Adjustments To Your Lifestyle

[jaideeguy]

I think that we all are feeling the pinch from both sides, local inflation and the too strong baht [especially the $].

I've implimented some changes in my lifestyle to compensate for the lower value of my $$'s.

Like, only going into the superstores once a week instead of 2x or 3x a week. I've taught my [amazing Thai] wife to actually make lists to make sure we stock up on essentials for a week and and an added bonus is that we do less impulse spending [which is a big bite out of the budget].

We also shop more in the local markets for fresher vegetables and meats and support local merchants.

Skipping an upgrade for my pc, drinking cheaper wine, no vacation this year...maybe some day trips near by.

But, so far still living a good life!!

What compensations are others making???

[GuestHouse]

I've changed my five year plan to a five year and 3 month plan.

[PeaceBlondie]

Much less travel, and no visa runs. Keep the high-mileage car and bike. Do not move to higher rental place. Not so much eating out. And, try to find a decent job teaching school.

[justin54]

I was thinking about working more than 3 months this year.

Only time will tell.

JL

[jumnien]

Due to the strong baht and weak dollar, I recently bought a 24' Crownline 240LS bowrider speedboat imported from the US for about $60,000 US dollars. With the dollar weak, it hard to buy anything not priced in dollars. Importing stuff from the States seems the way to go for now.

[Pushit]

I think that we all are feeling the pinch from both sides, local inflation and the too strong baht [especially the $].

I've implimented some changes in my lifestyle to compensate for the lower value of my $$'s.

Like, only going into the superstores once a week instead of 2x or 3x a week. I've taught my [amazing Thai] wife to actually make lists to make sure we stock up on essentials for a week and and an added bonus is that we do less impulse spending [which is a big bite out of the budget].

We also shop more in the local markets for fresher vegetables and meats and support local merchants.

Skipping an upgrade for my pc, drinking cheaper wine, no vacation this year...maybe some day trips near by.

But, so far still living a good life!!

What compensations are others making???

Get the TW to work harder?

[Naam]

Due to the strong baht and weak dollar, I recently bought a 24' Crownline 240LS bowrider speedboat imported from the US for about $60,000 US dollars. With the dollar weak, it hard to buy anything not priced in dollars. Importing stuff from the States seems the way to go for now.

shall i suggest to my wife to import vegetables, meat and other food stuff from the U.S. and skip shopping in Friendship, Foodland and Carrefour? how much will we save per month? enough to finance a mia noi for me?

Edited March 22, 2008 by Naam

[Jingthing]

Less travel. Trips to Australia now too expensive. Spending more, getting less. Oh well.

[Gary A]

Due to the strong baht and weak dollar, I recently bought a 24' Crownline 240LS bowrider speedboat imported from the US for about $60,000 US dollars. With the dollar weak, it hard to buy anything not priced in dollars. Importing stuff from the States seems the way to go for now.

shall i suggest to my wife to import vegetables, meat and other food stuff from the U.S. and skip shopping in Friendship, Foodland and Carrefour? how much will we save per month? enough to finance a mia noi for me?

Naam, if you turn off only half of your air conditioners, you would have plenty extra for a VERY nice mia noi. With the financial side of the problem solved, you STILL have to deal with the MAJOR problem. That would be the mia luang.

[Ricardo]

Less travel ... I've cancelled one of my three planned overseas-trips this year, and will make more visits up the mountain, which is much cheaper (from Chiang Mai) than heading South to a beach. Mrs R has made several local trips this winter, so will stay at home this summer, when I take the kids to visit their elderly grandma in Europe. She says it isn't worth going - if there's no money for shopping, anyway !

There will also be less help for Thai-family this year, no major maintenance on the house, more home-cooking & less eating-out. Not sure how to reduce school-fees. My old clothes will last an extra year - no surprise to those who know me !

We will eat more Thai, and less imported farang, food & use the book-exchange more.

Plus - anybody want to rent a guest-bungalow ? !

[Maigo6]

No changes really, just able to save less.

I was gonna buy the Missus a Car of her own..........I still might, but it'll be a Jazz or Yaris instead of a Civic or Altis. And my Fortuner will have to make do for me, I was gonna get a Camry....oh well....maybe next year.

Edited March 22, 2008 by Maigo6

[britmaveric]

No changes - doesnt really impact me too much.

[Beardog]

Since I started building the baan, I haven't had much time for any extravaganza's .I pretty much stopped drinking in 2005 so there is not much cost in that. The food my girl & I make are better than most restaurants so that does not cost much.

