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[neverdie]

mridiot, on 2010-03-24 08:38:18, said:

Forethat, on 2010-03-24 08:33:00, said:

We cided it was too darn esspensive lon thim ahgo.  Moved bak to Arkansas where we wurkin as global warmen deeniars.

I'm sure you two will be a hit with the ladies, whereever you go.  You wouldnt be related to Naam by any chance, would you?

[IanForbes]

lovelomsak, on 2010-03-24 07:08:38, said:

Lets be honest here Thailand was never cheap if you wanted same standard of life here as your home country. What was always cheaper here was social life.
Yes you can buy a house here in the sticks for $50,000 dollars but you can buy a house in the sticks in Canada for $50,000 also. Saw one in rural Alberta small town completely renovated new everything $30,000 that is just under 1,000,000 baht.
Now to live to a good standard here lets compare.
In Canada on$50,000 a year I was able to own a new car paid for ,a house on1/2 acres of land with ocean view looking across strait of georgia at Vancouver city. I travelled every year for 2 months to Thailand, had a 26 foot sailboat on the saltwater and a 14 foot powerboat on the lake. This on the equivalent of under 1,500,000 baht a year.
Now in Thailand no matter where I live I donot really own it I am foreigner.( yes I will get arquements on this but for rightout ownership the answer is no right) Car is affordable here no problem. But what about sailboat whats the cost of having and maintaining one here. Powerboat costs and maintainence here. And 2 month holiday to anyother country every year well living here. It couldnot be done here at anywhere near the costs in Canada. Sailboat and moorage alone would be so pricey. Prime real estate with ocean view to buy or rent is pricey. Also member of health club and yacht club.
20 years ago when I first came getting 18 baht to the dollar, The only thing cheaper was to buy a house and here again I will point out a foreigner really doesnot buy just pays rent up front. ( with that said some can still speculate and buy hoping to resell for profit, if the sponsor doesnot take him for a ride).We come here for the cheap social life compared to our home countries it is a great place to kick back and leave your worries at home.

Good post, lovelomsak, I agree. We must have lived not far from each other. And, you managed your finances well... same as I did. That is why I CHOOSE to live in Canada during the spring, summer and fall, and spend the winters in Thailand. I get the best of both worlds. However, I would like a little more balance. Both life styles are completely different but I'm willing to accept that. As I've said many, many times, YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING all at the same time.
It doesn't matter WHAT you want... there will always be a price. It can be money, it can be freedom, it can be a great sex life, it can be variety, it can be exotic, it can be cheap travel and cheap accommodation, or it can be a long term commited relationship. HOWEVER, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PRICE... either up front in cash, or later when dealing with family issues or health problems.

[mridiot]

neverdie, on 2010-03-24 08:49:01, said:

mridiot, on 2010-03-24 08:38:18, said:

Forethat, on 2010-03-24 08:33:00, said:

We cided it was too darn esspensive lon thim ahgo.  Moved bak to Arkansas where we wurkin as global warmen deeniars.

I'm sure you two will be a hit with the ladies, whereever you go.  You wouldnt be related to Naam by any chance, would you?

Cousin Nahm?  Nut shore cusin nam wunt us fellers ta say bout dat der.  Gota goh feed dem pigs over yonder.

Ladies?  You joshin now aint yah?  We stuped fellers, but have big uns.  

[neverdie]

mridiot, on 2010-03-24 09:07:27, said:

neverdie, on 2010-03-24 08:49:01, said:

mridiot, on 2010-03-24 08:38:18, said:

Forethat, on 2010-03-24 08:33:00, said:

We cided it was too darn esspensive lon thim ahgo.  Moved bak to Arkansas where we wurkin as global warmen deeniars.

I'm sure you two will be a hit with the ladies, whereever you go.  You wouldnt be related to Naam by any chance, would you?

Cousin Nahm?  Nut shore cusin nam wunt us fellers ta say bout dat der.  Gota goh feed dem pigs over yonder.

Ladies?  You joshin now aint yah?  We stuped fellers, but have big uns.  

