The TPU UK Clubhouse

[Deleted member 24505]

I honestly believe those in power miscalculated how many people England can hold population wise. As much as I love England, the traffic is insane here, even in smaller towns. I wonder if anyone ever considers the mathematics of x amount of people and y amount of land... cause I don't think they do.

I will always love England, but eh. I miss no traffic of my small town home in the Midwest.

Have to agree.

 

[Tatty_Two]

I also agree, the town near where I live has doubled in population in the last 25 years but no additional transport infrastructure, it seems however that our crisis is housing and not roads, hence the challenge, we need to build more affordable homes (affordable is a moot point however) but we have less places to build them if we build lots of roads to service them

On the other hand, of course it will seem over populated to our American friends, I think we have almost 8 times the population density.

 

[ThaiTaffy]

My saying today "X and X don't belong in the same sentence" in this case "Britain" and "affordable", let's see how many more threads I can sneak this into.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

My saying today "X and X don't belong in the same sentence" in this case "Britain" and "affordable", let's see how many more threads I can sneak this into.

Depending where you are, you can get a reasonable flat for £50/week, i would call that pretty affordable. London is a different matter, you couldn't rent a dustbin there for less than £5k/week

 

[ThaiTaffy]

You have council tax, utilities and everything else on top of that 50 quid and before you quote paying tax for the NHS or any other reason it's all bull the west's governments has been modern day Viking it and burning and pillaging its people for decades. you earn maybe 8x the wage in the West but the cost of living is 20x or more.

 

[Tatty_Two]

You have council tax, utilities and everything else on top of that 50 quid and before you quote paying tax for the NHS or any other reason it's all bull the west's governments has been modern day Viking it and burning and pillaging its people for decades. you earn maybe 8x the wage in the West but the cost of living is 20x or more.

Taxation is the scourge of pretty much everyone, I agree we get hit hard but if you look for example at the USA, they may get taxed a bit less but in turn their corporations/employers and/or individuals may have to pay for healthcare etc, whether tax or not most find ways to empty your wallet sadly.

 

[ThaiTaffy]

Taxation is the scourge of pretty much everyone, I agree we get hit hard but if you look for example at the USA, they may get taxed a bit less but in turn their corporations/employers and/or individuals may have to pay for healthcare etc, whether tax or not most find ways to empty your wallet sadly.

I was shocked when I came to live in Thailand, I only pay tax on goods and the car, our house, land, living in general has no tax yet they still have a fairly decent public healthcare system. It works very similar to the prescription system in England you pay £1 for anything! if you want special service you pay for it(I don't mean that kind of Thai special service) but if your content on being on a waitlist (in Thailand's case it's hours not months, like in the UK) then you pay your quid and wait. All my COVID vaccines have been free, I don't drink but a bottle of whiskey is less than a fiver and I buy tobacco for £2 a kilo, food isn't exactly cheap anymore but a damn sight cheaper than back in blighty and the majority of it is fresh and free-range though you often see the cows eating at the roadside so there's probably a bit of diesel particulate in your burger.

Edit: I lied I do have one more outgoing here, I pay £4 a year to use my Thai visa bank card.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Depending where you are, you can get a reasonable flat for £50/week, i would call that pretty affordable. London is a different matter, you couldn't rent a dustbin there for less than £5k/week

£50 a week, for a flat, not a room.

Not in most big city's and sure as shit no where near Manchester.

Most room's in shared houses cost more than that.

 

[ThaiTaffy]

£50 a week, for a flat, not a room.

Not in most big city's and sure as shit no where near Manchester.

Most room's in shared houses cost more than that.

I wasn't going to comment on what hellhole you can rent a flat for £50 a week. Now thinking about it I have friends who live in bedsits in needle ridden towns in Wales who pay more than £50 a week for the pleasure of listening to gunfire at night.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

prescription system in England you pay £1 for anything!

I think it's been a while since it was £1/item for prescriptions, it's £9/item now iirc, mine are free for life.

£50 a week, for a flat, not a room.

Not in most big city's and sure as shit no where near Manchester.

Most room's in shared houses cost more than that.

Never lived in Manchester, never will, so guess i don't know the avg prices there. It's been a while since i flat hunted, maybe £50 was a under guesstimate.

 

[AusWolf]

I agree with some of you that accommodation is pretty crazy in the UK. Rent can be alright (it's OK in my area), but buying... Jesus Christ... I've been planning on saving up for a mortgage for years now, but looking at the rising prices, I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever own a home. Probably not by the looks of it.

