Average Monthly Income For Farang?

[Jai Dee]

I find it very unfair that the monthly income should be dependent on whether you have been employed inside or outside Thailand. Why should it matter the costs are going to be the same minus relocation costs for an overseas hire. This income gap is disgraceful and should be outlawed. How would you like it if you where paid 10 time less just because you came from another state and was hired in that state in your home country just an example.

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Bangkok is not a western city so why do they charge prices for rent and food that would be similar to what is found in any up market area of Melbourne Australia.

I fail to understand your logic...

One question gwmss15... is this your first job outside of your home country... presumably Australia?

[bluedragon]

Well, very interesting.

As I am looking for employment in Thailand, I would very much appreciate it if those making more then 100K, and especially those making 200K> would send me a link to their companies website.

I live in Japan and it's very expensive here.

Thanks much.

Regards, Mike

[skippybangkok]

Horses for courses........

From what I know there are people on very local stuff i.e. 10-20k / month (some teachers ) and there are expat CEO's of companies ( i.e. head of DTAC).

I guess it depends on your abilities and market demand / supply

[TAWP]

I get 3 Gazillion per week. And a tiger.

[GuestHouse]

I find it very unfair that the monthly income should be dependent on whether you have been employed inside or outside Thailand.

Life is unfair.

Why would people lie their behind off in what is, after all, an anonymous poll?

For the same reason they lie the rest of the time.

As for the Bh200K per month, that is a little less than half the full expat deal internationals offer their assigness from overseas.

But I still doubt the survey.. As StoreKeeper says, self reporting is the most unreliable way to perform a survey.

[Thaising]

SSSSttttt...beware!!! OP is the Taxman

LaoPo

If the OP is the taxman, he should have given me some tax refund, presently holding no job and no income.

Edited March 31, 2006 by Thaising

[kkf123]

How can people live on 20-40K baht/month in Bangkok?

[thedude]

36% over 200,000??? I don't think so, a few people are lying their behind off. If you can make that money in Thailand why are they not working in their western country?

I am just a poor housewife no income but spend 10,000bht a month.

Lindsay, some of us were sent here for work from another country.

Why should we be paid any less for working here?

[bendix]

This thread is becoming fatuous.

People earn what they earn. What they earn depends ona number of factors including marketability of skills, education, and a huge amount of luck.

I am very lucky. I earned a good salary in Australia and my company has offices all over Asia. I have a job that involves looking after several Asia offices. It made sense to me to simply relocate to a cheaper and more convenient location - simple as that.

People can choose to believe or disbelieve if members say they have a good living or not. Makes no difference in the long run.

[Gary A]

Perhaps it would have been a better poll if it had said "How much do you earn IN Thailand" and or "How much do you spend IN Thailand". I suppose I could spend 200,000 baht per month but I would be wasting a lot of it.

[greenwanderer108]

...

Also why are the condo rental prices set so high that they are more expensive that a large family home in the inner areas of Melbourne or Sydney. Thailand is ment to be cheap these rents are higher than the rich areas of Australian cities. Bangkok is not a western city so why do they charge prices for rent and food that would be similar to what is found in any up market area of Melbourne Australia.

Its just a blatant rip off and does not make people feel welcome to stay for a long time in Bangkok.

...

Why are market asking prices so high?

Easy! Because market paying prices are high! In other words, there's a heap load of farangs (and ofcourse rich Asians too) here with more money than they know what to do with...Some Joe, Jon, Expat, or whoever is more than willing to pay a million dollars (40 million baht) for a condo or house that didn't cost more than 300,000 baht to build in material costs.

If people are willing to pay it, then people are in the right to ask it...

Try selling anyone of these multi 20 million baht condos of Bangkok in downtown Chiang Mai, Korat, or Nakhon Sawan...won't work...atleast not now, not yet...

All i hear is rich and spoiled expats post on this sight crap statements like :

How can someone live on only...XXX??

It's not enough....

Or even those really priveleged enlightened ones who claim that even 200,000 baht is just average for the international level!

BULL <deleted>!!

You don't just get by with 200,000 baht in Bangkok...And if you're not saving millions per year, preparing to run for office, or building a huge casino/hotel with that sallary, than there is definately something wrong with you!!!

[ashacat]

I agree Greenie.

The people earning christ knows how many Baht a month, wondering how people can possibly survive on a salary of anything less than 40k or whatever!! Open your F@cking eyes 99% of the people in this country earn less than that.

