Car Loan From The G/f Mother

[G54]

While my motor has been off the road (abt 10 days in total before I get it back), the g/f mother has lent me her truck. It was a very kind gesture on her part and I am in a bit of a quandry as to how much I should offer her for the car loan?

I do not want to appear too tight fisted about it but have no real idea how much to give. I would have been stuck not getting out and about to the shops and the pub without.

Naturally I'll have the car cleaned and fill the tank before returning it when the father has finished fixing my motor.

Any sensible suggestions?

Thanks

[Maigo6]

Did she lend you the use of the truck, or rent it to you ?

If you want to show your appreciation, maybe a gift other than money would be better, money might be embarassing to her.

Buy her a new truck!

[TAWP]

Make sure the tank is filled up and perhaps, if you wanna seem to make a big deal out of it like you aren't family and can borrow things in a way everyone else can...a small gift.

[Spee]

While my motor has been off the road (abt 10 days in total before I get it back), the g/f mother has lent me her truck. It was a very kind gesture on her part and I am in a bit of a quandry as to how much I should offer her for the car loan?

Naturally I'll have the car cleaned and fill the tank before returning it when the father has finished fixing my motor.

Any sensible suggestions?

In our village, it is common for people without cars/trucks to ask to borrow one for the day, or to ask to be driven to a nearby town for a day's errands. Aside from paying the gas which is expected, somewhere between 500-1000 baht compensation is usually negotiated depending on how much of the day is consumed and how far away the drive takes them.

I know before I bought our truck, we used to rely on one of my fiancee's cousins and a close friend of her mother's. A few years ago when I bought our truck, we started to reciprocate with helping others out, although I don't want the truck to just be loaned out. I want either my fiancee' or her brother to do the driving.

For something like your situation, you may want to kick in a little extra, or perhaps buy a nice gift as a return gesture of appreciation. For 10 days, you could possibly consider buying her a 1 baht-weight bracelet. Current selling rate is about 14,000 baht which is a little pricey and possibly overkill, but I expect would definitely be appreciated. It all depends on your relationship with her, or what you would like it to be.

Hope this helps.

[dominator]

For something like your situation, you may want to kick in a little extra, or perhaps buy a nice gift as a return gesture of appreciation. For 10 days, you could possibly consider buying her a 1 baht-weight bracelet. Current selling rate is about 14,000 baht which is a little pricey and possibly overkill, but I expect would definitely be appreciated. It all depends on your relationship with her, or what you would like it to be.

What a load of cr^p. Start down this road and it'll never end.

Take her and family out for a meal, as well as the other things mentioned by G54.

[Heng]

Make sure the truck/car is washed before it's returned, gas tank full, and perhaps a basket of oranges.

Edited January 15, 2009 by Heng

[jackr]

No money

[Explorer]

A family meal

Explorer

[teacup]

Just to name a few…….as for a token appreciation....

Full tank of gas and a warm genuine thank you wai

+

one or more of these.....(popular among the thais)

-Fruit basket

-Flowering tree - jasmine is very popular

-Pot of fruit tree

-A few silk patoongs and a few yards of eyelets fabric

-Appreciation meal

-A cake

-Small kitchen appliances.

-Dried seafood is also very popular

etcs

.

.

.

NO MONEY!!!!

[samuibeachcomber]

While my motor has been off the road (abt 10 days in total before I get it back), the g/f mother has lent me her truck. It was a very kind gesture on her part and I am in a bit of a quandry as to how much I should offer her for the car loan?

I do not want to appear too tight fisted about it but have no real idea how much to give. I would have been stuck not getting out and about to the shops and the pub without.

Naturally I'll have the car cleaned and fill the tank before returning it when the father has finished fixing my motor.

Any sensible suggestions?

Thanks

i should have thought,cleaning the car and filling the tank would be enough,why do we always feel we have to give extra like money.take her out for a meal.

[G54]

Just to name a few…….as for a token appreciation....

Full tank of gas and a warm genuine thank you wai

+

one or more of these.....(popular among the thais)

-Fruit basket

-Flowering tree - jasmine is very popular

-Pot of fruit tree

-A few silk patoongs and a few yards of eyelets fabric

-Appreciation meal

-A cake

-Small kitchen appliances.

-Dried seafood is also very popular

etcs

.

.

.

NO MONEY!!!!

A very good list of items there, Teacup. Thanks

As ever it is difficult to know whether to hand over cash or not. I understand some can find it insulting so an alternative is a good idea. It looks like I will be off to the shops (in her car) to buy a gift for her

Thanks for the other suggestions too. Sometimes when involved directly it is difficult to weigh up what is the best option. Too little can be insulting and too much can have repercussions later on, the same goes for too little thought being put in.

[teacup]

Your welcome, anytime ja

[t.s]

While my motor has been off the road (abt 10 days in total before I get it back), the g/f mother has lent me her truck. It was a very kind gesture on her part and I am in a bit of a quandry as to how much I should offer her for the car loan?

Naturally I'll have the car cleaned and fill the tank before returning it when the father has finished fixing my motor.

Any sensible suggestions?

In our village, it is common for people without cars/trucks to ask to borrow one for the day, or to ask to be driven to a nearby town for a day's errands. Aside from paying the gas which is expected, somewhere between 500-1000 baht compensation is usually negotiated depending on how much of the day is consumed and how far away the drive takes them.

