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.

[Prubangboy]

I wear polo shirts with the little alligator on them.

 

So yeah, I guess I do.

[simon43]

I have no wealth, so I don't have to worry about flaunting it.  But (for whatever reason), my status amongst the locals here in Myanmar is rather high, (probably down to the fact that I'm a foreigner, old, a teacher and a charity worker.  The locals can't duck enough as they pass me! 🙂

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

7 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

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.

Yes and a C-class is the sign of a true poseur.

[blaze master]

15 hours 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...

 

Ya the 20 million dollar yacht parked at surin beach last night is saying hey we're poor. 

[CANSIAM]

I know a fella who revealed his US monthly pension ( a hefty amount ) amount to his Thai gf.........why????????????  

[save the frogs]

15 hours ago, J Branche said:

I was never interested in jewelry, expensive clothes.

I never owned jewelry, but now starting to collect some pieces.

I try to avoid stuff that looks obnoxiously flashy.

But still, a silver pendant is pricey. But if it gets snatched off my neck by a ladyboy, I will still survive. 

Maybe hide it on beach road. 

 

[Gottfrid]

On 12/21/2024 at 7:26 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Rolex and other high prices items stored in bank vault, safety box, never worn. 

 

That´s really good, for safety. However, why have things you can´t use? Better buy a Seiko so you can wear it.

[kingstonkid]

18 hours ago, BarBoy said:

Never.

 

I always wear scruffy clothes and a bog standard Casio watch.

 

The thais can't see me coming!

LOL It isn't that they can't see you coming, BOB it is they don't want you to see them LOL

 

I heard a rumour that the last time you were in NANA the girls all stampeded 

 

 

 

 

OUT of the bar 

 

 

LOL

[BarBoy]

4 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

LOL It isn't that they can't see you coming, BOB it is they don't want you to see them LOL

 

I heard a rumour that the last time you were in NANA the girls all stampeded 

 

 

 

 

OUT of the bar 

 

 

LOL

into my lap more like.

[kingstonkid]

3 minutes ago, BarBoy said:

into my lap more like.

LOL

 

YOU SO HANSUM MAN

[atpeace]

I never flaunt wealth because it isn't important to me.  Not being seen as the poor farang has its benefits though so I try not to be super cheap.  Have no problem with others that flaunt their wealth and especially if they are living a satisfying life.  The pretenders can be frustrating and are usually easy to avoid.

 

I have a simple home and a couple normal cars and this  is what people see passing by.  Functionality of what I possess, a good view from my home, comfort, a great partner, and being extremely fit are my drivers.

[herfiehandbag]

On 12/21/2024 at 7:26 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Rolex and other high prices items stored in bank vault, safety box, never worn. 

How does that work then, do you 😀ring them up when you want to know the time, or do you have to go in and look?

 

Who winds it up for you?

 

 😀

 

[cdemundo]

Funny thing about this thread.

Who is gonna say.yes?

But interesting observations by a lot posters.

It was worth a read.

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

That´s really good, for safety. However, why have things you can´t use? Better buy a Seiko so you can wear it.

I store my investments safely. 

 

Why on earth would anyone wear a Rolex watch around Pattaya? 

 

I have a smart watch, fitness tracker I wear, why would I want a Seiko? 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

37 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

How does that work then, do you 😀ring them up when you want to know the time, or do you have to go in and look?

 

Who winds it up for you?

 

 😀

 

My smart watch tells me the time.