To make a comment like "How can people live on a salary of 40k?" Just confirms how detached from reality some peoples lifestyle/spending really is. Yeah, Maybe you cant live in a 200 square metre penthouse employing some unfortunate bugger to wipe your arse for you, But live? Course you can

[bendix]

Behold.

Look, people. Some poppies in yonder field . . .. . .

What shall we do with them ?

[Jai Dee]

Jai yen yen people... constructive comments only please, not insults.

[Soju]

Or even those really priveleged enlightened ones who claim that even 200,000 baht is just average for the international level!

BULL <deleted>!!

I detect a lot of animosity in this thread between the haves and have nots. 200,000 baht is chicken feed for a senior level manager with an international company. Typically international companies don't hire young inexperienced expats to go overseas to work. They hire locals to fill those positions. The expats working in the international positions are older, very experienced people who make the big bucks back home and aren't about to accept a job overseas and take a cut in pay. Typically the company has to throw in lots of additional benefits to get the right people to agree to move overseas. I suppose a lot will depend on what your home country is, as salaries do vary a lot from country to country. But speaking from my experience, from the U.S., typical expats' salary packages back home are USD 10,000 per month and up, so you'd expect them to be making at least that much when they move to Thailand. USD 10,000 per month comes out to just under 400,000. If an expat is only making 200,000 Baht per month in Thailand working for an international company then either he's from a country where salaries are much less than the U.S., or he's not in a senior position, or he really been taken advantage of. Who cares how much of his money he spends and what he spends it on? It's his money. For that matter, who cares how much he makes? Salaries in all countries are all over the map. Some people are making huge salaries and some are barely making enough to survive. As someone already said, it may not be fair, just as life isn't fair, but that's just the way it is. It might be interesting to see what others are making, but it's really not worth getting worked up over.

[gwmss15]

I have heard this form people working at some embassies in bangkok

if you are a professional from you home country and are employed by the embassy from overseas you get a huge pay packet of 200k plus

But yet the equally qualified person who applied for the job inside thailand while they where on hoilday etc get 40k to do the same job

is that fair and just in your book

it is not in mine and it has nothing to do with skills as i said before equally qualified person

its just double standards and why does this exist

[TokyoT]

I have heard this form people working at some embassies in bangkok

if you are a professional from you home country and are employed by the embassy from overseas you get a huge pay packet of 200k plus

But yet the equally qualified person who applied for the job inside thailand while they where on hoilday etc get 40k to do the same job

is that fair and just in your book

it is not in mine and it has nothing to do with skills as i said before equally qualified person

its just double standards and why does this exist

The extra pay is to cover all those double prices in Thailand that the expat has to pay and the local does not.

[gwmss15]

i was talking about farang people who are employed from overseas to work in thailand vs farangs who where employed from within thailand to work in thailand the gap is too large in my view

if they dont want to pay much dont employ farang employ a local

[TokyoT]

All i hear is rich and spoiled expats post on this sight crap statements like :

How can someone live on only...XXX??

It's not enough....

Or even those really priveleged enlightened ones who claim that even 200,000 baht is just average for the international level!

BULL <deleted>!!

You don't just get by with 200,000 baht in Bangkok...And if you're not saving millions per year, preparing to run for office, or building a huge casino/hotel with that sallary, than there is definately something wrong with you!!!

While I will agree on the issue of asking how someone can live on only xxx is overboard.

Claiming that 200,000 baht /month is average when looking at international pay scales is in no way shape or form bull <deleted>.

Then you push things over the top by saying anyone not saving millions per years has something wrong with them. Due the math – 200k x 12 = 2,400,000 baht. Saving millions – plural meaning more than one. 2,400,000 – 2,000,000 – leaves one with only 400,000 baht. Does not leave much for things like rent or taxes. Especially if one is supporting a family and has a car.

[gwmss15]

just a small comment if someone can afford a car and the other costs that go with why not just take a cab everywhere its not like there is a shortage of taxis in bangkok.

in the case of the guy who got cheated out of alot of cash in pattaya this may have been avoided if he just used the bus or a taxi

what is the point of a car in bangkok its not going to save you any time only a motobike could save time in bangkok if you like risk

[TokyoT]

i was talking about farang people who are employed from overseas to work in thailand vs farangs who where employed from within thailand to work in thailand the gap is too large in my view

if they dont want to pay much dont employ farang employ a local

Not uncommon for international companies to offer different pay packages based upon the location of hire (ie local hire vs expat hire). Generally speaking these companies would be more than happy to go the route of local hire. But many times they are forced to take the road of expat hire to fill the position.

