Minimalist living in Pattaya

[georgegeorgia]

On my last visit to Pattaya I got very sick because i over indulged in many things.I also spent a lot of money the first few weeks.I thought how could of ever live here on the amount of money it would take.

But I did meet a elderly man who was from Australia,he was quite an interesting character,I spent a few days sharing his studio condo in Pattaya/Jomtien charged me a minimal fee.He had apparently bought it several years ago very cheap.

It was quite nice,Studio only with two single beds on each side of the room which he rented one occassionaly and outside balcony.

The only thing I didnt like was no A/C.

He was 75yo and his income was the AustRAlian pension.

He hAD been living in a rough type area back in his Australian City of Melbourne in a Government housing for low income earners.In 2011 he got bashed by two young thugs who stole his wallet after following him back from an ATM.

He decided with the help of his son and daughter to live in Thailand .

I think he said his income is about 35 to 40k a month and he still saved about 25k of that a month !!!

He told me he had stopped the booze the ciggs and everything else a few years back and was leading a minimalist lifestyle.

Yes a what I said ? A minimalist life.

He didnt drink or smoke.

He still went to Soi Bukhao to meet guys his own age most days,he even walked there one day !!

He bought fruit mostly to eat but didnt seem to eat much,granted he was healthy looking but looked kind of anaemic to me because he didnt eat meat only vegetables fruit and cans of tuna.

He was busy everyday and out of bed about 530am to walk up and down the road in Jomtien.

I actually went with him one morning and was surprised to see a lot of similar guys walking and running but even me half his age couldnt keep up.

He hadnt drank in years but was a tea drinker addict along with warm water that you buy out of the machines to fill the bottle.

As for cooking he didnt seem to do much but eat tuna and bread,but had those portable stove things.

I dont doubt he saved 25k a month,obviously helps that he owned his own condo,but he seemed very mean with his money example didnt like me turning lights on etc.

He also told me that the bar he meets his friends at charge him only 10 baht for his hot water for tea.

Oh and another thing he didnt have a hot water system in the shower but i could get used to that .

He charged me 150 a night which was ok for the experience i guess.

He lived ok on very very minimal money,he read books and also had Cable to watch TV shows,i forgot to ask him how much he paid for that,but he didnt have internet and didnt know how to use a computer properly.

Granted he was how do i put it...very savvy with his money and thinking.

But my point is that just like him you can live a good life on minimal money.

He told me a hell of a lot of guys live on the old age pension and spend it on booze etc.

.

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[georgegeorgia]

Just to add to this I found his lifestyle uncomfortable.

I went out with him a few times,he preferred to walk or get the baht bus,only paid 10 baht,i cant do that,most times i cant stand around in the heat so just got a motorbike taxi which he was horrified when i told him it cost me 80 baht or so to get into Pattaya.

I just dont have the patience to wait around for baht buses or walk a long way in the heat.

[Jingthing]

I live a rather simple life as well but a few (OK probably more than a few) notches up from that. I certainly don't smoke and drink very little and let me check, I ride the baht bus and walk! I feel A/C is not needed (I seriously PREFER to keep it off, believe it or not) except on a few very hot days in the year (to sleep). Why would you keep on lights you're not using ... do you have stock in the electric company? I wouldn't be happy eating that poorly ... the fresh fruit is good and canned tuna is OK occasionally though. Based on your description of that guy, yeah under 20K a month EASY, as no rent cost. I really don't consider myself a cheap Charlie though, I pay for house cleaning (overpay actually), tip in restaurants, have very nice furniture, electronic technology, etc. But due to my finances, I need to be careful or I wouldn't have lasted here this long! Honestly, I really don't consider myself DEPRIVED on anything I really want materially. I do know what that feels like from other points in my life ... not here.

Edited February 1, 2015 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Just to add to this I found his lifestyle uncomfortable.

I went out with him a few times,he preferred to walk or get the baht bus,only paid 10 baht,i cant do that,most times i cant stand around in the heat so just got a motorbike taxi which he was horrified when i told him it cost me 80 baht or so to get into Pattaya.

I just dont have the patience to wait around for baht buses or walk a long way in the heat.

I think motorbike taxis are unsafe. I like REAL taxis though ... now we have GrabTaxi but I find I've adjusted so well to before there were real taxis here that I just rarely need a taxi at all! Stand in the heat? Baht buses are coming constantly. What standing? I can understand not wanting to take long walks in peak sunlight ... unless you're a mad dog or Englishman that is!

On the aircon thing, as a tourist you would be uncomfortable naturally without it on a hot day. The test would be to live here a long time and see if you can acclimate to it. I did easily. It's not super HUMID here like Georgia, you know? Also do you have sea breezes or not, etc. Depends on location of the housing unit a lot. Mine is ideal for no aircon.

