Cheapcharlies - myth or real?

[MaeJoMTB]

I'm definitely cheap.

OK so I'll tip the beer serving girl 100bht if she's cute, attentive and keeps my glass full.

One of these made a 100bht tip from me ..........

oxide.jpg

But on the other hand, I can't resist buy one, get one free, or 3 large beers for 150bht.

And am totally happy with 30bht coffee shops ....... no need for Starbucks.

Bet it was the one in the Nurses outfit

regards Worgeordie

No the nurse was needed for his recovery after paying the B 100 tip. 555

Luckily she was an expert in mouth to mouth.

[BookMan]

This topic could really use a poll

[Briggsy]

"Cheap Charlie" is a whore term.

Whilst it is useful to understand whore Tinglish, it is not recommended to copy their vernacular outside of whoreville.

idem

monkey house

pom pui

same same

and many more

[torpedo1970]

During the Vietnam War I used to hear 'Cheap Charlie' all the time there.

Just in the past year I am hearing it more and more here

in Bangkok.

Foreigners bring their habits and customs over here and expect to do

the same.

Thais do not tip so why do I have to?

Sure if someone goes out of their way to do something special for me

I will reward them.

Now the new thing in the past few years is that a lot of businesses are

adding a 10 percent service charge (tip) to your bill.

I believe that tip is only something to give if you get good to exceptional service..... Unfortunately, that you do not get very often in Thailand.

The term service charge is meant to be instead of tip, but as i have seen too many places they still ask for tip even if they have added 10-12 % service charge to the bill.

Too many times the restaurant keep the service charge and still tell customers to tip the staff..... well, i am a cheap charlie because i am not falling for that?

[Walter Travolta]

I would much rather buy a 35 baht stir fry at my local village eating house than pay 100 baht for a (sometimes) inferior equivalent in a slightly more upmarket establishment. So I guess that makes me a cheap Charlie..

have to agree. I can get a lovely pad thai at one end of soi buakhao for 50 baht, at the other end of same soi can buy same meal, just as nice for 80 baht. Which one do I use? The 50 baht option. I think being frugal at my age is sensible. What if I live to 100 and i only budgeted to live until I was 80?!!

[KarenBravo]

What if I live to 100 and i only budgeted to live until I was 80?!!

Good point. My financial plan requires me to die at 71 years and four months old.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Cheap Charlie was coined by Vietnamese girls towards American soldiers, who chose to to pluck for a buck

What is your actual definition of a Cheap Charlie OP?

So, most retired guys here then...

[Walter Travolta]

What if I live to 100 and i only budgeted to live until I was 80?!!

Good point. My financial plan requires me to die at 71 years and four months old.

i hope you're not over 65! Or if you are, get splashing out!!

[brucegoniners]

Many guys come to Thailand, love the low prices and all of a sudden refuse to pay high prices for much of anything anymore.

I have one such friend.

[atyclb]

I'm definitely cheap.

OK so I'll tip the beer serving girl 100bht if she's cute, attentive and keeps my glass full.

One of these made a 100bht tip from me ..........

oxide.jpg

But on the other hand, I can't resist buy one, get one free, or 3 large beers for 150bht.

And am totally happy with 30bht coffee shops ....... no need for Starbucks.

sorry as I'm struggling a bit, out of the three, which one had the longest penis ??

[Foozool]

The new cheap charlies are primarily "digital nomads" (not all, but many) who come to Thailand expecting to stay in accommodation for US$100 (3500 baht) a month then only spend another $100-200 a month on food and the rest.

I appreciate that some people want to save money, I really do, but can you imagine living on <10,000 baht a month?

This is a cheap country to live in by Western standards, you can live like a king for peanuts vs the country you've come from, why would you want to live like a peasant when you move here?

I've never understood people like that.

When I lived back in US I did not need to spend more than $300 per month. Therefore I don't have a pigs beer belly. I go to GYM and I follow a healthy life without filling my stomach up to my throat.

