A divorced Australian father-of-four has revealed why he left Australia to start a new life in Thailand, citing rising living costs, job insecurity and frustration with life back home. Former media producer Jeff Asselin said he now lives comfortably in Thailand on about $1,500 a month after years of financial and emotional strain in Australia.

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Jeff, 56, spent 25 years working in the education sector before becoming disillusioned during the Covid era. He said choosing not to get vaccinated left him feeling isolated and excluded from society, while being made redundant twice in two years pushed him towards financial uncertainty despite decades of experience and completing a master’s degree.

Over a two-year period, Jeff said he applied for more than 50 jobs but struggled to secure work. He claimed age may have become a factor during interviews, despite being a strong match for many positions on paper.

At the same time, Jeff said Australia’s soaring cost of living was becoming impossible to manage. Despite living what he described as a modest and frugal lifestyle, he said he was spending close to $7,500 a month while renting alone after his divorce.

Jeff blamed government mismanagement and mass immigration for worsening the housing crisis and making stability unaffordable for ordinary Australians. Although he had worked hard enough to own two properties, one remained with his ex-wife after their divorce while the other was tied up in his self-managed super fund.

He said taxation, housing costs, utilities, insurance and power bills left him feeling as though there was little financial reward for decades of work. Jeff eventually decided to relocate to Thailand, where he now runs the YouTube channel Aussie Nomad Life documenting expatriate life in Southeast Asia.

Jeff currently lives with a Thai woman in a two-bedroom cabin costing about $106 a month, with power bills around $21 monthly and high-speed internet that he said outperformed Australian services. He insisted he was not living a luxury lifestyle, saying he remained focused on business, health and his relationship rather than spending time drinking in bars.

Jeff admitted the biggest downside of leaving Australia was being away from his children. He said no lower cost of living or lifestyle change could replace being close to family.

He also said his relatives were initially sceptical about his decision to move to Thailand, believing it was linked to stereotypes surrounding middle-aged men relocating there. However, he said their views changed after seeing the life he had built overseas.

The Daily Mail reported that Jeff plans to settle permanently in Thailand when he reaches 60 and gains access to his superannuation. He said many Australians had contacted him expressing similar concerns about affordability, housing and job insecurity, suggesting more people were considering moving overseas for a cheaper lifestyle.

Pictures courtesy of Daily Mail

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailymail 11 May 2026

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Wonder where he found her? Next headline: Father of four feel betrayed and struggling to get home

Is his new burd..... a geezer?

9 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Here,s 'Mickey' again,thai bash early today, then get back to wristing. "Wonder where he found her"? WTF is amiss in your square shaped head?

I think you posted before getting you coffee, right?

1. Where is the Thai bashing? I was referring to his choice. If she cleans him out, she is problem good at a specific profession.
2. My comment was based on how many foreigner that comes to Thailand and mess up their future and that it read like to me that he´s on his way.
3. Why would something be amiss in my square-shaped head, as you see it? Did it hit too close to home, mate?

59 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Wonder where he found her? Next headline: Father of four feel betrayed and struggling to get home

And, he will NEVER find his way home....

BLIND FAITH....

Everyone must have Blind Faith, sometimes.....

Edited May 11May 11 by GammaGlobulin

The way things are going in Thailand - I wouldn't be sprouting off about a Y/T channel.

Not sure why he is waiting till he is 60. You can draw on your super at 55 if you have stopped working?

Maybe his channel is the reason or SMSF are different exit age?

Just for balance, I would like an interview with his 4 kids to hear their side of the story. (You could throw in the ex-wife as well if you want).

There are two sides to every story.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Jeff blamed government mismanagement and mass immigration for worsening the housing crisis and making stability unaffordable for ordinary Australians. Although he had worked hard enough to own two properties, one remained with his ex-wife after their divorce while the other was tied up in his self-managed super fund.

He said taxation, housing costs, utilities, insurance and power bills left him feeling as though there was little financial reward for decades of work. Jeff eventually decided to relocate to Thailand, where he now runs the YouTube channel Aussie Nomad Life documenting expatriate life in Southeast Asia.

He is not the only one.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=why+i+left+australia

Worth a look , if you think of moving there.

But then again , most of the negatives are the same in nearly all EU countries.

That's why we're in Thailand .

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Wonder where he found her? Next headline: Father of four feel betrayed and struggling to get home

They sprout up from the dirt in the deep dark reaches of rural Isaan.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

At the same time, Jeff said Australia’s soaring cost of living was becoming impossible to manage. Despite living what he described as a modest and frugal lifestyle, he said he was spending close to $7,500 a month while renting alone after his divorce.

I heard Australia is expensive. But really? 7,500 AUD for a single person?

6 minutes ago, CLW said:

I heard Australia is expensive. But really? 7,500 AUD for a single person?

Yer, must have been renting on Bondi Beach. I know it is expensive but with my lifestyle I would have trouble spending $7500 a month.

