Sawang Daen Din Should I or should I not???

[SteveJ1968]

My girlfriend of the last 12months (who has just returned from a 3 month visit to Australia with me) wants to "finish" her family home in Sawang Daen Din which will be 2 bedrooms and a Kitchen added to the outside of the home and one extra bedroom inside and also a "western style" bathroom. Is 200000baht a reasonable price to pay for this or am I just being a prat??? I have spent 3 weeks at her home about 6 months ago, and it is basicly a house with one bedroom, bathroom and then just open plan living...

[jamescollister]

My girlfriend of the last 12months (who has just returned from a 3 month visit to Australia with me) wants to "finish" her family home in Sawang Daen Din which will be 2 bedrooms and a Kitchen added to the outside of the home and one extra bedroom inside and also a "western style" bathroom. Is 200000baht a reasonable price to pay for this or am I just being a prat??? I have spent 3 weeks at her home about 6 months ago, and it is basicly a house with one bedroom, bathroom and then just open plan living...

Just extended our house, thought about 400,000 we are at 600,000 and not finished. Labour is cheap, but everything else is dear. Lots of luck you will need it, Jim

[rangmak]

Why not help the gf start a business, so that she can help pay for her mom's home improvements?

[dirk diggler]

Her Mother and the 'family home' are not your problem unless you plan on living there in comfort.

A fool and his money are easily parted, especially in LOS.

[KOBRIEN]

I woudnt do it as I think you would never here the end of requests for new improvements to be paid for by yours truly ! Theres prople in the country that build
a whole (very basic ) house for 20/30,000 baht !

I would offer 20,000 to keep the mrs happy and make some excuse about the rest of your money being tied up ! Good Luck !

[Rigger]

My girlfriend of the last 12months (who has just returned from a 3 month visit to Australia with me) wants to "finish" her family home in Sawang Daen Din which will be 2 bedrooms and a Kitchen added to the outside of the home and one extra bedroom inside and also a "western style" bathroom. Is 200000baht a reasonable price to pay for this or am I just being a prat??? I have spent 3 weeks at her home about 6 months ago, and it is basicly a house with one bedroom, bathroom and then just open plan living...

If you intend on staying there and with the girl and can afford it, why not.

a whole (very basic ) house for 20/30,000 baht

I think you mean a shed even then it wouldnt be much of shed.

[SEA Traveler]

never an easy answer. proceeding with caution always advised. requests for assisting in the resolution of family financial status improvement will continue. I like the idea of investing monies into a gf business where she can then take care of and assist with family financial matters.

[ubuibi]

if your Aussie girlfreind asked you to do that for her mom after you just returned with her from an all expense paid trip abroad would you? for me a request like this is the begining of the end... dont be a sap, as you see free is the most expensive...

[KEVIN2008]

My girlfriend of the last 12months (who has just returned from a 3 month visit to Australia with me) wants to "finish" her family home in Sawang Daen Din which will be 2 bedrooms and a Kitchen added to the outside of the home and one extra bedroom inside and also a "western style" bathroom. Is 200000baht a reasonable price to pay for this or am I just being a prat??? I have spent 3 weeks at her home about 6 months ago, and it is basicly a house with one bedroom, bathroom and then just open plan living...

Just extended our house, thought about 400,000 we are at 600,000 and not finished. Labour is cheap, but everything else is dear. Lots of luck you will need it, Jim

I spend alot of time around SDD myself....

[Jesus Jones]

if your Aussie girlfreind asked you to do that for her mom after you just returned with her from an all expense paid trip abroad would you? for me a request like this is the begining of the end... dont be a sap, as you see free is the most expensive...

Yup. you said it. Been there and done it. Was an expensive lesson indeed!

[liveinlos]

You said it yourself, she is a girlfriend. I would think about getting married and using that for the Sin Sot unless you want to do all the home improvements now and either:

a. Pay additionally for sin sot when you get married
b. break up or get tossed and lose all your money

Paying for home improvements for a girlfriend is probably not a wise idea. I would invest in the relationship and either get married or break it off before doing anything for the family

[KOBRIEN]

I think you mean a shed even then it wouldnt be much of shed.

