I am considering moving to Thaland

[Briano123]

Hi I am about to leave the army as I was made redundant and I am considering moving to Thailand. I got £30000 and I was wondering say if I got a job as a teacher, how long would my money realistically last me in years? Thanks in advance.

[taxexile]

Can you teach?

[BKKKevin]

Can you teach?

Didn't you see the

[klong toey]

£30, 000 about 1 year.

[Briano123]

Can you teach?

Do I have to be able to speak Thai?

[Rural Surin]

Cambodia is a better value and situation.

[rickschoppers]

You will be redundant in Thailand as well. Lot's of English teachers not making too much money, but come on over and tell us how long your money will last.

It would be a good study to see how much it takes to live in Thailand once you have retired. How quickly the money goes depends on a few things:

1. How much you drink and frequent Thai bars.
2. What you pay for rent.
3. What your daily diet will consist of, Thai or Western food.
4. How you get from point A to point B, whether it is by motorbike, car or tuk tuk.
5. Whether you have a Thai girlfriend or not (probably the largest variable when it comes to spending money.
and last, but not least, where you live.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[Pragmatic]

Whatever you do don't tell the bargirl that you get attached to your financial position. She'll relieve it from you faster than ..................whatever.

[Morden]

Briano, you are at the beginning of a long learning curve so take things slowly.

You mention a lump sum but, presumably you will also have a pension now or in the future. If your needs are modest and you avoid big expenses, you might get by on THB30,000 per month. If you get hitched, you may want to buy (pay for) a house unless the lady already has a decent one.

Personal transport is another issue, Many seem to cope with a motorcycle but the roads really are too dangerous for all but short journeys. A pickup would be the best option, I suggest.

Where in Thailand would you live? Have you been here in the past. Many expats go for the resort areas such as Pattaya and Phuket but, if you read the stories of crime on this forum, you might look elsewhere. Those places are expensive too.

Are you looking to settle down with a wife or girlfriend? If you are, learn the ropes. You can do well or you can have an expensive disaster.

It's also important to get good health insurance here unless you can spare, say, THB3m for a major series of treatments.

Personally, I don't recommend teaching if you intend to settle here permanently. Many contracts are temporary or curtailed at short notice. There's nothing for you in retirement. It's OK as a means of boosting your existing income but I wouldn't rely on alone.

Good luck with your adventure!

[jizzybloke]

£30, 000 about 1 year.

If you're lucky...

[Phuketrichard]

If you get hitched, you may want to buy (pay for) a house unless the lady already has a decent one.

WHAT????

Phuket but, if you read the stories of crime on this forum, you might look elsewhere. Those places are expensive too.

Might be a bit more than Kalasin but who wants to live in Essan??

It's also important to get good health insurance here unless you can spare, say,

I an most of my long term friends that live here in Phuket dont have it.

I would say come over an spend 1 month traveling around, find somewhere an take ur tefl course but dont expect it easy to find a job teaching. figure until u get used towhere u are it will cost ya 40,000-50,000/month as its all new, after a year it might drop ( if ur still single) or go up if u find a live in lady.

Cambodia easier to find teaching gigs at $10/hour and a 20 hour week, Living will cost ya 10-20% less but the quality of life is 30-40% less.

Best of luck

[can123]

Might be a bit more than Kalasin but who wants to live in Essan??

Me ! ( because I am not a knob.)

[Bettyboo]

£30000

That'd last me about 3 years.

Rent a nice house for 10,000 baht per month, hire a car for the first few months at about 10,000 per month, spend about 15,000 per month on food and stuff for yourself, 10,000 per month on beer. 10,000 per month on 'stuff'. You'd get about 30,000 per month salary. Perfect.

(Could last you 5 years if you take care...)

[ltnt]

^Great advice Bettyboo...where do I hire that car for 1,000baht /mo? I want 5 of them! Joker yu are...

[Bettyboo]

I put the comma in the wrong place then changed it...

[ltnt]

^ you cover shit like a cat in heat Bettyboo...here I was giving you credit for "sarcasm 101. Green Rescinded!!!

[Briano123]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I am going to read more on this fourm now.

[klong toey]

£30000

That'd last me about 3 years.

Rent a nice house for 10,000 baht per month, hire a car for the first few months at about 10,000 per month, spend about 15,000 per month on food and stuff for yourself, 10,000 per month on beer. 10,000 per month on 'stuff'. You'd get about 30,000 per month salary. Perfect.