I friend of mine was transferred to Asia for work. The spouse worked for an automotive company in the US. The spouse was able to get a transfer to the same location but only under a local hire package. My friend’s package was an expat package. Why the difference – my friends company asked for my friend to move. The spouse asked the company for the transfer. They could have found a local to fill the position the spouse took. They could not find a local to fill the position my friend moved to Asia to take.

So a number of factors enter into what pay package a person gets/ takes. It’s a free world and everyone is welcome to negotiate their salaries with the companies they want to work for.

In addition I have seen plenty of farang submitting resumes and asking for interviews for positions simply because they want to stay in Thailand. It’s not the position they seek, it is the location. Most of the time these people are not really qualified for the job. As apposed to most expates that were basically asked by their company to make the move because they are extremely qualified for the position.

Believe me in today’s business environment if companies could get by with paying only local hire packages they would.

[GuestHouse]

if you are a professional from you home country and are employed by the embassy from overseas you get a huge pay packet of 200k plus

But yet the equally qualified person who applied for the job inside Thailand while they where on holiday etc get 40k to do the same job

The reason is simple.

The professional is assigned from overseas and has a value to the company, he is probably willing to work anywhere in the world and he may be receiving a ‘soft assignment’ as a reward for having worked in some other less desirable location.

Moreover, he is very likely to up and go if the deal is not right.

Whereas, your guy on holiday is willing to take any work that will extend his time in Thailand – His primary concern is location, and not career of salary.

But don’t feel hard done by. My boss asked me to take a cut in assignment conditions in exchange for extending my time in Thailand.

I called head office and asked to be assigned elsewhere. I’m extremely happy to be elsewhere for more money.

It’s call Market Value and Self Worth.

[gwmss15]

why not train a local or even an expat who really wants to stay in thailand to your job it must be cheaper in the long run with such a huge pay difference

[TokyoT]

why not train a local or even an expat who really wants to stay in thailand to your job it must be cheaper in the long run with such a huge pay difference

Many companies do this. The number of expats at any given office, working for a particular employer continues to decrease over the years. This is the case in Thailand, where the local pay is significantly lower, but also the case in places like Japan where the difference in pay is not quite so significant.

Has a lot to due with what the job requires, how long the company has had operations in that particular area, and how effective they have been at finding locals that fit within that companies corporate culture. Even then someone has to train the local to do the job, and who does this - expats. Most of the expat jobs are not jobs that require a week or two to train someone how to do. They are generally management positions that would require either years of experience in a similar environment, or years of training.

Again if companies could find what they are looking for and still pay local hire packages they would.

Edited March 31, 2006 by TokyoT

[greenwanderer108]

All i hear is rich and spoiled expats post on this sight crap statements like :

How can someone live on only...XXX??

It's not enough....

Or even those really priveleged enlightened ones who claim that even 200,000 baht is just average for the international level!

BULL <deleted>!!

You don't just get by with 200,000 baht in Bangkok...And if you're not saving millions per year, preparing to run for office, or building a huge casino/hotel with that sallary, than there is definately something wrong with you!!!

While I will agree on the issue of asking how someone can live on only xxx is overboard.

Claiming that 200,000 baht /month is average when looking at international pay scales is in no way shape or form bull <deleted>.

Then you push things over the top by saying anyone not saving millions per years has something wrong with them. Due the math – 200k x 12 = 2,400,000 baht. Saving millions – plural meaning more than one. 2,400,000 – 2,000,000 – leaves one with only 400,000 baht. Does not leave much for things like rent or taxes. Especially if one is supporting a family and has a car.

Perhaps I wasn't thinking objectively in this...For me, only able to save 5,000 baht a month after all my living expenses (20-30k/month income bracket), with dedication I can save 60,000 baht in one year...

And so really, my comfortable living in Bangkok runs me 15-25,000 k a month including rent, supporting pregnant wife/son, food, and most important...beer... Someone making 200,000 baht a month, even if they managed to average spend half of that 100,000 baht on rent, food, transport, which would definately be luxory living (not peanuts, getting by living surely), they'd still be able to save 1.2 million baht in one year. 5 years, they can own a mansion upcountry, or a decent condo in the Bangkok area, surely.

