My Planned estimated monthly budget for Thailand

[Kudel]

find it hard to believe people would make such outlandisch statements about earnings and spending .

Some people on Thai visa are apparently making more money then high ranking ceo's in my country wich i find very hard to believe and if this where true then all said managers from western country's would go work in Thailand because my country has some of the highest wage costs in western europe.

But then again said high earners on Thai visa would sometimes be seen posting on other topics on how to knock of a thousand baht on an already cheap economy airplane ticket back home.

Well you had better believe it...in the industry I am in Thailand some of the guys are earning very close to THB 1.0million/m net and would at a guess say averages run from THB 350k/m on the lower end to around THB 600k/m and none are CEO's

i agree soutpeel,

i got welding inspector freinds on 500uk pounds a day, so thats 25,000bht ish a day,

just suits me at the moment to be in the uk for half the year to se my kids and family here,

but in another 2 years ill be doing the same, as my son in england will be 18, he can come and see me then,,lol

where did these welding inspector friends tell you this the pub?I just looked up job postings for welding inspectors in the uk and the wages they offer are no where near the amounts youre talking about.

I would have to disagree,I think pigeonjake is spot on,the rates he stated most likely reflect offshore inspection as myself a lowly welder have worked for £320 pounds a day in the North Sea alone.

Ah of course offshore that changes everything,But i worked 17 years for a dredging company worldwide back in the day for most of the projects the company would hire Belgian welders but now they hire filipino's,or east-europeans or locals depending on the project because theyre cheap and good .A Danish guy used to work with now works for statoil on a rig somewhere up the north sea and is making 8000 euro a month.

[Soutpeel]

find it hard to believe people would make such outlandisch statements about earnings and spending .

Some people on Thai visa are apparently making more money then high ranking ceo's in my country wich i find very hard to believe and if this where true then all said managers from western country's would go work in Thailand because my country has some of the highest wage costs in western europe.

But then again said high earners on Thai visa would sometimes be seen posting on other topics on how to knock of a thousand baht on an already cheap economy airplane ticket back home.

Well you had better believe it...in the industry I am in Thailand some of the guys are earning very close to THB 1.0million/m net and would at a guess say averages run from THB 350k/m on the lower end to around THB 600k/m and none are CEO's

i agree soutpeel,

i got welding inspector freinds on 500uk pounds a day, so thats 25,000bht ish a day,

just suits me at the moment to be in the uk for half the year to se my kids and family here,

but in another 2 years ill be doing the same, as my son in england will be 18, he can come and see me then,,lol

where did these welding inspector friends tell you this the pub?I just looked up job postings for welding inspectors in the uk and the wages they offer are no where near the amounts youre talking about.

I would have to disagree,I think pigeonjake is spot on,the rates he stated most likely reflect offshore inspection as myself a lowly welder have worked for £320 pounds a day in the North Sea alone.

Ah of course offshore that changes everything,But i worked 17 years for a dredging company worldwide back in the day for most of the projects the company would hire Belgian welders but now they hire filipino's,or east-europeans or locals depending on the project because theyre cheap and good .A Danish guy used to work with now works for statoil on a rig somewhere up the north sea and is making 8000 euro a month.

With direct reference to the amounts stated for Thailand, the numbers this would be mixed bag of both on-shore and offshore positions

But seeing as we are comparing things with the North Sea, what I am paid in Thailand is approximately 25-30% higher than the comperable position in either Europe or the US, if you get your foot in the right door in Thai O&G, they pay typically above preveiling international aacepted going rates

[pigeonjake]

the thing is people who arnt in our game, dont understand, they think to earn good money you have to be in a suit in an office,

i stated what im on a day on a shity old boiler here in scotland,

i do agree that there is some very good welders from phils and thailand, and they are taking a lot of the welding jobs, if not all in thailand, but as for supervision/inspection ect they do prefare the quality expat, with our egineering eperiance,

in my opinion that is,

jake

[Kudel]

find it hard to believe people would make such outlandisch statements about earnings and spending .

Some people on Thai visa are apparently making more money then high ranking ceo's in my country wich i find very hard to believe and if this where true then all said managers from western country's would go work in Thailand because my country has some of the highest wage costs in western europe.

