GuestHouse

The cheapest method is to heat the hot water as you use it. You only heat what need to heat.

Have you considered placing a water storage tank where it will be heated by solar heat (raising the temperature a few degrees and then using this to feed the water heaters?

Every bit of solar heat would then reduce elctricity use.

I know a Thai woman who found out that the Thai guy she was living with had got married when the video company delivered a proof copy of his wedding video to their shared home. He'd told her he had been out of the country on a business trip, but had sneeked out to get married..

It could not have happened to a more fitting person

As a relative newbie but having reviewed posts for some time,, the information revealed in your last paragraph is not surprising at all.TV is clearly a blue collar forum.

Now you've started.... Say it isn't so, say it....

Project management is nice, but not what most would consider a real skill that is rare and can be assigned a dollar value.

I know a lot of very well paid project managers... and I mean VERY WELL PAID.

I was recently offered a job double my current salary here

Take the job.

Greenwanderer.

Let me make this simple, so you can understand it.

Your comments about "Thai University Students' are perhaps the most disparaging I’ve read. They amount to little more than racism (you are after all, attributing a string of negative generalizations to Thais – Can’t wipe their own ass, can’t make a decision on their own, can’t this, can’t that). – You are young man, full of racist filth!

Your views on anyone who earns and spends more than you are similarly negative generalizations. I hold some hope here because I know that your views would change should you ever get a job that paid you a higher income.

You failed to complete the university education that you embarked up, you use the term ‘drop out’, - I understand that to mean 'You started, but you didn’t finish – Failed!'

Of course having failed to complete your university education, you then set about your feeble attempts to undermine the value of this education that defeated you.

You attack people for having/holding western values, ignoring that they are westerners, and then go on to attack Thais, for not complying to your own western values. (Doh!)

So we left with?

You amount to little more than a half educated, racist writhing in your own bitter envy.

We ought to give you some leeway for being young, perhaps you’ll change when your frontal lobes develop, but I’d still advise that you get some help before you get any worse.

Honestly that’s the best advice I can give. Get some help.

You really do need it

[q]How many of these Thai graduates have actually labored a full time or even part time job? How many of them have fended and provided for themselves since they were 15? How many of them have taught themselves language, music, art, etc. etc.?? How many have even opened a savings account on their own will? How many of them have ever even paid their own rent? How many of them have proved they're responsible and reliable? How many of them have ever made crucial decisions about their own lives without their parents to puppet them?[/q]

I’m working with three Thais here in Rome, two graduates of King Mongkhut and one graduate of Tamasart. They are extremely capable members of our team and doing a great job.

I can’t say how old they where when they started fending for themselves, what drove them to open their first savings account. I can tell you (and confess) they do not pay their own rent. Like me they have their rent paid for them by the company we work for – they also get to keep the residue (Max rent allowance – Actual Rent Paid).

They have certainly made a few crucial life decisions (including coming here to Rome), they may or may not have consulted with their parents, as is their cultural custom (Was it you that was bleating on about imposing western values on others – Doh!)

What I can also tell you is… All three of them went to University AND DID NOT DROP OUT Not dropping out, obviously brought them some rewards.

And here’s another thing. They are living in neighborhoods that most Italians could not afford, they have expense accounts, company cars, flight allowances, free medical insurance, free international schooling for their children, company pension schemes, all their visas and work permits are taken care of and paid for.

These, I remind you are Thais!

Their qualifications, experience and contribution are valued and rewarded at the same rates any other employee of the company we work for.

Perhaps there are bitter and twisted people here in Italy who envy their prosperity and privilege – There must be an Italian version of greenwanderer.

People obsessed with why others have a different life to the one they tell us they themselves are happy to live

Again, get a life greenwanderer.

You’re a mess, and from what you have told us, you are a mess of your own making.

Very funny Cdnvic.... the first laugh I've had on here for weeks.

And this guy teaches.....

Here we're talking about expenditures of expats, and I simply stated my resentment for the actions, attitudes, and lifestyles of other expats regarding their spending habbits

Why does it bother you? Get a life of your own, and live it.

If you were so truly happy in this life you have chosen you wouldn't give a sh1t about the life styles of others, I doubt you'd even notice.

Bitter and twisted at your age, you're a mess man get home to momma, she'll look after you.

I have a very funny Buffalo Story that came to mind when I read this thread.

I have a collegue who had been dating a young Thai woman for a couple of years. She was from a rice farming family in the NE and he had, over the two years or so, been to her parents home many times.

However, she had been strining him along, playing him against the Thai boss of the company she worked for, we'll call him "Lucky".