As for taxes: having born in Hungary, I actually find the UK's tax system quite good. Poor people don't pay any, normal people pay 20%, rich people pay 40% on their incomes. VAT and the others are pretty much the same all across Europe. Hungary has only one tax band for everybody to make sure that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. You also have several other things to pay, so in the end, you have maybe 55-60% of your gross salary in your pocket. This number is considerably higher in the UK for pretty much everybody (around 80-85% for me), which I think should be the norm all across Europe.

Also, there is no way a single person could ever dream about affording a living in Hungary, as renting a flat in most cities can cost as much as you earn in your job. I came to the UK alone, and saved up about £4,000 in my first six months due to being able to rent a room, which is not a possibility in Hungary. I basically passed my driving test and bought an 8 year-old convertible in my first year in the UK. Most people in Hungary can't afford something like this from a life's work.

As for the traffic: I agree with you guys. I normally work nights, but my boss asked me to cover on days for a couple weeks. It normally takes me 15-20 minutes to drive to work, but now it takes me nearly double that to drive home at 2 PM. I think the problem is that modern society wants both partners in a relationship to work. You basically can't have a family if only one of you is working full-time. Maternity leave is only 6 months in most workplaces as well, which is shockingly short.

My girlfriend and I maintain a kind of average lifestyle (renting a 2 bedroom flat, 1 vacation and 2-3 smaller trips per year, I own a car, and I buy a bunch of PC stuff from time to time), but we couldn't do the same if we had a child. We would both still have to work full-time just to afford food and rent. In my opinion, both parents working 8-hour shifts is not a life for a child, not to mention that I don't have time and energy to care for a little one after having worked 8 hours. I admire those who do, but I just don't. I'm lucky that my paternal instincts are pretty weak, I guess.

 

[ThaiTaffy]

I agree with some of you that accommodation is pretty crazy in the UK. Rent can be alright (it's OK in my area), but buying... Jesus Christ... I've been planning on saving up for a mortgage for years now, but looking at the rising prices, I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever own a home. Probably not by the looks of it.

As for taxes: having born in Hungary, I actually find the UK's tax system quite good. Poor people don't pay any, normal people pay 20%, rich people pay 40% on their incomes. VAT and the others are pretty much the same all across Europe. Hungary has only one tax band for everybody to make sure that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. You also have several other things to pay, so in the end, you have maybe 55-60% of your gross salary in your pocket. This number is considerably higher in the UK for pretty much everybody (around 80-85% for me), which I think should be the norm all across Europe.

Also, there is no way a single person could ever dream about affording a living in Hungary, as renting a flat in most cities can cost as much as you earn in your job. I came to the UK alone, and saved up about £4,000 in my first six months due to being able to rent a room, which is not a possibility in Hungary. I basically passed my driving test and bought an 8 year-old convertible in my first year in the UK. Most people in Hungary can't afford something like this from a life's work.

As for the traffic: I agree with you guys. I normally work nights, but my boss asked me to cover on days for a couple weeks. It normally takes me 15-20 minutes to drive to work, but now it takes me nearly double that to drive home at 2 PM. I think the problem is that modern society wants both partners in a relationship to work. You basically can't have a family if only one of you is working full-time. Maternity leave is only 6 months in most workplaces as well, which is shockingly short.

My girlfriend and I maintain a kind of average lifestyle (renting a 2 bedroom flat, 1 vacation and 2-3 smaller trips per year, I own a car, and I buy a bunch of PC stuff from time to time), but we couldn't do the same if we had a child. We would both still have to work full-time just to afford food and rent. In my opinion, both parents working 8-hour shifts is not a life for a child, not to mention that I don't have time and energy to care for a little one after having worked 8 hours. I admire those who do, but I just don't. I'm lucky that my paternal instincts are pretty weak, I guess.

So many people in Thailand want to move to the west without realising the cost of living and the difference in lifestyle. From the sounds of your experience, Hungary to UK was a good move but I can't feel the same for anyone in Thailand.
I'm not saying all of Asia is the same, things like not being able to own a home in China sounds crazy to me( you lease a house from the state for 99years rather than own) but I'm truly happy here and wouldn't change it for anything.

As far as kids me and my wife both have screws loose and it's genetic so putting kids through that has never crossed our minds. Maybe we would adopt if we felt like it but we have a pack of 17dogs, 8 cats and a handful of other animals, which is a full time job in itself, the thought of a kid is pretty much a definitive NO!!!

 

[Space Lynx]

Yeah, I hate the way the world is going. I decided to just stay living with my parents, I will pay for a new roof next year for them, and in keep upkeep on it, and no rent, and in return I get to save a lot of money, and inherit a house when they pass.

