The Resilience of Thai People in 2025: Lessons in Life and Financial Planning for Greater Stability

Believe it or not, in the financial plans we wrote in our notebooks or set goals for at the start of the year, there was hardly a single line that said, "If an earthquake hits central Bangkok" or "If flooding leaves us destitute," what would we do?

The year 2025 has been one of the harshest teachers for Thai people, showing us painfully that "the world never asks permission before changing." Many began the year with hope, determined to save more money, pay off debts, or seriously start investing for stability. Yet, over the past 12 months, challenges "not found in any textbook" were hurled at us relentlessly, and frighteningly, these uncertainties didn’t come one by one but arrived as a set, all at once, and faster than expected.

This is a record of the hardships Thai people faced in a single year and a financial lesson learned through the harsh reality that many events did not just make us "poorer" but caused us to "run out of liquidity," nearly threatening our survival.

When the "earthquake" shook our belief in safety.

On 28 March 2025, a major earthquake was strongly felt by Bangkok residents, sparking chaos and triggering panic beyond mere tremors. Life and property were lost instantly, notably the historic collapse of the State Audit Office building, revealing corruption within government infrastructure.

The lesson from this event told us that natural disasters are no longer distant threats and can destroy the most valuable "assets" of our lives in a moment. "Emergency funds" are thus not just for buying necessities but to provide a refuge when a once-safe home is no longer secure.

A time of mourning and a pivotal transition that "changed the game."

The year’s end, which should have been a recovery period, was overshadowed by the sorrow following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, on 24 October 2025, profoundly impacting Thailand’s economy and the spirits of its people. The flood of grief drained many people's will to continue fighting.

Worse still, this year witnessed one of the most intense political upheavals.

• In August 2025, Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Ink) was removed from the prime ministership by a Constitutional Court ruling. Her hopeful policies of distributing 10,000 baht to all groups and offering 20-baht train rides stalled. Many awaited this cash lifeline to survive, but it never materialized.
• In September 2025, Anutin Charnvirakul unexpectedly became the 32nd prime minister through a coalition between Bhumjaithai and the People's Party. Although there were attempts to revive "Khon La Khrueng Plus" and the second phase of cash aid, the parliament was eventually dissolved to pave the way for new elections in February 2026.

The lesson here is not to place your life’s hope on political policies, because on the day the government changes, policies you "should have received" can instantly turn into "nothingness."

War and the 300-year flood when the phrase "utter destitution" became reality.

While the border region faced a prolonged Thailand-Cambodia conflict disrupting local economies and trade, the south suffered a worse nightmare when Hat Yai, a key economic city, was submerged under the heaviest rainfall in 300 years last November.

From ordinary citizens to large business owners, many saw their lifelong assets vanish before their eyes. The local authorities’ failure to manage the crisis reflected that in critical moments, we cannot rely fully on anyone.

A costly lesson: "revise your financial plan" to be bigger and stronger.

All events in 2025 taught us that next year we must plan our lives and finances more "rigorously" as follows.

• Emergency funds are not "leftover money" but "life-saving money," because this year proved that income can vanish while expenses rise. Aid often arrives too late. Having savings for 3–6 months is not just a neat formula but the "oxygen" of real life during unforeseen events.
• Stability is fragile because even professions once considered secure can be disrupted by war or natural disasters. Don’t put your future on a single income source. Even without extra income now, you must have "additional skills" ready to convert to cash immediately.
• Insurance is not remote. Many natural disasters this year showed that lacking insurance is like risking your entire life on a single event. Insurance isn’t tempting fate but acknowledging that we cannot control everything.
• The last line of defense is ourselves. Whether it’s government policies, welfare, or aid, these help but often not promptly. Personal finance is the only shield we can truly control.
• Debt is a chain during crises. In a world threatened by economic downturns, layoffs, and AI replacing jobs, creating new debt must be done with utmost caution because debt is "inflexible" when life demands flexibility the most.

Though we do not know if 2026 will improve or hold more surprises, one certainty is that we, having survived 2025, are no longer as fragile. The past year may have taken much from us but at least it granted us an "immunity" that no financial course can teach. Embrace yourself, review lessons, and step into the new year with a stronger plan.

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