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Lifestyles of the New "Rich"
#26

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

@ Subatai - your post #24 is so on the money. I just returned from the living in London for a few yrs, I was living rough which I am not use too and I feel it is harder to game when you live this way. The only bright side was that I was able to visit many of the desired spots for cheap (Eastern Europe, Scandinavia) and have some good times.
I am now back in Canada working my ass off but feel I need to return, I myself am looking at Germany - which I think is a good country economically and also the location in Central Europe is ideal. I have never heard a bad thing about Berlin and think it would be a nice place to visit.

Our New Blog:

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#27

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote: (11-21-2010 11:05 AM)subutai Wrote:  

I don't know about you, but for myself, I know for a fact that I like living in a place where I am relatively "rich" compared to the locals than in a place where I'm just "average" in income. I also have an elderly, retired mother quite comfortable in the US who needs to spend more time with me, so I can't just go live in Moldova or Bulgaria for kicks (even though financially I could without a problem), since she'd find such places traumatic even to visit.

I usually break up cities by a few different factors:

1. Cost of living (I don't want to pay over $1200 a month in rent for a very nice, large pad)
2. Availability of beautiful women (Europeans for my tastebuds)
3. Level of civility and tolerance (I don't like skinheads)
4. Architectural beauty and ambiance (I like UNESCO heritage cities)
5. Weather (I like the 4 seasons)
6. English-language ability among the locals (I don't like gaming in another language)
7. Availability of amenities/attractions for families/elderly (not important for most of the guys on here I imagine)

Same with SE Asia, mostly ruled out but kind of interesting. I won't leave the US just to go to another Anglo country so the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are also ruled out.

This leaves Eastern & Western Europe. However, the Eurozone is expanding, and I don't want to be subject to the fluctuations of the Euro-Dollar foreign exchange rate, esp. if the US decides to devalue the dollar to partially inflate away its debt. In other words, this is still something I need to think through. However, I still like countries like Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland in the Northeast and Austria in the Southeast.

wow. that's a massively tall order. I can't think of anywhere that meets those qualifications. every time I think of one, it doesn't meet one of the qualifications. good luck...
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#28

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

I need to mix and match two different places, which makes it a little bit easier to hit all 7 points.

Right now, that's looking like Europe and the US but we'll see how things shake out.

One thing I've learned is that life often takes you on strange journeys that you never expected.
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#29

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

If English is important to your Europe experience, and I fully get why (Id have the same qualification), I'd choose Holland (possibly denmark, travel around each and see what you prefer), the Baltics (go to each and see what you prefer), or somewhere in Germany. Especially in deference to your other qualifications. If you want a better value (although all of those, save perhaps Holland/Denmark, should be a good value) you could try Belgrade. Although it may no longer be cheap. I'm not sure.
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#30

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Thanks hydrogonian.

I haven't lived in the Netherlands but I have traveled extensively through it. I also know Denmark, Sweden, Finland as well as the major cities in Germany fairly well. Even have several friends from the US shacked up with Danish girls who settled down in Copenhagen.

My issue with all three places are that they are not affordable places to live if you want a really nice lifestyle and earn a primarily US dollar-based income. At my age, I guess I don't feel like "roughing it" anymore and I don't see the Euro going belly-up anytime soon.

That's why I'm more focused these days on increasing my monthly income. I've learned that once you hit new levels of personal income, a lot of the barriers and obstacles fade away.
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#31

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

I grew up basically in the Hood my whole life and I have only seen two proven ways of achieving "New Rich" status legally and hassle free. Although they are not strictly "New Rich" in the Ferris-esque sense of the word but I believe they at least follow the spirit of what Ferris trying to preach. So I think a better name would be "New Hood Rich." Friends and acquaintances who have made a lot of money made that Bread in basically two ways. Let me warn ya, it isnt sexy, elegant or easy. In fact the first 5 years is back breaking breaking labor. But then again making money off the Internet it isn't exactly a walk in the park either.

1. Government job and multi family building combo.
Most of the people that I know who are financially secure made the bulk of their money this way. They got a job relatively young as cop, fireman or sanitation worker. They then worked a ton of overtime the first 5 years to make enough for a down payment for a 2 or 3 family house with a basement somewhere in the guetto but that has potential to gentrify 5 to 10 years down the line. If you can take one thing from NYC real state is that there is no such thing as a "bad neighborhood" only "bad" blocks. They renovated the basement and lived there while renting the 3 other apartments. In the meanwhile they are building equity, putting money in the bank and just waiting until the neighborhood takes off(think Harlem and Lower East Side in the early 90's) or until retirement day when they get half pay after 20 years of service.

2. The immigrant working bee.
Some of my Dominican and Mexican compadres go this route not always by your choice. These guys basically work menial work 12+ hours a day and cut their expenses to the bare minimum. After 5 years of aggressively saving they open a deli/babershop/liquor store/ dry cleaners/laundromat, 99 cent store, etc somewhere in Queens or lower income neighborhood. They then trained their cousin in the business and have him wire money back to them while chilling on the beach drinking pinas coladas.

