How to retire in Thailand

[Rob Browder]

On 9/28/2024 at 9:47 AM, JimTripper said:

My point is, that many of these guys who live in the shoebox rooms use denial as a waybof coping with the situation. Trying to trick their mind into being happy with it.

Sounds like someone trying to "cope with" / "trick their mind" into thinking other people find satisfaction in the same things - and push up their ego by feeling superior.

 

I've lived big/small, high/low floors, etc - here and my home-country - and it never made a difference to me.  Any "improvements" on such superficialities were only EVER made to satisfy a woman's desires.

 

Are there "must haves"?   Fresh-air is a must.  A sea-view, and can walk to the ocean is nice.  Bangkok is a fun place to live, but the air-quality and heat-island effect (hot all night) are not to my taste.  YMMV.

 

The most important thing is what occupies my time / mind, and who with.  If THOSE suck, so does everything else. 

 

Every year of my life wasted doing things I didn't enjoy for money was a waste of life - aside from saving to quit for good - and I definitely would advise anyone NOT to waste more of their irreplaceable and unknown-quantity life-years to have a "bigger room." 

[JimTripper]

4 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Sounds like someone trying to "cope with" / "trick their mind" into thinking other people find satisfaction in the same things - and push up their ego by feeling superior.

They guys I have heard talk about it don't seem to care what other people think at all. When the subject came up they just say it's great and are unwilling to accept any possible negatives, including walking away if I persisted. It's not about convincing other people a small ratty room or crappy building is great.

 

I can give Nirun in Pattaya as an example. With guys getting drunk down at those corner bars. One mention of the living situation and it's all hunky dory with no drawbacks whatsoever (even though everyone knows those rooms suck and that building sucks).

Edited September 29 by JimTripper

[Rob Browder]

3 hours ago, JimTripper said:

I can give Nirun in Pattaya as an example. With guys getting drunk down at those corner bars. One mention of the living situation and it's all hunky dory with no drawbacks whatsoever (even though everyone knows those rooms suck and that building sucks).

I looked but didn't rent at Nirun, because the price wasn't great for what it was - but the room I looked at wasn't "bad."  The building was clean (then, at least - maybe its worse now).  There was another project which was dirt-cheap but filthy, hard-NO on that one.

 

Some people's life-enjoyment is not affected much by their room - not only hard-drinkers, but some of them fit the category.  

 

If you tripled my budget, I would not move to a bigger room than I have now - can think of other spending priorities - like travel to more parts of Thailand and SE Asia.  The phrase "feed your head" comes to mind - but not in the druggy manner referenced by the Jefferson Airplane tune. 

[1tent42]

I live in a 35m² condo with my wife in Bangkok.  It's plenty of space for us.  Very much easy to clean. My wife doesn't want to live in a bigger place and I'm very much fine with that.  We don't own a lot of things.  But we have everything we need.  Maybe if I can figure out how to ride a road bike safely in the city I'd look into more space for bike storage.  

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, 1tent42 said:

I live in a 35m² condo with my wife in Bangkok.  It's plenty of space for us.  Very much easy to clean. My wife doesn't want to live in a bigger place and I'm very much fine with that.  We don't own a lot of things.  But we have everything we need.  Maybe if I can figure out how to ride a road bike safely in the city I'd look into more space for bike storage.  

I could not live on 35 indoor space without balcony with view, and large storage place to things. Especially in Bangkok.

 

Do you or your wife work? 

[Mike Teavee]

 

12 minutes ago, 1tent42 said:

I live in a 35m² condo with my wife in Bangkok.  It's plenty of space for us.  Very much easy to clean. My wife doesn't want to live in a bigger place and I'm very much fine with that.  We don't own a lot of things.  But we have everything we need.  Maybe if I can figure out how to ride a road bike safely in the city I'd look into more space for bike storage.  

 

Size isn't that important (or so the GF says 😛) but I couldn't live anywhere with her that didn't have at least 2 bathrooms! 

 

Aside from that, location is my main consideration... Couldn't live out in the sticks as I no longer drive (license expired 11 years ago) & don't like living in the middle of busy towns (Though On Nut wasn't too bad) but do need to be close to a major town for all the usual amenities, I found Wongamat meets my requirements as best they can be met in Thailand.  

Edited September 30 by Mike Teavee

[1tent42]

9 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I could not live on 35 indoor space without balcony with view, and large storage place to things. Especially in Bangkok.

 

Do you or your wife work? 

I'm retired.  My wife still works. 

 

Our condo has floor to ceiling windows, a tiny balcony where we hang dry our clothes,  and has fantastic views of the city.

 

4 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Aside from that, location is my main consideration... Couldn't live out in the sticks as I no longer drive (license expired 11 years ago) & don't like living in the middle of busy towns (Though On Nut wasn't too bad) but do need to be close to a major town for all the usual amenities, I found Wongamat meets my requirements as best they can be met in Thailand.  

 

Location is my main consideration as well.  I would want to be close to amenities and accessible to public transportation which is were I am now.  I absolutely hate driving in Bangkok.  I fixed this by not getting a driver license. I'm glad it doesn't bother my wife at all.