Edited February 1, 2015 by Jingthing

[georgegeorgia]

Yes Jing Thing his balcony had a breeze but was still a few blocks from the sea.

He kept everything so tidy and went through one bottle of dishwashing liquid a year so he told me ?im half his age but I guess as you get older you dont need as much as you when your younger.

I cant do without the internet though,granted he didnt over eat as i do and buy chocolate bars and biscuits etc that I usually need.

He didnt have the latest mobile phone just a ordinary Nokia.

And he washed his own clothes ...omg..lol...he washed his clothes with i think ordinary soap and hung them on the balcony.

[Jingthing]

Internet is more important than food!

When you say he washed his own clothes, do you mean with a washing machine or by hand?

By washing machine and hang to dry is very common here ...

[gk10002000]

Probably 30 % of the people in the world live worse than that man does? Running water, almost complete indoor plumbing, a high and dry apartment isn't all that bad for existing

[georgegeorgia]

No I watched him most times wash his t shirts in the sink or soak them and then hang on the balcony.

On one ocassion i remember him telling me there was a washing machine downstairs I think 20 baht by memory.

Im half his age ,I admire him for his lifestyle,watching TV on his balcony,sipping tea,reading books,going out everyday other day but not spending anything other than occassionaly in a food court.

Could I do that? I dont know,I probaly would get bored,what would i do all day,maybe at his age its different?

He said its no different to his life in Australia except he prefers it in Pattaya.

Look quite frankly I would get bored,i need a job to go to or something to do but then again im not old as him.

What do you do sit in your house all day watch TV ,read books ,go out some days to meet people in a bar or food court,not really exciting but can be done if your a minimalist person .

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[Jingthing]

I wouldn't be happy to NEED to live as frugally as that guy. He does sound like a bit of an extreme case for an expat here. Washing your clothes by hand ... egads. Anyway, he sounds OK with it and that's what matters to him.

[His Masters Voice]

I wouldn't be happy to NEED to live as frugally as that guy. He does sound like a bit of an extreme case for an expat here. Washing your clothes by hand ... egads. Anyway, he sounds OK with it and that's what matters to him.

I agree. That's more then a few steps too far for me up that frugal ladder.

Washing by hand, no way.

Mind you, he is an older man, and if he's enjoting his lifestyle, good luck to him.

Nice Opening Post BTW.

[paddyjenkins]

If you suddenly inherited some money....lets say enough to spend 250,000 baht a month forever, would you be happier and then be able to live the life you would really want, or does this minimalist lifestyle provide all you want anyway?

[georgegeorgia]

Hard to say Paddy.The guy im talking about isnt poor he has cash saved in the bank.

But he kept telling me over and over not waste money because you never know when you might really need it someday.

I will say this,I looked up to him as a kind of father figure because he was one of those people who can look after themselves without the need of a support person,im not like that unfortunately.

I wish i could live by myself too but I cant i need people around me,my Mother was the same as Larry and lived alone and looked after herself when Dad passed away.

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[gerry123]

i guess if the alternative is the risk of being bashed periodically i would go if i had a choice go for frugal and safety

[thaitorrent1]

75 and still saving ? For what ? Next life ?

Seem ridiculous to me, he already had 75 years to save...

[Jingthing]

75 and still saving ? For what ? Next life ?

Seem ridiculous to me, he already had 75 years to save...

Maybe for a rainy day.

You know lots of people reach old age and just don't manage to save as much as they really need. (Statistically the majority in the world, but in traditional societies people can usually rely on family in old age.)

It's not pretty but it's a fact of life.

It's not as if anyone is going to hire him now, is it, so he's doing the best he can.

Maybe you judge him as a failure ... that's your choice, but I think that's rude.

That said, it brings up another issue facing those who DO have much more wealth. As people get older, some people don't make the adjustment and realize they CAN and SHOULD spend more as they won't be living forever. But somehow I doubt this guy has that problem!

Edited February 1, 2015 by Jingthing

[konying]

Hard to say Paddy.The guy im talking about isnt poor he has cash saved in the bank.

But he kept telling me over and over not waste money because you never know when you might really need it someday.

I will say this,I looked up to him as a kind of father figure because he was one of those people who can look after themselves without the need of a support person,im not like that unfortunately.

I wish i could live by myself too but I cant i need people around me,my Mother was the same as Larry and lived alone and looked after herself when Dad passed away.

he is 75 years old, is he planning to take the money to the grave with him?

[Jingthing]

I am just assuming that if the guy washes his own clothes by hand he doesn't have significant wealth, period.

You occasionally here stories about homeless beggars who die with multimillion dollar dollar estates.
You hear about them because they are so rare and those people are TOTALLY CRAZY.

Not likely.

