Video summary

Thailand... The Prices Are Up Big

Main summary

Key takeaways

Lifestyle

Summary of the Video (Subtitles-Based)

Home Building & Lifestyle Routine (Building Series)

  • They’re continuing their building/interior design series, driven by:
    • Limited availability of trusted help
    • Rising construction costs
  • Current projects mentioned:
    • Perimeter fence for improved security
    • Front gate mainly for aesthetics, inspired by a Balines-style (Bali-like) look
    • Kitchen roof replacement (maintenance-related)

Why scheduling is working now

  • Her uncle and his friend are available because there isn’t much building happening in the village at the moment, partly due to:
    • Lack of funds
    • Higher material prices

Family-built history

  • They’ve previously relied on family support (her uncle) for earlier expansions, growing from the cottage to later extensions.

Roof cost correction (from a previous vlog)

  • Kitchen roof materials: 14,000 Baht
  • Worker fee (entire roof replacement): 2,000 Baht
  • Earlier, they misstated the worker fee as 7,000 Baht.

Next Planned Home Upgrades

  • This is described as likely their final extension on the land.
  • Planned changes:
    • Extend the current extension to add more space because the eldest son needs a bedroom
    • Install a “jacuzzi room” behind the house
  • Extension concept (still being finalized):
    • Two bedrooms (one per son) or
    • One bedroom for the oldest son

Budget expectations due to inflation

  • In the past, similar work might have cost around 300,000 Baht
  • Now they expect at least 500,000 Baht for a nicely finished result with tiling
    • Rendering/floor may add extra cost.

Gate Construction Details & Materials Shopping Tip

Gate concept

  • The gate is designed by Dammo (“Dammo’s brainchild”).
  • Style goal: a Balines aesthetic, similar to large Bali entrance gates.

Build process highlights

  • Early steps included:
    • Building columns
    • Adding a steel roof

Tile sourcing approach

  • They had leftover cottage roof tiles, but not enough were usable (some were dirty or degraded).
  • They visited a local supplier to pick replacement tiles, noting an orange shade that matches their white walls.

Practical rural materials strategy

  • In rural Thailand, they typically:
    • Source and organize materials themselves
    • Hire builders for labor
  • They credit learning this approach through experience over multiple years.

Travel/Productivity Tip: Owning a Pickup Truck

  • If you live in rural Thailand, they recommend getting a pickup truck to move construction materials more efficiently.
  • Main reasons:
    • Avoid expensive delivery costs
    • Avoid waiting time (they mention saving about ~3 days)
  • Practical loading:
    • Tiles are easier to load/unload
    • The truck can carry heavy loads (they mention capacity up to ~1,000 kg, with their usual practical load around ~350 kg, still with room for more)

Vehicle preferences

  • Isuzu or Toyota are preferred; they specifically used a Toyota.
  • You don’t need to buy new—used/practical options work.

Health/Lifestyle Shift of the Uncle

  • Her uncle is described as:
    • Still physically active at 60 years old
    • Eating toward a healthier lifestyle
    • No longer drinking rice whiskey or beer

Money/Inflation Note: Steel & Material Price Spike

  • Construction costs have increased significantly, especially steel and certain locally sourced materials.
  • Example from the gate/materials:
    • Expected materials budget: under 10,000 Baht
    • Final materials bill: about 20,000 Baht
    • (This excludes rendering or flooring, which surprised them because they expected it to be cheaper.)
  • Longer-term plan:
    • Steel may be cheaper if purchased from major hubs, and they may do that for future work.

Work Permit Update

  • Replying to a subscriber question about whether there’s no physical card:
    • In their case (in Buriram province), they did receive a physical work permit card
    • The card includes “YouTuber” and other business details
  • The process was described as straightforward, with no long queues.

Local Errands & Food Stops (Daily-Life Highlights)

  • Turkish coffee stop
    • They got Turkish coffee at a local place near Buriram Ram Hospital
    • They recommend it if you’re in Buriram
  • Train station lunch routine
    • They stop at the train station for lunch food, mainly processed meats
    • He doesn’t eat it and doesn’t allow the kids to eat it (Dammo likes it)

Community Support & School Donation Activity

  • They visited a local school and donated sports equipment, specifically:
    • Volleyballs (students had no volleyballs left; nets were falling apart)
  • Cost:
    • Total spent about 3,000 Baht on volleyballs
  • Future idea:
    • Next time, they may donate pens and pencils, since schools are underfunded
  • Approach/philosophy:
    • They avoid turning the channel into “virtue signaling,” but still share community support when it feels fun/cute

Notable Locations, Products, or People Mentioned

Locations

  • Buriram province
  • Buriram Ram Hospital
  • A local school (village area)

Vehicles / Construction-Related Items

  • Pickup truck (Toyota or Isuzu mentioned)
  • Rooftop tent (~75 kg)
  • Steel and roof tiles sourced from local suppliers

Food

  • Turkish coffee
  • Processed meats/lunch items from near the train station

People

  • Her uncle (builder)
  • Dammo (gate design creator)
  • “Kunglong” (helped unload tiles/assist with gate work)

Original video