4 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Many people like to have a savings on hand, especially, like myself, never had health insurance.  For those with limited funds, and no health insurance, then that 800k for Imm / savings for emergency, could come in very handy during an oops.

 

Not everyone has a steady 65k a month income, as it may fluctuate, month to month, or, they simply don't generate that much every month.  Imm requirement met 👍

 

If you're a cash kind of person, hate giving interest to banks, and enjoy large purchases, on a whim, then a healthy bank account is nice to have.   Want a house, car, scooter, drone, then just go buy it.

Can't buy a house, condo yes in certain circumstances 

 

Learn to cook.Save huge amounts on food costs and way more healthy both for body and mind..great hobby .

On 4/8/2025 at 2:02 PM, BritManToo said:

UK state pension near enough £1k/month = 44kbht at the moment.

 

I spend about 25kbht on me, and another 35kbht on the wife and kid. Living here would be cheap as chips without any baggage!

We are in about the same boat.. I give the wife 35k for bills. Keep 30k for extras like travelling or buying things for kids and wife and myself as well as the extramarital accompaniment when alone travelling or the wife is on the rag. I have lots of whiskeys and other liquors at home but rarely drink them. I do not like to go to bars alone so I rarely go to drink in them. We have a good life in Thailand and all that we need or want. We have about 7 bank accounts that we put money into monthly as well. So, I think in Pattaya the single or married male could live in 35k if he is not a lush or paying for his indulges on a regular basis. 

It's down to what you want to spend money on. It's not so easy for us a child in private school and a wife. I don't drink really and do not smoke. Some months are easy some not so when car insurance etc bills come in and of course the big one health insurance. That's a topic all It's own.

40K/month!? I have difficulty spending 10K?month. So how, you may ask? When I first came to Thailand over 30 years ago, I took some time to get to know people. I got married, and we are still together. I invested in a smallish business which pays reasonably and supports 5 adults. I don't take from the business, that's for the family. However, I suppose I do to an extent, as I don't pay rent, water or electricity. Most of my food I buy myself. 2 days per week my wife and I go out for a meal and social evening. The business will not make any of us rich, but it is a good living without having to scrimp and watch every penny. So, I have no complaints. The business keeps me busy, so no reason to spend time propping up a bar, which is a big problem for many. The initial investment has paid for itself. I don't have to pay taxes here, as I don't bring in enough to warrant that. Income from my UK pensions is invested and this will eventually be passed on to my son and his family. Did I do it all wrong, quite honestly, like Frank said, 'I did it my way,' and pleased I did.  

19 hours ago, Surasak said:

Did I do it all wrong, quite honestly, like Frank said, 'I did it my way,' and pleased I did. 

Sounds like you did OK, and have been fortunate with a decent family around you. One hears of quite a few such instances, say opening of a small shop or restaurant where family congregate and help themselves and drain it dry. 

On 4/7/2025 at 10:40 PM, georgegeorgia said:

I'm very interested and please forgive me for not doing a study or a project on this but I just thought of the project idea today a few days AFTER I came back from my study tour of Thailand 

 

I read the Australian aged pension is like 40,000 baht a month or near 

 

And some of you UK also around the same , please may I ask how your lifestyle is on this amount 

 

I did see a few old farangs in Sizzlers in Pattaya secretly filling up their containers in bags next to them with good BUT may I ask for those of you ,does anyone here in PATTAYA live on that amount quite comfortable 

 

Now please if you do ,do you forego the pleasures in life ,cheese ,wine and song or is wine women and song to achieve the budget of your aged pension 

What about the 99b breakfast living in 40k per month 

It always fascinated me seeing bars in Soi Bukhao such as those Sports Bars full ,do expats go to those and pay often WESTERN prices or are they tourists in those places 

 

I remember going to what looked like a open no air con expats sports bar in Jomtien opp the 711 only to see miserable old people inside 

 

How much do you live on?

