retirement in LOS

[mbrinkma]

Hey all,

I am seriously considering retirement in Phuket. I know it is possible, but is it realistic to live alone on 60,000TB/mo, and still have a decent recreational life? Does the desire to BF EVERY night ever go away? I know I couldn't afford that. I've found that I spend close to 5000TB a day when on holiday, broke down as follows:
800 lodging
1200-1500 food (usaully a meal with BG at nice restaurant)
1000 beer
1200-1500 BG
I would hope I could cut way back in the first three, and maybe get the BG down to once or twice a week.
I've also heard that in retirement, you need to participate in some form of constructive activity (work, hobby, etc) at least daily so as not to succomb to alcohol and partying burnout. Any insight from those in the know would be helpful. Thanks!

[stevem]

Hi and welcome to forum

You can easily live on 60K a month, obviously constraining yourself as you say. Your problem could be visas, as by your profile your not 50, but if you are retiring on a US Navy pension, then you may well qualify. I suggest you follow this up first and see where you stand visa wise, before going too far forward with your plans.

[IRISH JONNY]

I Should Think That You Will Have No Problem Living On 60 K A Month In Los..thats Nearly 10 Times The Average Monthly Wage !!!!!!!!!!! And The Thais Get By Easily..........
After A While You Wont Drink As Much And You Will Discover All The Cheap Resterants Where You Can Easily Get A Meal For 2 People For 400 -500 Baht And That Would Be A Nice Meal.....
Jonny

[urtheman]

Here's what you can expect on monthly expenses:
Rent 7-12k for yourself
Elec 700bt.
UBC(cable) optional 1500bt
Food 10k maybe a decent restaurant once a week ( I run a restaurant here so I don't eat at home)
Golf 4k twice a month
Alchohol ? up to you, you can spend 5k up to 40k depending
Motorbike 25-45k onetime charge or 3k per month rental
Women ? up to you 5k to 30k
Little extras 5k

I'm sure there are other guys that look at this amd have their own opinions but if you were to live here you would probably find a great girl and settle down and not party as much. When I first got here I partied every night but now I only go out 4 times a week
And I have found a great girl.... (in every bar I go)

Cheers!

[mbrinkma]

Got it right Stevem, A US Navy pension it is. I will definately research the visa issue. Got just under 18 mos prior to retirement, so plenty of time to do my homework. Good to know most guys settle down after awhile. I'm not the butterfly type anyway, but don't want to get caught up in any of the relationship snags I hear so much about. Sounds trite I'm sure, but I really love a lot of things about Thailand...the girls are just icing on the cake!

Thanks for the advice all.

[LivinLOS]

Lifes a ***** aint it !!

[Nicke]

Hi,

When I talk with people who want to retire or start some business here they should calculate for minimum 40,000 baht month for living a decent life.
Ofcourse you cant live "holiday" life with drinking and barfining every night, most expats settle down with a nice girl or if they live single bf a girl once or twice a week or establish long term relationship with some bargirls who is a kind of girlfriend but still not a girlfriend.

For myself I would not like to live here without doing something, let it be a small business or a hobby. I run a bar and also like to work with internet in the daytime and now I am starting to learn photograpy. I also like to play golf or do diving ocassionally and other tourist things with friends.

Many expats may go out often but drink less and pay less, just to meet friends or chit chat with the girls without barfining them. This is also a good way to look for a girl you really like.

Everybody is different so you have to find your own way to make a life you enjoy and suits your budget.

[Coolhand]

Originally Posted by mbrinkma

I've also heard that in retirement, you need to participate in some form of constructive activity (work, hobby, etc) at least daily so as not to succomb to alcohol and partying burnout. Any insight from those in the know would be helpful. Thanks!

A colleague of mine went on a work sponsored, pre-retirement seminar, where he learnt that one of the important factors for a long life after finishing work is an active sex life....
Looks like you might have to budget for afew bar fines

[LivinLOS]

Many expats may go out often but drink less

You dont know the same expats as me !!!

and pay less

Ohh maybe you do !!!!