Last Updated on 06/09/2024 by Arun jain
Myles Sims-Orr had a salary of $70,000, a nice car and a steady routine in Maryland.
But he wanted to To experience the world and felt financially controlled by Cost of living in the US.
After trips to Mexico, Brazil, Portugal and other countries, Sims-Orr became convinced that he could Adapt to life abroad. In December 2023, Sims-Orr moved to Bangkok.
Sims-Orr, 26, said that the low cost of accommodation and food in Thailand allowed him to save more money and gain peace of mind. than living in the US.
“I was afraid to give up things like my nice car, nice job and nice place, all of which were holding me back from my personal financial goals,” Sims-Orr said. “Now that I’ve got those things out, the ability to save, invest and travel full time has increased exponentially.”
Sims-Orr is one of many Americans Military veterans who went overseas. As of 2022, 132 US Navy veterans reside in Thailand. Department of Defense Report Published in October 2023. When not included in the report Why Veterans in the U.S. As reasons for leaving, Sims-Orr said he wanted a better cost of living and the opportunity to travel more.
Thailand was the sixth most popular country for Navy veterans, after the Philippines, Japan, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Thailand offers low cost and good lifestyle
Sims-Orr enlisted in the US Navy when he was 21 years old. He said he wanted a better financial opportunity and didn’t want to take out loans for college.
“I researched a lot of stuff about finance because I don’t come from wealth,” Sims-Orr said. “I definitely wanted to change the course of my family’s financial future.”
Sims-Orr served for three years, and after he was honorably discharged, he said he realized how expensive it was to live in the US. He was receiving veteran’s benefits — but he declined to elaborate on what kind — and worked in IT, but felt he was “moving on” living in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.
Additionally, he was always fascinated by the prospect of world travel, often watching YouTube and social media videos of young Americans exploring different countries.
Sims-Orr said he did extensive research to consider life abroad, including comparing the experiences of travel vloggers and asking Reddit forums and Facebook groups about the experiences of people moving abroad.
“I realized that Thailand was a typical country that kept popping up in terms of safety, cost of living and being able to live a nice lifestyle,” Sims-Orr said.
Sims-Orr has a student visa and lives off his savings and veterans benefits. He studies cybersecurity technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus, which offers a hybrid curriculum that enables him to complete his studies in Bangkok.
In his free time, he is also learning Thai at a local school to immerse himself in the culture.
He hopes to save and build wealth while living abroad before eventually returning to the US to pursue his career in cybersecurity.
Finding a more affordable home abroad opens the door to travel
Sims-Orr said he mustered up the courage to move on in December 2023.
“The biggest hurdle was the initial anxiety and the mental decision to follow through,” Sims-Orr said.
In Maryland, Sims-Orr said her monthly rent was $2,123. In Bangkok, he pays $540 per month. Their apartment building includes a gym, pool, laundry facility, cafe, and a 7-Eleven store in the lobby.
Moreover, he said that everyday life is affordable. For example, she might schedule regular meals out and mid-day massages. He said he can get a healthy takeout meal for between $3 and $7.
“I’m here to make less money, but it feels like I’m making more than that,” Sims-Orr said. “I think that was the craziest part about it.”
He said the language barrier is not too much of a concern because the people he encounters in Bangkok have a normal working level of English, but it also gives them a chance to practice their Thai.
Sims-Orr also plays the flute and participates in Bangkok’s music scene, including performing during Bangkok’s Mango Art Festival.
Sims-Orr said travel opportunities include cheap destinations throughout Thailand as well as easy flights to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and more. Given the low cost of living, he can explore more of the world while saving.
“I realized that I valued time and peace of mind more than money, but coming here, I increased all of that,” he said.
Are you a young American who has decided to move abroad? How are you saving and financing the move? Please contact at [email protected]
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