vrsushi

Can a UK national pay into the government pension plan of the UK and another country?

I work in Japan and pay into their scheme. I wonder if I pay into the British one too will I be able to collect both on retirement?

I'd hate to pay into the UK one only to be told that I couldn't claim it when the time came.

Many thanks.

Yes. Put it this way op, if you are single will you be looking for a 55 year old Thai women? Sure there maybe nothing wrong with her skills, personality, etc but why would you if you can get one 20 years younger?

Excellent reply Cuban. Yes you are so right about the time thing. Hate to see (where I am now) so many dogs kept as fashion accessories and waddling around obsely due to the complete lack of care shown by the owner.

Just googled BARF and looks very interesting. Thanks for that.

Just curious and after a ball park figure.

A medium sized mongrel. Food, vet bills, etc. averaged out over the month. Anybody willing to give a number?

Don't think that you have suddenly become more handsome, charming and younger looking just because you took a 12 hour flight.

Just because some of you can't handle eating Thai food and have to pay your girlfriends salaries doesn't mean everyone lives like you... in fact, I don't even think the OP even asked for anyone's opinion of his income... to me it sounded like he said that's what he DECIDED to spend a month...

To the OP, I know many people 25-40ish who live this way in BKK, and we manage to have our share of fun. Most of us don't need to buy our company (unless someone wants to be guaranteed a no-strings.. never mind.. haha), we enjoy sitting at holes in the wall drinking 100 baht a pitcher Thai beer, and love Thai food. I refuse to pay 30,000 baht per month on a room when I'm perfectly happy paying 6,000, and I'm a 10 minute walk to where I spend most of my time or to the BTS and MRT. I think you will find people "like you" anywhere you decide to live - Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Ayyuthaya, anywhere.

Thanks for this. Yes, you are right. I am not worried about living on an income as I love rice, don't smoke. 5 small beers is a heavy night for me and probably most pertinent; don't need/want to pay for female company above the usual bf expenses.

I am though more concerned with finding a good set of friends.

I know yours is in your ear but..................

I get fungal infections on my feet now and again. Actually I just got back from the Philippines and couldn't believe how flaky the soles were. By far the worst ever. So I do what I always do; pee on them every time I take a shower.

It is by far the best treatment for athelets foot I know. Safe, 100% effective and of course free.

Try swabbing a cotton bud and gently rubbing your ear for a few seconds. Wash out your ear a minute later. I'd be willing to bet that it's gone in a few days.

If you do try it I would love to know if it works.

I'm 40, by no means rich, but I can live in Thailand on about 40k a month. I am university educated but a bit of a slacker. I dont strive to meet success and success doesnt strive to meet me Open to meeting anyone but do like mates from the same age range and social class as myself. (lol, yes I am a Brit:)

Am I right in thinking that there are more older retirees in a place like Chiangmai?

Pattaya, yobs from Essex?.....sorry just watched "Trouble in Tourist Thailand"

High flying expats in BK?

Sorry if I am way off the mark.

Anyway, which place am I most likely to meet guys in their early 40's who have managed to amass a bit of cash and want to live a normal life on a 40kish type of income? I'm thinking of a bit of sport in the morning, maybe a coffee in the afternoon watching the girls go by and a beer or two in the evening type of thing.

Of course most guys in my age range are married, have kids and are paying off the mortgage, but I am hoping there are a few who have chosen a different life to live. Where is the best city in Thailand to find them?

Would somebody mind saying how much a typical lunch costs? I am curious as I really have no idea about Mexican food. Actually, I only had my first mexican lunch last week in a restuarant in Osaka, Japan. A vegetarian set that has got me eager to try some more. If anyone cares, that cost 350bht plus a bottle of Mexican beer at 120bht. This is a pretty good deal for Japan. Dinner would be considerably more.

The 10kg is for life I should have said. Of course you can't take the 100k then lose the weight.

For me the answer is very easy. I'd choose to be in Thailand and fit every time. And it really puts the importance of money in it's place.

