I’ve been so fortunate to have experienced this incredible seven-year run, starting back in 2010.
Over that period, I went from being worth less than a baby to living in a foreign country as a financially independent dividend expat.
It’s been quite an adventure. And I couldn’t be more pleased with where I’m at in life.
But I’m also just getting started. At 35 years old, I’m still young. While this current version of me is the best that’s ever existed, I still feel like my best is yet to come.
I’m the best yet, and yet, my best is yet to come…
-Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
Frankly, that’s how we should all think.
Most of us here are fighting for financial independence. And those of us who have reached financial independence are using our additional resources to become better and happier versions of ourselves (at least, we should be). The constant striving toward your potential as a human being is not something that ever ends.
With that in mind, I’m looking forward to 2018 as what will almost surely be another wonderful chapter in my book of life.
But there are three things I’m particularly excited about this coming year:
Exploring More Of Thailand And Southeast Asia
I’m admittedly not a big traveler, which is kind of funny to say considering I live in a foreign country full time.
But now that I live in a totally different part of the world, I’m anxious to see what this part of the globe offers. It’s obviously very expensive (and time consuming) to fly over here from the US, which is why it’s such a gift to be located here permanently. I can freely hop around the region with relatively little resource expenditure.
First, however, is seeing more of the country I now call home.
I’m currently in the midst of planning out a March-ish trip to visit a Thai island or two in the south. While I enjoyed the beaches in SW Florida just fine, the beaches here in Thailand are on another level.
Here are some Google Image searches for Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Phi Phi, just so you see what I’m talking about.
But Thailand is a huge and diverse country. I’ve spent the last few months seeing plenty of Chiang Mai and its environs, but I’m anticipating broadening my exploration of the country throughout 2018.
A trip to Bangkok in the near future is also highly likely. It’s easy to see a good chunk of southern Thailand from there.
And this is all before even talking about the rest of SE Asia, which includes the likes of nearby Vietnam and Cambodia. It’s relatively cheap and easy to zip around to these countries. In my view, Thailand offers by far the highest quality of life in this region, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a little bit of some neighboring countries.
Moreover, I have some interest in seeing parts of Eastern Europe, which appeals to me for some of the same reasons Thailand does.
Eastern Europe is especially appealing to me as a summer destination/home, as part of what I believe is the ultimate snowbird solution.
Well, it’s now much easier to hop over to, say, Budapest than ever before. And it probably makes sense to take advantage of that at some point, perhaps as early as this summer.
Of course, none of this would be very fun alone. But I’ve been super fortunate to meet a great girl over here who’s been enjoying the exploration process with me. This makes the adventures so much more fun. And she’s been happy to show me around, opening my eyes to places I might not have seen all by myself.
By the way, I show glimpses of some of these adventures via my Twitter and Facebook feeds.
Meeting New People
I feel like a nut (literally?) coming out of the shell over here.
Due to a concurrence of numerous factors – natural introversion, a dearth of like-minded people, self-imposed extreme frugality, the expense of going out in the US, a ton of hard work and side hustling that limited free time, etc. – I had a very limited social circle back in the States.
But that is changing rapidly over here in Chiang Mai.
I’m going out of my way to attend meetups/events, extend my help/knowledge to others, and build new relationships.
There almost isn’t a week that goes by in which I don’t meet at least one new person doing something pretty interesting.
Many coders, writers, vloggers, investors, drop shippers, and even your more garden variety retired expats often hang out in the same spots as I do, which makes it easy for serendipity to strike. Plus, there are events – catering to all kinds of interests/businesses/passions – going on just about every single day over here.
With a much lower cost structure in place, it’s now far easier to go out and have fun if/when one strikes up a friendship with someone.
So there’s just this rich and dynamic environment that pulls people together in an organic and fantastic way that I’m enjoying.
Now, just because someone is living in Chiang Mai, or just because someone is working online, it doesn’t mean we’re going to be best friends. In fact, I’ve come away from meeting some people over here flabbergasted and disappointed.
But I’ve expanded my social circle somewhat significantly over the last few months of living here. And I see that circle expanding even further in time. Since people tend to come and go here (it’s a transient city), it’s good to have a stable of people who enjoy some of the same things.