Don't sleep on those businesses, I know a few guys who I went to high school with who are making some serious money off retail businesses in the hood. I have a close friend from High school who grosses about 8k to 10k mostly cash a week on a dry cleaners in Brownsville(the worst neighborhood in NYC) his only downfall is that he runs a mini-job program because he has like 8 brothers and cousins working there. He told me that he can easy do the work with 2 other people but he doesn't have the heart to fire the dead weight.

I have another friend who combines the above two ideas and gets the best of both worlds. He is a City worker (75K a year without overtime)and owns a 2 family building with a ground floor commercial space that he turned into a liquor store. He paid 225K 2 years ago in a shitty part of Yonkers, NY. He rents the two 3 Bedrooms apts for $1500 a month and he grosses a modest $5K a week from the liquor store that he has his brother run(even if his brother is stealing he stills makes out). He's deep into P4P so he spends all his money in the DR and Costa Rica.

I also know an older Dominican cat who owns his own hot food truck and he makes enough money selling food during the Summer, Spring and Fall months that he lives like "El Presidente" in the DR during the winter months. I have a good white collar job but I am working on getting a food truck as well so I can learn the business inside and out. I want to eventually rent them out, the way yellow cab medallion owners rent their medallions. There is a lot of money out there to be made, the thing is a lot people just do not want to put in the hard work.
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#32

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote: (11-21-2010 07:02 PM)playa_with_a_passport Wrote:  

I grew up basically in the Hood my whole life and I have only seen two proven ways of achieving "New Rich" status legally and hassle free. Although they are not strictly "New Rich" in the Ferris-esque sense of the word but I believe they at least follow the spirit of what Ferris trying to preach. So I think a better name would be "New Hood Rich." Friends and acquaintances who have made a lot of money made that Bread in basically two ways. Let me warn ya, it isnt sexy, elegant or easy. In fact the first 5 years is back breaking breaking labor. But then again making money off the Internet it isn't exactly a walk in the park either.

1. Government job and multi family building combo.
Most of the people that I know who are financially secure made the bulk of their money this way. They got a job relatively young as cop, fireman or sanitation worker. They then worked a ton of overtime the first 5 years to make enough for a down payment for a 2 or 3 family house with a basement somewhere in the guetto but that has potential to gentrify 5 to 10 years down the line. If you can take one thing from NYC real state is that there is no such thing as a "bad neighborhood" only "bad" blocks. They renovated the basement and lived there while renting the 3 other apartments. In the meanwhile they are building equity, putting money in the bank and just waiting until the neighborhood takes off(think Harlem and Lower East Side in the early 90's) or until retirement day when they get half pay after 20 years of service.

2. The immigrant working bee.
Some of my Dominican and Mexican compadres go this route not always by your choice. These guys basically work menial work 12+ hours a day and cut their expenses to the bare minimum. After 5 years of aggressively saving they open a deli/babershop/liquor store/ dry cleaners/laundromat, 99 cent store, etc somewhere in Queens or lower income neighborhood. They then trained their cousin in the business and have him wire money back to them while chilling on the beach drinking pinas coladas.

Don't sleep on those businesses, I know a few guys who I went to high school with who are making some serious money off retail businesses in the hood. I have a close friend from High school who grosses about 8k to 10k mostly cash a week on a dry cleaners in Brownsville(the worst neighborhood in NYC) his only downfall is that he runs a mini-job program because he has like 8 brothers and cousins working there. He told me that he can easy do the work with 2 other people but he doesn't have the heart to fire the dead weight.

I have another friend who combines the above two ideas and gets the best of both worlds. He is a City worker (75K a year without overtime)and owns a 2 family building with a ground floor commercial space that he turned into a liquor store. He paid 225K 2 years ago in a shitty part of Yonkers, NY. He rents the two 3 Bedrooms apts for $1500 a month and he grosses a modest $5K a week from the liquor store that he has his brother run(even if his brother is stealing he stills makes out). He's deep into P4P so he spends all his money in the DR and Costa Rica.

I also know an older Dominican cat who owns his own hot food truck and he makes enough money selling food during the Summer, Spring and Fall months that he lives like "El Presidente" in the DR during the winter months. I have a good white collar job but I am working on getting a food truck as well so I can learn the business inside and out. I want to eventually rent them out, the way yellow cab medallion owners rent their medallions. There is a lot of money out there to be made, the thing is a lot people just do not want to put in the hard work.

Great post. You can't sleep on old fashioned, traditional ways of making money that's been tried and tested since the Jews/Italians/Irish were the immigrants hustling to make a buck.

