Expats have it good in Thailand.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

Yanhee is better than most Oz ones. Far better service.

 

Dentists in Thailand are 5x cheaper.

 

 

You are extracting the urine, yes?  Yanhee is all plastic surgery, how many expats need that? Did you get some lap banding done there? Or a rhinoplasty?

No argument dentists are cheaper here. As far as comparing Thai private hospitals with Oz private hospitals go, just as expensive and  less qualified, although Bumrungrad is probably an exception.

IME many Thai doctors are shills for the pharmaceutical industry.

[Sparktrader]

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You are extracting the urine, yes?  Yanhee is all plastic surgery, how many expats need that? Did you get some lap banding done there? Or a rhinoplasty?

No argument dentists are cheaper here. As far as comparing Thai private hospitals with Oz private hospitals go, just as expensive and  less qualified, although Bumrungrad is probably an exception.

IME many Thai doctors are shills for the pharmaceutical industry.

False, Yanhee do lots of things. The doctors were excellent, nurses great. Great room. Top notch. 

 

I dont know why people make false claims about hospitals with no experience.

 

 

[Sparktrader]

Just now, Sparktrader said:

far as comparing Thai private hospitals with Oz private

Mostly overrated. Ive had family in 2. They were ordinary. I had an accident, went to newer public it was better.

 

 

[Sparktrader]

 https://medigence.com/hospital/yanhee-international-hospital

• Some of the important healthcare specialties are Cardiac Sciences, ENT, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Gynecology, Neurology, and Orthopedics etc.
• The healthcare delivery by the Yanhee International Hospital stands strong with:
• 155 Physicians
• 183 Medical Specialists
• 2000 nurses and other healthcare personnel

[aussienam]

Overall Thailand is not a bad place to live as a retired expat.  

Wealthy expats of course can still live like 'kings'.  

 

Many of us cannot live like kings, but still can have a better quality life (Cannot stand those bragging expats that feel the need to let others know how well off they are and what they can buy, what women they can have, etc).

 

Just as long as we aren't struck with a permanent medical condition that won't be covered on the next insurance policy renewal (preexisting condition exclusion clause).  Hospital costs for serious matters can be financially ruinous for most if you need to self insure.  

 

Those of us on lower budgeting living, generally avoid Thai women relationships where women don't have steady normal jobs, careers.  Avoid those with baggage (kids, sick parents etc) that will empty your bank accounts. Staying single here is the most affordable way.  Many expats have lost their way from women here.  

 

There is no doubt over the last 20 years, I have noticed Thailand is no longer the same 'cheap' country.  Not saying it's bad if Thai people's quality of life has improved.  Thailand is still reasonably inexpensive on the whole - some things like street food are cheap, other goods and services are not so cheap, like specific medications, imported items can be very very expensive.  I'd guess over time Thailand will price out a lot of expats as no longer an affordable destination and need to find a new place to settle instead.  

[KIngsofisaan]

11 hours ago, SiamAndy said:

My electric bill just went up 62% in the west.

Does it make a difference if you can afford it?

[cocoonclub]

22 hours ago, swissie said:

As it shows, to live in a country, not playing a major role in international politics, with an economy basically "autark" if need be, is not such a bad place to be after all.

That statement is at least exaggerated. The current situation in Europe does not “show” that Thailand is some little economical and political wonderland. You can’t compare Europe with Thailand during a (hopefully) once-in-lifetime war. Shít can hit the fan here too; it did during the Tom Yum Goong crisis. Bad times pass, and then Europe scores much better for many people in many regards. Ask the average retiree about his health insurance situation. 

 

Thailand’s economy also

isn’t “basically autark” either. 20% is tourism, another big portion is international manufacturing. Having an “autark” economy is a pipe dream. Ask Russia and North Korea, even if they don’t wanna admit it. You can’t have an autark economy and enjoy wealth and growth at the same time. 

i agree to the rest of your statement. Thailand is a great place to be, for me personally and I believe for many expats living here, despite their constant moaning. 
 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2022 by cocoonclub

[KIngsofisaan]

11 hours ago, Klonko said:

The degree of criticism of the living conditions in Thailand seems to correlate with the financial inability to freely choose domicile.

