Jump to content

Cheap Charlie Budget


Pdoggg

Recommended Posts

My Thailand discretionary budget is 500 baht per day and I don't deprive myself of anything that I really want. I'm lucky because I have very simple tastes.

Most days I am way under 500 baht but then there are days where I might go significantly over so I figure it averages out to about 500 baht.  

The biggest budgetary change since I moved to Pattaya is lodging.  At first, I tried to keep lodging costs low and found the best cheap room I could for me and my teerak in a place that had a swimming pool.

If living alone a studio is just fine, but over the years found out that I really needed a one bedroom for us to be happy.  Now I've upgraded even more to a place with a nice kitchen in a location that's good for both me and my girlfriend.

But I go out much less, though not for financial reasons. Ladyboys bars have lost their appeal and so has drinking. I don't want a beer buzz everyday and when I go out it's most often just for a couple drinks since I don't like to wake up the next morning with even the slightest hangover.   

Luckily, I like cheap Thai food so don't feel the need to eat expensive farang food.

I'm not hunting, so there's not money being spent on ladydrinks and barfines.  The only reason (for me) to a buy a ladydrink is if I'm interviewing for sex or want some company in a bar.   

I realize that my 500 baht budget is not doable for most guys as the cost of sex adds up quickly.  But if I wasn't in a relationship, I'd be doing Thai Friendly or Beach Road.  Most guys I know, pay between 700 and 1000 baht for booty calls. Now the thing is if you go to bar even if you have one drink, one ladydrink, and a barfine that's going to be 500 baht or more right there before paying the girl.   So I wouldn't be pulling from bars very much unless there was someone I really wanted from a bar.  But even Thai Friendly twice a week for 700 plus 100 taxi money to be nice could fit into that 15K a month discretionary budget. 

Of course guys on holiday want to have sex more than twice a week so this really doesn't apply.  When I was coming here on holidays, I had a 4000 baht a day budget for everything except my flight and guys thought that was low.  

What if I had 100 million baht in the bank?  I'd get a nicer place, maybe View Talay 7 in Jomtien with sweeping views.  I wouldn't buy a car though.   I guess I'd use Grab more often.  I'd tip more and pick up more tabs for my mates.  I wouldn't have to think twice before paying 5 baht for the bog, lol.

I'd upgrade my girlfriend's family lifestyle.   I'd travel more and stay in nicer hotels.

But the main benefit of having 100 million baht is that I wouldn't have to worry about money.  And I'd know that I could cover extreme medical expenses.  100 million baht would give me freedom.  I'd be set for the rest of life as long as I don't fuck up.  But I wouldn't go out to bars any more often than I do now.

Now a billion baht would be awesome as I could then spend money with reckless abandon.    But I strongly suspect that this spending with reckless abandon would get old rather quickly.  At least for me.  It'd be great to say to friends that we're going to Rio for a week, business class and 5 star hotel on me. But I honestly don't think that would make me much happier than a night out in TJs.  But I reckon my mates would like it.

But I'm digressing.  I do have budgetary constraints.  But it's quite easy for me to live within my means without feeling deprived.    So I feel fortunate that I can live in a comfortable place and have 500 baht a day to spend.

 

 

 

  • Like 3
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You and i live pretty much the same Pdogg. I don't deliberately budget 500 baht a day but over a month probably spend about the same. Easy when you don't drink, although i confess that smoking and 7-11 coffee are my vices. i used to consider that not eating thai food was a problem [i hate it] but it isn't really, the secret is to cook at home. Even foreign food can be cheap in Thailand if you do so.
e.g, last night...chicken breast, salad, a few home made chips, peas. doubt the whole lot cost much more than 60 baht. Knock the restaurants on the head and savings are good, and the food is possibly better!
Of course it's different for guys on holiday, The big mistake expats make is to live as though they are permanently on holiday too. Nowadays cafe food for me is a once a fortnight or so thing, usually if i manage to drag myself into Pattaya from my home in Jomtien.
In the final end though concerning those of us who live here, it's all down to how big the pension is or savings are. And how you want to live. I'm very happy that my mongering days are to an extent over... not for any reasons of age, health etc, i just became jaded with it all. I've been here too long! If any little Thai ever asks me again "what your name-where you from?" i'd smack them around the head! good god...i was hearing all that back in 1984.
My one big rule in Thailand is never buy anything that won't fit into a backpack. Posessions mean nothing. The only time i broke that rule was when i bought the bicycle. One day i intend to [maybe] move to the Phillipines, but that may depend on the ridiculous Thai visa rules changing for the worse.

i want an invite to one of Rom's parties!

