Top 10 troubles you will find during retirement in Thailand

[KhunLA]

  On 8/18/2024 at 8:51 AM, Lacessit said:

Agree. I researched Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Laos for six months before settling on Thailand.

 

After more than ten years here, I still have not burned my bridges. I have money and a place to stay in Australia, and maintain private health insurance there.

 

My rule of thumb was to have 30% of my assets here, 70% in Australia. It's down to 65% now.

Expand  

I knew I wasn't going back to the USA, IF TH didn't work out.  Hindsight though, had I known housing prices would have shot up as much as they have the last 3+ years, I might have kept my houses.   Although, that would have been a 20 year wait for that increase  

 

Since here 24 yrs.  Who would have thought it could turn to sh!t that fast  

 

TH was a good choice, even without any research before arriving 🙄  Final decision to stay wasn't even made until about 2020.   When we contracted to build 3rd house, and bought a car I actually liked, and not something I'd simply walk away from.  2020 and had no financial investment in TH, as basically liquidated all at that point.

 

A true should I stay or should I go moment.  Knew it wasn't back to USA.

 

Even if wanted to, would be a challenge to return to USA, inflation & housing would eat up all the monthly pocket change.   Even with healthcare insurances, a medical oops would bankrupt you.

 

 

[sandyf]

  On 8/18/2024 at 9:31 AM, jaideedave said:

in 2004 I rented a 25 sq meter studio at Diana Estates on Soi Buakao for 13k/Mon. I thought it was a bargain because of it's location and amenities ( near p4p)

Expand  

I can vaguely remember staying in Diana Estates about that time, exchange rate made it very cheap.

Had a large bar complex across the road at the time.

[Lacessit]

  On 8/19/2024 at 1:43 AM, KhunLA said:

I knew I wasn't going back to the USA, IF TH didn't work out.  Hindsight though, had I known housing prices would have shot up as much as they have the last 3+ years, I might have kept my houses.   Although, that would have been a 20 year wait for that increase  

 

Since here 24 yrs.  Who would have thought it could turn to sh!t that fast  

 

TH was a good choice, even without any research before arriving 🙄  Final decision to stay wasn't even made until about 2020.   When we contracted to build 3rd house, and bought a car I actually liked, and not something I'd simply walk away from.  2020 and had no financial investment in TH, as basically liquidated all at that point.

 

A true should I stay or should I go moment.  Knew it wasn't back to USA.

 

Even if wanted to, would be a challenge to return to USA, inflation & housing would eat up all the monthly pocket change.   Even with healthcare insurances, a medical oops would bankrupt you.

 

 

Expand  

This is what I don't understand about Americans, their meek acceptance of a completely dysfunctional medical apparatus.

 

My top level private health insurance in Australia costs me AUD 3000 per year. I don't have to wait for any treatments.

 

I have had knee arthroscopies, dual carpal tunnel operations, hiatus hernia, inguinal hernia and more cystoscopies than I can count, going back 20 years. All of which cost me a few out-of-pocket expenses. About a dozen CAT scans, free.

 

A year ago, I was on a year's worth of medication for lymphoma. 6 months of infusion.

 

With our PBS system, the meds cost me less than AUD 100. In the US, the same treatment would be in the USD 100,000 ball park.

 

Our medical system was established by a nasty leftist government. Every time the conservative movement in Australia tries to mess with it, they get a bloody nose at the ballot box.

 

In November, about 50% of voters will be lining up to cast their ballots for someone who will gut your medical system even further, so more tax cuts will be given to the already rich.

 

Excuse me for thinking Americans are insane.

[KhunLA]

  On 8/19/2024 at 2:21 AM, Lacessit said:

Excuse me for thinking Americans are insane.

 

This is what I don't understand about Americans, their meek acceptance of a completely dysfunctional medical apparatus.

 

My top level private health insurance in Australia costs me AUD 3000 per year. I don't have to wait for any treatments.