100% spot on though the majority will never admit it.

 

[Why Me]

Sorry I am late to this thread. Who won?  Yayers or nayers?

[KIngsofisaan]

11 hours ago, Billy Bloggs said:

I dont usually get involved in others conversation, but where did they insult young people they pointed out that they were signing up for life times to buy over priced properties and given large loans when interest rates were low and many struggle as they rise.

There are places in the US where houses have appreciated US $300,000+ in the past couple years.

 

That appreciation would pay for ~15 years in Thailand at 65,000 baht a month

 

How much has your Thai house appreciated?

 

[KIngsofisaan]

10 hours ago, Makoshark said:

After living in a gorgeous condo on the 33rd fl of Lebua, I returned to the USA 1 year ago for my daughter's wedding. 

 

15 months later, I can't wait to get the Hell out of here, and get back to BKK. I miss the culture, the smiles, and my 3 hour massages 4x a week.

 

My quality of life is so far superior in Thailand than living in the USA, it's not funny. 

 

The smiles are priceless.  As I sold everything I had years ago and arrived with 1 suitcase, I can do it again ! ! ! 

 

Arriving in February ! ! ! 

How do like the air pollution and massive traffic?

[KIngsofisaan]

32 minutes ago, aussienam said:

Overall Thailand is not a bad place to live as a retired expat.  

Wealthy expats of course can still live like 'kings'.  

 

Many of us cannot live like kings, but still can have a better quality life (Cannot stand those bragging expats that feel the need to let others know how well off they are and what they can buy, what women they can have, etc).

 

Just as long as we aren't struck with a permanent medical condition that won't be covered on the next insurance policy renewal (preexisting condition exclusion clause).  Hospital costs for serious matters can be financially ruinous for most if you need to self insure.  

 

Those of us on lower budgeting living, generally avoid Thai women relationships where women don't have steady normal jobs, careers.  Avoid those with baggage (kids, sick parents etc) that will empty your bank accounts. Staying single here is the most affordable way.  Many expats have lost their way from women here.  

 

There is no doubt over the last 20 years, I have noticed Thailand is no longer the same 'cheap' country.  Not saying it's bad if Thai people's quality of life has improved.  Thailand is still reasonably inexpensive on the whole - some things like street food are cheap, other goods and services are not so cheap, like specific medications, imported items can be very very expensive.  I'd guess over time Thailand will price out a lot of expats as no longer an affordable destination and need to find a new place to settle instead.  

Anyone that has earned a high dollar retirement probably did something their entire lives to earn it.

 

Just saying.

[gearbox]

17 minutes ago, KIngsofisaan said:

There are places in the US where houses have appreciated US $300,000+ in the past couple years.

 

That appreciation would pay for ~15 years in Thailand at 65,000 baht a month

 

How much has your Thai house appreciated?

 

They are going to depreciate that much in the next couple of years.

[KIngsofisaan]

9 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

What is there for you to joke about, not being retired says a lot to me, what are you chasing ?

 

It all depends what your looking for in life, for me personally, moving here 12 years earlier than the standard retirement age, i.e. to receive the pension which you wouldn't be able to survive on back in farang land, has proven to me to be the right decision.

 

Weighing up whether to work 14-16 hour days, 6/7ths of what life I had left in me under their false work slogan of (work/home/life balance) wasn't hard for me to see that I was going nowhere except to my grave early.

 

Stress, cost of living rising, never enough time for oneself let alone family, just didn't work for me.

 

Here 7 years, live in huge comfortable house that I couldn't afford to own in farang land unless I wanted the mortgage trap to go with it, just to show off to my friends, you know, keep up with the Smith's & Jones, not me, no thanks, came from a small 3 bedder to a big 6 bedder at 1/10th the cost to build it in farang land, not to mention the land would costs the same, so am miles ahead, and yes it's the wife's she earned it looking after me almost 2 decades on.

