Why 800k, Why not 80k?

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, wgdanson said:

On Bht 8000 a month you must be living rather frugally, I assume you pay no rent, very little electricity, do not have internet or health insurance.

Exactly. And people who say they can support themselves on an amount that does not include health insurance are not, in fact, able to support themselves.

 

Being self-supporting includes more than being able to pay usually daily expenses. It means being able to pay for health care and also to absorb/cope with unexpected emergencies and losses.

 

Most Thais do not, in fact, live on 10K a month. Average wage is a little over 14K per wage earner nationwide (about 25k in Bangkok) , and Thais typically do not live alone but rather in families or with friends sharing resources. They may also inherit land, homes etc or be able to live rent free in a family home. The poster seems to have confused minimum wage with average income. Majority of people make more than minimum wage.

 

A foreigner living in 8K a month is living like a poor Thai, not an average Thai - but worse off in that unlike the Thai they will not have access to medical care or other social assistance when needed.

 

I agree there are people who can live on less than 65K a month, especially those who get fee health cover from past military service or employment, or for whatever reason do nto have to pay for housing.  But hardly on 8K a month.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, KhunFred said:

I live very cheaply in Thailand for about 80 thousand baht a month. I am STILL not at the level of income that Thai Immigration desires to see among its Non-O Visa holders and those receiving yearly extensions of stay. The "gouge factor" truly never ends. A constant process of "feeding the tiger".

?

 

At 80k/month you are well above the income TI requires.

[youreavinalaff]

7 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Exactly. And people who say they can support themselves on an amount that does not include health insurance are not, in fact, able to support themselves.

 

Being self-supporting includes more than being able to pay usually daily expenses. It means being able to pay for health care and also to absorb/cope with unexpected emergencies and losses.

 

Most Thais do not, in fact, live on 10K a month. Average wage is a little over 14K per wage earner nationwide (about 25k in Bangkok) , and Thais typically do not live alone but rather in families or with friends sharing resources. They may also inherit land, homes etc or be able to live rent free in a family home. The poster seems to have confused minimum wage with average income. Majority of people make more than minimum wage.

 

A foreigner living in 8K a month is living like a poor Thai, not an average Thai - but worse off in that unlike the Thai they will not have access to medical care or other social assistance when needed.

 

I agree there are people who can live on less than 65K a month, especially those who get fee health cover from past military service or employment, or for whatever reason do nto have to pay for housing.  But hardly on 8K a month.

Your figures don't work out. If the average wage is 14k a year, yet it is 25k in Bangkok, there are a lot of people living on well under 10k a year. 

[scubascuba3]

after you paid for a flight home when in the IDC

yes but still massively quids in with no visa costs, extension costs insurance 100k. They will be tempted

[owl sees all]

14 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Most Thais do not, in fact, live on 10K a month. Average wage is a little over 14K per wage earner nationwide (about 25k in Bangkok) , and Thais typically do not live alone but rather in families or with friends sharing resources. They may also inherit land, homes etc or be able to live rent free in a family home. The poster seems to have confused minimum wage with average income. Majority of people make more than minimum wage.

3

The wage up here in Isaan is 300Baht a day. That's about 9k a month tops.

 

I don't think the poster is at all confused. Of course 8k a month is livable. I could do it easily.

[youreavinalaff]

10 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

The wage up here in Isaan is 300Baht a day. That's about 9k a month tops.

 

I don't think the poster is at all confused. Of course 8k a month is livable. I could do it easily.

300 is supposed to be minimum wage. Banks, BigC, Makro, etc will pay more but on the flip side some contractors will pay less for manual labour. Then take into account many over 50s who cannot get jobs and there fore have no income. I would say that someone living in Isaan would be, in general, quite happy with 8000 a month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nausea]

Sh*t, Bert M, you have me tagged totally, apart from a rather smart p/up in the drive - my SO's pride and joy. Anyway, it's fairly obvious the 800k requirement is designed to prop up the Thai economy, and has little to do with actual spending. Personally, I think it's gonna hurt when all the UK expats go home. My sister has a room ready, ha! Can't say I really disagree, it's probably better to spend the money in the home economy rather than waste it here for personal enjoyment. Four dogs and an SO are gonna miss me though, and I have some other income streams coming online, just not now. By the way, my spending here has been way over the 800,000 benchmark, and probably would be in the future. But you can't spend it and have it hanging around in a bank.

