Reader Submission: Making choices every day
Important choices should be made with all pros and cons (of course not all choices, some are made in seconds). And yet with an eye to the (expected) future looking what next?
For example, years ago I opted for eight months in Thailand and four months in the Netherlands. Although not exactly, a bit as it turns out. How everyone arrives at their choices is very personal. I can explain a bit how I got there. About fifteen years ago I visited Thailand for the first time. According to experts, not the real Thailand but Pattaya, say Disneyland for adults.
After some time I met my wife in one of the many bars. Moving to Thailand was not an option, but earning money and taking a long holiday three times a year was an easy choice. Over the years, the holidays got longer and longer. The length of the holiday was determined by the financial resources of the moment. And this is how you slowly build a second life in Thailand. In the beginning I spent four months in Thailand and eight months in the Netherlands, now the time distribution is roughly reversed.
Now retired could also choose to stay in Thailand all year round. I can't see many advantages in the choices I would have to make. First the cons if I don't choose a permanent residence in Thailand:
- For those four months in the Netherlands, you must continue to pay housing costs and insurance throughout the year.
- Extra costs for airline tickets.
- Possible loss of a tax benefit.
The advantages of a part-time stay:
- Maintaining the social safety net such as health insurance, etc.
- Contact with my children and grandchildren also plays a role.
- Not having to take anyone into account for a while, only yourself.
To reduce the costs of the distribution over the year, with about three trips back and forth between the two countries, I stay alone in the Netherlands, my wife stays in Thailand. Saves about 2000 euros in flight costs. Basically, the choices we make are based on: how much money do you have to spend.
I may be overlooking some advantages or disadvantages of a part-time residence. And could this be supplemented by the readers?
And for the readers who have ever made the choice of permanent residence, would they have done it differently with the knowledge of today?
Greetings from Piet from the middle between the rice fields
Very recognizable what Piet writes here. I fly up and down 3x a year myself. Always 2 months in the Netherlands and then again 2 months in Thailand. It is an expensive approach, because you have burdens that go through in two countries, but there is a freedom that is indispensable to me. You live, as it were, two lives in the time of one.
The main reason for not settling permanently in Thailand is that you will always remain a 'stranger in a strange land' (I speak quite a bit of Thai, but in your own language you have better conversations and interests are more aligned ), but also that you are dealing with an unreliable legal position and that you are always a second-class citizen. It is a pleasant idea that you still have the ships behind you. A more practical reason is the alternation of two climates. After two months of heat, the Dutch climate is a relief and vice versa. A piece of running or cycling goes much better in the Dutch climate than in Thailand, but sitting on the beach or traveling around, yes Thailand is more suitable for that. You always have something to look forward to with this approach. It doesn't seem to be wrong for my relationship in Thailand either. She can manage without me for 2 months. I experience it as the best of both worlds. So I completely agree with Pete.
And for the readers who have ever made the choice of permanent residence, would they have done it differently given the knowledge of today? ”
No! Have lived permanently in TH for sixteen years and no one can take that away from me. I am now back in NL for the health insurance policy; I am now 73 years old, I am disabled and I would like to have those extra medical costs insured. But sorry? No, not for a moment. If I can travel then I will visit the Thai sun and my family again, but I would just as much like to fly back to the polder.
In my eyes that is a bit of eating both ways.
Let the Dutch work together the healthcare costs, and play the flier yourself in your working years without contributing to the pot. So incomplete AOW accrual (2 x 16 ==32% less), and then probably supplementary benefit, allowances, etc.
There is something to be said for AOW pension, health insurance, after accruing a number of working years, more personal responsibility, and otherwise bad luck.
If you have of course had your sheep on dry land before, this does not apply to you, of course.
Well Piet, I have exactly the same thoughts, so I am also very curious about the reactions of readers.
To the response so far,
see that is a good solution to divide the time between the two countries.
another reason that supports this,
No hassle or whether you are on loan for the state pension is registered as single with the municipality.
Which also entails a net 350 euros per month more in the wallet.
In order to reduce the costs for the +/- four months in the Netherlands as far as possible,
100 euros got rid of my car (fixed costs ver. and road tax)
other costs such as petrol and garage, depreciation not taken into account
50 euros no internet completely at home, hitch a ride on the neighbors' wifi (in consultation)
50 euros Very low energy costs meter reading months 0 consumption. (fixed fee remains 50 euros p/m)
50 euros miscellaneous obligations such as union, roadside assistance, etc: out the door.