I understand that some people do not understand people like me.

I'd be flat out trying to rent a basic apartment in Australia for $300 a week, let alone a month.

But good for you if you could in the United States

I believe that it was about $300 cost of "FOOD" not cost of apartment rent. You should remember your own story !!! Don't you ?

We Cheep Charlie's wish more people like your kind in Thailand, perhaps you will help Thailand economy and people like me to have a better life.

Cheers and god bless you.

[khunPer]

Yes, Cheap Charlie do exist in various personalities – one of the ones I know asked the massage lady in our little soi, how much she charged for oil-massage. »300 baht,« she said, and then he asked: »Can I have 15 minutes for 75 baht..?«

The massage lady, owner of the shop, told me; he is a well known "Cheap Charlie" among us locals...

But it's fair enough to be that, if you have little money only and try to survive over the winter in Thailand, before going back to Europe to earn enough to survive here again next winter – another personality is the one with enough money, but who don't wish to spend anymore than absolutely necessary...

[mauGR1]

"Cheap Charlie" is a whore term.

Whilst it is useful to understand whore Tinglish, it is not recommended to copy their vernacular outside of whoreville.

idem

monkey house

pom pui

same same

and many more

Can i add " ting tong " to the list.

[tomyumchai]

cheap charlies, how many examples do you want?

the guy who's a GBP multi millionaire earning over £4000 a week in rental CASH in the UK who wont go from naklua to beach road because it means switching baht bus's, an extra 10 bt... and who makes 1 chang last all night by topping it up with ice till its transparent?

or the guy who chases balloon parties, loads his plate then nips to the toilet to fill up a bag, he also buys 1 orange juice and touches girls up all night in gogo bars......but never buys anyone a drink. i never did work out how he gets away with that.

or the poor retired pensioner whos never got any money so hes always 'trying a bit of your food' when we are out in a group.....but who has his own aircraft back home.... and many many more.

it seems like thailand is a magnet for these people to see just how little they can get away with spending here.

[smokie36]

Happily I don't associate with any cheap Charlie's in any way at all.

My life is all the better for it.

[bbbbooboo]

Cheap Charlie's are certainly real.Just ask my lovely daughter who when asked what is your fathers name replies "cheap Charlie"..... Lol

[heybuz]

australian soldiers on r and r from vietnam were often refered to as cheap charlies, in various se asian spots as they would haggle over the prices,whereas servicemen from another nation would pay the going rate

[canathai8]

I know a fellow Canadian - a cheap charlie - 57 years old - a heavy drinker - looks like hellll - but I went to his wedding in Thailand last month - his bride is HOT - 40 years old - and rich.

She chased him for years before he "relented " to marry her

He's divorced - has 3 kids from a previous marriage

He did not pay for the wedding - NADA

And he complains like a SOB about this and that ..stray dogs, garbage, you name it..

He ain't my friend - the bride's (hot) sister is a good friend of my Thai wife

Now he's back in Canada - and she is staying in Thailand - because of her job. She owns a tour company in Bangkok

He's a mechanic

I asked him how long he's going to stay in Thailand - so he can see his wife.

He said " as long as one month per year"

Som nom naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[mca]

Years ago when I worked in a Bangkok hotel we had a Saturday evening buffet with a seafood on ice section. A bunch of westerners cleared out the seafood section every time it was replenished and upon being presented with the bill tried to negotiate the price because they claimed they only ate the seafood and didn't eat any of the other buffet line items.

[F4UCorsair]

I know a fellow Canadian - a cheap charlie - 57 years old - a heavy drinker - looks like hellll - but I went to his wedding in Thailand last month - his bride is HOT - 40 years old - and rich.

She chased him for years before he "relented " to marry her

He's divorced - has 3 kids from a previous marriage

He did not pay for the wedding - NADA

And he complains like a SOB about this and that ..stray dogs, garbage, you name it..

