Dear readers,
I have now visited my love in Thailand (Udon Thani) twice and she has visited me once in the Netherlands. I notice that at first I was mainly concerned with the question: how do I get her to come to the Netherlands? I now have that picture clear.
Gradually the thought came to me, why should I not move to Thailand? There is little that really binds me to the Netherlands other than working until 67 and a few months (now 55 years old). In any case, it will take about 5 years before my love (now 46 years old) can come here, and that comes with a considerable cost, integration, language education, etc. Subsequently, she would have to look for work at the age of 50, with in my opinion little chance on the labor market given language and age. I myself would have to keep working until retirement, not very attractive at all.
So, why not move to Thailand when I'm ±60? Sell my house here. Then use the profit to bridge the years leading up to state pension and pension benefits? She has her own home, the mortgage of which was paid off around the age of 50, so that she can stop working. It all seems to fit.
Cost of living seems to me, compared to the Netherlands, quite lower. But how high are these when you talk about 'the basics' fixed costs such as water, electricity, insurance, etc. Clothing and food seem much cheaper to me than in NL.
Are there readers on Thailand blog who have experience with this? Tips, advice, what am I overlooking?
And I'm not looking for comments about money-hungry family or Thai women out to milk Farang. Simply practical. What kind of monthly budget do you need to keep a two-person household going in a simple way? Not luxurious but worry-free in terms of monthly expenses? What do you run into with governments, both Thai and Dutch?
I am curious about the reactions.
Regards,
JosefH
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Hello Jozef,
I have pretty much the same plans.
Been living part time in Bangkok for a few years with my love. Basic monthly payments naturally depend on location. But for about 750 – 1.000 euros per month you should be able to get a long way.
Variables that make it more expensive are, for example, car installment (in my case, no way).
But there are bound to be those who have more & longer experience.
Good luck with your choices.
Dear JozefH,
These kinds of questions are much too open to answer just like that. No doubt the answers go in all directions and bloggers go to great lengths to give you a good answer. It would be better if you described your own situation and certainly your wishes regarding living in Thailand more precisely.
The most important questions have to do with whether you want to live more the Thai way or stick to your Western life: car / moped / bicycle / nothing, air conditioning everywhere in the house or only fans, Western food every day or always Thai food, similar health insurance, care for growing children, care for parents, health situation, number of vacations per year.
Discussions and advice have already been given on all these aspects on this blog. You could also look up all these parts yourself here and make some nice advice yourself.
The largest and most burdensome expense is health insurance. This will quickly cost you € 400 per month.
I hear this often, but of course it depends on what you want insured.
In the Netherlands I have lost € 300.- per month for the two of us, then 2 x the deductible is added.
That is € 4350 on an annual basis, in Thailand I pay € 4210 at AIA, I must say that this insurance becomes more expensive as you age.
But isn't that the same in the Netherlands?
no, in the Netherlands you are not allowed to be discriminated against on the basis of age.
Healthcare in the Netherlands costs about €6000 per person per year, so €12.000 for the two of you.
The fact that you only have to pay a premium of € 4350 is because there are general pots from which the largest part is funded. In Thailand, all costs must come from the premium.
And no, in the Netherlands age has no influence on the amount of the premium and pre-existing ailments may not be excluded and there is an acceptance obligation for the basic insurance.
Correct. Everyone in NL only pays a part, namely approximately € 1300 direct premium and a € 385 deductible per person. The rest comes from the tax pot, including through your Zvv payments (see your annual statements). As a result, a lot of money flows from the young healthy to the elderly in need. A place for a demented elderly person costs € 80k /yr. In Thailand that is not the case, and you are on your own and in-laws. So if you need some expensive surgery, you're out of luck.
I see it in the father (81) of a business friend of mine. Fortunately for all, he is a former officer, so he is covered by military insurance. Otherwise he would have been reincarnated for more than 10 years.
No, in the Netherlands your health insurance premium does not 'grow' with your age. One of the advantages of compulsory insurance.
At the age of 55, I lost about 70.000 baht a year, with extensive coverage. So 155 euros per month. An increase after every 5 years. Your younger girlfriend can use the standard Thai insurance or with the same insurance for around 50.000 baht per year, 110 euros per month.
