after tax pay of 75k a year isn’t crazy unusual for software devs living in major cities. Living on 15k in these places is very doable, though some might consider it crazy depending on their habits.
After 6 years one could then live fairly well in a relatively poor country on 15k.
I don’t mean to cut the party short, but living for years in a poor country is not as awesome as it sounds.
What seems awesome instead is to go for poor countries for 6 to 8 months per year, and live with your parents or someone who loves you a lot in the other 4 months every year. I’ve met a Slovenian programmer who did that, knew 10 languages, worked in London for 4 months per year and seemed to have pretty much nailed the “maxing out on hedons” lifestyle.
I moved out of my parent’s house as soon as I was able, finding the cost in raw hedons and effects on my disposition and behavior to be way too high to justify the money saved. And I have a fine family, not abusive or otherwise terrible—just not a place where I was ever able to be happy or productive.
I’d guess it was more likely to be emotional stuff relating to living with people who once had such control over you. I can’t stand living at my parents’ for very long either… it’s just stressful and emotionally draining.
After 6 years one could then live fairly well in a relatively poor country on 15k.
Additionally, there are ways to get people to pay for your living costs in very poor countries. If you live in the US and are looking for a fun but not too easy early retirement, spending two years in the Peace Corps is not a bad way to go—if you do want to spend a few extra thousand on living expenses it will go a lot further than it would in America, and if you just want to let your retirement funds gather a few years of additional interest you can do that. The PC does take married couples and loves people with college degrees and work experience. No kids, though.
after tax pay of 75k a year isn’t crazy unusual [...] in major cities
Less than half of that isn’t crazy unusual everywhere else. Of course, anybody can just move there, and is qualified and lucky enough to find such a job.
Still doesn’t change the OPs point, though; living on 15k/year is still a very convenient life.
after tax pay of 75k a year isn’t crazy unusual for software devs living in major cities. Living on 15k in these places is very doable, though some might consider it crazy depending on their habits.
After 6 years one could then live fairly well in a relatively poor country on 15k.
I don’t mean to cut the party short, but living for years in a poor country is not as awesome as it sounds. What seems awesome instead is to go for poor countries for 6 to 8 months per year, and live with your parents or someone who loves you a lot in the other 4 months every year. I’ve met a Slovenian programmer who did that, knew 10 languages, worked in London for 4 months per year and seemed to have pretty much nailed the “maxing out on hedons” lifestyle.
I moved out of my parent’s house as soon as I was able, finding the cost in raw hedons and effects on my disposition and behavior to be way too high to justify the money saved. And I have a fine family, not abusive or otherwise terrible—just not a place where I was ever able to be happy or productive.
What went wrong when you were with your family?
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I’d guess it was more likely to be emotional stuff relating to living with people who once had such control over you. I can’t stand living at my parents’ for very long either… it’s just stressful and emotionally draining.
Additionally, there are ways to get people to pay for your living costs in very poor countries. If you live in the US and are looking for a fun but not too easy early retirement, spending two years in the Peace Corps is not a bad way to go—if you do want to spend a few extra thousand on living expenses it will go a lot further than it would in America, and if you just want to let your retirement funds gather a few years of additional interest you can do that. The PC does take married couples and loves people with college degrees and work experience. No kids, though.
Less than half of that isn’t crazy unusual everywhere else. Of course, anybody can just move there, and is qualified and lucky enough to find such a job.
Still doesn’t change the OPs point, though; living on 15k/year is still a very convenient life.