Briton Cuts Living Costs With Move to Chiang Mai

9 minutes ago, Off Piste said:

Phenomenal for 3M Thb, even in 2012.........................

Wait til you see my Office/Music Studio !

51 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

How does he earn his £800 ?

And that is really frugal living if you factor in rent, insurance, electricity, water, food, eating out etc - that's even before entertainment.

Thailand isn't cheap for a good standard of living.

If you are okay eating raw pork in boiled dishwasher water, never turn the a/c on, sip on one drink all night slowly, live in a cardboard box, then maybe you could get by.

Personally i never believe any of these 'i moved to thailand stories' that appear once a year in the UK tabloids.

Also these streamers who derive income from social media - most should be declaring that to the UK.

didn’t he say he sold up his house and everything? My nephew just bought a house near Glastonbury and is paying 400 000 £.

Well invested that sort of money can earn. I sold my buisness and invested and I haven’t touched the money yet. I’m 73.

Then this man will have a pension, and his savings etc.

8 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’d have to see his health insurance before I answered that.

Why would he cost the Thai government. They don’t help with your health bills do they ?

42 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I am not sure if I follow,

When this DTV visa expires, he or whoever, make a fresh application from outside Thailand for a new one.

Not guaranteed! There are no clear statements as to whether a completely new DTV can be applied for. Since visa rules change more often than I change my socks, one should have a plan B.... (or C or.....)

10 hours ago, wil iam not said:

Me and my wife live comfortably on Bht 35000 per month here in Phitsanulok. House & cars are paid for. We do not frequent bars as the nearest one is 30 km away. Most food bought in local market. Air-con only when over 30 outside. Also pay 7000 per month for son's College.

this is so true, i spent a 3rd when i lived too far from gogo bars,

but damn it is boring

37 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Would love to see a photo. Mine cost me Bht 3M which at the time (2012) was GBP60k.

Where will he pay tax, not in UK for sure. And the Thai tax system is prestty easy to understand, and claim many allowances.

Is that a hotel? :) How many family members are leaching off your generosity? :)

1 minute ago, mordothailand said:

this is so true, i spent a 3rd when i lived too far from gogo bars,

but damn it is boring

Not if you have things to keep you interested at home, like producing music on my PC, cooking, and eating, teaching my Grandson English, gardening, watching telly, listening to Classic FM,

And occasionally, answering OPs on AN! 555

4 minutes ago, mordothailand said:

this is so true, i spent a 3rd when i lived too far from gogo bars,

but damn it is boring

Will made a music studio in his home.......perhaps it's time for some renovations at yours...................

4 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Is that a hotel? :) How many family members are leaching off your generosity? :)

Maybe your family leech (not leach) off YOU, but I have four bedrooms, me & Mrs, her daughter, grandson and a spare double, all en-suite of course.

A big kitchen/dining room, lounge with 65" media centre, and my Office/ Music Studio.

Her family live very close, but have seldomly asked to borrow money, and always paid it back when they said they would.

Now come on, what's your family situation?

49 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Would love to see a photo. Mine cost me Bht 3M which at the time (2012) was GBP60k.

Where will he pay tax, not in UK for sure. And the Thai tax system is prestty easy to understand, and claim many allowances.

Will do will when its finishedWilliam.

33 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Not guaranteed! There are no clear statements as to whether a completely new DTV can be applied for. Since visa rules change more often than I change my socks, one should have a plan B.... (or C or.....)

Now 45, his next plan might be retirement visa at 50.

Very few stick Thailand long term. The ones that do are so financially commited that admitting they were wrong is not an idea they will allow. They attack with venom any one who points out any negatively about Thailand. Keep the rose coloured glasses on because if you let them slip you will be booking your flight back home tomorrow.

13 minutes ago, BritScot said:

Very few stick Thailand long term. The ones that do are so financially commited that admitting they were wrong is not an idea they will allow. They attack with venom any one who points out any negatively about Thailand. Keep the rose coloured glasses on because if you let them slip you will be booking your flight back home tomorrow.

You are entitled to your opinion but it seems you have a chip on your shoulder. 37 years here happily married, raised twin daughters who are 28 here until they finished high school They went on to uni in Americs and now live and work there.

Nice house here, and can travel as we like. Life is good.

Sorry for whatever happened to you but there are thousands of us happy here and would not give it up. You are advising to keep the rose tinted glasses on, I would advise you to try to get that huge chip off your shoulder.

