Archives for July 2023

Here’s A Cool Expat Homestead Idea…

July 29, 2023 By Rob

Travel is fun. But there comes a point when most people want to settle down. And today’s articles shares a cool expat homesteading idea for living an off-grid, international lifestyle.

This is a cheap, affordable way to buy a fun rural property. Either to live on all-round, or as a vacation home.

Here’s the idea…

Buy or long-term lease a small parcel of inexpensive, “junk” property overseas. This is land that’s outside of any major city. Has no agricultural value. And may not even have sewer or electrical access. A true “off-grid” endeavor.

But one that’s certainly an adventure!

Finding Land For Your Expat Homestead

Junk land is cheap, even in the United States. You can find properties out in Arizona and New Mexico for less than $1,000 per acre. There’s no house, water, or electricity. But modern tech can easily solve all three of these issues.

In other countries?

These properties are even cheaper. And sometimes located in what we Americans would consider “Prime Real Estate.”

Much of South America, for example, is completely undeveloped. Even along the coast.

And oftentimes, these rural and remote locations aren’t even that far from the city.

I went camping in a “remote” part of Mexico. With no houses or people for several miles. Yet, this rural country area was only 25 miles from a major city. And easily accessible by municipal bus.

The land here was too sandy for farming.

And close to the ocean, but not close enough to warrant any hotels or resorts.

The property owners, absentees who live a hundred miles away, would have happily rented this land for the princely sum of $500 per year. Less than $1.50 per day.

In many countries, like Vietnam or The Philippines, an Uber or taxi from your remote location to the city would maybe cost an extra $3 – $5 roundtrip. Zooming back-and-forth every single day is still cheaper than an apartment.

The “House”

If you’re buying a property or getting a long-term lease, you can park a camper on your ground. Either an actual, full-sized RV. Or, a smaller, camper trailer.

This could be expensive, depending on where you’re setting up your expat homestead.

But in the Americas, you could simply drive your camper down from the USA.

Campers and RVs are depreciating assets. And like cars, their value plummets. You can often find one of these vehicles for a fraction of its retail cost. Especially in an economic downturn.

Now that housing and land are taken care of, your new expat homestead just needs power and water…

The Tech

Nobody wants to live like a caveman. While camping and hiking might be fun in the short-term, eventually you’ll need running water. And electricity. And Wi-Fi…

Luckily, modern tech makes all things possible.

And you can enjoy power, water, and Wi-Fi – while remaining 100% off-grid.

First, the big question? Where are you going to the bathroom. Believe it or not, but there are tons of RV and long-term camping guides which provide in-depth information on creating your own plumbing and sewage system. Often for very little cost, using common hardware store fixtures.

Travel-Trailer Homesteading Under $5,000, by Brian D. Kelling is an excellent reference guide.

And it covers all the essentials for plumbing and power.

Solar technology has also come a long way. And a few inexpensive panels can easily charge your phone, laptop, and other devices.

This HiLucky Solar Charger will charge an iPhone or tablet to 50% capacity within 30 minutes or less.

And depending on where you live, buying solar panels could be free – via government tax credit.

Lastly, Wi-Fi. High-speed Internet was once difficult to get outside of major cities. And downright impossible to find in rural areas.

Today, it’s $150 a month thanks to Elon Musk and Starlink.

You can watch movies, work remote, and or do anything else online – from almost anywhere in the world. Including rural Latin America, the Philippines, and the open ocean. A true game-changer.

Closing Thoughts

Travel is great. But eventually you may want to settle down and find somewhere more permanent.

Or maybe you already live somewhere, and just want a cheap and fun vacation property.

In either situation, building an expat homestead could be a great way to enjoy your time abroad. While also giving you an opportunity to own property. And, have a reliable venue you can stay at long-term.

With tools like Starlink, and advancements in solar panel technology, you can live comfortably while enjoying an off-grid and rural lifestyle.

