Rickschoppers in Retiring to Thailand

[Marmite the Dog]

Well, you'd probably still beat Marmite like a gong.

That would depend on how much beer is consumed first. I can easily out drink a Yank.

[JBaker]

^ Now, I could be wrong but, I don't think it is a western thing. I have heard tales of Thai women getting the sulks if the farang husband suggests that he will buy a Nissan or a Ford when only a Toyota or Honda will do to out-trump what the neighbours have just bought, and heaven forbid if it's a two door and not a four door.

That is only because there is a western "bank" involved. If Thais do not have a western sponsor, they seem to be pretty happy with what they have. Not to say they would like more, but they do not lust for things like westerners.

Well, I get to be the noob but I have to start somewhere...

I think there is a lot of consumerism invading Thailand. The new car scheme, the new house scheme, a smartphone...

I know three well educated Thai women in Isaan with good jobs who are each so far in debt they can barely eat. One that comes to mind first is a teacher with a master's degree and some special position in a public school. She earns 30k pm.

She bought a new house and a new pickup (4 door of course) and has a smartphone with internet. She is really struggling, reminding me of many Westerners I've known.

Now these folks can get credit cards but they have no idea how to manage them, at least the ones I know.

Just my two cents...

[rickschoppers]

^
Partially agree JB. Maybe it is the fact that not all Thais have the money to buy all the niceties pushed on them by this consumerism. I know of many Thai families that have very little and seem to be happy. Yes, they may want a car, but they know they can not afford one. My wife's entire family never had a car until I bought one.

Consumerism does exist in Thailand, there just isn't the money around like in a western country. I often wonder where all the money does come from for the cars and houses that Thais are purchasing. The banks must be having to deal with a lot of repos.

[kingwilly]

^ Now, I could be wrong but, I don't think it is a western thing. I have heard tales of Thai women getting the sulks if the farang husband suggests that he will buy a Nissan or a Ford when only a Toyota or Honda will do to out-trump what the neighbours have just bought, and heaven forbid if it's a two door and not a four door.

That is only because there is a western "bank" involved. If Thais do not have a western sponsor, they seem to be pretty happy with what they have. Not to say they would like more, but they do not lust for things like westerners.

[rickschoppers]

You sure do love your BS flag don't you Willy Wonka.

Why don't you try contributing an opinion or two with some intelligent dialogue?

[FailSafe]

Once you get involved with credit and loans for your luxuries, you're pretty much fucked- if you can't afford to pay cash for your toys, you shouldn't be buying them.

As far as Thais being satisfied goes, yes, it's true, they tend to live at their socio-economic level without complaint- given a chance for some guaranteed upward mobility or an easy buck, though, and they'll go for it- they'll toss those scooters in the trash and replace them with Vigos in a heartbeat.

It's mostly a class thing- the poor expect to stay poor- look at a place like Koh Samui, though, where 'worthless' land was suddenly worth millions over a very short time-frame- those poor Thais learned about money pretty quickly.

[chassamui]

Thailand is a dream for marketing people. Thais have been brainwashed by 1950s marketing to want the latest shiny new fad.

Which other country in the world could market and sell whitening cream by the gallon?

Even the supposedly educated Thais are gullible and naive in the extreme.

[Marmite the Dog]

Once you get involved with credit and loans for your luxuries, you're pretty much fucked- if you can't afford to pay cash for your toys, you shouldn't be buying them.

Utter nonsense!

Paying monthly for my truck is cheaper than if I paid a lump sum as I have IFC. I could pay it off in 3 months (without food) if I wanted to, but it doeesn't make sense to do so.

I have my bike on credit over 18 months which frees up more cash for me to spend on essentials, like beer.

We have a good line of credit with the bank, which may come in handy when my wife expands her business or if we need a couple of hundred grand for something in the house build (after saving up a large lump initially).

Where I do agree it's stupid, is when people get themselves into bother and don't earn enough to get themselves out of trouble. A lot of it is peer pressure and Thais are more sheep-like than many Europeans are, so it's hard for them.

[FailSafe]

^

It's not nonsense- if you can afford your luxuries (as you say you can) but choose a financially advantageous credit plan, that's a huge difference in comparison to getting in over your head where the bank will foreclose/repossess if something happens and your income stops (or is diverted) to where you can't make your payments on a toy you couldn't afford without having borrowed in the first place because you had no cash reserves.

