Do I Have Everything Covered ?

[PAPA DUCK]

Please critique my estimated monthly budget plan for me. It's for a family of four who will be living in the Issan area very soon:

Food 12,000

Electric 3,000

Water 1,000

Gas 1,000

UBC Cable 1,600

Phone 1,500

Miscellaneous 5,000

School fees 5,000

BUPA 1,200

Car Insurance 500

Life Insure spouse 500

Entertainment 5000

Buffalo issues 5000

Total 42,300

[Jai Dee]

Please critique my estimated monthly budget plan for me. It's for a family of four who will be living in the Issan area very soon:

What part of Isaan Papa Duck?

A major city of hundreds of thousands of people, complete with infrastructure, or a village with a population of 50-100?

It will affect your budget significantly.

[Storekeeper]

What about rent ? Probably want to factor in 8-12,000 baht a month to house a family of four I'd think.

[PAPA DUCK]

Thanks for the quick responses. My wife already has land and a house in her village. Have I missed anything ? I don't have much room for making mistakes with my budget plan. Thank you again.

[pnustedt]

You say car insurance - what about the car, petrol, etc.?

Holidays, foreign travel?

Clothing?

Your own life insurance?

You should be able to live on about 43K but maybe reallocate the expenses a bit.

Edited May 25, 2005 by pnustedt

[chownah]

How about traveling back to wherever you came from for a visit?

Eventually college for the kids?

Mia noi?

[Thetyim]

HI Papa,

Your total is about right.

Food, electric(noaircon), gas you have allowed too much for.

Car insurance not enough.

[bkkmadness]

Buffalo issues        5000

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Visa runs? Night time entertainment such as a few drinks everynight or a weekend blowout?

[Dragonman]

Water and gas seem high, and Chownah the 5000 baht entertainment is obviously the mia noi I live on 40000 baht presently and have a mortgage, car loan, wife, baby, 9 in-laws, 2 dogs, a mia noi and the Chang brewers to take care of

[Thomas_Merton]

How about traveling back to wherever you came from for a visit?

Eventually college for the kids?

Mia noi?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...and I see no health insurance, contingency fund for emergencies, house repairs etc.

Do you give money to your wife's family? Gifts? Birthdays?

It is always better when making a budget to itemise everything - even going to the toilet.

It's like good time management: make a very detailed list of everything you could possibly think you need time and money for; then prioritise; then allocate resources.

Keep to your plan, and, as Mr. Micawber says, “Result happiness”.

[Thetyim]

Yes, gas is to high.

1000 baht will get you about 4 bottles a month.

A bottle lasts my stove/oven about 3 months.

Do you have any other gas appliances ?

If it's a still, please may we have your address.

[andy50]

Yes, gas is to high.

1000 baht will get you about 4 bottles a month.

A bottle lasts my stove/oven about 3 months.

Do you have any other gas appliances ?

If it's a still, please may we have your address.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the house may have gas central heating

[Steve2UK]

Thanks for the quick responses. My wife already has land and a house in her village. Have I missed anything ? I don't have much room for making mistakes with my budget plan. Thank you again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Visa costs?

[thymode91]

Water and gas seem high, and Chownah the 5000 baht entertainment is obviously the mia noi I live on 40000 baht presently and have a mortgage, car loan, wife, baby, 9 in-laws, 2 dogs, a mia noi and the Chang brewers to take care of 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

how about cut the 'mia noi"?

[Nordlys]

What is "Buffalo issues"??

Edited May 25, 2005 by Nordlys

[Neeranam]

Food 12,000

Electric 3,000

Water 1,000

Total 16,000

I live in Isarn and my costs for the family are:-

Food 5000-7000

Electric 700(no air cons)

Water 200

Total 5900-7900

If you eat at home it can be conderably less.

40,000 - you can live like a king if you stay there. My main costs are foreign and local holidays.

[austen]

the house may have gas central heating

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was a joke, right?

[johng]

What is "Buffalo issues

They get sick and need lots of expensive treatment.

[RDN]

My pick-up truck insurance is 14,000 per year, so I would take 500 off the gas and add it to the car insurance.

Diesel/petrol - about 2000 per month?

Eat the buffalo.

[Totster]

Eat the buffalo.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or sell it to the neighbours.... make money wooo hooo !!

totster

Edited May 25, 2005 by Totster

[PAPA DUCK]

Well, thanks for all the feedback. I've been chewed out royally by my wife for thinking the area we are going is in Isarn We are actually going to be living minutes away from Nakhonsawan. Excuse the ###### out of me for being an American and not knowing my geography

I won't be needing a mia noi. I don't think anyway

Won't need to make visa runs as I think I qualify for the 400,000 in the bank spousal visa, right ? And I have the minimum required pension income. That's my budget.

You have all put my mind at ease. My 50,000 will be enough then and if not I'll roll around in the dirt and go beg somewhere

Thank you so much