As Chris says, not to give a sensible answer because it depends so much on your situation. The mentioned amount of 750 – 1000 Euro per month is absurdly low in any case.
What I would certainly not underestimate is the change your life undergoes when you move from NL to Udon Thani. That's different (admittedly cheaper) than moving to Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya or Chiang Mai. Don't underestimate that – I understand you're in a fairly early relationship, but once the newness wears off you'll be in Nakhon Nowhere where there's not much else to do.
Furthermore, I do not know what your income is in NL, but if that is on the low side, a lot is subsidized and arranged by the government in NL, sometimes without you being aware of it. In Thailand you have to arrange and pay for everything yourself, such as the health insurance that Khun Peter quotes.
Dear Kees, why the contempt for Udonthani.
You don't know whether he means the CITY of Udonthani or the province.
There is still a lot to experience in the city of Udonthani.
What Khun Peter already said is the most important aspect.
At the age of 60, the insurance premium in Thailand is much lower than at the age of 70.
And then you don't have to have any medical ailments, otherwise you're out of luck. And after your 70th birthday, pretty bad luck, because you get thrown out everywhere. Even with travel insurance with medical costs.
So it will be a lot of saving to be able to cover the medical costs for the future.
My advice to JosefH. Don't live too far from major hospitals. That could come in handy in the future.
Your pension will be considerably lower if you stop working at age 60 and
I believe the AOW decreases by 2% per year if you live abroad.
You must arrange health insurance in Thailand yourself and it is expensive.
Living is very cheap for a holidaymaker, but can be disappointing for a long-stayer: Bottle of beer in Dutch supermarket: 20 Baht, in Ned. catering 140 Baht. In Thai supermarket 40 Baht, in Thai catering 60 Baht. An egg is almost as expensive in Thailand as here, a bouncer costs a fraction.
You do need a car, occasionally on vacation is also normal. The family does not have to be money hungry, but it is quite normal that your contribution is expected in some cases. You have no income, so I think you should have and keep 800.000 Baht in a Thai bank account. That will not be a problem. What else is involved in keeping a valid visa can be read enough on this blog. Whether those rules will still be the same in 10 years is extremely uncertain. The most important point is: How much AOW+pension will you have left over from your 67th/68th birthday? To be on the safe side, I would assume that by then you will have to prove 100.000 Baht per month in income. (Now I believe 65k if you didn't have that 800k).
To bridge 8 years without too many worries in reasonable well-being, I think of a minimum of about € 200.000.
The fixed costs are all not too bad . BUT the health insurance that provides cover for a good (international) hospital where the doctors speak reasonable English will be a considerable expense.
Well, out of pure curiosity + the many stories about it, I started taking daily notes in January this year. Literally everything. So also gasoline, electricity, internet
We live with 3 people.
I also have health insurance for me and my girlfriend, easily traceable to monthly amount. Ditto for car and moped insurance including taxes.
I live somewhere between Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon.
Give me your email address and I will send you the 3 months of this year + the fixed annual costs
Gives a realistic picture.
I'm sure we all share that curiosity with the Inquisitor, but if I understand correctly, it will not be satisfied and the figures will remain a trade secret for the simple reader for the time being.
Don't forget to take the depreciation on the car, motorcycle and all electrical equipment (refrigerator, TV, air conditioning, computer, telephone, cooker) and the like with you?
And can't you probably lift a little corner of the veil? More or less than 65.000 per month?
@fransamsterdam:
less than 65.000/month.
But I won't go into detail, too many people like to play the man instead of the ball. 5555
And this includes health insurance of 78.000/year.
Of course, depreciation of cars, household appliances and the like are not included.
Still sporty! In fact, you should also include all your depreciation on items that you have and that you will ever have to replace. Especially in the example of the questioner. And much of that electronics and stuff is not really cheaper in Thailand than in the Netherlands.
I would like to receive your data
Thanks in advance !
You can buy a motorcycle for 50.000 to 70.000 baht. Maintenance is minimal. Namely, only change the oil in the first years, up to 150 baht per 4000 km. Motorcycle tires cost 2000 baht per 2.
