Seed Money to Move to the LOS

[kliome]

(PigDogg @ Mar. 10 2009,17:34) I'm saying that a "new first time resident" not buy a car and instead get his feet wet in an area where he can walk and use public transport.

For me, part of the freedom of moving to the LOS is not being burdened down with lots of stuff.

Buying a car that you may not need in a few months just seems like a big hassle to me. YMMV.

I'd agree with both Pig dogg's comment.

I've never 'lived' in Thailand but I've had 3-4 month trips before and one of the major purposes of my stays is to get away from all the responsibilities and posessions that weigh me down in the west and keep things really simple.. (I wish it was easier to do so back in the UK)..

I try to keep my bills simple..
Rent + Electric/Water
Scooter + Gas
Washing
Food + Drink

I tend to get into holiday mode when good friends are in town, but during quiet periods (living a more normal life but still going out to the cinema, the gym, a couple of san mig lights, and moderate socialising) I can survive easily on 20k baht a month (plus a few smaller fees - visa and insurance).

[Stogie]

(kliome @ Mar. 11 2009,00:48) I can survive easily on 20k baht a month...

That's a costly confession! Prepare to be bombarded with PMs and emails begging for tips.

I answer these questions on the forum only! I'd need an assistant to actually write sensible replies to my emails!

[BlueBallz]

If one can live "easily" on 20k/month in Thailand, then you aint getting a lot of booty!! Take it to the bank!!

[BlueBallz]

Theres a lot we should know about you before you even CONSIDER taking a plunge like this. First of all how long and how many times have you been to Thailand??

The thing is its a way different type of mentality if you are there fulltime as opposed to when you are on holiday. I dont know about you but when I am there for a long time I dont go out all the time. In fact, I rarely look to whore around. I am in country so much it all gets boring. Also if you are highly sexed and want to keep shagging anything and everything you had better have a lot of money. You will be BLEEDING it at every turn.

As for looking for a girlfriend, if you look at working girls in bar you are straight on to a losing proposition. Talk about bleeding money. I really think a series of short times would be a lot cheaper than having a long term hooker girlfriend. These girls have the attention span of a goldfish but the cunning of a wolf. In other words, we dont stand a fucking chance.

It would also definitely help if you had someting with which to occupy your time. Perhaps you WOULD be content with waking up at the crack of noon and going out for beers with the guys 5 nights/week and looking to shag to your heart content but, trust me, most would get bored big time. I know it sounds like the life of Reilly.......lots of food for thought!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!

[1hotholder]

this forum is great so many shoulder to lean on - ty

[kliome]

I'm going to backtrack, edit and apologise. I've thought about it and it is a bit misleading and unrealistic for me to live on 20k per month for any great length of time. I have done it before but I live these quiet weeks/month knowing that I'll be partying again soon.

The 20k per month I'm talking about is the minimum needed for:

Rent + Electric/Water
Scooter + Gas
Washing
Food + Drink

I often stay long periods of time where I try to live what's considerered a more normal quiet life - I'm seperating this from 'hunting/playting' periods, so no this doesn't include P4P money but it would include living with a GF at times. I'm probably wrongly assuming that there are people reading this who can go a week or so without sex

During the dark European Winters I like to spend as much time as I can in LOS and I'm happy to just 'live', make the most of the weather and being outdoors and still earn my play time whilst I'm there.

For me the key to the low budget periods in LOS is that I get to do the same work I'd do back in the UK in my room in LOS and along with a few low cost hobbies this takes up a lot of my time.

It's also to be said that the first time I tried to 'live' and budget I spent probably closer to 50k in the month, it took time and practice to get the budget down and become a fully fledge cheap charlie.

But putting this all into perspective, for all the quiet periods I'll have periods when friends are in town and I'll go out 5 nights a week and spend an extra 3-5k per night with ease.