But then again said high earners on Thai visa would sometimes be seen posting on other topics on how to knock of a thousand baht on an already cheap economy airplane ticket back home.

Well you had better believe it...in the industry I am in Thailand some of the guys are earning very close to THB 1.0million/m net and would at a guess say averages run from THB 350k/m on the lower end to around THB 600k/m and none are CEO's

i agree soutpeel,

i got welding inspector freinds on 500uk pounds a day, so thats 25,000bht ish a day,

just suits me at the moment to be in the uk for half the year to se my kids and family here,

but in another 2 years ill be doing the same, as my son in england will be 18, he can come and see me then,,lol

where did these welding inspector friends tell you this the pub?I just looked up job postings for welding inspectors in the uk and the wages they offer are no where near the amounts youre talking about.

I would have to disagree,I think pigeonjake is spot on,the rates he stated most likely reflect offshore inspection as myself a lowly welder have worked for £320 pounds a day in the North Sea alone.

Ah of course offshore that changes everything,But i worked 17 years for a dredging company worldwide back in the day for most of the projects the company would hire Belgian welders but now they hire filipino's,or east-europeans or locals depending on the project because theyre cheap and good .A Danish guy used to work with now works for statoil on a rig somewhere up the north sea and is making 8000 euro a month.

With direct reference to the amounts stated for Thailand, the numbers this would be mixed bag of both on-shore and offshore positions

But seeing as we are comparing things with the North Sea, what I am paid in Thailand is approximately 25-30% higher than the comperable position in either Europe or the US, if you get your foot in the right door in Thai O&G, they pay typically above preveiling international aacepted going rates

Now i work in the offshore wind industry my job is construction and commisioning of windturbines and i'm also a health and safety rep for my team,and now i work in a two week of two week on rotation and the money is also nice currently doing some projects in Belgium and soon the UK and Germany.

[TheSpade]

Why would I rent more than 1 house and pay off more than 1 car, are you implying I have a gik that needs funding ?

My rent is actually lower than the rest of the rental houses in my mooban being that it has not risen in the past 4 years, My new neighbor in an identical house (different landlord) is paying 14k per month more.

No I wasn't implying that you have a gik but seems like you might have a guilty conscience?

[JMR]

Here's how it is. When I was 19 I earned very little money but I partied at weekend and was never short. 20 years later I earn a very good wage but still watch the pennies. Thailand can be expensive but that is a relative term. I live a modest life but still spend around 150k a month which to some may be alot but to me is frugal. My motto when in Thailand is never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Where do you live then to earn and spend such large amounts of money Monaco?

My point was that wealth is relative, I am comfortable,own 2 cars,5 bikes and 3 homes. None of which are in Monaco. I think I could live on 45k a month but I choose not to, I could also spend all my wages every month like some of my mates do but I really don't need a Ferrari so I budget myself. For those who really have nothing better to do work this out - I get paid 11.6 baht for every minute I'm alive and work 6 months of the year. I forecast to be working for maximum 10 more years and by then with promotion I'll be on double, therefore by the time I'm 50 I will not need to budget and by the time I'm 51 I will be dead, probably found in a room full of drugs, ladyboys, bar girls and viagra. Unless the missus offs me first

[Kudel]

Here's how it is. When I was 19 I earned very little money but I partied at weekend and was never short. 20 years later I earn a very good wage but still watch the pennies. Thailand can be expensive but that is a relative term. I live a modest life but still spend around 150k a month which to some may be alot but to me is frugal. My motto when in Thailand is never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Where do you live then to earn and spend such large amounts of money Monaco?

My point was that wealth is relative, I am comfortable,own 2 cars,5 bikes and 3 homes. None of which are in Monaco. I think I could live on 45k a month but I choose not to, I could also spend all my wages every month like some of my mates do but I really don't need a Ferrari so I budget myself. For those who really have nothing better to do work this out - I get paid 11.6 baht for every minute I'm alive and work 6 months of the year. I forecast to be working for maximum 10 more years and by then with promotion I'll be on double, therefore by the time I'm 50 I will not need to budget and by the time I'm 51 I will be dead, probably found in a room full of drugs, ladyboys, bar girls and viagra. Unless the missus offs me first

well i earn 13.3baht per minute i'm alive and i also work six months a year and don't pay income taxes in my home country where i live and i even get paid in my time off ,i also own several property's wich i rent out and i drive a merc and also have a big bike and pay alimony for my kids i spend knowhere near 150k a month in my country and i live well.

