5 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Are there not laws to prevent OAP's being evicted from their homes?

I think not at the moment.  One should always plan (as much as possible) for the unexpected....

3 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Bus pass for over 60's?

I believe it's same age as state pension. 65 for women 67 for men.

 

I don't know for sure. I'm in my fifties so haven't looked into it yet.

On 6/26/2025 at 4:17 PM, simon43 said:

Some might say that the NHS is in a mess, and that I will get no help from them, but I disagree.  I used the NHS and GP (doctor) services and was treated quickly and politely.

 

In a similar situation to you (bit older), but on the occasions I've been back to the UK the NHS has been absolutely first class.....for me at least.

2 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

That is a terrible answer to a decent poster who has set up a very interesting topic.

Yes it is - but it was not me.  My laptop was 'screwed over' yesterday - posts I sent to one thread were sent to another and many were duplicated several times. 

 

I recall writing a story about how we plan to return to Australia before I am 80, because Thailand is not the place to be when you are in 'the end game' - if you can avoid it. My Thai wife is an Oz citizen so returning is not an issue.  A mate of mine passed here when in early 80s - if he was back home he would have lived another 3-5 years minimum. I saw it with both my parents - the benefits of a 1st world ambulance and hospital system plus free medications and home nursing etc etc etc.  His Thai wife spent a lot of money in his last 2 years here - all for nothing IMO - the ambulances were a joke and the hospitals were at best ordinary (in rural city) - everything cost a fortune here whereas back home they were basically free. I told him for years to go back, and then he was too sick to travel - all too late. 

 

Plan to go back if you can afford to do that - include getting rid of everything here (sell give away etc.) and the costs to pack and fly and where to live when you arrive and then where you want to live (get on public housing waiting list if you need to) - then put that plan into action when a trigger happens.  For the wife and I the trigger is me being over 75 (then it is a year by year assessment), or if either of us are diagnosed with a serious illness, or if we have a bad accident in car etc. and survive. 

3 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Yes it is - but it was not me.  My laptop was 'screwed over' yesterday - posts I sent to one thread were sent to another and many were duplicated several times. 

 

I recall writing a story about how we plan to return to Australia before I am 80, because Thailand is not the place to be when you are in 'the end game' - if you can avoid it. My Thai wife is an Oz citizen so returning is not an issue.  A mate of mine passed here when in early 80s - if he was back home he would have lived another 3-5 years minimum. I saw it with both my parents - the benefits of a 1st world ambulance and hospital system plus free medications and home nursing etc etc etc.  His Thai wife spent a lot of money in his last 2 years here - all for nothing IMO - the ambulances were a joke and the hospitals were at best ordinary (in rural city) - everything cost a fortune here whereas back home they were basically free. I told him for years to go back, and then he was too sick to travel - all too late. 

 

Plan to go back if you can afford to do that - include getting rid of everything here (sell give away etc.) and the costs to pack and fly and where to live when you arrive and then where you want to live (get on public housing waiting list if you need to) - then put that plan into action when a trigger happens.  For the wife and I the trigger is me being over 75 (then it is a year by year assessment), or if either of us are diagnosed with a serious illness, or if we have a bad accident in car etc. and survive. 

Apart from the 'youngsters' who run out of money in Thailand (lack of job, lack of available type of visa etc), I think the most important reason for a foreigner to return back to their home country is for current or potential health reasons in the future.

 

I've just reached 66 years old and now receive my UK state pension.  If I remain in Thailand, that pension is frozen, (except if I relocate to the PI). Actually, I have no great interest in moving to the PI - if I'm going to make a permanent move, then it would be back to the UK, where my pension is index-linked and I get all of the other benefits that UK state pensioners without a pot to pee into also receive 🙂

 

My medical issues are managable right now, but that might not be the case in the future..