He advertises he is an anti-vaccer can not get a job? I am not criticising his choice but why does he need to say it in an interview. He is anti - immigration so he migrates to another country? I'll need to make sure not to watch his YouTube channel.

I wish them all the best TIT

5 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Just for balance, I would like an interview with his 4 kids to hear their side of the story. (You could throw in the ex-wife as well if you want).

There are two sides to every story.

What story? He's divorced, she got the house and kids, he had to rent and no doubt pay child support. He moved to Thailand for a new start. That could be almost every expat here.

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Wonder where he found her? Next headline: Father of four feel betrayed and struggling to get home

You would never see her under your bridge in Luton.

She's from Nong Khai, they've been together for some time and were living together in Viet before moving to a rental near her village

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Wonder where he found her? Next headline: Father of four feel betrayed and struggling to get home

I wonder who is looking after his four children, paying for them etc.

Maybe the reason he was struggling in Aus was because he had four.

3 hours ago, CLW said:

I heard Australia is expensive. But really? 7,500 AUD for a single person?

I left 15 years ago but still hear from friends about high costs there. Housing particularly is soaring.

He may be single technically but still have family obligations. If you are renting and perhaps also paying a mortgage for the house the wife lives in, and things like child support (4 kids), car payments, etc. it could be that high.

It's nice to see guys who have made the move and are happy with their decisions.

That contrasts with the guys who went off the rails and it didn't work out so well for them.

If I was gonna watch one YouTube or the other, I'd rather watch (and learn from) the happier one.

I wish the guy well.

I wonder who is looking after his four children, paying for them etc.

Maybe the reason he was struggling in Aus was because he had four.

At age 56, he may also finally be getting out of his obligatory child support years.

Here's one thing I have observed... You're not going to find a western chick to live with you back home in a $106 a monthly rental.

3 hours ago, CLW said:

I heard Australia is expensive. But really? 7,500 AUD for a single person?

Can get rent for $2000 per month easy in a big city and less elsewhere. Other expenses no where near $7500 in total. Bit suss on the story as the education sector is crying out for staff too in Australia so either he's not good or maybe he had a specialist role - then he needs to look for jobs further a field.

Thailand has attracted a good amount of anti-vaxxers with anti immigrant sentiments too, recall some Swedish woman who came to Thailand for the same reasons a while back. These are the same entitled people who ridicule those who wear surgical face masks on public.

That young lady has adopted a very professional pose 555

33 minutes ago, impulse said:

It's nice to see guys who have made the move and are happy with their decisions.

That contrasts with the guys who went off the rails and it didn't work out so well for them.

If I was gonna watch one YouTube or the other, I'd rather watch (and learn from) the happier one.

I wish the guy well.

Looks like this guy came off the rails in Australia.

He seems to have found himself an remarkably undemanding girlfriend. $1,500 a month – and he calls that a comfortable life? That barely covers a fairly modest existence for one person, let alone two. And what happens when the lady suddenly fancies a gold necklace – or the buffalo back in Isaan comes down with something expensive?

2 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

He advertises he is an anti-vaccer can not get a job? I am not criticising his choice but why does he need to say it in an interview. He is anti - immigration so he migrates to another country? I'll need to make sure not to watch his YouTube channel.

I've watched his YT channel for a while. he is doing much the same travel Thailand vlog as a thousand others, but I do find some things of interest. He's doing cost analyses in various popular places around Thailand and keeps it fairly basic without the over-the-top personality crap. I liked his Laos vid and expat interview for a different viewpoint.

While I disagree with some of his negative views about Oz and vaccinations he doesn't push them. He is, reasonably, bitter about being made redundant twice, but I'm sure will realise it all worked out for him.

"Anti-immigration and migrates to another country"! You just described almost every Brit in Thailand!

1 hour ago, BusyB said:

That young lady has adopted a very professional pose 555

Every Thai female does that hand cupping the chin thing for photos.

4 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

He advertises he is an anti-vaccer can not get a job? I am not criticising his choice but why does he need to say it in an interview. He is anti - immigration so he migrates to another country? I'll need to make sure not to watch his YouTube channel.

How does he work in Thailand?

Living 4 kids... and he is brave enough to post his picture with his... gf? Oh, well. Can she get his pension if he kicks the can or sue for his pension?

5 minutes ago, Feingeist said:

He seems to have found himself an remarkably undemanding girlfriend. $1,500 a month – and he calls that a comfortable life? That barely covers a fairly modest existence for one person, let alone two. And what happens when the lady suddenly fancies a gold necklace – or the buffalo back in Isaan comes down with something expensive?

35,000 baht a month be fine in a small town if non drinker and woman ok. That woman looks a bit risky to me. I can live beachfont on 35,000 a month by myself very easy but women and buffalos watch out.

14 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

You just described almost every Brit in Thailand!

And where does Old Croc come from?

Edited May 11May 11 by wil iam not