Thai economy: Thais staying home and not going out to eat

A Suan Dusit poll conducted at the end of last week suggests that Thais are feeling the pinch of a sluggish economy. 

They are staying home more, not going out to eat – even looking for special promotions at the supermarket. 

They are learning to turn their lights off, repairing things themselves and saving money by living with friends and relatives.

A total of 1,174 people nationwide were asked a series of questions about how they were coping in today’s economy. 

A total of nearly 70% said they were economising by not going out much, not shopping and eating at home. 

Stay at homes amounted to 40%. 

Around 23% were keeping a close eye on their daily spending. 

About 21% were looking out for specials in the shops and eyeing promotions. 

And 19% were taking on extra jobs to make ends meet. 

Asked what measures they were taking to save money, a total of 63% were eating in rather than going to restaurants, 38% were putting a ceiling on their food expenditure and 23% were limiting the size of meals and attempting to avoid wasting food. 

Some 65% were making sure they were turning off their lights and other electrical appliances, 37% were doing their own repairs and 15% were looking at cheaper rents or living with friends and relatives to save money.

Many put great store by exercising to ward off costs of ill health. 

But many said that it was proving hard to save money on things like transport costs. 

Sanook

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