 

The only (unique to me) issue is that I might pop back to teach in Myanmar for 1 more year before I return to the UK.  This is because I can save up some money (Myanmar teaching salary +my current online teaching income+UK state pension = about $4,500 USD/month), because I intend to buy a small panel van when I return to the UK.  Why?  Because 4-wheel transport would be useful, and I can convert the panel van into an overnight sleeper for occasional sleeps if I travel to visit other parts of the UK (I have the funds but absolutely refuse to pay the high rates to stay in some <deleted>ty hotel for a night - I'd rather sleep in my cosy van!!)

8 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Apart from the 'youngsters' who run out of money in Thailand (lack of job, lack of available type of visa etc), I think the most important reason for a foreigner to return back to their home country is for current or potential health reasons in the future.

 

I've just reached 66 years old and now receive my UK state pension.  If I remain in Thailand, that pension is frozen, (except if I relocate to the PI). Actually, I have no great interest in moving to the PI - if I'm going to make a permanent move, then it would be back to the UK, where my pension is index-linked and I get all of the other benefits that UK state pensioners without a pot to pee into also receive 🙂

 

My medical issues are managable right now, but that might not be the case in the future..

 

The only (unique to me) issue is that I might pop back to teach in Myanmar for 1 more year before I return to the UK.  This is because I can save up some money (Myanmar teaching salary +my current online teaching income+UK state pension = about $4,500 USD/month), because I intend to buy a small panel van when I return to the UK.  Why?  Because 4-wheel transport would be useful, and I can convert the panel van into an overnight sleeper for occasional sleeps if I travel to visit other parts of the UK (I have the funds but absolutely refuse to pay the high rates to stay in some <deleted>ty hotel for a night - I'd rather sleep in my cosy van!!)

Sounds like a plan !!  And you are dead right - the issue - and only real reason is the medical issues and problems that we all will have when we get older.  Very few of us are 'lucky' enough to keel over one day and 'gone baby gone'.  Most of us have ongoing medical problems for years and years - that is why being here is not a great plan unless you have a lot of money and can live near very good hospitals (Chiang Mai or Bangkok) and can afford them - and getting back before you are too old is so important.  I recall that recent story of the poor Greek guy who started getting sick in February and is now looking very bad but the Drs have no idea what he has - and the Thai wife has spent all their money trying to get him better - he is basically now just getting sicker and sicker, and without any real painkillers, and dying is the only way out  - not the way I wish to go out.

 

I like your idea of a panel van or a motor home - that way you can go from park to park, while you check out the country. You will probably find a place you like and can afford - then you can get a cheap place to rent (public housing?) and live out your final years with 'real' ambulances and medical services nearby and able to help you when needed. Then when you get very old, they will put you in a palliative care hospice (or set one up in your home) with the proper support you will need. Certainly not as good support as someone with money in UK - but way better than here. 

[quote]

...

You will probably find a place you like and can afford - then you can get a cheap place to rent (public housing?)

...

[/quote]

 

When you are a state pensioner in the UK (as I am), and have savings less than $16,000, (which is me again), the benefit systems pays about $750/month towards your costs to rent a private accommodation.  So even though private rent is (IMHO) expensive, I will be able to rent a nice 1-bed apartment and can use my van to visit some nice places, national parks, coastal walks etc, without having to concern myself with paying for overnight hotel accommodation. Also, converting the small van will be a nice way to spend my spend time.

 

And.... if everything is terrible in the UK, I can sell the van to get some cash so that I can fly back to spend my days in no-visa-hassle Cambodia, where my frozen UK pension money will be sufficient for my needs.

 

There's no 100% perfect plan, but I'm trying to cover all eventualities.

3 hours ago, simon43 said:

Apart from the 'youngsters' who run out of money in Thailand (lack of job, lack of available type of visa etc), I think the most important reason for a foreigner to return back to their home country is for current or potential health reasons in the future.

