This strong Baht is really starting to bite some farang expats. Would you still be around if 1 baht = 25 dollar, 30 euro, or 40 pound? Or even less?? At what point would you toss in the towel and leave Thailand?

What about you?

I am still in the accumulation phase of the assets "needed" (calculated to end of life that means)... for me, 10% decline in value towards CHF means one more year of working... or cutting down on my expected living costs... or smaller appartment...

Sigh - the endless negativity and self-doubt - might be time folk gazed at a more inspiring graph or two:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=IDR&view=10Y

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=MYR&view=10Y

Of course, prices have risen in both countries over the last 10 years, but I'll take what I can get. Ultimately, there's only one graph that really matters, and ironically it's the one graph where we want to see their currency getting stronger against ours:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=CNY&view=10Y

China has gone to great pains to keep the Yuan artificially weak to protect its own export markets - big flow-on impacts for everyone here when that changes.

Attached a graph from yesterday's SCB www site, U.S. $$ 1 = baht 28.9!!

Lowest the $$$'s been since early fall of 1997, soon after the crash.

Mac

Sigh - the endless negativity and self-doubt - might be time folk gazed at a more inspiring graph or two:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=IDR&view=10Y

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=MYR&view=10Y

Of course, prices have risen in both countries over the last 10 years, but I'll take what I can get. Ultimately, there's only one graph that really matters, and ironically it's the one graph where we want to see their currency getting stronger against ours:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=CNY&view=10Y

China has gone to great pains to keep the Yuan artificially weak to protect its own export markets - big flow-on impacts for everyone here when that changes.

Its worrying times for a lot of people, I see wars about to start when the S**t hits the fan, do you really think Thailand would be a good place to be when it happens here?? with their mob rule.

And before you start telling me " oh you dont have a pot to pi** in , I do and its overflowing due to my Wifes hard work, but other people are not in the same boat and I feel for them.

The world IS in a very delicate state now.

When I can't eat lunch and dinner for less than 2 pounds sterling and my motorbike (Honda) oil change, check up cost more than 3 uk pounds, then I know I am doomed.

Some do not even have a towel to throw in.

Making Thai baht, so this trend just makes it that little more affordable for me to visit me mum at "home".

I grew up with parents who spent their growing up years during the US Great Depression of the 1930's. Just keep the towel dry for when you may really need it.

Looking forward to my trip back to UK - will be better value

Looking forward to my trip back to UK - will be better value

Don't count on it, I just got back from the UK last week and I found prices to be eyewateringly high in many areas, plus it never got over 6 degrees and the sky was always that wonderful shade of grey that most Brits have come to loathe over time.

I had a bit of an 'accident' with one of the wife's best towels this morning (I had 5 Changs, a few cocktails and a Tom Yang Gai yestreen so don't need to explain further); so when you do throw yours away, if you could let me have it before the wife gets back at 5pm, it will save me a trip to Central Bang Na to replace the soiled item.

Thanks

HD

And if you have the ability to move a portion of your liquid assets away from the IMO doomed US/UK/Euro currencies into those denominated in safer ones like (again just MO) Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Aussie (feedback welcome, suggestions on others?) then you should definitely be doing so.

I think waiting for things to improve before doing so would be a big mistake, if you're hesitant to make a bold move then perhaps use dollar-averaging to do so 10% per quarter or something like that, but IMO sooner the better.

And include some physical PMs where you can get to them just in case it really goes tits-up, might help you get away to a safer location. . .

I only 'toss in the towel' when watching porn!!!

I personally am loving it, it is much more affordable to travel back to see my family and friends in the USA or do some backpacking in other countries on my modest salary.

Is it groundhog day?

Feels like it ... maybe he needs to borrow that towel you have thrown in.

.

Throwing in the towel here is only a decent option to consider if you have Thai assets to convert into your home currency or, you are still able to earn income in your home country. For retirees and pensioners such a towel throwing exersise may not even be possible, especially where inflation back home is a major factor. I reckon there will be a real serious crunch time comming for many British pensioners, the idea of leaving LOS and returning "home" may not even be possible.

I tried to edit this unsuccessfully before.

Edited March 21, 201313 yr by StreetCowboy

I would have tossed it in already if my main motivation to want to stay in Thailand was financially.