Now or there is something wrong with your earning to spending ratio calculations or youre making some good extra cash on youre 3 homes wich you maybe are renting out and they are the buckingham palace kind of properties .

Edited August 23, 2013 by Kudel

[soomak]

In USA rule-of-thumb in Real Estate is monthly rent is 1% of house value so £300K based on £3000 per month but that £3000 is after management fees, taxes, owner obligated maintenance, etc. so outlay could be substantially more.

So as the OP commented while I was typing the rule-of-thumb is pretty close with his own house thrown in. But if his budgeting prowess is like that in Post #1 where he budgeted right down to the cost of soda water and then tossed the entire budget to the wind who knows?

US market is simply off balance as house prices crashed there, but no housing market is at a 12% return on investment for long...

In Thailand it's closer to 6% a year (or 0.5% per month)

In Israel it's even lower.

[soomak]

The funny thing for me is I don't see many "hot" anything. Overall women here don't dress up enough or have defined style. Certain areas in Bangkok you can find them but the average Thai woman is not "hot". I see even less hot with older guys. Young does not equal hot to me.

We must live in 2 different Bangkoks because the BKK I live in is jam packed with stylish and fashionable girls that dress really well and look super feminine and cute.

Average Thai women that I come across = pretty, good skin, lovely hair, feminine, well dressed, cute, well mannered, polite....what more do you want?

Agree with all of your adjectives, but IMO they are not "hot" (as in sexy).

I find the European girls with the long legs, broad hips and sharper facial features much hotter.

[soomak]

45,000B per month isn't a tight budget. There's nothing wrong with cheap Thai food and if the guy is living here he doesn't have to go out every night that would just be stupid. He can party / date 3 times a week easily with his budget as long as he avoids over priced restaurants and bars every time he goes out.

In the past week I've been to the Red Sky Bar (385B a cocktail...then elsewhere afterwards, 12hrs worth of drinking), RCA (a 15hr drinking session) and a mid ranged price restaurant with a date. Combine that with over spending at Tops, eating at a couple of Western places, cinema, ice cream at Swensens twice and whatever else I've done this week and I've only spent 5,500B.

Day to day there's not much to spend money on if you have work to do. My fridge is stocked with water, fruit juice and small items for lunch. I eat at small local restaurant every night where 50B gets you a meal with rice and a coke.

Most of my spending is on socializing and dating.

What else can you possibly spend your cash on?

"What else can you possibly spend your cash on?"

This is just a list I remember from the past couple of months:

Smartphone = 15,500 baht

Fixing the fridge = 2,500

Vacuum cleaner = 1,600

New shirt = 800

New bag = 4,000

DVDs = 2,000

Yearly health checkup = 18,000 (took the most expensive package they had...)

These things adds up quickly...

[giggles]

where are all these expats in BKK with good gorgeous women ,cos i never see any as i move around town ,are they all bonking back home ?

occasionally you see a farang with an elegant thai women in the daytime but its not common IMO.

so where are they hiding ?

more common to see a farang slob with a small Ho ...

[Kudel]

where are all these expats in BKK with good gorgeous women ,cos i never see any as i move around town ,are they all bonking back home ?

occasionally you see a farang with an elegant thai women in the daytime but its not common IMO.

so where are they hiding ?

more common to see a farang slob with a small Ho ...

Go look around in the right places,5 star hotels ,3 star restaurants,emporium shopping mall,Bangkoks Bussenis district.

Maybe around rayong Chonburi where al multinational company's have high paid foreign expats working for them in management positions and such etc.....

[poanoi]

45,000B per month isn't a tight budget. There's nothing wrong with cheap Thai food and if the guy is living here he doesn't have to go out every night that would just be stupid. He can party / date 3 times a week easily with his budget as long as he avoids over priced restaurants and bars every time he goes out.