10 hours ago, Packer said:

I don't believe this man is only 45.

Had a tough paper round as a boy. 😉

17 minutes ago, BritScot said:

Very few stick Thailand long term. The ones that do are so financially commited that admitting they were wrong is not an idea they will allow. They attack with venom any one who points out any negatively about Thailand. Keep the rose coloured glasses on because if you let them slip you will be booking your flight back home tomorrow.

Nah not all of us.

I could walk away tomorrow, and still have assets and money out side of Thailand to start again.

I just don't wish to do that, Thailand is mostly ok.

But must admit if the marriage went south, I would most likely go and start a fresh elsewhere.

I'm happy staying six months a year then back to blighty for health reasons having a triple bypass and defib fitted i cant or get a cheapish medical insurence.

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

@atpeace your health insurance seems cheap in your monthly budget?

100k deductible and I was surprised also how cheap it is with this deductible. I don't care about forking out 100k so this type of insurance works for me. I also have no exclusions and 50yo. I use AXA because I prefer local companies because of there huge payment networks and tiny hospitals in the middle of nowhere always know exactly the process to verify coverage. I always seem to get in trouble in the sticks but I left the risky stuff behind in 2016 and have never used my insurance since then.

ahhh an immigrant wanting a better life. I wonder what visa he uses ?

9 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Forty five is much too young to retire

I retired at 40 and am now 60, looking back, my only regret was not retiring earlier.i had a near death experience at 35 that really clarified what was important in life to me, (sold my business, left me then wife etc) I'd recommend it to everyone, with the emphasis on the near.

We currently boomerang travel. We slow travel thru SE Asia for 8 months then back to Aus for 4 months. It's cheaper for me to live in Australia (free electricity (in credit) from solar on my roof, free fuel for my ecar and ebike for said solar panels, as much beef as I want from the neighbor agisting his cows on my few spare acres up the back land, my Chef gf loves to prepare superb meals and grows some of her own fresh veg, have dozens of fruit trees giving fruit etc

Activities in Aus near me are free like my local pool for lapping across Summer, free local library (an avid reader) , hiking, mountain bike riding, cycling and fishing and a great home gym, cheap medical and subsidised prescriptions. I don't drink or smoke so the price of that anywhere is irrelevant to any budget. Living the cheap life in Aus easily allows me to save enough money from my investing to travel for the 8 months in Asia + reinvest on top, currently on month 2 here in Malaysia.

I don't think Thailand has yet brought in the 30 day thing into legislation ?, so well try our hand for 60 days this year next week and then Cambodia after that and skip Thailand next year with its shorted stay and spend more time in Malaysia.

29 minutes ago, marin said:

You are entitled to your opinion but it seems you have a chip on your shoulder. 37 years here happily married, raised twin daughters who are 28 here until they finished high school They went on to uni in Americs and now live and work there.

Nice house here, and can travel as we like. Life is good.

Sorry for whatever happened to you but there are thousands of us happy here and would not give it up. You are advising to keep the rose tinted glasses on, I would advise you to try to get that huge chip off your shoulder.

Beat me to it, thanks. My thoughts exactly. Spouse and I are two of the 'happy thousands'.

3 hours ago, Packer said:

You are happy going for dinner in a Big C food court. That is telling. 🙂

Renting at 45 years of age..... and needs to save on it........ 🙄

I just don't get why you are upset that he is doing fine with 35k. I get the impression you on the other hand are struggling to find meaning in life and think bringing down others might improve your standing in life. Seriously, most judge you by your actions and not the story your trying to sell...

52 minutes ago, BritScot said:

Very few stick Thailand long term. The ones that do are so financially commited that admitting they were wrong is not an idea they will allow. They attack with venom any one who points out any negatively about Thailand. Keep the rose coloured glasses on because if you let them slip you will be booking your flight back home tomorrow.

Where are you living now? How is life? I assume you like England and the immigrants situation. I have no opinion about England because I don't live there and can't figure out if the immigration is a good thing or bad.

Personally I think you are a shallow thinker and can't relate to others that have been successful here because you weren't.

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

Maybe your family leech (not leach) off YOU, but I have four bedrooms, me & Mrs, her daughter, grandson and a spare double, all en-suite of course.

A big kitchen/dining room, lounge with 65" media centre, and my Office/ Music Studio.