There is so much more .

Throwing in the towel here is only a decent option to consider if you have Thai assets to convert into your home currency or, you are still able to earn income in your home country. For retirees and pensioners such a towel throwing exersise may not even be possible, especially where inflation back home is a major factor. I reckon there will be a real serious crunch time comming for many British pensioners, the idea of leaving LOS and returning "home" may not even be possible.

-

Sad situation to find yourself in indeed.

May all those of an age still capable of producing more savings take note, many people who claim to be able to "retire early" probably haven't built enough uncertainty principle into their financial model.

It may seem cheaper to live overseas, but every such plan IMO must include a totally locked-up lump sum sufficient to get your butt back home and settled in. Might be a dog-food-eating subsistence lifestyle, but certainly can't count on conditions remaining stable over time.

And definitely can't believe any politicians promising government assistance will be able to continue, they're the worst, if not evil liars then ignorant dreamers, can only really rely on your own efforts long-term.

----------------------------------------

"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." - Eleanor Roosevelt

"Only fools learn from their own mistakes; the wise learn from the mistakes of others." - Romanian proverb

Sigh - the endless negativity and self-doubt - might be time folk gazed at a more inspiring graph or two:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=IDR&view=10Y

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=MYR&view=10Y

Of course, prices have risen in both countries over the last 10 years, but I'll take what I can get. Ultimately, there's only one graph that really matters, and ironically it's the one graph where we want to see their currency getting stronger against ours:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=CNY&view=10Y

China has gone to great pains to keep the Yuan artificially weak to protect its own export markets - big flow-on impacts for everyone here when that changes.

Its worrying times for a lot of people, I see wars about to start when the S**t hits the fan, do you really think Thailand would be a good place to be when it happens here?? with their mob rule.

Yeah I think I'll go home when that happens. Plus side of it is I can go and watch Palace again every other week in .....................

Croydon.

Exactly, that's what I find so troubling when the odd 30, 40 or 50 year old writes here that they are going to retire early here, huge risks and huge unknowns involved and difficult to get everything right over so much time.

Cambodia here I come.

Sigh - the endless negativity and self-doubt - might be time folk gazed at a more inspiring graph or two:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=IDR&view=10Y

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=MYR&view=10Y

Of course, prices have risen in both countries over the last 10 years, but I'll take what I can get. Ultimately, there's only one graph that really matters, and ironically it's the one graph where we want to see their currency getting stronger against ours:

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=CNY&view=10Y

China has gone to great pains to keep the Yuan artificially weak to protect its own export markets - big flow-on impacts for everyone here when that changes.

Its worrying times for a lot of people, I see wars about to start when the S**t hits the fan, do you really think Thailand would be a good place to be when it happens here?? with their mob rule.

Yeah I think I'll go home when that happens. Plus side of it is I can go and watch Palace again every other week in .....................

I'd sooner have a root canal two weekly.

Will that Zaha be leaving at the end of the season?

I'd sooner have a root canal two weekly.

Will that Zaha be leaving at the end of the season?

Olympic park for the O's...?

Cambodia here I come.

At least you won't have to watch Palace there

I have just bought a season ticket for Buriram United 2,700 Baht - and you get a free first team shirt, a bar towel and a book (retail value of all 3 is circa 1,000 Baht so net cost 1,700 Baht).

I imagine it would cost that to go once to watch Palace and have a cup of tea, MARS bar and a Pukka pie !!

I toss in the towel right after I have the washing machine going.

Cambodia here I come.

At least you won't have to watch Palace there

I have just bought a season ticket for Buriram United 2,700 Baht - and you get a free first team shirt, a bar towel and a book (retail value of all 3 is circa 1,000 Baht so net cost 1,700 Baht).

I imagine it would cost that to go once to watch Palace and have a cup of tea, MARS bar and a Pukka pie !!

Oii ! We're actually good at the moment and playing enjoyable football (typically when I'm not in the country ) after about 15 years of complete dross. Best football since Wright and Brights days.

Add a train ticket and beer money and you can double that. Don't tell the wife.

Went to Chonburi about 10 times, but everytime there was the slightest physical contact a foul was given. It got too frustrating to bother with.