garyk

16 hours ago, overherebc said:

Tonto, Tonto, we're in trouble, we're surrounded by Indians!!

Speak for yourself Kemo Sabie.

Good one, I haven't heard that in years...

Thailand was a pretty cool place up until about 5-6 years ago. When the banks started getting greedy it started going down hill FAST.. Now with the new government it is taking a nose dive...

I really don't understand it?

41 minutes ago, Mansell said:

Somewhat amusing your comments, especially as the doctors move backwards and forwards between private and government hospitals many times on the same day. But as long as you are happy to pay the inflated private prices, good for you.

That is exactly right. My ex GF's relative is a doctor. He worked in the Government hospital a few hours a day and a few hours a day in a private hospital. It is normal in Thailand.

I though the government came out with  campaign saying not to dual price the tourists?

Regardless, most expat friendly countries give expats a reduced price when seeing the doctors and give basically the same prices as locals. They know it helps the economy and keeps the expats coming. 

S.E. Asia is not what I would call expat friendly. 

Well then you get .98% of a cookie, as soon as Thailand gets to 0% unemployment?   You get the whole dang thing..  

I think next quarter we can expect some great thing from this think tank...  and a cookie in every hand.????

All this talk about putting 800K in the bank or not being able to afford to live here is the biggest crock I have ever herd of in my life. It has nothing to do what so ever with if you can afford to live in Thailand!  It is a money grab plain and simple.

Other countries let you show proof of having 800K or what ever in you bank. And most have a 6 month seasoning period. You show your bank statements and show 30K or so US dollars, and show a minimum monthly amount coming into your account and they issue a retirement visa. It has to be re-done every few years then you receive a residency visa.

Countries that really want expats know if you have that kind of money it will be spent period. On the people, merchandise. It will greatly help the local economy period.

Thailand doesn't care what so ever anymore if you help the local economy. The banks and Government only want money seasoned from outside of Thailand coming into their country. 

I mean they can do what ever they want to do, it is their country. But, for foreigners to say it is because expats have abused the system and actually condone this is extremely ignorant IMHO.

Sure it will dive out some, and others ( the majority of the expats looking for a place to hang their hat will see it as a joke ). 

It will cost them millions in the local economy. It is already a joke to most expats looking for a place to retire.  

9 minutes ago, olfu said:

After I tried most reasonable countries for possible retirement I figured that the one where I am citizen, USA, is the best and cheapest--I have house in Florida which cost me 300$ a month, medicine mostly free etc and nobody bother me. Yes, drawback is females who think they sit on gold mine and for that I have vacation in Thailand. Nothing perfect. 

Hahaha, same here. I thank my lucky stars I never sold out in the states.  Woooo.  I can't imagine the consequences.

34 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

Ok, let's see what can go wrong.

 

Your wife wants a divorce, and keeps the house, because it is her house. Not yours.

Thailand adopts 2 new laws: The first one is that you are not able anymore to transfer money out of the country. The second one is that starting next year you need 10 million in the bank for a new extension.

 

The problem is that even after living in Thailand for many years you still have no rights. This is very different than other countries where you will get a new passport or some kind of permanent residence after being married and living together for some years. You can enjoy now, but cannot be sure how it will be next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes allot of countries will give you residence. Much better, especially when you start to age.   Reading through post's here. People that don't mind these rules are people married to a Thai. And it wouldn't matter what rule's were, they would abide and defend them. Strange lot IMO but? 

1 hour ago, madmen said:

 oh yeah FORCED !!

Very very few I would guess. 

3 minutes ago, lahgon29 said:

Maybe the "I am American" boast should have been left out?

Why do you want to buy land anyway? What rights are being denied to you? I parked 800,000 7 years ago. I've never had a problem doing anything yet. Daughter at private school, bought a house at 25% Oz price, (its hers) all the Western food I want, paid my way out of 3 dui's, Udon ID  is friendly and helpful. Etc, etc, etc,

Try the <deleted> we get away with here in Oz, or your "paradise" wouldn't happen. It's a good retirement destination for me,but then again.. My glass is usually half full. 

You don't get out much hu..  

