I'd like to start this thread by saying that right now, for me, life is easy.

I have enough money in my pockets, I have food on the table, ale in the fridge and a roof over my head.

I can easily afford 4/5 domestic or international holidays a year and plan to start traveling again once the world has opened up.

 

But it wasn't always this way.

 

When I first decided to live in Bangkok some years ago and was searching for work, I could barely afford my 3,500 baht per month apartment.

It was a small studio apartment in the more run down side of town.

It was difficult to make ends meet back then, but eventually I found work and began to get myself back on my feet..

 

Without a doubt the hardest times I have ever had here was when I first moved to Phuket, without a Job or place to stay.

Eventually I found a room, but that in itself was a mammoth task considering how much money I had in my pocket.

I remember being down to my last 10 baht, with which I purchased a can of coke from the local 7/11.

I made that can of coke last me for 3 days until finally I got the call from the job I had applied.

Thankfully, the company let me take out an immediate advance on my salary which helped me through the next month.

I also had a bad motorbike accident around this time in which I dislocated my elbow and broke it in two places, which meant I couldn't start my new job until 2 months after the proposed start date.

 

The rest is history, now I do my own thing in my own time and I have nobody to answer too.

Life is a lot easier than it used to be, but it sure wasn't always that way.

 

Have any of you lot fell on Hard Times in Thailand?

If so, what was the worst for you? 

Only when I had too much grog and became a Wi..  oo       You get the picure.

i am down to one girlfriend instead of the usual three.

 

its a big adjustment for me.   

 

 

i had 3000 baht when i decided to stay in Thailand
many many years ago
already missed flight and had 2 weeks to find 6000 baht rent
i bought a rice cooker, 2 sacks of rice and some magi
and that was all i ate for 2 months as i got to work (no employer or job)
had a good run for few years
then got down to my last 30k baht
and had to choose to fly back to UK
or take a gamble risking all i had left
the gamble paid off
the rest is history

When I first ended up here through turmoil in my life back in the UK things were tough. I started a business with my Thai wife and had given up a well paid job back home and a riverside detached house in glorious settings to sleep on a concrete floor with no windows and no A/C for a few years.

 

The lack of friends, boredom and problems with the business and immigration rules here gave me plenty of headaches and sometimes regrets that I had committed to this new life.

 

I’ve adjusted, accepted Thailands misgivings and also once I reached UK retirement age became self sufficient. All I have to do is wake up in a morning. I have found meaningful ways of spending my days by alternating between watching pretty women on-line, watching pretty women whilst shopping in Central stores and having a drink or 3.

 

I’d say life's ok…..just waiting anxiously for that day when I wake up with a health issue.

I had little when I arrived in Thailand.

It had the big advantage that no girl decided to go with me because she though she will get rich.

But I still had enough girls at that time - many years ago.

Obviously it's always good to have some money. But Thailand with warm weather and MAMA noodles is still better than many other places even if you have money.

2 minutes ago, DaLa said:

When I first ended up here through turmoil in my life back in the UK things were tough. I started a business with my Thai wife and had given up a well paid job back home and a riverside detached house in glorious settings to sleep on a concrete floor with no windows and no A/C for a few years.

 

The lack of friends, boredom and problems with the business and immigration rules here gave me plenty of headaches and sometimes regrets that I had committed to this new life.

 

I’ve adjusted, accepted Thailands misgivings and also once I reached UK retirement age became self sufficient. All I have to do is wake up in a morning. I have found meaningful ways of spending my days by alternating between watching girls on-line, watching girls whilst shopping in Central stores and having a drink or 3.

 

I’d say life's ok…..just waiting anxiously for that day when I wake up with a health issue.

When that day comes for me, I shall not bother waking up!

What I would call hard times were only experienced in UK .

No.

 

Although I'm not and have never been a rich person I'm very efficient at managing my money. Something my mother instilled in me. 

 

I don't by anything on finance , If I can't pay outright, I don't buy it.

 

And I don't have a joint bank account with my wife....

 

 

 

 

 

Just now, Dmaxdan said:

I don't by anything on finance , If I can't pay outright, I don't buy it.

That is exactly how I live too mate!

I have never owned a credit card in my life and I never will! ???? 

33 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

i am down to one girlfriend instead of the usual three.

 

its a big adjustment for me.   

 

 

However, the lack of maintenance and savings must be delightful. Not to mention the juggling involved. Simplicity can be a delight in itself. And the process of "rotation" can be alot easier to deal with, than the constant headaches of a juggling act!

