Army Vet planning to move to Thailand

[JoshuaB84]

I plan to move to Thailand in October. I get $875 a month from va disability. Well I get more than that but I send money to my mom every month. So I am working with $875 after sending money to help out my mom. I will have at least $2000 saved by the end of September. I still have to finish paying off my car by May and I promised my dad he can have it. I will also have to get another passport.... As someone I was helping out stole mine in California last year.

I have 2 years left to use the GIBill to pay for college. So I can either find a college there and get $1,600 a month for bah or take online classes and get $850. If I go to a college in Thailand would I be in class all day every weekday?? I would rather travel around and see the country instead of sitting in class all day.

Before I thought of moving to Thailand I was thinking of moving to Cambodia and teaching English there without a degree.

My main question is will $875 a month be enough to fall back on after my 2 years of getting extra money from going to college runs out? 2 years should give me enough time to source out another form of income to help with the $875 a month from va disability.

 

I plan to hopefully live off the $875 a month from disability and anything extra from going to college will go into savings for 2 years. That should give me a good nest egg to start a business.

[watcharacters]

 

 

Your intended safety net is not great but determination can accomplish a lot.

 

I'd recommend using google for a lot of specific answers to questions.

 

 

For instance, yesterday I watched a vlog from a   married South African fellow who said even in China now degrees are being required for teaching positions.     You should  consider specifically checking  on this  in your final country of choice before firming up your plans.

 

No matter what,  I wish you good luck and success in you upcoming venture.

 

 

 

[transam]

Think you have a lot more to think about....

[smutcakes]

Will reserve judgement whether this is an elaborate troll or not.

 

Lots of troll buttons pushed even the title of thread.

[transam]

33 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Will reserve judgement whether this is an elaborate troll or not.

 

Lots of troll buttons pushed even the title of thread.

I was sitting back waiting for the OP's next post....

[JoshuaB84]

36 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Will reserve judgement whether this is an elaborate troll or not.

 

Lots of troll buttons pushed even the title of thread.

I was watching YouTube videos where people talked of living off anywhere from $600 to $1000 a month in Thailand. I am pretty much a minimalist. So I don't go out buying a lot. A roof over my head, AC, food, and a wifi connection is all I need. I only plan to bring a bag of clothes, hammock, sleeping bag, iPad, and iPhone with me. I don't smoke or drink alcohol. I like going out jogging and or back packing. 

From the websites I have seen. I saw people were saying you can rent a one room place for 6,000 to 10,000 thb a month. If those were lies then maybe I will have to rethink things. I am looking to move to Chiang Mai because people say it is quite there compared to Bangkok.

 

What about me being a Veteran or getting disability from the VA says i'm a troll?? I mainly put that in there because I saw post online where people talked about foreigners living on the street because they ran out of money or others trying to scam new foreigners because they wanted to stay and had needed more money.

Were the YouTube videos where people said they lived off $600 to $1000 a month really troll videos?

 

I know I saw some people saying they lived off $2000 to $3000 a month but both talked about having kids and wife also in Thailand.

Even here in the US I have been able to live off getting 70% disability from the va. I generally just backpack and keep to myself. 
 

[transam]

2 minutes ago, JoshuaB84 said:

I was watching YouTube videos where people talked of living off anywhere from $600 to $1000 a month in Thailand. I am pretty much a minimalist. So I don't go out buying a lot. A roof over my head, AC, food, and a wifi connection is all I need. I only plan to bring a bag of clothes, hammock, sleeping bag, iPad, and iPhone with me. I don't smoke or drink alcohol. I like going out jogging and or back packing. 

From the websites I have seen. I saw people were saying you can rent a one room place for 6,000 to 10,000 thb a month. If those were lies then maybe I will have to rethink things. I am looking to move to Chiang Mai because people say it is quite there compared to Bangkok.

 

What about me being a Veteran or getting disability from the VA says i'm a troll?? I mainly put that in there because I saw post online where people talked about foreigners living on the street because they ran out of money or others trying to scam new foreigners because they wanted to stay and had needed more money.

Were the YouTube videos where people said they lived off $600 to $1000 a month really troll videos?