 

If you want to keep working, that means you need to, or you enjoy it, but as long as you have a life and aren't caught up in the slave trade, kudos to you, that said, some of us are woke, I can hear my mates back in farang land all having said that they have had enough, their getting older, things are getting tougher and more expensive, and are now asking what is the meaning of all of this, where are we all heading, well for me, I made it on the other side, am content and have been truly enjoying my new life of the past 7 years living here, have enough to keep me going till 101, and still travel back to farang land for a couple of weeks every couple of years to enjoy some of it's beauty, but living there would mean my quality of life would drop 90% and you can't put a figure on that, as life is really short so I will keep enjoying the quality of life I enjoy here till I croak it.

 

How can you enjoy farang land without being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, give us a break will you.

Mortgage trap?

 

 It is called appreciation.

 

I could sell our house in the US for $700,000 now. Was bought for $200,000. 2400 square feet, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage on 1 acre.

 

All paid for.

 

US $700,000 at 38 baht to the dollar = 26,600,000 baht

 

Now if you spent 65,000 baht a month in Thailand, that money would last you ~34 years

 

How is that for a mortgage trap?

 

At 65,000 baht a month, that mortage trap would last you 34 years living in Thailand 

 

 We could get 95,000 - 114,000 baht a month to rent it but we dont

[KIngsofisaan]

9 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

What is there for you to joke about, not being retired says a lot to me, what are you chasing ?

 

It all depends what your looking for in life, for me personally, moving here 12 years earlier than the standard retirement age, i.e. to receive the pension which you wouldn't be able to survive on back in farang land, has proven to me to be the right decision.

 

Weighing up whether to work 14-16 hour days, 6/7ths of what life I had left in me under their false work slogan of (work/home/life balance) wasn't hard for me to see that I was going nowhere except to my grave early.

 

Stress, cost of living rising, never enough time for oneself let alone family, just didn't work for me.

 

Here 7 years, live in huge comfortable house that I couldn't afford to own in farang land unless I wanted the mortgage trap to go with it, just to show off to my friends, you know, keep up with the Smith's & Jones, not me, no thanks, came from a small 3 bedder to a big 6 bedder at 1/10th the cost to build it in farang land, not to mention the land would costs the same, so am miles ahead, and yes it's the wife's she earned it looking after me almost 2 decades on.

 

If you want to keep working, that means you need to, or you enjoy it, but as long as you have a life and aren't caught up in the slave trade, kudos to you, that said, some of us are woke, I can hear my mates back in farang land all having said that they have had enough, their getting older, things are getting tougher and more expensive, and are now asking what is the meaning of all of this, where are we all heading, well for me, I made it on the other side, am content and have been truly enjoying my new life of the past 7 years living here, have enough to keep me going till 101, and still travel back to farang land for a couple of weeks every couple of years to enjoy some of it's beauty, but living there would mean my quality of life would drop 90% and you can't put a figure on that, as life is really short so I will keep enjoying the quality of life I enjoy here till I croak it.

 

How can you enjoy farang land without being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, give us a break will you.

Mortgage trap?

 

 It is called appreciation.

 

I could sell our house in the US for $700,000 now. Was bought for $200,000. 2400 square feet, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage on 1 acre.

 

All paid for.

 

US $700,000 at 38 baht to the dollar = 26,600,000 baht

 

Now if you spent 65,000 baht a month in Thailand, that money would last you ~34 years

 

How is that for a mortgage trap?

 

At 65,000 baht a month, that mortage trap would last you 34 years living in Thailand 

 

 We could get 95,000 - 114,000 baht a month to rent it but we dont

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Sparktrader said:

False, Yanhee do lots of things. The doctors were excellent, nurses great. Great room. Top notch. 