19 minutes ago, madmen said:

Problem is with the other SEA countries with  more relaxed visas (for now ) is you actually have to live in them

 

How sad for the desperate that are forced in to that situation. 

Forced?  Hahaha. Amazing

10 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

How difficult is it:

- to put 800k in a bank when you arrive and never touch it as long as you retire here ? or

- to show yearly an embassy's document proving that you earn yearly these 800k ?

 

PS: Yes, maybe less easy for English countries, but they are few and it's their choice.

Not sure where you are from, but after traveling quite a bit. And looking at other countries retirement rules.  Thailand is a joke IMHO. 

A quick edit on this, I am an American and even before the embassy decided to stop the letters I had decided it was not a politically stable country. And surely not a country that I wanted to park 800K in just for a one year extension. That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. You have no rights, cannot buy land. I think a joke is not too harsh to describe Thailand as a stable and good retirement destination. 

10 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

Your statement is more ridiculous than their rules . For many of us, not many countries where we can get most of the modern world and where it's so easy to stay as a retiree.

Easy?  Ridiculous is the proper word. 

I can hardly believe someone would want to go into debt to live as an expat. Amazing.

“I would like to tell foreign tourists that Thailand has returned to full democracy, so they can come back to visit the country again,” Phiphat said, adding that quality tourists from western nations had stopped visiting the kingdom for more than five years."

So to make up for the short fall in tourism you rip the expats with the TM 30, force them to put 800K in a Thai bank...  Haha.  Glad you clarified that Phiphat, I am on the first plane back! 

2 minutes ago, gunderhill said:

Does it  include  free life insurance?

I was thinking the same thing, a over crowed bus racing to the next 100 bath stop, on the 100 baht tour. Bet that will be a fun tour..

Thailand is all about the money. They see it as weakness in the western world. The women have been exploiting westerners it for decades. Now the government!  Any expat that has lived in Thailand for a few years knows the score.

The best thing you can do in Thailand as an expat is say NO. After you get over that hurdle then Thailand is a great place to visit. 

3 minutes ago, Nowisee said:

These people are bent idiots with a passion for greed and scams.  Can't get a bloody thing done here without slipping one of these clowns extra money.  It's exhausting.

 

I am in Mexico now traveling around. Same sh$t here. But, so nice here... 

I wonder why all the paranoia in Thailand?

Do they think the old retired expats are going to revolt, and stage a coup to take over the government... ????

43 minutes ago, Stanley78 said:

Hardly. There are more families in Thailand, Thai, mixed and foreign who spend 300k a month than you might think.

 

Thaivisa demographics are only representative of Thaivisa members. Not of Thailand as a whole.

 

There is a mentality here on this site of a race to the bottom where people are applauded for being able to survive on as low an amount a month as possible.

 

And anyone who lays out a different perspective than that is a nail which needs to be hammered down by people such as yourself.

I know some Chinese Thai that make more than that easy.  But, honestly I never see these people spend that kind of money without kids in school. They tend to send the kids off to private schools in America and the UK. Then They spend much more. But, day to day living? 

But, lets face facts, On TV are mostly retired expats. Making 65-150K I would imagine. In my working days 10,000/mo. is what I was making easily. But, retired I am not and most are not here. I think.

I would be very interested in knowing what you are spending that kind of money on?

Are you living in BKK?

Home payments?

Car payments?

Honestly the only thing that I can figure that I could spend that kind of money on is if I were head over heals in debt? Or living the life of a rock star... haha

13 minutes ago, JaiLai said:

 

300k ( approx $10k US ) is not that difficult to spend in a month if you have a family and enjoy nice things.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

Definitely out of my class, in America very easy to spend. In Thailand? I guess I could, but it would be a full time job.

Have fun.

2 hours ago, Stanley78 said:

Yes I am kidding. Feel better?

Wow you must be living like a rock star.  

4 hours ago, Stanley78 said:

 

 

Our family budget is around 300k THB a month for my wife, child, and full time live in maid. That will go up once I have to pay for school as well. I think that's pretty much the budget which is needed in Thailand to never have to deny yourself anything as a family.

 

If you can live on less and never feel like you are denying yourself anything then great. Happy for you!

You are kidding right.