees and they replied:

"The fee is 1 percent of the transaction for each foreign transaction which will be included in the amount charged to the account. This Visa charge applies whether or not there is a currency conversion."

Then they do surely not absorb the 1% fee from visa either or what? Or is that the above?

Cheers!

If getting involved in wanting to own a town house and establish a business there - I can only recommend you contact a good lawyer company, used to dealing with foreigners, such as Sunbelt.

I have used Sunbelt for both visa, serviced office, setting up business and other services. I have compared their pricing with other similar lawyers and find their prices competitive.

Unless they have changed policy, the first talk with them - describing the services you would need, explaining the rules and regulations and giving you a cost idea is free of charge.

Hmmm.... nope, I don't work there - or have any financial ties with them - so before somebody accuses me of that; Sunbelt's coffee was not that good!

Cheers!

How did you manage to get the usd 25 wire fee waived?

On a separate note; according to http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange it is only the BANK account Schwab ATM cards that do not have 1% atm fee and 1% point of sales fee. The SchwabONE broker account ATM cards DO have that it says....

We non-US people can only open a broker account as far as I know.

Cheers!

I thought Schwab didn't do foreign wire transfers. That is what the literature I have says.

I do a wire transfer from my CS account to my Bangkok Bank once a year. So they do them.

All I do is fax a filled out form, then call them or they call me and all is fine.

A few years back they charged me $25 for the wire but I've got that waved now.

I do have there Dcard but I use my Bangkok card instead.

CS is one fine company to work with.

I agree - but at least better than the 2 week holiday trip where all is exotic and new Cheers!

p.s. 3 months is nowhere near long enough! You'll only begin to realise the pitfalls after a couple of years.

The rules about separation/divorce in Ireland certainly sound unfair! Best of luck with that part.

With €500k and even a potential income stream of another €8-900/mth in couple of years - and after reading your posts - you will live a fine life in Thailand based on your assumptions (not buying right away in Thailand/living moderate life style etc.).

You certainly do not have to live on the country side - you can live in Bangkok or other city, and if use the 4-5% rule of thumb (safe withdrawal rate allowing for inflation) calculation just the €500k will earn you €20-25000/year which should allow for a fine (but not extravagant) life style.Naturally; if your investments do better than that, or if you think your life expectancy is shorter than most, you can decide to take out even more - the 4-5% is based on the worst historical 30 year survival scenario - nobody knows the future...

That leads to your next issue; how and where(through whom) to invest. Obviously keeping it in Ireland makes little sense for tax purposes if you live in Thailand.

Take your time to learn about investments (stocks/bonds/commodities/funds/ETFs Etc.). Don't make any hurried decisions. Seek professional advise for things that are too complicated to handle/learn by yourself (especially legal and tax issues) - but on the other hand try to avoid fee hungry financial "advisors" if possible (you can find other threads here where wrappers/portfolio bonds/admin fees/fund management fees add up to almost 10% the first year!).

Cheers!

Thanks jaideeguy and Jazzbo!

At least it will be possible to find some meat that has not been filled with antibiotics Etc., not fed an unnatural diet and not have been kept in a tiny cage its entire life.

Maybe I should go check with a couple of the foreign butchers here - believe there is a German one somewhere? Any other ideas?

Cheers!

I would think if you headed to far eastern Bangkok Province past Minburi into the Nong Chok area where it is still a rural and largely Islamic population you would find the same grass fed beef as in the NE of Thailand.

Laopo; fully agree! Seek proper advise - but to figure out how he best LEGALLY can protect himself and solve his divorce and tax situation - not to run away.

OP did not stipulate WHY they did not divorce (not just separate) all those years.... if she wanted half THEN, and he did not want to give it away, and it has now grown, I guess its his own fault?

Anyway; we are just guessing and speculating here - OP can comment (if he wants).

Cheers!

Greensnapper; F1fanatic said exactly what I mean.

That the OP is a bit emotional about an ex-wife is perfectly understandable - but if the wife has unfair demands that should be up to the divorce court to decide, and not be a free ticket to run away; with all the consequences that entail. Another poster also mentioned the moral responsibility. Further he would naturally lose the lifetime pension if paid from his home country.

My advise stands; sort out your divorce/tax situation at home - then consider the rest I wrote. My advise is worth exactly what the OP paid for it!

Anyway; I got the stain out of my shirt.

Now - back to looking for those Mens rights groups!

Cheers!

Always tried to be healthy Mig, Cheers!

He he! Thongkorn, that is the punch line of one of my favorite jokes....

Hoping for some more concrete places in the Bangkok area, but if need be, I must try to make a deal with one of the guys on the farming forum - about getting me meat that have lived a happy, healthy, natural life, before ending on my plate

Cheers!

Hi! Tried to search for it but end up in farming forums - rather that places to buy it as an end consumer.

Anybody know where to buy organic and/or at least free range and grass fed (beef) meat. Also chicken.

I seem to recall having seen some pork in Villa - but pork is the least favorite meat for me.

I am based in Bangkok.

any ideas/tips?

Cheers!