Is This the Death Knell for the Cheap Charlies in Thailand?

[ExpatOK 98]

I notice more and more Cheap Charlies leaving Thailand.  No longer do our tales of woe convince the Thais to give us discounts on meals consisting of only pork and rice. No more phony Embassy letters for retirement visas.  And now there is talk of requiring the expensive Thai health insurance for retirement visas, OA class now, but no doubt all classes in the future.  

 

Thailand is moving up, worlds ahead of neighboring Cambodia and Vietnam in terms of infrastructure and western amenities.  Yes, visas there are easy, but living is not.

 

So, is this the death knell for Cheap Charlies in Thailand?  Are we about to become extinct?

[ivor bigun 2,757]

Dont know ime not a cheap charlie and dont know any .

[cyril sneer 1,139]

nice profile pic

[CNXexpat 1,443]

Also a rich man can be a Cheap Charlie if he has the money but is not willing to spend it. Perhaps you mean the expats and tourists with not so much money. 

 

Especially in Pattaya you can find many men they are not willing to spend a lot for food and accommodation but spend 1,500 - 3,000 Baht per day for beer and girls. 

[wgdanson 8,661]

I take it from you post that you consider yourself a Cheap Charlie. So why not leave now before you find it too expensive and difficult to enjoy Thailand and leave us others alone. Thanks.

[ExpatOK 98]

12 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

nice profile pic

Thank you. I have a big crush on her and I hear she's single now.  But, alas, I don't have money, nor am I her brother.

Edited November 10 by ExpatOK

[sillyfool 686]

5 minutes ago, ExpatOK said:

Thank you. She's the love of my life and I hear she's single now.  But, alas, I don't have money, nor am I her brother.

you would. 

[PatOngo 26,882]

30 minutes ago, ExpatOK said:

So, is this the death knell for Cheap Charlies in Thailand?  Are we about to become extinct?

Yes!

[sirineou 11,977]

Posters in this forum have being complaining how Thailand was not, "more like the west" . 

I always said "watch what you wish for you just might get it" 

And here we are.....There no such thing as a free lunch, there is a price for everything, and cheap charlies can't afford it.

[Nebula 72]

Agree, and like the west it has started to become. Foreigners, and to be specific westerners ie Western Europe and North Americans, Australians. Could I say they brought it on themselves? The same as those embracing diversity and after the new comers numbers increased... u ll know the story. They brought it on themselves too.

[William Osborne 250]

I don't think there has been an influx of them in the last few years and the existing ones are slowing killing themselves off by drinking large bottles of Chang and smoking fags all day ....about 10 years max for that life choice ..

[buick 759]

there is 'flat broke' and 'cheap charlie'.  flat broke are history, they can't get a visa (some, married to a thai, can't put 400,000thb in a bank).  cheap charlie is another thing, as noted by another, many cheap charlie's actually have money and can afford the deposit required for the visa.  they'll still try to get their costs for housing, food, and entertainment to be as low as possible.  and that is pretty easy here in thailand.

 

my father and my best friend are both cheap charlies (they live in USA).  i'm well versed in how they operate.

 

Edited November 10 by buick

[Lacessit 8,470]

I suppose I could be called a Cheap Charlie. My GF cuts my hair for me, and buys secondhand clothes for me. I don't squander money on expensive meals. Just once in a while, as a treat. If I'm buying a big ticket item, I look for the best value, or buy used if it is only a couple of months old.

I don't feel any need to impress friends or neighbors with my possessions. As the last time I was in debt was 1974, my philosophy is working for me.

I regard educating my Thai GF it is better to be a saver than a debtor as a triumph. She gets it now. My father taught me, and I'm passing it on.

[BigStar 78]

On the contrary. We're even now in the midst of the Golden Age of the Cheap Charlies. And it looks to continue far into the future, too, as more and more are being officially encouraged to come on over.

 

Incredibly our members seem to have missed entirely the import of the constant cries over imaginary zero-baht tours, the nightly parades in WS, and the use of five straws to share one bottle of water. Oh, the (cultural) blindness. HOW can that happen?

Edited November 10 by BigStar

[giddyup 14,194]

You notice more and more leaving Thailand. How exactly. Are you doing a survey at the airport?