KhunLA

Of course I don't believe, and have stated that many times. But it is a gauge, which inflation is 5-10X more for certain things. Depending on which administration. I think all will agree, Obama & Biden were some of the worst administrations for inflation. Trump, not so much. Official #s didn't show for Obama, but ACA sent healthcare premiums into the unattainable and useless brackets. Biden's inflation was way too obvious, though great for expats, along with exchange rate. Why I preferred Harris to win and continue with the madness 32 / 33 is ball park for the last 19 years. Not as good as 35+, but better than <29. If 10-20% is going to rock your world, you should have probably stayed in the USA. Not that most of the ones complaining are even from the USA. A bit mind boggling in itself. Sort of like me complaining the GBP, AUD, CAD or EUR is down since I arrived in TH

All things you know or should know before deciding to be a 'guest' in TH. You chose TH, and nobody is forcing you to come or stay. Accept and follow the well established rules in place before you arrived. Agree with OP, staying here is extremely simple, and been doing all the paperwork myself. Location depended, but 1 hour +/- once a year at IO isn't going kill me. As stated, as welcome day out, as 100 kms away. 2 visits to the bank, which I need to go there anyway, for 1, so an extra visit to pick up paperwork isn't that stressing. If on lump sum, it's only 1 visit. 2 minutes online doing 90 day pulse checks ... OMG, the inconvenience.

That's a personal choice, and opinionated. Not for me, as never had, or needing in USA, 25 adult years. Also never had or needing in TH, 25 years on. Did have to tap my oops fund in 2022, for routine procedure and not expensive. Any other maintenance cost simply pocket money. I'm in the 'untrusting' crowd, and know from my experience, insurance companies will do everything and anything, not to pay a claim, no matter how just it is. For those interested, wanting, needing health insurance, simply go to your local hospital of choice and 'ask them' what carrier they prefer to deal with. One that actually pays, without question, and also doesn't just reimburse, as defeats the whole purpose of having.

Add me to the possibly saved by, or at least able to enjoy life much better, due to Thai healthcare. 2006, 2008 & 2022, at a pittance of the price I would have had to pay in USA. Oops fund comes in handy, and for me, much cheaper than 25 yrs or monthly health insurance premiums.

Down 10%, so what. Trump ran on a weaker dollar, as good for US exports. $1 is still $1 in the USA. Buy USA and avoid tariffs, build manufacturing & jobs. What is so hard to understand ? Add to that, and the Consumer Price Index rose at an annual rate of 2.4%, less than economists expected.

Wife use to get a cert of marriage every year when doing marriage ext. That from PKK, even though married at Udon. So they are computerized and a divorce would show up. Or they wouldn't ask for one.

Don't know if anyone posted yet ...

Eye of the needle ... from front porch, through and over to the Greenhouse ...

As a waiting for the final bbq, 24/7/365 days retired visitor, I'm not interested at all in Thai govt or politics, as can't vote or influence anything. Simply follow the laws I have to, and ignore the ones myself or anyone else cares about. Why stress over things you have absolutely NO control over. No different than when I lived in the USA. Only followed the news there, for investing trends. Anything else was irrelevant to my existence there.

"Mrs. Kotchakorn explained that her husband began deteriorating rapidly after collapsing earlier this year." Should have been on a plane, 4 months ago, to Greece as soon as able to, instead waiting 4 months here and spending all their money. Oh well .... Live (or die) with your choices 😎

Spot on, and sadly, some are doing, and even getting away with FGM. Beat the linked case below, got recharged under fed law, and even that got dismissed on appeal. Poor gals, mutilated for life... and just the cases that made to light. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/14/523917425/michigan-doctor-charged-with-performing-female-genital-mutilation-on-girls https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/14/523917425/michigan-doctor-charged-with-performing-female-genital-mutilation-on-girls https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/judge-dismisses-charges-tied-michigan-female-genital-mutilation-case-n1280350

There is a 'Dearborn Sharia Council' that officially has no legal right to dictate any 'sharia law'. But I'm willing to guess, that the Muslims that live in the community do follow Sharia Law, and it is enforced. It's been shown to be a 'no go' area for Christian protester (trouble makers), and local PoPo have been caught on video, telling them not to go there, or protest, and if they do, they are on their own. Even to the point of ignoring violence against the idiots that do participate. Use to be more than a few YT vid showing the lax protection, (possibly scrubbed now) as local popo and officials cower to the Muslim community ... IMHO.

You fit my earlier post above, someone TH's economy has benefitted from, and unfortunately fall between the thin cracks of officially meeting the retirement financials, unless going the married route, then you have enough (40k a month). Strange you don't use that visa & ext, to save the yearly agent fee.

USA USA ... well, unlike others, I only comment and what I know and have personal experience of. That would be USA & TH, as only 2 countries I have ever lived in. Can't comment honestly for knowledge of the other 10 or 15 countries, that I simply visited, not matter how many times, as living in and visiting experience and knowledge is completely different. Your examples, not much difference USA & TH, and I suspect plenty of countries. Selective enforcement, prosecution, to ignored obeying & enforcing laws. Only difference I find on AN, is the bias against, from the haters of all things Thai. Love it or Leave it. Or worse, the trolls than never have, left and or don't even visit anymore, with all their negativity. I accept, actually welcome the lax enforcement, minimal presence of PoPo, for minor infraction. They're busy arresting real criminals, or so I read in the news. On topic ... as stated, alcohol laws are simply control and cash cow, especially for corrupt officials. Only negative, when things become legal, where will they direct their attention next, to compensate for loss funds.

