Returning to LOS, A New Perspective

[rickschoppers]

Terry, you have made some good points and are pretty much on plane with everyone else living in the LOS. FloridaBorn is spouting bullshit because he could not handle his money while he was living in Thailand. Everyone knows the cost of living is less is Thailand than most western countries, but you have to know how to leverage the cost savings that are available. If you send your kids to expensive schools and eat at Hot Pot every night, you will run through your savings in no time.

There are some things that are more money here in Thailand, but most know what they are and work around them. For those that do not know how, or spend a lot of time at the bars, you will be living a sorry quality of life.

The overall cost of living is less in Thailand than it is in the west and that is a given.

[withnallstoke]

I sort of made a decision that day that they can bash the real world fairly up there arse.

What took you so long?

[terry57]

^

To be perfectly honest I had made my mind up years ago that I was retiring in Thailand.

Had a career to finish off though. Done now though, happy days.

[terry57]

The overall cost of living is less in Thailand than it is in the west and that is a given.

I can honestly tell you that for the same quality of life that I had in Perth compared to here, my costs are One third less.

Actually I live a better quality of life here.

The money I was spending back home on monthly bills where obscene.

[nedkellylives]

Terry is right Perth Australia is much more expensive than anywhere in Thailand for anything
People are well paid in Australia compared to most countries, salaries/wages are a major cost in any business which makes it expensive to holiday there
Australia and some other countries never went down the drain when the shit hit the fan in the USA
If you think Thailand is expensive i wonder what type of life you lived in your home country

[aging one]

gas there is over 5.50 per gallon where here it is only 3.25 and has been as low recently as 3.04 and that's just one example but a large one considering it's a consumable, price of cars and quality of package is not even in the same league with here, that's a huge savings on the cost of a long term purchase..

No it is not its.

2013-Jan 01/07 3.469 01/14 3.529 01/21 3.486 01/28 3.488 2013-Feb 02/04 3.648 02/11 3.723 02/18 3.858 02/25 3.925 2013-Mar 03/04 3.876 03/11 3.831 03/18 3.790 03/25 3.748 2013-Apr 04/01 3.699 04/08 3.655 04/15 3.596 04/22 3.534 04/29 3.513 2013-May 05/06 3.503 05/13 3.559 05/20 3.551 05/27 3.550 2013-Jun 06/03 3.529 06/10 3.537 06/17 3.604 06/24 3.588 2013-Jul 07/01 3.533 07/08 3.517 07/15 3.646 07/22 3.693 07/29 3.688 2013-Aug 08/05 3.663 08/12 3.610 08/19 3.589 08/26 3.592 2013-Sep 09/02 3.667 09/09 3.640 09/16 3.561 09/23 3.492 09/30 3.430 2013-Oct 10/07 3.386 10/14 3.370 10/21 3.431 10/28 3.366 2013-Nov 11/04 3.329 11/11 3.290 11/18 3.351
Here it is 37 baht a liter, or just under 5 bucks a gallon. Those ^ are Florida prices for gas. Even California by far the most expensive for gas has yet to hit 4 bucks a gallon

Not lately Terry, your dollar trumps ours these days plus our growth has been stifled for years now.. You've had strong growth and with that sometimes comes inflation so just dollar value is not necessarily relative..

Wow as Terry pointed out wrong again. Do you really think its cheaper in America?

You did point out one thing very correct. That is the price of a good education. Even on a 50% scholarship I am paying 30,000 usd a year for my twins education.

[terry57]

^ ^

I was earning very good money in Perth but once I paid for the cost of living and associated costs it did not come out that flash and I owned everything with no debt.

Good help the poor people living on welfare and paying rent.

Absolutely no life whatsoever in Perth unless one is earning the big dollars.

[rickschoppers]

The fallacy is that you think you are making good money. The truth is that you probably are, but once you pay everything that is owed the government and then pay for the necessities, there is squat left. Making a six figure salary in the US does not mean you are rich and have lots of disposable income, it means you pay more tax, which in turn keep the democracy wheels turning and they know how to make it so that you never really get ahead. You will work until you die, and that is what the government want which means both husband and wife.

For those of us who have left that behind, one of the keys is to pay for everything cash, or don't buy it and only spend what you can actually afford.

[FloridaBorn]

Terry, you have made some good points and are pretty much on plane with everyone else living in the LOS. FloridaBorn is spouting bullshit because he could not handle his money while he was living in Thailand. Everyone knows the cost of living is less is Thailand than most western countries, but you have to know how to leverage the cost savings that are available. If you send your kids to expensive schools and eat at Hot Pot every night, you will run through your savings in no time.

