soi6

I don't know if this helps provide a measure, but I met a girl in BKK who had just graduated from college and never worked in a bar, she had a BS in Economics and had landed her first job out of college. It paid 500baht/day, and she worked 6 days a wk. so that gave her around 12,000 baht a month or 156,000 baht a year income. Now, this is just for a student fresh out of college. She lived with her parents and was a saver of every baht. How much a middle class thai makes monthly I'd suspect is around 40,000 baht/month, i.e. what she would be making after many years at her job.

Hi Shilo, I've considered the same rollover from the traditional to roth ira. When you do so you have to pay taxes on the rolled over amount as though it is income, so that would add 5000 to your yearly income by doing this (taxwise). Also, depending on age you should be able to contribute added amounts to your ira/roth ira, and don't forget you could convert 5000/yr into a traditional IRA, which would decrease from your total income as a standard deduction - this can be added to the standard deduction taking you up to 12500 deduction, worth considering.. You can roll over $ into a roth

Found this handy calculator! http://www.retiredexpat.com/living-in-thai...-calculator.php put myself in for going out nightly, 7 days a wk, and daily 'company', and living in best accomodations etc... Plus 12k/yr USD in visa runs a year.. came to 5.5k USD/mnth.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/20/business/thai.php BANGKOK: Long one of the most open and accommodating destinations for tourists and businesspeople in Asia, the well-advertised "land of smiles" is showing signs of a subtle frown directed toward foreigners. Over the past seven months, successive Thai governments have passed measures scrutinizing land purchases by non-Thais and clamping down on long-stay retirees and expatriate workers who lack proper visas. In January, the cabinet passed a sweeping bill that tightened restrictions on foreign companies, a measure that awaits fi

hmm www.justfares.com has always found me a good fare, try that. and try www.kayak.com Also try looking at flying into Manilla/Singapore/Hong Kong, and then once there do a rt to BKK.. best of luck!

Hi Pete, Wonderful post, thanks for sharing - didn't know you were a media junky! I can picture your wife loving to do Kareoke to all the latest Thai/Lao favorites on that baby!! Take Care, Shane

One thing to do b4 you make the move in the US is to make residency in a state with no state income tax. If not, and you moved from Kalifornia or Taxachussets they will keep a tab on what they say you owe and chase you when it gets high enough. The best thing to do is move to Washington state or Texas and live there for several months and rent a place, get a new drivers license, and get rid of your old one and have the new state be the one you file your federal taxes in.. I don't know much about investing, but an annuity might also be something to consider. Here is a website a friend of

The 85k as Redwood says is 'foreign earned income' that you are not taxable for yearly, however from what I understand that 'foreign earned income' does not count as non-taxable if it is from investments, dividends, bonds, property, etc... Only wages at a job are not taxed up to 85k, if you are outside the US for 333 day/yr. Recently congress removed inclusion of employer paid for housing/auto/etc. into the 85k amount.

I recall BigDUSA has stayed there, and wrote about it. Maybe PM him or do a search for the key words..

http://www.pigandwhistle.net/booking.cfm

Good Calc, thanks... I've played with the Fire one also. This one has some nice features.

Recommend checking Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) or Laos for the chinese/thai look..

Retired on 600k for 20 some years.... Here is a website of a couple who retired at 38ish, they live on 24k/yr and travel the world. lately they've been spending 6 months a year in Thailand.. They claim that they do it on 600k and having a house and car paid for in Phoenix, AZ. They haven't worked in the last 20 or so years and don't plan to.. They live by the 4% rule and claim it works.. Retire on 600k Cheers, Shane

Batam Forum click above for the Isle of Indonesia/Singapore....Batam..

Rodger, I don't know any Belgians in Pattaya. But, there is a Belgian community in Chiang Mai, and the bar called Number 1 Pub that is owned by a Belgian man Freddy who married a lovely Thai lady named Joi. Email them, they are very friendly. Here is the bar website, you can find email information there... They know Belgian people throughout Thailand. Pub #1 Chiang Mai - Shane

on the sign it says open 09:00 to 0:00 What is 0:00?? is this Thai time?

Hotel Porn Ping is a great hotel 1000 baht/nite. Disco and concert hall next to it.

Do some reading in the forum at www.thaivisa.com lots of good info. Best of luck!

I would say get a guidebook, and a 'long haired translator' (i.e. cute bargirl) to show you around during the day...with of course stopping of the mall to get her a new outfit... That is how I learned about Bangkok.. Pattaya again do the same... Much better than a tour guide company..

Best deal on jeans I found was in MBK (Bangkok) mall. The cost was about 800 baht/pair, and they even hemmed them right there for you for no added cost. Don't know about Pattaya.

Soi7 - recommend staying at the Hotel California2. Jim is the manager, an xpat from California. Nice location and he can fill you in on all the details. Here is their website, I've stayed there several times myself.. Hotel California Phnom Penh

Depends on hotel and time of year...Sometimes one can arrange if staying for 1 month to get a 5-15% discount.

I bring an assortment of Travelers Cheques, cash, and a couple of ATM cards. The Travelers Cheques I only bring $500 ones, when you are billed for cashing TC's it is the same price no matter how much they are worth.. So don't bring lower valued ones.. Bringing $ or pounds.. One should bring $100 denomination. For the lower bills 50, 20, 10, etc.. one gets a lower exchange rate.. I believe that it is the same for pounds as well.. Only bring lots of lower value $ if you are going on a side trip to cambodia.. ATM cards are good throughout Pattaya/BKK.. Some bring debit card

Sizzlers near 2nd road in the mall (same mall as Rippleys) first floor. Buffet is lunch/dinner.

First time I'd give one of the following a try... Eastinny Inn Flipper House Flipper Lodge They are all close/in the action and on easy to figure baht bus routes. They also have websites, just do a search.