----
Saved 250 euros
There is still quite a lot of fixed costs left, which you cannot avoid, unfortunately
On the other hand, the costs in Thailand are limited
with our own house up to about 3000 baht per month
to fixed costs such as energy and small maintenance costs.
For the people who have not yet made a choice between being a permanent guest in Thailand or partially
Still, something to think about
Gr Pete
If one of the advantages is that you don't have to take anyone into account for a while, part-time would be the best choice in my opinion, because as an advantage you get the safety net and the (grand) children.
Full time requires sacrifices and taking into account unforeseen setbacks and if you are not waiting for that, don't make yourself unnecessarily difficult.
If you are from after 1950 (or 1951?), then as a “single person” you may now receive more AOW than if you lived together full time in Thailand. If your partner is young enough to earn for himself, you will be cut considerably.
Of course everyone has to decide for themselves, but I deliberately chose the part-time variant.
Although I love my wife very much, I could never burn all the ships behind me because of the many advantages I believe I have.
Fortunately, my Thai wife who lives with me in Germany thinks the same about this.
We have made ourselves as small and independent as possible in Europe, so that we have reduced the annual costs to an almost minimal level.
A small condo with balcony, without garden maintenance and further worries, directly near the public traffic that has a connection to the urban airport.
Advantage, we both remain well and favorably insured, when we come into the years we have no major risks of price increases and exclusions, and when we close the door behind us, we are flexible to go where we want to go.
The annual costs of an expat health insurance and additional insurance for my Thai wife, which I would have to take out in Thailand, almost correspond to my annual fixed living costs and the airline tickets that I have to book for our flights to Thailand every year.
Moreover, this option gives a feeling of coming home every time, where we can greet our family and friends in Thailand as well as in Germany every time.
Admittedly a personal possibility, where both my wife and I quickly agreed.
My choice was simple. No half things. I met my wife in early 2012. At the end of that year I moved to Thailand. After a lot of arguments I was able to divorce in 2014 and have not regretted my decision for a moment.
I chose 100% Thailand. However, if I ever lose my wife for one reason or another, I will not hang around in Thailand, but I will not go back to the Netherlands.
It is not wrong in the Netherlands, but there is nothing that holds me there. Then go to Brazil. I really liked that too..
We have made the choice to move to the Netherlands with the whole stuff after 11 years. All those years I commuted, but I got tired of it, every time that flight, that taxi, that little hotel near Subernabhumi… It is also a lot more favorable financially: my wife was able to start work here almost immediately, for my son we now receive child benefit and the Thai private school, clothing, etc. are no longer a cost item. Not to mention health insurance through OOM for women and children. In our case it means 1 house instead of . 2, 1 car and motorcycle instead of 2 of each, 1 x electricity, gas, internet instead of 2, and a working woman instead of a wife who has a large amount on the monthly bill because she can hardly earn anything in Thailand.
Difference is about 20,000 euros annually in our favor, and the whole european continent at our disposal. And I'm not even talking about the quality of the food!
ps: If we could not choose the Netherlands due to circumstances (child, Chavez), it would also have become Germany. As a European citizen you can at least settle there with your foreign partner…
To the response so far,
see that is a good solution to divide the time between the two countries.
another reason that supports this,
No hassle or whether you are on loan for the state pension is registered as single with the municipality.
Which also entails a net 350 euros per month more in the wallet.
In order to reduce the costs for the +/- four months in the Netherlands as far as possible,
100 euros got rid of my car (fixed costs ver. and road tax)
other costs such as petrol and garage, depreciation not taken into account
50 euros no internet completely at home, hitch a ride on the neighbors' wifi (in consultation)
50 euros Very low energy costs meter reading months 0 consumption. (fixed fee remains 50 euros p/m)
50 euros miscellaneous obligations such as union, roadside assistance, etc: out the door.
----
Saved 250 euros
There is still quite a lot of fixed costs left, which you cannot avoid, unfortunately
On the other hand, the costs in Thailand are limited
with our own house up to about 3000 baht per month
to fixed costs such as energy and small maintenance costs.
For the people who have not yet made a choice between being a permanent guest in Thailand or partially
Still, something to think about
Gr Pete