 

I know I saw some people saying they lived off $2000 to $3000 a month but both talked about having kids and wife also in Thailand.

Even here in the US I have been able to live off getting 70% disability from the va. I generally just backpack and keep to myself. 
 

Stay where you are....

[tonray]

Stay in the States and get your college degree....the plan you have outlined now will leave you with zero savings or retirement savings in 20 years (not sure of your age now). Living on 875 a month is certainly possible but forget having a girlfriend and forget doing anything but working, eating cheap food and sleeping for the next day's work. And in hot season...it's f$%^&*(g hot as hell....no fun on 875 a month.

[JoshuaB84]

I am 33 and I was medically retired early out the Army. Well I could just finish my Information Technology degree online.  I don't really plan on getting married and living with anyone. I haven't dated anyone since 2010. My sister may say I lead a boring life but at this point in time it suits me. I have no qualms with being single. 

 

Actually I am working on my Bachelors of Divinity online and the church has already covered the cost. I was just saving the last 2 years of my GiBill to pay for a masters degree after that was done with. Which I can also do online. So I stopped going to school for Information Technology at the University of Phoenix.  Technically I don't need a Master of Divinity Degree. So I can use those 2 years and save up the extra money.  If I can make due with $875 a month then in 2 years I will have 20k saved if doing online classes or 38k if I go to a physical school in Thailand.

If nothing I can just use that money to start day trading again. I was day trading before but I stopped. Moved to California and sunk all my savings into a company to help veterans. As soon as the first 6 figures came in my business partner took it and ran off to Hawaii. No I didn't take him to court. I just left it as a lesson learned to not trust others.

In the Army I was a Information Technology Specialist. So I have years of job experience just no degree to go with it. I mainly worked with military intelligence when I was in. I do miss being overseas and traveling. The last place I went to visit was the Philippines. This time I just want to go overseas and stay. I am tired of living here in the states. Everything here just reminds me of the past.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, JoshuaB84 said:

I am 33 and I was medically retired early out the Army. Well I could just finish my Information Technology degree online.  I don't really plan on getting married and living with anyone. I haven't dated anyone since 2010. My sister may say I lead a boring life but at this point in time it suits me. I have no qualms with being single. 

 

Actually I am working on my Bachelors of Divinity online and the church has already covered the cost. I was just saving the last 2 years of my GiBill to pay for a masters degree after that was done with. Which I can also do online. So I stopped going to school for Information Technology at the University of Phoenix.  Technically I don't need a Master of Divinity Degree. So I can use those 2 years and save up the extra money.  If I can make due with $875 a month then in 2 years I will have 20k saved if doing online classes or 38k if I go to a physical school in Thailand.

If nothing I can just use that money to start day trading again. I was day trading before but I stopped. Moved to California and sunk all my savings into a company to help veterans. As soon as the first 6 figures came in my business partner took it and ran off to Hawaii. No I didn't take him to court. I just left it as a lesson learned to not trust others.

In the Army I was a Information Technology Specialist. So I have years of job experience just no degree to go with it. I mainly worked with military intelligence when I was in. I do miss being overseas and traveling. The last place I went to visit was the Philippines. This time I just want to go overseas and stay. I am tired of living here in the states. Everything here just reminds me of the past.

.....Gawd...

[JoshuaB84]

lol

[smutcakes]

Troll confirmed..... I will take a back seat and watch the bites now.

[JoshuaB84]

1 minute ago, smutcakes said:

Troll confirmed..... I will take a back seat and watch the bites now.

I am not a troll. My life may have been some what complicated after leaving the Army but that's it. I just want to live somewhere quiet and forget about the past.

 

I wasn't just sitting up thinking why not join a thaivisa forum and make things up. I only came here because I was doing research on getting a education visa there. I was also wanted to look into what people were saying here about business visas but starting a business in Thailand would be harder than it is here in the states. Especially since I don't have a savings account full of cash anymore.

Well regardless I will just see for myself. I still plan to leave in October. Thanks for advice.

 

 

[keithpa]

1 hour ago, smutcakes said:

Troll confirmed..... I will take a back seat and watch the bites now.