Car costs ditto, for a middle class on installment you pay between 7000 and 10.000 per month. Maintenance costs are again low. For a Toyota middle class I have been paying around 1200 to 2000 baht for the 10.000 km service for years. Tires around 10.000 per 4. Insurance for the car around 15000 to 20.000 baht per year, first class insurance.
Good morning,
I would like to receive your monthly and fixed annual costs from you. My email address is [email protected]. I live in huahin.
With kind regards,
Dan Georg
Dear Inquisitor,
is it possible to email me that overview as well?
My email address is [email protected]
Thanks in advance,
Richard Tsj
Just like the Inquisitor, I keep track of the expenses (in an excel file) and this not over a period of 3 months, but already over a period of 5 years. In those 5 years there were two years WITHOUT income but without payments for anything (car, motorcycle, etc.).
It may sound surprising, but I find that costs FALL over time and stabilize after a few years, not increase. This is mainly due to the fact that many purchases made in the early years do not return. Also because you know better where to buy what. How this evolution will develop in the future is a question mark.
Giving an estimate for someone, of whom you don't know what demands he has on daily life, is impossible. You can grow 'banana' and drink the famous 'Keen beer' and get by with 2.5EU/d, even with 4 people. Under what circumstances this is I leave to the reader, but you need little imagination to know that this is below the black poverty line.
What I do note is the fact that if you take as a guideline the requirements imposed by immigration, you can live in Thailand in an orderly manner, even on a level that largely corresponds to life in Europe (Belgium-Netherlands) and not based on is on 'survival'.
Attn Fransamsterdam: it is below 65.000THB/m with health insurance included.
This declining trend is indeed due to things that you have bought quite quickly, but they will also often (have to) be replaced at some point. So if you count your depreciation as expenses, you have a 'pot' to keep things running smoothly. Otherwise you will come across a period 'in which everything breaks down at the same time' and you will suddenly have much higher 'monthly' costs again.
Hi Inquisitor,
We already talked to each other once. I'm moving from Belgium to Seka, Buengkan at the end of June. I would have liked to go through your “study” regarding consumption per month. Seems very interesting to me. Can you also point me to an insurance company?
Mvg Luc Dierickx and Da Noipech
Dear Inquisitor,
is it possible to e-mail this overview to me as well?
My email address is [email protected]
intention is to live in Rayong province
Thanks in advance,
Erwin
Well,
For electricity with 2 air conditioners, 1 of which is always on, I lose 1.850 Bhat in San Sai (Chaing Mai) and 3.270 Bhat in Bangkok (same situation).
For water in San Sai 128 Bhat and in Bangkok 278 Bhat per month.
Telephone; in San Sai and Bangkok equal 690 Bhat (Dtac) per person
Rent, but you hardly have that anymore.
Thai food; in San Sai, (they bring them on a scooter) an average of 30 to 40 Bhat and we eat it with the two of us.
Eating out ix times a week costs about 400 to 500 Bhat.
Gas; only for baking an egg or making soup, have had a large gas bottle for more than 14 months and it is not empty yet.
Fuel for two scooters 100 to 150 Bhat per week, but I enjoy driving laps every day. thinks this is the ultimate delight of Thailand.
hoping to give you an impression.
Gerrit.
me alone(78). in Roi et, live on 20000bath per month
live in the Netherlands, am in Thailand for about 10 months a year. You can make / keep it as expensive or cheap as you want.
You live in the Netherlands. Free? And you are also insured in the Netherlands? While staying in Thailand for 10 months a year? Then you screw things up. And flying back and forth is included in that 20k per month? This is how Jan Splinter gets through the winter.
if you take as a basis the 65 000 Baht per month needed to renew your extension. Will you be a hassle free senior. And at the end of the month you still have a surplus for unforeseen circumstances.
I live in Bangkok metropolis, rent a European furnished 2skpl apartment, have a 3 winch 4WD SUV-AT, regularly go out for dinner and occasionally make a tour of 1 to 2 weeks.
