ChumpChange

I'm glad you mentioned salad. I don't mind if it's just leafy greens. I like that too. But what gets me is this stuff they like to put on top of it posing as mayonnaise. Not only is it not like real mayonnaise, but who wants to eat salad greens with mayonnaise on top of it anyway? Oil and vinegar, fine. Even that Japanese sesame salad dressing is nice. But no mayo!

Agree. Guess if you don't have the extra cash, and your pension doesn't ever increase, then you don't have many options.

Yes, some embassies offer that, but many don't. That's why I asked more specifically about keeping the money in a Thai bank account. If one just has to show a letter or income statement that's easy. No financial impact. But if you have to tie up $50K equivalent in a bank account, but which earns no more than 2% then that's more of an issue. I honestly have no problem with tying up money as a performance bond if it is earning well. But it's really like dead money because what you can earn on it doesn't even beat inflation.

I agree, it is to some, but sadly not to all. I remember when it was doubled before. Some left. Some stayed. And some switched to family visas.

The HEPA filters are the only way to survive anymore. It's even worse for those in Chiang Mai and all the districts in between heading to and including Chiang Dao. From the above article link: Research focusing on emphysema patients in Chiang Dao, a locality known for high PM2.5 levels, shows that exposure leads to cellular changes, hinting at the potential for genetic mutations and cancer development. The adverse health impacts of PM2.5 pollution are further evidenced by a spike in respiratory problems, with serious conditions like emphysema, coronary heart disease, and strokes becoming more common during high pollution periods.

in many parts of Thailand it's already been hampered (sadly)

If say, within the next 2-5 years, the amount required to keep in a Thai bank (in your name in order to obtain a 1 year visa extension on the basis of retirement) is increased to 1.2 million Baht (50% increase) or to 1.5 million Baht (nearly 100% increase) on the basis of a higher cost of living in Thailand, then would you still consider extending your 1 year type-o visa in Thailand?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as a UK citizen living in Thailand you are not taxed on your worldwide income. And in Thailand you are only taxed on what you transfer in to Thailand, minus at least 210K first in deductions. But if you move back to the UK you will then be taxed on your worldwide income, right? So moving back to the UK would cost you more in tax, not less, right? Anyway, 2, 3, 4 I agree with. 5 would be a good reason to stay!

At least I'm not alone.

The sad reality is that many people living abroad for decades do want to move back, but find it would be very difficult to move back to the UK. Lack of job opportunities, much higher cost of living, etc. And some who did move back prior to the pandemic, only to realize, with the much higher cost of living, they were much better off before they went back. All sad, but true. Sometimes best just to leave well enough alone.

I like that one. Clever for a change.

semantics. so it's home until it's not home. if you live somewhere for 40 years, and then get deported, or denied a visa renewal, then it was your home for the 40 years up until that point. Papa was a rolling stone, (my son) Wherever he laid his hat was his home...

Nobody wants to admit it, but the new Thai tax laws are actually extremely fair. If you live 183 days in Spain per year (or many other countries in the world as a retiree) then you would be taxed you on your worldwide income. But Thailand only plans to tax you on money you actually bring into Thailand. So if you earn $10 million outside of Thailand, but only bring in 10 Baht per year then you are only taxed on 10 Baht. So you are much better off in Thailand with the new tax laws than you would be in many other places. Also, you can still bring in the first 210,000 Baht per year fully tax free, and for some people it's even more.

serious reply: if you live in one place for the majority of your life then that place should be considered your home, if you so chose to call it that. think about all those Mexicans born in the USA without papers, who are now adults and have never stepped foot inside Mexico, but are still deemed illegal immigrants in the USA? where should they call home?

My experience is most pizza, especially any from the commercial chains, lacks having enough pizza sauce. So in a way the ketchup is almost justifiable. I've been in pizza restaurants where I've requested some extra pizza sauce on the side and then dip the pizza in that. It tastes amazingly good and far better than dowsing it in ketchup which is mostly sugar anyway.