Stop working - living in low-cost countries

Argamemnon

Argamemnon

Well-known member
In the future I intend to migrate to some country where the cost of living is MUCH lower than in the developed world. Of course I'll have to work and save lots of money first. I want to "retire" at age 45. Since I'm originally from Turkey (but living in the Netherlands), this country may be the obvious choice to realize my goal, although I don't want to limit myself to one particular country...

I'd like to give an example to illustrate my point. If you own a few (say 3 or 4) cheap apartments in Turkey (and you are single) you can easily live off the rent. A cheap apartment is about $ 40,000. Besides, if you own an apartment, and you don't have to pay rent, you only need about $ 500 per month to be able to live in Turkey. Unless you want to enjoy a luxurious life. Food is very cheap in Turkey, especially vegetables and fruit etc.

I'm sure that there are many countries that have even LOWER costs of living than Turkey! So, why not "retire" like royalty in a low-cost paradise? :) You could live in a tropical paradise for example. Having to work all my life and interact with people, reduces my quality of life to a pile of sh*t!
 
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Ashiene

Ashiene

Well-known member
In ancient times it would be possible to just set sail on a ship to an uninhabitated island far far away, grow a farm there, turn the entire island into your own personal paradise, rear animals for food, build your own Zen Garden, etc...basically, live in isolation from the rest of the world, or you can bring some people with you and set up your own nation LOL.

But now, unfortunately, all the islands are either inhabited or owned by some country or organization.
 
2Crowded

2Crowded

Well-known member
I have thought of this ideaof owning apartments here where i live..the problem of course for me is having money to buy them...of course i dont...second problem being there is always upkeep on rental properies for the owner to take care of & you have to deal with the people who live in your apartments when they dont pay rent & give you a sob story...I have heard horor stories from a couple people my parents know...about dealing with renters & such...for me it sounds like good idea if i could be tougher person...but in reality im not so I imagine I would get shorted often since im to nice... but yes that is a good idea...i wish i could make it work for me too..but im thinking it would be lots of trouble especialy for a socialy inept person such as myself..i dunno..spose i could pay someone to take care of the hard parts like dealing with the renters.

but I dont have much money anyway so pipe dream for me. :(
 
Argamemnon

Argamemnon

Well-known member
Lea said:
If you can afford to buy the appartments, then of course it is a good idea.
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My parents already have one, and maybe I'll buy one myself in two years or so and start renting it. I think I will continue to live with my parents, and save as much money as I can. Many Europeans buy apartments in Turkey, and some even rent those to locals or other foreigners. Europeans own a lot of estate agencies too along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
 
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Argamemnon

Argamemnon

Well-known member
Riiya said:
I'm spoiled, I don't really want to live in a place where you can't be sure what you're putting inside your mouth anymore.
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Well, I don't know about other countries, but I know that Turkey is a civilized country. The country I'm going to migrate to has to be fairly civilized.
 
Lea

Lea

Banned
Riiya said:
It's true food can be very cheap in low-cost countries. Here's why:

Chicken Simulated Rat

Recycling Pepsi Bottles

I'm spoiled, I don't really want to live in a place where you can't be sure what you're putting inside your mouth anymore.
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What´s bad with eating rats? I bet they´re not more unhealthy than other meat, only we´re not culturaly used to it.
Anyway it´s pretty well possible to live healthy in these countries, and even more healthy than here. If you live on fruit, vegetables and potatoes, nuts etc., you´re fine.
 
mndigi

mndigi

Well-known member
Who said any thing about Indians eating rats any where above? I don't see it. And regarding some unhealthy profit making acts like refilling Pepsi bottles in some home, they might happen in poor, slum areas of developing countries. I don't think one plans on living in slum areas in any country so that isn't much of an issue.
 
tommydog

tommydog

Well-known member
Its not really royalty mate its not that simple. Netherlands is a place where everything is great, it has every convenience, infustracture, emergeny services, fair and stable democracy, ect. Very very different to Vietnam for instance.

However yes you go to a place like that and you can live very cheaply and you might enjoy the different lifestyle. I know a guy who retired to Thailand. For $60 a week he has accomodation and food. Not sure on utilities.

You can even have a pet monkey, how cool would that be. You can buy meals for less than a dollar from street stalls. Would certainly be different but I think you can achieve your goal of living cheaply. Just be careful not to go somewhere thats too dangerous like Africa or some parts of South America.
 
R

Riiya

Well-known member
Lea said:
What´s bad with eating rats? I bet they´re not more unhealthy than other meat, only we´re not culturaly used to it.
Anyway it´s pretty well possible to live healthy in these countries, and even more healthy than here. If you live on fruit, vegetables and potatoes, nuts etc., you´re fine.
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Don't get me wrong, I'd eat a rat if the situation calls for it. I just don't want to eat rats disguised as chicken. When I order a chicken, I expect a chicken on my plate.

The point is...

Netherlands is a place where everything is great, it has every convenience, infustracture, emergeny services, fair and stable democracy, ect.
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...somewhere in the "ect." I don't know about the Netherlands, but here in the U.S. I can at least pretend no one can get away with feeding me rats when I want chicken. Well, except maybe in Chinatown. You never know what those Chinese eat to begin with.

Just one of those things most people take for granted.

(I didn't really live in a slum, by the way, and this wasn't all that uncommon in my area. Sorry to disappoint.)
 
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M

MyHyperhidrosis

Active member
No point to leave the USA when we got Kentucky and Alabama. LOL....here in California where I live my sales tax is a whopping 9%. If I can survive here imagine what it's like in those 2 states! I'd be rich.
 
striker

striker

Well-known member
About 3 years ago, I had the money, and I should have done it. But I took a chance to keep staying in the US. But now I know better. I am going to make that money again and head to India. You can lead a comfortable life with rents as the Original poster pointed out. Even the medical expenses are cheap there.
 
Ashiene

Ashiene

Well-known member
Recently there has been a trend for stressed individuals who are sick of society to spend some time in Bhutan, a very calm, beautiful, peaceful country near the Himalayas.

Society there is dominated by spirituality and Buddhism and not consumerism or other 'evils' associated with developed countries. If you come from a rich, developed country, you can be wealthy in Bhutan because things are very cheap there.

If you like Nature you will enjoy the scenary and wildlife too. I hope to one day go on a journey to that place and spend my life there.

Here's some pictures of Bhutan really really amazing!!! (taken from Wikipedia)

haavalley.jpg


trongsadzong.jpg


gangkharpuensum3.jpg


taktshang.jpg


It is definitely a social phobic's haven!
 
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