It sucks it has to be this way, but it could be way way worse... I could be paying rent the rest of my life, instead I never pay rent once in my life... I do intend to save up about 15 grand though and get new roof/siding/futureproof it a bit in the coming few years, and then maybe in 7 years or so I will spend another 10 grand or so and re-do the inside.

So not getting off free or anything, but still much cheaper than most people. I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck. I don't know how others do it honestly. If I get ill and lose my job (I suffer from chronic medical conditions that limit my ability, but not enough to qualify for disability, and corporations don't give a flying fuck how I feel... so...) yeah just if I get ill for a couple weeks and need to rest, its not a matter of toughing it out... I'd literally end up homeless... so I have to play it safe and help my parents and live with my parents and build a security net.

So many people in Thailand want to move to the west without realising the cost of living and the difference in lifestyle. From the sounds of your experience, Hungary to UK was a good move but I can't feel the same for anyone in Thailand.
I'm not saying all of Asia is the same, things like not being able to own a home in China sounds crazy to me( you lease a house from the state for 99years rather than own) but I'm truly happy here and wouldn't change it for anything.

As far as kids me and my wife both have screws loose and it's genetic so putting kids through that has never crossed our minds. Maybe we would adopt if we felt like it but we have a pack of 17dogs, 8 cats and a handful of other animals, which is a full time job in itself, the thought of a kid is pretty much a definitive NO!!!

Only thing that worries me about Thailand is the brainwashing Hollywood has done on me... like I would be worried about drugs/thieves, and as a pale pasty computer American nerd, I'd worry about getting taken advantage of, or robbed, or like my organs harvested for the black market... I think I saw it on the nightly news one time to be wary about certain parts of the world in Asia, not sure if that included Thailand or not, but it scared the living shit out of me lol my guess is though, it was just america media being overdramatic as usual?

I also agree, the town near where I live has doubled in population in the last 25 years but no additional transport infrastructure, it seems however that our crisis is housing and not roads, hence the challenge, we need to build more affordable homes (affordable is a moot point however) but we have less places to build them if we build lots of roads to service them

On the other hand, of course it will seem over populated to our American friends, I think we have almost 8 times the population density.

Driving in Cornwall last week caused me insane anxiety... your roads are so ******* tiny. I managed without a scratch, but yeah... you all are nuts. I miss my big wide American roads... lol

I loved Cornwall though.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Thailand's crime rate is below the USA and I would wager there are a lot less addicts there too so maybe it's time to move! .........................

Crime Rate by Country 2022 (worldpopulationreview.com)

Edit: Not all our roads are as small as Cornwalls which is a bit of an anomaly in itself as there is no through traffic if you get my meaning, just water at the end of it

 

[ThaiTaffy]

Y

Yeah, I hate the way the world is going. I decided to just stay living with my parents, I will pay for a new roof next year for them, and in keep upkeep on it, and no rent, and in return I get to save a lot of money, and inherit a house when they pass.

It sucks it has to be this way, but it could be way way worse... I could be paying rent the rest of my life, instead I never pay rent once in my life... I do intend to save up about 15 grand though and get new roof/siding/futureproof it a bit in the coming few years, and then maybe in 7 years or so I will spend another 10 grand or so and re-do the inside.

So not getting off free or anything, but still much cheaper than most people. I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck. I don't know how others do it honestly. If I get ill and lose my job (I suffer from chronic medical conditions that limit my ability, but not enough to qualify for disability, and corporations don't give a flying fuck how I feel... so...) yeah just if I get ill for a couple weeks and need to rest, its not a matter of toughing it out... I'd literally end up homeless... so I have to play it safe and help my parents and live with my parents and build a security net.



Only thing that worries me about Thailand is the brainwashing Hollywood has done on me... like I would be worried about drugs/thieves, and as a pale pasty computer American nerd, I'd worry about getting taken advantage of, or robbed, or like my organs harvested for the black market... I think I saw it on the nightly news one time to be wary about certain parts of the world in Asia, not sure if that included Thailand or not, but it scared the living shit out of me lol my guess is though, it was just america media being overdramatic as usual?



Driving in Cornwall last week caused me insane anxiety... your roads are so ******* tiny. I managed without a scratch, but yeah... you all are nuts. I miss my big wide American roads... lol

I loved Cornwall though.

Yer I wouldn't go near a big city, I'm a country bumpkin if I went to Bangkok I'd get lost and wake up in an backstreet without my kidneys possibly.

I goto the local market maybe once or twice a week and goto a supermarket in a small local city like once a month. Other than that I don't really leave the farm. Due to my visa I can't earn money but I'm lucky I have a Thai sugar momma and some savings to stay alive and buy toys, so I keep myself busy as a house husband.