 

I dont know why people make false claims about hospitals with no experience.

 

 

Perhaps it's because they go to the website of the hospital, and see the services they advertise.

[Sparktrader]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Perhaps it's because they go to the website of the hospital, and see the services they advertise.

The website says a range of things. Plastic surgery is good business so they promote it.

 

The hospital is better than most Oz ones Ive been to.

 

 

[Iamfalang]

10 minutes ago, KIngsofisaan said:

 

I could sell our house in the US for $700,000 now. Was bought for $200,000. 2400 square feet, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage on 1 acre.

No, No, NO, Impossible!!!!!

 

You have to remember, the average expat has nothing.  They have been financially destroyed, bitter, hateful and living off about nothing.

 

Therefore, they must talk about how buying is horrible, marriage is the worst, dating girls your own age is evil, money is fake, and everything they want is actually really bad so they won't feel as bad.

 

I wouldn't even engage in such discussions, unless with comedy.

 

Tell them they are right!!!  Tell them renting is the way, and that it's true 40,000,000 baht can't buy happiness.  

 

yea, you got trapped by the financial machine and you are stuck in the trap!!!!   lol.

 

Reminds me of a falang I drank with like 10 years ago and he said money was evil, blah, blah blah and then asked me for 200 baht.  I said NO, of course.   Crazy people here....

[aussienam]

23 minutes ago, KIngsofisaan said:

Anyone that has earned a high dollar retirement probably did something their entire lives to earn it.

 

Just saying.

Wasn't criticizing the wealthy retirees.  I agree that many are enjoying the spoils of a financially successful life because they studied, worked hard, worked smart, sacrificed some things in life perhaps in order to enjoy life later.  

 

Others were perhaps just lucky or fortunate to have inherited fortunes. 

 

Others retired here off the back of drug dealing, fraud, stolen property rackets, etc.  

 

I have heard it all here from the mouths of many individuals.  It is the show-offs I criticize who can't help themselves, but boast about their wealth to others obviously less fortunate.  Especially the crooked expat community who don't deserve having gotten away with their crimes and should be sitting in prison cells back in their countries. 

 

Also I've heard the hard luck stories of those who have had unfortunate experiences whether self inflicted by bad choices, or through bad luck.  Know of a couple of guys now dead from suicide. Sad. 

 

And those in-between (most of us) who are doing okay albeit not wealthy.

[HauptmannUK]

Expats 'have it good' in Thailand because they mostly have an income multiple-times the average Thai salary.  If you're back in your home country with an income, say, four times the average salary then life might not be so bad either.

In another thread, "Poll shows most Thais unable to earn enough to make ends meet".....

Try living on what the average working class Thai has to live on and things are not so rosy. Don't even ask about health care. And that 23-years-younger girlfriend won't hang around for long either....

My wife and I split our time roughly 50/50 between UK and Thailand. I enjoy our time in Thailand and also the UK. In the UK we live in a lovely village in central England. My wife loves it there. She has a UK passport and we take short holidays in Spain, Italy etc.  She's a partner in a local hotel business and earns many multiple times what she could earn in Thailand. The UK has its problems but life is still very good for many. One of my daughters runs a successful restaurant, the other is a doctor. My son is an engineering manager at a car company. All state educated. They have a standard of living and quality of life way better than I had at their age, and I did ok.  I think there are indeed tough times ahead, but there always are.

[The Fugitive]

5 minutes ago, aussienam said:

Also I've heard the hard luck stories of those who have had unfortunate experiences whether self inflicted by bad choices, or through bad luck.  Know of a couple of guys now dead from suicide. Sad. 

These guys I have sympathy for. Or is it empathy? The fact that we remember someone who died even decades later shows that we are human. Or is it that we are so grateful not to have been in their place?

[Sparktrader]

11 hours ago, Makoshark said:

After living in a gorgeous condo on the 33rd fl of Lebua, I returned to the USA 1 year ago for my daughter's wedding. 