When it finally dawned on my mate that he was beeing cheated on he was heart broken, drowning his sorrows in beer and beer bars. Until, after a long weekend break he returned to the office seemingly refreshed and over his broken heart.

He had driven that weekend alone to his girlfriend's parent's home (she was still stringing him along), while there he bought her father a young buffalo, complete with a name tag around its kneck - The name, "Lucky".

He claims he left the village for the last time leaving behind the family and kids calling their new buffalo from across the fields 'Lucky... Lucky... Here boy ... Lucky'.

Somebody not paying the right fees??

And I certainly don't think my son will be telling me in a few years 'When I grow up, I want to be a senior manager for a multi-million dollar corporation daddy! That way I can save up for retirement.'

I try not to prejudge the decisions my children will make for themselves when they are older. Meanwhile my wife and I (among other things) are ensuring they get the best education we can find for them and that our children's choices are left as open and as free as we can possibley achieve.

Earning a decent income ensures that we can make that choice AND save for retirement.

Perhaps, I still have something that you might have lost while you were fulfilling your bland dream working 30 years for some corporation...: Imagination

What the f are you on about?. In this statement you are making a totally unfounded judgment that says a lot about you and nothing about the people you are judging.

I hope your kids have some of that left. I hope for their sake, they still have room in their minds for 'the present' and now....the arts, life, color, music, humanity....etc. etc.

My wife, and and our children all play musical instruments. Sketching, drawing are favourite passtimes in our household. My daughter has just started showing an interest in photography, hopefully she'll enjoy that as much as I do. I'll be taking them both skiing next week, and they'll then be going up to Grannies. My mother's a professional artist and is planning to do some pottery with them. Our house and my office are covered in the artwork our children and my family have produced.

Earning a good living and enjoying a well rounded life are not mutually exclusive.

My view is that you should not put any more money into this land/house until you have first addressed the following questions.

Firstly, why are you building an expensive two story house when a simple bungalow would suffice? (You are not living there).

You are not married, there is nothing to prevent your girlfriend, for any number of reasons selling up. This begs the question why are you investing anymore money in this property?

You are not living in the house. My bet is that your girlfriend will move in with her extended family and the house will effectively be lost to their use (regardless of if you have a lease). So again, why are you investing more money in the land/house?

My advice would be this, some of it is a bit late, but nevertheless others who have not yet made investments might yet be reading this post:

There are two principal reasons to buy a house in Thailand:

1. To set your girlfriend/wife/her family up in a comfortable home.

2. To provide yourself with a comfortable home in Thailand.

If your motives are to provide a home for your girlfriend/wife/her family then accept that you will not have control over the house, you will not live in the house (unless you are happy to live with the extended family). The house will be occupied and controlled by the family and hence your investment is tied up - It is lost.

If your motives are to provide a home for yourself in Thailand, first ask are you going to be in Thailand to live in that home? If the answer to that quesiton is no - Then RENT!

From where you are now, I would look at either, building a low cost bungalow. Or selling up and buying a low cost house. (Do the maths to figure out which is cheaper).

If you have any doubts regarding the relationship, and it sounds as if you do, then I would not put one more penny into this venture.

What I certainly would not do, is spend more money on an expensive 2 story house. You are merely lining someone else’s pockets.

As a first step I would (Depending on how much the land is worth) consider selling the land

and buying a pre-built. If the land is worth over say Bht700,000 you should be able to buy a

small town house of the kind most Thais would be delighted to own.

Broach that idea with your girlfriend and see what she thinks. If she accepts the sense of the

idea go ahead and sell/buy a smaller place. If she objects ask yourself ‘Why is she being so

free with your money?”

If it's a fat pension from some international company----that you had to slave 30-40 years neglecting a family emotionally, medicare, security packages, people who stay near you because they are dependent on your security and material providing....

Again, where do people get these ideas from?

I work for a multinational. Putting aside the benefits and addressing the 'Slaving Away Bit'.

My personal observation is that across the many jobs I have had, from farm labour, through bar work, construction work to my present job. The level of conditions, comfort go up as you go up the salary level, and the level of BS/Aggravation go down.

Perhaps people tell themselves they don’t want a career and promotion because they don’t want the ‘aggravation and deteriation in life style’ they assume goes with career and promotion. Alternatively perhaps they didn’t make the grade.

Walter Mitty's Guide to Retirement Planning

First, let me respond to another poster who claims that you should have all of your [pension capital at the time of retirement] money in bonds because stocks are risky. That's right. Stocks are risky and I believe that part of my portfolio should be in bonds (it is - TIPS). The question is how to protect the rest of your portfolio. The answer is through stop-loss sell orders that limit your loss on any holding to 25% to 30%. If you're out into cash at that point you can probably recover when the market turns.

