Thai Baht Exchange Rate So Low How Are You Dealing With It?

[proton]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Me too, when it was 45-47 I built up a 6 month reserve.

 

I'm OK until next Sept transferred at 46, doing 65k a month is not for me.

[worgeordie]

Tighten the belt again , although its nearly cutting me in half

as it is , 😋,

 

regards worgeordie

[Stevemercer]

I'm on a Marriage Extension and draw on my 400,000 Baht deposit rather than transferring ,omey from Australia when the exchange rate is poor. Of course, I'm hoping the rate improves when I have to top up 2 months before the next extension. The last 2 or 3 years have been lucky in this regard.

 

I also use a pessimistic exchange rate when doing exchange calculations (20 Baht per Australian dollar). So anything above this bottom line is a bonus. The rate is currently down to about 22.4.

 

My break even point is 18 Baht. Below this it would be cheaper to live in Australia.

[Taboo2]

Easy peasy....cut back on my ST and LT.  Ride it out.

 

No Whiners.

[Dakhar]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

Simple. Earn income in Thai baht. 

 

This is why I chose an educated woman and not a bargirl. Extra 100,000b a month is a nice addition with no exchange rate worries.

 

Working girls are making more than 100k

 

But I digress, me personally, I am the provider....  That's the way I prefer things.

[renaissanc]

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

Simple. Earn income in Thai baht. 

 

This is why I chose an educated woman and not a bargirl. Extra 100,000b a month is a nice addition with no exchange rate worries.

When I saw the destruction caused in the North and North-East I thought about all the expats who are married to bargirls, and the amount of money they will be spending on house and car repairs.

[ModdaPunk]

- No more tips

- Less Grab, more walking

- No more bars and restaurants

- Basic accommodation always

- More time spent on the internet (reading, downloading, chatting, gaming...)

- More street food (night markets, food stalls, etc...)

- More water, less soda

- No more Starbucks, Café Amazon, etc... (coffee is ok when you buy it from street vendors)

- No more unnecessary trips (especially to overpriced touristy places #ByeByeSouthThailand)

- More time spent in Vietnam (3 months rather than 90 days)

- More bargain hunting on Lazada and thrift shops

- No Thai "girlfriend"

- Always on the lookout for off-the-beaten-path opportunities #IsaanRocks

- Cheaper mobile plan (went from 20Mbps to 8Mbps - no notable difference honestly)

 

At the end of the day, I probably spend less now than I used to before the baht got stronger :D

 

Disclaimer: I'm European. Few months ago, 1EUR was 40THB. Now it's around 37THB. Not that much of a drop really. But we'll see. If the THB keeps getting stronger I will probably relocate to Vietnam for a while. I'm pretty flexible, no ties whatsoever.

 

 

Edited September 21 by ModdaPunk

[thrilled]

When it’s high around 35 or 36 baht to the dollar I load up. I transfer up to a years worth to the bank. That way when it drops down to 32,31 baht or lower I’m doing fine.

[Isaan sailor]

Is the Boht overpriced on USD?  Look at the ten year average USD/Baht rate:  33.20.  Yes, it is now overpriced.  And look what USD did yesterday vs Viet Nam Dong—it bounced up—not down like in Thailand.

[KannikaP]

8 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Me too, when it was 45-47 I built up a 6 month reserve.

I did that with GBP to THB be kept in my Wise THB account, so that I can still send the required amount for Retirement Extension each month.

[timendres]

My budget is based on 25 USDTHB. If it breaks that, all bets are off. Until then, happy days.

[Surasak]

14 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

With the Thai baht the lowest exchange rate in over a year. I am curious how other expats are dealing with their monthly budgets. In my case had planned to buy a motorbike. Anything below 30 baht to the USD dollar everything outside survival comes to a stop. 33 to 34 baht to the dollar I can deal with that.

 

 

I guess I was fortunate having moved here, I had no intention of sitting around going to seed, so built a small business for the family of 5 when the Baht was @ 70 to the £. It will never make us rich, but keeps the wolf from the door and I don't have to transfer money very often. So the exchange rate going up and down does not bother me.

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, Isaan sailor said:

Is the Boht overpriced on USD?  Look at the ten year average USD/Baht rate:  33.20.  Yes, it is now overpriced.  And look what USD did yesterday vs Viet Nam Dong—it bounced up—not down like in Thailand.

Yeah it's just this overseas tax thing to become real and there really is almost only Pro's about moving to Vietnam for 6 months a year.

[Middle Aged Grouch]

First the taxing of foreign pensions etc...now the over high THB. For those who can, no point in grumbling. Relocate to other Asian countries or even India who are far more welcoming to foreigners and tax free and far less visa hassles or xenophobia towards westerners.

[ModdaPunk]

20 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

First the taxing of foreign pensions etc...now the over high THB. For those who can, no point in grumbling. Relocate to other Asian countries or even India who are far more welcoming to foreigners and tax free and far less visa hassles or xenophobia towards westerners.

 

To be fair, Thailand is pretty chill on visas. I've been coming and going for a couple of years without visa: no problem. It's almost like there ain't any border for foreigners. 2-3 months in Thailand, 2-3 months in Vietnam; you can do that without visa forever really.

 

Maybe it's different for an expat but as a "professional drifter" or "dharma bum", it's pretty easy life.

Edited September 21 by ModdaPunk

[Speedhump]

16 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

When one uses the 65k+ per month retirement extension of stay protocol, that's what one has to transfer in every month regardless of the favorable/not favorable exchange rate.

I don't know why your comment attracted three 'confused' comments. It's completely correct. There's nothing at all that people who have to bring in a regular amount each month can do. Just bite the bullet and wait for the rate to reverse. Some people are just dense....

