Expat woes

[info]

there's no need for me to explain what's going on in the expat woes here in Thailand, we all know, Brexit, Strong Bht, Exchange rates, Immig rules. We have really have had a belly full. can it get any worse we say. is the dream of living in Thailand turning sour.

what would be interesting to know, if you was still in your own country and had not moved here yet, knowing what you know now, would you still take the plunge up sticks and move here like you did before.

[Coolkorat]

there's no need for me to explain what's going on in the expat woes here in Thailand, we all know, Brexit, Strong Bht, Exchange rates, Immig rules. We have really have had a belly full. can it get any worse we say. is the dream of living in Thailand turning sour.

what would be interesting to know, if you was still in your own country and had not moved here yet, knowing what you know now, would you still take the plunge up sticks and move here like you did before.

From my viewpoint, as someone working in a GBP environment and not planning to retire for 10yrs+, Thailand holds very little appeal as a place to settle. There are other parts of the world opening up that offer the same advantages as Thailand without the very significant downsides. What will happen when Burma begins to emerge? As a Brit, it will offer everything Thailand had fifteen years ago. I suspect, almost without exception, what brought and keeps expats in Thailand is their partner.

[ken kenobie]

there's no need for me to explain what's going on in the expat woes here in Thailand, we all know, Brexit, Strong Bht, Exchange rates, Immig rules. We have really have had a belly full. can it get any worse we say. is the dream of living in Thailand turning sour.

what would be interesting to know, if you was still in your own country and had not moved here yet, knowing what you know now, would you still take the plunge up sticks and move here like you did before.

Sadly I burnt my bridge by selling property back home in good old blighty and then investing in building a home here in Thailand along with some other financially draining purchases and misguided money loosing projects. I would say that going back to the UK is now only a dream and some thing that I often think about , contrary to many resident expats I have met here in Thailand , who seemed to be steadfast in their comment to never go back to that Fuc**** Place - I would jump at the chance.



Looking back I had what I would consider to be a good life in England ( apart from several bitter divorces )   So in hindsight if I was still living back in the UK , would I still take the plunge and pull up sticks and move here like I did before. The answer is a resounding NO.





Ken

[Teessider]

As someone who splits his time between the UK and Thailand I see myself spending more time in the UK in future. Cost of living, health insurance, language problems, visas combine to make Thsiland less attractive.

[Roger]

Thaiga - Good question !
I would still have moved to Thailand, even now . . . if I was younger . . .
However, at my present age - no I'd stay in the UK.

CK - you live on the IoM. Surely it'd be crazy to leave ?

Ken - you are very honest about it. Good luck.

Teess - yes that's my plan too.

[info]

Thanks for the replies

CK. i think your spot on (what brought and keeps expats in Thailand is their partner)

Ken. that is so honest of you, (The answer is a resounding NO.)

Tees. if i had the chance again i would also split my time

Roger. if I was younger (if only)

I'm a londoner but also had a cottage in a country village, local pub, lovely countryside, sold it to pay for my way to come here, i do miss it at times.

The way things are performing. IMO of course they are shooting themselves in the foot, ok they got rid of a few bad guys but how many good guys will they take with them. guys with families, homes here, children and so on.
if your going to change the goal posts do it with the newcomers, so they know what their going into.

What am i missing out on here, apart from having a home in my name and a pension frozen.

1. free healthcare
2. free bus pass
3. free medicaion
4. lots lots more

[Hector]

An interesting post, Thaiga, and one that we can all relate to.  I think CK made a major point when he said that the main reason keeping most of us here in LoS was our partners.  Most of us are honorable' people, have married (or partnered) a Thai, maybe have children, support her and her family, have a house and/or land (almost certainly in her name) and came over here - or decided to stay here - in the expectation of seeing out our retirement in more pleasant surroundings than in our home countries.  Many have 'sold up' at home for a number of reasons eg tax and as you say, we (Brits) are penalised as expats by our government.
But you ask if we would make the same decision (to come or stay) given the prevailing circumstances here regarding immigration, the exchange rate, Brexit (?) and so on.  I suspect that for a lot of us the answer would be 'no', because as CK said, Thailand doesn't have a lot going for it these days as a retirement country given all the 'woes' already mentioned and there are other countries that are a lot more farang friendly.
In my case, I came here in 1997 when the Baht was still 38/£, but within a few months it had shot into the 80s due to the Asian financial crash.  Three years later I retired, had been divorced for years, had grown up children, no property in the UK and more than enough to keep me occupied over here.  The decision to retire here was easy; 6 years later I married a Thai and have been comfortably situated since then with house, land and a pleasant enough lifestyle.  Until - that is - Thai Immigration started  making waves for us by lumping us together with 'undesirables', because they are mentally unable to separate different parts of the same problem.
So, if I was working here now and was due to retire shortly, would I stay here?  No, I wouldn't.  I would return to the UK.  But that is assuming I had no wife, still had property or assets in the UK and wasn't in my 70s!  So - 'castles in Spain!  As Ken says, a lot of are f*kced, because we have nothing to go back to and probably couldn't afford to live in UK now anyway.  So we have no option but to make the best of it here.  Let's just hope it all gets a bit better!

[Roger]

Hector - if you don't mind me saying so - excellent post.
(There's NO 'thanks' facility on this BB).

''In my case, I came here in 1997 when the Baht was still 38/£, but within a few months it had shot into the 80s due to the Asian financial crash''.

Sorry to wish this on Asia - but let's hope for another 'crash' then 

[ken kenobie]

 I some times come across posts and comments on other internet forums from disgruntled and unhappy resident expats in Thailand . After venting their frustration with a range of issues including immigration and exchange rates , they end their comments with phrases like Cambodia here I come or the Philippians treats expats far better .