There are some things that are more money here in Thailand, but most know what they are and work around them. For those that do not know how, or spend a lot of time at the bars, you will be living a sorry quality of life.

The overall cost of living is less in Thailand than it is in the west and that is a given.

Cock head, you know me so well what a massive erection you are.. Don't tell me what I know!! You want to talk about freedoms? I've been home over a year now and not once have I had to report to Immigration or go out of country to renew a visa, show money in my bank account or take a picture of me and my wife sitting on our bed to prove our relationship.

I've bought a car with finance and didn't require a "sponsor", have credit immediately and will soon be buying a house and the property it sits on will also be mine, tell me again about freedom? Do you own your property or does your wife? Were you even legally able to buy it for her? Rhetorical questions BTW. I don't get treated like a second class citizen while other people take my money and all of this also costs you money I don't have to pay out which you're not adding to your living expenses but you know what you're talking about? I call BS!!

I don't have to worry about working without someone else's approval or legally mowing my own lawn if I so choose, the list is endless and those who wear rose colored glasses like yourself thinking otherwise are living in denial and display the naivety of a 9 year old & therefore are not even qualified to have an opinion on the topic..

BTW I left that shit hole because my family and I hated it, especially after that fuck up of a flood 2 years ago which was really the last straw and were wise and opened eyed enough to realize it, plan and still be able to return unlike losers like yourself that have burned their bridges and have no options left them..

So as you see it has naught to do with budgeting, you couldn't live anything like I did on the budget we lived off, you'd end up hanging yourself like you will eventually anyway, at least that's how it will be written up on your death certificate no matter how it actually happens..

[FloridaBorn]

gas there is over 5.50 per gallon where here it is only 3.25 and has been as low recently as 3.04 and that's just one example but a large one considering it's a consumable, price of cars and quality of package is not even in the same league with here, that's a huge savings on the cost of a long term purchase..

No it is not its.

2013-Jan 01/07 3.469 01/14 3.529 01/21 3.486 01/28 3.488 2013-Feb 02/04 3.648 02/11 3.723 02/18 3.858 02/25 3.925 2013-Mar 03/04 3.876 03/11 3.831 03/18 3.790 03/25 3.748 2013-Apr 04/01 3.699 04/08 3.655 04/15 3.596 04/22 3.534 04/29 3.513 2013-May 05/06 3.503 05/13 3.559 05/20 3.551 05/27 3.550 2013-Jun 06/03 3.529 06/10 3.537 06/17 3.604 06/24 3.588 2013-Jul 07/01 3.533 07/08 3.517 07/15 3.646 07/22 3.693 07/29 3.688 2013-Aug 08/05 3.663 08/12 3.610 08/19 3.589 08/26 3.592 2013-Sep 09/02 3.667 09/09 3.640 09/16 3.561 09/23 3.492 09/30 3.430 2013-Oct 10/07 3.386 10/14 3.370 10/21 3.431 10/28 3.366 2013-Nov 11/04 3.329 11/11 3.290 11/18 3.351
Here it is 37 baht a liter, or just under 5 bucks a gallon. Those ^ are Florida prices for gas. Even California by far the most expensive for gas has yet to hit 4 bucks a gallon

Not lately Terry, your dollar trumps ours these days plus our growth has been stifled for years now.. You've had strong growth and with that sometimes comes inflation so just dollar value is not necessarily relative..

Wow as Terry pointed out wrong again. Do you really think its cheaper in America?

You did point out one thing very correct. That is the price of a good education. Even on a 50% scholarship I am paying 30,000 usd a year for my twins education.

So now I got assholes in Thailand telling me what my gas prices are up the road via the stupid Internet?? Fucking hysterical it is!! You do know that's a statewide average and not anything related to my part of Florida don't you or are you that thick too? Just in this city alone the gas prices range 15 to 20 cents more or less in certain parts of the city so how do you come to those generalized prices? What a bunch of morons, don't even recognize how stupid you're being.... Priceless that is..

So how far could $30,000 dollars go? That's but one veeery large example that can't be discounted, wake the fuck up!!

BTW in answer to your second question I LIVE HERE DUMBASS!! It's irrefutable, the states is a large country you can't tell me what I know and live EVERYDAY when you live in a shit hole and don't know anything first hand..

FYI for those backing up Terry I'm not arguing with him because unlike you I'm not so stupid as to argue with his personal life experience he lives daily and more over I already mentioned it was more expensive to live in Aussie land then even here these days..