Her family live very close, but have seldomly asked to borrow money, and always paid it back when they said they would.

Now come on, what's your family situation?

None - either dead or departed to another planet :) Every dollar I earn is spent on me or my educational charity in Myanmar :)

21 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I just don't get why you are upset that he is doing fine with 35k. I get the impression you on the other hand are struggling to find meaning in life and think bringing down others might improve your standing in life. Seriously, most judge you by your actions and not the story your trying to sell...

Less typing, more eating. Your Big C foodcourt dinner will get colder. 🙂

40 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

I'm happy staying six months a year then back to blighty for health reasons having a triple bypass and defib fitted i cant or get a cheapish medical insurence.

Will you have to prove to the NHS people that your moving 'permanently' back to UK. Otherwise you will have to pay 150% of the cost as you did not arrive via a dinghy!

Can't blame the guy leaving the UK

the Labour government have taxed the working class to much

it's getting to the stage where some people are better off on the dole not working getting the benefits

So don't blame people leaving for a better life

Good luck to him and others thinking of doing the same

6 minutes ago, Packer said:

Less typing, more eating. Your Big C foodcourt dinner will get colder. 🙂

Haven't been to a Big C food court or any food court in years. I just don't need to look down on others to feel better about a lacking life. Do you think we can't see your desperation?

How many guys around the world lead a depressing life as they do not have enough $$ to cover the ever increasing basic costs where they live. Many have been through divorces and the kids are grown and gone and they have little if any social life. Wake up and realize the clock is ticking and life is not a dress rehearsal or spend your remaining days watching TV and whining about life.

I see nothing wrong with looking for a "new experience" in a new place ...whether it is for six months or rest of their lives at least they give it a shot. Some are able to handle it intelligently and not get sucked dry by a girl 1/2 their age. Others have no clue as to how to live a good life in places like Thailand for a fraction of what they pay back in hometown and will burn out and never come to terms with Thailand life.

The guys that think with their big head and not the little one who indeed spend time in Thailand I suspect will NOT say on their deathbed....gee i wish i had not done that? Most people seem to regret what they did not do/try more than what they did do.

As Forest Gump said: "I may be an idiot but at least I ain't led no hum drum life"

2 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

The cost of living in Chiang Mai is highly dependent on your lifestyle, particularly when it comes to your housing choices and diet. For a single person, a realistic monthly budget ranges from $650 USD (approx. ฿22,000 THB) on the budget/local end to $1,200+ USD (approx. ฿41,000+ THB) for a more comfortable digital nomad or expat lifestyle.

What is the source of these figures you quote, in bold?

50 minutes ago, atpeace said:

100k deductible and I was surprised also how cheap it is with this deductible. I don't care about forking out 100k so this type of insurance works for me. I also have no exclusions and 50yo. I use AXA because I prefer local companies because of there huge payment networks and tiny hospitals in the middle of nowhere always know exactly the process to verify coverage. I always seem to get in trouble in the sticks but I left the risky stuff behind in 2016 and have never used my insurance since then.

You say you have no exclusions. Maybe wait until you try to make a claim and they say 'Sorry, pre-existing Conditions' from a hospital visit 20 years ago. Or that they do not do direct payment, you pay up front and we may give it back to you after extensive investigations into your past medical history.

1 minute ago, wil iam not said:

You say you have no exclusions. Maybe wait until you try to make a claim and they say 'Sorry, pre-existing Conditions' from a hospital visit 20 years ago. Or that they do not do direct payment, you pay up front and we may give it back to you.

I gave them all my records and had them confirm that I had no pre-existing conditions. Too much going back and forth but in the end it worked out. I supplied information of accidents going back 25 years and records confirming complete recovery. Broken bones and shredded lungs but all completely recovered with time.
Do you have insurance?

4 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I gave them all my records and had them confirm that I had no pre-existing conditions. Too much going back and forth but in the end it worked out. I supplied information of accidents going back 25 years and records confirming complete recovery. Broken bones and shredded lungs but all completely recovered with time.
Do you have insurance?

Not at 78 years old. I have used the local University Hospital for a couple of minor ops, gall bladder out, all my annual test only cost Bht 2500 a throw, PSA is Bht 300.

But so many guys on here have said that their Insurance would not pay up even though ancient injuries, wounds and illnesses have completely gone. They want to keep your premium, not pay out to you.