Do you flaunt your wealth in Thailand?

[OneMoreFarang]

I didn't try to but the employees in my regular coffee shop decided I am rich.

One day they mentioned something about me being rich and I asked them why they think that. The answer was prompt. Every day when I went there for coffee, I paid with a 1000B note or maybe 500B. That is something only rich people can do. 😉 

[Felton Jarvis]

First, I would need to be wealthy. Those who consider a retirement income "wealth" are delusional.

[BarBoy]

15 minutes ago, khunPer said:

It's simple: People that needs to flash wealth are not real wealthy folks, real wealthy people don't need to flash it...

Tell that to that Thai male.

 

With whom ego and face trumps all.

 

They will willingly and knowingly plunge themselves and their families into immense debt in order to maintain their status and level of face.

 

Face and status are paramount in this society.

[jas007]

6 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I didn't try to but the employees in my regular coffee shop decided I am rich.

One day they mentioned something about me being rich and I asked them why they think that. The answer was prompt. Every day when I went there for coffee, I paid with a 1000B note or maybe 500B. That is something only rich people can do. 😉 

Until recently, it never occurred to me that the local ATM machines dispensed anything other than 1000 baht notes, so I always just withdrew those.  To get the smaller bills, I'd pay at the local convenience store with a 1000 baht bill.  Anyway, it does seem sort of sad that I probably spend more in a day on stuff from the Tops Daily than the people who work there make in a day.  I'm not trying to impress anyone, though, even if it may seem so to some people. 

 

Otherwise, in Thailand, I don't make any effort to flaunt my wealth.  There's nobody I'm trying to impress.  

 

Ditto for life in America.  Other than the place I'm living, which is for me, I make no effort to impress anyone.  When I buy things, I buy them because I get a kick out of whatever,  Stereo systems, cars, vacations.  If I buy things, it's for kicks.  What's the point of trying to impress people you don't even know? 

 

Of course, in some situations, you almost have to conform to a certain dress code or whatever.  So a guy might have a closet full of expensive suits.  But at the end of the day, he's back home in T-shirts and shorts.  

[jas007]

14 minutes ago, Felton Jarvis said:

First, I would need to be wealthy. Those who consider a retirement income "wealth" are delusional.

Different people have different ideas about wealth.  

 

If you're healthy and have good friends and family and the free time to do anything you want, to some people, that's wealth.  I'm sure there are sick billionaires in this world who would give every penny they have to be 22 years old again and healthy, 

 

 

[newnative]

    No, I don't.  And, wouldn't wherever I live.   I have no interest in a Rolex watch or flashy jewelry.  Never have.  Or, over-priced, expensive, status automobiles.  I remember some years ago there was a thread on luxury cars and I posted that I didn't have any interest in spending 3MB for a German automobile when my vehicle at the time--a Honda CR-V--served me perfectly well, at exactly half the cost.  Someone responded back that, no, I was lying and if I actually had 3MB to spend and was not, in reality, poor as a church mouse I would certainly be buying that German automobile--or something to that effect.   

    I thought the reply was ridiculous--especially since it presumed that everyone must have a burning desire to own and drive a German automobile because, apparently, that was what the poster coveted most, and owned.  If they say they don't, according to the poster, it's because they can't afford one.   Sour grapes.

  Instead of German automobiles or Rolexes, my spouse and I have a Bangkok getaway condo.   Can't drive it, or wear it, but it gives us more enjoyment than either a status watch or car would.  But, that's just us.  It always comes down to whatever floats your boat, and never one size fits all.

[J Branche]

Traveled all over the world and learned quickly even the illusion of wealth can get a solo foreign traveler the wrong kind of attention.    

 

It is up to the person.  

I was never interested in jewelry, expensive clothes.

Travel, adventure and experiences interested me more.

 

I understand some people need to present the image of success or wealth because of their career or job.

 

I enjoy it more when I buy a new tablet for one of the girlfriends, families, children that struggle to afford one.

 

When the Mom teared up and the good feeling warmed my heart that was worth more than something else I could have bought.

[advancebooking]

On saturdays I take my kid to a science tutor. The teacher lives in an old moobahn housing village. Her house is really old and small / run down. Inside the small gate are new looking BMW and a Merc. Very surprised to see this. 

[GammaGlobulin]

25 minutes ago, advancebooking said:

On saturdays I take my kid to a science tutor. The teacher lives in an old moobahn housing village. Her house is really old and small / run down. Inside the small gate are new looking BMW and a Merc. Very surprised to see this. 

 

Stolen?

 

[BangkokReady]

13 hours ago, Briggsy said:

You do not flaunt your wealth here but it is very important (chiefly for Thais) to signal their social status. The two can easily be confused as one implies the other but not necessarily.

 

E.g. the choice of an E-class Mercedes Benz may appear to be a show of wealth but is more likely to be an indicator of status.

 

The graduation picture and degree from a government university displayed in a prominent position is all about status.

 

Status has a large bearing on how you are treated (again chiefly for Thais).

 

Wealth with zero status may potentially attract the wrong sort of friends.

 

Wealth is a marker of status.  Status symbols are displays of wealth.  Wealthy is a status.  They're pretty much the same thing.

 

An E-class Mercedes is a show of wealth.  The high cost of the car shows your status to all who see it.