My point is not that someone who makes such a salary shouldn't or doesn't deserve it...that's not for me to say..My point is that such a salary is certainly not PEANUTS or just getting by like some posters make it sound. Such a salary is HIGH and ELITE buying power and prestige that more than 95 percent of this country doesn't / can't have.

And to use local pension rates of international countries is completely irrelevent. To say So and So gets XXX $$$ per month in Farangland but only gets XXX บาท in Thailand does not factor in cost of living-buying power. Can so and so making 10,000 USD pension a month buy/build a huge mansion in the country in farangland after 5 years of saving half of his/her pension (5,000 USD x 12 = 60,000 USD x 5 = 300,000 USD...Even at that rate, I've never heard of mansions running that cheap in the USA.

I do most of my shopping at Big C...and will refuse to pay more than the local market price. Chicken for example is an umbeatable deal 50-70 baht per kilogram... A walk down the street to Villa Market, which upholds its name for carrying imported and 'hi-so' food, the same exact chicken will be 30-50 baht more per kilogram...This isn't a matter of quality and grade...just simply a different market targeting those who are able/willing to pay it...

Another rediculous example of different markets in the same city would be baby products. As I'm expecting my son soon, shopped around at the different places. From Big C to Central to Emporium and other smaller department stores upcountry.

In Big C, I can buy a plastic baby wash tub (Ga-la-mun) for 100-200 baht, which still to think about it is expensive considering that it's merely a blastic wash tub, but shaped oval. Where as a larger plastic wash tub used for washing dishes/clothes (same material---plastic) will be only 60-120 baht.

The Baby Market obviously has right to ask higher as they know the market (parents spending money on their offspring) are willing to pay higer prices....The fun jump of this story comes when we were browsing Emporium's baby products...

The same exact wash tub, only with a different import name brand behind it, and same as in material and size...runs at a sale price of 3,200 baht!!!

Perhaps it's not so rediculous that they're asking such a high price for a small peice of plastic that one would only use for 6 months to a year, but it's funnyt to think that there is actually a market for people who are willing to pay 3,200 baht as opposed to 200 baht for the same exact thing...

And who makes up such a market of willing spenders...Certainly not people in the under 40,000 baht bracket...More likely those who are pulling 1-200,000 baht per month...and still finding the nerve to say they're only making peanuts!!!

Edited March 31, 2006 by greenwanderer108

[GuestHouse]

why not train a local or even an expat who really wants to stay in thailand to your job it must be cheaper in the long run with such a huge pay difference

What a great idea - Now the reality.

What happens is, just like your guy on holiday, a number of assigned expats arrive in Thailand with the express instruction of training locals to eventually replace them.

For what ever reason (but almost always the usual reasons) the assigned expat decides he likes it in Thailand and that training a local to replace him is not a good idea. They then set about undermining the local staff as a means of justifying their own assignment in Thailand. ( I have witnessed this many many times).

It is for this reason that most international companies limit assigments to a fixed period.

As for training a farang in Thailand - Training Thais is far more logical.

Firstly training Thais may be part of the company's BOI approval, it may be part of the conditions of the expat assignee's conditions of visa/work permit.

Secondly. The company is certainly paying a premium for expat visas and work permits, so why employ a local foreigner when a Thai can do the job (usually better)

Thirdly. The local Farang is far more likely to set about protecting his possition, rather than getting on with the job.

[TokyoT]

My point is not that someone who makes such a salary shouldn't or doesn't deserve it...that's not for me to say..My point is that such a salary is certainly not PEANUTS or just getting by like some posters make it sound. Such a salary is HIGH and ELITE buying power and prestige that more than 95 percent of this country doesn't / can't have.

Perhaps it's not so rediculous that they're asking such a high price for a small peice of plastic that one would only use for 6 months to a year, but it's funnyt to think that there is actually a market for people who are willing to pay 3,200 baht as opposed to 200 baht for the same exact thing...

Keep in mind a couple of things when comparing incomes. One big item is tax. Most tax systems are progressive so someone making 10 times as much, is not bringing home 10 times as much money. Next is how one lives/spends the income. I can tell you from experience that the more one makes the more one tends to spend. The less you make the more frugal you tend to be with your money. I make far more now than I did when I was working my way thru college in the US, but I spend far more on luxury and menial things that I would not have spent money on before.