65.000 Baht now for 1 person, agreed.
But sir is now 55, wants to work for another 5 years and then bridge almost 8 years with the home equity / profit. Then we'll be 13 years further before he gets his reduced AOW/pension. If he has enjoyed that for 7 years, we are already 20 years further, so you can easily convert that 65.000 to 100.000 by then. And I don't see that pension growing that fast anymore. If the minimum required income exceeds his AOW/pension, he will have to leave the country. The surplus value/profit from the home has long since run out. Then they will have to leave for the Netherlands, hopefully still together.
I have no idea where and how sir lives, but if you could rent out the house and demonstrate that 65.000 income per month, it might be a bit more difficult to make ends meet in the beginning, but then you will keep your house and the picture looks much brighter for the future.
forgot to mention that I am married, and have no children or other financial family responsibilities.
Think of the 800.000 Bath (400.000 + a lot of paperwork) that should be on your Thai bill.
Furthermore, your state pension in the Netherlands is reduced by 2% too early every year and you have to pay tax on your state pension in the Netherlands. Furthermore, report to Immigration every 90 days and on a new Visa for 1.000 Bath every year.
Furthermore, you are Farang so costs can be higher and your “Dutch” food at Makro or Tesco is also more expensive than your bite of rice. You can no longer live in Thailand on full state pension alone
You will not receive a new visa, but an extension will cost 1900 baht.
difference cost of living Belgium – Thailand
Thailand 41% of what you spend here
information via website: numbeo
mvg
You don't get much out of those numbers. If they are based on thorough research at all, they are still averages. In Thailand, the differences between the regions are quite large.
Also keep in mind that if you start living together in Thailand or the Netherlands, you will also receive the corresponding AOW benefit. As of 2018, this is € 807 gross per month for a married or cohabiting person. You can still get some exemption from certain deductions through the tax.
SVB also checks in Thailand whether or not you live together. Think about this.
Good luck
Next time when you visit Thailand, try to make an overview of what you lost per week/month.
Would you like to live on this base in Thailand?
Health insurance is a different story.
Check with the different companies which premium they charge at 65 years, 70 years, etc.
What exclusions they apply to previous illnesses.
Is it a lifelong insurance or does it stop at the age of 70?
How is the partner insured.
If the relationship ends, can you continue financially? Would you like to arrange a (rental) condo / house yourself?
In 5 years time (55 – 60) a lot will change in Thailand! Keep that in mind!
Everyone lives in their own way and so there are many options open.
There are enough NL expats who only do an AOW benefit, I thought €1120 at the moment.
Health insurance indeed cuts in around € 400, rising to € 500. But as you have already indicated, you also pay in the Netherlands, so you can partially cross it off.
Car insurance all risk around € 250 p/y. You can hardly miss a car, but it doesn't have to be new, there's plenty on offer.
Fixed costs, not too bad water from the municipality € 5 p / m electricity € 50 p / m. cooking gas €10 per bottle
Clothing, household goods, food much cheaper than in NL. Fuel diesel € 0.70 petrol € 0.80 p/l
You could ask what your girlfriend needs to live on and what her income is.
Furthermore, the government is not a burden NL is happy to have lost you and Thailand is happy with your arrival, after all, you pump money into the economy. Visa for 50+ no problem.
Udon Thani is a large city with plenty of department stores, restaurants, etc
You have been on holiday a number of times, so you know where you will end up and how hot it is here. you also have to get used to it, after all you don't want to sit in front of the air conditioning all day.
I'd say pack your bags, welcome to Udon.
More commenters have already written above that you write a little too little about your wishes as to how you think you can live in Thailand.
Are you going to live completely like a Thai, or do you have a different idea of your life that you want to keep to certain Western customs.
Only Western eating habits, compared to the Netherlands, can already be quite expensive. Furthermore, at the age of 60 it would also be unwise to start saving for a good health insurance policy.
It is also very important to know what your sweetheart and possible family of her have in terms of financial expectations.
Financial wishes, which are still hidden with a sweet smile, can suddenly become reality if you are not careful.
The fact that a much younger Thai woman wants us as an older Farang in her neighborhood has what many do not like to hear, often nothing to do with our beautiful blue eyes, but with the fact that she expects social security.
It is also important to know whether you will survive in the place or village where she lives.
On vacation, and fresh in love, a completely different culture is a pleasant and often interesting change, while in the long run with a lack of language skills and completely different interests it will become increasingly boring.