 

15 months later, I can't wait to get the Hell out of here, and get back to BKK. I miss the culture, the smiles, and my 3 hour massages 4x a week.

 

My quality of life is so far superior in Thailand than living in the USA, it's not funny. 

 

The smiles are priceless.  As I sold everything I had years ago and arrived with 1 suitcase, I can do it again ! ! ! 

 

Arriving in February ! ! ! 

I agree. The west peaked in 1986. All downhill since pc stuff etc.

 

West has no culture anymore. Thailand does.

 

The west sold its soul. 

[Sparktrader]

14 minutes ago, aussienam said:

Wasn't criticizing the wealthy retirees.  I agree that many are enjoying the spoils of a financially successful life because they studied, worked hard, worked smart, sacrificed some things in life perhaps in order to enjoy life later.  

 

Others were perhaps just lucky or fortunate to have inherited fortunes. 

 

Others retired here off the back of drug dealing, fraud, stolen property rackets, etc.  

 

I have heard it all here from the mouths of many individuals.  It is the show-offs I criticize who can't help themselves, but boast about their wealth to others obviously less fortunate.  Especially the crooked expat community who don't deserve having gotten away with their crimes and should be sitting in prison cells back in their countries. 

 

Also I've heard the hard luck stories of those who have had unfortunate experiences whether self inflicted by bad choices, or through bad luck.  Know of a couple of guys now dead from suicide. Sad. 

 

And those in-between (most of us) who are doing okay albeit not wealthy.

90% of rich came via families not hard work. Lots of dumb rich people. 

 

Most rich people Ive met have been very arrogant.

 

Try to have a deep conversation with them. Shallow as.

 

 

[realfunster]

23 hours ago, swissie said:

Expats in Thailand have it good. While 30% of Europeans wonder how they are going to pay  next winters heating bills (eat or heat), Farangs in Thailand have it comperatively "good".

Of course, complaining about the humid and hot summers, Thai-Immigration in general, the Thai Family spending too much of your money  are minor standart complaints by Farangs and re occurring like clockwork. Minor complaints compared to the worries of some folks that live in one of the richests parts of the world, I find.

As it shows, to live in a country, not playing a major role in international politics, with an economy basically "autark" if need be, is not such a bad place to be after all.

While in Thailand, always good to count your money, but don't forget to count your blessings as well.

You know, I have friends that are "positivists" and I have friends that are "negativists".

 

I take them both with the same large pinch of salt...I wrote a post about this the other day regarding "Thai bashers" and those that complain about the Thai bashers, which I called the "Thai-basher bashers". Of course, the TBBs end up doing just what they accuse the TBs of doing, which is making wild and inaccurate generalisations, with a view to shut-down opinions which challenge their own life-view. These are often accompanied with a charming encouragements for the TBs to "go home".

 

People that do this kind of thing are insecure in themselves, their life choices and their current situation. They are seeking approval/confirmation and will react strongly to anything which dares to indicate that all is not well. 

 

For a satisfying life, it is better to remove all this background noise. Be confident in your own clear and distinct view on things and keep an even keel.

Somethings in life are are good, somethings are not. We should expect, not fear, ups and downs and be able to deal with them.

From time to time, assess where you are with your life overall.

If you are not satisfied, then look to adapt and change. 

 

Therefore, I have no comments on the minutiae you have commented upon.

These are all just background noise and of minimal importance to achieving real happiness.

 

Good luck. 

[Mac Mickmanus]

2 minutes ago, realfunster said:

You know, I have friends that are "positivists" and I have friends that are "negativists".

 

I take them both with the same large pinch of salt...I wrote a post about this the other day regarding "Thai bashers" and those that complain about the Thai bashers, which I called the "Thai-basher bashers". Of course, the TBBs end up doing just what they accuse the TBs of doing, which is making wild and inaccurate generalisations, with a view to shut-down opinions which challenge their own life-view. These are often accompanied with a charming encouragements for the TBs to "go home".

