Ronuk

The Baht looks as though it could of found it's level at around 45 to the pound.

My eyes make them all look like 100 baht notes without anybody's help lol

Just now, Scotwight said:

I can't own property in Thailand and neither can you.  I have been here through 3 coups.  Thailand has had more coups than any other country (I think).  Since 1932 19.  I believe this thread is about advice for a man with 16 mn cash to retire.  Since we can't advise illegal behavior you can feel free to tell a guy like the OP how to retire here and buy land legally that would make sense for a guy in his position.  

I am telling him to buy a Condo. Are you now advising that is illegal too? I honestly think he should take your advice on property in the same vane as getting a Thai wife and living 50% cheaper. Getting a Thai wife is about as much use to him as a Chocolate Teapot.

1 minute ago, Scotwight said:

Since you can't buy land in Thailand I guess you are up the creek without a paddle eh?  Of course you can rent the land but that's dead money according to you eh?  6000 baht a month close to the beach in Thailand buys  you a new two bedroom house.  Take a drive up the East coast of Thailand sometime.  Why would you recommend people buy on land they don't own in a unstable 3rd world country?  

Right. Your buying this big house now at 6000 baht a month? North, South, East and West. I have done it all over 35 years here. I have also met plenty that thought they knew how to do it, wasted there money renting until it was gone and nothing to show for it. Looking at your advice, I doubt you have ever been a position to have 16m in your pocket. If you had, by now, you would of been owning property and not renting.
The guy can buy a perfectly nice condo for between 3m and 4m in a decent area which gives him home, which will always be worth what he paid for it and still have money to work with.
As for your quote of Thailand being an unstable and 3rd World country, if you truly think that's right, It's better you get out while you can. The only thing unstable about Thailand is half the expats living there. Still, I suppose somebody has to have them?

2 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

 

So you would advise a guy retiring with only 16 mn to buy a 2 bdr 2 bath 176 sqm condo on the beach?  Because that is what this thread is about.  I can rent a 2 bdr 2 bath 176 sqm house close to the beach for 6,000 baht a month.  How much did your condo cost?

I can only say it must be some house and some location at 6000 baht a month? The guy is coming for a better life. If he has to rent a box, then he better stay at home. Rent money is dead no matter where in the world you rent. If he buys, he has an asset which if he buys in the right location and price, he won't have a problem selling. If he buys in Sticksville, yes, I agree, it's difficult to sell.
I also agree, don't get involved with buying houses unless you know what your doing and willing to take a risk.

13 hours ago, Scotwight said:

I think the point is that some real estate salesmen were advising the guy to buy a house or condo and other saner folks were telling him to conserve his capital and rent.

Glad I bought a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 176sqm condo on the beach. Compared to renting such a property, it will of payed for itself in 8 years. I have no idea how you consider renting a better deal?

2 hours ago, JB300 said:

As an aside, why did they send you back to Singapore & not insist on you returning back to the US? 

 

Would have thought that unless you have "Right" (PR etc...) to enter Singapore, ICA could easily have refused you entry & left you stuck in no-mans land again!

I believe they fly you back to your previous destination.

14 minutes ago, american12bthai said:

 

reeeeeeeeaaaly. so if you are a tour opperator  with 100 people.  who will fork over that unexpected Extra 100,000 baht?  remeber that cruise liner that made a surprise visit to an ISLAND and spent over half a million under 2 hours? well they were ripped off just like this and they WILL NEVER RETURN.   a weeks notice is a SCAM. its easier to redirect all tourist to laos or vietnam using software.  jsut save tourist some headaches.  Thailand is not the UK. 

But since you think this inst going to affect a world favorite destination because its affordability. then you should NOT SEE A CRIME SPIKE.  or maybe you are too high for us lowly people.  The government is killing the chicken that lays the golden eggs. 

It will effect absolutely nothing! (Other than those hard done by expats living here already who think they are paying far too much for visas and extensions) when the price almost certainly  filters through to other visa options at a later date. It's  £20, 2 packets of fags in London. As I said, it's not a deal breaker, nowhere near it. It's peanuts in the grand scheme of things. In all honesty, it's not even worthy of a news headline.

2 minutes ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

Are you including the cost of the hookers as well?

Not really. Unless you can find an extremely cheap one 

6 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I am not saying they are right, but the most likely answer IMO would be because they have too many hoops to go through, not

everyone wants to get married, or is over fifty, or very rich that they can afford to throw away 800.000 Baht to stay here for ten years.

You hardly have to be rich to pay 800,000 Baht for a 10 year visa. 80,000 Baht a year equates to around 4 half decent nights out in Bangkok including a mediocre hotel!

You need to remember that at one time, we all had to pay cash to 'leave' Thailand in the way of a departure Tax. Now that departure tax is 'Built in' to the airfares. You don't know how much your paying. The Chinese etc are big spenders, whatever people will tell you. Another 1000 bt won't bother them in the slightest. They shop in the best shops and eat in the best restaurants and invest heavily in property. You rarely see them in cheap bars. Most have more money than we could ever dream of having. The only ones seemed remotely worried by this are the those that like to compare the cost of a bus to a Tuk Tuk in the hope of saving 20 bt and dreading that it may effect them at some stage.

2 minutes ago, DipStick said:

I must admit to being impressed so far. And this is why. Started looking into this earlier last week, needed a few questions answered which was kindly done by Ubonjoe. Filled out the forms last Sunday and submitted by email. Monday had a mail from TE informing me I had to send the hard copies by mail. Monday afternoon at 4pm sent the paperwork from Dongguan by UPS, Tuesday morning had a mail from TE  saying documents had arrived and my application was in progress. Today at mid morning had another mail informing me that immigration had approved my application.

now that's is smooth and efficient.