[rickschoppers]

^^


Another one bites the dust. What a meltdown!!

[Iceman123]

FB - are you related to Aberlour?

[aging one]

So now I got assholes in Thailand telling me what my gas prices are up the road via the stupid Internet?? Fucking hysterical it is!! You do know that's a statewide average and not anything related to my part of Florida don't you or are you that thick too? Just in this city alone the gas prices range 15 to 20 cents more or less in certain parts of the city so how do you come to those generalized prices? What a bunch of morons, don't even recognize how stupid you're being.... Priceless that is.. So how far could $30,000 dollars go? That's but one veeery large example that can't be discounted, wake the fuck up!! BTW in answer to your second question I LIVE HERE DUMBASS!! It's irrefutable, the states is a large country you can't tell me what I know and live EVERYDAY when you live in a shit hole and don't know anything first hand.. FYI for those backing up Terry I'm not arguing with him because unlike you I'm not so stupid as to argue with his personal life experience he lives daily and more over I already mentioned it was more expensive to live in Aussie land then even here these days..

No shit you have major anger management problems. Pity when you are wrong and go on a rant anyway.

[rickschoppers]

I kinda wonder why someone who has left Thailand a year ago because they hated it so much would post on a Thai site??

Kinda crazy and weird isn't it?

[nedkellylives]

gas there is over 5.50 per gallon where here it is only 3.25 and has been as low recently as 3.04 and that's just one example but a large one considering it's a consumable, price of cars and quality of package is not even in the same league with here, that's a huge savings on the cost of a long term purchase..

No it is not its.

2013-Jan 01/07 3.469 01/14 3.529 01/21 3.486 01/28 3.488 2013-Feb 02/04 3.648 02/11 3.723 02/18 3.858 02/25 3.925 2013-Mar 03/04 3.876 03/11 3.831 03/18 3.790 03/25 3.748 2013-Apr 04/01 3.699 04/08 3.655 04/15 3.596 04/22 3.534 04/29 3.513 2013-May 05/06 3.503 05/13 3.559 05/20 3.551 05/27 3.550 2013-Jun 06/03 3.529 06/10 3.537 06/17 3.604 06/24 3.588 2013-Jul 07/01 3.533 07/08 3.517 07/15 3.646 07/22 3.693 07/29 3.688 2013-Aug 08/05 3.663 08/12 3.610 08/19 3.589 08/26 3.592 2013-Sep 09/02 3.667 09/09 3.640 09/16 3.561 09/23 3.492 09/30 3.430 2013-Oct 10/07 3.386 10/14 3.370 10/21 3.431 10/28 3.366 2013-Nov 11/04 3.329 11/11 3.290 11/18 3.351
Here it is 37 baht a liter, or just under 5 bucks a gallon. Those ^ are Florida prices for gas. Even California by far the most expensive for gas has yet to hit 4 bucks a gallon

Not lately Terry, your dollar trumps ours these days plus our growth has been stifled for years now.. You've had strong growth and with that sometimes comes inflation so just dollar value is not necessarily relative..

Wow as Terry pointed out wrong again. Do you really think its cheaper in America?

You did point out one thing very correct. That is the price of a good education. Even on a 50% scholarship I am paying 30,000 usd a year for my twins education.

So now I got assholes in Thailand telling me what my gas prices are up the road via the stupid Internet?? Fucking hysterical it is!! You do know that's a statewide average and not anything related to my part of Florida don't you or are you that thick too? Just in this city alone the gas prices range 15 to 20 cents more or less in certain parts of the city so how do you come to those generalized prices? What a bunch of morons, don't even recognize how stupid you're being.... Priceless that is..

So how far could $30,000 dollars go? That's but one veeery large example that can't be discounted, wake the fuck up!!

BTW in answer to your second question I LIVE HERE DUMBASS!! It's irrefutable, the states is a large country you can't tell me what I know and live EVERYDAY when you live in a shit hole and don't know anything first hand..

FYI for those backing up Terry I'm not arguing with him because unlike you I'm not so stupid as to argue with his personal life experience he lives daily and more over I already mentioned it was more expensive to live in Aussie land then even here these days..

In all my traveling in Thailand the price of fuel is the same from Chang Mai to Satun
In Australia city prices vary at different outlets and country prices are higher the further away you get from the distribution points
Diesel fuel is much cheaper here and gas/ petrol/ benzine what ever you want to call it was about the same price as in Australia the last time i was there about 2 years ago
Fuel is cheaper in USA than any other country, they exchange mainly weapons for oil in Saudi Arabia

[roamer]

Thanks for the observations livinloss, interesting.

