puchooay

41 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Full (and tedious- sorry) explanation:  

 

We have people on here who have retired, are doing very well and I value their input for what worked for them.  We've got good guys on here who have retired and are struggling, and I value their input for what things they did that worked and what things to avoid doing.

 

And then we have people on here who are still decades away from retiring, telling them they're wrong.  That input, I don't value so much.  If I want to know how to climb a mountain, I want to speak to someone who's been to the top and back.  Not the guy in the lodge with a map and a plan.

 

And yes, I have reached retirement age.  I've had the health issues, lost my shirt several times, and gotten back on my feet each time- sometimes just barely.  I could stop working tomorrow and live out the rest of my days in comfort back home, or in luxury here in Thailand.  But I have no clue what's going to happen tomorrow.  I'm going to keep working while I still can- so I don't end up being one of those guys who thought they had life by the short and curlies- only to get hit by some black swan event like so many of the guys who have contributed their stories here over the years.

If you had written the  above as your first post it would have saved some of us the effort of listening to you.

I told you my age and that I had a private and govt pension in the pipeline. I didn't say that I have to wait for them to be avble to retire.

Because of some "mountain climbing" I have done I plan to retire sometime before that.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

Again, best of luck, but how does anyone know what the details will be in 21 years?   At which time it's too late for a do-over.

 

This thread is about retiring to Thailand on a teacher's salary.  In 21 years, we don't even know if they'll offer a retirement visa, much less what the financial requirements will be.  The past several years of tightening visa requirements, price inflation and erosion of expat benefits from back home have put a crimp on a lot of guys who never saw it coming.  

 

Hopefully, you've factored all that in.  But the responses here are just as directed to others reading in, who may still have some thinking and arranging to do.

All the doom and gloom in your life. I do hope you haven't wasted too much time saving and planning for old age. Sounds like you'll keel over before then.

You asked me about pensions and I answered. Besides I'm more concernef about how my family will live when I am gone. Something else that I have already taken care of.

1 hour ago, DILLIGAD said:

Hope you have paid your required 35 years of N.I.C. If not, worth considering a top-up??
It's great that you are stable here, but are you doing just one job in LOS like the topic suggests?


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Actually I also have a job as a wooden spoon sales man. I will keep one for you.

There is no requirement to pay 35 years national insurance to receive a pension.

If you read all of posts here you will see that this topic has gradually become more of a "how much does it cost to live in Thailand". That is the part that I was responding to. I have checked my posts and cannot see where I have ever mentioned job or jobs.

4 hours ago, impulse said:

 

So, you have been a non-resident in your home country, exempt from paying into the system for pretty much your entire working life, and you're counting on still being able to avail yourself to a government pension in 21 more years?  Lots can change in 21 years, and it's rarely for the better.

 

I wish you the best of luck.  I really do.  But given the trajectory of government programs (especially related to expats) in the past decade or so, I'd suggest you prepare for a major disappointment.  

 

That seems to be a recurring theme here with expats feeling the squeeze in Thailand- people counting on the status quo, when all the trends point to diminishing benefits, rising costs and ever tightening loopholes.

 

I have taken care of the necessary details,thanks.

13 hours ago, ozmeldo said:

I just came back to state that in the last ten posts is some of the best advice a new 'teacher' could be provided.

 

Teaching here is a lark. Some of us have parlayed it into -almost- something. But teaching like anything else in life without proper training and education usually never amounts to much.

 

The TEFL industry will be trashed by technology. The only thing that keeps NES here are the horrible Filipino accents, educators that know and care -and the Thai parents.

 

IF there was a sea change of opinion that would tolerate the Filipino accent and classroom antics, NES teachers would be gone by May 1, 2017.

 

50k is the bottom of a decent salary. You save a bit. Your friend is a spendthrift. Do what. I've no idea how you save, it ain't much bc I did a really excellent job of costing my expenses out a decade ago and it was 22.5k pm. Not including long term health care, emergencies and savings. It can't be fun and you can't be traveling and your kids going to public school.

 

I'm in decent shape but we might return to US simply over health care. Scott knows and makes very valid points. Visit the insurance forum. Yeah, British oral hygiene not a high priority but as he stated - unhealthy men die here all the time.

 

If you are healthy. If your parents have good health, maybe you could chance it with solid savings.

 

Anyone do the math on the retirement? You'll need 4/800k plus 22.5 million baht simply to spend into the grave.

 

I'm retired insofar as not having need to work, just making the best of things until I hit 60/62.