[swissie]

6 hours ago, connda said:

Thai Baht Exchange Rate So Low How Are You Dealing With It?

 

Seen it down around 29 more than once.  I don't worry about it.  Thailand is going to debase the THB, just give it time.  Heck, they're now borrowing THB in order to pay the interest on the national debt.
Don't worry - it's a self-correcting problem.

I wrote in an other sub-forum:

"I mentioned before how important the central banks and their "actions" are, concerning exchange rates.

In the case of Thailand: Among many other considerations, Thailand wants to remain an "export nation" as this will generate a lot more revenue as the "tourist sector".

Therefore, the BoT will see to it that the Bht does not strenghten any more in a meaningful way. The Bht may well be near a "peak".

Giving a quantum of solace to Farangs living in Thailand".

[BuddyPish]

4 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Is the Boht overpriced on USD?  Look at the ten year average USD/Baht rate:  33.20.  Yes, it is now overpriced.  And look what USD did yesterday vs Viet Nam Dong—it bounced up—not down like in Thailand.

I think you'll find it's the dollar that's over priced.

It's headed for the scrapheap.
Wait until the Saudis start selling oil in currencies other than USD.
 

[thecyclist]

13 hours ago, thaiowl said:

I remember an exchange rate of Bt56 to the USD in Jan 1998!

I remember an exchange rate of 21 Baht to the$ in the eighties, no fluctuations back then ,as the Baht was pegged to the $, similar to what it is today in Cambodia, where the dollar has been around 4000 Riel for over 20 years. 

[Mitkof Island]

12 hours ago, renaissanc said:

When I saw the destruction caused in the North and North-East I thought about all the expats who are married to bargirls, and the amount of money they will be spending on house and car repairs.

and sadly that is the majority of expats who also do not tend to speak any Thai.

[Isaan sailor]

14 hours ago, ericbj said:

 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/factors-behind-surge-thai-baht-and-why-authorities-bangkok-are-worried

Thank you for this linked info.  Bank of Thailand has experienced unusual inflows recently.  However they won’t say where the inflows originate, 

I think there’s an 800 pound gorilla in the room—-Chinese investment money.  Prove me wrong.

Edited September 21 by Isaan sailor

[itsari]

On 9/21/2024 at 4:42 AM, jerrymahoney said:

When one uses the 65k+ per month retirement extension of stay protocol, that's what one has to transfer in every month regardless of the favorable/not favorable exchange rate.

The protocol used of 65,000 baht a month could be difficult for many to follow if the baht continues to strengthen. 

Ship out then? 

No , you will use the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account or you use an agent .

[itsari]

1 hour ago, Mitkof Island said:

and sadly that is the majority of expats who also do not tend to speak any Thai.

Are you offered a better exchange rate when fluent in Thai?

[chiang mai]

1 hour ago, Isaan sailor said:

Thank you for this linked info.  Bank of Thailand has experienced unusual inflows recently.  However they won’t say where the inflows originate, 

I think there’s an 800 pound gorilla in the room—-Chinese investment money.  Prove me wrong.

OK, I'll prove you wrong.

 

The article is 5 years old!

 

Good enough?

[Isaan sailor]

2 hours ago, chiang mai said:

OK, I'll prove you wrong.

 

The article is 5 years old!

 

Good enough?

No.  You got nothing better.

[chiang mai]

6 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

No.  You got nothing better.

What I have that's better is nothing, plus I don't look foolish trying to suggest that todays currency movements were caused by something that happened five years ago! It's like suggesting travel to Europe is down because Hitler invaded Poland!

Edited September 22 by chiang mai

[jerrymahoney]

3 hours ago, itsari said:

Ship out then? 

No. Baht per dollar is down but

 

Markets News, Sept. 19, 2024: S&P 500, Dow Jump to Record Highs After Fed Cuts Rates

 

 

 

 

[BuddyPish]

Lucky enough to still be earning so the exchange rate doesn't really matter.
Financial speculation (Index futures) 

[Furioso]

On 9/21/2024 at 4:31 AM, Mitkof Island said:

With the Thai baht the lowest exchange rate in over a year. I am curious how other expats are dealing with their monthly budgets. In my case had planned to buy a motorbike. Anything below 30 baht to the USD dollar everything outside survival comes to a stop. 33 to 34 baht to the dollar I can deal with that.

 

 

I'm NOT going to lie this weak dollar vs. the baht really s_cks donkey conk. I'm eliminating any major purchases for the time being. I was going to buy that new iPhone 16 but no way that's happening. and that new Honda CRV? forget it. 

 

My friend says the baht is always strong during low season, maybe it's a way to squeak by idk. 

[Patong2021]

6 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Thank you for this linked info.  Bank of Thailand has experienced unusual inflows recently.  However they won’t say where the inflows originate, 

I think there’s an 800 pound gorilla in the room—-Chinese investment money.  Prove me wrong.

 

You have made a significant point, although the Thai board of Investment - BOI does  provide a split.

Mind blowing. because of the overwhelming dominance of Chinese investment. I didn't appreciate how powerful and influential the Chinese were until you mentioned this. To be honest, I now get it why China holds so much influence over Thailand. I would even go so far to say that Thailand is becoming a puppet state.

 

As of 2024 Approved Foreign Investment Projects in Thailand (Source Thailand BOI) -

Top 4 International Investment Projects

-Mainland China has 164 projects worth 69.283 billion baht and Hong Kong has 30 projects worth 24.287 billion baht for a combined Chinese total of 194 projects 93.607 billion baht

-Singapore has 63 projects worth 53.683 billion

-Australia has 5 projects worth 14.840 billion baht

-Japan has 87 projects worth 12.885 billion baht

 

 

Edited September 22 by Patong2021