Thailand's foreign retirees see their good life slip away

[BRUFC]

2 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

My personal concern about keeping the 800,000 in the bank, is not that I cannot access it,or afford to lock that amount up, but if Thailand decides to change the laws during a time of unrest, and  acquire the funds of farang and order us from the country, then we are royally screwed.

That is all some people have for security.

 

 

Yep, you've hit the nail squarely on the head. I use the 65000 baht per month and that which I don't spend I send back to UK and use it the next month within the 65000. So, when the ordure hits the fan ( may or may not, I'm not an expert) I'm down 65000 at the most....others potentially much more. With different anti West signals coming from different Gov. depts it makes sense to me.

[NCC1701A]

16 minutes ago, Chrysaora said:

Wealthy people rarely discuss their wealth.  

 

Just saying.

that is a old myth.

[Farangwithaplan]

34 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Decimated would be 10%.

 

More lazy phone in journalism.

Thrice decimated?

[AverageBloke]

44 minutes ago, AllThaiedUp said:

Here's the problem. There's a bunch of old gits that remember Thailand from the 70s the 80s and maybe even the 90s but sorry to say things change. Now there is technology and the Thai girls have it too. Maybe these old gits had a girlfriend and those were the days. To time a telephone call to a phone booth or maybe send a letter. Those days are over get over it!

 

Things will never be like they were before been there and done that too

Why do you feel the need to say things that you probably wouldn't dare say in person? It doesn't make you sound worldly or wise, if anything it does the opposite. 

[david555]

1 hour ago, aussienam said:

Yes, if there was ever a run on the banks similar to what has occurred in other developing nations and the government blocked withdrawals then we would all be screwed.  And complain you'll be deported LOL.

Avoid total disaster by taking your allowed 400K in cash , as soon allowed...., and only return it to bank when the needed date is there again , at least you have  400K under your own hand if you fear some unrest situations ...

 

Cash is still king, Gold emperor , and plastic is only money as long no body press a special  button or certain  phone call …… after that it is only plastic ….same for bank account

Edited March 5, 2020 by david555

[mick220675]

Its not just the foreign retirees that have seen things get worse. The average Thai has seen a fall in living standards over the last few years. It may be party time for the Bangkok rich but in rural Thailand things are returning to pre-Thaksin days.

[ChipButty]

100 taxi's returned to the finance company last week so Thai's are suffering

[albertik]

1 hour ago, Stocky said:

Decimated would be 10%.

 

More lazy phone in journalism.

Fake news

[BigStar]

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Pride comes before a fall Thailand, be careful, you don't innovate, very little of what you produce is Thai designed and owned, that can also one day disappear like the snow in March and you will be left as a lengthened workbench for China where they dictate the price.

Yes, ma'am. Very scary warning sure to be heeded.

[fruitman]

3 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Not only british ; every people from " EU-27  " have lost more than 30% since about 10 years .

Even Norvegian people lost much and yet they don't have euro currency 

Stop Assurancetourix, Europeans don't count on this forum...it's all about the americans and brits.

[BigStar]

3 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

My personal concern about keeping the 800,000 in the bank, is not that I cannot access it,or afford to lock that amount up, but if Thailand decides to change the laws during a time of unrest, and  acquire the funds of farang and order us from the country, then we are royally screwed.

That is all some people have for security.

Exactly. They've changed laws so many times during the last 50 years of unrest regarding foreigners bank accounts. Why should Thailand want any such? My advice is to run. Now. They're soon going to kick out all the foreigners and confiscate not only your funds but all your property, too, right down to your coffee maker. Then you'll be held in detention until you get more from abroad. RUN! You've been warned.

[BigStar]

1 hour ago, Ventenio said:

but SOONER or later, some farangs will wake up and say, "good life?"

I'm already awake and I say, "good life!"

[metisdead]

Some off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[OneMoreFarang]

I think the biggest difference is 500B vs 3000B.

 

I am happy in Thailand but if I wouldn't be here already then I don't think I would select Thailand as the paradise to live in (like it was 20 years ago).

[Stocky]

1 hour ago, Farangwithaplan said:

Thrice decimated?

Nah, that would only be 2.7 times decimation

 

[ozz1]

Us Aussies  on the pension have seen our income loose 30 percent on exchange rates but I've been here for long enough to realize you can get by just I don't go out as much as I'm married to a thai and she works she doesn't get much but we are happy and get by try living back in Australia on the pension then you will see how good you have it here with all it's faults it's still a great place to live that's my opinion anyway

[Traubert]

3 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Pride comes before a fall Thailand, be careful, you don't innovate, very little of what you produce is Thai designed and owned, that can also one day disappear like the snow in March and you will be left as a lengthened workbench for China where they dictate the price.