The income level certainly gives them more buying power but not necessary on the scale you are talking about. For example I have a baby daughter, and wife. I put back over 15% of my pay for retirement; I put back additional funds for my daughter’s college. I have significantly increased by insurance coverage (life, and disability) to cover expenses should anything unforeseen happen to me. So I while I do waste more money than I use to when I made less - I also am able to save and cover other expenses that I would not have been able to do in the past.

[greenwanderer108]

My point is not that someone who makes such a salary shouldn't or doesn't deserve it...that's not for me to say..My point is that such a salary is certainly not PEANUTS or just getting by like some posters make it sound. Such a salary is HIGH and ELITE buying power and prestige that more than 95 percent of this country doesn't / can't have.

Perhaps it's not so rediculous that they're asking such a high price for a small peice of plastic that one would only use for 6 months to a year, but it's funnyt to think that there is actually a market for people who are willing to pay 3,200 baht as opposed to 200 baht for the same exact thing...

Keep in mind a couple of things when comparing incomes. One big item is tax. Most tax systems are progressive so someone making 10 times as much, is not bringing home 10 times as much money. Next is how one lives/spends the income. I can tell you from experience that the more one makes the more one tends to spend. The less you make the more frugal you tend to be with your money. I make far more now than I did when I was working my way thru college in the US, but I spend far more on luxury and menial things that I would not have spent money on before.

The income level certainly gives them more buying power but not necessary on the scale you are talking about. For example I have a baby daughter, and wife. I put back over 15% of my pay for retirement; I put back additional funds for my daughter’s college. I have significantly increased by insurance coverage (life, and disability) to cover expenses should anything unforeseen happen to me. So I while I do waste more money than I use to when I made less - I also am able to save and cover other expenses that I would not have been able to do in the past.

And can I assume correctly that you are taxed much much less working in Thailand (if it is that you do work in Thailand???) than you would if your residence was in your home country? I know I am here with only 3-5 percent here as opposed to up to 30 percent in USA (Granted, i have little to no rights here from the taxation)

Also, the point about buying power wasn't just a matter of capital, but also about location...Meaning that someone who makes half as much in Thailand than they do in Farangland still has more buying power/prestige than they would working/living in most western countries...i.e. someone making 40,000 baht in Thailand has more buying power then they would have making 2,000 USD / Month (80,000 baht) in say New York or Los Angelas...or even on the original topic of 200,000 baht... someone with 200k salary in Bangkok has more buying power than someone making 10,000 USD (400,000 baht) a month in New York, Los Angelas, Seattle, London, Paris, Sydney, or even Singapore and Hong Kong for that matter...

So, just because 5,000 USD per month may be peanuts for senior level management in uptown NYC or wherever else in Farangland, it takes on a whole new value in a country where quick times prices are comparable to quick bite prices overseas

[TokyoT]

Keep in mind a couple of things when comparing incomes. One big item is tax. Most tax systems are progressive so someone making 10 times as much, is not bringing home 10 times as much money. Next is how one lives/spends the income. I can tell you from experience that the more one makes the more one tends to spend. The less you make the more frugal you tend to be with your money. I make far more now than I did when I was working my way thru college in the US, but I spend far more on luxury and menial things that I would not have spent money on before.

The income level certainly gives them more buying power but not necessary on the scale you are talking about. For example I have a baby daughter, and wife. I put back over 15% of my pay for retirement; I put back additional funds for my daughter’s college. I have significantly increased by insurance coverage (life, and disability) to cover expenses should anything unforeseen happen to me. So I while I do waste more money than I use to when I made less - I also am able to save and cover other expenses that I would not have been able to do in the past.

And can I assume correctly that you are taxed much much less working in Thailand (if it is that you do work in Thailand???) than you would if your residence was in your home country? I know I am here with only 3-5 percent here as opposed to up to 30 percent in USA (Granted, i have little to no rights here from the taxation)

Also, the point about buying power wasn't just a matter of capital, but also about location...Meaning that someone who makes half as much in Thailand than they do in Farangland still has more buying power/prestige than they would working/living in most western countries...i.e. someone making 40,000 baht in Thailand has more buying power then they would have making 2,000 USD / Month (80,000 baht) in say New York or Los Angelas...or even on the original topic of 200,000 baht... someone with 200k salary in Bangkok has more buying power than someone making 10,000 USD (400,000 baht) a month in New York, Los Angelas, Seattle, London, Paris, Sydney, or even Singapore and Hong Kong for that matter...