[JaiDee]

I will make the move there in 2-3 years when all commitments and responsibilities back in the USA are taken care of, as well as condo and car sold off, etc.....  where I plan on living I could do it easily for 30K a month, especially since sex means ''not much'' to me anymore and I would avoid places like pattaya like the plague [which I believe has happened there in the past few years?].  Also the BKK  red light districts and any type of places where sex tourists congregate, Patong Beach included..... were I to stay on Phuket it would be in the northeast section parallel to the airport; cheap, beautiful, still unspoiled, no falangs or hookers.

            But I know where I wil be staying, someplace I'd prefer not to share lest the  word get out and it gets ruined!  But instead of 30K I will plan on 70K per month; enough for my own private house at 10-15K, good food,  the ocassional beer or 3, laundry,  massages, assorted small bills,  etc..... I will buy a scooter from day one so that will be my transport, no car needed.

        So 2K US, plenty to live in most areas of the country, even if you need visa runs and other assorted variables. Not bad; try living on 2K in the land of the free and home of the obese; not happening!

[Stogie]

(JaiDee @ Mar. 11 2009,21:53) But I know where I will be staying, someplace I'd prefer not to share lest the  word get out and it gets ruined!

How to win friends and influence people!

[JaiDee]

you know me, I like to stay alone ...no one bugs me and my phone never rings and I do what *I* want to do at all times;  it's best, trust me. If I want company, be it a falang friend or a hooker, they are never far away and I never get lonely; ever.

 By the way, the figures above include no room for paying off hookers.....as some other guys said earlier on if you want to spend money for sex  or to support a girlfriend you would need more, depending on where you live.  But 70K per month should be pretty good for most punters depending on how much fucking and drinking you plan to do. Since I don't do much of either I may even be able to save a little cash each month, who knows.

[Ivor Biggun]

(abba @ Mar. 11 2009,00:38)

... bail bond  ...

Ivor Biggun,
please explain about the bail bond in reference to driving:

Do you pay a monthly premium, so that you are covered
in the event bail is set (up to a certain amount)?

If so, do insurance agents sell this product in Thailand?

My bail bond is part of my annual car insurance and is incorporated into my policy. I have B200,000 coverage per accident. I gues it works as a 'get out of jail free' ( up to B200000!) card, hopefully I won't have to find out. I will have a look at the fine print of my policy for further info if required.
I go along with what Jaidee posted above, most should budget 70k a month for high end areas, any money left at the end of the month rolls over and is a bonus. My Avg is under 50k a month living in Patong, going out 2 times a week and living 'normally' the rest of the time. I don't need to be humping every night to be happy!

[abba]

Thanks.

[JaiDee]

does anyone have any leads on health care options? as far as insurance costs, etc..... or do you fellows who live there just wing it and pay off the Docs for operations as you go? My US health care is 420 a month, something I planned on shedding because frankly I don't believe Blue Cross will pay off on a claim if I drop my bike on Phuket and get all messed up!

any Thai health care options which are worth it and honest?

[BlueBallz]

Plenty JD when I looked into it a year or two ago I think good insurance care can be had for about $100/month. By that I mean policies that are affiliated with the big time hospitals!! You can find out on the net I am certain. Look at companies like BUPA and AIA. I dont know how much or even if things have changed since the worldwide financial meltdown!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!

[PigDogg]

Health insurance is tricky cause one really needs to be covered if they have an emergency/accident if they travel to their home country. it seems especially problematic for Americans. I still haven't found a good solution.

[tim1212]

4 me kilomes idea about missing the bleak winter months and jaildee's i like being alone idea's are perfect- just sitting on a beach in jan alone or with some locals thinking i'll go to bkk or patts next week find a gorgeous lb for a long weekend has got to be 20 x better than feeling chilly!!!
i love los and england lesser extent especially in the winter,
now will work out how 2 work uk 7months and 5months los
dont want to live in los as i think this would make that holiday feeling non existant!!!sorry about spelling