4 minutes ago, WineOh said:

That is exactly how I live too mate!

I have never owned a credit card in my life and I never will! ???? 

No property or car then?

I regard a mortgage or finance deal the same as a C Card .

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

No property or car then?

I have 5 houses, 2 cars & 2 bikes since you are asking.

And still no credit card in my wallet !

8 minutes ago, WineOh said:

That is exactly how I live too mate!

I have never owned a credit card in my life and I never will! ???? 

Credit cards are useful for online shopping.

7 minutes ago, WineOh said:

That is exactly how I live too mate!

I have never owned a credit card in my life and I never will! ???? 

A cc builds a credit rating 

it is also very important for traveling, booking hotel rooms etc etc etc

so you carry a pack of cash when travelling?

how do u book a hotel or plane tickets?

????????????????????‍♂️????????‍♂️????

Just now, Ron jeremy said:

A cc builds a credit rating 

it is also very important for traveling, booking hotel rooms etc etc etc

so you carry a pack of cash when travelling?

how do u book a hotel or plane tickets?

????????????????????‍♂️????????‍♂️????

Cash is king mate ????

cold hard cash.

9 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

No property or car then?

I regard a mortgage or finance deal the same as a C Card .

 

There are few things as liberating in life as paying cash for a vehicle, and owning a home outright. And there are so many great things to be said about not dealing with a Thai bank, when it comes to financing. Credit cards can be incredibly convenient for budgeting, record keeping, and online purchases. And when you are able to pay off the bill in total each month, it is easy, simple and pleasant. 

2 minutes ago, WineOh said:

by people purposefully de-railing it.

The intent of this topic was genuine, I am interested to see what people have been through and having come out the other side, where they are now..

 

True. But, I would take that as an indicator of people not wanting to air their dirty underwear, so to speak. Many of us have faced hard times in the past. I for one, only discuss it on rare occasion, and then only with close friends, when the topic is relevant. I guess it might be considered too personal?

4 minutes ago, WineOh said:

Cash is king mate ????

cold hard cash.

So you want/need to book a flight urgently back to wherever you come from. How?

32 minutes ago, WineOh said:

There is nothing that says you are required to read any posts that you do not wish to read.

 

Yeah I probably wouldnt have read it if it hadnt been for the 'tricky' headline lol!

 

I had continuous "hard" times living and working in Bangkok until we moved to a very quiet village in Isaan........far less temptations now.

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

 

True. But, I would take that as an indicator of people not wanting to air their dirty underwear, so to speak. Many of us have faced hard times in the past. I for one, only discuss it on rare occasion, and then only with close friends, when the topic is relevant. I guess it might be considered too personal?

I get your point.

But as this is an anonymous forum I figured this shouldn't be too much of an issue. 

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 

There are few things as liberating in life as paying cash for a vehicle, and owning a home outright. And there are so many great things to be said about not dealing with a Thai bank, when it comes to financing. Credit cards can be incredibly convenient for budgeting, record keeping, and online purchases. And when you are able to pay off the bill in total each month, it is easy, simple and pleasant. 

I don't know which part of this reply WineOh is Thanking, the first about paying for a car or house outright, or the second part about the usefullness of a Credit Card.

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I don't know which part of this reply WineOh is Thanking, the first about paying for a car or house outright, or the second part about the usefullness of a Credit Card.

for a guy who finds this thread 'pointless', you sure are piping up a lot! ???? 

When i first came here i used to have it hard two or three times a day ,after being married for 22 years and getting older i find its hard a lot less these days,  

9 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Credit cards are useful for online shopping.

I have never had a problem using a debit card for online business which also means Im spending my money not borrowing as with a credit card.  I too have never had a credit card because I have always got by previously without one so why start?  Credit cards are a trap designed by the banks to get you into debt.  Sure, some people can manage them and actually benefit from them but many cant.

Just now, KannikaP said:

Come on then, photos of your houses, cars, bikes and your wallet.   LOL

on yer bike mate. 

Life is a bowl of cherries, every now and then you get a pit....

6 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Come on then, photos of your houses, cars, bikes and your wallet.   LOL

you show me yours and I'll show you mine ???? 

19 minutes ago, WineOh said:

Cash is king mate ????

cold hard cash.

Not quite getting it are you 

My credit cards are ALL registered under the name Walter P.Mitty.

 

My credit limit is so "uuge" I could purchase the Taj Mahal and The House of the Rising Sun (Ban Poo,Pattaya) without working up a sweat in a knee trembler...

 

Pretty much in line with most other TVF posters,I would assume.