 

People that do this kind of thing are insecure in themselves, their life choices and their current situation. They are seeking approval/confirmation and will react strongly to anything which dares to indicate that all is not well. 

 

For a satisfying life, it is better to remove all this background noise. Be confident in your own clear and distinct view on things and keep an even keel.

Somethings in life are are good, somethings are not. We should expect, not fear, ups and downs and be able to deal with them.

From time to time, assess where you are with your life overall.

If you are not satisfied, then look to adapt and change. 

 

Therefore, I have no comments on the minutiae you have commented upon.

These are all just background noise and of minimal importance to achieving real happiness.

 

Good luck. 

 

Would you classify yourself as a Thai basher -basher -basher ?

[Adumbration]

3 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

There are places in the US where houses have appreciated US $300,000+ in the past couple years.

 

That appreciation would pay for ~15 years in Thailand at 65,000 baht a month

 

How much has your Thai house appreciated?

 

In the 18 or so months since I have owned my Thai house it has gone up at least 50% in value I reckon.  It is now worth 405K thai baht...Rivers of gold...

 

I could sell it and move back to Australia and pay the rent on a small one room studio for about one year.

Edited October 12, 2022 by Adumbration

[KIngsofisaan]

1 hour ago, Adumbration said:

In the 18 or so months since I have owned my Thai house it has gone up at least 50% in value I reckon.  It is now worth 405K thai baht...Rivers of gold...

 

I could sell it and move back to Australia and pay the rent on a small one room studio for about one year.

I bet in this economy in Thailand it hasn't gone up at all.

 

Keep dreaming.

 

Thai properties depreciate, not appreciate

 

And no Thai wants to buy a second hand house.

[KIngsofisaan]

4 hours ago, Iamfalang said:

No, No, NO, Impossible!!!!!

 

You have to remember, the average expat has nothing.  They have been financially destroyed, bitter, hateful and living off about nothing.

 

Therefore, they must talk about how buying is horrible, marriage is the worst, dating girls your own age is evil, money is fake, and everything they want is actually really bad so they won't feel as bad.

 

I wouldn't even engage in such discussions, unless with comedy.

 

Tell them they are right!!!  Tell them renting is the way, and that it's true 40,000,000 baht can't buy happiness.  

 

yea, you got trapped by the financial machine and you are stuck in the trap!!!!   lol.

 

Reminds me of a falang I drank with like 10 years ago and he said money was evil, blah, blah blah and then asked me for 200 baht.  I said NO, of course.   Crazy people here....

I live in Isaan out in the boonies.

 

All the things have been bought and paid.

 

Nothing to really spend any money on. 

 

No complaints, have a good wife, best buddie!

 

I can travel, so that breaks up the monotony.

 

But the good thing is, I have a lot of family support from a large clan, no one really ever messes with me.

 

I never understand why people make their own choices in life, then bitch about everything?

 

I think there are 2 types of foreigners here, a few that tell the whole truth and the majority who never do.

 

I think if you could factually break it down, those that don't tell the truth probably slugged their way through life in some kind of educated meanial job?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

7 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

I agree. The west peaked in 1986. All downhill since pc stuff etc.

 

West has no culture anymore. Thailand does.

 

The west sold its soul. 

West has culture - especially Europe. Australia doesn't have a lot but compared to the past probably has more - cultures of the world in one place. If you like temples plenty in Australia.  Not sure what you mean be selling your soul - what culture has been lost. Maybe a bit of Australian larrikinism and humour and a kind of innocence  - which is a loss but there were a lot of yobbos and bogans back then too.

The PC stuff is for universities and media - do you see it much in your actual life in Sydney. I am guessing not much. Bit here and there. 

Edited October 12, 2022 by Fat is a type of crazy

[jerrymahoney]

8 hours ago, realfunster said:

You know, I have friends that are "positivists" and I have friends that are "negativists".

Having (now) no farang friends makes that choice easy.