So, just because 5,000 USD per month may be peanuts for senior level management in uptown NYC or wherever else in Farangland, it takes on a whole new value in a country where quick times prices are comparable to quick bite prices overseas

As an expat you get the first $80,000USD free from US income tax, everything over that is still taxed in the US. Then there is tax for the country your reside (many countries have reciprocal tax treaties in place to avoid overly aggressive double taxation). And when I lived in Tokyo there was also the ku tax – kind of like state tax in the US. I also pay social security and medicare in the US as well. My overall tax bill is still less living overseas than what it would be living in the US. But my point about tax is really more about the nature of most tax codes – they are progressive. Meaning the more you make the higher the percentage of tax you pay.

Someone making 20,000 baht a month is paying say 1000 baht per month tax, while someone making 200,000 baht per month is paying more like 60,000 baht per month. These figures do not take into account deductions and tax credits. Based upon the Revenue Department of Thailand web site income between 1,000,000 - 4,000,000 per year is taxed at 30%.

So pay comparison - 240,000 baht per year vs 2,400,000 baht per year, but take home after tax - 228,000 baht vs 1,680,000 baht. Pay is 10 to one ratio, take home pay (while still significantly different) is down to near 7 to one ration. So the higher paid person has paid about three times the lower paid persons income in tax.

Buying power is indeed effected by location, but IMHO in Thailand not to the degree that many people think. For example schools – to send my daughter to a school that I feel will be acceptable to her, and up to my standards I will easily be looking at 400,000 baht per year hear in BKK. Or if you prefer consumer goods – the stroller and baby seat that we purchased when my daughter was born cost almost double here in Thailand to what I would have paid in the US. Sure less expensive ones were available but not anything that I would want to use for my baby – especially when looking at car seats.

Sure to live in Thailand like the average Thai is less expensive, but to live in Thailand like the average American is not.

[Noel]

It confirms what I have always felt about Thailand that there are 2 groups of farang thought living below 60000 baht a month and thought above 100000bhat

The market in Thailand set up for thought earning over 100000 baht a month just look at the cost of condos how could anyone in the under 60000 baht a month section afford one.

Also if there is a law why is it not enforced so that all farangs get 60000 baht plus they will still need many of the farang they just cannot run an international course at a Uni or a language school without them.

On Thai visa there seems to be a larger number of high end income people. Not many in the lower income groups.

I find it very unfair that the monthly income should be dependent on whether you have been employed inside or outside Thailand. Why should it matter the costs are going to be the same minus relocation costs for an overseas hire. This income gap is disgraceful and should be outlawed. How would you like it if you where paid 10 time less just because you came from another state and was hired in that state in your home country just an example.

Also why are the condo rental prices set so high that they are more expensive that a large family home in the inner areas of Melbourne or Sydney. Thailand is ment to be cheap these rents are higher than the rich areas of Australian cities. Bangkok is not a western city so why do they charge prices for rent and food that would be similar to what is found in any up market area of Melbourne Australia.

Its just a blatant rip off and does not make people feel welcome to stay for a long time in Bangkok.

Overall this whole post confirms many things about regular posters they are rich and think Thailand is great wake up its because they have the money to live like a king so of course they will think Thailand is great id love to see them do it on 30000 baht a month instead of 300000 baht a month and then tell me how much they like Thailand without the money.

Not that I would ever dare make so bold, but judging from your comments above, some might say that all your poll categorically proves is that you are not particularly bright.

They might say that your own inadequate income, wherever earned, reflects your intelligence.

The more forthright might even go as far as to suggest that disgruntled non-achievers would be on the breadline wherever they live and inevitably be a persistent pain in the arse moaning about their ‘plight’.

It seems clear to me that the sole purpose of your poll was a feckless attempt to give credence to your perpetual bleating about how ‘unfair’ life is, with supporting non-arguments about imaginary ‘rip offs’ and how the more successful would or would not react under hypothetical circumstances.

It reminds me of the ‘6 o’clock Swill’ brigade that can be found moaning their heads off in many a bar around the world after they have finished a day in a job they detest. Nothing is ever their fault.

The saddest fact of all is that even if the overwhelming majority agreed with you, it is not going to make a scrap of difference.

Life is as it is and it is up to the individual to make the best of it.

Perpetual whingeing rather than forward thinking and positive action does little more than make the individual bitter and twisted: simply put, it is an exercise in futility.

Hope that helps…