Post: #26

I had this re-titled so I could keep a journal of my progress towards location independence in this one thread. I expect to give regular updates on this thread for the foreseeable future.

Few minor updates here:

* This weekend I'm taking a motorcycle safety class and to get my motorcycle license in case I need to ride one in SEA or wherever.

* I've been stepping up my research into foreign visas, US tax laws, health insurance, and TRT medications because I'll need to get this shit down pat once I cut the umbilical cord.

* I'm also considering applying to remote tele-jobs in the April-June time frame and to continue working my business on the side (I'll start with asking my own company if I could work remotely from anywhere). Figure that would keep my income up on the high enough side, giving me more options to live in slightly higher COL areas instead of just Chiang Mai. I say this because I'm continuing to struggle with my marketing and client acquisition efforts for my business.

* Will soon start researching the Bangkok / Thailand threads here to plan my trip there in the March timeframe. Might visit Chiang Mai for a few days or a week just to get a taste.

Post: #27

Read the book Investment Biker by Jim Rogers, he rode all over the world for a couple years in the 80s. It will inspire you.

Post: #28

I just renewed my apartment lease this afternoon for another 6 months. My move-out date is now June 20, 2016.

There's a convention in DC I want to go in the 2nd week of July, so I may take another vacation between 6/20 and 7/7... maybe DR or Colombia. Then I'll go to DC and stay with my mom for a bit... and then I'm outta here.

Having a move-out deadline makes this a lot more real.

Post: #29

(12-03-2015 10:03 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  I had this re-titled so I could keep a journal of my progress towards location independence in this one thread. I expect to give regular updates on this thread for the foreseeable future.

Few minor updates here:

* This weekend I'm taking a motorcycle safety class and to get my motorcycle license in case I need to ride one in SEA or wherever.

* I've been stepping up my research into foreign visas, US tax laws, health insurance, and TRT medications because I'll need to get this shit down pat once I cut the umbilical cord.

* I'm also considering applying to remote tele-jobs in the April-June time frame and to continue working my business on the side (I'll start with asking my own company if I could work remotely from anywhere). Figure that would keep my income up on the high enough side, giving me more options to live in slightly higher COL areas instead of just Chiang Mai. I say this because I'm continuing to struggle with my marketing and client acquisition efforts for my business.

* Will soon start researching the Bangkok / Thailand threads here to plan my trip there in the March timeframe. Might visit Chiang Mai for a few days or a week just to get a taste.

If you end up in Chiang mai for a few days make sure to take a trip up north. If you stay a week, a small trip in either the Mae Hong Son direction or to Chiang Rai via Mae Sariang is really awesome. Do it on a motorbike, great driving and great nature. You can do it on scooters actually, slower and more to see instead of on a big bike.

Post: #30

Real inspiring stuff here CleanSlate. I'm currently working on my location independence as well.

I've got a lot of things planned to a T, but just like in game it's good to remember that sometimes imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.

With that said, keep fighting the good fight.

Post: #31

(11-30-2015 08:13 AM)262 Wrote:  The above is definitely understandable.

I've been in EE since July, but I've made it work for a few reasons:

1) In my last job, I travelled a lot solo, both in and out of the US.

2) At most, I only daygame every other day. I do my other hobbies and interests on "off days."

3) I may have found an LTR girl just before poosy (and thus I) went into hibernation here. Fifth date was Friday. Not gonna lie, it was a matter of luck, many approaches, and many dates to nowhere to find her. We'll see if she pans out.

4) My spending is coming in under budget.

5) I grew up near the Great Lakes and lived in Minneapolis for a few years, so EE weather and winter darkness by 4p isn't a shock.

@Onto - if I do end up in the Phils I may have to get a bass again. Then with you on the guitar maybe we can record that "I Wanna Fuck Your Face" Beatles "cover" mentioned on another thread

I read this and had to laugh, remembering that when I lived in the Ukraine, it got dark at 4PM too. How's the heat there? Most of the Ukrainian buildings were old and had steam heating, so were usually too warm.

Post: #32

Awesome stuff in here!

My location independent business is still in its infancy, and so I'm not yet in a position to pull this off. However, I've been thinking about doing what you mentioned CleanSlate...I might find some sort of remote job to pay the bills while building my business on the side. That will give me the opportunity to travel more and to make a few test runs to different countries before committing to a more long term situation.

I'll definitely be following your progress because it adds more fuel to the fire of my own journey.

Post: #33

2015 is almost over. I thought business would slow down during the holidays. Wrong... ironically I am getting more work for my freelance business this time of year. I wonder why, but no complaints.

Once 2016 rolls around, it is time for me to start kicking my LI plan into serious gear. Here are some of my action items over the next several months.

My target date is July 2016 when I will make my move.

Jan-Mar
* Go over 2015 taxes with CPA
* Research visa rules for countries of interest
* Continue selling off possessions
* Minimize paper mail by getting a mail scanning service
* Get "permanent" US mailing address (or PO Box) for business and personal stuff
* Get a new hearing aid because the one I have is getting old
* Research TRT procurement and cost in countries of interest
* Buy a VPN service

Mar-May
* Start visa paperwork if needed
* Give 60 day vacation notice to apartment
* Finish selling off all possessions
* Ask company if it’s possible to work 100% remotely from overseas
* Get a full physical from the TRT doctor
* Collect annual bonus
* Make sure phone is unlocked, and set up tethering

Early June
* Send in 2 week notice (if not possible to work remotely)
* Apply for remote tele-jobs if needed
* Buy a new health/travel insurance plan
* Book one way ticket (and an onward ticket if necessary)
* Donate any remaining possessions

Late June
* Vacate apartment
* Either take a 2-3 week vacation to DR or Colombia, or stay with family somewhere

July 2016
* Visit Mom the week of the 4th
* Attend conference in DC for potential business clients in one of my niches
* Leave the US for good

I think that's pretty much it. If anyone is experienced with the logistics of becoming a location independent expat, please let me know if I am forgetting any important to-do items.

Post: #34

(12-20-2015 09:04 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  * Research TRT procurement and cost in countries of interest

The niche of men looking for test abroad is questionable, but this could be a great addition to your website, or even a whole new venture.

Post: #35

Very productive first week of January... got the low hanging fruit out of the way.

(12-20-2015 09:04 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  Jan-Mar
* Go over 2015 taxes with CPA
* Research visa rules for countries of interest
* Continue selling off possessions
* Minimize paper mail by getting a mail scanning service
* Get "permanent" US mailing address (or PO Box) for business and personal stuff
* Get a new hearing aid because the one I have is getting old
* Research TRT procurement and cost in countries of interest
* Buy a VPN service

The big item is taxes. Since I'll be in Bangkok almost all of March, I'll collect all documents and dump it onto my CPA hopefully by mid-February.

Other than that, keep trolling for clients...

Post: #36

Glad to see you getting off to a great start this year! Motivating stuff.

Also, your list is helpful for those of us who are working toward the same end goal. There are so many small considerations when making the move abroad, so it's nice to have a reference point from someone else who is going through the process.

Post: #37

(01-05-2016 07:14 PM)Zona Wrote:  Also, your list is helpful for those of us who are working toward the same end goal. There are so many small considerations when making the move abroad, so it's nice to have a reference point from someone else who is going through the process.

Yeah I don't see this talked about here. Perhaps once I go through all the steps and finish my move abroad, I could write up a datasheet about it.

There are SO many little things to consider... it's crazy. I'm pretty sure I'm missing something really important in the list above, but it will come up sooner or later.

Post: #38

I've been following this thread closely. Definitely some food for thought for when I come to do something similar.

(01-05-2016 10:42 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  I'm pretty sure I'm missing something really important in the list above, but it will come up sooner or later.