All things that you yourself have to think through with a clear head, and of which you understandably cannot expect any advice from her side.
I live in a rental house in Rayong.
Housing costs 12.000 baht per month with
1 air conditioner almost always on and including mobile
telephone and internet connection.
Regularly eat out both Thai and European.
I have a motorcycle that I regularly tour with.
Have health insurance for 20.000
per year.
Am 62 years old and are with 2 people.
I get out on less than 50.000 a month and
can do what i want.
Josef is 55 so he can still take out cheap health insurance: I only paid $55 in Thailand from age 60 to age 1200 with a deductible of $1000. And from 60 to 65 it doesn't have to be that expensive either.
Then Josef has his pension and after his 67th also a small old age pension (because he misses – if he emigrates at 55 – 12×2% = 24% of that & he lives together, so he only gets 76% of 807 euros ( amount 2018).
Anyway, with AOW and pension he will probably be able to pay the health insurance premium in due course.
As far as living expenses are concerned: because he lives for free (almost paid off house) he can easily get by on 1000 euros per month (so excluding health insurance, airline tickets and possibly purchasing a car).
Works fine for me too.
I have been living in Thailand for over 25 years now. 20 years phuket and now 5 years in Udon Thani.
If you like it you can reach me via my e-mail and I will explain a few things to you.
I have a lot of experience
Gr.Jochen
e-mail [email protected]
I am sometimes in Chiangrai, living costs are 1000 euros per month with the two of us, then car costs, internet, health insurance, differs, but you should not think that it is a lazy nice country, sell your house, would still have left over think, you can also rent it out, do you have more income in thailand, do you have to meet financial obligations over the age of 50, stop working, have now accrued 25 euros in pension after 540 years, and will you then receive aow at the age of 67? and 3 months approximately 940 euros net together ; 1490 euros, and then you still have to meet that 800000 baht on your own account, are you a millionaire or do you have more than 200.000 euros in your account and 800.000 baht on Thai then I would start thinking about living there, I just stroll back and forth, then I meet the requirements and at least it won't give me and my partner a headache, and she can also see the family now and then, so for everyone one it's your own choice, hopefully you take the right one, good luck to all
I received a letter from my pension and it was 67 + 3 months but it has now turned 68 and I am not happy about it
Dear Joseph,
Especially depending on your unfamiliar lifestyle it is not easy to determine what is needed, still give it a try.
Needed for a reasonably prosperous life is 50.000 Bath per month, which includes:
food, drinks, electricity (2 air conditioners), gas, water, internet, telephone, car costs (fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance), small purchases, also some wine, beer, whiskey and some foreign products, home insurance, small maintenance costs for home .
there is no ::
car depreciation, holidays, trips to NL, living expenses, major purchases, eg air conditioners, refrigerator, TV, car, etc.; you must therefore bring that money with you from what you call the profit from your house, or from a fat pension.
A separate story is the health insurance, I would not take out, it quickly costs 15.000 Bath per month, the premium can increase with age, in my opinion it is better to save the premium and pay the healthcare costs, you have to stay out of high healthcare costs for about 5 years , that is a risk, or bring in capital, I do it like this and it goes fine ( 10 years of premium saved is 15.000 / month X 12 = 180.000 / year x 2 people is 360.000 / year x 10 years is 3.600.000 minus the 300.000 health care costs in 10 years, saving is 3.300.000. If the health is now poor, that can be an extra risk, a large reserve is immediately needed for this, costs in a state hospital are considerably lower, but quality care, sometimes, also .
Bank balance of 800.000 Bath is recommended to meet the visa requirements for retirement visas, then you do not have to prove a hassle with 65.000 income per month; deposit from capital to be brought.
If you live together, you have the low Aow, about 800 Aow (discount of 2% per year x 7 years is 14% has already been taken off), there is no longer a partner allowance, taxed in NL, IB 100 Euro, net 700 Euro, is 27.000 Bath. Your girlfriend does not accrue state pension while living in Thailand.