 

I've just reached 66 years old and now receive my UK state pension.  If I remain in Thailand, that pension is frozen, (except if I relocate to the PI). Actually, I have no great interest in moving to the PI - if I'm going to make a permanent move, then it would be back to the UK, where my pension is index-linked and I get all of the other benefits that UK state pensioners without a pot to pee into also receive 🙂

 

My medical issues are managable right now, but that might not be the case in the future..

 

The only (unique to me) issue is that I might pop back to teach in Myanmar for 1 more year before I return to the UK.  This is because I can save up some money (Myanmar teaching salary +my current online teaching income+UK state pension = about $4,500 USD/month), because I intend to buy a small panel van when I return to the UK.  Why?  Because 4-wheel transport would be useful, and I can convert the panel van into an overnight sleeper for occasional sleeps if I travel to visit other parts of the UK (I have the funds but absolutely refuse to pay the high rates to stay in some <deleted>ty hotel for a night - I'd rather sleep in my cosy van!!)

You've been talking about that level of salary for years.

 

How come you don't have any money saved? Working as much as you say you did, you'd not have much time to spend. You should have been saving at least $2500 a month.

6 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Buses and trams yes, but trains??

Yes, in the West Midlands it includes the trains within the boundary of the West Midlands.

 

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/swift-and-tickets/discounts-and-free-travel-passes/get-an-older-person-s-travel-pass/

8 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

You've been talking about that level of salary for years.

 

How come you don't have any money saved? Working as much as you say you did, you'd not have much time to spend. You should have been saving at least $2500 a month.

 

Answered many times, including on page 4 of this thread if you could be bothered to read it.  His charity in Myanmar.

1 minute ago, treetops said:

 

Answered many times, including on page 4 of this thread if you could be bothered to read it.  His charity in Myanmar.

 

   TBH, I think that he was exaggerating his earnings 

9 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

You've been talking about that level of salary for years.

 

How come you don't have any money saved? Working as much as you say you did, you'd not have much time to spend. You should have been saving at least $2500 a month.

What I don't get is that even if you have paid in your whole life, if you have savings above a pretty low threshhold, you no longer qualify for a state pension. So why continue paying in once you reach such threshhold, cos you'll not get your money back (assuming you can live off your savings until you kick the bucket). 

 

Another question would be, if you are living overseas when you start drawing your (forzen) UK state pension, how can they check whether you are under the savings threshhold (assuming all your savings are based in Thailand).    

35 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

You've been talking about that level of salary for years.

 

How come you don't have any money saved? Working as much as you say you did, you'd not have much time to spend. You should have been saving at least $2500 a month.

As I have mentioned on more than 1 occasion in my posts, I run my own educational charity in Burma that supports young students in orphanages and monastery schools (about 10 locations with a total of several thousand students).  I fund the purchase of school books, design and print English language posters, record audio learning files, pay Adroid developers to create and manage an app etc etc.  I've been doing this for years because I much prefer to use my money in this manner, rather than spend it on a greedy wife or waste it on beer and bar-girls 🙂  I receive no donations for my charity (except occasionally from radio amateurs).  This is why I'm not sitting on a pile of $$$ in the bank, and I think it has been money well-spent 🙂

 

Garry, I have no savings to speak of, I have about $400 in my bank account and when I receive $2,000 from my online teaching in a few days from now, I will use a lot of that for my charity.  I have lived in this financial manner for many years, often with only a few hundred baht in the bank.  But everything has always worked out OK for me - perhaps someone 'up there' is looking out for me 🙂  Now that I start to receive my UK pension, I will return to the UK and stop teaching online, because it's getting a little difficult now (I sometimes have to abandon lessons mid-stream because of my uncontrolleable coughing).

 

I guess that the authorities can't easily check if you have savings in a foreign bank account.  I have no savings, so I don't have any concerns - they are welcome to see my bank details.