I notice the traffic seems to be getting heavier and the pace of building increasing.

That in Pattaya.

Still fairly content here.

[Retro]

As someone who has been here not making western wages, I feel LOS prices are up quite a bit from the past. Mostly, it's the higher end stuff that has gone up in the shops. You can still find cheap meals. Land prices are up even upcountry. I'd say working class people upcountry and in the urban areas all are laid out with constant bills. With all these cars and gas rices so high a lot of people have to be struggling to keep their tanks full all the time especially if they have kids.


As for the peace of the countryside, that can be found even in the US of A. I wonder what part of the US you are coming from LiveInLOS?

[Boon Mee]

As for the peace of the countryside, that can be found even in the US of A.

Chicago?

[stevefarang]

This has been an interesting thread to read. Somewhat amusing, but also confirming some things I've seen in my travels.

Yes, Australia is a fantastic place but it is expensive, no matter whether it's Perth, Adelaide or even Dalby, QLD. Lodging for one night, at a simple motel, is not cheap. Petrol prices will vary daily, if I recall, you top off on Tuesdays or Wednesdays before the new prices kick on Thursday (or something like that - I forget how it went, sorry Terry). Electric rates for consumer are skyrocketing, yet power plants will make more money selling their natural gas rather than burn it to make electricity (They are losing money making power).
But damn, those chicken flavoured chips are awesome !!! And I've always enjoyed going down under, the people there are great. Plus, some fine brews down there.

Florida has problems with sinkholes, hurricanes and a lot of elderly and illegal immigrant drivers. I'm always cautioned, when I rent a car there, to be sure to have additional insurance because of all the illegals driving around with no license or insurance. And certain times of the year, you get those swarms of love bugs hovering in the middle of the road, ready to plug up your radiator. I hate those things. Public schools in Florida are not free, you pay your taxes every year to support them.

Thailand is far from perfect. It's hot and muggy, has big snakes, mozzies & spiders. No, I can't call 911 and expect the boys in brown to come running. But then again, how often have I ever called 911 in my entire life ? Maybe once or twice ever and that was years ago (I think it was a minor medical emergency with ex-mother in law). Yes, I can go out and have a fancy dinner, just like in the US. Or, I can go to all you can eat Thai bbq place for 100-150 baht and enjoy exactly what I want to eat. I'm not into all you can drink sodas, so water is just fine for me. I'm building a house that would easily go for close to $1 million here in the Pac NW (if not more). Everyone here in the US that sees the pictures cannot believe how little it is costing. Have we had problems with the house build, of course. Who doesn't ?
Is it annoying at times, sure is. I hate traffic. But obviously something works or this country wouldn't be growing in population. Thai people are usually happy.

Yes, petrol prices are exorbitant, compared to the US. But I think it's safe to say it's cheaper than in Europe. And, just like "down under", that Thais have been going to duel-fuel cars, something I really wish would catch on here in the USA. We have a new car, in Thailand, that can run on standard petrol or switch over to CNG. I'll be testing it out on my next trip, as CNG is much cheaper than petrol. It's a shame petrol is not cheaper in Thailand, but that's not a deal breaker for me.

I can't say too much about schooling in Thailand, yet. Other than my youngest daughter will be going to a US University, but that's partly to increase her exposure and improve her career opportunities.

I was very satisfied with a minor outpatient surgery I had at Bumrungrad Hospital a few years ago. The price was about 35-40% of what it would have cost me in the USA. And my insurance covered it. It would have been cheaper if I went some other BKK approved by Blueshield.

And of course, living in the capitol is going to be expensive. Try living in Sydney, Paris, London, Washington, DC, Tokyo, etc. All of them are pricey. It would be a fairer comparison, since you are in FLA, to compare yourself to someplace in Phuket perhaps ? Or maybe Krabi ?

OK, so you are happy to be living in FLA. Good for you. Enjoy it !

But don't start attacking guys who have decided, for one reason or another, to live in the LOS. That's their choice, show a little respect. They have their reasons, you've got yours.

Sheesh, now I want an Ozzie beer !!

Steve

[beazalbob69]

show money in my bank account or take a picture of me and my wife sitting on our bed to prove our relationship.

Is your wife Thai? If she is you had to show all that shit just to get her into the country that you love so much. Not to mention the endless paperwork and payments to the wonderful govt so she can get a greencard. Fuck you up the ass with overpriced B.S. is what they do. I know, I went through it.