[sarahsbloke]

Quote

I have mentioned this before, but it is clear that there's difference in living a relaxed life on your own with a girlfriend and spend your days in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts compared to living a normal structured life just as you would do if you didn't live in a developing country. If the latter is what you're after, then you WILL have to make adjustments to your spending habits, or you WILL end up paying a much more expensive price than you would in, for instance, UK.

I live in a house i couldn't afford in the UK, with a much younger (and prettier) wife than I could afford in the UK.
I eat out often which I couldn't afford in the UK.
In the UK I had a large car (for when it rained) and a large motorcycle (for when it was sunny), now I have a small motorcycle and it pretty much never rains.
In the UK I had to work, out here I don't.

So there you are I admit it I have compromised my lifestyle, swapped a car for a young wife. (How I long to have that car back)

Interesting to read about the house prices in Canada, I didn't know they were so low, Europe is different and the taxes are different.
Maybe I should move to Canada ....... How easy is it to get a lover 1/2 my age in Canada?

Edited by sarahsbloke, 2010-03-24 09:25:54.

[Loz]

you can get one half your age, but she might be twice your weight too!

Thailand aint cheap if you come here for the women. It can be VERY costly and at best is a drain. But for some its worth it.

But, I don't imagine for a minute that everyone came here for financial reasons. I spent the first couple of years here conceiling laughter when Thais suggestest I am here cos I can earn "big money" here. more than at home. I am an English teacher here. So I found that very amusing. I agree with the chaps who say we find a new beginning and a fresh adventure here. I came for a change of scene, liked it so much I stayed. Since my mid twenties I have been of the view that:

" A fool is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing"

I am of the same opinion still.

Edit. (...and yes, I do know the Oscar Wilde quote that it was based on so no literary lectures, please)

Edited by Loz, 2010-03-24 09:45:38.

[Gary A]

neverdie, on 2010-03-24 08:46:13, said:

Gary A, on 2010-03-23 19:37:02, said:

I do buy unneeded toys because I can afford them and enjoy them. We have a car, truck, two tractors and a motorbike. The car was a stupid unneeded purchase but I wanted it. The one tractor is another toy with a blade, tiller and plow. My wife was upset when I bought that but it is MY toy and I like to play with it.

Gary, a picture of the toy is required, thanks very much.....SHOW US UR TRACTOR, PLEASE

This is my toy;

 Paddy_wheels.jpg   332.87K   31 downloads

This is the one that does the work;

 Kubota2.jpg   579.66K   20 downloads

This is our holiday home;

 hut.jpg   398.21K   21 downloads

This is my shop;

 Shop.jpg   97.96K   29 downloads

Edited by Gary A, 2010-03-24 09:58:06.

[Naam]

AWESOME Gary!

Edited by Naam, 2010-03-24 10:52:17.

[IanForbes]

This topic reminds me of that old song... "I've got a brand new pair of rollerskates and you've got the only key"

[LivinLOS]

sarahsbloke, on 2010-03-24 09:24:50, said:

Quote

I have mentioned this before, but it is clear that there's difference in living a relaxed life on your own with a girlfriend and spend your days in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts compared to living a normal structured life just as you would do if you didn't live in a developing country. If the latter is what you're after, then you WILL have to make adjustments to your spending habits, or you WILL end up paying a much more expensive price than you would in, for instance, UK.

I live in a house i couldn't afford in the UK, with a much younger (and prettier) wife than I could afford in the UK.
I eat out often which I couldn't afford in the UK.
In the UK I had a large car (for when it rained) and a large motorcycle (for when it was sunny), now I have a small motorcycle and it pretty much never rains.
In the UK I had to work, out here I don't.

It never rains ?? You dont have a monsoon where you are then ??

But its obvious from your posts (300 baht electric bills) your living the frugal life.. The frugal side is where its cheap.. No one would deny that.

To duplicate a normal middle class lifestyle (his and hers quality cars, modern electronics, quality clothes, etc) I spend at least as much in Thailand to probably get less quality. Back there it was 400bhp sportscars, highdef home cinemas, etc etc.. Here I go to the beach.

Ultimately its pretty much the climate only that keeps it worth it.

[sarahsbloke]

Quote

It never rains ?? You dont have a monsoon where you are then ??