24 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   TBH, I think that he was exaggerating his earnings 

Teaching jobs in Burma typically pay about $2,500 USD/month (after any local tax).  Teaching science online pays me $29 USD/hour and I have more young students that I want! The demand is very high 🙂  (I used to have a waiting list of prebooked lessons on iTalki of more than 2,000 lessons, stretching out more than 1 year in the future.  Now I wound that down a lot because - well - I'm getting old)

On 6/30/2025 at 9:09 AM, BritManToo said:

Hastings is full of immigrants.

Had a pal that lived there, said it was a hellhole, and his house had no resale value so he was trapped there.

Brighton has a extremist Muslim Mayor.

Overview

 

Hastings is experiencing a housing boom, with rising property values and rental prices, but also a growing housing crisis. While the town is attracting attention as a potential property investment hotspot, especially for buy-to-let, it's also facing challenges related to affordability and homelessness. 

 

Rising Property Values and Rents:

• Hastings has seen significant increases in house prices and rental costs over the past decade, with some areas experiencing double-digit percentage growth. 
   
• For example, detached properties saw a 41.7% increase in value over 10 years, while flats/apartments increased by 52.8% according to Rush, Witt & Wilson. 
   
• Rents have also risen sharply, with average rents in Hastings increasing by over 5% in the last year. 
   
• This rise in property values and rents is fueled by increased demand, particularly from those priced out of other areas like Brighton and London according to Abbott & Abbott. 

Just now, 3NUMBAS said:

 

Overview

 

Hastings is experiencing a housing boom, with rising property values and rental prices, but also a growing housing crisis. While the town is attracting attention as a potential property investment hotspot, especially for buy-to-let, it's also facing challenges related to affordability and homelessness. 

 

Rising Property Values and Rents:

• Hastings has seen significant increases in house prices and rental costs over the past decade, with some areas experiencing double-digit percentage growth. 
   
• For example, detached properties saw a 41.7% increase in value over 10 years, while flats/apartments increased by 52.8% according to Rush, Witt & Wilson. 
   
• Rents have also risen sharply, with average rents in Hastings increasing by over 5% in the last year. 
   
• This rise in property values and rents is fueled by increased demand, particularly from those priced out of other areas like Brighton and London according to Abbott & Abbott. 

I'm not a townie person.  I like places like Exmoor and Dartmoor.  I can't imagine that Exmoor is packed full of Syrian immigrants, (or maybe I'm wrong!!)

23 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

 

Overview

 

Hastings is experiencing a housing boom, with rising property values and rental prices, but also a growing housing crisis. While the town is attracting attention as a potential property investment hotspot, especially for buy-to-let, it's also facing challenges related to affordability and homelessness. 

 

Rising Property Values and Rents:

• Hastings has seen significant increases in house prices and rental costs over the past decade, with some areas experiencing double-digit percentage growth. 
   
• For example, detached properties saw a 41.7% increase in value over 10 years, while flats/apartments increased by 52.8% according to Rush, Witt & Wilson. 
   
• Rents have also risen sharply, with average rents in Hastings increasing by over 5% in the last year. 
   
• This rise in property values and rents is fueled by increased demand, particularly from those priced out of other areas like Brighton and London according to Abbott & Abbott. 

 

 

Buy, hey, what do they know compared to BMT?........he has a friend there.

7 hours ago, GarryP said:

What I don't get is that even if you have paid in your whole life, if you have savings above a pretty low threshhold, you no longer qualify for a state pension. So why continue paying in once you reach such threshhold, cos you'll not get your money back (assuming you can live off your savings until you kick the bucket). 

 

Another question would be, if you are living overseas when you start drawing your (forzen) UK state pension, how can they check whether you are under the savings threshhold (assuming all your savings are based in Thailand).    

State pension qualification is based on NI paid. Savings don't cone into it.

