Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

wow, you song song till forget your days????? knn. Thursday.... the Thai one different????????:eek:

How many days you there oredi.....????

Seven days only, I home sick....

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Indianmagicoil,

Greetings! You're one intelligent guy. First of all, if you want to retire in Bangkok, you must plan and research. I decided to take an eartly retirement 5 years ago. I did all my research and prepared myself mentally, physically and financially! The bottom line is you must have enough funds or you'll be miserable and lonely!

I have 3 major concerns:

1. Air pollution (I don't want to die early with lung disease or cancer)
2. Food, most of the food in Bangkok is fried (cardiovascular disease/problem)
3. Traffic and Thai drivers (In Bangkok, cars and motorcycles have the right of way)

Currently, it's very difficult to open a bank account without work permit!

15 more days!

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Hello,

Like I said earlier, "if you want to retire and enjoy your stay in Bangkok, you must have enough money to cover your expenditure!" My monthly budget is approximately 2,000 - 2,500 US Dollars! I hope that's enough to cover rent, utilities, cable/internet, travel, food, medical/dental, spa/massage and night life!

I already made an Excel budget spreadsheet so I can monitor my daily, weekly and monthly expenses. After first quarter, I'll brief everyone, what's my actual expenses. My goal is to boom boom only 2 - 3 times a week!

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Hello,

I bank with Siam Commerical Bank. I opened a savings account back in 2007, I used my friend's address. But now, you must have a work permit or owned a property to open a account.

Also, I'm leasing a brand new one-bedroom condo for 19,000B a month.


Good luck!

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

[QUOTE=indianmagicoil;4560051]First I ask if u working there or staying long term visa? Not so easy but not so hard also. U ask like this I guessing u dun have work permit right? Open for tirak ah? ;) Bro Naemlo has answered your Qs on what documents to bring leow.


Tks Bro,

Nah not for her, having an account makes it easier to access the money when needed and also it beats the conversion rate for credit card usage.

Main reason is i am thinking of buying an apt there, any kind soul has any ideas on how to go about doing it, wanna do it privately without her knowledge. Tks

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Tookie,

Also, you have to remember that if you want to use ATM machines in Bangkok, there wil be 150B service charge. Unless, you use AEON ATM machine located on the third floor of Justco Building in Ratchada! If you want to buy a brand new condo, let me know and i'll introduce to my realestate agent, she seemed sincere and honest.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Thanks Bro

Yup was thinking about this project call "Wind"
webby addy Wind Bangkok

THanks again

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

555+ 大哥 u misunderstand leow lah. I know u mean tomorrow but laz nite I met up with Bro Mike2 so tot u in town. I song-song there not until forget the daz lah!

Why so troublesome open an a/c juz to withdraw money? Juz plan & budget what u need and bring along the correct amount. I always change some in Singapore and the rest in Bangkok coz the rates there tend to be better. No need change all in one shot. Change what yah need, balance SGD can still bring back.

If u want to buy an apartment there... 1) Thai banks won't lend u the money unless you have a work permit so... 2) u still have to get loan from Singapore bank. Interest rate charged will be quite high. Unless u cash king and pay all in one shot and I'm not sure how u gonna hide the purchase it from her (wife I presume)?

BTW Bro Norice, u sure the AEON bank ATM u mentioned doesn't charge Bht150? Last year all banks in Thailand started charging this fee already. I was going from bank to bank's ATM trying to find one tat doesn't charge but no such luck.
Thats the purple colour bank right? U r right about the work permit (always was the rule & easiest 2 open an a/c) but the property thing I'm not sure. I'll try when I'm back using my apartment lease agreement when I first stayed there. Hopefully the bank mgr can agree to it.

Wow... u really are meticulous. I also will have a budget but after a few weeks I will be not so disciplined to update it.

Problem is many come a few days for a holiday, had such a good time so think this country is not a bad place to work & retire. 555+ I call it "holiday syndrome". Thats why when they go back they keep thinking of the place :D

Personally I hope to have a business running + have a passive income stream should I eventually semi-retire there. 555+ are u a fried food addict? There are plenty of healthier options than deep fried what-ever on a stick! I drove in BKK for the first time and it was stressful. Firstly the streets are dimly lit at night and u really gotta watch out for those motor-sai's. Road directional signs are few or only appear at the last minute (hey that highway exit sign shld be placed at least 100 meters BEFORE the exit and not AT the exit!).

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Why so troublesome open an a/c juz to withdraw money? Juz plan & budget what u need and bring along the correct amount. I always change some in Singapore and the rest in Bangkok coz the rates there tend to be better. No need change all in one shot. Change what yah need, balance SGD can still bring back.