(Could last you 5 years if you take care...)

Yes but you was training as a novice monk.
Some people can't resist temptation Bangkok to me is about going out at night with the wife and having fun.Time you had a meal a few drinks played pool a few more drinks and a bit more food and a few more drinks,the cost add up, i always say we are staying in tonight but by 7 pm its the television or a night out.
It is hard to stay disciplined especially the first few months once you get in to bad habits its not easy to stay in and save some baht.If the OP finds some sensible friends he might be okay sticking to a budget.

[david44]

If your a sensible bloke you'll find your way<i think I saw a sign somewhere that Thailand is full of idiots but that doesn't seem to deter em.

I like the North calmer cooler and more laid back but each to his own you have a big enough wedge to rent (its very easy and cheap) find a base and go walkabout

[can123]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I am going to read more on this fourm now.

Splendid ! Now all you have to hope for is that others learn to write.

[jamescollister]

Brian think you really need to sit down and think what your long term goal is.
If you come here, get a job teaching, live a cheap life style and can stay for X years, then what. You will be broke and a long way from home.

If your plan is to stay here permanently, then teaching English is not going to give you a great life style, work and a few beers on the weekend.

Know English teachers in Ubon that have wives and kids and are long term, but they are not living a high life, they get by.

Teaching English pays a good wage, compared to what many Thais live on, but can you live like a Thai. 30 grand will not last long in Pattaya, BKK or Samui etc

You really need to think hard, do you have skills that may be of use here in other fields, would you be better to go to another SEA country with less restrictive rules.

You don't say how old you are, or where you want to be in Thailand, Det Udom was looking for native English speaking teachers last year, cheap to live in places like that, but you will be living in a Thai world not the tourist world. OK if you want to drop out of the other world, not easy to give up on burgers, pizza and speaking English.

Take 10 grand, come have a look, do the teaching course, have a holiday, look around and learn what awaits. Then make an informed choice, many come with a dream which can turn into a nightmare.

As a by the way, think I read Thai Government excepts qualifications issued by approved overseas trainers. You may be able to do the course in your home country.
Best of luck. Jim

[Morden]

If you get hitched, you may want to buy (pay for) a house unless the lady already has a decent one.

WHAT????

Phuket but, if you read the stories of crime on this forum, you might look elsewhere. Those places are expensive too.

Might be a bit more than Kalasin but who wants to live in Essan??

It's also important to get good health insurance here unless you can spare, say,

I an most of my long term friends that live here in Phuket dont have it.

I would say come over an spend 1 month traveling around, find somewhere an take ur tefl course but dont expect it easy to find a job teaching. figure until u get used towhere u are it will cost ya 40,000-50,000/month as its all new, after a year it might drop ( if ur still single) or go up if u find a live in lady.

Cambodia easier to find teaching gigs at $10/hour and a 20 hour week, Living will cost ya 10-20% less but the quality of life is 30-40% less.

Best of luck

Another cheap Charlie? I'm going to live here for the duration and want some comfort around me.

[Bower]

Take a long holiday in Thailand first and be sure.
If you were made redundant then the army would pay for re-training, take the highest qualification as an English teacher you can. If Thailand didn't work out you can travel and teach.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Gerbil]

30,000?

Sorry, but that is fuck all nowadays. A career as an English teacher in Thailand is a dead end.

Better to use 10K for an extended holiday, then when that has run out, go home get retrained and work there.

[peterb17]

I think the first thing to realise is that Thailand is NOT a very cheap destination, a dream of sitting on a palm fringed beach nibbling on a BBQ fish with some lovely young person giving you a massage for 50p - does not exist.
I try to live on 50000 a month in Jomtien ( average age here is about 75! )own my own condo and car- so no rental. Money vanishes into the ether very mysteriously .
You need health insurance- you don't say how old you are-but if you need something like a bypass- you are f**ked without decent insurance.
There is no back up here, no social security- you need a good job or a decent amount of cash behind you- £ 30000 could vanish in a year or so.

Can you teach? ( spelling needs a bit of work) It's not that easy- did it for over 20yrs- and have umpteen degrees and qualifications- but would not consider it here.

Some good advice has been given- come over for a long holiday- look around and do your sums.

Otherwise you can end up in a filthy room above a knocking shop ( with those horrendous pink nylon curtains the Thai's seem to like)