In the past week I've been to the Red Sky Bar (385B a cocktail...then elsewhere afterwards, 12hrs worth of drinking), RCA (a 15hr drinking session) and a mid ranged price restaurant with a date. Combine that with over spending at Tops, eating at a couple of Western places, cinema, ice cream at Swensens twice and whatever else I've done this week and I've only spent 5,500B.

Day to day there's not much to spend money on if you have work to do. My fridge is stocked with water, fruit juice and small items for lunch. I eat at small local restaurant every night where 50B gets you a meal with rice and a coke.

Most of my spending is on socializing and dating.

What else can you possibly spend your cash on?

"What else can you possibly spend your cash on?"

This is just a list I remember from the past couple of months:

Smartphone = 15,500 baht

Fixing the fridge = 2,500

Vacuum cleaner = 1,600

New shirt = 800

New bag = 4,000

DVDs = 2,000

Yearly health checkup = 18,000 (took the most expensive package they had...)

These things adds up quickly...

Lest you buy a phone and repair a fridge monthly, you can't count that in your monthly expenses,

else everyone would end up with monthly expenses above 100.000 based on that one time they bought a vehicle,

and pretend that is a representative monthly expense.

Come to think of it, this dis-indigenous accounting is probably the norm for those claiming to spend over 100k,

including payment on mortgage on items such as house/condo/car/bike, without counting the resell value

Edited August 23, 2013 by poanoi

[TheSpade]

My point was that wealth is relative, I am comfortable,own 2 cars,5 bikes and 3 homes. None of which are in Monaco. I think I could live on 45k a month but I choose not to, I could also spend all my wages every month like some of my mates do but I really don't need a Ferrari so I budget myself. For those who really have nothing better to do work this out - I get paid 11.6 baht for every minute I'm alive and work 6 months of the year. I forecast to be working for maximum 10 more years and by then with promotion I'll be on double, therefore by the time I'm 50 I will not need to budget and by the time I'm 51 I will be dead, probably found in a room full of drugs, ladyboys, bar girls and viagra. Unless the missus offs me first

You probably work quite hard for your money or at least did for a considerable amount of time in the past.

I'm under 30. Lucky if I work 10hrs per week. Make enough money to live in the UK and enough money to live well in Thailand.

I wake up when I like. Take a day off when I like (or multiple days off - like this week). I don't have to leave the apartment to work.

If I fancy an 18hr drinking session on a Tuesday night I can because I have no one to account for and don't have to do any work the following day if I don't feel like it.

I don't care for material things like houses, cars, bikes, gadgets or similar and never have and never will.

Agree with all of your adjectives, but IMO they are not "hot" (as in sexy).

I find the European girls with the long legs, broad hips and sharper facial features much hotter.

I like slim and feminine women. I don't care where they are from or what their skin color is tbh. It's just that most Western European world do not fit this mold.

BTW many Thai girls have relatively long legs compared to the rest of their body.

"What else can you possibly spend your cash on?"

This is just a list I remember from the past couple of months:

Smartphone = 15,500 baht

Fixing the fridge = 2,500

Vacuum cleaner = 1,600

New shirt = 800

New bag = 4,000

DVDs = 2,000

Yearly health checkup = 18,000 (took the most expensive package they had...)

These things adds up quickly...

We're talking about recurring monthly charges and if you're buying a new smart phone, vaccum, bag every, health check up every month I would be surprised.

where are all these expats in BKK with good gorgeous women ,cos i never see any as i move around town ,are they all bonking back home ?

occasionally you see a farang with an elegant thai women in the daytime but its not common IMO.

so where are they hiding ?

more common to see a farang slob with a small Ho ...

Rare to see a farang with what would be considered a beauty by Thailand standards.

[F4UCorsair]

I don't see too many/any outlandish posts re incomes. 500 quid a day isn't a lot of money in many industries these days, and one doesn't need to be a CEO! CEO's here in Australia count their incomes in the millions, not hundreds of thousands, a year. $5- 15 million is not unusual, and there are even some on $25 million including bonuses.

Tradesmen in mining areas are paid several hundred thousand $$ pa, long hours, but fly in, fly out contracts, so probably only an average of 45-50 hours a week.

The fly in/fly out workers in the west of Australia have pushed up prices in Bali because workers prefer to go there for two weeks on days off rather than back to their 'home' cities on the east coast, less flying time, and cheaper to live than Australia.