 

Honestly, I think the 30k teachers just don't care - they can't. They suspend reality. All the Filipino I know make well more than that.

 

So between now and your golden years, what's the plan when the western economies tank or Thailand does a 1997 part deux?

 

Finally, getting advanced degree here is total folly. So you climb to 55k, so what? All those crap online degrees are just fancy Thai work permits. How much is that Nottingham POS, like 150k? Well, at -3k pm take that off your salary. Four+ years for a job that pays less than EU, UK or US minimum wage and largely without benefits and pension.

 

Making 60k definitely puts you in the position of having to report income for US citizens.

 

 

 

 

Are you referring to my post? OK well here it is. My monthly bills consist of an electricity bill, small payment on car and internet. My buddy in UK has mortgage, car payments, poll tax, electric,gas and water (probably missed some). Not to mention the excessive cost of living with regards to food,petrol, clothing kids, car tax, insurance and also the huge amount of statutory deductions from the monthly salary.

If I were to take some peoples' advice and move back to UK to "banks some money" then I would never be able to come back here.

Living here and saving what I do; whilst my daughter goes to a good school and we travel when we have free time, England last year and this year too, is far more prosperous.

I have a small private pension maturing when I am sixty and get govt pension at 67, if I make it. I have been here since I was 28. I am now 46. Living here where most things are already paid for with no worries of interest rate hikes and the like is far more satisfying than what moving back to UK would be.

On 19/01/2017 at 8:22 AM, allane said:

The following comments are relevant to foreigners working in Thailand at an average sort of teaching job; let's say paying about B 35,000/mo.  You can retire in Thailand on that sort of salary only if you came here in mid-life or later, and already had substantial savings. I think that if you want to retire to a western lifestyle, you need to spend at least half your life working in the west.  Better to spend the first half there, then let the power of compound interest work for you, though that too is a bit risky right now, with interest rates so low.  Spending the first  half of your working life in Thailand is riskier; you may find it hard to get a good job if you move to the west at, say, 45, and you will not have as much momentum from compound interest on your earnings there even if you are receiving a good salary.

These comments exclude Thai teachers and teachers at international schools, the latter generally receive the same salary as they would in their home country. 

I am working here with an income in the region of 50000 baht. I am married with a daughter.

I save more per month than my married with kid mate in UK. His salary is in excess of 70k pounds a month.

Go figure.

14 hours ago, U235 said:

 

Easy. 

 

Fry garlic and onion in (olive) oil. Add diced fresh tomato's and a sprig of fresh basil. Add some water. 

 

Let simmer it till the water is evaporated and you have a thick sauce. Sir occasionally, especially at the end to prevent burning. Your sauce should become quite thick otherwise your pizza will become too soggy.

 

No need to use stuff from cans, everything you need you can find on the market except maybe olive oil - the Italians who invented the pizza hundreds of years ago never went to Tesco or ordered ingredients online.

 

 

 

I make one similar to this but don't add water. A low simmer with lid on. The natural moisture from the tomatoes is enough. I blitz it then run through a sieve.

Can add vinegar and a little sugar to taste.

Don't throw away what is left in a sieve. Use it to make the base of the next ragu that you make. I know it sounds picky but waste not want not.

Travelling to Korat from where?

Translations may take time. Can you not get them done where you live?

Absolute rubbish. Sure, he cannot travel on an expired Thai passport. But losing citizenship?????Funny.

2 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

 

1) Well visa rules are being broken if they applied for a tourist visa.. They specifically signed a form agreeing not to work.. However basically you are correct, the laws which are broken are not the visa laws, rather the labor laws. 

 

2) Do you have a link saying where a new visa category was being considered.. Not only have I not seen anything, it would open a huge can of worms for a labor department who would have no way to verify income declarations and hence taxes (which is why they demand you work for a Thai company).

I don't have a link. It was in the Bangkok post. It was shortly after the online teachers were busted in ChiangMai. They were not digital nomads as they were working in Thailand and receiving Thai Baht. This event did however lead on to discussions about the matter.

The immigration chief explained that there was a need for something to be done with regards to facilitating digital nomads. He admitted that neighbouring countries allow this and Thailand should look into it. He also said that immigration law, yes indeed immigration law, was very vague on the matter.

As an aside...if your visa says "employment prohibited" and you work then surely immigration laws have been broken.

2 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

 

Ah this continual red herring.. Immigration is not responsible for labor law.. Asking immigration about work issues is like asking your mechanic about a root canal, unlikely to get correct or accurate advice. 

