LIVE A MIDDLE-CLASS LIFE IN THAILAND

LIVE A MIDDLE-CLASS LIFE IN THAILAND Manual for a New Life MAKING A BUDGET p.3 ACCOMMODATION p.8 TRANSPORTATION p.15 MAKING THE MOVE p.20 FURTHER READING p.25 Click Here to Subscribe to Life in Thailand Newsletter | 2 BUDGETING FOR LIFE IN THAILAND Getting You Settled Two Social Security Budgets I turned to an expert on Thailand budgeting, Nancy Lindley, for this report. She has years of bookkeeping experience and both makes personal budgets and also keeps to them – and keeps careful note of unexpected expenses. Significantly, Nancy has a second calling: she cares for expatriates who fall on hard times. She visits them in hospital, contacts their relatives, talks to the consulate and spends countless hours repatriating very sick people who cannot afford long-term or major medical care in Thailand and must go home for treatment. She has seen a side of expatriate life that few of us even think about, so my budgeting conversations with her are always sobering. I asked Nancy to draw up two budgets, one for half the average Social Security check and one for twice the average, and to comment on each. I’ve added my own comments after hers. Both budgets are for Chiang Mai. For Bangkok add 15%; for the countryside subtract 15%. E-mail me, godfree@thailandretirementhelpers.com if you have questions.