I wonder who the troll is.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, JoshuaB84 said:

I am 33 and I was medically retired early out the Army. Well I could just finish my Information Technology degree online.  I don't really plan on getting married and living with anyone. I haven't dated anyone since 2010. My sister may say I lead a boring life but at this point in time it suits me. I have no qualms with being single. 

 

Actually I am working on my Bachelors of Divinity online and the church has already covered the cost. I was just saving the last 2 years of my GiBill to pay for a masters degree after that was done with. Which I can also do online. So I stopped going to school for Information Technology at the University of Phoenix.  Technically I don't need a Master of Divinity Degree. So I can use those 2 years and save up the extra money.  If I can make due with $875 a month then in 2 years I will have 20k saved if doing online classes or 38k if I go to a physical school in Thailand.

If nothing I can just use that money to start day trading again. I was day trading before but I stopped. Moved to California and sunk all my savings into a company to help veterans. As soon as the first 6 figures came in my business partner took it and ran off to Hawaii. No I didn't take him to court. I just left it as a lesson learned to not trust others.

In the Army I was a Information Technology Specialist. So I have years of job experience just no degree to go with it. I mainly worked with military intelligence when I was in. I do miss being overseas and traveling. The last place I went to visit was the Philippines. This time I just want to go overseas and stay. I am tired of living here in the states. Everything here just reminds me of the past.

You don't qualify for a non O based on retirement and you can't afford to get married on your income of 27,930 baht, even if that is enough to qualify for a non O on marriage.

You could stay on an ed visa, but I don't know how many years that lasts.

You could live here on that. My accommodation all up is 15,000 a month and I could get a grotty studio for less. The rest would barely cover expenses, and what will you do for insurance here? Can you afford around 50,000 or more a year. Might be less as young, but you are on disability.

I can pretty much guarantee that while it's great for an old fella, probably not so much for you. Most expats are old, so who you gonna' socialise with, even if you can afford to?

While you may not want a GF now, can you say you won't want one in 5 years time?

 

IMO, stay in the states, get a degree and come back as a teacher, after you save a whole lot more than that.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, JoshuaB84 said:

I was watching YouTube videos where people talked of living off anywhere from $600 to $1000 a month in Thailand. I am pretty much a minimalist. So I don't go out buying a lot. A roof over my head, AC, food, and a wifi connection is all I need. I only plan to bring a bag of clothes, hammock, sleeping bag, iPad, and iPhone with me. I don't smoke or drink alcohol. I like going out jogging and or back packing. 

From the websites I have seen. I saw people were saying you can rent a one room place for 6,000 to 10,000 thb a month. If those were lies then maybe I will have to rethink things. I am looking to move to Chiang Mai because people say it is quite there compared to Bangkok.

 

What about me being a Veteran or getting disability from the VA says i'm a troll?? I mainly put that in there because I saw post online where people talked about foreigners living on the street because they ran out of money or others trying to scam new foreigners because they wanted to stay and had needed more money.

Were the YouTube videos where people said they lived off $600 to $1000 a month really troll videos?

 

I know I saw some people saying they lived off $2000 to $3000 a month but both talked about having kids and wife also in Thailand.

Even here in the US I have been able to live off getting 70% disability from the va. I generally just backpack and keep to myself. 
 

anywhere from $600 to $1000 a month in Thailand. I am pretty much a minimalist. So I don't go out buying a lot. A roof over my head, AC, food, and a wifi connection is all I need.

$600 ( 19152 baht ) is for those that exist in LOS, not live.

 

 

From the websites I have seen. I saw people were saying you can rent a one room place for 6,000

Sure, if you like living in a tiny room, like poor Thais do. I lived in a 5,000 a month in Pattaya, but with my wife. Wouldn't even think of doing it by myself. For starters I don't speak conversational Thai and English speakers are few in those places.

Electricity, water, tv, wifi etc extra

 

 I am looking to move to Chiang Mai because people say it is quite there compared to Bangkok.

Quiet, LOL. Not as insane as Bkk, but hardly quiet. If you want quiet, live in a village, but you'd need to speak conversational Thai

 

 people talked about foreigners living on the street because they ran out of money or others trying to scam new foreigners because they wanted to stay and had needed more money.