I've added the [pension capital at the time of retirement] because that is the point I'm making.

Am I the only person round here that remembers the Only Fools and Horses.... ????

Now please excuse me while I go out and buy another Kg of table salt... The BS level in here is getting beyond a joke, I need salt to take the taste away.... Sell Rodney Sell !!!!

Those making anywhere from 50-250,000 baht/month

It seems to me there is a third group.... but I don't want to upset you more than you already are... so perhaps we'll skip them.

Schenker (sp) will ship to anywhere in Thailand

Of course if nobody believes the rule of law will apply in Thailand, then no lawyer can convince, but in 95% of cases here and abroad the law is effected. I think the problem is created due to the fact that we have all seen the decisions that stink, yet no one posts the hundreds of decisions made every week that are based on law.

You'd have to dig back a long way but I think you'll find the advice I gave and give regarding leasing and wills is based on the good experience of a Thai court upholding a Will where the Thai wife of a foreigner had died and the her family tried to challenge the will (in order to get their hands on the property).

Keep in mind that large numbers of foreigners owning property in Thailand is a relatively new occurance. Ten years ago it happened but was unusual, now Thailand is fast becoming a retirement choice for large numbers of foreigners.

Given the demography of those retiring in Thailand it won't be long before a they start popping their cloggs and then we'll see the Thai legal system's response to foreign ownership.

The real risky one to me is the Front Company - There are explicit clauses in Thai law that prohibit the operation of a front company to enable foreigners to own land. There are also significant problems with closing Thai Majority Companies.

It think this is a story where the main chapter has yet to be written - No guessing who the winners and losers will be.

I'd be very cautious asking Thais who they voted for if, as is being predicted, Toxin gets the boot.

His political platform has been nationalist, and by definition 'Anti Foreigner'. You only need ask the wrong Thai (an agreaved supporter of Toxin who falls into the Anti Foreigner camp) and you've got a recepie of trouble.

It bit like back in Scotland, where an outsider might not understand the undercurrents of sectarianism in Scottish society.... Ask the wrong question of the wrong person and the results are not pretty.

The ex husband and her have signed on a business loan prior to the divorce.

I need read no furhter.

She has taken on a loan guarantee, he doesn't pay, she must.

Lending people money is often listed as the top stupid thing to do, it is not.

The most stupid, dangerous and reckless finacial decision you can ever make is to stand guarantee for ANYONE.

My wife's sister lost her house under very similar circumstances, and given Thai's compulsion to help family and friends it is an essential part of any marriage to a Thai that they understand never ever ever stand guarantee for anyone.

There is some very dangerous advice being given regarding investing retirement income.

The rule TO REMEMBER if you are past working age you cannot replace your retirement capital.

The investments you make should reflect this. How much you might make by investing in stocks is irrellevant, the issue is how much you might loose and how much you can afford to loose.

Like I said right up top. As soon as there are claims of high earned incomes, I get the salt out.

I get two pots of salt out when I hear claims of high income on stocks.

If you have enough money to retire and live off interest and never want to go back to work, put that money in Bonds.

If you need to invest in the stock market to maintain enough growth to continue in retirement, you haven't got enough capital to retire. You might do it, you might get away with it, but you are taking a risk for which the downside might well be poverty in retirement....or worse still, having to go back to work... in Farang Land

My advice would be buy the property under your wife's name and lease it off her. Get your wife to make a will in favour of your child with the specific clause that she wishes you to be the manager of the property and have residence in the property until your child are 18 years of age.

If you want to have a real secure future for your child in the event your death (and you have the financial means to provide after your death), then do this by will and testiment from Farangland. Take a look at the "General Branch" there is advice there on wills.

No one knows what Kasikorn means, it's neutral.

The word Kasikorn is listed in my Thai dictionary ¡ÊÔ¡Ã- ¼Ùé·ÓäÃèä¶¹Ò (Kasikorn - Phu-Tam-Rai-Tai-Nar)

Literally - 'Person who works the Rai, ploughs the field'

" A farmer"

You'll need your view set to read Thai text to see the Thai Script

Kasikorn = Farmer (albeit a word not normally used)

So there's your answer to the question about the name change, they just put it back into Thai.

The change happened, to my recollection, around 97/98 when the bank overhauled it's whole marketting strategy.

Where do people get the idea that earning a good income automatically comes with horrendous hours and a miserable working environment?