Trust me when I and others tell you that the great service isn't only there when you are about to join the program. The great service continues when you are a member too. They really are on hand 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Once you give them your travel details for Airport and car service, your address, flight details and times etc you will receive a proper printed Itinerary detailing the whole plain within the hour, including the type of chauffeured car.  It isn't just verbal. The drivers are never, ever late collecting you from your address to take you to the airport. The TE staff meet you at the drop off point at the airport for departure and at the Plane doors on arrival. Even if you are early for your departure and the check in desks are not open, the staff will stay with you and take care of your bags should you wish to go for a smoke etc.

You get the mid rate using Transferwise, less there fee. It is probably one of the best deals out there. You put in how much you want to send and you see immediately exactly how much you will receive. I like using Transferwise. They are good people to deal with.

 https://transferwise.com/mid-market-rate?utm_source=currency-converter&utm_medium=footer

I like this administration. It's a big task from years and years of corruption but finally, they seem to be getting some sort of grip. All my years in Thailand and I have never experienced anything other than politeness and helpfulness from the Police, immigration and the general public. Then again, I am polite to them.I have never, ever had a problem with any of them.
I love it here. It is easy to be legal and obtain a visa to enable you to stay 5,10,20 years. How many other countries give you that option? There is nowhere else I really want to live. If you don't want to play by the rules here, then expect to the referee to send you off. 'Good guys in, bad guys out.......' You think it's tuff now? I have a feeling it has really only just started. The next 12 months is going to be a bit of an eye opener for some people as the clean up really notches up a gear.

The majority of Banks are now asking for a work permit in order to open an account. I had exactly the same last week with kasikorn bank in Bangkok.Whether it's a rule or not, that's what they want.

As suggested, all you can do is keep trying. It's much like the UK now though. Everybody expects you to have an account but near impossible to get one that is worth having.

2 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

One of the new plans is 800,000 baht for 10 years.  So that is about a 20% discount averaged out and is getting pretty reasonable for the easy ins and outs this gets you

Yes. It's a good deal again.

18 hours ago, evilebxxx said:

I reside alone on a dead end small soi in the outskirt at Udon Thani, own house and land 225 talang wah thru proxy person for the past 22 years.

Total monthly expender is 10,000 baht, cable TV, internet, air running 24/7, skipping at Big C once a week and are very good friends with the people living in rest of the 8 houses here. .

That sounds absolutely fantastic.......

A little topic on the reality of living in Thailand on a budget.

18 minutes ago, DKNY77 said:

''$1000 a month is absolutely nowhere near enough money to live in Thailand to have a reasonable life.As a Farang, very few can live like a Thai. Which part of Thailand are you thinking of living?''

 

Absolute B.S.

Unless you're a whoremonger , are a devout hardcore deviant lush, have a girlfreind that fleeces you continually of your $$ ,eat in restaurants constantly..and basically a fool w/ your money...than yes maybe 1000$ is'nt enough...in Bangkok.

..CM - ..I know expats who have 1000$ month income, that have a nice studio aptartments w/kitchen ,,nice bldg. ,safe,secure, fast wifi, quiet excellent location ..near night bazaar,completely furnished,electric, cable , wifi, water,AC ,balcony,large frig, stove, ,all inc 7000baht.. they eat out occasionally ,have gym memberships, cold beer in their frig,date thai girls  and want for nothing..and still save 100-200 per month...

Give me your experiences not 'Who you know' where do you live in Thailand and on how much? Most are not interested in sitting in a shoebox studio apartment playing on the Internet all day because they have no funds to lead a proper life.

Your post has done no more than confirm to me what a miserable life it would be living on a $1000 a month. The only possible reason I can think to live like that, would be not being able to afford to live in your country. How do these so called people you know afford visas, health care etc and still save $200 a month? I've been in Thailand 25 + years and I tell you now, $1000 a month to pay everything is a miserable life.

15 minutes ago, moving to thailand said:

Ronuk I have not thought too much about health care. I suppose I am just going to count on the fact that I wont get too sick and if I did I would hope I could nurse myself back to health as you can still pretty much get whatever you need out there the same as here in the U.S.

Good luck but don't get sick or have an accident where you need sustained treatment in a hospital. Trust me when I tell you that it will finish you financially. It is easy to rack up a 500,000-1,000,000 Baht medical bill when your least expecting it.
Don't even think of coming to Thailand with no Medical cover or £20k in the bank as a back up for health care. $1000 a month is absolutely nowhere near enough money to live in Thailand to have a reasonable life.As a Farang, very few can live like a Thai. Which part of Thailand are you thinking of living?

49 minutes ago, moving to thailand said:

What a great forum, thank you all for the quick responses. Much appreciated.

 

I do not have a bachelors degree however I have an Associates Degree. I presume I would need to get TEFL certified while there? Also, I will be living on 1000 USD every month, so Im not exactly sure how doable that is. I mean, on paper it seems like it should work.

 

Rent and utilities $300

Food $ 100

Transportation $100

Entertainment and incidentals $100

 

What am I missing here

 

Not sure what I should do about cellphone. I currently live in the states and pay about $100 a month, I have a Galaxy 6. I figured it would just be easier to keep my plan instead of buying a phone when I get there which would be expensive. Although I guess I could just keep my current phone and get a simcard and prepaid plan when there and save about 75$ a month and cut back on expenses that way.

Have you considered how you are going to afford to pay for Health care Insurance out of your budget?

This is only going to end one way for you. Really, get the Hell out of there while you can. He's an old man and has nothing to lose by doing or having done what he could do. You cannot win. Life is cheap to these people. Particularly yours.