On 8/10/2025 at 9:44 AM, LittleBear57 said:

It's down to what you want to spend money on. It's not so easy for us a child in private school and a wife. I don't drink really and do not smoke. Some months are easy some not so when car insurance etc bills come in and of course the big one health insurance. That's a topic all It's own.

Insurance is a luxury item, most of the world don't use it and manage just fine.

Gov min insurance for the car and forget health insurance will save you a lot.

On 8/8/2025 at 5:02 AM, emptypockets said:

Can't buy a house, condo yes in certain circumstances 

 

You can buy a house, you just can’t own the land. 

On 8/7/2025 at 12:50 PM, KhunHeineken said:

 

Sixth, Thailand is a 3rd World Country.

You've obviously not travelled much, Thailand is far from a 3rd world country.

 

 

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Sounds like you did OK, and have been fortunate with a decent family around you. One hears of quite a few such instances, say opening of a small shop or restaurant where family congregate and help themselves and drain it dry. 

As the saying goes, jacko. Look before you leap. Study the lay of the land and test the waters. It was almost 4 years after marriage before the business was opened. By then I had a very good idea of any bad apples being sprung on me, fortunately there were none. However, there are always those who will try to take advantage, so a no credit policy was adopted very early on.

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

You've obviously not travelled much, Thailand is far from a 3rd world country.

 

 

Yes, farangys can have their own yellow house resident book..........

7 minutes ago, transam said:

Yes, farangys can have their own yellow house resident book..........

what's that got to do with anything related to this thread?

Just now, PJ71 said:

what's that got to do with anything related to this thread?

Just replying to you, LOS not being a Third World country.......

Though, I would bring annual car inspections into question......

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

You've obviously not travelled much, Thailand is far from a 3rd world country.

 Which did they join, NATO or the Soviet Block?

23 hours ago, transam said:

Just replying to you, LOS not being a Third World country.......

Though, I would bring annual car inspections into question......

 

You make zero sense, just a sad old man talking gash..

22 hours ago, BritManToo said:

 Which did they join, NATO or the Soviet Block?

?

5 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

 

You make zero sense, just a sad old man talking gash..

Says the bloke who cannot work out how to get a yellow book....😂

4 minutes ago, transam said:

Says the bloke who cannot work out how to get a yellow book....😂

Here we go again.....

 

 

All i need to work out about yellow book is it's a total waste of time, that took about 0.00000003 seconds, but you crack on sunshine as you appear to think it's some sort of right of passage.......

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

Here we go again.....

 

 

All i need to work out about yellow book is it's a total waste of time, that took about 0.00000003 seconds, but you crack on sunshine as you appear to think it's some sort of right of passage.......

 

 

Overrated, but is does seem to make some people feel more "Thai".

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Overrated, but is does seem to make some people feel more "Thai".

Yip, overrated and under used but you're correct some people seem to wear it as a badge of honour for some peculiar reason.

5 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Overrated, but is does seem to make some people feel more "Thai".

Oh my, 

 

3 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Yip, overrated and under used but you're correct some people seem to wear it as a badge of honour for some peculiar reason.

 

why is it overrated? 

On 4/8/2025 at 2:07 PM, Mike_Hunt said:

Does Australia only pay 40,000K per month at 67?  That's not much.  

It’s worse for Brits whose state pension is frozen,ie no triple lock increases despite having paid in for 30+ years. Difficult to live on £40k per month but as the uk and other western nations collapse living frugally on that is infinitely preferable.

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Oh my, 

 

 

why is it overrated? 

You another advocate for having one?

 

How often are they needed / used?

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

You another advocate for having one?

 

How often are they needed / used?

If you live here and buy and sell vehicles, renew licenses, banking, and also at immigration renewal of visa. A bonus is when Im touring around in Thailand on my motorbike some national parks gives me local prices when showing my pink card, which I also use on arrival at airport together with my visa. 

 

Im travelling back and forth 3-4 times a year. 