In short, your pension must be at least as high as your Aow + saving for healthcare costs or the policy is 400 Euros per month 15.000 Bath (not necessary if you bring sufficient capital, how much? A few million Bath minimum) + pay large purchases from the capital to be brought along ( or from a fat pension ) + the housing costs ( your girlfriend already has a house, almost paid off, can't pay rent or build a house ).
So: in Aow 27.000 + pension 27.000, 54.000 is necessary, 50.000.
The other expenses not included must come from assets or slowly from a higher pension than 27.000.
It is certain that you can get by with considerably less, but then you will have to adapt your lifestyle to the options you do have, not a car but a motorbike, no air conditioning, etc.
You have been to Thailand 2 x and your girlfriend 1 x in NL, you do not write how long you have been there and she in NL. It is my opinion that this is a fairly narrow base to emigrate and burn all ships behind you prior to that, it is advisable that you get some more Thailand experience by commuting there for a few more years and your girlfriend to NL more often come late. You cannot rent out your house, you need the profit from the house to be able to pay for the expenses that are not included, but you must of course judge that yourself.
Your thoughts of wanting to emigrate to Thailand and take early self-paid retirement seem tempting but are not devoid of risks. a number of chunks. Build and expand the relationship first. Good luck and hope you find these figures and my comments useful.
Nico B
Two things strike me here again: “living like a Thai” and “health insurance is expensive”. The first of course means: living like a POOR Thai. I don't live like that myself and our budget for basic living expenses for my Thai wife and I is about 15000 Baht per month. However, some extras come from a different jar, such as water and electricity ... then it already goes to 20.000 baht.
We don't have a car. We don't want to (yet), because we can do without it (a motorcycle with sidecar for the slightly larger transport needs will suffice in 99% of the cases).
Health insurance. I have a good expat insurance that now costs me 230 Euros per month and will cost me a little more at 80. That is due to the annual general cost increase, but not my age. An acquaintance of mine who is in the insurance industry himself always advises me to stay with that company and not take his, which is also good.
Just a difference in costs: a good friend of mine had an inguinal hernia. Treatment costs at the Bangkok hospital in Hua Hin 160.000 baht. In the San Paulo hospital 230.000 baht and as a VIP patient with a private room in the Hua Hin hospital: 7000 baht. Seven thousand. It could have been even cheaper, he said, but took the luxury variant. That amount was still below the personal contribution of his Dutch health insurance.
So here too it depends on which choice you make.
I would always look at your monthly budget that you don't mean the minimum, but a life where you can always save for extra costs and increases.
Sjaak, would you like to tell us here on our blog which insurance company that is?
Or if this is not allowed, please send an email to jomel(at)chello.nl
Thanks in advance
Everything is relative, but in principle you should be able to do it under the described circumstances with 1000 baht per day, without insurance, buy a motorbike for 15,000 baht.
In addition, reserving 10k for visas and other reservations.
But the best advice: first go live there for a full 2-3 months, before deciding something like selling a house, would also go for renting out as written earlier, then you can always go back or sell it later. Plus possibly; let her also come to the Netherlands for a full 2-3 months to experience that.
After 17 years of experience living, living and working in Thailand, I would like to tell you the following: if you want to live in a rather simple Western way, milk, a piece of meat, butter, a glass of wine, bread, fruit, and that kind of normal, simple Western products, you are much more expensive in Thailand. Compared to eg Spain, about 30-40% more expensive.
Less than 2 weeks ago I was treated at the Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin for an infection in my lungs, a bacterial pneumonia. The costs for 8 days of nursing, no operations, treatment with mainly antibiotics: 530.000 Thb. Yes, you read that right: 530.000 Thb.
I wish you a very good morning and wake up well.
It remains an integrating subject, finance.
But I get the impression that the less convinced do not live in TH themselves and the more positive ones do.
Furthermore, I know from my own experience that living in the more touristy areas is more expensive than elsewhere.
And of course also, when you are on leave, or even staying here for a long time but still temporarily, you will spend more than if you live here permanently.
Then you don't spend every day in the pub, on the beach. Don't go out for dinner every day. You pick up from the natives: good food from the stalls. Cooking yourself, bought on the market instead of the expensive Foodlands or Tops. In short, you live normally.