I came to TH, 25 yrs ago, and did the same as you the first 5 ish years, 90 day bounce, till I turned 50 yrs old, then did the extension of retirement or marriage. Still here, and Imm rules/laws haven't changed one bit that I noticed. Though do to scammers, continually caught & publicized, laws now simply enforced and scrutinizing of applicants a bit more, due entirely to the scammers of the system. Laws are there for a reason, to protect the Thai job market, and make sure visitors can actually afford to live here. Especially if an oops is thrown their way. Too many can not, and hospitals get stuck with the bills, when it does happen. If someone has the finances, health insurance and or oops fund, and won't be a burden on Thai system, then OK, fine to use an agent, though I'd prefer them not to. But every retiree certainly doesn't need 65k a month / 800k a year to live here. Married is a bit different, and you really do need 40k or 400k to exist here. Those that can't meet the financials, and live month to month, with no safety net, then those are the ones I have not respect for, and happy for the enforcement of the laws. Sadly, too many here in the state.

No ... if they were concerned about the unwanted mass of total dirtbags visiting TH, then they would ban alcohol to tourist. Potheads cause little to no problems, compared to drunks & alkys. The fake media coverage of deranged weed users is to brainwash the ignorant masses for the need of more control of the industry. They, tax man & medical industry, just trying to get their share, as the proliferation of weed shops and public use surprised the hell out of them. PoPo & lawyers, corrupt prosecutor & judges, also loss a cash cow. Not to mention the corrupt officials that use to control the illegal distribution before the decriminalization.

Your joking right ? As asked, what country do you come from that doesn't have laws, that enforce simple common sense. Even in high enforcement countries, they have the same problems of less enforcement countries. Plenty of drunks getting served to stupidity and crashing in the USA. Strict traffic and alcohol laws and enforcement in USA, and take away the scooter numbers, and TH is as safe or dangerous to drive as the USA is. Laws & enforce didn't change much. We won't even discuss restrictive gun laws. Illegal ownership & use is rampant, even with restrictive laws. Here in TH, that 'self responsibility' isn't working very well with the helmet use. Or building code apparently, highways & building falling down of late. Alcohol law was changed for 1 reason, more profits from sales to tourist areas, and middle class that can afford to dine out regularly. Drunks need their alcohol, and the elite need their profits. Locals simply ignore the law, and everyone knows where to buy alcohol during off sale's hours or days, for responsible in home sipping.

Bathroom fittings yes, but kitchen, not full on western, just hob, and cabinets, (hung, not built in) as no desire for built in oven or other appliances. Although that wouldn't have added that much to pricing. Cost of appliance more than actually just fitting appliances would have been the only added pricing. Our carport roofing & rain gutters were add ons, after house build. As was the perimeter wall, built by different contractor couple years earlier. Also no landscaping or outdoor lighting features. Contract price include breakdowns for all things, fittings, tiles, and we actually shopped for those, and usually came in at about some price as builders price. And less expensive items, the balance moved over to things we picked that might have been more expensive. We used a different glass doors & window contractor than the builders, so adjustment was made there. Other than that, the builder's pricing was fairly spot on. Her allowance for tiles & fittings. Non negotiable were the foundation, once decided on, concrete, block, columns, steel work. All fixed, and use as blueprints dictated. Wife had the blueprints made up. Use of Bluescope rolled steel roof, keeps the price down, vs heavier roof material, as not as much support steel required. Although solar was added, so had to accommodate that extra weight.

Agents are fine to use, as long as they are not used to skirt the financial requirements. Hold the hand service vs illegal brown envelope service. Everyone complains about corruptions, except at Imm when using themselves. Go figure, and surprised it is allowed to be discussed, even endorsed on AN when discussing other illegal activity is not allowed.

฿15k - ฿20k m² would be a good range. Less if lucky, but I wouldn't pay more. Ours have been ฿10k or less, but the wife is an experienced, tough negotiator, and semi rural location. Last build was contracted 4+ years ago at ~฿10k m², excluding land. Land is a huge variable for home price, as has appreciated about 5 fold in past few year locally. Again, that's semi rural, so the location location location thingy kicks in hard. Priced for single story, as 2 story house, and can easily add 25% to build price price. We used insulated block (K or Q block) what ever it's called. No cinder or red block. BlueScope rolled steel roof, being insulated, lighter, stronger and cheaper than alternative roofing material. Wouldn't recommend using any other materials for walls or roof.

If don't mind playing butcher, got some room in freezer, or got a few mouths to feed, Makro's Harvey brand (AU) has decent whole tenderloins & picanhas. Some large, some not so. It's nice cutting a 1 1/2" to 2" steaks, instead of the crap the other chains offer. I do miss a neighbor butcher & Deli shop. Most here are silly priced.

Conflicts are profitable. No worries, someone will start one soon enough.

It's peaceful now, and that looks it will hold for a while ... long time hopefully.

Are y'all crazy ... it will get here, when it gets here. Really trying to blame someone for it not arriving yet. Who are y'all blaming for the 'July' arrival last year. Not Trump's fault, not Musk's fault, DOGE, really. If you're concerned, just download one & mail it in, and STFU.

Thank You Mr President ...