I know before I bought our truck, we used to rely on one of my fiancee's cousins and a close friend of her mother's. A few years ago when I bought our truck, we started to reciprocate with helping others out, although I don't want the truck to just be loaned out. I want either my fiancee' or her brother to do the driving.

For something like your situation, you may want to kick in a little extra, or perhaps buy a nice gift as a return gesture of appreciation. For 10 days, you could possibly consider buying her a 1 baht-weight bracelet. Current selling rate is about 14,000 baht which is a little pricey and possibly overkill, but I expect would definitely be appreciated. It all depends on your relationship with her, or what you would like it to be.

Hope this helps.

are you mad?

[sassienie]

To rent a pickup, will cost about 1500 baht per day.

A reasonable way to say thank you is:

Give 3000 baht and a full tank of petrol.

You had a cheap vehicle rental, the G/Fs mother gets 3000 baht plus petrol, everyone`s happy all round.

Edited January 16, 2009 by sassienie

[henryalleman]

To rent a pickup, will cost about 1500 baht per day.

A reasonable way to say thank you is:

Give 3000 baht and a full tank of petrol.

You had a cheap vehicle rental, the G/Fs mother gets 3000 baht plus petrol, everyone`s happy all round.

I think it would possible that giving money is regarded as an offence, better you buy some present.

[G54]

I am tactfully working to discover what gift would be best suited and liked by the mother with a few subtle hints here and there, but being subtle does not work too well with Thai people most of the time

I have noted that money is a no-no.

As for 1 Baht gold? No way. The mother already has her designs on me marrying the daughter (already married once at 16) for a hefty sin sot - please don't turn this topic into a sin sot one - and if I give 1 bht gold for a car loan, she will want millions for the daughter, never mind other ideas she might come up with if she believes I am a money tree

This is about being tactful and trying to take a little care and not to be seen as a total knucklehead, hence my asking for ideas.

It is interesting to see the different ideas and gives good information for future use

[Spee]

As for 1 Baht gold? No way. The mother already has her designs on me marrying the daughter (already married once at 16) for a hefty sin sot - please don't turn this topic into a sin sot one - and if I give 1 bht gold for a car loan, she will want millions for the daughter, never mind other ideas she might come up with if she believes I am a money tree

Enough ball-breaking already for that suggestion. My nuts were black and blue after the first two. As I said, that choice depends entirely on your relationship with her. If you don't want to use that suggestion, ok, fine, no big deal.

However, since you brought it up, in your OP you already imply that your future MIL is kind-hearted and quite jai dee. Yet in this post, you imply that you could possibly turn her into a greedy money grubber if your gift of appreciation is perceived as overly generous. Not to change the topic, but it seems like you may have conflicting opinions of your future MIL's personality, perceptions of you and intentions for you.

Do you really think she loaned you her transportation for 10 days because she has some grand plan to set you up to take a fall later on? Or do you think she was quite generous because she has a truly good heart, and maybe, just maybe, there is some benefit or personal satisfaction in rewarding large generousity with large gratitude?

Personally, I might loan an immediate family member a vehicle for 10 days. But I wouldn't even consider doing the same for anyone else without some sort of written agreement and cash deposit. If your future MIL has similar feelings, what does that tell you about her?

In any event, I wish you well, hope you make the appropriate choice for saying thank you and hope that everything works out well for you.

[sassienie]

To rent a pickup, will cost about 1500 baht per day.

A reasonable way to say thank you is:

Give 3000 baht and a full tank of petrol.

You had a cheap vehicle rental, the G/Fs mother gets 3000 baht plus petrol, everyone`s happy all round.

I think it would possible that giving money is regarded as an offence, better you buy some present.

Since when has any Thai person found it insulting to be offered money.

You must be joking.

[Tinkelbell]

Just to name a few…….as for a token appreciation....

Full tank of gas and a warm genuine thank you wai

+

one or more of these.....(popular among the thais)

-Fruit basket

-Flowering tree - jasmine is very popular

-Pot of fruit tree

-A few silk patoongs and a few yards of eyelets fabric

-Appreciation meal

-A cake

-Small kitchen appliances.

-Dried seafood is also very popular

etcs

.

.

.

NO MONEY!!!!

Nong Teacup,

That's a very good and practical advice. I hit most of your listing, particular the fruits basket ( got from Villa market near Suk 11) and dried seafood ( Pla-Lew-kew, sweet chewy dried fish) always got a welcome appreciation.

Repeat again: No money to the elder, period.

[TopDogger]

Judging by the fact that you think you need to pay her to borrow her truck, I'd guess that it might have been you who paid for the truck in the first place??

[adjan jb]

Just to name a few…….as for a token appreciation....

Full tank of gas and a warm genuine thank you wai

+

one or more of these.....(popular among the thais)

-Fruit basket

-Flowering tree - jasmine is very popular

-Pot of fruit tree

-A few silk patoongs and a few yards of eyelets fabric

-Appreciation meal

-A cake

-Small kitchen appliances.

-Dried seafood is also very popular

etcs

.

.

.

NO MONEY!!!!

Best reply so far.