I stand by my statement that if you can't afford to pay cash for your toys, you shouldn't be buying them. If it makes you happy, I'll add that using a form of finance is fine as long as you could have afforded them without it- it's stupid to buy toys/luxuries with money you don't have.

[Marmite the Dog]

^ I if didn't get stuff on HP then I'd never have anything.

The only way we manage to save any money is because we both have savings plans that penalise you if you don't save a set amount every month. Otherwise, I'd probably just have a larger waistline.

It's still nonsense though.

[rickschoppers]

Thailand is a dream for marketing people. Thais have been brainwashed by 1950s marketing to want the latest shiny new fad.

Which other country in the world could market and sell whitening cream by the gallon?

Even the supposedly educated Thais are gullible and naive in the extreme.

Good point, and I have experienced that with my wife. Being a pharmacist, I have tried to explain the whitening cream to my wife but she continues to buy it.

[Albert Shagnastier]

Once you get involved with credit and loans for your luxuries, you're pretty much fucked

Utter nonsense!

You're both right.

Signing up for high interest credit is a mugs game.

Signing up for base level credit from the manufacturer so they can sell their stock and go on to the next level and you can get your new ride in installments is sensible.

[rickschoppers]

Credit and owing money are a couple of things I now avoid and my goal for retirement was not to be a slave of either. The only payment I now have is for the new Toyota Yaris we have.

Even though I am now retired again and returning to Thailand this month, I will have to return one more time to the US and sell my remaining personal property. I have a truck, small trailer and two motorcycles that will need to be sold before all my major personal property is gone. I still have plenty of tools, fishing gear and motorcycles parts that I will put on eBay to see if I can sell along with other bits a pieces. Hopefully, I will have sold enough items to pay off the Yaris and return to Thailand debt free.

It is amazing how much crap one accumulates over a lifetime. Were these things I really needed, or just wanted? All fall in the latter category and were a result of my US brainwashing.

[FailSafe]

Bring your tools if possible- here they're either impossible to find, cheap crap, or ridiculously expensive.

In case you're wondering, quality tools are things you need- so are motorcycles and fishing gear- we're not friggin' cavemen.

[Brown Sugar]

I know this is an old post but the way rick went about it makes a lot of sense for anyone retiring to Thailand.

Rick just read your post on your forthcoming retirement to Thailand makes a lot of sense.
As regards to visas you say you have a Non Immigrant 'O' visa based on the one I originally had several years ago I had to depart Thailand every ninety days, depending how close you are to a boarder not a major problem just inconvenient and in some cases relatively quite expensive. However once you obtain a 'marriage' visa in Thailand from the Thai immigration police (which is the same basically as a non immigrant 'o' visa) you only have to report to the local immigration police, at no cost, every ninety days which is far more convenient.

Sounds as though you have all bases covered but one thing I did for three or four years was to keep the bulk of my finances back in the UK until I was 100% sure everything here was cosha (you read some real horror stories about guys being taken for a ride) and just moved the equivalent sterling to Thailand once a year to cover the 400,000 THB visa requirement then use this money to live off for the remainder of the year. By doing this you can control your losses if everything does turn upside down. I was lucky I married a gem, with no family interference, and we are both of an age where children will never come into the picture.

Enjoy Thailand it is great.

[rickschoppers]

Bring your tools if possible- here they're either impossible to find, cheap crap, or ridiculously expensive.

In case you're wondering, quality tools are things you need- so are motorcycles and fishing gear- we're not friggin' cavemen.

FaiSafe, I have already taken some tools to Thailand and will probably bring more next trip. There is two of everything in my tool boxes and may have to ship some of them over since I have so many, but you are right.

[rickschoppers]

Brain, my "O" visa has expired and I intend to just come over with an airport stamp and then make a trip up to Laos for the married visa. When I asked the Udon immigration office if I still had to exit the country every 90 days, the officer told me I did. Others on this forum may have been told different, but I will ask again when I have a chance.

As far as my funds go, I keep a US bank account where my Social Security checks are automatically deposited and it only takes an automated phone call to the bank since I set up a transfer. Each transfer costs me $40 dollars and I will eventually look into a cheaper way to do this. I have been using this system for about 3 years now and it seems to work fine. My Social Security is more than 400,000 baht each year and I have a letter of earnings which was verified by the US consulate in Chiang Mai to show whenever I am asked.

You are right to say this should all be sorted out before retiring to Thailand.

