A Chiang Mai University survey of 299 consumers and small retailers finds that the government's "Fifty-Fifty Plus" and "Thai Help Thai Plus" cash-transfer schemes achieve high satisfaction (≈8/10) but function only as consumption props, not growth drivers. Money flows overwhelmingly (74.7%) to necessities already purchased daily; only 1.3% buy new goods. Households remain in "defense mode," avoiding durable purchases. Retailers face 56% anxiety over retroactive tax audits despite joining again, and the 2.4-trillion-baht allocation circulates for just 10 days. Private-sector representatives urge the government to pivot toward follow-up business support and boost liquidity from savings and foreign tourism.