Even now in these exchange rate debacle days i still save 30% of my pension in England and have done for some time, yes, i could  get that over here every month and live the high life... but like you i don't want to live that way. I'll carry on saving for possible medical expenses, or when i move if i do... it will help to move easily...no more sleeping on park benches for me!
As for bars?It's Emmy for me! I've been to TJs  2-3 times and would like to go more often perhaps.. but the problem with there is the distance... not a problem going, just one bus ride, but iffy for coming back, especially with the sometimes need for a toilet! 
The rest of the Soi Buck bars... don't touch them, not interested. Too many cliques.

:drinks:
 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, blind boy grunt said:

If any little Thai ever asks me again "what your name-where you from?" i'd smack them around the head! good god...i was hearing all that back in 1984.

Lol got that exact sequences of questions from one of the girls when we popped into Sweethearts the other night. And the third question was of course.......you buy me drink...  Actually I was a bit surprised in a place run by Jimbo as it seldom happened/happens in TJs.  
 

Like you guys I can get by on the basics on 500 to 600 a day, and that includes food for my other half.  But of course there are always the unexpected budget stretchers, usually on the missus side,  for as soon as she is feeling anyway unwell it’s straight to Boots for a mini cabinet of medicines.  
 

Two or three time’s a week I’ll head out to a bar with some of you gents and let my hair down to some extent,  nothing too extreme these days mind.  I’m only here for 3 months at a time, and not here to save money so if the itch to go out is there then of course I’ll scratch it, but as long as I can avoid lady drinks it works out okay.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/5/2019 at 7:17 AM, Pdoggg said:

 I'd get a nicer place, maybe View Talay 7 in Jomtien with sweeping views.  

I do stay at VT7 on my trips to los now. I do appreciate the balcony with views out to sea, and spend most daylight hours on the balcony, reading or listening to UK BBC Radio 4 programs on laptop. When I stayed at other places I would usually spend days by the pool. VT7 does cost a bit more than other rental condos, the higher you go the more the cost, but still good value compared to other long haul destinations I've been to, at around 1200 baht per day.

I budget for spending 4-5,000 Baht per day after the condo rental, and bring that much with me, but usually I only spend around half what I bring.

The first week or so I just eat a bowl of soup in the evening at Rompho, and lose around 5 lbs (2 kg) in weight. After that I still usually only eat in the evening, so my food bill in los isn't that much. I don't eat much at home, and in the Thai heat I don't feel hungry.

My main expense is drink. I don't drink that much myself usually, 3 or 4 glasses of red wine in an evening, around 400 baht. But I do buy drinks for the lbs, so an evening in a lb bar will work out at 2-3,000 Baht, occasionally over 4K. I don't mind buying the girls ladydrinks as I know they are getting a cut, and it makes up for me not barfining much these days.

When I don't go to a lb bar in the evening my day's spending will be less than 1000 baht. I used to go to a live music bar (Party Girls) in Rompho a couple of nights a week, and my bin there would only be around 400 bt for 4 glasses of red wine, and 100 bt tip for the singer. Unfortunately that bar has closed.

I probably spend less than 500 baht (£10) on daily living expenses at home. I live quite frugally, I don't go out much. My mortgage is paid, so apart from utilities and council tax I only need to buy food, maybe £5 (200 Bt) a day, and  2-3 glasses of wine (£2.50/100Bt) most evenings. So los is dearer though not prohibitively expensive, and it's my holiday so I'm not counting the pennies. And as I've said before anything I leave when I kick the bucket will be taxed at 40% so I'd rather spend it in a lb bar than leave it to the Government.

And I'm away from the cold and darkness of the UK winter, and with friendly sexy ladyboys! 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I am still in the workforce so I income.  I spend a lot of time in Thailand and I have a job that allows me huge amounts of time off.  My time off is only limited by my bank balance.  Thats EXTREMELY rare for someone in the American workforce.  Having said that getting older I want to enjoy the fruits of my many years of graft and tend NOT to be in the mood to deny myself.  Historically, I have lived simple and rather frugally. I have had to as I never made much money.

Spending a lot of time in Thailand, specifically Bangkok, the lure of whoring and the bars has faded.  Dont get me wrong I still like to play around a bit but its not nearly as important and the drive isnt there as much anymore.  I can be in Bangkok for three weeks and only go out a night or two as I have other things going on in my life.

The lousy exchange rate doesnt help.  I am like PDogg in that, if I ever came into some money, I would invite some friends for holidays on my dime. I think that would be cool.  I have a couple of great guys I know for whom I would LOVE to be able to do something. The main thing is I am not in the mood to deny myself small pleasures.  I am getting older.  My Dad dropped dead suddenly at almost the same age I am right now.  I think that I have sacrificed and saved and have this sum of money in my own retirement account, called a 401K here, so what if I drop dead?  How fucking cruel would that be?  I mean I would be dead so I wouldnt know but fuck me that would piss me off royally!!!!

Sorry for a bit of a ramble.  But I really wouldnt want to live a sort of "Cheap Charlie" type budget......

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

of course, there is a major difference between holidaying guys such as QG and Archie, compared to residents like some of us. And that's natural. You visitors should get over here out of the cold and rain, having a good time recharging the batteries ... and good luck to you all from me, everybody deserves a good holiday. All different for the long-time boys like myself and others though.... in a way we have seen it all and done it all, but maybe the thrill has gone a bit, it's all actually commonplace nowadays. In effect, speaking for myself, a little mundane now perhaps? but, here's the crux.. better to be bored [not the right word but you know what i mean] somewhere like here with the sun etc and loads of things to do.. if you want to do them! 

To me the great thing about retirement is that you can within reason, do what the hell you want to... and nobody can stop you. the choices are yours alone. Finances can hold you back sometimes maybe but if you're sensible and not getting pissed from 10 a.m all day every day... a great life can be lived. i'm dead happy with mine.

talking of which... now time for my morning 7-11 coffees! i will happily muse about pdogg flying us all to Rio.......

QG, looking forwards to seeing you and Canadian Kev soon, [don't forget the jelly babies]!

catching up with you too Archie next year sounds good.

regards all.

bbg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, blind boy grunt said:

i will happily muse about pdogg flying us all to Rio.......

Well playing the Thai lottery which I've never done ain't going to do it.

In the USA occasionally the Powerball (good name for a ladyboy) or Mega Millions (Mega Cock would also be a good name) gets to 500 million USD.  In such case the EV (expected value) of a $1 wagered might exceed $1 albeit with sky high variance.   Since winning 500 million isn't really ten times as good as winning 50 million, in offices co-workers often pool their money when the jackpot is big to increase one's chance of winning.

If I do ever win 50 million we're going to Rio where a travesti in the 50% percentile of length and girth is probably better endowed than her Thai sister in the 80th percentile.

BBG, While sipping your coffee you can ponder, "where does a gay senorita say si si". 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There was a USD 1.6 billion jackpot once but there were three winners. Once in a great while I play my state lotto. The jackpot is usually 3 to 10 million USD. If I win I will consult pdoggg on how to get by on only US$ 3M.:biggrin: The odds of winning the state lotto are like 40x better than the big lotto. Which means it's still a snowballs chance in hell. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

have faith Pdoggg... i once won the English lottery! but nothing too exciting i'm afraid.

I don't know how it's done now but in those days [mid 90s] it was a case of popping to the local shop, picking up a  lottery ticket and striking through the 6 numbers you chose.

i went round and did that, as ever just picking any numbers willy-nilly.

at about 8 pm the draw was televised. the missus was checking the ticket as the draw went through.  "you got one number! two. three, four!" she was starting to look at me with new found adoration in her eyes! The kids were suddenly well-behaved........ "we've got five!" [you suddenly changed to we..........]  "we want number 29!"

lo and behold 28 popped out.

not big money i'm afraid, it was the midweek draw.. 5 numbers about 1500 pounds i recall... but if i'd have moved the pen a fraction onto 28 instead of 29 it would have been a couple of million.

Ha! wouldn't have changed my life.....

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well that's more than anything I've ever won bbg. I do the Euromillions online and they send you a email if you've won anything.

Occasionally I'm checking my emails in the morning and there will be one from the National Lottery saying to log on as I've won a prize.

For a couple of minutes I can imagine it's the big one, or even a million or two, or even a few hundred thousand. OK I'll be happy with a few thousand.

Then I log on and it's something like £3.70. :sad0116:Not even enough to buy a pint in London. 

Still 'It could be me' - one day.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, as I end up spending more and more time in Thailand I would like to think of myself as am almost resident. If you are going to live in thailnd, you must have outside interests.  Even when I was 15 years younger I didnt want to spend all my time in bars and shagging.  Now I am older, less so.

Sometimes I play the Lotto.  That has smaller jackpots than PowerBall and, in theory, you have a better chance of winning.  When I am in Thailand, I always but a few tickets.  Its funny but in the last few months I have won 4,000 once and 2,000 once.  Years ago I won another 4,000 but I bet I am still way down on my original "investment".  Just a bit of fun and should lightning strike........

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Everything I pay for here in Thailand is done with cash, so it's easy to work out my budget spends as I record all my ATM withdrawals on a spreadsheet. The only other expense is a once-a-year return airline ticket to the UK to see my Mum & Dad, which I pay for by credit card.

I eat at home perhaps 1 or 2 days per week, easy stuff, not cooking, simply because I'm too lazy to go out or to cook properly. The rest of the time I eat farang food at farang restaurants with the occasional Indian meal thrown in when I feel like it. I have the belly to prove it. I don't care for Thai food but probably eat it about 4 times a year, usually at Pak Boong Loi Fah at the top of Soi Chayapoon.

I do what I want when I want, eat what I want, live where I want and don't spend (on average) more than about B40k per month.

Give me 10x the money and after an initial splurge I'll likely carry on as I am now and just sit on the rest.

Any excessive spending in Thailand is primarily accounted for by booze and whores. The draw of that faded long ago. The occasional ladyman street walker in a seedy short-time room does it for me and has done for years. I love the sleeze. I always have.

I took to early retirement at 49 years old like a duck to water. No regrets  :Monkey:

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm between the light and the dark...that is, still employed till the end of next month!

I used to admire our old mate DC for having the personal dexterity, gravity & down to earth approach to life in Pattaya while I was previously always in 'fuck it I'm on holiday' mode. In the last 3 or 4 trips I've slowed my spend down without really thinking about it. I actually spend less than 1k on most days. Previous life in condo's for 3 years was a step up from hotels but I still couldn't stay in & relax. Moving to a house on the darkside was a wee bit of a revelation.

Doris is happy to stay home, clean & potter in the garden while I can relax in front of the big box, browse the net or cook some food for her freezer when I'm away again. There are some great expat food stores around us who do some excellent ready made meals & pies for the freezer. I'm fond of their large Cornish pasties made from Tenderloin beef, enough for 2 of us served with some fresh veg & gravy for 90 baht. We have several large markets around us to cater for herself and plenty of fresh produce for me.

We are not far from the lake which has an excellent cycle/walking/running path around it. Doris doesn't know it but she's getting a nice pushbike for her Xmas present. This will encourage her to get round the track and get rid of the belly which has magically appeared. A wee cat has adopted us though this will be discouraged as I caught the bastard scratching my nice new sofa & Persian rug. We picked up a large fish tank which initially Doris was unsure of but now enjoys feeding her new pets.

I'd always thought the Condo route was the way to go but having been literally round the houses I now find the distinct separation from town a blessing in disguise. Most days we're back in the city but the 12 minute journey is no longer than it used to take us from Jomtien. 

 

S__11534352.jpg

S__11534349.jpg

S__11534351.jpg

o5faaf6e1a392e7d14e1e5ed7c1999cf6_40845608_190526_0035.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
On 12/7/2019 at 10:02 AM, Quietguy said:

Well that's more than anything I've ever won bbg. I do the Euromillions online and they send you a email if you've won anything.

Occasionally I'm checking my emails in the morning and there will be one from the National Lottery saying to log on as I've won a prize.

For a couple of minutes I can imagine it's the big one, or even a million or two, or even a few hundred thousand. OK I'll be happy with a few thousand.

Then I log on and it's something like £3.70. :sad0116:Not even enough to buy a pint in London. 

Still 'It could be me' - one day.

I got another 'Good News you have won a prize in the National Lottery' email this morning. I delayed logging on to lottery website so I could dream about winning a big prize for a bit longer.

When I succumbed and had a look it was £3.30. As I had bought 2 lines for £5 I was £1.70 down. :sad:

Still it gives me enough to buy a line on Friday.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
15 minutes ago, Pdoggg said:

Is this Opor's party at Delirious Bar at 18:17 of the video?   That would seem to have nothing to do with eating for 100 baht a day unless balloon chasing is part of the equation.   

It wasn't PD, he was just passing and included it in his daily Vlog..  this guy certainly isn't part of the 'Balloon chasing' crew imho.....:biggrin:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the reasons I really like this forum is because I don't get chastised for having a budget lower than some two week millionaires.

My past trip my biggest single expense was the room.. I tried finding something about 6-7k but settled on 10k with a nice view and walking distance from beach road.

Other expenses are mostly meals and souveneirs though I kept it down in cost this time. Got most of my shopping done in bangkok and to my surprise if you want to buy clothes, they're actually cheaper in bangkok in bulk than buying in patts from the stalls or night markets.

I might have to find where to pick up ladyboys in BKK without barfines as patts is much easier for that. If you guys know spots, lemme know.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, Ashoka said:

I might have to find where to pick up ladyboys in BKK without barfines

I suggest the streetwalkers on Lower Sukhumvit or Sukhumvit Soi 4.

Have a quick conversation of less than a minute.  If interested just say, "jet roi baht, chai mai"?  It is highly unlikely you will get turned down.   

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...