7 hours ago, simon43 said:

As I have mentioned on more than 1 occasion in my posts, I run my own educational charity in Burma that supports young students in orphanages and monastery schools (about 10 locations with a total of several thousand students).  I fund the purchase of school books, design and print English language posters, record audio learning files, pay Adroid developers to create and manage an app etc etc.  I've been doing this for years because I much prefer to use my money in this manner, rather than spend it on a greedy wife or waste it on beer and bar-girls 🙂  I receive no donations for my charity (except occasionally from radio amateurs).  This is why I'm not sitting on a pile of $$$ in the bank, and I think it has been money well-spent 🙂

 

Garry, I have no savings to speak of, I have about $400 in my bank account and when I receive $2,000 from my online teaching in a few days from now, I will use a lot of that for my charity.  I have lived in this financial manner for many years, often with only a few hundred baht in the bank.  But everything has always worked out OK for me - perhaps someone 'up there' is looking out for me 🙂  Now that I start to receive my UK pension, I will return to the UK and stop teaching online, because it's getting a little difficult now (I sometimes have to abandon lessons mid-stream because of my uncontrolleable coughing).

 

I guess that the authorities can't easily check if you have savings in a foreign bank account.  I have no savings, so I don't have any concerns - they are welcome to see my bank details.

If that's true, they are soon going to have to fend for themselves.

 

Stop the funding now, earn your $60k a year for two years. Then you'll have money and won't need to worry. Simple.

 

Failing that, I'm sure done AN members would help with funding. Post details of your charity here. Could be good for them.

[quote]

...

Stop the funding now, earn your $60k a year for two years. Then you'll have money and won't need to worry. Simple.

...

[/quote]

 

Who is worrying?  I'm not!  I do not need the extra income to live a modest retirement 🙂

22 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Yes it is - but it was not me.  My laptop was 'screwed over' yesterday - posts I sent to one thread were sent to another and many were duplicated several times. 

This sounds disturbing. Do you think that your account was hacked somehow? If so, this clearly has potential implications for all of us.

 

22 hours ago, simon43 said:

My medical issues are managable right now, but that might not be the case in the future..

 

Thai health costs versus the NHS is one thing, but it is IMHO important, generally speaking, that those of advancing years who are contemplating a return to the UK don't overlook the care costs with which they could be faced when not occupying UK hospital beds. In the case of my late mother, for instance, these proved not insignificant even though she was in receipt of various benefits and allowances. At least in Thailand there is a tradition of family members taking care of their elders which doesn't exist in the UK, although it is clear from what you have said on this thread that you don't, unfortunately, have any close Thai family you could turn to.

5 hours ago, simon43 said:

[quote]

...

Stop the funding now, earn your $60k a year for two years. Then you'll have money and won't need to worry. Simple.

...

[/quote]

 

Who is worrying?  I'm not!  I do not need the extra income to live a modest retirement 🙂

You are worrying. That's why you posted.

I recommend @simon43 look at Cambodia.

 

Easy peasy visa, no B.S. like Thailand.

 

Lots of Brit pensioners living in Siem Reap and Kampot.

 

Health care is pretty good in Phnom Penh from what I've heard.

 

Cheers buddy

22 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

I recommend @simon43 look at Cambodia.

 

Easy peasy visa, no B.S. like Thailand.

 

Lots of Brit pensioners living in Siem Reap and Kampot.

 

Health care is pretty good in Phnom Penh from what I've heard.

 

Cheers buddy

Thanks, but the primary reason for my wish to return to the UK is for health reasons - not immediate health reasons, but those that may (probably will) crop up in the future.  It's not for financial reaons.

 

To give you an idea of what someone on a reduced state pension can afford to rent in the UK, here is a photo of the property that I have agreed to rent in the West Country.

 

 

Well not all of it lol!  I will be renting a furnished 1-bedroom 'flat' in the building on the right.  1 bedroom, 1 living room, 1 study, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen and parking - the cost to me is about 100 pounds per month.....  Why so cheap?  Because the normal rent of 675 pounds is reduced because I will receive 575 pounds in housing benefit, (because I have no savings).  As a 'poor' single pensioner, all my council tax is paid as well.