[Brown Sugar]

Rick.
A marriage visa should be no problem to obtain at your local immigration office the rules are quite clear where ever you reside. I have obtained one through Bangkok,Tac and now use Nakhon Sawan but you have to obtain this visa from the main immigration office of your respective province in person not through an agent (strictly speaking using an agent is illegal). You definitely do not have to leave Thailand every ninety days only report.
If your "o" visa is about to expire you can get an extension for about 2000Baht to cover you during the time your new visa is being processed. Do this before your present 'o' visa runs out as you will need a current 'o' visa to apply for a marriage visa.
Immigration have a form in Thai and English (Titled aptly 'The requirements for getting a marriage visa') which clearly states the requirements for a marriage visa, then simply complete form # TM7, it is also in Thai and English,(Immigration should have this) and it takes about six weeks for the visa to be processed. For the initial visa the immigration police will probably visit your house (no worries) to check on you. The cost of a marriage visa is 1900THB and reporting is totally free. If you have an E-Mail address I can send you a copy of both forms if you are still having problems.
May be I am lucky but I have never had a problem obtaining visa's inside Thailand.

[rickschoppers]

^
Interesting, because I have always been told I need to leave the country to obtain a new visa. My old "O" visa has expired, so I will not be eligible for an extension.

I will go ahead an talk to the immigration office in Udon Thani and ask them what I can do.

Thanks for your response.

[Brown Sugar]

^
Interesting, because I have always been told I need to leave the country to obtain a new visa. My old "O" visa has expired, so I will not be eligible for an extension.

I will go ahead an talk to the immigration office in Udon Thani and ask them what I can do.

Thanks for your response.

Rick. Yes you do have to leave Thailand if using a non-immigrant 'o' visa but definitely only report for a marriage visa or for that matter a retirement visa which incidentally is more expensive but far less paperwork. Also as far as I know Non-immigrant 'o' type visa's are only obtainable from Thai embassies outside of Thailand.

[Brown Sugar]

Rick.
Just looked up situation on Thai Immigration web site. Current situation regards reporting at 90 days for Thai Marriage visa unchanged (You do not have to leave Thailand every 90 days).
If you go onto the Thai Immigration web site with a little searching around (Thai Immigration/TM7 Down Load) it appears it is possible to down load this TM7 form but you must have a current Non-immigrant 'o' visa to apply for a marriage visa. Also it gives upto date info on what is required to obtain your marriage visa.

Beware there are a lot of Lawyers advertising their wares on this site to get you a visa very expensive and basically illegal.

From passed experience over my Thai will (lawyers fee 2000 THB) I discovered Thai lawyers have no standing and are not allowed by Thai law to handle legal affairs (crazy in it) on another persons behalf. I presented my lawyer raised will to my bank (Siam Commercial Bank) for confirmation they just smiled and said (clearly in English) it was a useless piece of paper which they could not act on. I ended up (on my banks advice) going to the local Ampour and the 'chief clerk' made out my will (which must be in Thai) for 150THB.

Don't give up keep plugging one gets there eventually even if it is by ones mistakes.

[terry57]

Bring your tools if possible- here they're either impossible to find, cheap crap, or ridiculously expensive.

I don't want to interrupt a Visa issue but regards the Tools.

I fail to see what you're on about.

" Homepro " has a very impressive range of top end tools at very reasonable rates.

Mid range tools are cheap, one can pick what he wants.

The " Homepro " store at Bangna Megamall is massive. I've bought a heap as I've been renovating.

Good info on this thread regards the Visa issue. Cheers.

[FailSafe]

Homepro is exactly what I'm talking about- cheap, crap Chinese-made tools.

'Top end'? What are you talking about? Their top-of-the-range is Stanley, which is not a quality tool. They've got a couple of decent power tools, but not hand tools. In the US, it would all be considered 'Harbor Freight' type stuff- I guarantee Rick has way better tools than what you can find in HomePro.

[Marmite the Dog]

^ We have a ToolPro in Udon which is excellent for tools. Much better than Global or HomePro.

[terry57]

Bosch, Hilti, Stanley.

A shit load of Quality power and hand tools available in Home Pro. Go out to Bangna and have a look.

What do you think the workers use to construct all these high rise towers all over Bangkok ?

There not using Micky mouse stuff. Actually there would be stores only dealing in top end tools, don't know where though as Ive sourced all mine from Home Pro.

Bangkok has every thing mate. To say one cant get top end tools is bolliks.