 

[AusWolf]

So many people in Thailand want to move to the west without realising the cost of living and the difference in lifestyle. From the sounds of your experience, Hungary to UK was a good move but I can't feel the same for anyone in Thailand.
I'm not saying all of Asia is the same, things like not being able to own a home in China sounds crazy to me( you lease a house from the state for 99years rather than own) but I'm truly happy here and wouldn't change it for anything.

I know that feeling. How many times I hear "you shouldn't have any problems with that British salary of yours", or "How much do you earn? ... Aw, you're so rich!". It's crazy that people don't even think that the costs of living are different too.

As far as kids me and my wife both have screws loose and it's genetic so putting kids through that has never crossed our minds. Maybe we would adopt if we felt like it but we have a pack of 17dogs, 8 cats and a handful of other animals, which is a full time job in itself, the thought of a kid is pretty much a definitive NO!!!

I know that feeling too. My girlfriend can't have kids, even though she'd love to. She tends to get depressed because of this from time to time. As for me, I just don't want any. They're too expensive both in terms of money and time. Life is a funny bastard, that's for sure.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Crime Rate by Country 2022 (worldpopulationreview.com)

What I find interesting about that list, the UK, US and Ukraine are all within 1% of each other.

 

[Space Lynx]

Y

Yer I wouldn't go near a big city, I'm a country bumpkin if I went to Bangkok I'd get lost and wake up in an backstreet without my kidneys possibly.

I goto the local market maybe once or twice a week and goto a supermarket in a small local city like once a month. Other than that I don't really leave the farm. Due to my visa I can't earn money but I'm lucky I have a Thai sugar momma and some savings to stay alive and buy toys, so I keep myself busy as a house husband.

Country life is best life, regardless of country. Good for you mate.

 

[Tatty_Two]

What I find interesting about that list, the UK, US and Ukraine are all within 1% of each other.

Yeah and using the crimes per 100,000 of the population is the most relative way, although it still means that there are many more crimes committed in the USA than the other 2 countries combined

 

[Space Lynx]

Yeah and using the crimes per 100,000 of the population is the most relative way, although it still means that there are many more crimes committed in the USA than the other 2 countries combined

I feel safer in small town England than I do in small town America, also there are not meth heads working in your food places... so that is nice change...

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I feel safer in small town England than I do in small town America, also there are not meth heads working in your food places... so that is nice change...

And no guns either, not gonna get someone walking in packing a shootah in their jeans ass

 

[ThaiTaffy]

I feel safer in small town England than I do in small town America, also there are not meth heads working in your food places... so that is nice change...

Wales and England must be very different then.

And no guns either, not gonna get someone walking in packing a shootah in their jeans ass

There are guns, just not 7x the amount compared to the population, I remember growing up in my local pub we would on occasion see a local pinhead trying to sell a bullpup AR for the price of a bag of smack, most likely stolen from the local army base.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Wales and England must be very different then.


There are guns, just not 7x the amount compared to the population, I remember growing up in my local pub we would on occasion see a local pinhead trying to sell a bullpup AR for the price of a bag of smack, most likely stolen from the local army base.

They must have been very old then, the British Army has not used them for decades, probably at least half a century, the earliest and original version was developed in the UK but that was back around 1901 but modified and more recent versions have been in use with some European armies since 1977, just not UK forces although some of our special forces may have used the more recent modified weapons (smaller and lighter than standard issue Army) but I doubt even a pinhead would get into an SF Base armoury

 

[ThaiTaffy]

They must have been very old then, the British Army has not used them for decades, probably at least half a century, the earliest and original version was developed in the UK but that was back around 1901 but modified and more recent versions have been in use with some European armies since 1977, just not UK forces although some of our special forces may have used the more recent modified weapons (smaller and lighter than standard issue Army) but I doubt even a pinhead would get into an SF Base armoury

Probably 20-30years ago if my memory serves me right im pretty sure it was a sa80 I remember looking at how strange it looked with the mag behind the trigger.
Welsh pinheads could steal a tank if there was enough smack involved.

They must have been very old then, the British Army has not used them for decades, probably at least half a century, the earliest and original version was developed in the UK but that was back around 1901 but modified and more recent versions have been in use with some European armies since 1977, just not UK forces although some of our special forces may have used the more recent modified weapons (smaller and lighter than standard issue Army) but I doubt even a pinhead would get into an SF Base armoury

The SAS base is also pretty close like 20miles but too far for a pinhead to go on his bike the army base is only 2 or 3 miles down the road

 

[lexluthermiester]

And no guns either

Guns are not the problem, but let's not open that can of worms.