If u want to buy an apartment there... 1) Thai banks won't lend u the money unless you have a work permit so... 2) u still have to get loan from Singapore bank. Interest rate charged will be quite high. Unless u cash king and pay all in one shot and I'm not sure how u gonna hide the purchase it from her (wife I presume)?


Thanks Bro for the infor.

Main reason to open an account is to have my monies transfer there for retirement and housing purchase purpose cuz i understand that you need some kind of documents from the bank that shows that you actually transfer legitimate monies over.

Any other way to get around getting the loan? I understand that Bangkok Bank do hands out loans to foreigners but like you say must have work permit though. Thanks

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Indianmagicoil,

Yes, SCB has the purple signs! No, you can't open a savings account with only apartment lease agreement, my friend tried and he was rejected. You need to own a property or has work permit.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Tookie - the faster you learn and accept that thais do things their way the better. Doesn't not have to make sense to you or anyone else but it has to be their own way!

Go with the flow and their maipenrai attitude and you find yourself one step closer to having a good time in thailand - short or long term.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Ah bro correct you there changing money in singapore is way better in singapore you at least get 23.5 per dollar as to 22.8 per dollar in thailand. And can anybody tell me where to learn thai. I got thai gf but trying to learn thai on my own hard

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Wah! Singapore now still got 23.5??? Where ah? Tell me quick! So many bros will also wanna know. If "jun" all will up your points.

U got thai GF and u still need to learn from elsewhere? something is not right here.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Hello,

Also, I need to learn Thai! I have lots of time so which school is the best place to learn Thai?

Thanks,

14 days

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

last i checked was at golenmile. try the 2nd last changer or the last one both give slightly higher rates. But i think drop again. My thai GF not in singapore plus she busy running own restaurant so no time teach me. I learn from book but very basic tourist thai. which i dont really need

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Bro i suggest you can try getting a uob thai account.. If not wrong can link it to singapore uob.. withdraw money also no need pay asmuch fee, if not wrong only need to pay sgp side only

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Alamak bro... u dun let people go GM for nothing leh... my last post of 23.16 was from GM also last money changer - Bangkok Exchange or something like that. Near entrance at the other end (i.e. not at 5 Star Travel side). When was your "last i checked" date?

U think drop again? Its been dropping since beginning of January. Uncle old already cannot run around town chasing false info unlike youngster like u. :rolleyes:

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Bro u go thru NS before? What they teach u? "If not wrong" means "not sure" right? Must be "SURE" coz last time I checked they are totally unrelated and even if use my Spore UOB ATM card withdraw also kanna BHT150 surcharge.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

The rates are going to drop further after CNY as the last time I spoke to my friend who's dealing with currency mentioned that it will go all the way to around 21.7baht = SGD1 so those big time cheongsters please stock up your thai baht now...

Personally I prefer to change it at Parkway Parade (at the most LEFT HAND SIDE) facing from Yakun, the malaysian ah lian can be negotiable on the rates if you change from 1K SGD onwards

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

The best place to learn thai language are DISCOS,AGOGO BARS, MASSAGE PARLOURS etc...hahaha just kidding...

From my humble knowledge, CHULA UNIVERSITY has special program for foreigners to learn thai and their teachers are quite professional, I got a friend who obtained his masters in thai language and now he speaks better than thai natives...haha

You got to check it out on their website:
Chulalongkorn University

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Agree with you bro

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

The last i check was early last month. Hahaha sorry ah bro here we are all bro we dont see age one. i also somethines lazy want to run around

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Bangkok Master,

Thanks for the message! When I retire in Bangkok, I'shall check out Chula University's Thai Language Program. Also, I might be lucky and meet some of the students!

Thanks

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Don't forget to share with us.:D Chok Dee.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Blue Dragon,

Sure, you folks can have all the young, attractive, flat chested and gold digging Chula graduate students! But after thorough investigation, going to Chulalongkorn to learn Thai language is bad ides for me because their language classes are too intense! I have to figure out different school to learn Thai.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Try My Thai Language School in 18/F RS Tower in Ratchada.

My Thai Language School Bangkok, Thailand qualifies for a one year non-immigration ED visa and gives students the possibility to learn Thai language and Culture with great teachers.

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

55555 you know the student scene well in Bangkok! :D

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

you are living the Singapore Dream!!

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

Bro... u wan kana f**k izzit? U post any info here must be accurate and relevant. Might as well say u heard ST can have for BHt1000 but that was 15 years ago price? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

For all bros info... yesterday update... Arcade (Raffles Place) 23.32 to 23.36 (various changers) and GM (Bangkok Forex) 23.28.

Anywayz new year coming soon... can't scold people... not so nice naa...
Have a HAPPY THAI-GER YEAR! 新年快樂！

Re: Living in Bangkok!
 

bro,me send to my wife only bht 23.26 on 12/02 only:o

which/where money changer have higher rates:eek: