Learning That Stays With You
Honest words from people who sat in our sessions, asked their questions, and came away feeling a little steadier about their financial futures.
← Back to Home7+
Years in Chiang Mai
340+
Programme participants
4.8
Average rating out of 5
91%
Completion rate
In Their Own Words
Pranee K.
Chiang Mai · May 2025
I joined "Before the Rains" not knowing what to expect. I'd avoided thinking seriously about money for years — it felt like too big a subject. The sessions moved at a pace that suited me and the group was small enough that I never felt silly asking questions. I left with a clearer sense of where my money was going each month, which was more than I'd managed in years on my own.
Before the Rains
Michael W.
British, Chiang Mai · April 2025
As someone who moved to Thailand a few years ago, I had no idea how the banking system here actually worked. Weathering Well gave me a practical grounding in Thai fixed deposits and savings options that I genuinely couldn't find elsewhere in English. The planning notebook has become something I return to regularly. Four stars — only because I'd have liked one more session.
Weathering Well
Supatra C.
Chiang Mai · May 2025
The Whole Year Programme came at exactly the right time for me — I'm 54 and had been putting off thinking about retirement for far too long. What I appreciated most was that nobody tried to sell me anything or push me toward a decision. We just learned, discussed, and wrote things down in our folders. I walked away with a clear list of questions to take to a proper financial adviser, which is exactly what I needed.
The Whole Year Programme
Nattaporn P.
Chiang Mai · March 2025
I completed both Before the Rains and Weathering Well over about six months. The first course gave me the confidence to tackle the second, which felt much more substantial. Having printed materials to take home made a real difference — I could revisit the content in the evenings without needing a screen. I'm now considering The Whole Year Programme.
Before the Rains + Weathering Well
Jean-Louis L.
French, Chiang Mai · April 2025
Very few things in English explain how Thai pensions and healthcare actually function in a way that makes sense to a non-Thai resident. This programme did that clearly and without any condescension. Siriporn's background in banking means she can answer follow-up questions that go beyond the printed material. Worth every baht.
The Whole Year Programme
Ratchanee T.
Chiang Mai · May 2025
I was a little hesitant to join a group course — I thought I might feel embarrassed about how little I knew. That concern disappeared completely in the first session. Everyone was in a similar position, and the facilitator set a tone that made questions feel welcome rather than awkward. The worksheets were well designed and practical, not just theory.
Weathering Well
How Things Changed for Some Participants
These are drawn from real participant journeys, shared with permission and details adjusted for privacy.
The Challenge
A retired teacher in her early fifties, living in Chiang Mai, had no clear picture of her monthly income or outgoings. She knew she needed to plan for the next twenty years but didn't know where to begin.
What We Did
She joined "Before the Rains," working through budgeting and Thai savings accounts. Over three sessions she mapped her monthly income and identified areas where small adjustments were possible.
The Outcome
Within six weeks of the programme she had opened a higher-interest savings account and created a simple monthly budget she has maintained for over a year. She later joined Weathering Well.
"I'd been meaning to sort this out for years. Having a group to come back to each week made me actually do it rather than put it off again."
The Challenge
An Australian man in his late forties, living in Chiang Mai for seven years, had never engaged seriously with the Thai financial system. He held his savings in a basic passbook account earning minimal interest.
What We Did
He joined Weathering Well and worked through the sessions on Thai savings instruments, fixed deposits, and planning for foreseeable costs. The planning notebook became a reference he used regularly at home.
The Outcome
He moved a significant portion of his savings into a fixed deposit, improving his annual interest meaningfully. He followed up with a licensed Thai financial adviser to discuss longer-term planning — something he'd deferred for years.
"The course didn't tell me what to do with my money. It told me how the options worked, which was exactly what I needed to have a sensible conversation with someone who could actually advise me."
How to Get in Touch
Phone
+66 92 615 8047Address
63/5 Chang Phueak Rd, Si Phum, Chiang Mai 50300
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00
Sat 10:00–14:00
Professional Standing
Chiang Mai Adult Education Network
Recognised in 2023 for consistent contribution to accessible financial literacy in the region.
Thailand Adult Education Association
Active member since 2019. Curriculum aligns with their non-formal adult education standards.
4.8 / 5 Average Rating
Collected via anonymous end-of-programme feedback across all cohorts. Available on request.
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