[JLCrab]

Nice to see that Thai companies giving farangs a job and a work permit are now letting them work out of their apartments.

[F4UCorsair]

Check this for self indulgence by executives of BHP, the biggest mining company on the planet

http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/bhp-hands-36-million-bonuses-060322575.html

http://www.theage.com.au/business/going-like-the-kloppers-with-75m-handshake-20130221-2eu8u.html

and remember that's on top of salaries!!

Interestingly, whilst shareholders are given a vote on remuneration, the vote is not binding on the board..,Why the **** would shareholders even be given a vote then?? BHP's protestation that shareholders approved the payout is hollow.

Edited August 24, 2013 by F4UCorsair

[soomak]

Agree with all of your adjectives, but IMO they are not "hot" (as in sexy).

I find the European girls with the long legs, broad hips and sharper facial features much hotter.

I like slim and feminine women. I don't care where they are from or what their skin color is tbh. It's just that most Western European world do not fit this mold.

BTW many Thai girls have relatively long legs compared to the rest of their body.

Thai women (and men) have shorter legs compared to their body length. That is common in all east-asian people.

This different body/legs ratio is well documented in scientific research.

[soomak]

"What else can you possibly spend your cash on?"

This is just a list I remember from the past couple of months:

Smartphone = 15,500 baht

Fixing the fridge = 2,500

Vacuum cleaner = 1,600

New shirt = 800

New bag = 4,000

DVDs = 2,000

Yearly health checkup = 18,000 (took the most expensive package they had...)

These things adds up quickly...

We're talking about recurring monthly charges and if you're buying a new smart phone, vaccum, bag every, health check up every month I would be surprised.

You obviously don't understand the concept of a budget, and I would recommend taking some class to understand it as it is an important life skill.

A budget should include things that are done on an annual basis (such as a health checkup and car insurance), as well as things that are bought every few years (such as a smartphone, a laptop, shoes, bag, appliances, etc.

For example, if you spend 40,000 every 3 years on a new laptop, that would add approx 1,100 per month (40,000/36) to your budget

Edited August 24, 2013 by soomak

[Soutpeel]

Agree with all of your adjectives, but IMO they are not "hot" (as in sexy).

I find the European girls with the long legs, broad hips and sharper facial features much hotter.

I like slim and feminine women. I don't care where they are from or what their skin color is tbh. It's just that most Western European world do not fit this mold.

BTW many Thai girls have relatively long legs compared to the rest of their body.

Thai women (and men) have shorter legs compared to their body length. That is common in all east-asian people.

This different body/legs ratio is well documented in scientific research.

who and when was this well documented scentific research conducted ?....1940's in Germany ?

But I must say I am very impressed with "Spade" with his most recent post....only referencing 18 hour drinking binges and his dates this time...no reference to hookers...keep it up old chap...

[poanoi]

Not hard to grasp for me at least.

I like woman and beer, the latter give me diarrhea while the former give me gonorrhea,

i can bear the diarrhea but not gonorrhea, so drinking it is, in enormous quantities,

preferably while watching naked woman dancing, but there's no way i would risk gonorrhea

Edited August 24, 2013 by poanoi

[tonysilly]

I save money by Watching Porn it's free khrap

[TheSpade]

Also illegal.

[Soutpeel]

Also illegal.

so it working 10 hours a week in Thailand without a work permit...

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Also illegal.

so it working 10 hours a week in Thailand without a work permit...

Many things in Thailand are illegal, but as the fine (if caught) is usually only 200bht, who cares!

[JLCrab]

Also illegal.

so it working 10 hours a week in Thailand without a work permit...

Many things in Thailand are illegal, but as the fine (if caught) is usually only 200bht, who cares!

Alien Working Act 2008:

Section 51. An alien who engages in work without having the

permit shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding five years or to a

fine from two thousand Baht to one hundred thousand Baht or to both.

In the case where the accused under paragraph one wilfully departs the

Kingdom within the period specified by the inquiry official, but not more than thirty

days, the inquiry official may settle the case and causes that alien to depart the

Kingdom.

Even if the fine usually is only 200 baht if caught, would you want to be the 'set an example' case when it isn't?