If I ever finish this house & get started on another project on the remaining 3 rai. Hopefully I will get to go to Koh Chang or Koh Phanagan . I can't seem to cut expenses more.The Thai's affectionately consider me to be a poor farang farmer(ya right). If I was back in the U.S. it would be a different story as it is pretty cheap here except when I have to deal with the Government. A lot of tea money or hidden charges .

Beardog

[churchill]

Change from the normal Krug 1'ier cru to a vintage Moet Chandon

Edited March 22, 2008 by churchill

[Marvo]

Much less travel, and no visa runs...

Sorry PB, you've got me there ??? Don't think immigration will let me get away with that one .

[realmadrid25]

i spend money like its water in thailand and i still have not spent more than 125,000 USD in a single year (for the past 3 years).

[Jingthing]

i spend money like its water in thailand and i still have not spent more than 125,000 USD in a single year (for the past 3 years).

You don't say? Maybe you can piss on me and I can buy a boat.

[Ijustwannateach]

I buy more imported stuff, for sure.

I've been treating myself to some good quality breakfast... bought a 300B box of cereal (lasts me more than a week) and suddenly realised it costs over $10!!!

[siamamerican]

Not living in Thailand now, but if I was it wouldn't be hard to reduce my spending so I wouldn't need to eat into my nest egg. Go out 1 less night a week and only one trip to Dunkin Donuts each day would do it.

[zorro1]

ozzie dollar still up there so the rape bar fine, plunder and pillage will continue.

[realmadrid25]

mister donut is the isaanite version of dunken donut.

[Naam]

Due to the strong baht and weak dollar, I recently bought a 24' Crownline 240LS bowrider speedboat imported from the US for about $60,000 US dollars. With the dollar weak, it hard to buy anything not priced in dollars. Importing stuff from the States seems the way to go for now.

shall i suggest to my wife to import vegetables, meat and other food stuff from the U.S. and skip shopping in Friendship, Foodland and Carrefour? how much will we save per month? enough to finance a mia noi for me?

Naam, if you turn off only half of your air conditioners, you would have plenty extra for a VERY nice mia noi. With the financial side of the problem solved, you STILL have to deal with the MAJOR problem. That would be the mia luang.

most of the time not even half of my aircons are running Gary and turning off half of the less than half running ones will not impress the mia luang (i guess you refer to Mrs Naam) to change her views on me having a mia noi please come up with more feasible solutions. i am eagerly listening!

p.s. her main argument against my idea to have a mia noi is that we can't afford the additional Viagra

[Dakhar]

I have to say I like Mister Doughnut.... and it probably looks like I do too.

The bulk of my income is all here in Thailand. Not a proud statement, but a true statement. I am 35 & this is the first time an economic downturn will (may) really impact me. I have a wife, child and one on the way, so it does worry me. I have a gut feeling I may get walking papers from one of my employers. That is the nature of 6 month contracts, easy severance.

Oh well we move on. Good luck to everyone.

(Sorry no stories of a boat purchase)

[realmadrid25]

nam people are getting ready for breakfast the last imagine they want in there is mind is of an old guy like you, talking about his viagra and mia noi etc. just go to a patayya forum where you can talk that stuff up.

[spasticated]

Ive increased all my rents but as a retalitry measure only for the Thais!

[Naam]

nam people are getting ready for breakfast the last imagine they want in there is mind is of an old guy like you, talking about his viagra and mia noi etc. just go to a patayya forum where you can talk that stuff up.

would you like me to tell you where exactly you can shove your advice?

[PeaceBlondie]

Much less travel, and no visa runs...

Sorry PB, you've got me there ??? Don't think immigration will let me get away with that one .

In my first couple of years here, visa runs cost me about 100,000 baht per year. Plus, two major surgeries when I hit the dog on a visa run, cost about another 100K. So I got a retirement visa and have hardly left the country since.

[Dakhar]

Ive increased all my rents but as a retalitry measure only for the Thais!

I like that idea, I think I will suggest that to the wife. What is the worse the could do, move out? Boo Hoo, the place is paid for.

[steveromagnino]

I'm buying more supplies from USA for one of my new businesses; in fact started the new business in part because the American stuff is so cheap now. OTOH have stopped exporting one thing that I was doing before to USA, but will be exporting marine stuff there as for the most part Americans cannot really make decent marine stuff in this particular area.

I'm travelling more and saving a bit more; after all, with a pay rise and now with USA so cheap, it makes a trip snowboarding there a lot cheaper than 10+ years ago.

The strong baht is great for people paid in baht with no connection to USA.

[orchis]

My income is in Euro. No problem.