The many blessings of Farangs. Chapter 77.

[swissie]

Of course, it is customary for Farangs to bitch about something in Thailand.

In Europe we also have something to bitch about: From Stockholm to Madrid a Family spends 30 to 40% of their income for housing.

There are 2 kinds of Farangs in Thailand:
a) The ones that have property for rent in their home country (earning tons of money from rental income).
b) The ones that can still rent an appartement for little money in Thailand (compared to the rental situation in Europe).

So, both groups of Farangs are winners. One less reason to complain. But plenty of reasons remain for the "Complaining Farang Crowd" in Thailand. Until the day comes, when they realise that the Thailand of 2023 was "easier" than the Thailand of 2030.

[chalawaan]

The Anglican Church is a blessing!

 

I nostalgically sang along to exactly one hymn during the Westminster Coronation.

 

T'was karaoke in honour of his Kingness.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, swissie said:

The ones that have property for rent in their home country (earning tons of money from rental income).

I think it's always funny to read such sentences.

If that is a way to make tons of money, then why don't you buy property and make those tons of money?

 

And there is a category c) Farangs who bought their own condominiums in Thailand.

[chalawaan]

Where can I find Chapters 1 through 76?

[save the frogs]

over-generalizations 

 

everyone is in a different boat

 

cost of living may be higher in the west, but a lot of people work well into their 70s.

 

lower cost of living in thailand can lull you into complacency and then financial problems. 

 

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm….Yes I feel blessed ever day after watching the news on TV ?

[KhunLA]

24 minutes ago, bbbbooboo said:

Hmmm….Yes I feel blessed ever day after watching the news on TV ?

I feel entertained, that's some hilarious stuff.

[swm59nj]

I guess when I lived in Bangkok three years I didn’t fall into those two categories
I have Social Security and a pension from my previous job.  Retired at age 62. More than enough to live in Thailand.  And adequate to live in the States.  I also have health insurance carried over from my previous job.  Which covered me well.  And internationally after age 65 at 100%. 
Life is what you make of it.  You can either plan better and move forward.  Or stay stagnant. 

[stoner]

i thnk the op is jealous of something. 

[nobodysfriend]

I had the strong feeling in Europe that life over there is simply not worth the money you have to pay ... taxes , fees , prices for food , rent ... a lot of angry people over there ... With all the downsides to Life in Thailand , after all , it is still much better here .

[rwill]

8 hours ago, swissie said:

There are 2 kinds of Farangs in Thailand:
a) The ones that have property for rent in their home country (earning tons of money from rental income).
b) The ones that can still rent an appartement for little money in Thailand (compared to the rental situation in Europe).

There are more than just those 2 types.

[Red Forever]

2 hours ago, swm59nj said:

I guess when I lived in Bangkok three years I didn’t fall into those two categories
I have Social Security and a pension from my previous job.  Retired at age 62. More than enough to live in Thailand.  And adequate to live in the States.  I also have health insurance carried over from my previous job.  Which covered me well.  And internationally after age 65 at 100%. 
Life is what you make of it.  You can either plan better and move forward.  Or stay stagnant. 

This topic is always guaranteed to bring out those who want to shout out how wonderful their life is.

Fair enough but some of these people with such wonderfuly ordered lives can't resist sneering at those of us in the lower orders. Stagnant!?

Never look down on anyone unless you're helping them up.

[zzaa09]

It's Farang - singular and plural.

Edited June 7, 2023 by zzaa09

[gearbox]

7 hours ago, save the frogs said:

over-generalizations 

 

everyone is in a different boat

 

cost of living may be higher in the west, but a lot of people work well into their 70s.

 

lower cost of living in thailand can lull you into complacency and then financial problems. 

 

Working well into my seventies...what a bright future! Looks like I still have more than 10 years working life left. However in 10 years maybe working until mid eighties may become popular, so who knows.

[spidermike007]

The quality of life in the West has declined so precipitously, many of us do not recognize our home nations anymore. Unless you own a home back there, the quality of life is very low. Here, in a smaller town you can rent a nice place for 10,000 baht. That is quite incredible. I feel grateful every day for being here. 

Edited June 7, 2023 by spidermike007

[EVENKEEL]

I'm grateful I had the foresight of keeping my properties in the US for rent. Besides a bit of side money, I'll always have a place to park my weary bones. I couldn't imagine the grief some feel knowing they can never afford to return because of high rents.

[LaosLover]

Just back from prepping my house as an Air BNB. Def crazy-expensive to get it up to a standard at which a vacation property manager would take it on as a listing. I could be waiting 2 years to be in the black on it.