Crafting High-Quality Content (And Inspiring People In The Process)
I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited to write than I am right now.
Inspired by amazing (and cheap) coffee shops that can be found on every street, 24-hour coworking spaces, the concentration of online entrepreneurs, and the general improvement in my quality of life since moving abroad, my productivity has been off the charts.
Furthermore, the totally new experience that is living in a foreign country has added a totally new angle for me as a writer.
I spent about five years writing pretty much exclusively about personal finance, especially in terms of how to combine frugality and dividend growth investing to achieve financial independence.
I’ve spent the last 15 months or so splitting my creative time between writing about dividend growth investing over at Daily Trade Alert and writing about what life is like in real-time for someone who’s actively aiming to improve happiness and quality of life within the construct of financial independence here at the blog.
Well, I now have a totally new topic to tackle here at the blog: life as a young and financially independent expat living in Thailand.
This has thoroughly rejuvenated my creativity. Adding in the extra productivity on top of that excites me about what’s possible in 2018.
Knowing that my content helps and motivates people keeps me going. To be totally honest, helping others make their dreams come true is a dream come true for me.
Meanwhile, my enthusiasm for writing about, actively participating in, and personally benefiting from dividend growth investing has never been stronger than it is today, supported and evidenced by the six-figure dividend growth stock portfolio that generates the five-figure passive and growing dividend income I need to cover my expenses.
I’m eager to continue spreading the good word about dividend growth investing throughout 2018 (and beyond). And I’ll regularly be buying high-quality dividend growth stocks over the next 12 months, adding to the wonderful collection of businesses I’ve already built.
For perspective, I’m going to end up writing ~20 articles in January. Many of those will be published over at DTA. I’ll also be producing two valuation and analysis videos that complement the Undervalued Dividend Growth Stock of the Week articles I write. And there are some other projects in the works, too. Plus, I’m coaching clients toward financial independence, which is incredibly rewarding.
When I tell people – even fellow writers – here in Chiang Mai about my content production numbers, they’re usually shocked. They must figure I’m burned out, especially considering I’ve been writing for almost seven years now.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I feel like my best ideas are still yet to come. At the very least, I’ll be able to keep things fresh with every piece I put out and every project I take on. I put my whole heart into this, but that’s only possible because I truly enjoy it as much as (if not more than) I ever have. Allowing myself to grow as a person and writer, along with knowing there is always a new person to help and inspire, makes my writing pleasurable.
Lastly, I enjoy the work because working is a world away from jobbing.
Conclusion
There’s so much to be excited about as we all look forward to a new year.
Some local travel, meeting new people, and putting high-quality content together for you readers are a few things I’m particularly excited about as I think about the next 12 months.
Our opportunities are limited only to our imagination and will, as long as we don’t let fear hold us back.
But keep in mind that a year is, after all, a collection of 365 individual days. So let’s make every single 24-hour period count!
What are you most excited about for 2018?
Thanks for reading.
Image courtesy of: Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
P.S. If you’re interested in becoming financially independent over the course of 2018 (or any year, really), or if you’re at all interested in moving abroad to live as a dividend expat, I’ve compiled some resources that are invaluable toward that end. Check them out!
Look forward to following your adventures Jason. Your closing comments remind me of something a former boss of my used to say….”the possibilities and our opportunities are only limited by our thoughts”. Here’s to thinking big! Tom
Tom,
Couldn’t agree more. I really believe the only thing that holds us back… is us. We just have to get out of our own way sometimes.
I’m excited for what this year brings for me and everyone else. So many amazing opportunities ahead.
Cheers!
Hey Jason… any chance that you will be writing a recipe book any time soon? Just kidding! You are already writing it in my opinion… you have come up with the ultimate healthy / happy lifestyle recipe book I have ever seen, and I’m eating what you are making my friend!
Keep hitting us up with all of your (thought) goodness. Your balance between financial and lifestyle articles is like going to the gym and doing complementary sets (biceps and triceps). You / I need both to make that arm look whole, complete and balanced. One pulls with contraction (biceps) and one pushes with contraction (triceps). Ok… ok… enough workout metaphors. I (virtually) hear you.
Looking forward to your next financial idea as well as your lifestyle idea. Currently, I am in the physical product arena, but am working hard on shifting that more to the electronic / virtual product arena and letting someone else handle the physical stuff. With a goal of May 1st, 2019 to begin my semi-retirement (which also can be seen as a shift from jobbing to working), my chains of oppression will be broken. No more warehouse, no more need for an office close to said warehouse, and with access to internet, the world is my oyster. Thanks again for showing me that pearls are possible, and that I can help create them. (yup, I have shifted to crustacean metaphors now). Maybe I will just leave the writing to you… 😛
Andrew,
That’s exciting stuff, man. I can only wish you the best as you make this life-altering and life-improving transition toward a more free, fulfilled, and happy version of yourself. That won’t come a moment too soon, in my opinion.
Appreciate the support. I’m glad you understand the content and find value in the messages. I view this entire thing as a holistic lifestyle, where each aspect complements every other aspect. Life becomes like a diamond, where it shines brightest when these aspects are cohesively interconnected. I’d like to think I’m a pretty good writer, but even I have a hard time conveying what I envision. And I don’t think I can fully express my enthusiasm for how this has positively impacted my life. I was way too focused simply on money a few years ago, and it was making me kind of miserable. Once I started to see the bigger picture, expanding my perspective in the process, I felt so much relief wash over me. If I didn’t find that balance, I don’t think I’d still be so eager to write and share. And I don’t think I’d be where I’m now at (physically, mentally, financially, etc.).
Wishing you much success as you start to pivot toward that future you.
Best wishes!
Awesome Jason! I actually do some writing (more technical stuff), and realized a long time ago that my writing will never be fully understood by my audience because it is filtered through their perceptions, opinions, judgements, etc etc. I like to think that I convey an idea in what I write, and give my audience ‘food for thought’ (yup, I went back to the recipe book). I also like to hear what my readers come up with, and may make some modifications if my desired outcome is way off the mark. Your writing is incredible – over the years I have seen it evolve and expand, and what I see it as is an opportunity for me to write a bit of my own story that is piggybacked onto yours. Just like going to see a movie with 150 of my closest friends. There will be 150 different experiences of that one story told, and it provides an opportunity to discuss, reflect, and expand. I just have to remember to bring equanimity to my conversations, and hope to be on the receiving end of that as well. Off to the rat race, my busy-ness, or as I call my warehouse, the salt mines.
I am looking forward to more of you inspiration!! This year is going to be a great year for me in the investment world. All my income are firing at 100% and no plan major expense. This will rocket me and my girlfriend to a lifestyle likes yours! Best of luck in 2018!!
FV,
That’s great news!
Really excited for you guys. If you’re able to give it that kind of effort, it won’t take long at all. That’s really the crazy thing about this lifestyle. It’s not like it takes decades of work or anything. If you can commit just a few years of really extreme effort, you can set the rest of your life up. 🙂
Sounds like 2018 is gonna be a great year.
Cheers!
Wow Jason, Easter Europe… That’s my place 🙂 You ave very very welcome to visit Lithuania. I would also suggest to visit other Baltic states Latvia and Estonia. Also if you would like to see the real cheerlessness extreme visit Ukraine. The country is in trouble now but people are in general very friendly especially in the west part Lvov. I think US as well as EU residents has visa free visiting there. Either way would be extremely exited to have you in our home country 🙂
P2035,
Yeah, there are so many amazing options throughout Eastern Europe. One neat thing about the snowbird idea I have in mind is that you wouldn’t even have to pick one location to regularly visit or live in during the summer. So you could stay in, say, Prague one summer. Then it could be, say, Tallinn the next summer. You get plenty of adventure mixed in there, which is something I don’t think a lot of traditional snowbirds in North America experience.
Thanks for adding that!
Best regards.
Jason,
I like the idea of living in two or more countries due to the climates/cultures/costs of living but also the tax purposes. Many of the European countries legally collect the worldwide income taxes including capital gains and dividends earned outside the countries. It only applies to who is a tax resident (one who stays in the country for 183 days or longer a year). If one stays in two countries (less than 183 days each), this person will not be liable for any worldwide income taxes. We earn dividends and other distributions from the US corporations and are liable for the taxes in the United States (I have no issue for this taxation). But we don’t want to be taxed twice.
First, we planned to move to Spain but couldn’t legally get away from the double taxation in Spain. We then found that Portugal offers the non-habitual residency status that enables foreigners to exempt from the worldwide income taxes outside Portugal for 10 years if registered. At this point, we plan to visit a few cities in Portugal in November and plan to move to Portugal after we complete our school in Mexico (Jan or Feb 2019)…
If I were single, I would have lived in Chiang Mai for a while. But my wife doesn’t really like Thailand because of the climates (heat and humidity) and the difficult language to pick up…
ER2019,
There are a lot of people that actually just kind of bounce around from country to country every couple months. That’s what most digital nomads are doing. At that point, taxes never really become an issue because you’re never bumping up against the days in country (that would possibly trigger taxation). I wouldn’t personally enjoy something like that (preferring the more seasonal approach), but I can see the benefits. That said, double taxation almost never comes up for anyone. There are usually bilateral agreements in place, investment income is very favorable, and the FEIE has a pretty healthy upper limit.
In the end, I think one should aim to live a life that’s customized for them and by them. That’s really where you want to be. So if that involves staying in America, awesome. If that means bouncing around every few months, fantastic. If it means living as a long-term expat in a particular region of the world, that’s great. You want to be exactly where you should be, keeping in mind that there’s probably a season for everything. 🙂
Best regards!
Excellent stuff, I have just recently been looking into dividend expat life. I am well away from that but I think that in the long run that might be something I would like to do. I will have to do my research but getting experiences from people that are doing it now are priceless. Thanks for sharing.
BHL,
Doing what I can to share my perspective and experiences. Really enjoying it! 🙂
Cheers.
Hey Jason,
Just found you via twitter. Super jealous of your Asia travels!
DM,
Thanks for dropping by!
I worked super hard to get here, but I feel incredibly fortunate to now enjoy the life I’ve set up for myself. It’s a dream come true. Hoping I can continue to share what I learn and inspire others to also make their dreams come true.
Cheers.
Hi Jason… Those beaches in Thailand, look great. That is definitely an area that I would like to visit someday. I have been early retired for 3.5 years now and have traveled all over Eastern and Southern Europe for 2-3 months each year. There are definitely lots of interesting places to visit in that region that are pretty affordable compared to the rest of Europe.
Budapest is the favorite place that I have been to on my trips so far, although I really enjoyed visiting Moscow too. I have visited Budapest four times and I am going back again this year. I am sure that you will have a great time there. One country that you should check out if you have time is Ukraine. It is an extremely cheap place for tourists right now and it is a very interesting place to visit. Lviv, Odessa, and Kiev are the top cities to see in Ukraine.
scrunr1,
Thanks for dropping by!
Totally agree with you in regard to Eastern Europe, especially Budapest. I’ve taken some time to research the entire region. Budapest is probably my top idea right now for a summer spot, but I’ll have to check it out for myself. Chiang Mai isn’t the cheapest city in the world. And neither is Budapest. But it’s about maximizing quality of life and value simultaneously. Plus, Budapest happens to be a pretty popular spot for a lot of people doing things just like myself, which is another benefit. The concentration of like-minded people here (relative to the US) is one reason I really enjoy living in Chiang Mai.
I’ve poked around Ukraine. Probably not for me. But there are a lot of options throughout Eastern Europe. 🙂
Enjoy your travels and retirement!
Best wishes.
Hi Jason…Thanks for responding to my comment. I agree with you on not focusing only on costs by trying to find the cheapest places, but looking at value for the money you are spending. Ukraine is definitely a place that gets mixed reviews.
I am not sure how much research you have done on Budapest apartments, but definitely make sure you rent a place with A/C. There are many places that don’t have it and it can get very hot there in the summer. It can be challenging to find rentals for 2-3 months in Budapest for a reasonable price in the summer (not sure what your budget is?). Most apartment owners want 12 month leases or they rent out their places daily on Airbnb. I have a friend that rents a nice, but simple 1 bedroom place in Budapest during the summer for just over $1,000 per month.
I look forward to reading more about your travels this year. Have fun!!
Jason –
Nice! Short & sweet, but meaningful. Seems like you are pushing your human capabilities, becoming a better person, more well-rounded, knowledgeable of cultures – all while having more energy than ever to do so. Very happy for you Jason and am looking forward to to your continued journey.
-Lanny
Lanny,
That’s what it’s all about. It’s striving toward your potential as a human being. 🙂
Looking forward to what 2018 will bring us all. I’m practically jumping out of bed these days. Let’s do it!
Cheers.
Jason!
Stumbled across your blog here. I was an avid reader of the D-M blog your ran previously and wondered where you wandered to. Now I know! Congratulations!
I too am looking forward to 2018. I stopped working six months ago, sometimes I even call it “retirement”. But not only am I having so much fun, I am having so much *more* fun than I even had when I was working. I am so busy with the things I want to do, that I have no time to do nothing. I decided to learn a musical instrument (a very difficult one so I would never feel accomplished!), I do yoga and exercise daily, I work only two days a month nowadays, I started my own blog about not working and retirement, I am writing fiction, I doing gardening, visit with friends, and so on! No time to be bored.
What I find when being a not-working person is that one must have goals, one must have things that mean something. This means I have things to look forward to, and happy to have this life to live.
Best wishes!
Smile,
That’s great to hear!
I totally agree with you. I don’t know how one could be “bored”. In fact, I honestly have no idea how I fit in a full-time job before. I was allocating more than 50 hours per week to the dealership back in the day. That’s completely insane. I look back on it and kind of laugh, but I needed the experience, capital, and perspective to allow me to grow into what I am today.
I think living multiple lifetimes is what we should all aim for:
http://www.dividendmantra.com/2015/06/live-more-than-one-lifetime/
Sounds like you’re living many concurrently, which is similar to what I’m doing. It’s a wonderful way to approach life. 🙂
Best regards!
That’s really fantastic. I’m glad you’re enjoying Thailand and decided to give it a second shot 😀
Did my second PF coaching session today and it was a blast. Any good resources to improve as a financial coach?
sendaiben,
I believe experience counts when it comes to most matters. So the more you do something, the better you’ll likely become (unless it’s something you’re naturally terrible at, in which case you should probably move on).
It didn’t take me long to find my voice with coaching, but I really enjoyed it (and found myself pretty good at it) right from the outset. However, I’m still refining things and learning as I go, becoming better for clients all the way along. Always something to learn. Always something to improve on. But a lot of that comes from within, after experience and reflection allows for growth. I’m sure you’ll find it’s similar for you.
Cheers!
My sister-in-laws family visited Budapest and the surrounding area last year. They loved it and it makes me want to visit there as well. Just need to figure out how to make 7 plane tickets affordable…lol.
Peace,
DFG
DFG,
Seven plane tickets? Ouch!
Maybe they’ll invent teleportation soon. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by.
Cheers.
Good Day Jason
what a adventurous life you have had so far. I think the best things lay ahead of you. I have enjoyed the adventures you have written about, very inspirational.
I hope 2018 is a great and prosperous year for you. I hope you meet and exceed all of your goals.
Cheers to you
Michael,
Thank you. Your support is really appreciated. 🙂
I hope 2018 is a wonderful year for all of us. So much to be excited about. So much to look forward to. So much to accomplish, experience, and share. Let’s get after it!
Best regards.
Hi Jason, Thanks for sharing all your experiences abroad. ( those beaches look Spectacular in Thailand) Also I really appreciate your ideas on dividend stocks, I look forward to read on your weekly undervalued stock ideas. 2018 will be as amazing as 2017. Take care my friend. Your friend from West Palm Beach. Omar
Omar,
The beaches do look pretty stunning. Looking forward to seeing some of them firsthand soon. 🙂
2018 might be as amazing as 2017, but I think we should aim to make it even more amazing. Let’s have a phenomenal year!
Best wishes.
I like that the things you are excited about will also foster curiosity, creativity and fulfillment. Let’s all remember to put actualization on our to do list for 2018!
LD,
Thanks so much.
Yes, I’ve moved way past “I must have more money”. The money is just a means to an end. And the end should be an improved ability to strive toward your potential as a human being. This is a glimpse into my own striving/journey, but it’ll look differently for everyone. Most of the fun is in figuring out what that looks like as you go. 🙂
Let’s have a great year!
Cheers.
Loving the lifestyle options Jason. And I’m totally with you re the whole snowbird thing.
“While this current version of me is the best that’s ever existed, I still feel like my best is yet to come.” So positive and inspiring.
I’m actually excited about securing a base (rental) in Budapest this Spring, after having spent a little time over there in 2016. I really want to use it as a central base for most of the year, then jet off to sunnier climes over the winter period….eventually. That’s the plan!
If you fancy a fresh Brioche (and some FI chat), amongst Budapest’s finest courtyards and cobblestones, then it would be a real pleasure. Or catch you at one of the FI meet ups in Pest :- )
Good luck with the adventure…
CC,
Thank you. I really mean what I say. I couldn’t be more excited about the future. I feel like I undergo massive change and growth every year, mostly because I’m open to it and actively chasing it. So much to do. So much to see. So many mistakes to make and learn from! 🙂
Being based in Budapest sounds great. I think the odds are very high that I’ll visit the city at some point within the next 12-18 months. Perhaps even as early as this summer. If I make it over, I’ll drop you a line. Enjoy it!
Best regards.
Pretty exciting adventure.. Really enjoying your blog..
Thank you
David
David,
Thanks for following along! 🙂
Cheers.
It’s great you’re enjoying life Jason. So many people get up in the morning, go to work and be stressed out all day, come home, go to bed, and do the same thing the next day for months if not years on end. The fact that you are not just going through the motions, but really enjoying life now, while you’re young, is awesome.
I dream of one day living in England. Mostly because I love the accent and want to develop that British accent. But I love the idea of just living in another country, experiencing another culture, and enjoying every step of the way. Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences in Thailand.
DP,
I’m so blessed and fortunate. It’s really incredible to be in this spot. I gave it the kind of effort, focus, and intensity that is hard to put into words, but it was all worth it.
Living in another country is very interesting. Makes every day sort of an adventure. I’m still amazed by my surroundings. But I think the kind of vibrancy and energy that’s here can be found in a lot of cities throughout the world. It’s just that I’m able to fully enjoy it and immerse myself in it here because it’s so accessible.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards.
it is interesting that none of your goals are money related. Truly remarkable. Congrats!
DG,
I’m still looking forward to adding high-quality dividend growth stocks at appealing prices, as that improves my flexibility/freedom now and the level of philanthropy I can commit to later. But I’d say my larger priorities are now growing as a person, experiencing more, and enjoying the life I worked (and still work) hard for. 🙂
Let’s have a fantastic 2018!
Cheers.
Hello Jason
2018, Will bring improvements in my personal and financial realm. I am 48 years old with an up bringing similar to yours in regards to finances and family. You have inspired me to do the following things:
Have 18% of my check every pay period saved in 401K
Change my target date fund to a vanguard index fund with low expense ratio.
Stop buying a bunch of STUFF that I don’t need
Stop caring about what other people thought about me because I didn’t overspend for Christmas
I want to retire before I am 67 and travel the world instead of being in debt for stuff I don’t need.
I am looking for a place to retire comfortably outside of the United States.
I finally accept the reality that my husbands consumerism spending and my need for financial independence will NEVER Work so the focus is on my own happiness not others.
My dividend income has gone from $50 per month to $110 per month and growing.
Thanks for being such an inspiration to us all. Your life has inspired greatness in me and others
FonFon,
Really glad to hear you’re moving closer to your dreams. If life isn’t an opportunity to make your dreams come true, be happy, and leave a little goodness behind, I’m not sure what else it’s for.
Sorry to hear about some potential incompatibility in your relationship, but it’s great to know that you’re working toward some fantastic goals. 🙂
As for retiring comfortably outside the US, there are many places that can allow for that. The US is sometimes like a bubble. People believe that a high quality of life can’t be accomplished elsewhere, when the fact is that one’s quality of life could actually be a lot higher in other countries (especially after factoring in how much less it costs). I’ll be sharing my experiences in Thailand, but it’s just one of many options.
Best wishes!