Edited August 26, 2013 by JLCrab

[Norrad]

The old budget topic. It hasn't change too much over the last few years and really depends on the lifestyle you choose. I've managed to live on as little as 15000 Baht a month but then I have also been able to spend up to 150000 Baht a month and have nothing to show for it. The old adage, the more you earn the more you spend holds true over here.

[smotherb]

welcome to thaivisa, the home of bitter old farts who wanna piss all over anyone with the sense to come here when they are young enough to enjoy the place. They tell everyone oh you cant live in thailand for less than a million baht a month blah blah blah, total crock of shit, your young so you wont have to pay for women and their families like they do so. After six months in south east asia you may be 'burned out' then decide to go home or go elsewhere. Im 27 and just got home after 6 months in chiangmai, loved every minute of it. Have fun and good luck, don't let the 'deferred gratification' generation and the people who live their lives in a perpetual state of fear get you down, they are just jealous

Absolute crock. We are trying to be realistic. You spent 6 months did you, on a shoestring too, how wonderful, but that is not living. Sure, if you want to eat and drink and live on the cheap all your life you can. Most people want and deserve more. I know plenty of people here who live that meager life, but would they like to live a better existence here--you bet they would, to the man. I have been in Southeast Asia since I was 20--and have worked here, or offshore from here, all that time. I have always had enough money to live and I have seen the cheapies come and go on these temporary extended holidays. They seldom return, unless for another cheapie holiday. This man says he intends to live here. I recommend he take some time to increase his income before he tries.

You are right about one thing, a man does not have to pay (outright) for a woman here in Thailand, just like anywhere else. However, most prefer the conveniemce of the option--if they can afford it, it's just one of the perks in the land of smiles.

[razorramone]

"What else can you possibly spend your cash on?"

This is just a list I remember from the past couple of months:

Smartphone = 15,500 baht

Fixing the fridge = 2,500

Vacuum cleaner = 1,600

New shirt = 800

New bag = 4,000

DVDs = 2,000

Yearly health checkup = 18,000 (took the most expensive package they had...)

These things adds up quickly...

We're talking about recurring monthly charges and if you're buying a new smart phone, vaccum, bag every, health check up every month I would be surprised.

Where do you think the money comes to pay for those, if it is not out of monthly expenditure? It's a shit budget if you don't plan for unexpected or one-off costs.

where are all these expats in BKK with good gorgeous women ,cos i never see any as i move around town ,are they all bonking back home ?

occasionally you see a farang with an elegant thai women in the daytime but its not common IMO.

so where are they hiding ?

more common to see a farang slob with a small Ho ...

I see some, mostly in malls or on the BTS, or around Siam Square/chitlom area.

[TheSpade]

Absolute crock. We are trying to be realistic. You spent 6 months did you, on a shoestring too, how wonderful, but that is not living. Sure, if you want to eat and drink and live on the cheap all your life you can. Most people want and deserve more. I know plenty of people here who live that meager life, but would they like to live a better existence here--you bet they would, to the man. I have been in Southeast Asia since I was 20--and have worked here, or offshore from here, all that time. I have always had enough money to live and I have seen the cheapies come and go on these temporary extended holidays. They seldom return, unless for another cheapie holiday. This man says he intends to live here. I recommend he take some time to increase his income before he tries.

You are right about one thing, a man does not have to pay (outright) for a woman here in Thailand, just like anywhere else. However, most prefer the conveniemce of the option--if they can afford it, it's just one of the perks in the land of smiles.

Just in case you didn't see the dozens of other posts from those of us living on lower budgets than yourself......

We aren't struggling. We aren't doing without. We aren't living any sort of hardship. There's no hardcore penny pinching.

We all seem to be enjoying ourselves and in all honestly probably get out more than half the blokes who visit the gogos a couple of nights a week and burn through loads of cash.

If you're suggesting that people aren't banging hookers simply because they can't afford it then I think you'll find that a younger guy (and possibly a few older ones) has no need to pay for sex because he has so many other options that don't require payment.

If I had 1 million baht per month to spend not a drop of it would be spent on hookers. I can assure you of that.

So my 45k per month does me just fine and I'd struggle to spend much more unless I threw my money away.