To do it or not to do it....spend it all.

[Thanasi]

Hi all, my first post on TV, here it goes. I have been going to Pattaya since Feb 2010, 2 two mnth trips, 5 one mnth trips. From the very first time i discovered the place i loved it and said to myself i could live here, lets face it, where else in the world can a middle age below average looking bald man wearing glasses get a 20 something hottie to cuddle up with in bed for just a round of drinks back home...heaven. Anyway this is my plan, you guys living the dream, your opinion would be greatly appreciated......I turn 50 in a couple of months, eligible for a retirement visa which i can afford, heres the plan. Ive been doing the sums and with my savings and income from my assets i can afford $40000aud/year which would get me to 56years old. At 57 i sell part of my portfolio which would get me to 60 at $45000/year. At 60 estimate $100000 in savings plus major asset still providing income and superannuation kicks in estimate $85000=$185000....Now at 60 if im still going strong and all is well health wise (knock on wood) i could sell remainder of assets which by then would give me a least $600000+$185000=$785000. Now at 60 with $785000 at $50000/year gives me 15 years, 75 years old and at 67 the Aussie pension kicks in as well..........you see im a single bloke no dependents, at 50 i can still party hard, i want to spend the remainder of my life enjoying the the money i earnt doing the hard yards while i still can.......who knows how long we have all got to go but we all know one thing YOU CANNT TAKE IT WITH YOU............what do guys think.

[Oceanbat]

Wow

OB

[thaibeachlovers]

50 seems a bit young. Two holidays a year in LOS did for me till I passed 60.

If the hotties are important, they will cost a LOT more in a few years time than they do now.

You also need medical cover, which can be expensive and won't be getting cheaper.

Whatever, just resist the temptation to get married. Then it becomes a whole new ball game.

[trainman34014]

Come over and blow your mind. Don't listen to all the naysayers; just do what you want to do and die smiling.

[JLCrab]

Sure -- have a good time. But if your conversation in person is anything like post #1, you may not last very long.

[Sena Dave]

If I had that Guaranteed income at that age , i'd go for it mate. Thats about 100,000 baht a month I believe

Unless you start buying Yachts , houses and worst of all a Bar ,you should be fine

I'll be semi retiring myself at the end of this year , Im 47. My plan is to take part time or short contract work , Ive been in the Railway industry for 27 years , 15 in Asia , so there is no shortage if work if I need it.

Your biggest enemy will be bordom and trying to keep your hands of a can of beer at 10am every morning , know and known lots of blokes who can't once they have nothing to do

[mesquite]

OP. It's different when you live here. Still, I'd say come on over, but don't burn your bridges back to Oz. Give it a year and then reevaluate, stay or go back.

Edited August 17, 2014 by mesquite

[govoner]

dont forget to qualify for the Aussie pension you have to spend two years in Auss close to your retirement date. That could be expensive

[Jdiddy]

Just keep an eye on your health, dont live on beer burgers fries and pizza, like i would if i was in your position

[choochoo]

you are good to go!

as long as you remember the cuddly things ar hookers not girlfriends.............lol.

[Crazy chef 1]

OP. It's different when you live here. Still, I'd say come on over, but don't burn your bridges back to Oz. Give it a year and then reevaluate, stay or go back.[/quot

respect, at least one usefull reply.

[choochoo]

Also those cuddly thing get old real fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean if you live here if aint as much funn!

[transam]

Well....You have just made your first mistake. You went online for everyone to see, what your assets are.....A really BIG mistake.

Mate, when you arrive at the Airport in Bangkok, the crowd at the arrival gate will be for you, and your assets.

Including that rascal Trans.............

[enuff said]

.

Dear OP: It's great fun to visit the candy store. But if you LIVED in the candy store. hmmmmmm

'nuff said

~

[choochoo]

Actually living in a country with the gretest hookers is great stuff. Just dont marry 1..............lol.

[manarak]

not a bad plan "Thanasi"!

... but you write you are "single, no dependants"

Does that also mean you have no children? i.e. maybe independent children?

If you have children, do you hate them?

If you do have children, at least buy some nice condo that they can inherit.

[Thongkorn]

Come over and blow your mind. Don't listen to all the naysayers; just do what you want to do and die smiling.

this is why the world is in the state it is, people who do not except responsibility for there actions then expect society to bail them out.

[96tehtarp]

That 20 y/o something that is cuddling up next to you has one thing on her mind. It's how she intends to radically alter all those accounting and estimated income allotments you made in post #1.

Go for it, but don't limit yourself to Pattaya or Thailand. There is a whole world out there.

Edited August 17, 2014 by 96tehtarp

[Rimmer]

Moved to Pattaya for local input

[Chang_paarp]

Got to ask.

Are you ready to retire?

Most people without a plan die within 5 years of stopping work. By then they have done the big trip around the world/country they have been promising themselves for years. Done a few projects and settled down. There seems to a loss of purpose, followed be a loss of the will to live. Look at any shopping centre to see the zombies with nothing to do but look at the shops, or any bar with the punters waiting for God (we called a bar I worked in "God's waiting room" in honour of the regulars).