 

What was said was along the lines of 'we are not bothered about that' which, considering immigration isnt responsible for it, makes perfect sense. This was an informal Q&A session putting a immigration officer on the spot requiring an answer, he didnt say 'it is legal' as stated without quotes there, he simply said, 'not our responsibility / concern'. A very different thing. 

 

See the constant and clear statements by labor officers on the subject.. Statements which state clearly that online work for non Thai clients is still work requiring a work permit, even uploading a blog post to a monetized blog or youtube account from within the kingdom is working. 

There is nothing murky about the law, only the practical difficulties of enforcing the law. 

But it is immigration's responsibility to check that visa rules are not being broken.

The last statement that I can remember was that, at present, digital nomads will be able to continue what they are doing. There was also a mention that there may be a new visa category for such people.

As a general rule finance companies do not offer finance to foreigners to buy cars or bikes.

There are, however, some dealers that will offer finance directly with them.

I know of a retiree that did just that with a Toyota dealer. A deposit of 50% or more was required.

4 hours ago, khwaibah said:

 

 

Major improvements on the 24. It is now 4 laines from the highway 2 to just past the 24 & 214 junction at Prasat. Thats 200 km of 4 lane and some divided highway. Hopefully this does make a difference on the carnage that this highway is famous for.

Problems will occur as you head in towards the towns on the 24. Buriram for example, Nang Rong has 3 sets of traffic lights and Prakhonchai has  2 sets. I was in Prakhonchai today. The first set of traffic lights had a queue of over 400 metres by 9am.

A friend recently enquired at the bridge and was told no overnight stay without passport.

14 hours ago, edwinchester said:

I will be going myself next week.

Couple of questions.....as we may be arriving late in the evening was wondering if there are any guesthouse recommendations near to the bridge on the Mukdahan side?

Also, where does a Thai pickup their border pass, is that at Immigration on the bridge too?

Thanks for reading.

What do you mean by "Border pass"? Does the person in question not have a passport?

There is a limit to how long they can stay in Laos without a passport.

If it has been signed over at the land office then there are no issues. The land is owned by those with the name on the deeds.

Suggest to the rest of the family that, if they have an issue with that they should contact a lawyer. That way they pay for it.

My guess would be that they will soon back down.

8 hours ago, ableguy said:

This whole post has degenerated into the usual dumb comments on some poor persons loss of life , how do any of you sarcastic pricks know what this guy was going through that led him to this ? Examine your own lives ? Are they perfect ?

This is the best comment on the whole thread so far. Thanks.

7 minutes ago, DILLIGAD said:

Excellent. So where is the law that's stated that good info.


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Probably in a judge's journal somewhere.

If your wife writes a will she can state that, in the event of her dying first she requests that you can stay in the house until you die or you decide to move out.

That is from a good source, that is a couple of guys I know that advise many expats and widows of expats.

5 hours ago, muzmurray said:

 

Your figures are incomplete and incorrect.

 

For unemployment benefit you need to have paid for at least 6 months in the last 15.

 

If made redundant, the benefit is 50% of your previous 6 months salary for 6 months - up to a maximum of 7500 Baht a month.

 

If you resigned, the benefit is 30% for up to 90 days.

Actually I was speaking from first hand experience. My figures are accurate.

I had been paying for about 5 years. They did not ask about if I was made redundant or resigned.

You cannot claim any contributions bac until you are 55. 

If you have been fired, or resigned for that matter, you can claim unemployment benefit. That is 90 days from date of termination of employment. The amount is about 150baht a day.

"Able to" actually translates to "saamaat dai"

3 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

 

she was the 'connection' I assumed this is obvious? all Thais will look at a Thai marrying a farang as a 'bank' because that's how Thais are as the 'bank' will move on to someone new with a new family etc.  Call me cynical but that's how it IS

Hi Cynical

You say "all Thais". Just wondering how many Thais you actually know. 

There are sometime some guys flying model planes up near the golf driving range.

It is a couple of KMs out of town on the road to Surin.

3.  Tutor for my 7 year old, must have masters degree in education.

Are you new to the area? Just asking as I think you may be setting your sights a bit high. Do you mean private tutor?

4.  a pre school for my three year old.  She only speaks English.

There is a bilingual school there. Not sure if they do pre school. At 3 years old she will have no problem picking up Thai very quickly. Are you planning on staying in Thailand for the long haul? If so a Thai speaking school with some English would be better.