The Advantages of Moving Abroad and Working Remotely – WPCAST018

In this episode, we discuss our thoughts and experiences on living abroad and working remotely.

The Changelog

* Last podcast recording for Doug in the US, next recording will be in person in Bangkok

* David released Easy Opt-Ins for Mailchimp

* David met Philip Arthur Moore in Bangkok

The Core

Archetypes

* Digital Nomad: travels frequently, spends a few days to weeks in each location

* Semi-Nomad: spends a few months, maybe even years in a location

* Balance between getting work done and seeing new places

* We both consider ourselves semi-nomads

* Expat: lives in one place for years, settled down, invested in the location

Benefits

* Meeting interesting people, connecting and networking, making friends

* Adventure and travel

* Opportunities for hiring

* Tax savings

* Income tax (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for US taxpayers)

* Setting up overseas corporations

* Lower lifestyle overhead, which allows for more convenience

Drawbacks

* No in-person contact with clients

* Inconvenient call times with Skype (depending on time zones)

* Missing out on industry events (WordCamps, Pressnomics)

* Can be difficult if you have a family and kids

* Obtaining visas and going on visa runs

* Missing out on some conveniences, i.e. ordering on Amazon

Top Places

* Chiang Mai, Thailand

* Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

* Bangkok, Thailand

* Bali, Indonesia

* Medellin, Colombia

* Berlin, Germany

* Barcelona, Spain

Tips & Tricks

* ScheduleOnce – for scheduling, syncs with Google Calendar

* Minaal bag – recently back in stock in the US