Strong baht offers many possibilities
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In recent months the baht has strengthened against the US dollar, which is now worth less than Bt30 - impacting businesses and individuals for better or worse.
However, the strong exchange rate for the Thai baht means that some people are coming up with some clever ideas on how to spend their money.
We asked a number of people on Facebook how they intended to spend their hard-earned cash during the current currency climate:
Jib Marn Pin said it was the ideal time to go abroad.
KakiPure KakiJu, who said she plans to travel abroad in July, also said she was now buying up dollars in preparation for her trip.
Pim Wisa said she also planned to exchange baht for dollars and would also keep a part of what she exchanges for trips abroad in the future.
Meanwhile, Nara Thip said that with the current strength of the Thai baht it was a good time to buy brand-name products.
Busakorn Buranabunpot said she would buy things like clothes, books and online academic courses that she favours. “But my friends plan to travel abroad,” she added.
Sakulsri Srisaracam, a university lecturer, said she would travel abroad and pay for her PhD.
“I can exchange baht for US dollars in preparation for my PhD. The price is good right now,” she said.
Some people plan to make a profit from the currency exchange rate. For example, To Thungrungsit said he would make the exchange from baht to dollars and then exchange them back, once the baht was weak.
Similarly, Piyanat Piyanithi also had the same idea to profit.
Yamashita Miharu, she said she would hold off from sending money back to her family in Thailand until the US dollar had gained in strength against the baht.
However, some people were more conservative in their thinking, saying they would spend more carefully.
Poomjit Sirawongprasert said she would spend her baht more carefully as the current economic situation was uncertain. “Remaining careful is the best solution,” she said.
Rungnapa Sukhmol, who said she always considered every purchase carefully before going ahead with it, also supported this approach.
Sasiwan Newchantug said she dreamed about shopping abroad but in reality, she would spend more carefully.
While the strong baht will no doubt benefit many people – directly and indirectly – the weak dollar is also an indication of the fluctuating global economy and so people should be cautious in their financial transactions as the situation could quickly change.
