Printable View
[QUOTE=AncientFornicatr]Having been away all of 8 months and returning in January I think of a GOOD exchange rate as somewhere around 40. Return I will but plan to spend a lot of time in Cambodia where a buck is still a buck.[/QUOTE]
Those of us who live here, hope you enjoy Cambodia, while we enjoy the fact that the baht is almost back to where it was in '97....bring on 25/$ !!!!!!!
[QUOTE=Old Thai Hand]Those of us who live here, hope you enjoy Cambodia, while we enjoy the fact that the baht is almost back to where it was in '97....bring on 25/$ !!!!!!![/QUOTE]
Actually, for most of us who live and work in Thailand, the strong baht is a negative. The reason is that one makes so little in Thailand that even at 25/$ it would not make sense to spend it in the US - one could probably never save up enough for the plane ticket anyway.
Personally, though I can just barely get by on the 35K typical farang salary, those occasional inputs from home still mean more to me. So, this expat is praying for 50/$, as much as I know that is not in the cards. Perhaps if burd-flu really gets going someday.
[QUOTE=Opebo]Actually, for most of us who live and work in Thailand, the strong baht is a negative. The reason is that one makes so little in Thailand that even at 25/$ it would not make sense to spend it in the US - one could probably never save up enough for the plane ticket anyway.
Personally, though I can just barely get by on the 35K typical farang salary, those occasional inputs from home still mean more to me. So, this expat is praying for 50/$, as much as I know that is not in the cards. Perhaps if burd-flu really gets going someday.[/QUOTE]
That one confused me... what is the advantage to you in the baht losing value?
As far as I can see, most expats are better off with a strong baht:
We still get paid the same in baht terms.
Foreign goods are effectively cheaper (foreign foods, pretty much all electronics etc etc)
Our money is worth more when we do cross the border - I accept that all farangs don't have the money to go to Europe/US, but I'd think most could take a trip to Laos/Cambodia/Malaysia on occasion. Laos a bit baht based, but Cambo as someone else mentioned is strongly dollar based, so the baht is worth a lot more there.
Also, as far as I know, the Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is no longer fixed against the dollar, but tends to follow it up and down (probably by virtue of being an oil based economy), so Malaysia gets cheaper the stronger the baht gets.
Ooh.. Burma as well - dollar based economy as far as I know.
The only disadvantages I can see for expats to a strong baht is:
1) If your money comes from exports you'll be making less
2) There'll be less tourists, so if you make money from them, you'll struggle a bit (that's effectively the same as exports I guess)
3) If you are not paid in baht, your salary will effectively decrease - live with it, you're probably making a packet anyway :)
[QUOTE=Blunderer]That one confused me... what is the advantage to you in the baht losing value?[/QUOTE]
Brother, I'm saying that most of us expats make so little and are so unlikely to ever go back to the US on our paltry salaries that a strong dollar for those occasional checks from home (from the family, etc.) is far more important.
That brought a huge grin to my face.
I hadn't considered that side of it.
For years every letter and email to my parents finished with 'please send money'.
They never did!
(To be fair to my wonderful parents, my including that was a running joke, if I had ever seriously asked them for money, they would have given me some).
[QUOTE=Opebo]Brother, I'm saying that most of us expats make so little and are so unlikely to ever go back to the US on our paltry salaries that a strong dollar for those occasional checks from home (from the family, etc.) is far more important.[/QUOTE]
NOTHING in Thailand is as important as the King making a full recovery as soon as possible hopefully in time for his 80th birthday celebrations.
We are pleased to hear in the news he is doing well.
[QUOTE=PinkPearl]Neither am I. In 100's of sessions I cannot recall a condom ever breaking, though quite a few times I've had it cum off inside the lady. .[/QUOTE]
Condom breakage is not that unusual.
Major causes are fingernail scratches (sometimes guys do this on purpose)and friction against sponges that some girls wear indside them.
Its much less likely for short sex sessions of course.
Faulty manufacture is rare I believe.
[QUOTE=Opebo]Actually, for most of us who live and work in Thailand, the strong baht is a negative. The reason is that one makes so little in Thailand that even at 25/$ it would not make sense to spend it in the US - one could probably never save up enough for the plane ticket anyway.
Personally, though I can just barely get by on the 35K typical farang salary, those occasional inputs from home still mean more to me. So, this expat is praying for 50/$, as much as I know that is not in the cards. Perhaps if burd-flu really gets going someday.[/QUOTE]
Opebo. You're a chump if you're working for 35K. I don't know what you're doing for so little, but there are lots of jobs that pay more. Personally, I don't know any Farang making less than 60,000/mo minimum and even that's low.