 

I'll be happy for the rentals to cover my overhead costs for the first year. Vacation renters will be needlessly blasting the a/c and taking long, hot showers on my dime, just like I would. Plus there is the natural wear and tear of people coming and going. The agent tells me that this is a business you build over a few years. Plus, post-covid, everyone and their brother is moving back to Mama's and trying to rent out there subpar brick ranch.

 

Our agent only takes on about one property in twenty pitched to her (and takes a whopping 25%, but does everything). We basically have an A+ house in a C+ area of great natural beauty. If we were an hour south in a B+ area, we could keep it fully rented for double our going rate.

 

I'd imagine "lucky" brits owning properties in places like Chelmsford instead of London have the same mixed bag of luck.

 

On the other hand, living in one of the better locations in Nimman, my rent is what my gas and electric bill was alone back in the states. So call me grateful to be both #1 and #2 camps.

 

[AgMech Cowboy]

13 hours ago, swissie said:

Until the day comes, when they realise that the Thailand of 2023 was "easier" than the Thailand of 2030

Very true.

[AgMech Cowboy]

3 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I'm grateful I had the foresight of keeping my properties in the US for rent. Besides a bit of side money, I'll always have a place to park my weary bones. I couldn't imagine the grief some feel knowing they can never afford to return because of high rents.

Yes, you nailed it.  I had a chance to purchase a 'great' little property back in '98, but I didn't pursue it (because I could figure out how to take care of it 15k miles away).  Them's the breaks, but I don't want to go back there anyway.

[BusyB]

8 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

I had the strong feeling in Europe that life over there is simply not worth the money you have to pay ... taxes , fees , prices for food , rent ... a lot of angry people over there ... With all the downsides to Life in Thailand , after all , it is still much better here .

Depends on your income of course. And if you can afford to pay tax you're generally doing OK where I live.

EU/LOS - swings and roundabouts. And I like both. 

 

And most people I know where I live in Europe aren't angry. Strikes me there are many more angry and resentful posters on ASEANNow. They'll be angry wherever they go though. 

Edited June 7, 2023 by BusyB

[LaosLover]

You get what you pay for. Life in general is nicer in Europe than the States. Even the lettuce is nicer.

[swissie]

On 6/6/2023 at 6:52 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

I think it's always funny to read such sentences.

If that is a way to make tons of money, then why don't you buy property and make those tons of money?

 

And there is a category c) Farangs who bought their own condominiums in Thailand.

Category a): Of course, only if they bought their property 20 or 30 years ago in Farangland and now collecting todays rents.
How sweet it must be for those that havn't sold their property upon heading for paradise.

[swissie]

On 6/7/2023 at 1:11 AM, stoner said:

i thnk the op is jealous of something. 

No. Have been into stocks since 1972. Buying, hardly ever selling anything. Started with little money in 1972. So, today I am fine.

For spice, I always traded commodities as well with a limited amount of money. With limited success. Just for spice.

[bignok]

On 6/7/2023 at 7:07 AM, rwill said:

There are more than just those 2 types.

1. Lone wolves

2. Butterflies

3. Computer nerds

4. Bored

5. Random Walks

[swissie]

On 6/7/2023 at 1:50 AM, nobodysfriend said:

I had the strong feeling in Europe that life over there is simply not worth the money you have to pay ... taxes , fees , prices for food , rent ... a lot of angry people over there ... With all the downsides to Life in Thailand , after all , it is still much better here .

This summarises the essence of my thread nicely. Enjoy living in Thailand. As long as it lasts.

[bignok]

On 6/7/2023 at 3:03 PM, BusyB said:

And most people I know where I live in Europe aren't angry. Strikes me there are many more angry and resentful posters on ASEANNow. They'll be angry wherever they go though. 

Lots of angry westerners. Lots of shallow ones too.

[swissie]

2 minutes ago, bignok said:

1. Lone wolves

2. Butterflies

3. Computer nerds

4. Bored

5. Random Walks

Wh-Mongers. They made Pattaya great and nobody else.

[bignok]

1 minute ago, swissie said:

Wh-Mongers. They made Pattaya great and nobody else.

Yes, they are a subset of the butterflies. Very needy and insecure.

[swissie]

1 hour ago, bignok said:

Yes, they are a subset of the butterflies. Very needy and insecure.

The western "butterflyes" and the Thai "butterflyes" (in combination) made Pattaya "great". Nobody else.