And you go out in this nice country without those expensive plane tickets - because no one mentions that when he or she tells you that it is better to come here every year ... . Do you also have to “write off”!
And that health insurance terrifies just about everyone.
People have been accustomed to the welfare state in Europe for too long. While in most of the world that is just the same as here. Even in the USA.
There is an oriental saying that I have made my life motto:
“Better live 10 years as a tiger than live 100 years as a turtle”
So to the author of this blog: go for it. Move.
I live in the "flat" country around Pho Thale and get by easily on 20000 baht a month, no housing costs, no car repayment and no health insurance.
I have also made the decision that Josef is now making in the past. In my experience, looking into the future and making calculations seem nice, but they rarely materialize. With me, a lot looked different on the date of crossing. I had a house that, at its peak in the Netherlands, would generate a profit of almost 70.000 euros, but which ultimately resulted in a loss of 38.000 euros. Finally, due to the effects of the 2015 tax law, I was again reduced by more than 3000 euros on an annual basis on my pension. Due to the crises in 2008 and in fact due to the great profit behavior of many who earn their living in the financial world. A mentality that is still displayed today and can therefore be repeated again. But yes my trip was already planned, quit my job, applied for a pension and booked a trip. Then you go for it anyway. Arriving in Thailand with 18 years of holiday experience, I thought I would fit in here and that turned out to be only partly true. It is important that you know yourself, but often you only find out when it has happened. There are people who have children, but only then find out that they don't actually have the qualities to raise them lovingly. There are examples of that. An emigration is quite a big step, which should not be taken lightly. What you throw away or leave behind is lost and what remains depends on many factors. You have no influence on most factors. Politics determines how things go with the pension and I don't think that will benefit us all. There is big money in the pot, which people want to spend differently. How do you deal with a mentality in Thailand, which is completely different from the one we know in the Netherlands, or which you may have received in your upbringing. If you have the characteristics of a chameleon and support the mai pen arai thought (it doesn't matter if everything is good) you will go far in Thailand. Close your eyes to what is bad, such as traffic, the environment, prostitution, poverty and so on with things that play a role here. If you have enough money then anything can be done, if you don't have that the answer may be clear. Then it will not work and frustration will play a role. There are many in Thailand who have been disappointed, but don't always get ahead.
Having to deal with stress in your old age is something I wouldn't wish on anyone, but it is still the order of the day. So think before you leap and good luck with the math, but don't rely too much on it if you depend on others, as most of us do. The favor factor is simply very small among humanity.
Is now in doubt myself, will be 58 years old and my back and shoulder are starting to bother me a lot, have my own property and business and can just get by financially, (without interest in capital) owned in the center of Bangkok since 9 years a Condo right in the center of Bangkok.. Been doing nothing but math lately. How much do I need? , my fixed costs of my Condo are approximately € 250,00 per month (association of owners including building insurance), contents insurance and water, light and internet.
I don't need a car.
I don't drink alcohol and can just eat delicious Thai food, occasionally interspersed with European food.
For the health costs I count on $ 2500 per year for 2 people (married to Thai)
Already have a savings account with Thb 800.000 and hope to sell my property in the Netherlands.
Think for yourself to easily get by with € 1000 per month (excluding expensive purchases and depreciation)
Now pay a lot of property tax and insurance in the Netherlands.
Have been sleeping badly for months what should I do ………
Dear Adrie, sleeping badly is not good. What do you have to do?
Read all of the above carefully, extract the information you need, apply to your personal situation and put it on paper, then you will not keep calculating, with all the facts in a row you have a good overview.
Furthermore, see that you get a diagnosis regarding. your back and shoulder and ask the doctors what you can expect from them in the future.
Health insurance estimates you, why not dive in and determine what you can expect, then you know that fact too.
You don't need a car, you already have a Condo, 800 on an account too, you don't need alcohol, given your lifestyle, you could get by on 38.000 B a month, but now go after that health insurance policy first, that's important, then you can see what is left or the amount needed and then you make your judgement.
Do you have assets, your own property, business, if you convert that into money you can use it to supplement the monthly requirement, but with 58 years old, you have to bridge the cart for quite a few years, without income.
In short, get the facts together first and then start calculating again.
Good luck,
Nico B