[Celsius]

On 9/28/2024 at 9:13 AM, JimTripper said:

They act like they like it and don't care about the shoebox room. I think it's just denial or financial difficulty. It was even worse in Cambodia.

 

Me and wife live in a 45sqm chicken farm condo next to BTS. The condo is convenient for my wife to get to work. My wife also owns a fully paid 4 storey house on Rama II. 

 

I love living in a chicken farm condo and would never live in her 300sqm house. Easy to clean, easy to get to the gym easy to buy essentials (both 7/11 and starbucks inside the building). Grab delivers all kind of yummy food. Room on the same floor as gym and pool, so never stuck with the machines. If my wife did not need a car for work, we would have gotten rid of that too. 

 

OMG we are suffering. 

[Hummin]

26 minutes ago, 1tent42 said:

I'm retired.  My wife still works. 

 

Our condo has floor to ceiling windows, a tiny balcony where we hang dry our clothes,  and has fantastic views of the city.

 

 

Location is my main consideration as well.  I would want to be close to amenities and accessible to public transportation which is were I am now.  I absolutely hate driving in Bangkok.  I fixed this by not getting a driver license. I'm glad it doesn't bother my wife at all.

Do you have a rooftop, swimmingpool and gym?

 

I'm spoiled now, but I have lived in 35m2 appartment in Hua Hin 8. Floor, with corner view and 14m2 balcony. A balcony I could  sit outside even when it was a moderate rain fall. Great to start the day peacefully with a cup of coffe. 

 

Is It temporary because wife working, or this is it? 

 

 

Edited September 30 by Hummin

[1tent42]

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Do you have a rooftop, swimmingpool and gym?

 

I'm spoiled, but I have lived in 35m2 appartment in Hua Hun 8. Floor, with corner view and 14m2 balcony I could actually sit outside on even when it was a moderate rain fall. Great to start the day peacefully with a cup of coffe. 

 

Itnis temporary because wife working, or this is it? 

 

 

It has a rooftop, swimming pool and a gym.  I rarely go to the rooftop. No good can come from being that high up.  But I do laps almost daily at the pool.

 

I suppose this is temporary as we plan to move to the US in a couple of years.  My wife owns this condo so she plans to rent it out after we leave.  I would rather keep this condo empty and come back to it whenever we visit. 

[max72]

On 9/28/2024 at 5:02 AM, Mike Teavee said:

 

If your visa is a Non-IMM O (Usually got in country or from an Embassy in a nearby country) then you do not need medical insurance.  If your visa is a Non-IMM OA (Always got from home country or a country where you have permanent residency rights) then you will need Health Insurance. 

 

I don't think you have to have a >6 month rental contract as I'm sure there are quite a few guys who are more long term holiday makers & stay in hotels, with partners etc... but you will almost certainly need a TM30 which your hotel should provide for you - If you're staying with somebody then they should be able to register online & do your TM30.

 

 

 

 

When you leave Thailand your 90 day report requirements stop & restart at Day 1 when you re-enter so if you came left Thailand on 1st June there would be no need to do your 90 day report on 30th June & when you came back on 30th August your next 90 day report would be due 27th November. 

 

 

Thanks for that.

i have also a doubt about single/multientry 1 year visa.

If after my 1 year visa extension is issued, i leave Thailand and come back ONCE, do i need the multientry or just single entry ?

I am not sure if the single entry applies to my previous entry before the 1 year extension was issued or i can leave and come back once after it.

 

 

[max72]

On 9/28/2024 at 10:23 PM, NativeBob said:

yes, good question @martyn1 That was my thought too. As long as my money is in Thai economy ...

 

@ CW I got negative reply - no investment / trading etc. Plain vanilla deposit.

Ok. I went to Bangkok Bank HQ @ Silom. The Big Kahuna manager said "yes, please buy Bangkok Bank mutual fund bonds" it will work just as good as deposit. (not a dumb teller, real manager).

So 2020 I "bought" 6 months something for 100K. I got passbook which was good and was accepted (at CW at non-formal request) and in 6 months I saw I made (mutual fund made for me, how sweet!) 1.700 thb on the updated passbook.

 

So I guess it was not wise at all. 

 

does plain vanilla deposit include a fixed deposit like for example 1 year fixed deposit at 3% (better than nothing) ?

Maybe inmigration prefers you have the money in something fixed and not where it can fluctuate. 

I was planning to make a fixed deposit of exact 800K  and keep the surplus cash in a normal saving account.

[max72]

On 7/29/2024 at 10:36 PM, khlongtoey said:

 

did you find an answer, I too am interested.

 

esp now with the DTVs, btw does one need a 2nd proof of ongoing business /education  or just the initial one with a letter from a school?

Nope, i couldn't find a specific answer about that.

Maybe there is not a minimum stay inside Thailand, providing you don't overstay, you don't burn your single entry (if you don't have the multientry type) or you fail to do the 90 days report or to get the re-entry permit when you leave and you renew the visa on time.

 

In most countries when you get a permanent resident, you are required to stay min 6 months a year or something like that, but this 1 year extension is not a real residence, just a long term permit, I am not really sure.

In my case i plan to stay about 6 months in Thailand, 6 outside but I like this visa coz i wouldn't need to do a new visa  every time.