've bought a car with finance and didn't require a "sponsor", have credit immediately and will soon be buying a house and the property it sits on will also be mine,

So in other words you didn,t "BUY" a car the bank did. Are you paying for that house with cash? I doubt it. It's not yours and neither is the land. Try telling the Govt that it's "your land" when they need it for something.

I don't get treated like a second class citizen while other people take my money

Really? You don't? What part of Florida do you live? I lived in the Tampa Bay area for 10 years and got treated like a 2nd class citizen on an almost daily basis. Customer service is shit in Florida. Most people don't give a shit about you or what you need.

I don't have to worry about working without someone else's approval or legally mowing my own lawn if I so choose,

Unless you live in one of the many "Deed restricted neighborhoods" in which case you cant cut your own grass without getting fined. That is only 1 of a long list of offenses.
So when you get a job in the USA you don't have to inform the US govt? They don't want their 25 -35 %?

Rose colored glasses indeed!

P.S. It is much cheaper here than Florida I know as well because I lived there.

[Retro]

As for the peace of the countryside, that can be found even in the US of A.

Chicago?

Chicago is city. For hardcore capitalists it may fulfill their needs. I was thinking more of something where the grass and trees are green, there are birds (not pigeons) in the trees and fish in the streams. Something like this...

[beazalbob69]

As for the peace of the countryside, that can be found even in the US of A.

Chicago?

Chicago is city. For hardcore capitalists it may fulfill their needs. I was thinking more of something where the grass and trees are green, there are birds (not pigeons) in the trees and fish in the streams. Something like this...

That looks like a private lane. You would get shot at or arrested trying to view that beautiful scenery!

[Stumpy]

Its funny to read through the posts. Clearly FloridaBorn has a serious chip on his shoulder about some of Thailand's constraints. I have found that no matter where you live it will be a give and take. Thailand has some hoops to jump through I agree but the US is a country that wants to control every single thing you do. Ride a bicycle without a helmet, get a ticket. Have a crack in your windshield, get a ticket, Drive 5 miles an hour over the speed limit, get a ticket, Want to fish, have to get a license, Fished with a barb'd hook, get a HUGE fine, Fire a gun without approval and go to jail. This one is my fav, the county adds trees to the roadside in front of your house, if it gets to big and you cut it down, you get fined $800. Funny though, if that tree falls and hits your car, damages your house the city is not liable. The list of things you cannot do is WAY bigger then the one you can. I think this is why lots of people stay home. They want to avoid breaking any laws.

When you buy a house in the US you never own it Floridaborn. The bank does so both parties lose. Even if you are fortunate to pay it off you have property taxes until you die and if you chose not to pay them the government can place a lien against your house and at some point take it.

I have never understood the big bitch about fuel costs as a driver to live somewhere. Honestly I could care less about fuel costs. That, IMHO, is the silliest thing to even worry about when moving to Thailand being they have public transportation.

As for COL comparing the two, I can clearly live 3 to 5x cheaper in TL then the US. But I made concessions. I need very little Western to feel good. I love the food, I use public transportation when it makes better sense, the missus and I can support our self off the land growing things we need, She is very resourceful and does not want to buy stupidly. In fact she always asks me about things I want to buy and I catch myself. Here in the US its a consumerism sickness. we buy all the time. we do not know any better. Anyway I never feel like I gave up my quality of life to live cheaper in TL. I saw it as an awesome way to live the next years of my life.

This debate can go on and on. There will always be pros and cons living anywhere and you have to take them into consideration when making the move. Some don't and they implode.

I am back in the US and have been for 2 years now. There is so much here that irritates the hell out of me that it makes me want to leave now but I know there will be hurdles to jump over when I return. But its all give an take and that is the key to making it all work.


Good Luck FloridaBorn. You will quickly see that the US is not the golden place to live and you will have to work like a dog to make ends meet. I am here now living a pretty minimalist life making a exceptionally good salary and I am lucky to bank 20% of my check a month.

[rickschoppers]

I agree with JP's post 110%. You can spin anything a thousand different ways, as politicians do, and all that matters is if you are happy or not. I am happy to have found Thailand as an alternative to the US. Is it perfect? No. Are there some frustrations associated with living in Thailand? Yes. Is it much cheaper to live in Thailand? Definitely.

Those that want to live in countries other than Thailand, have at it. I prefer to invest my time and some money in a country I like. I do not like the US and what it has become, period.

Enjoy your stay in gatorland Floridaborn, but like JP said, you will work like a dog to make ends meet and have to put up with all the ridiculous laws that control every aspect of your life.

[mrsquirrel]

why not move to cambodia then?