[quote=piper1]i could never move to thailand to be a salary worker on such a pitiful wage. that's ridiculous.
i guess most westerners in thailand don't have a family to support (or don't support an ex-family).
dubai - minimum 300,000 baht/month (tax-fee) for western professionals with a higher degree.
cost of living is higher than thailand, but we get by.[/quote]
we've discussed this before and you're absolutely right. but, not all farang are losers like mr. 'o' scraping by on 35k. there are lots of farang making 100,000+ and even 200,000+. anybody working for less, unless a young guy (or girl) in their 20s here for an adventure and to get some experience should think about what they're doing with their lives.
even at 125-150,000 (depending on the month) i only accept that i'm doing 'ok' because i don't have any kids (except my gf ;) ) to support.
btw, dubai is in the cards for me in a year or two to make a last chunk of dosh before i retire.
[QUOTE=Old Thai Hand]Opebo. You're a chump if you're working for 35K. I don't know what you're doing for so little, but there are lots of jobs that pay more. Personally, I don't know any Farang making less than 60,000/mo minimum and even that's low.[/QUOTE]
Where? I've not been locally employed in Thailand, but have had plenty of farang friends who are/have been - usually teaching English, but, some of them have switched to some sort of stocks based telesales and brokerage thing in recent years - I don't know what they make. The teachers have all been in the 35-50k region - some of them get a few benefits chucked in. All of them make at least half as much money again with private lessons.
If you know of places where degree educated farangs can easily get 60k jobs, I know some folks who would be absolutely delighted to hear about it. Further, I am sure Opebo the chump wouldn't mind almost doubling his income after a quick couple of words of advice from you.
[QUOTE=Blunderer]If you know of places where degree educated farangs can easily get 60k jobs, I know some folks who would be absolutely delighted to hear about it. Further, I am sure Opebo the chump wouldn't mind almost doubling his income after a quick couple of words of advice from you.[/QUOTE]
He's already had plenty of advice from me. Even third-tier International schools pay at least 60,000 base salary. First-tier schools pay double or more plus bonuses. I know some international school teachers making close to 200,000.
As has been posted on here ad nauseum, I'm a university professor, teach about 20 hours per week (including overloads) and make roughly 135,000+/month. Even adjunct faculty can make a lot more than Opebo is apparently making in his full-time job. My university pays 2,000 baht/hour to part-time faculty. My other university pays 1350/hour. I have part-time faculty working for me who are making 48,000/month teaching 2 days/week.
Just in education alone, there are loads of opportunities even outside of teaching including consulting, special lectures, and writing manuals. You just need to get into the system.
[QUOTE=Mick Licker]NOTHING in Thailand is as important as the King making a full recovery as soon as possible hopefully in time for his 80th birthday celebrations.
We are pleased to hear in the news he is doing well.[/QUOTE]
Hopefully the care he gets at Siriraj Hospital is better than that obtained by the American teacher turned away from Pattaya Bangkok Hospital when they could not confirm his insurance status. PBH claimed they did not have enough blood for him...then transporting the dying man by truck to a hospital that they claim had the blood and of course with different admission requirements. He died before reaching the second hospital.
[QUOTE=Old Thai Hand]I'm a university professor, teach about 20 hours per week (including overloads) and make roughly 135,000+/month. [/QUOTE]OTH,
135k/month (I assume it's after all taxes) for 20 hours workweek is not bad at all.
I have a very comfortable salary, the only downside for me is the Travelling and the sometimes never ending work hours.
I don't know how one can live (let alone Monger) on a 35k salary! My rent and utilities are almost double that (fortunately, the company pays the bills)
Hello,
Sometimes I wonder what will happen if the KING will die when I am having my annual holiday in Thailand. It is likely that HE will die pretty soon. Probably it will paralyze the nation for a long time. I know the future KING is not loved by a lot of Thai but he will become KING anyway. I really hope that the present KING is able to come up with a good solution but I am afraid chaos will be there. Just wondering what all the experts are thinking.
Best regards,
Frits
[QUOTE=Old Thai Hand]Opebo. You're a chump if you're working for 35K. I don't know what you're doing for so little, but there are lots of jobs that pay more. Personally, I don't know any Farang making less than 60,000/mo minimum and even that's low.[/QUOTE]
Brother, it does seem a bit harsh to call someone a 'chump' for working for the salary which is by far the most common one. Virtually all Thai public schools as well as most private English schools, and 'English centers' at universities pay 30,000-35,000 baht. I know you like to refer to those that pay more, OTH, but please try to understand that these are a small minority of employers of foreigners in Thailand.
Anyone considering teaching in Thailand should understand that the salaries that OTH mentioned, while they certainly are not fiction, are extremely rare. Don't count on it. Think about it - every Thai I meet considers my salary 'big money', and these are all middle class people making 16-25K, making payments on houses and new cars. Why would they pay more than they have to?
Keep in mind also that for most of us this is not that much less than we could make at home. I like so many am essentially unemployable in the US, as it is far more difficult to get a job there, so $1,100 or a bit more is great money for me, particularly in a country where rent is around $100. It sure beats making $8/hour in a land where rent is 500-600.