Thank you. Was diagnosed with gastritis a stomach disorder and can’t eat American foods. Lots of people are being diagnosed with it because food have GMO, gluten, pesticides and it is starting to make a lot of people have digestive issues. I want to move to a place with lots of organic vegetables and fruits. Am 66 and want to enjoy eating again. I truly appreciate you. Thank you again.
I live in Ukraine very well in my cottage on $600 Aussie a month. Meat , cheese, veggies, wine. Western Ukraine Carpathian Mountains rocks . Better restaurants than Melbourne
I'm a 55-year-old Aussie and have visited 52 countries. Thailand would have to be one of my favorite places to visit. Been there twice this year. John is 100% correct, Australia states (specially WA) have become nanny states.
The "Dark Ages of Wokeism" has descended on Australia. Far too many tax dollars are funneled into special interest groups who are nothing more than smoochers. Screw Australia, best to jettison all the socialist woke crap and leave for more prosperous shores. Go where your money is treated best.
@@addamr2052 Windmill not in Soi 6. But plenty of fun available in Thailand, but also cheap to live and beautiful surroundings and easy to visit many other countries close by.
'm from UK and have lived in Thailand for 12 years, it's a great place but John paints a rose tinted version. He doesn't tell you that foreigners can not buy land or property so his land and two houses will be in his wife's name. I'm sure they are happy and won't have any problems but you hear horror stories of couples falling out and the wife takes everything. Even though the foreigner can prove the money came from him the courts take no notice, he has to walk away with nothing. On a retirement visa you have to have 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank for a minimum of 3 months before and 3 months after your visa renewal. You are not allowed to work or run a business so if John starts a marijuana business, again, it will be in his wife's name. Lastly he says he pays an agent 15,000 Baht a year.... Why? I go to immigration, fill out the TM7 form which is in English as well as Thai, show them the other documents they ask for, bank statement showing the 800,000, passport, proof of address, pay my 1,900 Baht and that's it, in and out in less than an hour. The 90 day reports can now be done on line in less than 10 minutes and once you are registered they send you a reminder email two weeks before the next one is due. Having said that I love it here, great weather, great people. I live simply but still spend about twice what John quotes and I would have thought up here in Chiang Rai is as cheap or cheaper than where he is. If you are a wine drinker, as I was in UK, it's one of the few things that is more expensive here as it's taxed heavily. Very little under 700 Baht, pay more than1,000 for anything decent. local beer,
I agree. With these internet reports. 100% you will spend a lot more. Not uncommon to spend triple what they say. Especially if you get a girlfriend /wife. No way you can keep it that low every month
@@johncitizen9996 oh i hadn't had a chance to watch the full video. Wow village life would be cool. Bravo. I do believe you. I went on a trip and was told it was $1000 a month when in reality it was close to $4000 I hadnt budgeted for a girlfriend lol and when with a woman budgets can go quickly hahaha I think my second trip i will be better educated. Have you been there for awhile. How was your first trip
@chriseels13 keep in mind I don't pay rent or have any loans. Village life here is really affordable to most. We also receive a great rental from our home in Samui. Not doing hard at all. Infact doing very well. These are general costs for living and I have no reason to lie. In Samui or any Tourist destination you can double the costs I'm quoting. Cheers
Hey brother. If you use the company I use the 800,000 baht in a bank account is not needed. Think about this. A lot of money that can be invested elsewhere. Add travelling expenses to immigration and paperwork to your situation and I guarantee I'm getting the good deal. Even investing 800,000 at 5% or less and I'm the winner. I'm not lying about my costs and have made plenty of money since living here. These are just general costs. You can own property if you own a shelf company. In my case my wife is wealthy and put in 50% of everything we own. I get 49% so no complaints. Cheers
Thank you for your effort to bring this great interview to us. When I was in Phillipines for a few months everyone said I looked 15 years younger. When I slow travel through SE Asia I not only plan to experience that again, but plan to live a lot longer life than I would in the US. Both my parents are 95 and still going strong. Thank you again. Keep up the fantastic work
Genetics is the #1 determiner of longevity. Lifestyle is #2. Access to quality medical care is #3. For most people, longevity past age 75 or so depends greatly on having access to quality medical care. Lack of quality medical care is the #1 reason expats leave the Philippines. Thailand's medical infrastructure and quality of care if vastly superior to the Philippines.
@@jasonjames4254 thank you. With both parents 95 and in good health, with myself healthy, happy, don’t drink or smoke, exercise a lot, I should be fine. Thank you for Thailand medical care reference
hey man take good care first your parents and when they're gone time to live in the philippines get a young wife and you will live long with her kisses. you will not regret. philippines is heaven if you have money.
I went back to Australia for 8 months after living in Thailand for 10 years and I can tell you Thailand is by far better. Australian media is now full of fear-mongering and people are now debt slaves for houses that are overpriced. The amount of gambling that is advertised has gotten ridiculous. There is a lot of poverty that is very difficult for people to get out of due to the cost of starting a business with tight rules and regulations and unaffordable housing. Im so glad to be living back in Thailand now.
I’m a friend of John here and we live very close to each other, his wife is very nice I definitely think he’s lucky! But then again he’s the man of action and great attitude that’s why he’s here having the life men would dream of. Doesn’t matter how much money you got nothing compared to have a loving family.
Great interview. I'm in the process of selling all my belongings & house now. I've been going to Thailand for over 25 years. Now I'm ready to ride out my retirement there. Dan, love your channel and what you're doing for people. Signed up for your membership based on the content you provide. Cheers.
Be careful you don't end up like the rest of the retirees there. I mean old men dressed up in their best beer Charng singlets and billabong board shorts or Speedo briefs loitering and waiting for the afternoon happy all beer fifty baht happy hour session each day . Getting themselves all tanked up their eyeballs only to pass out on the floor in the spilt beer and cigarette slosh floor . Some of the other drunkard old dudes manage to scape enough to bar fine a beer bar girl younger than their own daughter or daughters .
No not biter I live off soi 5 Prathumnak Arunathai condos . It's just odd to me that all the burn't out old retirees say they come for the sights and temples to Thailand lol. You see them all in the happy hour beer swirling bars dressed in their best attire being board shorts and chang beer singlets and flip flops slobbering and crawling over beer bar girls still in their teens
Great interview Dan. Came for the month of Nov in 2019. All around southern area. One way ticket for 950.00 from Canada purchased. Coming Oct 4th, and not looking back. Prachuap Khiri Khan is where my home base will end up being, so I can travel easier. Moderate pension of 2,500.00 Canadian.
I'd say this is among your top ten. So entertaining! And your guest seemed like such a genuinely nice fellow! Sorry to say, I've met my share of expats who were a bit sketchy, but we could feel the warmth. The one issue I'd like to hear more about is the insurance issue. We're in our early 60's, may not have such confidence in our gene pool, so affording insurance is a must. If we don't comment again in the next few days Dan, know we are thinking of you all and send our very best holiday wishes and best for the new year! Ciao!🥳
I'm a 57 year old Australian and my 1st trip to Thailand was in 2014 , last April I made the decision to sell up everything I owned ,give up a great job family and friends and pack my stuff into 2 suitcases and bought a 1 way ticket to Thailand. I've never felt so free.
Good stuff Phil. Enjoy mate. No council rates is a big plus. Only the wealthy Thais pay taxes which are low. You need to live here to understand us brother. Freedom finally. The Australian government Nanny State managed to track me down and call me. Wanted to know why I'm living here. I gave them nothing information wise and told them to bugger off.
Hi Phill On The Run, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/ Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
tremendous interview ! you guys are very similar in your sensibilities. this aussie is truly happy , rare but thanks for helping pave the way. big time respect !
In my case for my annual retirement visa, I pay only the fee 1900 THB ( 54 USD) as I go Immigration myself plus 10 USD for photocopies and bank letters. The 90 days reporting are free and I do them using Immigration web site so no need to go in person except the first time you do a 90 day reporting. Nice positive vlog on expats living in Thailand.
Great interview with John, I’m also in Australia and I’m waiting until my step son finishes high school in 4 years and I’m seriously thinking about moving to Thailand, the lustre of the Australia has worn off, where there’s a ever increasing attack on the working/middle class through taxes and you only seem to work to pay for the ever burdening nanny state and people who refuse to work. I’ve been to Thailand 6 times and I have never found myself at such peace in my surroundings, nothing like sitting in the village with a bunch of Thai people that can’t understand you and you can’t them having a party. Can’t believe my brother in law built a 2 bedroom house like John, but it only cost him $22,000 AUD thou, my plan is to start saving and to start to build a house.
Great interview Dan,John has done the right ,most people just talk about it ,and his late father was right ,I am 61 now ,and this year has gone so fast . In the UK we retire at 67 with state pension officially Thanks
Great interview. John sure does have his feet on the ground and doing well. Keep up the great work Dan loving the channel and am looking forward to retiring using all I’ve learned from this channel.
While too young to retire... I've managed to get living expenses down to $200USD...without forgoing on "luxuries" 2bdroom apartment with pool, Fiber Optic internet, electricity, and water. I work as a digital nomad and while 200USD doesn't cover transportation, food, and other things like health insurance, visa... its a GREAT super inexpensive base budget to start any new lifestyle abroad. Country: Provincial Philippines. No way this is doable in Manilla or any of the major Cities, but if you are willing to live in a Provincial City, then its quite doable!! Cheers!
Hi Bisayang Kano, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/ Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
@@VagabondAwake Thx. Tonight we are going to look at the Catholic Churches in Saigon D8. They get decorated to the hilt. Community grew a lot from christian refugees escaping North Vietnam commies in 60s. Wife just submitted her resignation, you need to give 45 days notice, weird Vietnam labor law. Had a great short trip to Bangkok in November, but in Feb free to roam. Not moving, vacationing during retirement. First stops: Malaysia, and probably wind down to Singapore and Batam. Enjoy modern Saturnalia guys!
Just spend 100k on a beach house, a huge farm house, and a 4x4 that's not in your name, now you live for free! Lol He didn't mention how much money he has to have locked in a Thai bank account for his Thai retirement visa.
@@austinpowers4599 it has nothing to do with jealousy it’s about the actual cost that you need to know if you want to move there, without any surprises.
@@-whackd Hello...in answer to your comment: "He didn't mention how much money he has to have locked in a Thai bank account for his Thai retirement visa." There are hundreds of Visa Agents in Thailand that will "facilitate" the banking portions of the retirement visas...in other words there are perfectly legal loop-holes the agent can use so that the retiree has to put up a VERY modest ($400-500 USD) out of pocket amount to secure their visa...do a little homework and you will be pleasantly surprised how low the cost of the visa really is...yer' welcome :) :)
@@johncitizen9996 I used to spend a lot of time in Malaysia & Thailand in the early 90s till the late 90s & then came to America to live been here ever since
It sure does mate. Once you own a home here which can be achieved with as little as 20k. No council rates, nothing. Just your normal utilities. We also grow most of our vegetables and fruits. No need to waste money buying it.
@@johncitizen9996 I take it you brought a bit a money with you or had good reserves in the bank in Aus? You're too young to be getting access to your super or am I wrong? The cannabis growing will be a good income when it starts. Great video and thank you so much for the info.
I will say that I cannot stand the smell of marijuana, and this is a big detraction for me personally. Its why I left my home of Las Vegas. Once marijuana was legalized there, even though it was illegal to smoke in public, everyone did it anyway.
I have talking about selling up and moving to Thailand.I have RA and need to be somewhere I can an abundance of fresh fruit and veg and NZ us not that place.The warmer weather will be great too
Hi John,I also spent 43 years in Melbourne.Originally from NZ.I live in Meaung Prachuap Khiri Khan Town.Very inexpensive to live here too.More of a Thai town,than a tourist area.i love Thailand and Thai people.Like you the Thai language is a slow process .I go through your area occasionally.Maybe catch up for a beer.Cheers Paul :)
Retired to n Thailand myself. Aside from being away from my family, it's absolutely the best decision of my life. Would love to have a lunch with this gentleman.
Hi Molon Labe, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/ Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Yeah, I've been living in Saigon since 2010. When he mentioned "road rage" I smiled. One of my favourite sayings here is... No guns, no bibels, and no road rage. ~
Great interview Dan, thanks John! You are giving me hope! I've emailed Dan for your contact details. Would love to ask you some specifics and organise to come see you for a bbq.
In Australia the superannuation/retirement industry tries to convince everyone you need a million dollars plus own your own home to retire. Perhaps, if you stay in Australia, that could be true for some (depending on your spending habits). The alternative shown here is pretty stark. If he started with just AUD$200k he could have spent half on his set up costs then lived on the earnings from investing the rest. Any extra from his cash crop is just a bonus. All that and far cheaper and more accessible health care.
@@anthony7091 I could, but if you're thinking most people couldn't, I agree with that. You could get close to his overheads with a solid and consistent dividend yielding ETF, or do better if you're experienced in writing covered calls. The first option is suitable for anyone (lower return lower risk), the second is only available if you're qualified as a Level 2 options trader, at least in Australia.
@@perspective4517 if it’s a mill in Australia then its about 400k in Thailand providing you own house in Thailand. Just my opinion as it is 60% cheaper for myself living here in Thailand. I have heard of someone coming with 200k 10years ago and still here with his 200k and more! I don’t doubt you. I also have done what John has done and retired at 55. Never looked back.
@@anthony7091 you'd have a better idea of the cost of living, given your direct experience and if someone had 400k they could quarantine half into very low risk investments, ready for the next cyclical downturn/gfc. So your plan sounds better as a 20year proposition.
@@VagabondAwake Merry Christmas my friends! You are great together! I hope you make it to Chiang Mai some time and I could take you to dinner. Your information is so well presented and thought out.
If you add in his expenditure, around 2.5 million baht, and he lives 25 years, you can add around 250 US per month to his costs, so it's really 829, not 579, there is also quite a bit missing from his costings
Thank you GorgeousThailand! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
My wife and I bought a 3 bed condo in 2004 as our retirement home for 21,000 GBP. Now 19 years later and in our early 70's we should have been there enjoying our life. However, my wife developed an autoimmune condition and colon cancer just one year after retiring from the healthcare field. Our dream is no more. My advice is go for your dream and don't wait for the "right moment" as that right moment may never arrive.
$400,000 in an interest earning account earning around 5% interest equals around $1666 per month income or $20,000 per year. Whilst earning your monthly income, Your principal is still intact. I know several Australians living off that monthly income very comfortably in Thailand including rent, food, transport. They don’t drink and they don’t smoke. Now if you want to grow your wealth little by little on top of this, invest $150 per month in an ETF earning great yield and capital growth. Knowledge is Power, find it and use it! Excellent video, these videos are not meant to dish out all the answers, it’s meant to inspire you to find your own answers! Funny how all the keyboard warriors come out and play. Fellow Aussie here who knows what he is doing because I chose to find the answers. Well done mate, you have set yourself up for success and it seems a lot of people on YT are jealous and hating it.
i feel the same way... i have been living in China since 2017 and i want to stay in Asia... It's easier to get by ... food and housing is easier to pay also and like your aussie said you just go to the pharmacy and get what you need... the hospital visit is free and then the medicine is cheap if you need something not avail at the pharmacy
@@phmiii I am almost 50 and still have kids in school. Otherwise I don't see any magic in saving 300k in say 20 years of working life and retiring to a small village in SEA.
Great interview but his expenses weren’t accurate. Every dollar he spend on houses and cars or motorcycle should be added and divided by years living in Thailand and future years. If he moved to Thailand when he was 50 and he is going to live till he is 90 and he is in great shape. Then his expenses will jump to close to $1800 a month and really not bad for family of three and living beautiful life by the beach. Wish him great life and to see his kids grow up to be successful adult too.
At the age of 18, a Filipina still has her whole life ahead of her in Germany with a pension, which she will later receive. Because she has a job in Germany and pays contributions to the pension fund and health insurance fund.
@@VagabondAwake I've been to Prachuap twice & the only thing stopping me from retiring there was the health insurance requirement. If there is an option to the one company that would cover us over 70 retirees. I may be able to actually make it. Loved PKK, the kind, smiling Thais, the street food, the Promenade with the beach side restaurants, the air base with the $1. ice cold smoothies & $2. lunches & the blue cycle lane for the length of the town. Of course I always have Trudeau's Orwellian version of how Canada should be run & volunteer myself for Medically Assisted Suicide. 😡
@@daytriker it gets harder for health insurance for over 70s. Health insurance should be mandatory though no matter what age you are. Anything can happen. Maybe more easy for you to travel just a few months of the year and get your healthcare back home. The meals can be cheap but keep in mind it wouldn't be the most healthy for an older person with health problems. Western food can be pricy.
Australia has gone down the toilet. It is no longer the lucky country when I grew up in the 60’s, 70’s and 1980’s. Drugs, junkies and crime everywhere. My life suddenly came to a shattering end after being a victim of crime in the workplace. Got no support from police or my employers. So happy, safe and more healthier after I left Australia.
Hi from Melbourne, nice weather here for a change. Couldn't retire in Thailand, but could easily spend three months each year cycling around the place.
Hmmm reading some of the comments below.... So John references that he assists his wifes business while John is on a retirement visa - hope immigration are not you tube followers. John says he was paying very high taxes in Aus (top 20% of payers) yet John gets to retire 13 years earlier in Thailand. If John is in the top 20% of tax payers he shouldve been able to retire in Aus a while ago? John calls Aus a nanny state - Johns property investment in the local village will be under his wifes name. His Samui property may be a condo so may be under his name. If John splits with his wife he has very little recourse on any investment he has made in the village property. Thai law will not support his claims. However, if this was in Australia the nanny state will support his claims if on an Aus property. John seems happy and thats very cool. There are pros and cons of living in Thailand versus Australia and they vary for each individuals circumstances - but in promoting Thailand i dont see the need to slag of Australia.
Who said I assist in the business? I look after our daughter at home. You need to do more research on owning property here. My wife was wealthy before we met. I'm slagging off all Western countries. Australia is actually one of the worst. Police nanny State. Crime, highest taxes in the world, corruption. I could go on. Why retire in Australia? I chose a quieter life here. Thought hard about it and decided to live my life the way I choose.
@@johncitizen9996 Curious what actions you think make Australia a nanny state. I agree on the high taxes. Interesting you referenced Corruption - given Thailand does not score very well on that front. Curious on what other things as you reference you could go on.... I am retired in Thailand and yes i think its awesome - it works well for me - but rather than slagging off other countries i am able to take a balanced view on the pros and cons and apply perspective.
Filipino here. $579 a month is not even close to enough for me to retire here. I am in my 30s but I would hope when I get to this guy's age I would have more per month. This seems like survival budget. Very small money.
No we live very well my friend. We are also getting rent from our other home in Samui. If we were renting it would add another 400US per month. Village life is more affordable than the tourist areas or the big cities.
@@johncitizen9996 okay fair enough. I just picture my retirement of traveling around exploring, seeing new things, learning new things. Flights alone will eat up a large budget. Western foods which I prefer personally to stay healthy sadly can cost a lot too.
@@phil-be-health I think Thais local food can be a better healthier option to both US and Philippino food , but it can be a little spicy and hard to get organic, unless you know it's source and it also comes down to personal taste
@@hamishfullerton7309 really depends. Actually Thai food is loaded with sodium, can be highly processed, usually and high in saturated fats. Dishes like Pad Thai for instance should be had in moderation but they are tasty for sure. I think a good spicy Papaya salad is healthy although very spicy for your gut for sure! Eating healthy requires a larger food budget for sure and often gets overlooked because some people rely on eating street food all day.
@@phil-be-health yeah true I agree with all that, high quality protein isn't easy to find may be fresh fish on the coast ,the fruit &veg can be easily accessible but finding a little grower may not be ,Thais can use a lot of Chinese pesticides, salts ok in moderation , saturated fats are ok but it's the seed oils and MSG that are crap and Asian food can be full of them. What's the fruit and veg situation like in the Philippines, I have never been there ,only Thailand most people say it can be very oilly and they like a lot of pork
Loved the interview. John something you mentioned fire on beach it’s great but I saw someone light one after they put it out with water covered with sand apparently a toddler crawled over it next day sustained awful burns. 😢
Yep mate, live is too short..@55 I did the same but went to the Philippines …i didn’t look around and that’s the only regret I have as I might have ended up in Thailand myself. However happily married now in the province of Cebu. Living expenses ( utilities) are a shitload higher here unfortunately but like you said, if you go local markets etc to get your food and grow your own vegetables etc…life is good. Good luck, ohh and growing ganja here is unfortunately NOT a wise choice 😂, unless you like the company of inmate’s 🥴🤷♂️😂 Happy new year and live life to the fullest…it’s shorter then we think 👍
You’re kidding me on USD40k fir a 2 bedroom house in Koh Samui?? Can’t buy a block for that. If so please post a link! Major underestimating. Respect for what you are doing none the less
Thank you M M! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
From a female perspective I believe that Thailand has quite a conservative culture and not to be confused with perceptions of easy access to young females as people who travel for the wrong reason will never find true happiness However,plenty of females have settled in Thailand as it is cheaper,the locals respect elders and many hospitals are very good compared to other countries Whilst I love Bali,I do not trust the medical side and it can be frustrating when you need things done quickly,however much cheaper I personally think my preference would be to split my time between places as my pension is decent and qualify of life would improve if I choose this option I would love to hear an interview from females
Hi BETTY BOOP, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/ Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Top interview. I'm going to look into that growing ganja for the govt :) :) :) we've got more than enough land for 6 plants! One thing John did get wrong though, was the cost of retirement visa yearly extension when done by yourself.....not ฿17K but only ฿1,900- and the 90 day reporting is free and can be done online in a couple of minutes. John could save himself over ฿12K, a thousand a month, by doing it himself. Great video and good on John for taking the plunge and moving here. It seems like that it was the tonic his life needed and hopefully his friends will follow suit rather than deliberating for years. I first came to Thailand as a 20 year old and then, in 2006, finally grabbed the opportunity to move here full time as a 43 year old. No regrets.
The visa is something I cannot seem to work out - how do you get a long term visa (without serious cash) in Thailand? I wanted to come and 'work from home' for 12 months in Thailand but it seems difficult (going on the Thai Embassy site). I am in Australia for reference.
A two meter concrete fence all the way around! ... that reinforces the thought that in these places when you are from a different country you become a target as they know you have money. I wish I was wrong!
Regarding the growing of cannabis, John states, "Thai" people. I would assume an expat would not be eligible for the government funded exercise. Is that the case?
Thank you Off Roading is the best fun you can have going slow! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
All I know is that I've got to do something different. I love the Philippines but something tells me I'm going to end up in Thailand. I've grown top bud in the past and depending on the strain you can get between a quarter pound to a pound per plant dry weight. If you're a user all you need is one or two plants at a time. However I use a lot of training methods to cause the extra weight. Growing plants without training will give low weights maybe half the weight of a trained plant.
I have grown strains with 23 OZ per plant here. Almost a pound and a half. 9 pounds from 6 trees can net you around 40K US. I'd be happy with half that. It's a lot of money here..
Took me six months to tune my ear to Thai and after that it all gets easier. By comparison Dutch took three months to get the hang of. It is surprising how some people speak English there, like a female hardware store proprietor who had previously worked in an insurance company in Bangkok, or the woman driving a Mercedes who blocked the driveway of where my car was parked. Yes some woman there are knockouts and would easily win any beauty contest but there they are serving you at the local hardware store.
I’ve lived half my life in Australia & half in the United States - in between Malaysia a few years - I’m thinking of going to Asia to live - I’m an Australian/ US Citizen -
I really don't know how these guys do it, Dan. I really can't see living on anything under $1000 monthly and that's in any country. I take my hat off to these guys 😎
Hi Frank, you might notice in the budget breakdown he has posted that there is no "rent" included because he owns his home outright. $300-400 USD per month will get you a pretty nice, modern condo/apartment almost anywhere in Thailand...soooo add THAT into his budget and you are VERY nearly correct about needing a grand as a REAL monthly budget.
Spotlights for our BBQ area and parties. We also have a large vegetable garden and often do gardening late at night. The fence is for privacy and to keep roaming animals out. Cheers 🍻
@furryfuzzy307 it's worth retiring here my friend. $ from most other countries goes much further here. The warm climate all year around also plays a part. Kind friendly people as well. Thx for watching and commenting.
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What kinds of risks are you taking if you move overseas?
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Thank you. Was diagnosed with gastritis a stomach disorder and can’t eat American foods. Lots of people are being diagnosed with it because food have GMO, gluten, pesticides and it is starting to make a lot of people have digestive issues. I want to move to a place with lots of organic vegetables and fruits. Am 66 and want to enjoy eating again. I truly appreciate you. Thank you again.
I live in Ukraine very well in my cottage on $600 Aussie a month. Meat , cheese, veggies, wine. Western Ukraine Carpathian Mountains rocks . Better restaurants than Melbourne
Retiring abroad at $579/month? That's smart budgeting! Inspiring insights for those planning retirement
I'm a 55-year-old Aussie and have visited 52 countries. Thailand would have to be one of my favorite places to visit. Been there twice this year. John is 100% correct, Australia states (specially WA) have become nanny states.
Nanny state isn't strong enough, it has completely changed into a tyranny
The "Dark Ages of Wokeism" has descended on Australia. Far too many tax dollars are funneled into special interest groups who are nothing more than smoochers.
Screw Australia, best to jettison all the socialist woke crap and leave for more prosperous shores. Go where your money is treated best.
I want out of WA any ideas
Let me guess your favourite place in Thailand . Soi 6 Pattaya The smoke and kiss bar or the Wndmill gogo bar after midnight
@@addamr2052 Windmill not in Soi 6. But plenty of fun available in Thailand, but also cheap to live and beautiful surroundings and easy to visit many other countries close by.
'm from UK and have lived in Thailand for 12 years, it's a great place but John paints a rose tinted version. He doesn't tell you that foreigners can not buy land or property so his land and two houses will be in his wife's name. I'm sure they are happy and won't have any problems but you hear horror stories of couples falling out and the wife takes everything. Even though the foreigner can prove the money came from him the courts take no notice, he has to walk away with nothing. On a retirement visa you have to have 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank for a minimum of 3 months before and 3 months after your visa renewal. You are not allowed to work or run a business so if John starts a marijuana business, again, it will be in his wife's name. Lastly he says he pays an agent 15,000 Baht a year.... Why? I go to immigration, fill out the TM7 form which is in English as well as Thai, show them the other documents they ask for, bank statement showing the 800,000, passport, proof of address, pay my 1,900 Baht and that's it, in and out in less than an hour. The 90 day reports can now be done on line in less than 10 minutes and once you are registered they send you a reminder email two weeks before the next one is due. Having said that I love it here, great weather, great people. I live simply but still spend about twice what John quotes and I would have thought up here in Chiang Rai is as cheap or cheaper than where he is. If you are a wine drinker, as I was in UK, it's one of the few things that is more expensive here as it's taxed heavily. Very little under 700 Baht, pay more than1,000 for anything decent. local beer,
Ask Dan for my email and I can help you.
Amusing reading posts like yours.
I'm not the one getting ripped off.
I agree.
With these internet reports. 100% you will spend a lot more. Not uncommon to spend triple what they say. Especially if you get a girlfriend /wife. No way you can keep it that low every month
@@johncitizen9996 oh i hadn't had a chance to watch the full video.
Wow village life would be cool. Bravo.
I do believe you.
I went on a trip and was told it was $1000 a month when in reality it was close to $4000
I hadnt budgeted for a girlfriend lol and when with a woman budgets can go quickly hahaha
I think my second trip i will be better educated.
Have you been there for awhile.
How was your first trip
@chriseels13 keep in mind I don't pay rent or have any loans. Village life here is really affordable to most.
We also receive a great rental from our home in Samui. Not doing hard at all. Infact doing very well.
These are general costs for living and I have no reason to lie.
In Samui or any Tourist destination you can double the costs I'm quoting.
Cheers
Hey brother. If you use the company I use the 800,000 baht in a bank account is not needed.
Think about this. A lot of money that can be invested elsewhere.
Add travelling expenses to immigration and paperwork to your situation and I guarantee I'm getting the good deal.
Even investing 800,000 at 5% or less and I'm the winner.
I'm not lying about my costs and have made plenty of money since living here.
These are just general costs.
You can own property if you own a shelf company. In my case my wife is wealthy and put in 50% of everything we own. I get 49% so no complaints.
Cheers
this guy took the plunge and deserves his happiness
Love this down to earth Aussie! He's living the good life and deserves it!
Thank you for your effort to bring this great interview to us. When I was in Phillipines for a few months everyone said I looked 15 years younger. When I slow travel through SE Asia I not only plan to experience that again, but plan to live a lot longer life than I would in the US. Both my parents are 95 and still going strong. Thank you again. Keep up the fantastic work
Genetics is the #1 determiner of longevity. Lifestyle is #2. Access to quality medical care is #3. For most people, longevity past age 75 or so depends greatly on having access to quality medical care. Lack of quality medical care is the #1 reason expats leave the Philippines. Thailand's medical infrastructure and quality of care if vastly superior to the Philippines.
@@jasonjames4254 thank you. With both parents 95 and in good health, with myself healthy, happy, don’t drink or smoke, exercise a lot, I should be fine. Thank you for Thailand medical care reference
hey man take good care first your parents and when they're gone time to live in the philippines get a young wife and you will live long with her kisses. you will not regret. philippines is heaven if you have money.
@@tonymckay6556 where in Philippines are you?
I went back to Australia for 8 months after living in Thailand for 10 years and I can tell you Thailand is by far better. Australian media is now full of fear-mongering and people are now debt slaves for houses that are overpriced. The amount of gambling that is advertised has gotten ridiculous. There is a lot of poverty that is very difficult for people to get out of due to the cost of starting a business with tight rules and regulations and unaffordable housing. Im so glad to be living back in Thailand now.
Good stuff Damian, couldn't agree more.
I’m a friend of John here and we live very close to each other, his wife is very nice I definitely think he’s lucky! But then again he’s the man of action and great attitude that’s why he’s here having the life men would dream of. Doesn’t matter how much money you got nothing compared to have a loving family.
Love you Nadia ❤️ we catch up soon.
Great interview. I'm in the process of selling all my belongings & house now. I've been going to Thailand for over 25 years. Now I'm ready to ride out my retirement there. Dan, love your channel and what you're doing for people. Signed up for your membership based on the content you provide. Cheers.
Thank you! I will do my best to respect the time you are giving me. Peace.
hey man philippines is better. thailanders are not friendly and they can not speak english.
Be careful you don't end up like the rest of the retirees there. I mean old men dressed up in their best beer Charng singlets and billabong board shorts or Speedo briefs loitering and waiting for the afternoon happy all beer fifty baht happy hour session each day . Getting themselves all tanked up their eyeballs only to pass out on the floor in the spilt beer and cigarette slosh floor . Some of the other drunkard old dudes manage to scape enough to bar fine a beer bar girl younger than their own daughter or daughters .
@@addamr2052 You sound bitter. I love your salty tears.
No not biter I live off soi 5 Prathumnak Arunathai condos . It's just odd to me that all the burn't out old retirees say they come for the sights and temples to Thailand lol. You see them all in the happy hour beer swirling bars dressed in their best attire being board shorts and chang beer singlets and flip flops slobbering and crawling over beer bar girls still in their teens
"They are Buddhists. Buddhists are the best people in the world." 5:10 ... I agree!!!
yep, but they are chased and killes by the musli ms from over the border south.......
@@mrbutch308 How naive ... lol
Great interview Dan. Came for the month of Nov in 2019. All around southern area. One way ticket for 950.00 from Canada purchased. Coming Oct 4th, and not looking back. Prachuap Khiri Khan is where my home base will end up being, so I can travel easier. Moderate pension of 2,500.00 Canadian.
Vancouver Canada is my favourite place to be ♥
Great interview Dan and all the best John! Thanks for sharing your experience😊
Thanks for listening
Cheers brother 👍
OUTSTANDING INTERVIEW... Conversation!!!! Thank you Dan.....
and Good On John!!!!!
Cheers brother 👍
Your videos are really motivating Dan. Thanks for your efforts. ❣️
My pleasure!
Always nice to see someone retired and loving it. ❤️
Cheers friend ❤️
I'd say this is among your top ten. So entertaining! And your guest seemed like such a genuinely nice fellow! Sorry to say, I've met my share of expats who were a bit sketchy, but we could feel the warmth. The one issue I'd like to hear more about is the insurance issue. We're in our early 60's, may not have such confidence in our gene pool, so affording insurance is a must. If we don't comment again in the next few days Dan, know we are thinking of you all and send our very best holiday wishes and best for the new year! Ciao!🥳
I'm a 57 year old Australian and my 1st trip to Thailand was in 2014 , last April I made the decision to sell up everything I owned ,give up a great job family and friends and pack my stuff into 2 suitcases and bought a 1 way ticket to Thailand. I've never felt so free.
Good stuff Phil. Enjoy mate.
No council rates is a big plus.
Only the wealthy Thais pay taxes which are low.
You need to live here to understand us brother.
Freedom finally.
The Australian government Nanny State managed to track me down and call me. Wanted to know why I'm living here. I gave them nothing information wise and told them to bugger off.
Let me guess Pattaya , Thailand . Happy hour beer swirling beer bars , gogo bars , soi 6 , Soi ladyboy , coconut bar (Pattaya beach )
@@addamr2052 Are you a bible thumper or something? LOL
Hi Phill On The Run, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html
Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/
Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
@@addamr2052 you are just projecting what you would do. Good luck
Great interview Dan.
tremendous interview ! you guys are very similar in your sensibilities. this aussie is truly happy , rare but thanks for helping pave the way. big time respect !
Cheers 🍻 my friend
In my case for my annual retirement visa, I pay only the fee 1900 THB ( 54 USD) as I go Immigration myself plus 10 USD for photocopies and bank letters. The 90 days reporting are free and I do them using Immigration web site so no need to go in person except the first time you do a 90 day reporting. Nice positive vlog on expats living in Thailand.
Thanks for the advice.
Great interview with John, I’m also in Australia and I’m waiting until my step son finishes high school in 4 years and I’m seriously thinking about moving to Thailand, the lustre of the Australia has worn off, where there’s a ever increasing attack on the working/middle class through taxes and you only seem to work to pay for the ever burdening nanny state and people who refuse to work. I’ve been to Thailand 6 times and I have never found myself at such peace in my surroundings, nothing like sitting in the village with a bunch of Thai people that can’t understand you and you can’t them having a party. Can’t believe my brother in law built a 2 bedroom house like John, but it only cost him $22,000 AUD thou, my plan is to start saving and to start to build a house.
Good luck Jason 👍
hey man thailand is not the best place. locals are not friendly and they have different culture. when you die you will reincarnate as a pig.
@@johncitizen9996 thanks mate
Great interview Dan,John has done the right ,most people just talk about it ,and his late father was right ,I am 61 now ,and this year has gone so fast .
In the UK we retire at 67 with state pension officially
Thanks
Good luck brother 🙏 and thanks
in the uk we retire at 66,,in five yrs time we will retire at 67..important to be correct
Wow! Anybody who needs cheered up, this is a very energizing discussion about paradise!
What a fantastic and informative interview. Thanks to both of you.
I'm really happy for this guy. My life is much different, but I hope to be happy with my retirement too.
Good luck friend 💓
Great interview, love John! I am 51, also Australian and retiring overseas in one months time. Definitely couldn't have retired here at this age!
Good luck friend 💓 love you too
Love to hear how you made it happen. Australian here but only 33.
@@SJRPhotographics I have sent 2 very detailed replies but for some reason i can't see them now, can you?
@@johncitizen9996 Thanks John, you too!
@@melescobar6107 no I couldn't see it
Great interview. John sure does have his feet on the ground and doing well. Keep up the great work Dan loving the channel and am looking forward to retiring using all I’ve learned from this channel.
While too young to retire... I've managed to get living expenses down to $200USD...without forgoing on "luxuries" 2bdroom apartment with pool, Fiber Optic internet, electricity, and water. I work as a digital nomad and while 200USD doesn't cover transportation, food, and other things like health insurance, visa... its a GREAT super inexpensive base budget to start any new lifestyle abroad. Country: Provincial Philippines. No way this is doable in Manilla or any of the major Cities, but if you are willing to live in a Provincial City, then its quite doable!! Cheers!
Hi Bisayang Kano, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html
Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/
Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
@@VagabondAwake sent you a message through your website.
Best interview! All good news! See guys, even in a remote village, it is possible to meet an educated English speaker.
Hey Formica! Happy Holidays. :-) Dan
@@VagabondAwake Thx. Tonight we are going to look at the Catholic Churches in Saigon D8. They get decorated to the hilt. Community grew a lot from christian refugees escaping North Vietnam commies in 60s. Wife just submitted her resignation, you need to give 45 days notice, weird Vietnam labor law. Had a great short trip to Bangkok in November, but in Feb free to roam. Not moving, vacationing during retirement. First stops: Malaysia, and probably wind down to Singapore and Batam. Enjoy modern Saturnalia guys!
Great interview, great video. Thank you. He's certainly right on time flying by.
This is awesome. I've been to Thailand many times and am ready to make the change.
So it’s not exactly $579/month if he’s living in his own house. He paid $ to build the house, right? Should be added to the expense list
Just spend 100k on a beach house, a huge farm house, and a 4x4 that's not in your name, now you live for free! Lol
He didn't mention how much money he has to have locked in a Thai bank account for his Thai retirement visa.
Why so much jealousy???
@@austinpowers4599 it has nothing to do with jealousy it’s about the actual cost that you need to know if you want to move there, without any surprises.
I think it's a frame of thinking. Capital cost or reserves seen as a monthly expense or just something that you have.
@@-whackd Hello...in answer to your comment: "He didn't mention how much money he has to have locked in a Thai bank account for his Thai retirement visa."
There are hundreds of Visa Agents in Thailand that will "facilitate" the banking portions of the retirement visas...in other words there are perfectly legal loop-holes the agent can use so that the retiree has to put up a VERY modest ($400-500 USD) out of pocket amount to secure their visa...do a little homework and you will be pleasantly surprised how low the cost of the visa really is...yer' welcome :) :)
Great interview with John, he's got life right 😀
Good interview & good info Dan. Looking forward to more interviews like this.
Good on you mate - I agree 100% with your views - nanny states - Australia / United States / Europe /
Cheers my friend 🍻
@@johncitizen9996 I used to spend a lot of time in Malaysia & Thailand in the early 90s till the late 90s & then came to America to live been here ever since
WOW! Amazing and inspirational. Thanks John and Dan. You've given me hope.
See you soon mate 👍
Nice interview kids, great information about ti village life, definitely something to consider
Glad you enjoyed it!
I enjoyed the video. Didn't see you're wife this time. It's amazing how cheap the man is living. As well as his home.
Great interview!!!
Excellent interview along with detailed living expenses. Gosh, cutting out the rent really has a big impact on monthly costs!
It sure does mate. Once you own a home here which can be achieved with as little as 20k.
No council rates, nothing.
Just your normal utilities.
We also grow most of our vegetables and fruits. No need to waste money buying it.
@@johncitizen9996 I take it you brought a bit a money with you or had good reserves in the bank in Aus? You're too young to be getting access to your super or am I wrong? The cannabis growing will be a good income when it starts. Great video and thank you so much for the info.
@jimmybell47 cheers mate 👍
If you retire you get access to your super at 58 years of age so I had to wait 4 years.
Great video thanks guys. The life advice is so true, don't keep waiting to take that life changing step. All the best to you.
Great interview and very informative!
I will say that I cannot stand the smell of marijuana, and this is a big detraction for me personally. Its why I left my home of Las Vegas. Once marijuana was legalized there, even though it was illegal to smoke in public, everyone did it anyway.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have talking about selling up and moving to Thailand.I have RA and need to be somewhere I can an abundance of fresh fruit and veg and NZ us not that place.The warmer weather will be great too
Hi John,I also spent 43 years in Melbourne.Originally from NZ.I live in Meaung Prachuap Khiri Khan Town.Very inexpensive to live here too.More of a Thai town,than a tourist area.i love Thailand and Thai people.Like you the Thai language is a slow process .I go through your area occasionally.Maybe catch up for a beer.Cheers Paul :)
For sure Paul. I'd love that. Send me a message once you decide 🙂
Nice area Paul not many know how good it is down there
Place is wall to wall ex pats
@@thomasschumacher5362 Prachuap Khiri Khan town,not Hua Hin.Prachuap khiri khan is also the
Province.
Retired to n Thailand myself. Aside from being away from my family, it's absolutely the best decision of my life. Would love to have a lunch with this gentleman.
You better find somewhere cheap then 😂
Hi there have a little family and want out of WA. Any information should we get a one way ticket or go holiday
Hi Molon Labe, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html
Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/
Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Message me when you're in this area. 🍻
Yeah, I've been living in Saigon since 2010.
When he mentioned "road rage" I smiled.
One of my favourite sayings here is...
No guns, no bibels, and no road rage.
~
Great interview Dan, thanks John! You are giving me hope! I've emailed Dan for your contact details. Would love to ask you some specifics and organise to come see you for a bbq.
Inspirational Dan, awesome video and guest.
Thank you for sharing! You mentioned having a high wall around the property. Is this necessary for safety? Thanks so much!
Thanks for watching. The wall keeps stray animals out and we like it for privacy.
Very safe in Thailand.
Cheers John
I’d love to do this! 🤙🏼 kudos to you and enjoy your life, dude!
Cheers bro. 🍻
In Australia the superannuation/retirement industry tries to convince everyone you need a million dollars plus own your own home to retire. Perhaps, if you stay in Australia, that could be true for some (depending on your spending habits). The alternative shown here is pretty stark. If he started with just AUD$200k he could have spent half on his set up costs then lived on the earnings from investing the rest. Any extra from his cash crop is just a bonus. All that and far cheaper and more accessible health care.
Are you saying that you can retire in Thailand with $200k?
@@anthony7091 I could, but if you're thinking most people couldn't, I agree with that. You could get close to his overheads with a solid and consistent dividend yielding ETF, or do better if you're experienced in writing covered calls. The first option is suitable for anyone (lower return lower risk), the second is only available if you're qualified as a Level 2 options trader, at least in Australia.
@@perspective4517 if it’s a mill in Australia then its about 400k in Thailand providing you own house in Thailand. Just my opinion as it is 60% cheaper for myself living here in Thailand. I have heard of someone coming with 200k 10years ago and still here with his 200k and more!
I don’t doubt you. I also have done what John has done and retired at 55. Never looked back.
@@anthony7091 you'd have a better idea of the cost of living, given your direct experience and if someone had 400k they could quarantine half into very low risk investments, ready for the next cyclical downturn/gfc. So your plan sounds better as a 20year proposition.
John is right on! The best part of Thailand is the people.
Happy Holidays Martin!
@@VagabondAwake Merry Christmas my friends! You are great together! I hope you make it to Chiang Mai some time and I could take you to dinner. Your information is so well presented and thought out.
If you add in his expenditure, around 2.5 million baht, and he lives 25 years, you can add around 250 US per month to his costs, so it's really 829, not 579, there is also quite a bit missing from his costings
Thank you GorgeousThailand! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan
Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
My wife and I bought a 3 bed condo in 2004 as our retirement home for 21,000 GBP. Now 19 years later and in our early 70's we should have been there enjoying our life. However, my wife developed an autoimmune condition and colon cancer just one year after retiring from the healthcare field. Our dream is no more. My advice is go for your dream and don't wait for the "right moment" as that right moment may never arrive.
WHAT A BLOODY LEGEND. 😊😊
Cheers brother 🍻
$400,000 in an interest earning account earning around 5% interest equals around $1666 per month income or $20,000 per year. Whilst earning your monthly income, Your principal is still intact. I know several Australians living off that monthly income very comfortably in Thailand including rent, food, transport. They don’t drink and they don’t smoke. Now if you want to grow your wealth little by little on top of this, invest $150 per month in an ETF earning great yield and capital growth. Knowledge is Power, find it and use it! Excellent video, these videos are not meant to dish out all the answers, it’s meant to inspire you to find your own answers! Funny how all the keyboard warriors come out and play. Fellow Aussie here who knows what he is doing because I chose to find the answers. Well done mate, you have set yourself up for success and it seems a lot of people on YT are jealous and hating it.
Thank you brother ❤
i feel the same way... i have been living in China since 2017 and i want to stay in Asia... It's easier to get by ... food and housing is easier to pay also and like your aussie said you just go to the pharmacy and get what you need... the hospital visit is free and then the medicine is cheap if you need something not avail at the pharmacy
Very interresting video. Thank you John and Dan for that and I love the advice his father gave him ❤
Another great interview Dan!! Thailand definitely intrigues me.
Great video
Johns got great story
I’m backing my bags now see you soon for a game of pool John
Waiting for you my brother.
1 if our bucket list journeys
Great video Dan ! I’m jealous John 55555555 enjoy Bud , watching from Melbourne Australia !
Come over brother. I'm waiting 🍻
555
@@johncitizen9996 I’d like to get in contact with you please. I have many questions and would love to do what you have done.
Love you bro. I'm from Melbourne 🍾🍷🍻
@becfitzgerald1 get my email from Dan.
YT doesn't allow me to post my address.
Happy to help you Bec
That Melburnian accent was apparent. Cheers
Amazing Interview! If I had known this back in my 40's, I would have retired very early: 56 and not 66.
If one doesn't have a family to look after, I am sure most could easily retire under 50, if they choose to do so in Thailand.
@@last_samurai6690 This is true! At 50 my wife and I still had one child in school.
@@phmiii I am almost 50 and still have kids in school. Otherwise I don't see any magic in saving 300k in say 20 years of working life and retiring to a small village in SEA.
Great interview but his expenses weren’t accurate. Every dollar he spend on houses and cars or motorcycle should be added and divided by years living in Thailand and future years. If he moved to Thailand when he was 50 and he is going to live till he is 90 and he is in great shape. Then his expenses will jump to close to $1800 a month and really not bad for family of three and living beautiful life by the beach. Wish him great life and to see his kids grow up to be successful adult too.
Nice guy!
At the age of 18, a Filipina still has her whole life ahead of her in Germany with a pension, which she will later receive. Because she has a job in Germany and pays contributions to the pension fund and health insurance fund.
Loved the interview and idea of geo-arbitrage. Would love to follow more Australians doing a similar thing
You can follow me mate. Cheers 🙏
The sliding Aussie dollar is a concern.
Wonderful video of the right type of person that should move to Thailand.
Good info on the health insurance requirement now. If you are over 70 it may be difficult to obtain coverage so this may be a work around.
He actually shared even better information about his visa agent that I cut out of the video. Neither of us get paid a nickel if you use his agent.
@@VagabondAwake I've been to Prachuap twice & the only thing stopping me from retiring there was the health insurance requirement. If there is an option to the one company that would cover us over 70 retirees. I may be able to actually make it. Loved PKK, the kind, smiling Thais, the street food, the Promenade with the beach side restaurants, the air base with the $1. ice cold smoothies & $2. lunches & the blue cycle lane for the length of the town. Of course I always have Trudeau's Orwellian version of how Canada should be run & volunteer myself for Medically Assisted Suicide. 😡
@@daytriker it gets harder for health insurance for over 70s. Health insurance should be mandatory though no matter what age you are. Anything can happen. Maybe more easy for you to travel just a few months of the year and get your healthcare back home. The meals can be cheap but keep in mind it wouldn't be the most healthy for an older person with health problems. Western food can be pricy.
Australia has gone down the toilet. It is no longer the lucky country when I grew up in the 60’s, 70’s and 1980’s.
Drugs, junkies and crime everywhere. My life suddenly came to a shattering end after being a victim of crime in the workplace. Got no support from police or my employers.
So happy, safe and more healthier after I left Australia.
Where did you go?
@@VagabondAwake Thailand
Good man. Enjoy now brother
Hi from Melbourne, nice weather here for a change. Couldn't retire in Thailand, but could easily spend three months each year cycling around the place.
Hmmm reading some of the comments below.... So John references that he assists his wifes business while John is on a retirement visa - hope immigration are not you tube followers. John says he was paying very high taxes in Aus (top 20% of payers) yet John gets to retire 13 years earlier in Thailand. If John is in the top 20% of tax payers he shouldve been able to retire in Aus a while ago? John calls Aus a nanny state - Johns property investment in the local village will be under his wifes name. His Samui property may be a condo so may be under his name. If John splits with his wife he has very little recourse on any investment he has made in the village property. Thai law will not support his claims. However, if this was in Australia the nanny state will support his claims if on an Aus property. John seems happy and thats very cool. There are pros and cons of living in Thailand versus Australia and they vary for each individuals circumstances - but in promoting Thailand i dont see the need to slag of Australia.
Who said I assist in the business?
I look after our daughter at home.
You need to do more research on owning property here.
My wife was wealthy before we met.
I'm slagging off all Western countries. Australia is actually one of the worst. Police nanny State.
Crime, highest taxes in the world, corruption. I could go on.
Why retire in Australia? I chose a quieter life here. Thought hard about it and decided to live my life the way I choose.
@@johncitizen9996 Curious what actions you think make Australia a nanny state. I agree on the high taxes. Interesting you referenced Corruption - given Thailand does not score very well on that front. Curious on what other things as you reference you could go on.... I am retired in Thailand and yes i think its awesome - it works well for me - but rather than slagging off other countries i am able to take a balanced view on the pros and cons and apply perspective.
Thank you sweet sweet! Your interactions help our channel grow! Have a great day. :-) Dan
Thanks for the vid it's stoking the fires in ke. We will be in Bangkok next month, maybe we can do lunch if you available
Great interview 🙏❤️
Filipino here. $579 a month is not even close to enough for me to retire here. I am in my 30s but I would hope when I get to this guy's age I would have more per month. This seems like survival budget. Very small money.
No we live very well my friend. We are also getting rent from our other home in Samui. If we were renting it would add another 400US per month.
Village life is more affordable than the tourist areas or the big cities.
@@johncitizen9996 okay fair enough. I just picture my retirement of traveling around exploring, seeing new things, learning new things. Flights alone will eat up a large budget. Western foods which I prefer personally to stay healthy sadly can cost a lot too.
@@phil-be-health I think Thais local food can be a better healthier option to both US and Philippino food , but it can be a little spicy and hard to get organic, unless you know it's source and it also comes down to personal taste
@@hamishfullerton7309 really depends. Actually Thai food is loaded with sodium, can be highly processed, usually and high in saturated fats. Dishes like Pad Thai for instance should be had in moderation but they are tasty for sure. I think a good spicy Papaya salad is healthy although very spicy for your gut for sure! Eating healthy requires a larger food budget for sure and often gets overlooked because some people rely on eating street food all day.
@@phil-be-health yeah true I agree with all that, high quality protein isn't easy to find may be fresh fish on the coast ,the fruit &veg can be easily accessible but finding a little grower may not be ,Thais can use a lot of Chinese pesticides, salts ok in moderation , saturated fats are ok but it's the seed oils and MSG that are crap and Asian food can be full of them. What's the fruit and veg situation like in the Philippines, I have never been there ,only Thailand most people say it can be very oilly and they like a lot of pork
Don't think those prices for Cannabis will stay up very long. The prices plummeted in California. The best grow area in the world.
UK prices are stable but expensive, $3,888.00 a pound. I am hearing that the price is crashing but it has not reached the UK.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Loved the interview. John something you mentioned fire on beach it’s great but I saw someone light one after they put it out with water covered with sand apparently a toddler crawled over it next day sustained awful burns. 😢
Bummer.
$1 or 2 per month for gas.-What does that tell you about Australian politicians?
55 in Melb, owe 60k on house worth 700 to 800. 250 in super work is a grind sounds like parts of Thailand are worth a look.
Yep mate, live is too short..@55 I did the same but went to the Philippines …i didn’t look around and that’s the only regret I have as I might have ended up in Thailand myself.
However happily married now in the province of Cebu.
Living expenses ( utilities) are a shitload higher here unfortunately but like you said, if you go local markets etc to get your food and grow your own vegetables etc…life is good.
Good luck, ohh and growing ganja here is unfortunately NOT a wise choice 😂, unless you like the company of inmate’s 🥴🤷♂️😂
Happy new year and live life to the fullest…it’s shorter then we think 👍
Cheers my friend 🍻
We grow numerous vegetables , fruits and herbs. Saving a shitload of money there.
If everyone is so friendly there why would you build a 2 meter (6 foot 6 inch) concrete wall completely encircling your compound?
Many homes here have this type of fencing. Privacy, keeping roaming animals out. Concrete inexpensive here.
Thank you Antipodean33! Your interactions help our channel grow! Have a great day. :-) Dan
You’re kidding me on USD40k fir a 2 bedroom house in Koh Samui?? Can’t buy a block for that. If so please post a link! Major underestimating. Respect for what you are doing none the less
Perhaps watch the video again.
I live on the mainland in a village.
We also own and rent a house out on Samui.
Thank you M M! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan
Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
Hi all! I am a 66 year old single female. My biggest issue is safety, my kids go nuts when .I tell them I want to leave the USA. Is Thailand safe?
It's really safe. Stay away from the tourist traps. Good luck 👍
Most places in Thailand are safer than most places in the USA, in my opinion.
From a female perspective I believe that Thailand has quite a conservative culture and not to be confused with perceptions of easy access to young females as people who travel for the wrong reason will never find true happiness
However,plenty of females have settled in Thailand as it is cheaper,the locals respect elders and many hospitals are very good compared to other countries
Whilst I love Bali,I do not trust the medical side and it can be frustrating when you need things done quickly,however much cheaper
I personally think my preference would be to split my time between places as my pension is decent and qualify of life would improve if I choose this option
I would love to hear an interview from females
Hi BETTY BOOP, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ua-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/v-deo.html
Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/
Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or UA-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Top interview.
I'm going to look into that growing ganja for the govt :) :) :) we've got more than enough land for 6 plants!
One thing John did get wrong though, was the cost of retirement visa yearly extension when done by yourself.....not ฿17K but only ฿1,900- and the 90 day reporting is free and can be done online in a couple of minutes. John could save himself over ฿12K, a thousand a month, by doing it himself.
Great video and good on John for taking the plunge and moving here. It seems like that it was the tonic his life needed and hopefully his friends will follow suit rather than deliberating for years.
I first came to Thailand as a 20 year old and then, in 2006, finally grabbed the opportunity to move here full time as a 43 year old. No regrets.
The visa is something I cannot seem to work out - how do you get a long term visa (without serious cash) in Thailand? I wanted to come and 'work from home' for 12 months in Thailand but it seems difficult (going on the Thai Embassy site). I am in Australia for reference.
@skillmeup53 hit Dan up for my email and I can help you..
Any luck
A two meter concrete fence all the way around! ... that reinforces the thought that in these places when you are from a different country you become a target as they know you have money. I wish I was wrong!
Many Thai people build the same type of fence.
For privacy.
Concrete is also quite cheap here.
You might want to travel a little.
great video! makes me want to live there.
Great interview
Agreed. John was dropping knowledge bombs blowing up conventional thoughts every few seconds. The guy really has an interesting take on life!
Love Thailand but for Americans is just too far. Australians are lucky.
I am American, I am in SE Asia.
Regarding the growing of cannabis, John states, "Thai" people.
I would assume an expat would not be eligible for the government funded exercise. Is that the case?
Yes correct. I have a Thai wife so eligible.
Thank you Off Roading is the best fun you can have going slow! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Dan
Do you have my free eBook yet? That is here: vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
Good to hear you're happy with your lot.
Somebody is feeding you a load of tosh, the retirement visa extension costs 1,900 THB, not 17,000....
All I know is that I've got to do something different. I love the Philippines but something tells me I'm going to end up in Thailand. I've grown top bud in the past and depending on the strain you can get between a quarter pound to a pound per plant dry weight. If you're a user all you need is one or two plants at a time. However I use a lot of training methods to cause the extra weight. Growing plants without training will give low weights maybe half the weight of a trained plant.
I have grown strains with 23 OZ per plant here. Almost a pound and a half.
9 pounds from 6 trees can net you around 40K US.
I'd be happy with half that. It's a lot of money here..
Took me six months to tune my ear to Thai and after that it all gets easier. By comparison Dutch took three months to get the hang of. It is surprising how some people speak English there, like a female hardware store proprietor who had previously worked in an insurance company in Bangkok, or the woman driving a Mercedes who blocked the driveway of where my car was parked. Yes some woman there are knockouts and would easily win any beauty contest but there they are serving you at the local hardware store.
Legend mate👍
Cheers my friend.
I’ve lived half my life in Australia & half in the United States - in between Malaysia a few years - I’m thinking of going to Asia to live - I’m an Australian/ US Citizen -
I really don't know how these guys do it, Dan. I really can't see living on anything under $1000 monthly and that's in any country. I take my hat off to these guys 😎
It will be at $1000 monthly if you take rental into budget.
Hi Frank, you might notice in the budget breakdown he has posted that there is no "rent" included because he owns his home outright.
$300-400 USD per month will get you a pretty nice, modern condo/apartment almost anywhere in Thailand...soooo add THAT into his budget and you are VERY nearly correct about needing a grand as a REAL monthly budget.
Brilliant thank you for sharing
Great interview!
Good on him for making the move and starting a family. Melbourne isn’t a nice place anymore. I do wonder why so many spot lights and the big fence?
Spotlights for our BBQ area and parties. We also have a large vegetable garden and often do gardening late at night.
The fence is for privacy and to keep roaming animals out.
Cheers 🍻
@@johncitizen9996 thanks mate, that's handy to know. Sounds like your "living the dream".
@furryfuzzy307 it's worth retiring here my friend. $ from most other countries goes much further here.
The warm climate all year around also plays a part. Kind friendly people as well.
Thx for watching and commenting.