Just now, Hummin said:

If you live here and buy and sell vehicles, renew licenses, banking, and also at immigration renewal of visa. A bonus is when Im touring around in Thailand on my motorbike some national parks gives me local prices when showing my pink card, which I also use on arrival at airport together with my visa. 

 

Im travelling back and forth 3-4 times a year. 

Buy and sell vehicles is done seldom and not hard to get COR

Renewing licenses every 5 years

Bank accounts set up for years already, 99% banking done online now

Visa renewal - agent.

Parks, saving 20 baht - wooohoooo

 

A yellow book / pink card has zero benefit in my life but it you like it then fill yer boots...

4 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Buy and sell vehicles is done seldom and not hard to get COR

Renewing licenses every 5 years

Bank accounts set up for years already, 99% banking done online now

Visa renewal - agent.

Parks, saving 20 baht - wooohoooo

 

A yellow book / pink card has zero benefit in my life but it you like it then fill yer boots...

We all base our opinions by our own needs and actions. 

 

It makes life easier when  immigration is 86 kom from home. Parks is up to 500 baht for passing through on a motorbike and car, and you travel more than 30k a year. 

 

I understand if you not leaving your favorite place and travel to much, and do not even buy and sell vehicles not much use for it. 

24 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Oh my, 

 

 

why is it overrated? 

 

 

Why is it not..

 

 

I have managed perfectly well without it since it's inception when all the Thai wannabees rushed in believing it afforded some form of 'higher status'

 

Here is an AI list of the perceived benefits  (all of which I achieve by other means):-

 

A pink ID card in Thailand, while not conferring full Thai citizenship or residency rights, offers some practical benefits for foreigners living in the country. These include easier access to certain services, like opening bank accounts and obtaining SIM cards, and the ability to use it as identification for domestic travel and hotel check-ins. It can also be helpful for accessing Thai pricing at national parks and other attractions. 

Here's a more detailed look at the benefits:

Identification:

Hotel Check-ins: Some hotels may accept it for check-in purposes, though this can vary.

General Identification: It serves as a form of ID for various situations where identification is required. 

Domestic Travel: It can be used as an alternative to a passport for domestic flights and train travel.

Financial Services:

Banking:

It can simplify opening bank accounts and accessing other financial services, though some banks may still require a passport. 

Yellow Housebook:

Pairing it with a yellow housebook can further streamline the process of opening bank accounts. 

6 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Why is it not..

 

 

I have managed perfectly well without it since it's inception when all the Thai wannabees rushed in believing it afforded some form of 'higher status'

 

Here is an AI list of the perceived benefits  (all of which I achieve by other means):-

 

A pink ID card in Thailand, while not conferring full Thai citizenship or residency rights, offers some practical benefits for foreigners living in the country. These include easier access to certain services, like opening bank accounts and obtaining SIM cards, and the ability to use it as identification for domestic travel and hotel check-ins. It can also be helpful for accessing Thai pricing at national parks and other attractions. 

Here's a more detailed look at the benefits:

Identification:

Hotel Check-ins: Some hotels may accept it for check-in purposes, though this can vary.

General Identification: It serves as a form of ID for various situations where identification is required. 

Domestic Travel: It can be used as an alternative to a passport for domestic flights and train travel.

Financial Services:

Banking:

It can simplify opening bank accounts and accessing other financial services, though some banks may still require a passport. 

Yellow Housebook:

Pairing it with a yellow housebook can further streamline the process of opening bank accounts. 

Only one thing, bank account opening, they want driving license and house book, or proof of address 

Just now, Hummin said:

Only one thing, bank account opening, they want driving license and house book, or proof of address 

 

 

Certificate of residence has been always been a requirement for me.

 

Friends who have a pink card were also told to go and get a C o R.

 

 

I have used my Thai driving license to gain entry at Thai prices, registration at hotels and also for ID purposes on domestic flights.