KhunLA

I've complimented the look of the Corolla Cross on the forum quite often. As see a lot of them when O&A. Is quite the nice looking ride 👍

Don't try this, as didn't work for me. Turned out to be just a giant ground beef steak. Tasty as it was, with a mushroom sauce, nothing like the texture or look of a filet. https://www.facebook.com/reel/975716621018785

My case was a few years ago, so check what current rules are now. I really can't see them forcing people to close accounts, that have IRAs, as stated, they fall under different tax rules, and would breach the agreement of opening them in the first place. Just my opinion ... due diligence on your part before letting them know you live in TH.

Actually there is a Corolla Cross, & Yaris Cross. and a bit pricey IMHO, for what you're getting. Compare specs with comparable vehicles from CH, and I think you'll agree.

Guess it depends on your brokerage, and their rules. I had changed mine to TH address & ph#, and they didn't say anything about that. Then within a year, I had changed it back to a USA address. Changed it back, because per rules, my no fee for ATM (international use) was suppose to be stopped, with international address. Though during that time, they still refunded the TH banks ATM fee. Except for * notification on the account, nothing really changed. Maybe because I have IRAs with them, different rules than a simple savings account, they can't legally make me close the accounts.

Actually it makes sense, as you get the no claim discount, JIC. If you're going to renew with RooJai anyway, why wait.

I'd be bored without wheels. I'm happiest living just out of town, so almost a requirement. Here, out of town isn't very far, but wheels help, for my lazy butt. I need my O&As, seem to always have and always will. After a month or so, or even a week, I have to go and see, do something different.

Irrelevant, as keeping out MG ZS till it dies, and long after I die. Wife will keep till she dies, as no way will she be racking up the ksm in the 500k to 1M range, when I'm gone. If the rest of the car can't keep up with the motors & battery, she gets 50kWh of battery for the Solar system. At 50%, capacity, it's better the the value of a 20 yr old ICEV We would have saved the price of a car, instead of spending the price of a car, just tO operate & maintain some dinosaur POS ICEV.

Stayed on topic with inexpensive living in TH. Part of monthly cost cutting, IF, retiring here, long term. Solar being much cheaper here than USA, and other countries. Hard to mention solar without EVs, as they go hand in hand for saving. Once pass the initial outlay, hence, long term retirement, if caring about ROI. Of course in big metros, or some small towns with good baht bus service, you don't even need a vehicle. Many aren't up to driving a scooter, and understandable. We needed transport in Udon Thani, living out of town, but don't really need any here / PKK. MC is more than enough (electric of course 😎), though could easily get by just walking or with a bicycle, or, yea, and ebike Or what ever floats your boat, big ol' ICE 4X4, Benz, or Harley. Just ease up on the diesels, damn they stink things up 🥵

Did cross my mind a couple times, to get some things delivered, when in a lazy mood. But I do drive by Makro every day, like now, on the way to park and or surf.

Hard to predict as ... ... having an economic slump ... many already bought in ... many are wait & see, how the price war plays out, and new models arrive for 2025. If I was in the market, I'd wait for the next 'Auto Show' @ Krung Thep, for new models & deals.

ESS already topped up @ ~1000 hrs Both ACs running now set @ 24°C./ high fan, along with 2 frigs, laptop & 65" TV as monitor. That's all that's on, using 3.15kWh. Outside temp, getting up there ... ... feels like ... OUCH

So ICEV registration down by ~25% y-y And EV registrations down by ~15% y-y BUT ... EVs increased market share by ~9% That's a bit telling, both down, but EVs not as much, while increasing their market share. Not too shabby at all, consider the alternative. ICEV losing higher % of sales & market share, at the same time. Ouch On topic ... and something for the new buyers to consider, who hold them for long time, squeeze the value out of them. In 5-10 yrs, what will be the demand for ICEV, IF the trend continues. Might get stuck with an ICEV, that nobody wants. And will petrol become an even more expensive 'niche' market for those still holding on to nostalgia

Never had groceries delivered. Can't imagine not picking out my own perishables. Even when we bought some processed foods, it never crossed my mind to have delivered, since we'll be there anyway, to get perishables. Maybe if we lived out of town, although don't know their (Makro's) delivery range. Before we were 16 kms away, now <4 kms.

NO, that pretty much sums it up. And you're being kind. Talk about sheeple and being some of the dumbest MF'er that you could imagine. And the MSM has them fighting over pronouns and the never going to happen WW III along with the new evil axis, CH / RU / NK The economically challenged, get most every thing, medical, for free, almost. But like the Thai govt' system, patience is a virtue, at govt or hospitals that accept Medicare/cade. The working stiff, if lucky, have employer paid insurance, covers most things, small or no deductibles. Or used to. Private insurance is just silly, and now ACA (obamacare), made everything, even sillier. High monthly premiums, big deductibles, and many policies don't even kick in till you already paid $10-20k out of pocket for the year. That's freakin' nuts. Only real medical bills I had there, were OJI (on job injuries), back & 100% covered. To return, I'd get hit with a huge penalty to sign up for Medicare plan B (meds), and then have to pay ~$174 monthly premium, that doesn't cover much per se, as costs are so much higher than TH. I can't spend that much here on healthcare. USA monthly premium & deductibles, so much more expensive that self insured here. And, healthcare is accessible here. No GP, no specialist referral, months away, not deductibles for both appointment. What's really strange is, if you have insurance, the pharmacist, is legally not allowed to tell you, it is cheaper (if it is) to simply pay cash for the generic drug, instead of using your insurance, as your copayment is more than the cash cost. That's mind boggling, talk about a scam. On topic ... the healthcare here, negates any of the silly items in the OP, along with those RE Taxes that basically don't exist here. Keeping housing cost ridiculously cheap. Throw in the inexpensive solar & EVs from CH, and you can live very inexpensively here without giving up anything.