He ain't my friend - the bride's (hot) sister is a good friend of my Thai wife

Now he's back in Canada - and she is staying in Thailand - because of her job. She owns a tour company in Bangkok

He's a mechanic

I asked him how long he's going to stay in Thailand - so he can see his wife.

He said " as long as one month per year"

Som nom naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

You can bet some enterprising guy will be feeding the pussy cat for him!!!

[chiang mai]

If you even hear that phrase, you're in the wrong company, period.

[Briggsy]

"Cheap Charlie" is a whore term.

Whilst it is useful to understand whore Tinglish, it is not recommended to copy their vernacular outside of whoreville.

idem

monkey house

pom pui

same same

and many more

Can i add " ting tong " to the list.

Yes, of course. Good call.

[uptheos]

Most definitely they exist. One of the tenants here used a pedal bike to get from Jomtien

to Bangkok. He said he did not want to spend the money on bus transportation. He

keeps a second bicycle here at the condo for any lady friends that come to see him.

They never stay long as he is such a cheap Charlie, or so he says. Never takes a baht

bus or taxi. Pedal bike all the way. Very basic lifestyle. I think he is Ukrainian. Up to him.

He's happy, what should he do buy a Range Rover to please the likes of you?

I bet he doesn't have a big beer gut like you, with all that exercise.

You are right, if the person is happy in what he is doing; then let it be. However, the ones who are strapped for cash and try to get by as cheaply as possible may not be so happy. It gets worse when they abuse another's kindness by taking and never reciprocating.

Geez, I've had "friends' and relatives do that back home!!

I'm not sure if they're cheap charlies but they work, have a house and cars.

It's not been a few baht, usually a few quid.

[uptheos]

Most definitely they exist. One of the tenants here used a pedal bike to get from Jomtien

to Bangkok. He said he did not want to spend the money on bus transportation. He

keeps a second bicycle here at the condo for any lady friends that come to see him.

They never stay long as he is such a cheap Charlie, or so he says. Never takes a baht

bus or taxi. Pedal bike all the way. Very basic lifestyle. I think he is Ukrainian. Up to him.

He's happy, what should he do buy a Range Rover to please the likes of you?

I bet he doesn't have a big beer gut like you, with all that exercise.

You are right, if the person is happy in what he is doing; then let it be. However, the ones who are strapped for cash and try to get by as cheaply as possible may not be so happy. It gets worse when they abuse another's kindness by taking and never reciprocating.

Geez, I've had "friends' and relatives do that back home!!

I'm not sure if they're cheap charlies but they work, have a house and cars.

It's not been a few baht, usually a few quid.

[uptheos]

I believe it's the cheap charlies, that come on here lambasting cheap charlies

I don't believe most of the' "I'm not a cheap charlie, but you are" stories.

[Khunangkaro]

Sweet Charming:

My wife likes us to save on chewing gum, one at a time, sharing mouth to mouth.

.

[SantiSuk]

My wife keeps calling me a cheap charlie when I hand over her monthly housekeeping of 35k baht*. Thing is I also 'keep the house'!

Mind you there's not much I like more than a 40 baht khao man gai in Tesco Lotus (if it's a good one), so I guess she's right

*Let's not go there (again) eh guys? It is what it is and I'm very happy with my finances and relationships

[SantiSuk]

..... but you'll find I'm also generous when buying the drinks Smokie so I hope that meet-up someday is still on!!

[akentryan]

Goes back a ways. A new bar girl went out with a Norwegian man. Came in the next morning laughing and when asked why she responded "He boom boom me five times." Why is that so funny? She replied "He paid me 50 baht." That would constitute a "Cheap Charlie

."

[mikebell]

My dad was the original Cheap Charlie; when he became a widower and had to do all his own shopping on a UK pension, he would buy loose onions only after rubbing off all the dry skin before having them weighed.