Poll: One in five Thais 'can't pay bills'

Poll: One in five 'can't pay bills'

Almost one-fifth of all Thais face economic hardship as they do not have enough money for daily expenses, according to the latest survey conducted by Assumption University's Abac Poll.

Conducted with 1,461 people aged over 18 in Bangkok and the surrounding areas between August 25 and September 8, the survey found that slightly over half of all Thai families and individuals – 50.4 per cent - had enough money to spend, but could barely manage to save anything.

Meanwhile 31.4 per cent said they could save a little and 18.2 per cent said they were living in debt, said Abac Poll director Noppadol Kannikar.

Respondents said up to 88.8 per cent of politicians and well-known socialites followed the sufficiency economy philosophy initiated by His Majesty the King, but only 11.2 per cent of them adhered to the philosophy rather strictly.

Thailand is now facing economic sluggishness, according to 36.4 per cent of the respondents, because people do not save money while 20.3 per cent blame rising inflation and 17.7 per cent say it is resulted from corruption in the country. (TNA)

By comparison, China saves 40%, per household, on average.

I think it might have something to do with 200 baht a day workers spending most of that day on the phone at 3 baht a minute.

watterinja

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China saves 40%, per household, on average.

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you got a source for that statistic ?

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Originally Posted by taxexile

watterinja

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China saves 40%, per household, on average.

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you got a source for that statistic ?

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it was the Bangkok Post

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

50.4 per cent - had enough money to spend, but could barely manage to save anything.

Meanwhile 31.4 per cent said they could save a little and 18.2 per cent said they were living in debt, said Abac Poll director Noppadol Kannikar.

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What?

50.4% can barely manage to save anything
31.4% can save a little
18.2% are living in debt
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100.0%

?????????

So in other words not one single person is able to save significant amounts of money in this country? And what is the difference between "barely manage to save" and "save a little"? Tossers!

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Assumption University's Abac Poll.

Conducted with 1,461 people aged over

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the results of yet another worthless abac poll are representative of sweet f.a.

the students probably sat in starbucks and filled out the results themselves.

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

Respondents said up to 88.8 per cent of politicians and well-known socialites followed the sufficiency economy philosophy

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....huh?

is the sufficiency economy mean to lie, cheat and steal as much as you possibly can while flaunting it every chance you get??

Funny thing when talking about thais and wealth.

When it's important for them to be wealthy, they're very good at it.
When it's important for them to be poor, they're very good at it.

The same person will flash gold, spend like a drunken sailor and be rich tonight. Tomorrow, he'll ask you to spot him 2,000B for his electric bill.
or
The same bloke who whines about not having money to buy his share of the beer tonight will buy a new cell phone tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Texpat

Funny thing when talking about thais and wealth.

When it's important for them to be wealthy, they're very good at it.
When it's important for them to be poor, they're very good at it.

The same person will flash gold, spend like a drunken sailor and be rich tonight. Tomorrow, he'll ask you to spot him 2,000B for his electric bill.
or
The same bloke who whines about not having money to buy his share of the beer tonight will buy a new cell phone tomorrow.

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You know him as well? The bastard!

Priorities seem different here. You'll see a tin shack with a mercedes parked out front. It's all about face and that's why most people don't save.

I wonder, having observed Thai budgeting and fiscal responsibility, how much that statistic would vary if the economy was booming.
If you look at the circumstances leading up to the Baht crash of 1997, an inordinate amount of wealth generation was squandered on conspicous consumption (often imported) and financial speculation.

Hate to say it, but it reminds me of the ghetto blacks in America. Live in a grass hit, but have a nice ride, some bling bling and nice clothes.

I am so glad the ladies here do not look like the ghetto girls!!!

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Originally Posted by dirtydog

One in five Thais 'can't pay bills'

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Just get a farang to pay them. Simple really, especaily as this report comes from a university. I thought that they would have work it out by now.