This is a serious aspect of retiring especially taking early retirement. You need to plan some things to do, this does not change with location be it in Oz or in Pattaya. As said above the challenge to stop yourself having a beer in hand at 10am can be a struggle. There is a paupacy of things to do in Pattaya that do not involve being in a bar. Living in Disneyland can be fun, but it can be taxing on the body, mind and spirit.

So what will you do to fill your days?

I'm not saying don't do it. Just give the process a bit of thought.

By the way, don't rely on the Aussie pension to be there in 15 years, especially if you are planning on not being in Oz. Another thing to keep in mind is how you will be treated if you need to go home and in need for medical treatment. Long time members here may remember Udon John, he went back to Oz hoping to get medical help after living in Thailand for many years only to spend a long time in pain prior to his ultimate demise.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I retired when I was 57. Living in Pattaya now but have lived in Cambodia and Vietnam over these 4 years of freedom. I like them all. When you get here, get out and about. Don't arrive with blinders on. Take time to make friends, have an easy night from time to time just chatting and walking around. Travel around, relax.

I've been coming here since 2004 on vacation and in spring 2009, at the end of a long leave from work, I peered over the abyss. It's a very deep one and very hard to climb out. That woke me up. I severely curtailed my activities over the following 2-3 years and am effectively retired from the night life. Just don't care anymore.

You seem to have a lot of financial leeway, but it has its own problem. You can do anything you want and likely will. But like someone above said, it does get old after while. I found that out and so did a millionaire friend of mine. He dabbles but is happy to be home at 11 and enjoy reading, writing, watching movies but most of all we have a great circle of friends (almost all working, most in long relationships or married). That, my Aussie friend, is the thing that will save you.

[Asiantravel]

Come over and blow your mind. Don't listen to all the naysayers; just do what you want to do and die smiling.

this is why the world is in the state it is, people who do not except responsibility for there actions then expect society to bail them out.

What you mean? It's his money! Governments just want to take more and more. The ones that don't accept responsibility are those that don't work and want to sponge off others or as you correctly say " expect society to bail them out."

Go for it OP enjoy yourself before others take what is rightfully yours

[frollywolly]

Listen to some of these killjoys on here.

Have to find an interest or you will be bored! Oh the girl will be too young for you!, You have to be responsible! Beware the hookers!

You are nearly 50. Grow a set and take the plunge. Or not. Up to you. Just be a man and make a decision.

[ATF]

Great idea an you have planned! Put your money into a guaranteed annuity in Hong Kong through a major bank which will give you a fixed income tax free 10 years from now so if everything goes pear shaped you will have an income for your old age.

Buy a cheap house/condo on the Darkside not in Pattaya and set a budget for the next 10 years. You will lose the plot living in downtown Pats.

Don't buy any houses in Isaan.

[96tehtarp]

Great idea an you have planned! Put your money into a guaranteed annuity in Hong Kong through a major bank which will give you a fixed income tax free 10 years from now so if everything goes pear shaped you will have an income for your old age.

Buy a cheap house/condo on the Darkside not in Pattaya and set a budget for the next 10 years. You will lose the plot living in downtown Pats.

Don't buy any houses in Isaan.

"You will lose the plot living in downtown Pats."

Very likely, yes.

[Rimmer]

Troll posts contributing nothing to the topic removed.

[seajae]

you need to be in oz for the 2 years previous to retirement to qualify, I have a mate that has to go back for 2 years now to get on it. Then you have to get approval to be able to take your pension out of the country as well, there is a bit more in it than what you are seeing.

[Pattaya28]

Go for it mate.

Your finances are ample to live a quality life.

Be aware though that Pattaya is changing. In the last 20 years drastic changes have occurred. Quality is not what it was, in my view. And who knows how the next 20 years will unwind.

You certainly can find "Nirvana" !!

Good luck

[DogNo1]

By all means spend your money and enjoy your life but just do it with your eyes open. For many who who retire in Thailand, the financial picture changes drastically when they become involved emotionally with a Thai woman. Emotional ties can grow with you not being particlarly aware of it. Once they do, it is harder to say "no" than you might imagine. Also, be aware that financial needs can grow hugely toward the end of life. Call me cautious but I consistently save at least 40% of my retirement income. An unplanned event such as a traffic accident or a bad fall in the bathroom can drastically alter your life style and the amount that you need to spend for personal maintenance. In my case, a bad motorcycle accident had me on crutches for two long years (thank goodness for Japanese insurance which covered everything) and then, after my best friend dropped dead from a heart attack in Shinjuku Station a day before I left for Bangkok, a test at Bumrungrad found that I had an 85 to 90% blockage in three of my coronary arteries. I was advised to have surgery immediately and I did but had to pay 100% out of pocket. In Japan, my insurance would have paid 70%. And then earlier there was my throat cancer that was cured by surgery and radiation but kept me from working for half a year.

I have no intention of dampening your enthusiasm or suggesting that you won't have a splendid retirement but, for goodness sake, CYA.

[3NUMBAS]

if you move there you will become burnt out and peed off with it ,stick to regular visits is best ,you cant live among the nutters there for any length of time ,without going doolally or jumping over the balcony