I haven't seen you mention vaccinations, assuming you need to get them. Hep B for example is three injections each spaced one month apart, and I think an extra month to get it tested afterwards.

What is the expiration date on your passport? Should it be renewed / have more pages added to it?

Do you need to notify your bank you will be accessing your account from abroad?

Post: #39

(01-06-2016 02:12 AM)Marmite Wrote:  I haven't seen you mention vaccinations, assuming you need to get them. Hep B for example is three injections each spaced one month apart, and I think an extra month to get it tested afterwards.

What is the expiration date on your passport? Should it be renewed / have more pages added to it?

Do you need to notify your bank you will be accessing your account from abroad?

Doh! Thanks man. I gotta cover those three things.

I have a cool travel doctor who hooked me up last year, so I'll make an appointment with her.

My passport expires in 2021... halfway through. Good idea to get a new and clean passport, or better not to bother until the year before it expires? I know some Asian visas require 6 valid months on the passport from the date of departure.

I'll definitely need to notify the banks.

Post: #40

(01-06-2016 09:25 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  ...

My passport expires in 2021... halfway through. Good idea to get a new and clean passport, or better not to bother until the year before it expires? I know some Asian visas require 6 valid months on the passport from the date of departure.

...

It depends on how much travelling you intend on doing, how many blank pages you currently have, and whether you want to put off returning to the states as long as possible. At the moment you would have to come back in five years regardless. I believe it is possible to have extra pages added at an embassy whilst abroad, but may be more convenient to get it done before leaving if possible.

Post: #41

CleanSlate,

Thanks for the updates. What are your thoughts on managing your finances abroad? I wasn't planning on moving abroad until later in the year, but plans have changed and I'll need to get everything in order within the next month. Only a limited amount of cash can be brought in on the flight. Here's what I'm thinking, I'd appreciate any feedback.

- Open up a Charles Schwab account and use it as my "buffer". They have no foreign transaction fees, so I can transfer assets using online banking from my main account back home into it, and then either deposit them into a domestic bank, or withdraw them at a local ATM. I'll keep a limited amount of funds in it for any given time so if my debit card gets stolen for whatever reason it won't be the end of the world.
- Alternatively, use Paypal for payments whenever possible.
- Use credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. I'm using the CapitolOne Quicksilver card, but I might apply for another card. Does anyone think it's necessary to have at least 2 cards?
- For income generated online, accept payment in Paypal (?)
- Cancel/hold recurring payments: auto insurance, phone bill, etc.

Unrelated:
- I was planning on just buying a smartphone once I'm there. Most likely it will be cheaper, though the downside is it will take a while to configure.
- Make photocopies of passport
- Just in case, I'll be making scans of all my important documents and uploading them to the cloud (dummy gmail account or similar): Passport, rental agreements, flight tickets, proof of no criminal record, driver's license, etc.
- Similarly to the above point, backup the documents on separate flash drives and encrypt them with a password. Probably overkill, but takes less than 30 minutes and if I'd ever need them, they'd be a lifesaver.

Question: Why do you feel a VPN is necessary?

Post: #42

thoughtgypsy,

Check my relocation thread in my signature for details, but if you're TL;DR:

- I use my Charles Schwab banking account worldwide for ATM withdrawals. No problems and great exchange rates, so I don't have a local bank account here in Poland. Most Polish bank accounts also charge monthly fees, except for mBank, I think. If you want a chip-and-PIN card (American chip cards are chip-and-signature mostly, I think), a local bank's debit card may offer that (at least here in Poland - but you have to go to a branch with your passport to sign up as a foreigner, as I understand). The only instances I've run into only chip-and-PIN cards being accepted (as opposed to chip-and-signature cards) are the automated McDonald's kiosks in Europe - so I have to go to the counter and interact with cute Polish girls, oh no

- Ever since I lost my wallet a while back in the States, I've always tried to have duplicates of what's in my wallet. Even more of a plus abroad, where getting a replacement with new numbers from the States will take even longer (I have a US-based mail-scanning-and-forwarding service for this, check my thread for details.)

- Electronics are cheap in the US compared to most places worldwide, including here in Poland (even though salaries are lower here). But check online before you buy here or there.

My guess is you're going to the Phils?

Post: #43

@262

I think the VPN might be used to bypass internet censorship, if I'm not mistaken.

Post: #44

I have a Charles Schwab account and Paypal so I'm good on that count. I'll still let them know of my plans.

I'm also thinking I should get a second / backup credit card in case my only credit card gets lost or stolen. My credit card does have foreign transaction fees, so I'll have to find one that doesn't charge those. So I'll be using the second credit card more often, and save the one I have now as a backup. I don't want to close my credit card account because it has a long history that helps my credit score.

I'm going to scan my important documents and make photocopies of my passport as well. I already have most of my documents online, so it shouldn't take too much time to get some more stuff up there.

TG, you mentioned cancelling auto insurance payments... that reminds me, I'm going to have to do something with my car. If I'm going to sell the car, I'm gonna have to time it perfectly right before I leave. Not sure how that's going to work, though.

I also have an AAA membership which I pay yearly. It has saved my ass a couple of times, but is it any useful outside of the U.S.?

Post: #45

^^^
Probably best to sell the car in advance and then rent/lease a POS until departure.

Another alternative is to sell it to CarMax, but obviously you get less money for that (though how much depends on your car, so you may not care if your car is old). I ended up giving mine to a relative right before I left.

Post: #46

Has anyone set things up where they maintain a permanent residence in their home country, yet travel or live overseas for something like half the year?

I know it changes the financial picture but I wonder how anyone might be structuring their location independent lifestyle while maintain a home base.

Post: #47

(01-06-2016 09:25 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  My passport expires in 2021... halfway through. Good idea to get a new and clean passport, or better not to bother until the year before it expires? I know some Asian visas require 6 valid months on the passport from the date of departure.

US passport renewal fee is cheap ($110) compared to the hassle of renewing a passport abroad, especially if you're planning on living in a city which doesn't have a US embassy or consulate. It can also be a drama to get long-term visas and residence permits transferred into new passports.
You can throw it in water for a few hours to avoid any suspicion about the early renewal form the DoS.

(01-08-2016 03:08 PM)The_CEO Wrote:  Has anyone set things up where they maintain a permanent residence in their home country, yet travel or live overseas for something like half the year?

I know it changes the financial picture but I wonder how anyone might be structuring their location independent lifestyle while maintain a home base.

Some details in this thread: /thread-52234.html

Post: #48

Put fraud alerts on your credit files that would help prevent someone else using your credentials.

Port your old numbers to google voice or twilio so the calls get captured and or forwarded to you or a voicemail.

Smartphones are much cheaper in the US. Zenphone 2 currently has the most worldwide networks and is cheap.

Go back and rethink what "accounts" to close tolls, prepaids, emails, gym, whatever.

Post: #49

Regretting my choice of the mail scanning service. The fine print says I pay $3.00 to scan each piece of mail, and it's not included in the monthly fee.

Other choices have slightly higher monthly fees, but scan up to 30-50 pieces of mail for free. Thinking about switching over to another vendor. What a pain.

Post: #50

(01-11-2016 10:35 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  Regretting my choice of the mail scanning service. The fine print says I pay $3.00 to scan each piece of mail, and it's not included in the monthly fee.

Other choices have slightly higher monthly fees, but scan up to 30-50 pieces of mail for free. Thinking about switching over to another vendor. What a pain.

Which one are you using? I use US Global Mail for $15/mo. They scan the front of the letters for free, but it's extra to scan the contents. I receive so little paper mail though (by making everything electronic) that I don't mind this. I can usually tell which letters are spam just by the free front scans.