You wouldn't want to be one of them. They only last till deported.

Were the YouTube videos where people said they lived off $600 to $1000 a month really troll videos?

They are probably true. I live easily on 939US$ in Chiang Mai, but I'm not 33.

Try it first and don't burn any bridges back home.

 

I know I saw some people saying they lived off $2000 to $3000 a month but both talked about having kids and wife also in Thailand.
2,000 US$? or 2,000baht?

If you live in a village in the wife's house, obviously it's very cheap. You don't have a wife with a house.

 

Even here in the US I have been able to live off getting 70% disability from the va. I generally just backpack and keep to myself. 

That's now. You're 33. You have a lot of life still to go, but you know that.

 

If you get ill without insurance it could cost you hundreds of thousands of baht.

[JoshuaB84]

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You don't qualify for a non O based on retirement and you can't afford to get married on your income of 27,930 baht, even if that is enough to qualify for a non O on marriage.

You could stay on an ed visa, but I don't know how many years that lasts.

You could live here on that. My accommodation all up is 15,000 a month and I could get a grotty studio for less. The rest would barely cover expenses, and what will you do for insurance here? Can you afford around 50,000 or more a year. Might be less as young, but you are on disability.

I can pretty much guarantee that while it's great for an old fella, probably not so much for you. Most expats are old, so who you gonna' socialise with, even if you can afford to?

While you may not want a GF now, can you say you won't want one in 5 years time?

 

IMO, stay in the states, get a degree and come back as a teacher, after you save a whole lot more than that.

I have Tricare for health insurance. So if I have to come out of pocket the money will be reimbursed back to me. I don't socialize much now as it is. I really just stay to myself pretty much everyday. I may go into a chatroom and talk to people but that's about it. Sometimes I go on the bigolive app and talk with people livestreaming. I spend most of my time working on my Bachelors of Divinity degree or reading online novels. If I work hard enough I may have the degree finished before October. Right now that is my main goal. If not by October I should have it finished by the end of the year.

 

I don't know about the last question. So far I have gone 8 years with out one. Maybe its easier because I stopped dating women in the US in 2003. So my last real relationship ended in 2010.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 minutes ago, JoshuaB84 said:

I have Tricare for health insurance. So if I have to come out of pocket the money will be reimbursed back to me. I don't socialize much now as it is. I really just stay to myself pretty much everyday. I may go into a chatroom and talk to people but that's about it. Sometimes I go on the bigolive app and talk with people livestreaming. I spend most of my time working on my Bachelors of Divinity degree or reading online novels. If I work hard enough I may have the degree finished before October. Right now that is my main goal. If not by October I should have it finished by the end of the year.

 

I don't know about the last question. So far I have gone 8 years with out one. Maybe its easier because I stopped dating women in the US in 2003. So my last real relationship ended in 2010.

You don't mention having visited so I assume you haven't.

 

You haven't met Thai women yet. 

I can see it not going well for you when you do. Hint- they ain't like US women.

 

Seriously, visit first and don't make any decisions till after. 

The world has many guys that thought it would be a good idea to move to Thailand without visiting first and ending up poor, sad and wiser in hindsight.

[Spaniel]

Yes, good luck to you.     I think before you come you should save up some emergency money, say around $10,000.     TriCare will reimburse you, I think up to 80%, but remember you will have to  first pay the Thai hospital bill then file the claim with TriCare.

[JoshuaB84]

Well as long as I start college again I should be ok financially. I have $889 a month left over but I reduced it to $875 a month because there will be withdrawal fees at an atm machine.

Online College + Disability Option for 2 years
With the $875 plus bah of $840.50 a month for online classes. That would get me $1,715.50 a month. 

 

Thailand College + Disability Option for 2 years

With the $875 plus $1,681 for going to a physical college in Thailand. That would get me $2.556. I have enough time left for the GiBill to cover college classes for 2 years. Well 26 months but basically 2 years. This option would also get me a Education Visa.