Granted its very basic,But this place has just one floor and 4 large bedrooms and a large kitchen and bathroom.I think her family are testing the water with you,Ive seen guys waste a fortune only to find a very small amount was being used for what they say it was !

[Rigger]

if your Aussie girlfreind asked you to do that for her mom after you just returned with her from an all expense paid trip abroad would you? for me a request like this is the begining of the end

Not in Australia are we ? The girl aint Australian is she. If he is keen on the girl and wants to marry he is probably going to spent time at the parents house, for this reason alone I would do it.
For many expats, making their girl friend/wives parents house a little more livable is normaly the first step of farangs that spend time in their girl friends village.

[Rigger]

I think her family are testing the water with you,Ive seen guys waste a fortune only to find a very small amount was being used for what they say it was !

I know a girl that has had her house bought for her twice by to different expats

[KOBRIEN]

^^

Not heard of that one, Clever little things !

[Rigger]

Not heard of that one, Clever little things !

Built the house by the first husband in the mothers name, second husband bought the house from the mother

[KOBRIEN]

^^^
I told my Mrs today and she laughing away ! On a serious note is there some ban by the Thai gov on Bar girl stories being documented for T.V ?

I know that Big Trouble in Thailand programme got into the shit....

A good warts an all Doc' on the Bar girls n their farangs would be great viewing !

[Stinky]

My girlfriend of the last 12months (who has just returned from a 3 month visit to Australia with me) wants to "finish" her family home in Sawang Daen Din which will be 2 bedrooms and a Kitchen added to the outside of the home and one extra bedroom inside and also a "western style" bathroom. Is 200000baht a reasonable price to pay for this or am I just being a prat??? I have spent 3 weeks at her home about 6 months ago, and it is basicly a house with one bedroom, bathroom and then just open plan living...

Hand over the money, it sounds like her parents really need it and would die if they didn't have it, you've probably got so much of it anyway you don't know what to do with it and lets face it, its really easy to get more isn't it.
I'm sure the relationship isn't based on money anyway and she'll hang about even if you don't give it up.
The 200,000 will probably go up and up to 400,000 of 600,000 but what the hell its all in a good cause and as you've known these people so long.

Like so many others, been there done that.
Dont even think about it mate unless you want to be milked and milked again

[KOBRIEN]

Like so many others, been there done that.

Does this mean you dont have a Thai Girlfriend now ?

[Smug Farang Bore]

^^Correct, just give her a token amount toward mumas new bog so you don't have to squat.

In the years to come they will be back for much more.

[Stinky]

Like so many others, been there done that.

Does this mean you dont have a Thai Girlfriend now ?

I don't have any kind of a girlfriend now, I find a short term financial arrangement of two to twelve hours so much more convenient.
Cheaper too.

[KOBRIEN]

I don't have any kind of a girlfriend now, I find a short term financial arrangement of two to twelve hours so much more convenient. Cheaper too

Fair play, I know a few people in the same boat as yourself,Their upfront and tell them there is not gonna be a fairytale ending ! They keep hold of them longer than 12 hours but everyones different !

[dirk diggler]

get shot of it and find an orphan

[sabang]

Is 200000baht a reasonable price to pay for this or am I just being a prat???

Thats seems quite a reasonable price to me.

If you are willing and comfortable with this (which only you can decide), just watch out for 'cost creep'. My advice would be to insist on a set price being given by the contractor for the work specified, and a payment schedule based on progress made. Under no circumstances give all the money up front.

[SteveJ1968]

Cheers
Thanks to everyone who posted on this, basically most of the advise was the same as friends are saying here, I am sure that if everything is above board my girl will wait for the payment as in Sin Sot, but somehow I think not???? It is and was a great learning experience and I am sure that I will do things differently next time