Does anyone else live cheaply in Thailand?

[Cheap Backpacker]

I can't believe how cheap I've become even though the prices for most things are less than in USA.

I think I stopped comparing prices to $USD here and look at alternatives, what else my money can buy.

I'll take the local busses instead of the BTS / Skytrain. Why pay 40-50 baht when I can pay 8 baht. I am not in a rush so I can do this. If I take the bus, the savings are a free meal.

I find myself walking a lot also, I won't pay BTS/Skyline for that 1 stop ripoff.

I walked away from a thai food place because they seemed to have doubled their prices since I was last here 2 years ago. 65 baht for fried rice with pork, nope I'm not paying that even though it was the only place around at night. I'll pay 40 baht max, and normally 30 baht for that.

9 baht ice cream cones in McDonalds, That's my main dessert.

I don't know, I just can't help being cheap even though I have a reasonable amount in the bank.

The sad part is when I get back home to USA I sometimes can't believe how cheap I was as I wish I can get the same meal in USA for even 65 baht. LOL.

I just love the pricing in Thailand for the quality of life you get. This wasn't the case in the Philippines, very bad food, annoying beggars and hustlers, scams and crime. I needed to move out of my place for a few months in new York and it was by far cheaper to fly and live over here for a few months than move to places like Florida or Las Vegas.

[daoyai]

I sometimes see it as a game, to play by the local rules, the taxi boats in BKK are an example, and I still am ammused by my 3 baht train ride from Bang su station to Don Muang... the night market takeaway food is my fav. 20 baht 3 egg ommelets etc,... enjoy the game.

[johnnynmonic]

Well, when you go back you can start living off of the $1 menu at McDonald's.

[David48]

Introduce yourself to the member

canarysun

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/user/193254-canarysun/

The self profess guru of 'value for money' living.

.

[Cheap Backpacker]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I sometimes see it as a game, to play by the local rules, the taxi boats in BKK are an example, and I still am ammused by my 3 baht train ride from Bang su station to Don Muang... the night market takeaway food is my fav. 20 baht 3 egg ommelets etc,... enjoy the game.

I don't understand what you mean about playing by local rules and thai taxi boats?

Do you know how to get a cheap edible breakfast type of food here?

Well, when you go back you can start living off of the $1 menu at McDonald's.

I do this already. But in America you can prepare your own foods, so I am not forced to eat out as much as I am in Thailand because I'm always on the move here with no kitchen.

[Rangsitreppin]

Yeah for cheapness and quality snacks and meals thailand beats the phillipines By a long shot....

That horrible chicken intestines with sand and crap still in it served by a lady with black fingernails from all the dirt stuck in em in angeles haunts me forever.

Kudos to thailand on cheap good street food .

[jacksam]

Introduce yourself to the member

canarysun

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/user/193254-canarysun/

The self profess guru of 'value for money' living.

.

Other descriptions are available. None printable

[Squeegee]

I agree with a lot of that.

65 baht for pork fried rice is over the top for Thailand and I would have walked too. Same with one stop on the skytrain: I've never bothered to use it for only one stop. By the time you've climbed the multiple flights of stairs, messed about with the tickets and stood sweating on the platform it's just better to walk if it's just one stop.

[farang000999]

There seem to be a very large number of Westerners living as cheaply as possible in Thailand judging by the various topics on Thai Visa. I expect this thread will have 400 replies by the end of the week. What do you spend all that time on the bus doing?

[farang000999]

Yeah for cheapness and quality snacks and meals thailand beats the phillipines By a long shot....

That horrible chicken intestines with sand and crap still in it served by a lady with black fingernails from all the dirt stuck in em in angeles haunts me forever.

Kudos to thailand on cheap good street food .

How do they keep their hands clean? Where do they use the bathroom?

[jacksam]

OP I know what you mean about "alternatives" ... The economists refer to it as OPPOUTUNITY COST.

I do it even more so in Vietnam. I drink those large Saigon green 10k dong. About 50cents aud. Then everytime I go to buy something for about $1..... Find myself tripping over the fact that means two big Saigon.

Bit same here.

[Rangsitreppin]

OP I know what you mean about "alternatives" ... The economists refer to it as OPPOUTUNITY COST.

I do it even more so in Vietnam. I drink those large Saigon green 10k dong. About 50cents aud. Then everytime I go to buy something for about $1..... Find myself tripping over the fact that means two big Saigon.

