Have you ever seen the queue at an ice cream stall that has a free ice cream promotion? People will queue up 30 minutes for free ice cream, ignoring the cost of time it entails. The moment 'free' is involved, everyone is happy to work or suffer for a rate that doesn't even amount to minimum wage. The word 'free' has such a magic pull, it seems to eradicate rational thought. It's the same reason why financial advisors who work for an hourly fee don't get hired. Who wants to pay someone USD 100 … [Read more...]
A Guide to Online Grocery Shopping in Bangkok
Tired of eating noodle soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Unwilling to shell out THB 490 for a spinach pizza at the food cart du jour? Keen to impress a date with home-cooked food? Then you're in for a pleasant surprise. By the way, that home-cooked food thing actually works. Or so I've been told. I can't boil water without burning the bubbles. But back to the matter at hand: stocking your fridge. [thrive_leads id='1495'] Taking a taxi to a supermarket on a Saturday morning is an … [Read more...]
Renting in Bangkok: An In-Depth Guide to Locations, Prices, and Contracts
Before I first moved to Bangkok, I looked up some places online. It didn't take me long to come across an apartment that looked absolutely stunning. It seemed a lot nicer than the monthly rent that was quoted. I was ready to book it online right away for my first month, but figured it wouldn't hurt to stay at a friend's house for a few days to get the low-down on everything-Bangkok first. Turns out, that was a good decision. The place was a dump. Pictures of the bedrooms had somehow hidden … [Read more...]
Thailand Money Matters: An In-Depth Guide for Expats
I remember opening my first bank account in Thailand. A kind, middle-aged bank teller handled the application. My secretary was along to help translate. Halfway through the process, the teller turned to my secretary and asked, "Does he have a girlfriend?" Maybe I was lucky that I didn't, because that account setup seemed to go a lot smoother than anticipated; however, not all my dealings with Thai banks went that well. From being unable to cash foreign currency checks to getting rejected … [Read more...]
Thai Health Insurance: Here’s What You Need to Know as an Expat
When I wrote about my cost of living in Bangkok a few weeks back, the most common question I received by e-mail was what health insurance I'm using. If that's all you want to know - that's easy. The company is called ACS. If you never heard of them, don't worry, neither had I until 3 days before signing up with them. However, those recommendations don't stay up to date for long. My insurance prior to ACS was a French insurance that shall remain unnamed. They were pretty awesome ... until they … [Read more...]