 

I have had knee arthroscopies, dual carpal tunnel operations, hiatus hernia, inguinal hernia and more cystoscopies than I can count, going back 20 years. All of which cost me a few out-of-pocket expenses. About a dozen CAT scans, free.

 

A year ago, I was on a year's worth of medication for lymphoma. 6 months of infusion.

 

With our PBS system, the meds cost me less than AUD 100. In the US, the same treatment would be in the USD 100,000 ball park.

 

Our medical system was established by a nasty leftist government. Every time the conservative movement in Australia tries to mess with it, they get a bloody nose at the ballot box.

 

In November, about 50% of voters will be lining up to cast their ballots for someone who will gut your medical system even further, so more tax cuts will be given to the already rich.

Expand  

NO, that pretty much sums it up.   And you're being kind.  Talk about sheeple and being some of the dumbest MF'er that you could imagine.

 

And the MSM has them fighting over pronouns and the never going to happen WW III  along with the new evil axis, CH / RU / NK   

 

The economically challenged, get most every thing, medical, for free, almost.   But like the Thai govt' system, patience is a virtue, at govt or hospitals that accept Medicare/cade. 

 

The working stiff, if lucky, have employer paid insurance, covers most things, small or no deductibles.  Or used to.

 

Private insurance is just silly, and now ACA (obamacare), made everything, even sillier.   High monthly premiums, big deductibles, and many policies don't even kick in till you already paid $10-20k out of pocket for the year.   That's freakin' nuts.

 

Only real medical bills I had there, were OJI (on job injuries), back & 100% covered.  To return, I'd get hit with a huge penalty to sign up for Medicare plan B (meds), and then have  to pay ~$174 monthly premium, that doesn't cover much per se, as costs are so much higher than TH.   I can't spend that much here on healthcare. USA monthly premium & deductibles, so much more expensive that self insured here.  And, healthcare is accessible here.   No GP, no specialist referral, months away, not deductibles for both appointment.

 

What's really strange is, if you have insurance, the pharmacist, is legally not allowed to tell you, it is cheaper (if it is) to simply pay cash for the generic drug, instead of using your insurance, as your copayment is more than the cash cost.

 

That's mind boggling, talk about a scam.

 

On topic ... the healthcare here, negates any of the silly items in the OP, along with those RE Taxes that basically don't exist here.   Keeping housing cost ridiculously cheap.

 

Throw in the inexpensive solar & EVs from CH, and you can live very inexpensively here without giving up anything.

[Lacessit]

  On 8/19/2024 at 2:43 AM, KhunLA said:

NO, that pretty much sums it up.   And you're being kind.  Talk about sheeple and being some of the dumbest MF'er that you could imagine.

 

And the MSM has them fighting over pronouns and the never going to happen WW III  along with the new evil axis, CH / RU / NK   

 

The economically challenged, get most every thing, medical, for free, almost.   But like the Thai govt' system, patience is a virtue, at govt or hospitals that accept Medicare/cade. 

 

The working stiff, if lucky, have employer paid insurance, covers most things, small or no deductibles.  Or used to.

 

Private insurance is just silly, and now ACA (obamacare), made everything, even sillier.   High monthly premiums, big deductibles, and many policies don't even kick in till you already paid $10-20k out of pocket for the year.   That's freakin' nuts.

 

Only real medical bills I had there, were OJI (on job injuries), back & 100% covered.  To return, I'd get hit with a huge penalty to sign up for Medicare plan B (meds), and then have  to pay ~$174 monthly premium, that doesn't cover much per se, as costs are so much higher than TH.   I can't spend that much here on healthcare. USA monthly premium & deductibles, so much more expensive that self insured here.  And, healthcare is accessible here.   No GP, no specialist referral, months away, not deductibles for both appointment.

 

What's really strange is, if you have insurance, the pharmacist, is legally not allowed to tell you, it is cheaper (if it is) to simply pay cash for the generic drug, instead of using your insurance, as your copayment is more than the cash cost.

 

That's mind boggling, talk about a scam.

