Thread: A rich life with less stuff

Came across this video last night and couldn't help but think of Thailand and the many discussions about cost of living in Thailand.

Made me think about the positions we all stake out from living on 20,000 to 30,000 baht a month to much larger amounts.

Maybe living a minimalist life is why so many are happy living on lesser monthly incomes. Hardly a bad thing.

Also has me asking myself again where it is I really want to live when I retire again in 2020.

Any thoughts?

Ten years ago I tried living on 1000b a day just for an experiment and I can't say as I enjoyed it too much, I like living life Cheap Charlie and I've never been one to throw money away on expensive hotels or flash restaurants but that meagre budget was just too restrictive, I lasted only three weeks before I cracked and and upped my budget to 2500b a day. Back then I was a party animal so you can guess what all my money went on, even now those days are behind me I reckon I'd still need 1500b a day min to live on.

Originally Posted by Stinky

Ten years ago I tried living on 1000b a day just for an experiment and I can't say as I enjoyed it too much, I like living life Cheap Charlie and I've never been one to throw money away on expensive hotels or flash restaurants but that meagre budget was just too restrictive, I lasted only three weeks before I cracked and and upped my budget to 2500b a day. Back then I was a party animal so you can guess what all my money went on, even now those days are behind me I reckon I'd still need 1500b a day min to live on.

I think the video helped me try to understand where some people are coming from when arguing they can live on less, or way less, than 30,000 baht a month.

I remember this story coming up when I lived in Thailand:

A life full of riches! The story of a farang man who lives like a rural Thai - Samui Times

Wonder if the fella is still around? Kind sounds like a minimalist existence to me.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

I remember this story coming up when I lived in Thailand:

A life full of riches! The story of a farang man who lives like a rural Thai - Samui Times

Wonder if the fella is still around? Kind sounds like a minimalist existence to me.

Blackheart ... What do you think of the story about the Brit in the link?

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

I remember this story coming up when I lived in Thailand:

A life full of riches! The story of a farang man who lives like a rural Thai - Samui Times

Wonder if the fella is still around? Kind sounds like a minimalist existence to me.

Blackheart ... What do you think of the story about the Brit in the link?

Interesting story.

What is most important is that: it works for him.

What we specifically do and how we specifically live is not important.

What IS important is: are we living the way we want to, or mostly want to.

At the moment, I am. On all fronts.

It may change in the future, where I'll be doing something or living in a way to that I don't prefer to. I will be careful not to "live too much for the future."

As for "living for the future," many Americans do this: 30-year mortgage, e.g.

If an individual wants it this way, that's fine. If they are doing this b/c it's a cultural social norm (which includes loads of debt) than it's not living they way a person necessarily wants.

^ ^^

Everyone makes their own choices in life.

Punch out a few kids, put them through Uni and be prepared to work until one dies.

Get divorced in the mean time because of the stress involved and then just throw ones self of a cliff.

We all have a choice how we want to live. Nothing wrong with either way but it is what it is.

To avoid the stress involved in Raising kids being very cashed up is preferable.

The average working man is pushing shit up hill.

I don't know if I'm a "minimalist."

But out of convenience - and common sense - I got rid of my furniture, lawn mower, and many other things.

All that stuff was being stored at my parents, and I had been overseas for several years before I finally decided to take it to Goodwill.

Now, I only have things I use.

Life is a lot better that way.

When I visit Americans in the PNW, many have their garages full of many things - that they never use. Sure, you need to use tools and things of that (useful) nature, but the knick-knacks and pseudo-toys in the garage and hanging on the wall are often not used.

I remember working for a Korean couple that was very wealthy. The wife father was the founder of a large and well-known Korean company. Her father was still alive and she was an upper-manage. Her husband did business.

They lived in a modest and clean high-rise apartment. Fat bank account, but no knick-knacks and "stuff."

"Stuff" is a pain in the arse.

Unfortunately the mrs is a hoarder and never chucks anything out.

Originally Posted by Dragonfly94

Unfortunately the mrs is a hoarder and never chucks anything out.

Mine too although there have been brief glimpses of a change in attitude the past year. She's about to learn another lesson as we're a year out from the step-daughter going to university. The next 5 years are going to be more painful than she understands yet. She's going to learn a little minimalism whether she likes it or not ...

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Originally Posted by Dragonfly94

Unfortunately the mrs is a hoarder and never chucks anything out.

Mine too although there have been brief glimpses of a change in attitude the past year. She's about to learn another lesson as we're a year out from the step-daughter going to university. The next 5 years are going to be more painful than she understands yet. She's going to learn a little minimalism whether she likes it or not ...

Here what I do- hide some crap then if she's not asked about it after a few weeks then chuck it away when shes out. We have bags of old papers, magazines, receipts, and broken junk all waiting to go- someday.

Originally Posted by Dragonfly94

Unfortunately the Mrs is a hoarder and never chucks anything out.

I drilled my handbag into my world long ago and the # 1 rule in my Apartment.

Nothing is hoarded, everything must be used and if it is not used it gets put outside so someone else can use it. The only place she can hoard stuff is in her wardrobe and it ain't that big.

She knows the drill, she uses everything in the kitchen before I get a chance to chuck it.

Regards being a minimalist. Fuck that, life is to short to do stupid shit like that.

No need to live large but one needs to spend the money if one has it.

Nothing shits me more than cashed up punters living like a pauper , I worked with a single guy who had more money than a bull could shit and lived the minimalist lifestyle .