Ooohhh. Goody. ????

[JingerBen]

25 minutes ago, ozz1 said:

Us Aussies  on the pension have seen our income loose 30 percent on exchange rates but I've been here for long enough to realize you can get by just I don't go out as much as I'm married to a thai and she works she doesn't get much but we are happy and get by try living back in Australia on the pension then you will see how good you have it here with all it's faults it's still a great place to live that's my opinion anyway

Your opinion is spot on in my opinion.

[1FinickyOne]

4 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

if Thailand decides to change the laws during a time of unrest, and  acquire the funds of farang and order us from the country,

sure anything is possible but that is quite a ridiculous extrapolation... 

[Ventenio]

 

4 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

  4 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

if Thailand decides to change the laws during a time of unrest, and  acquire the funds of farang and order us from the country,

3 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

sure anything is possible but that is quite a ridiculous extrapolation... 

I will say it's POSSIBLE, sure...  

 

OK, let's say you meet a lady and she says, "hey, someone took my money."  Do you cancel your vacation and run away?  NO.  nobody cares.  

 

We don't want to get involved with anything, and nobody will want to get involved with us....no matter what.  There is a chance it makes headline news, and that might affect a few hundred thousand people.  But not the 30+ zillion who are tourists.  

 

go home and complain, nobody will listen.  

 

you are are your own, so try to protect the one thing you care about..your money

[elliss]

3 hours ago, ianezy0 said:

George Styllis wrote it, it says so at the top ????

His name is under the photo too.

 

We need to arrest and deport this chap before he 

surprises us with more up to date news such as: O-A peeps need health insurance and to not hide because the BMW’s will find you, etc. etc.

 

     Immi now have drones , where's  the wife ? , in the village, again ..

 

[Lacessit]

The 800K requirement has always been there for single retirees. It's only been tightened up to weed out the ones playing silly buggers with dodgy agents.

Admittedly the baht has appreciated. However, I can still live here much better than I would in Australia.

[phuketrichard]

22 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The 800K requirement has always been there for single retirees. It's only been tightened up to weed out the ones playing silly buggers with dodgy agents.

Admittedly the baht has appreciated. However, I can still live here much better than I would in Australia.

YET, the agents are still in Business

Before it was 800,000 the day you applied for the extension and than take ur baht out

than it was 3 months before..than take ur baht out

NOW its 800,000 2 months before, 3 after and you can only take half back

 

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, BigStar said:

Exactly. They've changed laws so many times during the last 50 years of unrest regarding foreigners bank accounts. Why should Thailand want any such? My advice is to run. Now. They're soon going to kick out all the foreigners and confiscate not only your funds but all your property, too, right down to your coffee maker. Then you'll be held in detention until you get more from abroad. RUN! You've been warned.

I'm really freaked out now. when is this going to happen?

Edited March 5, 2020 by NCC1701A

[herwin1234]

Maybe if the pensioners were a bit more kind and positive and integrated better, visa rules would have been relaxed instead of scrwed up. 

Just take a look at TV what cynical garbage ppl talk about Thailand and the deep and unfair insults by many ppl here against Thailand and Thai ppl.   It is just a matter of time before the Thais kicks out farang altogether.

[Lacessit]

14 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

YET, the agents are still in Business

Before it was 800,000 the day you applied for the extension and than take ur baht out

than it was 3 months before..than take ur baht out

NOW its 800,000 2 months before, 3 after and you can only take half back

 

I'd like to see some proof the agents are still in business. The agent I used to deal with in Chiang Mai says his business is about 35% down, and AFAIK he only dealt with legitimate visas and extensions.

On the other hand, I know several people who shifted to Cambodia because they could no longer game the system with the connivance of an agent.

[Farangwithaplan]

1 hour ago, Stocky said:

Nah, that would only be 2.7 times decimation

 

I don't have an adverb for non whole numbers. I rounded ????

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, Ventenio said:

so try to protect the one thing you care about..your money

Yes, I care about my money and there could be craziness in my home country too... unlikely scenarios can happen, and do, but that is very sad that you consider money the one thing you care about... and there is a connection between my money and caring for my family... but family are people and come first... 

[gimo]

5 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

The good life slipping away lol, it's called being financially unprepared. Anybody who tries to retire in a foreign country on the cheap is a fool..

  Being financially unprepared is unavoidable for some .  Makes no difference whether you're in a foreign country or your own .

[Bruntoid]

7 hours ago, Ian Nagle said:

So dumb... the biggest losers are the Thai people. Still, that's no skin off the ruling 2% nose as, they plough their money into western real estate and international off shore ventures.

Which ventures ?