 

On topic ... the healthcare here, negates any of the silly items in the OP, along with those RE Taxes that basically don't exist here.   Keeping housing cost ridiculously cheap.

 

Throw in the inexpensive solar & EVs from CH, and you can live very inexpensively here without giving up anything.

Expand  

I'm not as aware of the fine detail of the American medical system as you are, thanks for the education.

 

The only problems I have with the medical system here is the Thai penchant for prescribing every medication remotely attached to any ailment, and their lack of a centralized information system. In Australia, any GP or emergency department I go to can call up my entire medical history with a few keystrokes.

 

I agree it is much easier to live here comfortably. I have all I need here.

 

I knew you would not be able to resist inserting an EV reference into your post, but we all have our foibles.

[KhunLA]

  On 8/19/2024 at 4:12 AM, Lacessit said:

I knew you would not be able to resist inserting an EV reference into your post, but we all have our foibles.

Expand  

Stayed on topic with inexpensive living in TH.   Part of monthly cost cutting, IF, retiring here, long term.   

 

Solar being much cheaper here than USA, and other countries.  Hard to mention solar without EVs, as they go hand in hand for saving.   Once pass the initial outlay, hence, long term retirement, if caring about ROI.

 

Of course in big metros, or some small towns with good baht bus service, you don't even need a vehicle.   Many aren't up to driving a scooter, and understandable.

 

We needed transport in Udon Thani, living out of town, but don't really need any here / PKK.  MC is more than enough (electric of course 😎), though could easily get by just walking or with a bicycle, or, yea, and ebike

 

Or what ever floats your boat, big ol' ICE 4X4, Benz, or Harley.  Just ease up on the diesels, damn they stink things up 🥵

[Alotoftravel]

if you cannot have USA financial account (eg brokerage) in Thailand since you have a foreign address, how do you take care of your ira brokerage accounts if you have to close them. Big headache with taxes and cash position ? Any thoughts with this ?

[KhunLA]

  On 8/19/2024 at 5:22 AM, Alotoftravel said:

if you cannot have USA financial account (eg brokerage) in Thailand since you have a foreign address, how do you take care of your ira brokerage accounts if you have to close them. Big headache with taxes and cash position ? Any thoughts with this ?

Expand  

Guess it depends on your brokerage, and their rules.   I had changed mine to TH address & ph#, and they didn't say anything about that.  Then within a year, I had changed it back to a USA address.

 

Changed it back, because per rules, my no fee for ATM (international use) was suppose to be stopped, with international address.   Though during that time, they still refunded the TH banks ATM fee.   Except for * notification on the account, nothing really changed.  

 

Maybe because I have IRAs with them, different rules than a simple savings account, they can't legally make me close the accounts.

[Alotoftravel]

  On 8/19/2024 at 5:42 AM, KhunLA said:

Maybe because I have IRAs with them, different rules than a simple savings account, they can't legally make me close the accounts.

Expand  

good to know that. I was afraid that they might close ira accounts which would mean large taxes incur if they cannot accept a Thai address . Thanks 

[KhunLA]

  On 8/19/2024 at 5:51 AM, Alotoftravel said:

good to know that. I was afraid that they might close ira accounts which would mean large taxes incur if they cannot accept a Thai address . Thanks 

Expand  

My case was a few years ago, so check what current rules are now.   I really can't see them forcing people to close accounts, that have IRAs, as stated, they fall under different tax rules, and would breach the agreement of opening them in the first place.

 

Just my opinion ... due diligence on your part before letting them know you live in TH.

[Lacessit]

  On 8/19/2024 at 5:13 AM, KhunLA said:

Stayed on topic with inexpensive living in TH.   Part of monthly cost cutting, IF, retiring here, long term.   

 

Solar being much cheaper here than USA, and other countries.  Hard to mention solar without EVs, as they go hand in hand for saving.   Once pass the initial outlay, hence, long term retirement, if caring about ROI.

 

Of course in big metros, or some small towns with good baht bus service, you don't even need a vehicle.   Many aren't up to driving a scooter, and understandable.