Compared to the UK, it PRETTY MUCH never rains here. (note the qualifier)
Rain every day all day in the UK (well it seemed like that to me the last few years I was there)
Monsoon here is no problem, bucket loads for 2 hours, then nothing the rest of the day.

Good tractor ........ I want one too!

Edited by sarahsbloke, 2010-03-24 12:02:19.

[torrenova]

lovelomsak, on 2010-03-24 08:08:38, said:

Lets be honest here Thailand was never cheap if you wanted same standard of life here as your home country. What was always cheaper here was social life.
  Yes you can buy a house here in the sticks for $50,000 dollars but you can buy a house in the sticks in Canada for $50,000 also. Saw one in rural Alberta small town completely renovated new everything $30,000 that is just under 1,000,000 baht.
  Now to live to a good standard here lets compare.
In Canada on$50,000 a  year I was able to own a new car paid for ,a house on1/2 acres of land with ocean view looking across strait of georgia at Vancouver city. I travelled every year for 2 months to Thailand, had a 26 foot sailboat on the saltwater and a 14 foot powerboat on the lake. This on the equivalent of under 1,500,000 baht a year.
Now in Thailand no matter where I live I donot really own it I am foreigner.( yes I will get arquements on this but for rightout ownership the answer is no right) Car is affordable here no problem. But what about sailboat whats the cost of having and maintaining one here. Powerboat costs and maintainence here. And 2 month holiday to anyother country every year well living here. It couldnot be done here at anywhere near the costs in Canada. Sailboat and moorage alone would be so pricey. Prime real estate with ocean view to buy or rent is pricey. Also member of health club and yacht club.
20 years ago when I first came getting 18 baht to the dollar, The only thing cheaper was to buy a house and here again I will point out a foreigner really doesnot buy just pays rent up front. ( with that said some can still speculate and buy hoping to resell for profit, if the sponsor doesnot take him for a ride).We come here for the cheap social life compared to our home countries it is a great place to kick back and leave your worries at home.

There is a great deal of truth in that. The problem is that many guys get caught up in the fact that for the first time in decades they are getting sex on their terms and with someone they want to sleep with. That throws all logic out of the window and they want to retire ASAP and make decisions such as doing without a vehicle, insurance, a proper place to live and often don't have enough income, which forces decisions upon them. Some them trot out garbage such as living on Bt10,000 a month as their choice, when in reality it is all they have.

I think most people think that in retirement, they will at least be able to substitute expenditure from things they don't like paying for, such as mortgages, to things they do like, such as sail boats. I don't think most people know how to live long term on their retirement income, assuming it is somewhat lower than when working and no massive pension plan in place. A guy earning $50k as you say may only get $25k in retirement but if he goes to Thailand with a pension of $25k and has never lived on $25k in retirement in Thailand, then there are going to be problems.

"Doing stuff" costs money wherever you are and Thailand is no exception.

LivinLOS, on 2010-03-24 12:42:54, said:

It never rains ?? You dont have a monsoon where you are then ??

But its obvious from your posts (300 baht electric bills) your living the frugal life.. The frugal side is where its cheap.. No one would deny that.

To duplicate a normal middle class lifestyle (his and hers quality cars, modern electronics, quality clothes, etc) I spend at least as much in Thailand to probably get less quality. Back there it was 400bhp sportscars, highdef home cinemas, etc etc.. Here I go to the beach.

Ultimately its pretty much the climate only that keeps it worth it.

I remember looking at new motors in Thailand and though I might not have bought a Mercedes in the west or a similar marque, I had way more choice than to pick up a locally made Japanese motor or pay 2/300% tax on a "luxury" vehicle like a small BMW (how the hel_l that is luxury I do not know). I just bought a laptop for the missus and had to pay quite a bit more than I could have paid in the UK and the selection was far less than I would have had. Quality clothes ? do they exist in Thailand ?

As you say, the upside is the hot weather, the beach and Thai food. Getting that costs when living in the UK whereas it sort of comes for free in Thailand. The downside as you also observe is the fact that unless you want to pay way more than you would "back home", you simplify your life and put up with.

The balance of those two has changed for many, it will change for far more and I guess many will forgo the walk on the beach in winter for a reasonably priced car.