I wonder if there is a correlation too in what people say you need to live on in Thailand and how they would answer that question.

I am really looking forward to how this poll turns out and your comments.

Bk like all cities doesn't stay the same. For one thing, the wife insists that when she went to school, 20 years ago she wore a jacket in the "winter"

So what do the members think will be it's fate? A crime ridden hole that's literally too hot to live in? A modern metropolus that's the jewel of Asia? Something in between?

The wife has a fair bit of property and not that it's on my mind but what happens under Thai law if she dies or we get a divorce? This is to settle an argument really as I have told her that in either case in the UK she gets my house, but I don't think it works the other way.

I know I have seen the football on tv that wasn't UBC and the wife seems to think I can get it on cable for a few hundred baht. 2155bht can't be the cheapest surely? I have no interest in movies, US crap etc.

How much will this 8MB service cost?

What is the cheapest way to get the English premier league in BK or Chiangmai? That's all I want. Don't need anything else, but the footie in English.

Thanks.

Oh and is it different for different cities such as CM, BK or the south?

I guess others with similar taste have asked this question so maybe they could share their experience.

IS IT BETTER TO LIVE IN BK AND ENJOY THE CULTURE OR VISIT FOR A FEW DAYS EVERY 6 MONTHS?

Capital cities have so much to offer. Musuems, gallaries, exhibitions, concerts, lectures, clubs, interesting people, I could go on. If I were a rich man I'd love to live in London, but I am not. But when I am in Bk I love going to the many musuems, the odd event, etc. I am a light drinker, but also enjoy a good bar with live music.

So I am wondering if a man with say a 50k a month budget, (non-smoker, vegetarian, light drinker and def NO pay4play) would be better off in the capital or is Bk both too expensive for a comfortable life that wants to get out and about culturally and maybe just as many say of London; not worth all the downside for the sake of going to the Tate once in a while.

Anybody here who really enjoys musuems, live music etc been through this, maybe tried BK and outside and come to a conclusion?

If you were really in love would you let 7000 Euro stop you?

If she were really in love would she let her family stop her?

The truth is that many western men love money more than people and Thai women love their family more than their man.

I do know that if a pre Mrs Pitt, Angelina Jolie wanted to marry me but insisted that I buy her a 7k engagment ring first..........well consider the ring bought.

5 million baht, but I hope the exchange rate may improve that to 6.

If I rent then 15 to 20k a month.

I plan to live in it.

I am 41, I want to buy an apartment that will last till I am 81. Do you think I need to buy brand new?

I don't know BK very well, I'm just wondering if anybody can recommend an area I should look into.

I want to live in what in western terms would be descibed as an area for"lively young professionals" The suburbs with the kids is just so not me. Really NOT looking for hi-so, just middle class. I do need great transport links, so probably BTS, lively bars, restaurants within a 20 minute walking distance would be great. A big supermarket would be ideal. I love jogging but have resigned myself to joggin in the gym, but if the area was ok for jogging, even at 6am that would be wonderful.

I saw around part of Lumpini park and though it was wonderful it had no sense of community for me. The social separateness that money seems to bring!

I've never lived in a capital city before and guess I may have false hopes (especially on my budget but Bangkok seems to offer a lot, for me, if I can find the right living arrangments. Any suggestions on where to live are warmly received.

Oh and final question. The all important cost.

How much would a 60m2 new apartment in a really good location (must be walkable to the BTS) cost in the area of your choice to either buy or rent?

Must still be jet lagged. I did mean the 25th.

So basically if I can handle yesterday I can handle the hot season?

The wife and I were in BK yesterday (18th) and a couple of Thais said that it was the hot season. My wife though says that it gets a fair bit hotter.

I'd love to know how hot others thought it was becuase if it was hot season weather I feel pretty good. Out and about and felt ok. How much hotter does it get than yesterday?

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I know oyur point on what is fashionable.

For example, in my local Gap a pair of jeans costs 3800 bht. Any idea on the comparable quality in Thailand?