 

We needed transport in Udon Thani, living out of town, but don't really need any here / PKK.  MC is more than enough (electric of course 😎), though could easily get by just walking or with a bicycle, or, yea, and ebike

 

Or what ever floats your boat, big ol' ICE 4X4, Benz, or Harley.  Just ease up on the diesels, damn they stink things up 🥵

Expand  

e-Bikes now? You really have electron fever. Be careful a positron does not bite you, if you have a PET scan.

 

A humble Vios serves all my needs. Too old to be changing a flat tire on some of the monsters you mention.

 

The difference between Malaysia and Thailand is remarkable in terms of vehicle emissions. They probably put people in front of firing squads for having a smoky vehicle.

 

Nothing wrong with diesels if they are maintained properly. Unfortunately, in Thailand that appears to be the exception rather than the norm.

[KhunLA]

  On 8/19/2024 at 6:00 AM, Lacessit said:

e-Bikes now? You really have electron fever.

Expand  

Damn drones hooked me in.   Then RC plane, cars, boats.   On to MC, converted the Schwinn, now the MG ZS.  You wouldn't believe the stuff I'm always looking at, and think about buying.  Wife just rolls her eyes when she sees me scrolling through crap 

 

Even had one of those stand up scooters.  Thankfully it crapped out the 1st day, as made return easy.   Pretty cool, fast as all hell, and fun, till it wasn't.   But not really practical living out of town.  In town, it would have been a perfect mode of transport.

 

Little sucker was expensive also, relative, but 21k baht.  High reviews, great specs, just a one off I think.   Just died, and could have been something simple, loose wire, bad relay.  No questions on return, and refunded as soon as it was scanned when picked up.   Got to love LAZMALL vendors.

[Lacessit]

  On 8/19/2024 at 7:08 AM, KhunLA said:

Damn drones hooked me in.   Then RC plane, cars, boats.   On to MC, converted the Schwinn, now the MG ZS.  You wouldn't believe the stuff I'm always looking at, and think about buying.  Wife just rolls her eyes when she sees me scrolling through crap 

 

Even had one of those stand up scooters.  Thankfully it crapped out the 1st day, as made return easy.   Pretty cool, fast as all hell, and fun, till it wasn't.   But not really practical living out of town.  In town, it would have been a perfect mode of transport.

 

Little sucker was expensive also, relative, but 21k baht.  High reviews, great specs, just a one off I think.   Just died, and could have been something simple, loose wire, bad relay.  No questions on return, and refunded as soon as it was scanned when picked up.   Got to love LAZMALL vendors.

Expand  

I have tried an electric scooter. IMO if you want something less safe than a bicycle, they fit the bill. The wheels are too damn small, hit any pothole or corrugation at speed and it is goodnight nurse. They are fun on smooth bitumen.

 

For just getting around town for short distances in Chiang Rai, my Yamaha TTX is ideal. Park it anywhere.

 

I bought it from a Brit over ten years ago for 23,000 baht, with 9000 km on the odometer. Now at 31,000, the only part needed outside regular serving was a sticking accelerator cable.

 

Sorry, it is still ICE. I guess I'm just a dinosaur.

[KhunLA]

  On 8/19/2024 at 7:48 AM, Lacessit said:

I have tried an electric scooter. IMO if you want something less safe than a bicycle, they fit the bill. The wheels are too damn small, hit any pothole or corrugation at speed and it is goodnight nurse. They are fun on smooth bitumen.

 

For just getting around town for short distances in Chiang Rai, my Yamaha TTX is ideal. Park it anywhere.

 

I bought it from a Brit over ten years ago for 23,000 baht, with 9000 km on the odometer. Now at 31,000, the only part needed outside regular serving was a sticking accelerator cable.

 

Sorry, it is still ICE. I guess I'm just a dinosaur.

Expand  

Pretty hard to beat a MC for TH, especially when it comes to parking in most towns.  Not so bad here, PKK, except weekends, then the MC is needed.  Everyone shopping and the weekenders, that give Hua Hin a pass.