Bit same here.

So saigon green is 1100 percent cheaper that a vb in an aussie bottle shop

[Cheap Backpacker]

There seem to be a very large number of Westerners living as cheaply as possible in Thailand judging by the various topics on Thai Visa. I expect this thread will have 400 replies by the end of the week. What do you spend all that time on the bus doing?

What I noticed is that I see very few white people taking the bus in Bangkok. I do see them on occasion but very rarely. I'm not sure why this is the case as you can easily use Google maps for mapping where the buses go.

I think part of the problem is nobody knows how much to pay but until you learn that I just held my hand out with change and let her pick the right amount.

Here are the problem with the busses. First, I seem to always have to wait a long time for the number bus I need. Sometimes I wonder if I am in the right spot. Waited over 20 minutes yesterday for the 35 only to walk away thinking it was the wrong place only for it to pass me a block down the street.

The other big issue is it does waste more time than the BTS,MTR, It has to deal with traffic and also you waiting for the bus. However, without traffic they move quite fast as they don't waste much time at the stops.

The other thing I love about the busses is how crazy they are. They don't come to a full stop many times when getting off and always start moving before you are fully on. That is just awesome as long as you're not old I guess. Many times also the busses can be quite filled, but when they are not they are very spacious and nice airflow through them.

[daoyai]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I sometimes see it as a game, to play by the local rules, the taxi boats in BKK are an example, and I still am ammused by my 3 baht train ride from Bang su station to Don Muang... the night market takeaway food is my fav. 20 baht 3 egg ommelets etc,... enjoy the game.

I don't understand what you mean about playing by local rules and thai taxi boats?

Do you know how to get a cheap edible breakfast type of food here?

Well, when you go back you can start living off of the $1 menu at McDonald's.

I do this already. But in America you can prepare your own foods, so I am not forced to eat out as much as I am in Thailand because I'm always on the move here with no kitchen.

I meant that budget minded locals may opt for a water taxi in a BKK canal for a cheaper ride than taking a metered car taxi ... and for breakfast here in Chiang Mai I often go to a fresh market to buy takeaway food for the day, great selection and quality for cheaps.

[jacksam]

OP I know what you mean about "alternatives" ... The economists refer to it as OPPOUTUNITY COST.

I do it even more so in Vietnam. I drink those large Saigon green 10k dong. About 50cents aud. Then everytime I go to buy something for about $1..... Find myself tripping over the fact that means two big Saigon.

Bit same here.

So saigon green is 1100 percent cheaper that a vb in an aussie bottle shop

More so. The price I quoted was for Saigon Green in cafe/bar. Yes 50,aud ..A stubbie if VB in cafe/bar in AU would be about $7 possibly more. I don't live in au anymore. Figure financially I can live here till I'm 118.

Liver however does not concur

[NeverSure]

I can't figure out if this is a troll or if these guys are for real.

I have a lot of smart axe comments about how they could save even more money, but they seem to be doing well enough by themselves.

[mrtoad]

Looks like Canarysun has some real competition in being The Cheapest of The Charlie's.

[steven100]

Wow !!! never seen so many cheap charlies in one hit ..... .

[Cheap Backpacker]

Looks like Canarysun has some real competition in being The Cheapest of The Charlie's.

LOL.

I don't know why I'm so cheap, I think it comes down to the fact that when you don't have a job or money coming in you have to make what you have last. Even though I would be a multimillionaire in Baht, It is still a fixed income.

The guys who have pensions and fixed incomes are in a much better position to spend, jeez, they don't have to make say 5 million baht last a lifetime. If you're on some kind of pension/retirement then you really wouldn't understand about having to make your money last.

I'm as cheap as they come, but not so cheap with everything. I have a note 3 cell phone for example. I usually try to buy high quality products, but that is being frugal because high quality products will outlast a lot of cheap quality products so you save in the long run.

[David48]

Wow !!! never seen so many cheap charlies in one hit ..... .

You've never met MissFarmGirl ... she recycles GladWrap (plastic wrap)

God love her.

Nothing is wasted at the Farm.

.

[Rangsitreppin]

Looks like Canarysun has some real competition in being The Cheapest of The Charlie's.

LOL.

I don't know why I'm so cheap, I think it comes down to the fact that when you don't have a job or money coming in you have to make what you have last. Even though I would be a multimillionaire in Baht, It is still a fixed income.