[Peasandmash]

23 minutes ago, nausea said:

Sh*t, Bert M, you have me tagged totally, apart from a rather smart p/up in the drive - my SO's pride and joy. Anyway, it's fairly obvious the 800k requirement is designed to prop up the Thai economy, and has little to do with actual spending. Personally, I think it's gonna hurt when all the UK expats go home. My sister has a room ready, ha! Can't say I really disagree, it's probably better to spend the money in the home economy rather than waste it here for personal enjoyment. Four dogs and an SO are gonna miss me though, and I have some other income streams coming online, just not now. By the way, my spending here has been way over the 800,000 benchmark, and probably would be in the future. But you can't spend it and have it hanging around in a bank.

The 2017 Thai GDP is nearly $500 billion (dollars). If there are 100K expats living in Thailand each with ฿800K (baht) in a Thai bank account it would be a couple percent of the GDP.  Not much of a prop up. Furthermore, you claim to spend ฿800K (baht) is that a year? And yet you can't save ฿800K (baht)? You and the guy that claims he spends ฿8000 baht a month should get together and compare budgets and spending habits. LOL

[jimmyyy]

I don't even think anyone in Thailand cares if i spend 1.2 million Thai baht a year or not. But I do....   They just make it up as they go along lads.  All we can do is ride the wave or simply jump off our board and call for a jet ski out of here.   

[fforest1]

1 hour ago, CGW said:

 

I'm surprised they haven't raised the amount from 800k to be honest, been at that figure a long time! 

800,000 Baht or around 25,000 dollars is a substantial amount of money to most average people in the west...Even for people with good paying jobs it can take years to save 25,000 dollars after paying living expenses and taxes...

So why would they need to raise the 800,000 ?

[sfokevin]

3 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

can we see a breakdown of your expenses please.

High on the list would be hand cream... 

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

The wage up here in Isaan is 300Baht a day. That's about 9k a month tops.

 

I don't think the poster is at all confused. Of course 8k a month is livable. I could do it easily.

How many people are working in 1 household on average?

"8k a month is livable. I could do it easily."

Sure, and go to "Go fund me" when you need a doctor. 

[CGW]

54 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

So why would they need to raise the 800,000 ?

I said I was surprised they hadn't raised the figure, not whether or not they "needed" to.

The 800k figure was set ~ 20 years ago? add inflation in, that figure has now become considerably higher, why did they set the number at 800k so many years ago? certainly wasn't to encourage people that wanted to live on 8k a month to settle here. ????

[owl sees all]

9 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

How many people are working in 1 household on average?

"8k a month is livable. I could do it easily."

Sure, and go to "Go fund me" when you need a doctor. 

I am doing it Frits.

 

I don't bother with doctors. Never have liked or trusted them, especially the ones in Thailand, prancing about with their white coats, who have bought their position, and whose main aim is to relieve me of any money I might have.

 

Dentists; I pull out my own teeth. Don't need their services.

 

Anyway, I've got my pink ID now some I'm nearly a Thai.

[FritsSikkink]

5 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Anyway, I've got my pink ID now some I'm nearly a Thai.

A poor "Thai"

[JimmyJ]

5 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Its 800K THB because the Government says so,

they really don't want people living on less than

most Thais.

regards Worgeordie

 

Less than most Thais!

 

The vast majority of US citizens can not come up with $500 USD.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2016/01/06/63-of-americans-dont-have-enough-savings-to-cover-a-500-emergency/#531673cc4e0d
 

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a BS story, she can eat better food, clothes and doesn't have to drink so much

Not BS so you can keep your ignorant assumptions to your self.

 

She could have eaten better food but didn't, her choice.

She could have done may things to improve her life but didn't, her choice.

Maybe she could have chosen not to drink the excess but didn't, her choice.

She was unhappy and unpopular in the village because she got crazy when drunk and was drinking herself into an early grave.

 

Now she doesn't have the excess money to spend on drink things are very different. we asked if she wanted more and she said no.

 

So butt out

[ExpatDraco]

8,000 Baht a month is existing, not living! I'm hardly extravagant - yet my electric bill alone still averages 6k a month though. Doesn't leave a lot for "quality" food and drink!
Sure Thai people can live on next to nothing, I'm not Thai, I don't want to just "exist" 
I'm surprised they haven't raised the amount from 800k to be honest, been at that figure a long time! 

An electric bill of 6k? You paying for all the neighborhood or what?

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I dunno what are you complaining about. You deposit 800,000k and in a year you get 8,000 baht interest.

 

That's like Thailand giving you extra month to live for free!

 

It's a win - win!