[phetphet]

The bureaucracy I can handle. it's the inconsistency in requirements to complete said bureaucracy that drives me mad.

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

  On 8/19/2024 at 8:34 AM, phetphet said:

The bureaucracy I can handle. it's the inconsistency in requirements to complete said bureaucracy that drives me mad.

 

 

 

Expand  

Don't be selfish. That bureaucracy puts food on the table for many people, and keeps unemployment at 1%.

 

Just smile, get the paperwork that's missing, take it back. Then go home and beat the cr@p out of some pillows.

[Hummin]

Is dual pricing a problem? You will find it world wide prices benefits the local communities and individuals. 

 

Climate is a real problem, as well health care and insurance. 

 

Land and properties issues is not a real problem,  but for those who choose to risk everything and put land and house in gf or wife, should know what they do.

 

If you move to Thailand out of economical reasons, my best advise is to calculate with high inflation for the next decades, and continously growing baht.

 

Good luck

[Hawaiian]

  On 8/19/2024 at 2:43 AM, KhunLA said:

NO, that pretty much sums it up.   And you're being kind.  Talk about sheeple and being some of the dumbest MF'er that you could imagine.

 

And the MSM has them fighting over pronouns and the never going to happen WW III  along with the new evil axis, CH / RU / NK   

 

The economically challenged, get most every thing, medical, for free, almost.   But like the Thai govt' system, patience is a virtue, at govt or hospitals that accept Medicare/cade. 

 

The working stiff, if lucky, have employer paid insurance, covers most things, small or no deductibles.  Or used to.

 

Private insurance is just silly, and now ACA (obamacare), made everything, even sillier.   High monthly premiums, big deductibles, and many policies don't even kick in till you already paid $10-20k out of pocket for the year.   That's freakin' nuts.

 

Only real medical bills I had there, were OJI (on job injuries), back & 100% covered.  To return, I'd get hit with a huge penalty to sign up for Medicare plan B (meds), and then have  to pay ~$174 monthly premium, that doesn't cover much per se, as costs are so much higher than TH.   I can't spend that much here on healthcare. USA monthly premium & deductibles, so much more expensive that self insured here.  And, healthcare is accessible here.   No GP, no specialist referral, months away, not deductibles for both appointment.

 

What's really strange is, if you have insurance, the pharmacist, is legally not allowed to tell you, it is cheaper (if it is) to simply pay cash for the generic drug, instead of using your insurance, as your copayment is more than the cash cost.

 

That's mind boggling, talk about a scam.

 

On topic ... the healthcare here, negates any of the silly items in the OP, along with those RE Taxes that basically don't exist here.   Keeping housing cost ridiculously cheap.

 

Throw in the inexpensive solar & EVs from CH, and you can live very inexpensively here without giving up anything.

Expand  

Fortunately, I don't suffer that much from our broken healthcare system.  Being covered by both Medicare and Tricare I rarely have out-of-pocket expenses.  Tricare even pays for the annual Medicare deductible.  I don't pay for Medicare drug coverage because my prescription meds are greatly discounted through ExpressScripts.

I basically agree with everything else you mentioned.  We are being screwed by the socialistic woke crowd.  Really feel sorry for my children and grandchildren.

[newbee2022]

  On 8/7/2024 at 4:06 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

Learning "the language" is important, I agree.

But be careful that you don't learn in school one version of Thai, and then everybody near you speaks another version of Thai.

I suggest if possible, try to communicate with the locals around you. And make sure you have someone, maybe a Thai language teacher, to tell you which words you should not use.

With my first Thai girlfriend I learned a couple of Thai swear words. The only problem was that I was not aware that those words were not the kind of words one should use in a polite conversation. It's easy to pick up the "wrong" words.

On the other hand, it is also not the best to speak super polite Thai all the time, because "normal" Thais might get the impression that you think you are better than them when you use those "hiso" words. It can go wrong in both directions. 

 

Expand  

Well, obviously your first girlfriend came from xxxx. As many of those night birds in social Hotspots.