Guns, Grains, And Steel

July 15, 2023 By Rob

The BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are in the news. All five want to pivot from the U.S. Dollar and start using their own, gold-back currency. Many respected investors, expats, and digital nomads are calling this “The Death Of The Dollar.”

I disagree.

Many of the BRICS countries, while fun to visit, are dysfunctional as actual nation-states.

Bolivia, one of the poorest and most remote countries in South America, has a higher GDP per capita than India.

Bolivia also has a higher percentage of Internet users.

And more hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants.

Also, if the BRICS countries become an actual threat to the Western world, countries like the USA and UK will suspend all BRICS assets and investments. Kind of like what they did to Russia in 2022.

In other words, diversifying into a BRICS currency is a bad idea.

At the same time, a weak dollar does mean less purchasing power abroad. And nations shunning US corporations and products means a slowing stock market. Even potentially no growth at all. Like Japan in the 2000’s, or France in the 1970’s.

Which is why I want to highlight three bulletproof investment sectors.

Ones that are unlikely to face international disruption.

And whose products are always in demand.

What are these sectors?

Guns, grains, and steel. Put another way, the defense sector. The food supply. And natural resources. This is personal opinion, not financial advice, but I see all three sectors as essential to the United States. And unlikely to get disrupted no matter the economic climate.

Guns

AKA the military industrial complex. AKA, companies that build tanks and planes for the United States.

These are well-known businesses like Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. Maybe not the most exciting or “hidden gem” of picks. But quality businesses that have performed well in the long-run.

And if you think a business like Lockheed Martin is boring, just remember that the stock grew by 1,600% since 1995!

Grains

When I talk about food, I’m not talking about retail products like pudding cups or hot dogs. Most consumer food conglomerates (like Conagra) seesaw in share price and are heavily dependent on discretionary spending.

The agricultural stocks I’m thinking of are businesses like Nutrien.

Nutrien is a major fertilizer producer. Making more potash than anyone else in the world.

It’s also a U.S. and NATO aligned businesses, with Nutrien serving markets like North and South America. As well as Australia.

Steel

Countries collapse without certain natural resources.

These include: iron, oil, and copper. Just to name a few.

Companies like Valero Energy are extremely U.S. focused. And they pay a high dividend.

Likewise, Chevron and Rio Tinto serve Western markets. Providing everything from iron and rare earth metals (Rio) to gasoline and petrochemicals (Chevron).

Safe bets dealing with hard commodities. And valuable in almost any situation.

The BRICS are set to unveil their new currency in August. And I don’t think there’s much to worry about. Especially if you’re focused on essential, mission-critical infrastructure that benefits the USA and NATO.

How I Live On $10,000 A Month In Southeast Asia

July 8, 2023 By Rob

$10,000 a month. A pittance in New York. A king’s ransom in New Mexico. This is my typical income, and I want to share how I live on $10,000 a month in Southeast Asia.

Whether you make a little or a lot, there are plenty of lessons to learn here. And I suggest you read on…

Southeast Asia Is As Cheap As You Want It To Be

Haters will pretend that anyone outside the USA is poor and lives in squalor.

Yet Asia is just as nice, if not nicer, than the United States.

Downright opulent at times.

Ultra-advanced trains and infrastructure. Luxury condos. High-end jewelers, Ferrari dealerships, and designer boutiques. Not to mention fine dining.

(Gucci Stores In Bangkok)

There are locals who burn through millions a year.

Luckily, this isn’t Dubai or Miami. And spending money isn’t a requirement.

You don’t have to be a big baller. And you can still live an incredible lifestyle while only spending $1,000 – $2,000 a month.

I legitimately do not think that I’ve ever spent more than $2,500 in a single month here. And that includes going on dates, eating at restaurants, taking international trips, etc…

In fact, here’s what my typical month looks like:

Rent: $500 – $700. Lower in Vietnam, higher in Thailand. Also, there are plenty of cheap cities where you can get a nice apartment for ~$300/month.
Dates: $200 – $400. A simple first date (like coffee) costs $2 – $5. For two people. Prices go up if you drink. But I don’t. And this has never hurt my sex life.
Food & Groceries: $300 – $600: Throwing my gym membership and any supplements in here, too. But food is usually pretty cheap. I eat a high -protein diet for about $75/week. Restaurants are obviously more.
Transportation: $200: Grab is the Southeast Asian version of Uber and it’s incredibly cheap. Often $1 – $2 a ride. Thailand also has an excellent train network that’s extremely affordable.