[sometimewoodworker]

14 minutes ago, ExpatDraco said:

3 hours ago, CGW said:

8,000 Baht a month is existing, not living! I'm hardly extravagant - yet my electric bill alone still averages 6k a month though. Doesn't leave a lot for "quality" food and drink!
Sure Thai people can live on next to nothing, I'm not Thai, I don't want to just "exist" 
I'm surprised they haven't raised the amount from 800k to be honest, been at that figure a long time! 

An electric bill of 6k? You paying for all the neighborhood or what?

Right I've just payed 3 houses total 2,500. add on 2 internet bills and its 3,200

[CGW]

36 minutes ago, ExpatDraco said:

3 hours ago, CGW said:

 

An electric bill of 6k? You paying for all the neighborhood or what?

No ???? probably fair to assume I'm paying more than you do though, I'm not complaining, happy to pay that amount to live the lifestyle I want to live, I perspired enough working to get where I could retire in comfort, be damned if I am going to have any more unnecessary sweaty days now 

[jackdd]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Majority of people make more than minimum wage. 

But quite alot of people also make way less than minimum wage. I'm living just a bit outside Udon Thani city (10-15 minutes to the center, still Amphoe Meuang), and even here people working at restaurants and similar places get paid 200 THB per day (10-12 hours of work), the loan level will for sure not increase if you go further away from the city. Of course their income doesn't appear in any statistic because it's illegal

[FritsSikkink]

47 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Not BS so you can keep your ignorant assumptions to your self.

 

She could have eaten better food but didn't, her choice.

She could have done may things to improve her life but didn't, her choice.

Maybe she could have chosen not to drink the excess but didn't, her choice.

She was unhappy and unpopular in the village because she got crazy when drunk and was drinking herself into an early grave.

 

Now she doesn't have the excess money to spend on drink things are very different. we asked if she wanted more and she said no.

 

So butt out

That she is an alcoholic and can't make a proper decisions has nothing to do with the fact that you can have a nicer live with more money.

[FritsSikkink]

3 minutes ago, jackdd said:

But quite alot of people also make way less than minimum wage. I'm living just a bit outside Udon Thani city (10-15 minutes to the center, still Amphoe Meuang), and even here people working at restaurants and similar places get paid 200 THB per day (10-12 hours of work), the loan level will for sure not increase if you go further away from the city. Of course their income doesn't appear in any statistic because it's illegal

If one has to compare their live with the lower paid part of a developing country, it is pretty sad. 

[Hoppyone]

6 hours ago, wgdanson said:

On Bht 8000 a month you must be living rather frugally, I assume you pay no rent, very little electricity, do not have internet or health insurance.

Good luck to him if he can budget his money to live on 8,000 month long he’s enjoying his life

[ExpatDraco]

No [emoji846] probably fair to assume I'm paying more than you do though, I'm not complaining, happy to pay that amount to live the lifestyle I want to live, I perspired enough working to get where I could retire in comfort, be damned if I am going to have any more unnecessary sweaty days now 

I live in a 3 bedroom house, with 2 bathrooms, 4 aircon units in central Pattaya and I don't pay half of that...I wonder what your lifestyle is then... :-D

[overherebc]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

after you paid for a flight home when in the IDC

3 or 4 months in IDC he can save 24 or 32,000 for the one way ticket.

Hope not sitting next to me on the plane that day. ????????

[wgdanson]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

I am doing it Frits.

 

I don't bother with doctors. Never have liked or trusted them, especially the ones in Thailand, prancing about with their white coats, who have bought their position, and whose main aim is to relieve me of any money I might have.

 

Dentists; I pull out my own teeth. Don't need their services.

 

Anyway, I've got my pink ID now some I'm nearly a Thai.

What is your own treatment for prostate cancer, or a heart attack, or a brain tumour?

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, Hoppyone said:

Good luck to him if he can budget his money to live on 8,000 month long he’s enjoying his life

As many have already mentioned, the op why not 8000baht...was bit of nonesence. 4 pages later I see very few posts actually related to visa matters. Which is what the forum is for. As some have posted... Its 800k because they state its 800k. Why can't I even get an annual 12 extension based on retirement in Vietnam? Why... Because Vietnam does not have them. Can go on and on. If folks don't like the visa options/rules then move on. As far as what expats spend here per year is same as "how long is piece of string". The op posting that he lives on 8000b, well good, but what's the point. I spend about 1.5million/yr, but again, what's the point. Its not a competition. You spend what you want or can afford that suits you. None of which is related to visas. 

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, nasa123 said:

And soon all have to show proof of health insurance for the whole period when they make the extension, this be a BIG problem for many many people ????.

Where did that info come from?.

It has been suggested for O-A. Note suggested.