 

I may even have my Bachelors of Divinity degree finished before October. So I may be able to use it and teach English. If I can get my degree finished by October or December at the latest. I will take the Online College option save the extra money while I teach English.

 

If not I will take the Thailand College option for 2 years. Where I am in the US I would only get 1,000 a month for going to the University of Phoenix Campus close by. Going to college in Thailand would instead net me $1,681 for a monthly housing allowance.

I did see someone say they gave him an extra year of GiBill benefits when taking classes in Thailand because the money goes farther there. I have to call the VA tomorrow and ask about that. If true then that would give me 3 years instead of 2.

[evadgib]

[JoshuaB84]

5 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Maybe this will help you feel better.
https://militarybenefits.info/monthly-housing-allowance-mha-for-post-911-gi-bill/

I am going to sleep it's 6am already.

[evadgib]

<deleted post>

 

[amvet]

Look up VFW in Thailand and write the post commanders.  Don't expect information from Thai Visa.  Of course you know your will be vetted in the VFW.

[simoh1490]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

anywhere from $600 to $1000 a month in Thailand. I am pretty much a minimalist. So I don't go out buying a lot. A roof over my head, AC, food, and a wifi connection is all I need.

$600 ( 19152 baht ) is for those that exist in LOS, not live.

 

 

From the websites I have seen. I saw people were saying you can rent a one room place for 6,000

Sure, if you like living in a tiny room, like poor Thais do. I lived in a 5,000 a month in Pattaya, but with my wife. Wouldn't even think of doing it by myself. For starters I don't speak conversational Thai and English speakers are few in those places.

Electricity, water, tv, wifi etc extra

 

 I am looking to move to Chiang Mai because people say it is quite there compared to Bangkok.

Quiet, LOL. Not as insane as Bkk, but hardly quiet. If you want quiet, live in a village, but you'd need to speak conversational Thai

 

 people talked about foreigners living on the street because they ran out of money or others trying to scam new foreigners because they wanted to stay and had needed more money.

You wouldn't want to be one of them. They only last till deported.

Were the YouTube videos where people said they lived off $600 to $1000 a month really troll videos?

They are probably true. I live easily on 939US$ in Chiang Mai, but I'm not 33.

Try it first and don't burn any bridges back home.

 

I know I saw some people saying they lived off $2000 to $3000 a month but both talked about having kids and wife also in Thailand.
2,000 US$? or 2,000baht?

If you live in a village in the wife's house, obviously it's very cheap. You don't have a wife with a house.

 

Even here in the US I have been able to live off getting 70% disability from the va. I generally just backpack and keep to myself. 

That's now. You're 33. You have a lot of life still to go, but you know that.

 

If you get ill without insurance it could cost you hundreds of thousands of baht.

A good effort TBL, it never hurts to try.

[JoshuaB84]

52 minutes ago, amvet said:

Look up VFW in Thailand and write the post commanders.  Don't expect information from Thai Visa.  Of course you know your will be vetted in the VFW.

Thank you very much. I just went to www.vfwbkk.org and retrieved the post commanders email address at the bottom of the page. An email has been sent. I will wait for a reply and send a copy of my DD-214 to be vetted.

[Langsuan Man]

20 hours ago, JoshuaB84 said:

Well regardless I will just see for myself. I still plan to leave in October. Thanks for advice.

Why thank us for advice that you are not going to take it 

 

But you have satisfied the first requirement for being a Thai Visa Warrior, so your post wasn't entirely wasted 

 

 

[Berkshire]

19 hours ago, Spaniel said:

Yes, good luck to you.     I think before you come you should save up some emergency money, say around $10,000.     TriCare will reimburse you, I think up to 80%, but remember you will have to  first pay the Thai hospital bill then file the claim with TriCare.

Isn't TriCare only for inpatient care?  Not sure, but heard. 

[sipi]

Is there some church group that you can get in contact with for advice?

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎1‎/‎19‎/‎2018 at 10:36 AM, Langsuan Man said:

Why thank us for advice that you are not going to take it 

 

But you have satisfied the first requirement for being a Thai Visa Warrior, so your post wasn't entirely wasted 

 

 

Maybe he's just coming on a trip to see what it's like.