 

I am simply claiming benefits that are available to all UK state pensioners, depending on their circumstances.  It is a perverse fact that if you save all your life, you are then financially-penalised in your retirement. If you don't save, but do pay into the NI system, then the state helps you financially in your retirement 🙂

 

And @Woke to Sounds, yes indeed, if everything goes t*ts up in the UK, then Cambodia will be my return destination, (albeit organised with morphine lol in case I want a painless way out...)

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

It is a perverse fact that if you save all your life, you are then financially-penalised in your retirement. If you don't save, but do pay into the NI system, then the state helps you financially in your retirement

 

Well, it is a  🤡 world after all.

 

Best of luck with your flat in England. Looks liveable. Lush gardens a nice bonus. I should move there!

 

Cheers buddy

One problem that is cropping up is that financial transactions in the UK all revolve around your credit score, ie how much the credit agency considers you a good 'risk' for lending money to.  The fact that I've been out of the UK for 23 years means that my credit score is non-existant, even more so because I don't do credit (I pay cash and if I don't have cash then I don't buy it!).

 

"Computer says no!"

 

I wanted to buy a small car in the UK, so thought of using HP, but no chance, even if I pay 50% down.  The landlords who have considered me (like the property above), were sensible to realise that a returning expat after 23 years will of course have a low/zero credit rating, because they haven't needed credit!

 

It's a small obstacle for me, but I wonder why it's assumed that everyone borrows money in the UK.  That is not very good financial sense for many who are no good at managing their personal finances (I guess the vast majority of the population).

 

So on my return I will continue to live as I have done for the past 23 years = pay cash and never borrow 1 penny 🙂

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

One problem that is cropping up is that financial transactions in the UK all revolve around your credit score, ie how much the credit agency considers you a good 'risk' for lending money to.  The fact that I've been out of the UK for 23 years means that my credit score is non-existant, even more so because I don't do credit (I pay cash and if I don't have cash then I don't buy it!).

 

"Computer says no!"

 

I wanted to buy a small car in the UK, so thought of using HP, but no chance, even if I pay 50% down.  The landlords who have considered me (like the property above), were sensible to realise that a returning expat after 23 years will of course have a low/zero credit rating, because they haven't needed credit!

 

It's a small obstacle for me, but I wonder why it's assumed that everyone borrows money in the UK.  That is not very good financial sense for many who are no good at managing their personal finances (I guess the vast majority of the population).

 

So on my return I will continue to live as I have done for the past 23 years = pay cash and never borrow 1 penny 🙂

Get a bank account with an automatic overdraft, sign on the the electoral register, get your Sim card registered at your new address etc.  Your credit score will increase quickly.

 

More tips here;

How to improve your credit score - MoneySavingExpert

2 hours ago, DezLez said:

Get a bank account with an automatic overdraft, sign on the the electoral register, get your Sim card registered at your new address etc.  Your credit score will increase quickly.

 

More tips here;

How to improve your credit score - MoneySavingExpert

I already have a UK bank account (Halifax) for the past 3 years, no overdraft allowed, I'm on the ER for the same time and my UK SIM card is registered at my ER address.

 

The problem is that I do not have a UK credit card because I don't like to use credit - I pay cash!  In fact, I think the whole scenario of encouraging people to borrow just to improve their credit score is totally flawed.  Why don't they do what the Thai money-lenders do? = Lend the money and if you don't repay it, then they come and break your legs (or your grandma's legs....)

One other (related) problem of returning to the UK is that if you do not own your own property already, the chances of finding accommodation are slim because of the high demand for rented properties, (since no-one can afford a mortage to buy ..)

 

I inquired about a property on Rightmove yesterday - the agent told me that the number of parties wanting to rent that property was more than 100!  

 

Perhaps I should live in a van? 🙂