Holy crap ... need to stop speed reading. Missed this entirely ... ... "I had a grocery delivery" ... Again, I wouldn't have notice, as probably wouldn't have checked, unless vendor had a habit of screwing orders up. Would have simply kept, unless ordered from a very small family vendor, then I would have personally returned it to the vendor, if not too inconvenient, or called them direct for pick up. Though depending how much steak. One or 2 pieces, <1kg and I probably wouldn't have bothered, and enjoyed a nice steak dinner. But if stocking up like I do, especially beef, then it might be a considerable amount.

Y'all are over thinking this one, as some social experiment. Some guy almost got a free steak, and some guy or gal didn't get theirs, is probably pissed, and probably called to get one delivered, maybe popped out to 7-11 for a quicker meal instead.. The world isn't coming to an end, society isn't imploding, and the world economies aren't collapsing. 'I'm here to help' ... 'I don't steal' ... 'take food from the baby' ...

I knew I wasn't going back to the USA, IF TH didn't work out. Hindsight though, had I known housing prices would have shot up as much as they have the last 3+ years, I might have kept my houses. Although, that would have been a 20 year wait for that increase Since here 24 yrs. Who would have thought it could turn to sh!t that fast TH was a good choice, even without any research before arriving 🙄 Final decision to stay wasn't even made until about 2020. When we contracted to build 3rd house, and bought a car I actually liked, and not something I'd simply walk away from. 2020 and had no financial investment in TH, as basically liquidated all at that point. A true should I stay or should I go moment. Knew it wasn't back to USA. Even if wanted to, would be a challenge to return to USA, inflation & housing would eat up all the monthly pocket change. Even with healthcare insurances, a medical oops would bankrupt you.

Good choice, as I like Phang-nga town, and only 45 mins from the surf (non touristy) if wanting. And a very nice spot it is for a sunset, with a few vendors around, 7-11 nearby, <4 kms, for your sipping pleasure. Or viewpoints of the Bay if wanting

Nice and sunny out this AM, and already producing. About 12.5 hrs of non production, using ~37% or ~7.4kWh of our 20kWh ESS overnight. Usually not producing more than using in early AM this soon, but wife is still snoozing, so no fan or AC on, aside from in bedroom, set @ 24°C. Already warming up outside ... I already made my coffee VID_20240818_182002.mp4 VID_20240819_064936.mp4

AND ... come to the DNC for 'free abortions' (fully booked) or a vasectomy. Solving the over population problem 👍👍

Taking food from the baby ... ... you forgot steers farting, methane, and climate change, now you're killing us all. You give the steak back (if you notice), and what do they do ... eat it, take it back to restaurant, someone eat it, trash it, or sell it again. Same as @BritManToo I don't notice much till too late. If I do, I'll try to make the proper adjustment. The 7-11 thing, I'd tell them (if noticed), need to charge me, and if get too many blank stares or evil eye, well then, thanks, I tried. Employee didn't lose anything, so 7-11 is 100 baht short this week. Oh well Getting change, I don't count just make sure notes part is correct as they are counting, as usually breaking a 1000 baht note. That's close enough.

That's another reason we like the EV, as it gets us out of the house me. We'll go check out a new restaurant or coffee shop with a view, just for the hell of it. Up to 100 kms way, since it doesn't cost anything. With an ICEV, the petrol cost more than the meal or coffee & Danish. Our first year of owning the EV, we racked up 20k kms, half of that was away from home, needing hotels & charging station. The other half was local, with more than half of that, 6k kms, exploring locally, away from the house, 50-125 kms away. Even our local daily driving is a bit unnecessary, as I simply drive the dog to the park or surf, only 4 & 5 kms away. I could just walk her down the soi. We live out 5 minutes away from everything we need. Once a week or 2 weeks to stock up would be sufficient. Since it doesn't cost anything, we're out & about a lot. If you could find something you like, or just sell the ICEV, and pick up a new NETA V, that would work, if in the budget. I'm not a fan of used. But sure lots of folks are upgrading, since a lot more & better options are available now than 2 yrs ago. Many with low kms, and little to no battery degradation. Ours had a <0.6%, as I calculated it at, basically nothing, after the first 14 months. BYD Atto 3 was the only thing (SUV) hitting the market when we got our MG ZS. Now there's a bunch of choices, sedans that is.

Wouldn't have bought the EV version if the govt didn't pay me ฿240k to buy it. As was very happy with the ICE version of the ZS. Having solar contracted to be added to the house, also was a motivator. ฿240k & solar, hard not to get the EV, even though taking a small hit on selling the 2 yr old ICE version, with only 40k kms on it.

I would have kept it, and hopefully enjoyed it. Only because, I don't think I've ever checked a delivery order, before paying and they scooted away. If it looks and feels about right, I just accept it. Yea, I know, so far, so good, no oops yet. Usually it takes longer to get here, than hoped, and I'm too hungry to delay eating to bother checking 😎 On honesty .... don't expect a nice stack of money to be given back to you. Emphasis on 'nice stack', as I do make correction when not charged or given too much change ... usually, as mood dependent, and if a person or corporation will be at the loss.