What Do You Do With All Your Excess Money?

Ever heard that saying “The rich get richer.”

It’s true in the United States. Where you have to be rich to save any meaningful amount of money.

But in other places, like Asia, you can harness the power of geoarbitrage to earn a fairly normal Western salary and still have plenty of cash leftover at the end of each month.

Personally, I reinvest of bulk of my money. Ensuring that I can do less and less work every year, while increasing my passive income.

However, you can also use your excess cash to boost your quality of life. Or, to make one-time purchases that would normally be expensive, but ultimately save money in the long-run.

For example, I like to SCUBA dive. So I bought all my own gear.

An investment that’s paid for itself many times over.

Additionally, having money gives you freedom. You can travel wherever you want.

And you control the vast majority of your time.

If you don’t like your job, you can quit. If you don’t like where you live, you can move. If you sense trouble coming, you can sidestep it.

Powerful stuff. And liberating.

Asia is the perfect mix of growth and industry, with affordable living.

A place where you don’t have to spend big. But you’re surrounded by people who do.

How To Make An Extra $10 Per Day

July 1, 2023 By Rob

I stopped by the grocery store and saw a cute girl dressed up as a mascot. Dancing around in her goofy costume, selling potato chips. We got to talking, and it turned out she had worked at Meta, before the big tech lay-off. And now she was shilling snack foods.

“From the stars to the stables,” as they say in Italian.

Anyway, my point is that the current job market is fierce.

And your job isn’t as safe as you think it is. Which is why you need to be able to earn money that’s independent from your 9-to-5.

Which is why today’s article covers some super easy ways to make an extra $10 per day.

Why $10 per day?

Because this is a nice little starting point to show you what’s possible. And, because that $10/day extra income adds up fast.

Want an example?

Everyone is going nuts over U.S. Treasury Bills.

Right now, these are yielding 5%.

Parking $120,000 in T Bills would net you $6,000 in annual passive income.

Meanwhile, building a simple system to net you $10 per day in extra cash nets you $3,000 over the course of a year. This is the equivalent to putting $60,000 into government treasury notes.

That’s enough to cover several months’ rent in much of Asia.

Or, you could use reinvest that money to grow it faster.

Or, you could just spend it all partying. Which is a fun option, too.

What you do with your money is ultimately up to you.

But here are a few ideas to start generating extra income.

How To Make An Extra $10 Per Day

(End Of The Month Extra Income From Affiliate Marketing)

Write An eBook – Have you ever read a Clive Cussler novel? They’re fun, but not particularly well written. Despite being a mediocre author who wrote pulp thrillers, Cussler died with a $120 million net worth. There’s a surprising amount of money in books. And platforms like Amazon or Gumroad make it easy to sell your titles “on autopilot.” I self-published several books over a decade ago, and still collect royalties from them. A great business for generating passive income.
Peer-to-Peer Lending – Platforms like LendingClub and Prosper allow you to loan out money and collect interest. The same way a bank would. One of the cool things about peer-to-peer lending is that you earn higher interest than you would from a savings account or Treasury Bill. True story. A friend has consistently generated 16% returns from loaning money on one of these apps. And he’s grown his account into the six-figures and retired from it! A great way to make $10 per day, or more.
Affiliate Marketing – Make money selling other people’s products. Affiliate marketing is like being a salesman. Close deals and collect commissions. One great thing affiliate marketing is that a lot of products offer irresistible customer offers that practically sell themselves. Go on CPA Grip, for example, and look at how many lead gen offers give away gift cards and free samples. Enticing buyers to sign up. And netting you more sales.

Hope that helps. And good luck on your freedom journey!