But probably she got other skills.

If you want to learn Thai, it's a better option in a long lasting relationship/marriage where the partner got a certain education level, not aquired on the streets.

[OneMoreFarang]

  On 8/30/2024 at 1:55 AM, newbee2022 said:

Well, obviously your first girlfriend came from xxxx. As many of those night birds in social Hotspots.

But probably she got other skills.

If you want to learn Thai, it's a better option in a long lasting relationship/marriage where the partner got a certain education level, not aquired on the streets.

Expand  

I guess it depends on where you will use your Thai.

In business meetings we speak 99% English, I don't need Thai.

With taxi drivers, food vendors, and service in restaurants etc. I often speak "Thai". And guess where many of them come from ...

[SAFETY FIRST]

  On 8/8/2024 at 8:42 AM, Thailand said:

Just one style straight out of the oven. Awesome toasted!

Expand  

That looks great, toasted with Vegemite. 👍

 

[phetphet]

  On 8/8/2024 at 7:44 AM, Will B Good said:

 

A baker or someone with a bread maker?

 

If the latter, which machine....?

Expand  

What's the difference between a baker and a wife?

One's a dough maker, the other's a "dough" taker. 🙂

[newbee2022]

  On 8/30/2024 at 4:28 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

I guess it depends on where you will use your Thai.

In business meetings we speak 99% English, I don't need Thai.

With taxi drivers, food vendors, and service in restaurants etc. I often speak "Thai". And guess where many of them come from ...

Expand  

....and guess where many of us come from....(It's evidently not all the cream on the cake)

[Thailand]

  On 8/30/2024 at 4:38 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

That looks great, toasted with Vegemite. 👍

 

Expand  

Marmite! 

[Bluetongue]

Never had much problem with dual pricing. Hard to see how even in bad cases it could be a financial risk to staying here. But I guess once you’ve been around you know the prices in market type places. But I do try and get quotes on vehicle repairs/maintenance and then just scan it for the translation. Once you do that you can Google prices. Also be careful in those big shops where they have a million things and no prices. It sometimes seems they quote the first figure that comes into their head 

[JimmerJJ]

Accept that you're going to be a 2nd class citizen especially if you are retired.  For a credit card, if retired you can only get a secured card .  They seem to think if you are retired you are penniless.

 

Another example is when COVID hit and I was on a trip to Indonesia and went to check-in for my return flight to Thailand (his was on the very day that Thailand closed it's borders) but Thai Airways manager said only Thai citizens can board the flight. I told them I have an apartment and long term visa in Thailand but it was like talking to a wall.  This while other countries were allowing Expats to return. Ridiculous discrimination like they're thinking he's a foreigner and will contaminate us. 

[3NUMBAS]

The boredom is bad ,no intellectual stimulus ,and speaking pigeon English will get you in the end ,you live on the extreme of society in isolation 

 

just me 2 pence worth

[3NUMBAS]

  On 8/30/2024 at 10:43 AM, Thailand said:

Marmite! 

Expand  

Industrial sludge ,a left over from the brewing industry 

[Thailand]

  On 10/8/2024 at 9:39 AM, 3NUMBAS said:

Industrial sludge ,a left over from the brewing industry 

Expand  

Not your favorite then?

[Presnock]

  On 8/8/2024 at 7:28 AM, Peterphuket said:

After reading about all the problems for staying when you are retired, I don't understand how there are still people who want to stay here till death.
Personally, I have no choice, so I will hold out until death.

Expand  

Many of the problems self inflicted IMHO.  Basically when one makes the decision to retire in Thailand, some testing of the "waters" needs to be done.  Also, if one does any studying about Thailand they would note the quickly changing situations in just about every category that also affect the expats that do come here and stay.  Just about all have some pet peeves - but as for me, after more than 20 years here, I still love it as much as the first time I came here in the 1970's era.  Lovely country, lovely people, great food choices and weather more or less great too as it NEVER gets cold (except on Doi Intanon in "winter").