I wonder just how many of those who posted that type of comment have actually packed their bags and moved to Cambodia or the Philippians . 


Another interesting question to ask any one replying to this topic would be , So you can’t afford or want to return to England but what about the  Philippians or Cambodia or another more expat friendly country .



Ken

[ken kenobie]

Hector - if you don't mind me saying so - excellent post.
(There's NO 'thanks' facility on this BB).

''In my case, I came here in 1997 when the Baht was still 38/£, but within a few months it had shot into the 80s due to the Asian financial crash''.

Sorry to wish this on Asia - but let's hope for another 'crash' then 

Agree ,  excellent post and a thanks button would be most welcome.




Ken

[rdrokit]

I have no regrets retiring to Thailand. Been here 12 years now and still enjoying my retirement.

[info]

Hector your post deserves a big thank you, sharing that with us and so well said.
Most agreed points being,  (lumping us together with 'undesirables' have nothing to go back to and make the best of what we have)

roger (let's hope for another 'crash' then) gotta happen.

Ken   (Cambodia here I come) these guys have to be single if not there's no thought for their family

rdokit. Thailand is still better than the uk agreed and the changes don't really effect me financially, being told what to do with my money in the bank i don't like.

the 400,000 for me in the bank, looks like i'll never see it, would be sensible if allowed to be drawn only to pay for medical bills, imagine being in hospital having to draw on the money knowing when you come out of hospital your visa has gone up the swanny.

ok most of us will get over this one as best we can, but will there be more

[info]

so we have to learn to live with whatever is thrown at us, that's the way it is, now to make your life even more happier here in this wonderful world of los, if you had a choice that is.

What would you choose to change (if you could) most important to you, just a few of many suggestions below ...

1) 90 day reporting

2) scrap the money in the bank idea

3) a home with a bit of land in your name

4) ....................

[ken kenobie]

so we have to learn to live with whatever is thrown at us, that's the way it is, now to make your life even more happier here in this wonderful world of los, if you had a choice that is.

What would you choose to change (if you could) most important to you, just a few of many suggestions below ...

1) 90 day reporting

2) scrap the money in the bank idea

3) a home with a bit of land in your name

4) ....................

If I posted a list of things that I would change in LOS ( Land of Scams ) one thing I would not be able to change would be Thailand's overall attitude that deep down us Farangs are not really wanted here , yes please come and spend your pension , yes please build your houses , please purchase all the new vehicles you need , yes fill our banks with your hard earned cash , yes come and spend spend spend . But remember we as resident foreigners will never really be considered any thing more than a cash cow to be milked.  And don't forget that the national anthem of Thailand says , Thailand is for Thai people .




Ken

[info]

Sorry ken you can only change one, that's the rules for us baksidas in the land of surprises

Thanks for your reply M8 

[dam12641]

"1) 90 day reporting
2) scrap the money in the bank idea
3) a home with a bit of land in your name"

None of which actually cost me any money.
Number 1 is a minor inconvenience, as is Number 2 (and no-body please tell me about the fabulous returns they can get on THB800k if it were in another country/bank),
Number 3 is a risk rather than a cost.

So all the above are relative trivia.

Next question please.

[info]

"1) 90 day reporting
2) scrap the money in the bank idea
3) a home with a bit of land in your name"

None of which actually cost me any money.
Number 1 is a minor inconvenience, as is Number 2 (and no-body please tell me about the fabulous returns they can get on THB800k if it were in another country/bank),
Number 3 is a risk rather than a cost.

So all the above are relative trivia.

Next question please.

you have misread the post, like add to it, as in no.4

What would you choose to change (if you could) most important to you, just a few of many suggestions below ...

1) 90 day reporting

2) scrap the money in the bank idea

3) a home with a bit of land in your name

4) ....................

[Robert]

"1) 90 day reporting
2) scrap the money in the bank idea
3) a home with a bit of land in your name"

None of which actually cost me any money.
Number 1 is a minor inconvenience, as is Number 2 (and no-body please tell me about the fabulous returns they can get on THB800k if it were in another country/bank),
Number 3 is a risk rather than a cost.

So all the above are relative trivia.

Next question please.

you have misread the post, like add to it, as in no.4

What would you choose to change (if you could) most important to you, just a few of many suggestions below ...

1) 90 day reporting

2) scrap the money in the bank idea

3) a home with a bit of land in your name

4) ....................

1) 90 day reporting

2) scrap the money in the bank idea

3) a home with a bit of land in your name

4) Over a certain age (lets say 70) and being here over 5/10 years already lifetime extension instead of obtaining it every year.

[info]

Yes robert that would be great, some concession for the over 70s. i get the impression they think some retirees are the "old boys mafia"

there is a dutch guy lives close by to me, he is almost 80 yrs old bedridden, can't walk but he has to make the journey to imigg 80 clicks each way to renew his 1 yr. his wife does the paperwork they come out to the car to take his photo.

1) 90 day reporting

2) scrap the money in the bank idea

3) a home with a bit of land in your name

4) Over a certain age (lets say 70) and being here over 5/10 years already lifetime extension instead of obtaining it every year.

5) ................................

[Robert]

Yes robert that would be great, some concession for the over 70s. i get the impression they think some retirees are the "old boys mafia"

there is a dutch guy lives close by to me, he is almost 80 yrs old bedridden, can't walk but he has to make the journey to imigg 80 clicks each way to renew his 1 yr. his wife does the paperwork they come out to the car to take his photo.

1) 90 day reporting

2) scrap the money in the bank idea

3) a home with a bit of land in your name

4) Over a certain age (lets say 70) and being here over 5/10 years already lifetime extension instead of obtaining it every year.

5) ................................

Another one:

5) Affordable health insurance option