He was a pathetic sad bastard. Had one light bulb in his house that he would move around.

Life is for living, at the end of the day if you do not use your money your relatives will and spend it all on piss, drugs and women then waste the rest.

^ ^

Mate,

I agree entirely that leaving the Western rat race for a cheaper life in Thailand is certainly a very good choice .

I suppose If I gave up drinking,Traveling, renting cars, eating out, Movies, living in Bangkok and numerous other things I could possibly survive on 30 K per month.

Thing is, that will never happen as I love all of the above.

That's only me though, we are all different huh.

^

Very smart move mate keeping your gaff.

I call having a Gaff back home " Fuk up Insurance. "

What's a 'gaff', terry?

Apartment, condo or house?

Not familiar with the term

^ ^^

Australians don't use that term, I stole it from the nasty Pomgolians.

It's their word for ones abode.

I rather like it.

Originally Posted by boloa

About 6 years ago I had to make a choice,go back to the UK and work or cash in a small private pension at 50 and live on 10K Baht a month .After talking it over with the wife we decided we could live on 10k a month.
So I cashed in my pension and took a lump sum of about 1 Million Baht and had the 10k a month paid into my UK Bank account.
I then brought over 520k ,400k I need in my Bank for my yearly Visa and 120k to live on for the year. The 2nd year I didn't need to bring over any money as I used some on the 400k I had in the bank to live on and then topped it up 2 months before my visa was due.
If I had gone back to the UK and started working again all my wages would had gone on rent,bill,taxes and just day to day living expenses .Here in Thailand the House was paid for and the only monthly bills I had was Electric and Internet.
I stopped smoking ,drinking ( not that I drunk much anyway ) and sold the car ( I still have the Honda Wave though )
The wife works about 6 month a year as she has a daughter and family....even though the family are not that demanding she still likes to help them out.
So I've been living on 10k a month for 6 years now and have even saved money to buy a new flat screen TV and a Desktop computer as my old tap top was on its last legs.
If I was to go back 6 years would I still make the same choice........................you bet, leaving the rat race behind was the best thing I ever did.I have everything I need to be happy,I have no debt and I take not notice of what others say on my minimalist monetary life style.

Good on you to mate !! a superb story

Nice to read of someone on here happy with relatively very little ,, nothing to prove to anyone else , no need ,, your happy and content and thats all that matters

Bought this place 2010.



I'm a good husband!

Gaff...Somewhere one lives.

That's what I think!

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

I remember this story coming up when I lived in Thailand:

A life full of riches! The story of a farang man who lives like a rural Thai - Samui Times

Wonder if the fella is still around? Kind sounds like a minimalist existence to me.

There's a few like him around, got one in my area, he wants money, but like a true Issanite only does enough to get by, rice, cassava, chickens etc. He's a Brit as well.
Guess I fall into that type of person, probably a better income, but need little over all, kids and cars biggest bills.
Do as little work as I can, money all comes from here, to the average Issanite, village dweller, we are well off.
To must farangs I'd be a crazy man living in the jungle, better then a 9 to 5 in the west, in my book.

^

The 9 to 5 in the West is a living Death trap from which many cannot or will not ever escape.

I know plenty of people back home who have more than enough money to retire on but cannot let the Pay packet go.

They are hanging in there to get the Extra Super but now quite a few are having quite serious and time consuming health issues.

Still front line Firefighting heading up towards 60.

The extra money they will earn will go their kids along with the house and all the other shit they have.

I say a massive fuk that to that and consider them fookin insane.

Anyway fuk it, I'm so glad I'm well away from the System but I do like my toys and a few buks in my pocket.

The money gives me a choice in my life and that makes me very happy.

Originally Posted by terry57

The 9 to 5 in the West is a living Death trap from which many cannot or will not ever escape.

Yes, for many it is.

There are a few - and only a few I've known who were honestly content in that situation.

And this situation almost always involves high amounts of debt.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

I remember this story coming up when I lived in Thailand:

A life full of riches! The story of a farang man who lives like a rural Thai - Samui Times

Wonder if the fella is still around? Kind sounds like a minimalist existence to me.

There's a few like him around, got one in my area, he wants money, but like a true Issanite only does enough to get by, rice, cassava, chickens etc. He's a Brit as well.
Guess I fall into that type of person, probably a better income, but need little over all, kids and cars biggest bills.
Do as little work as I can, money all comes from here, to the average Issanite, village dweller, we are well off.
To must farangs I'd be a crazy man living in the jungle, better then a 9 to 5 in the west, in my book.

Was going to mention you as an example James but decided not to risk possibly insulting you.

Getting some good points to think about. I didn't rent my place out when I lived there last time. If I move back in 2020 I'll either sell it or rent it. That's a TEFLer paycheck right there.

No way I can live like the guy in the article but he did mention in the video at the bottom of the article that it's only hoped for that 25% of the population in Thailand live that way.

The guy didn't say anything earth shattering but just seeing how he lives made me at least think about cutting some wasteful things out. Something as simple as shutting the A/C off during the day is a step in the right way of thinking I suppose.

Terry, years ago when I was doing the Thailand, back to OZ for a few months, work thing, friend came and saw me.
He had been on holiday to Thailand a few weeks before, liked the place and was thinking of pulling the pin on the prison service. Never married, house, money and a good pension at 55 awaiting.
He needed just that bit more money, he thought, always just a bit more.
2008 I think, went back to do my last stint in the prison, 2 weeks later was in my dress uniform for his funeral, 53 years old.
Never made the move, but died with a lot of money.