The guys who have pensions and fixed incomes are in a much better position to spend, jeez, they don't have to make say 5 million baht last a lifetime. If you're on some kind of pension/retirement then you really wouldn't understand about having to make your money last.

I'm as cheap as they come, but not so cheap with everything. I have a note 3 cell phone for example. I usually try to buy high quality products, but that is being frugal because high quality products will outlast a lot of cheap quality products so you save in the long run.

I have 100000 baht to last a life time and 28 years old .

I think op can splurge on the medium sized slurpees .

[Rooo]

Moved to pub.

[Cheap Backpacker]

Looks like Canarysun has some real competition in being The Cheapest of The Charlie's.

LOL.

I don't know why I'm so cheap, I think it comes down to the fact that when you don't have a job or money coming in you have to make what you have last. Even though I would be a multimillionaire in Baht, It is still a fixed income.

The guys who have pensions and fixed incomes are in a much better position to spend, jeez, they don't have to make say 5 million baht last a lifetime. If you're on some kind of pension/retirement then you really wouldn't understand about having to make your money last.

I'm as cheap as they come, but not so cheap with everything. I have a note 3 cell phone for example. I usually try to buy high quality products, but that is being frugal because high quality products will outlast a lot of cheap quality products so you save in the long run.

I have 100000 baht to last a life time and 28 years old .

I think op can splurge on the medium sized slurpees .

Are you for real? 100,000 baht, you'll eventually have to go home.

I think I live on around $300 a month here, which includes housing. I would say you need at least $100 a month for food/expenses.

This can all be brought down hugely if you rent long term and possibly prepare your own food.

[N47HAN]

God not another cheap charlie thread .

Surprised you guys waste your valuable money on the electric to power your pc to post continiuosly on this subject.

Give it a rest for at least a month or so

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited December 11, 2014 by N47HAN

[Cheap Backpacker]

I didn't even know there were so many threads when I made this. I guess it makes sense that a place like Thailand would attract a lot of cheap (frugal) people. I mean, I think it may be the best place in the world to be for stretching your dollar. You get cheap prices, yet low crime and cheap food. You also get a almost 1st world city in Bangkok, plus all the tropical resort areas.

I always like meeting other cheap/frugal people, I rarely meet them, but when I do it is always enjoyable.

[DP25]

What I noticed is that I see very few white people taking the bus in Bangkok. I do see them on occasion but very rarely. I'm not sure why this is the case as you can easily use Google maps for mapping where the buses go.

I think part of the problem is nobody knows how much to pay but until you learn that I just held my hand out with change and let her pick the right amount.

Here are the problem with the busses. First, I seem to always have to wait a long time for the number bus I need. Sometimes I wonder if I am in the right spot. Waited over 20 minutes yesterday for the 35 only to walk away thinking it was the wrong place only for it to pass me a block down the street.

The other big issue is it does waste more time than the BTS,MTR, It has to deal with traffic and also you waiting for the bus. However, without traffic they move quite fast as they don't waste much time at the stops.

The other thing I love about the busses is how crazy they are. They don't come to a full stop many times when getting off and always start moving before you are fully on. That is just awesome as long as you're not old I guess. Many times also the busses can be quite filled, but when they are not they are very spacious and nice airflow through them.

You basically explained why not many westerners take the bus

Despite having some routes listed on google maps, it is still very confusing. Buses are late, in some streets they only go one direction so you wait in the wrong spot, you might have to switch buses and wait again. You need time, google maps on your phone, and preferably the ability to speak a little Thai. It's a pain in the ass.

Once you learn a few routes they can be very convenient though, and they are super cheap, so I do use them sometimes. But there is a big initial barrier that many people can't get past.

[David48]

I took the Bus once.

Just to see what they are like to ride on.

The 511 to be precise.

But it's the BTS for me.

[TooPoopedToPop]

Here's a piece of advice dude...

Get out of Bangkok... learn to speak Thai and live among working class people.

Your education is just beginning.

Choke dee.

[jacksam]

God not another cheap charlie thread .

Surprised you guys waste your valuable money on the electric to power your pc to post continiuosly on this subject.

Give it a rest for at least a month or so

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Am I correct in assuming you think your post is remotely clever. Maybe even an inference you wouldn't stoop this low. Brilliant go post somewhere to actually contribute.

[neverdie]

Looks like Canarysun has some real competition in being The Cheapest of The Charlie's.

It must be a fun life......NOT.