Also even when you're living low, you have expected major expenses you might be saving up for ... like medical stuff of course, trips back to the home country, and also things like home repairs, new appliances, etc.

Edited February 1, 2015 by Jingthing

[georgegeorgia]

As for saving money when your elderly...My Mother saved her money before she died recently and was very frugal.

No she didnt take it with her.

I think most elderly people are frugal.

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[paddyjenkins]

Ive always been frugal, but in a relative way, i don't mind spending a lot, but only if i think im getting value for money and some genuine contribution to my quality of life, not for status or to impress and i never fall for things like restaurants that don't have prices on the menu and id never pay even 100 baht for a kow pat gai, as some people might, but i would pay 400 baht for a nice lunch at a Japanese restaurant.

Edited February 1, 2015 by paddyjenkins

[Jingthing]

Some oldies care a lot about leaving money to relatives. One of my Grandads more or less aggressively avoided medical care at the end so that all his money would wouldn't be sucked out in his last days. Not for himself but so that there would be something left for his heirs.

[tamsloon]

There is no mention of female company in this scenario, can I assume he is not partaking and this is why he can live so frugally

[giddyup]

75 and still saving ? For what ? Next life ?

Seem ridiculous to me, he already had 75 years to save...

I agree, I'm 72 and now buy what I want, within reason. If I want lamb shanks and a good bottle of red I buy it. Just bought a brand new Mitsu pickup as well. I had enough scrimping and saving in my younger years when 50% of my income went on my mortgage and I was so broke I couldn't afford to put new tyres on my car, now is the time to reap the benefits of my savings. Some people have been tightwads all their lives and find it impossible to spend a dollar unnecessarily. Only their surviving kin benefit from their money.

[Jingthing]

Fine if the wealth is there to spend.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[giddyup]

Some oldies care a lot about leaving money to relatives. One of my Grandads more or less aggressively avoided medical care at the end so that all his money would wouldn't be sucked out in his last days. Not for himself but so that there would be something left for his heirs.

Why? Let the freeloaders earn their own money. Too many kids today sitting back and waiting for the oldies to snuff it so they can inherit the house and money the parents worked all their lives to accumulate.

[slipperylobster]

OMG that is so sad.

With that kind of budget, better to live as a monk..or lease out some farm land up North. I don't really see the point.

[Anthony5]

Strange, yesterday the same OP troll told us that he stayed for free in his girlfriends appartment, who also let him bring other girls to the room.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/796498-i-got-mentally-sick-and-left/#entry9011704

A new resident troll has joined, don't feed him.

[WitawatWatawit]

Living on 10k a month is no big deal if you don't have to pay rent and no longer care for the bars. I don't pennypinch on food, but because my tastes are simple/comfortable, I spend only about 6k a month (that includes the occasional salmon steak). Power, water and internet are my only other regular bills (no cable - I'm dumbed down enough ). Less than 2k. Probably another couple of k a month on petrol.

But it does help to have some kind of interests to get you out in the air. For me, a bit of gardening, long rides in the countryside, wallowing in the swimming pool or a jaunt to the beach at Bang Saray, or temples. All done at country bumpkin pace, of course. It's a comfortable life, OP, although it probably sounds too boring for you.

PS: Doesn't include annuals like car/bike rego, mooban fees etc.

[georgegeorgia]

Yes i also did stay at a girlfriends flat which was at Flybird where i got sick and left.ok.

[KittenKong]

I think that I could live like that if was somewhere up a mountain in a monastery. And I would probably enjoy it (and be much less fat and much healthier generally).

But for me the main point of living here is to be spoilt for choice for places to eat of many ethnicities and types, and I dont see the point of having that choice and not taking advantage of it. Without that Pattaya/Jomtien would be one of the last places in which I would want to live.

As for being cautious with money because you never know when you might need it, many people over the age of 50 or so were brought up like that; I certainly was and it's a habit I know I will never lose and of which I am proud. People born in the 1960s and later were more likely to spend everything they have and more.

Edited February 1, 2015 by KittenKong

[georgegeorgia]

Some oldies care a lot about leaving money to relatives. One of my Grandads more or less aggressively avoided medical care at the end so that all his money would wouldn't be sucked out in his last days. Not for himself but so that there would be something left for his heirs.

My mother 81yo died a few weeks ago from cancer...she refused chemo for 2 reasons firstly it would only prolong her agony and secondly the oncologist wanted money in the thousands.She wasnt willing to part with that.But because the cancer had spread very fast (within a month)it wasnt a cure and there was no guarantees it would even prolong her a few more weeks.We got a 2nd opinion and that Oncologist was more blunt and told her not to waste money on Chemo because it had spread too quick.She bravely chose to let nature take its course as she said to me.

So yes she left it to me which im very grateful for.

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia