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Expat retirees enjoy a life reminiscent of an earlier time
NextAvenue.org ^ | July 17, 2017 | Chuck Bolotin

Posted on 07/17/2017 12:46:44 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?

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Being an Expat I can agree with several things such as the less government and back to an earlier time. I often say living in Thailand is like being back in the US from the 50's/60's.

However, it is not all sunshine either. Nothing major I have experienced, more irritations or doing without. One such irritation is getting food you really like, such as dill pickles, beef, jalepenos, velvetta, etc.

One prime expample of less Government here is that my wife opened an internet shop from her home. She did that by buying computers and opening her doors. Then while operating she spent the next 6 months working with the Government to get the business license and comply with the minimal codes.

1 posted on 07/17/2017 12:46:44 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Thailand?


2 posted on 07/17/2017 12:50:56 PM PDT by BipolarBob (I bought a house on a one-way street that's also a dead end and now I can't leave.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

This Is How You Could Live in the Philippines on $1,000 a Month
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/111115/how-you-could-live-philippines-1000-month.asp


3 posted on 07/17/2017 12:50:59 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

So when the bankrupt US government confiscates your 401K, you’ll be happier you are forced to lead a simpler life


4 posted on 07/17/2017 12:53:47 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Elsewhere bump


5 posted on 07/17/2017 12:54:59 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Come into my cell. Make yourself at home." - Lancelot (Walker Percy))
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

A thousand bucks a month will go a long, long way in many countries.

Food, shelter, basic medical care, even housekeepers and drivers as needed.


6 posted on 07/17/2017 12:55:55 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Stupid question time: does Amazon deliver to Thailand? I just searched ‘ Dill Pickles ‘ on Amazon and there they are.

Do you have a blog or can you recommend a site for ex-pats retiring in Thailand?

I read an interesting article from the Charlotte Observer that
stated the SS administration is sending 380,000 retiree checks
out of the country every year as of 2014. That number has increased 50% from a decade ago.

Looks like this is the route I will be headed for any number of reasons. But what a sea change in this country when so many people can not afford to retire in the their own country.

It’s a damned shame.


7 posted on 07/17/2017 12:58:29 PM PDT by warsaw44
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To: PGR88

>>So when the bankrupt US government confiscates your 401K, you’ll be happier you are forced to lead a simpler life<<

That is a concern but a highly unlikely one.

Sine their 401(k) is basically the primary instrument for most people’s retirement, you would be putting basically ALL retirees into the poor house. That would cause a run on SS as most like me would have to pull that trigger much earlier than originally planned.

My current plan makes me self-sufficient at 62 without using SS (which I will defer to 70. Why/how could the government take that away and then have to pay for me?

I don’t see it.


8 posted on 07/17/2017 1:00:27 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The Civil Rights movement compared content of their character to skin color and chose the latter)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I’d cross off the list anyplace without the rule of law.


9 posted on 07/17/2017 1:00:49 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I live part time in Colombia...love it.


10 posted on 07/17/2017 1:01:21 PM PDT by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket.6l)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Thailand and the Philipines do not intrigue me unless I go there simply as a vacationer. I think a lot of the love of these kinds of places is based on men who get involved with foreign females (the kind of guys who don’t like American chicks).

If I want to live in a earlier age, I could move to interior Maine where people still don’t use electricity, form their own militias, and mind their own business. I’m not ready for that either. No place is perfect and I’m sticking with the USA.


11 posted on 07/17/2017 1:07:12 PM PDT by miss marmelstein
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I’d cross off the list anyplace without the rule of law.

So you don't live in the USA then?

12 posted on 07/17/2017 1:09:27 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage? (Trump the anti politician. About time!)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I’ll be an ex-pat at some point but my main motivation is weather with USA cost-of-living being a second consideration.


13 posted on 07/17/2017 1:12:50 PM PDT by gdani (Everyone is a snowflake these days)
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To: warsaw44
Yes you can get amazon to deliver, but there is extra postage and high duty. That is unless you can get with some US GVT Employee to let you use their APO box.

However, the simpler solution is make your own pickles. Which also helps employ you with a hobby instead of joining the Expats at the local bar to sit around and Bitch.

14 posted on 07/17/2017 1:13:12 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage? (Trump the anti politician. About time!)
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To: miss marmelstein

What, you wouldn’t like a cute young Asian cabana boy to massage your... feet ? ;-D


15 posted on 07/17/2017 1:13:25 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Je Suis Pepe)
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To: miss marmelstein
No place is perfect and I’m sticking with the USA.

Same here! I'm most likely headed to Colorado when I retire to settle near my younger son, his wife and my grandson. My daughter and older son are thinking of moving there as well.

16 posted on 07/17/2017 1:13:39 PM PDT by rochester_veteran (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
There was a site a while back that recommended moving to the wine country of Argentina - like Napa and Sonoma.

Yes they said the argentina government is corrupt and inept, but precisely because of that it's easy to remain under the radar. don't bother them and they won't bother you.


17 posted on 07/17/2017 1:15:13 PM PDT by aquila48
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Ping


18 posted on 07/17/2017 1:21:29 PM PDT by t4texas (Remember the Alamo!)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

I live part-time in the Mayan Riviera. LOVE IT. And one way tickets from Cancun to my summer home near Spokane is $200...


19 posted on 07/17/2017 1:22:29 PM PDT by BullDog108 (A Smith & Wesson beats four aces!)
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To: PGR88

I know several US Expats here that exist off of their Social Security and nothing else. I just shake my head at their lack of planning.

As far as the 401K, that is a topic upon itself. What I had to do was convert it to an IRA, when I did a 401K distribution they took 20% taxes, which led to IRS complications. However, you cannot open an IRA if you are outside the US, but you can if you make a quick trip back to the USA.

Furthermore, again if you plan right, you convert your 401K and/or traditional IRA to a Roth and because of decreased income you end up with little or no income tax due.

And another little tidbit, SS and Military Retirement are not considered wages and therefore cannot be put into an IRA. (yes there are always workarounds)


20 posted on 07/17/2017 1:22:46 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage? (Trump the anti politician. About time!)
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