On the other hand, I have relatives who spent their entire lives running small businesses. They're millionaires now. But they also spent their entire lives working 6:30am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday, until well into their late 50s, with a maximum 5 vacation days per year.
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#33

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote: (11-21-2010 11:48 AM)rudebwoy Wrote:  

@ Subatai - your post #24 is so on the money. I just returned from the living in London for a few yrs, I was living rough which I am not use too and I feel it is harder to game when you live this way. The only bright side was that I was able to visit many of the desired spots for cheap (Eastern Europe, Scandinavia) and have some good times.
I am now back in Canada working my ass off but feel I need to return, I myself am looking at Germany - which I think is a good country economically and also the location in Central Europe is ideal. I have never heard a bad thing about Berlin and think it would be a nice place to visit.

Germany's not a bad compromise location but it's going to depend a lot on what your living arrangements are over there. In other words, where you live, who you know, as well as what social circles you're a part of.

To give you an example of my experiences, I've often strolled through beautiful little alleys in small, forgotten cities in Eastern Europe, locked eyes with a beautiful girl, and ended up having a romantic evening with her followed by sex. Totally spontaneous and something that makes you feel alive the next day.

In Germany, more often than not, my evenings ended with me sitting on a cold U-bahn train with a bunch of drunken Turkish guys, munching on a doner kebob wondering what I was doing wrong.

I don't know what ethnicity you are, but aside from the high level of xenophobia, I hear great things about Vienna.
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#34

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

I am black and not African. I carry a Euro passport (born UK), Canadian passport and actually thinking about another one.
What EEurope country did you enjoy the most?
My ex was Hungarian and I must say I fell in love with Budapest, the city has alot to offer. I notice alot of multinational companies are setting up shop there.

Our New Blog:

http://www.repstylez.com
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#35

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote: (11-21-2010 11:05 AM)subutai Wrote:  

I usually break up cities by a few different factors:

1. Cost of living (I don't want to pay over $1200 a month in rent for a very nice, large pad)
2. Availability of beautiful women (Europeans for my tastebuds)
3. Level of civility and tolerance (I don't like skinheads)
4. Architectural beauty and ambiance (I like UNESCO heritage cities)
5. Weather (I like the 4 seasons)
6. English-language ability among the locals (I don't like gaming in another language)
7. Availability of amenities/attractions for families/elderly (not important for most of the guys on here I imagine)

This is a really good list. As you said, there's no such as a "perfect place" which has been a little frustrating. I really wish I was into Asian women, because I really enjoy the beaches and laid back lifestyle of SE Asia. Unfortunately, the women don't do anything for me... in fact, I find them dull. I hate cold weather, which sucks because the cultures I really enjoy and relate to are all in cold weather.

We'll see... I'd still like to get my income up a little more in the next year or so before I start seriously considering rooting down in a semi-permanent fashion.

As far as women, I'm pretty confident at this point that I can get high quality girls anywhere I go (I'm young, tall, decent-looking and have good game), so that's not really a big factor for me outside of what type do I like (Eastern and Southern European, Latinas as well).

We'll see... what I DO know for sure is that I do need to root down in a major way... as fun and exciting as this 2-months-in-US/3-months-in-Asia/1-month-in-US/4-months-in-South-America lifestyle has been, I'm seriously missing a stable social network and long-term relationships. As glamorous as it sounds, it's not an emotionally sustainable way to live for more than a couple years.
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#36

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote: (11-21-2010 08:28 PM)subutai Wrote:  

To give you an example of my experiences, I've often strolled through beautiful little alleys in small, forgotten cities in Eastern Europe, locked eyes with a beautiful girl, and ended up having a romantic evening with her followed by sex. Totally spontaneous and something that makes you feel alive the next day.

In Germany, more often than not, my evenings ended with me sitting on a cold U-bahn train with a bunch of drunken Turkish guys, munching on a doner kebob wondering what I was doing wrong.

I don't know what ethnicity you are, but aside from the high level of xenophobia, I hear great things about Vienna.

It sounds like you know enough about Europe, and the rest of the world, that you really don't need much advice in terms of where to live.

To summarize: Your income isn't where you want it to be, and you are looking for a discussion that either:

1. informs on how to make more income while living in desirable places

2. informs about desirable places, that meet your qualifications, that don't require much income.

Reply:

1. The mobile lifestyle is something that a lot of guys on this board have figured out, and a lot of us are working on. The methods seem to be very varied. I think pursuing this strategy, rather than merely a cheap place to live, is much more sustainable, realistic and long term lower risk than merely looking for a desirable place that matches your current income (for reasons I'll go into next). But it will take a lot of work on the front end (likely years), and a little creativity. My best advice is to become an expert in an area (like your friend who made his money in insurance) and then higher profit and lower risk opportunities will become more obvious to you. Without a specific area of expertise, you are swimming in the same knowledge pool as everyone else out there. The competition is greater and the profits smaller. Take some time, go back to school if necessary or become certified in something. Preferably something for which jobs are plentiful. Work in it a while, and then reevaluate for potential automated businesses within the field. I love playa_with_a_passport's post as well. I especially agree with the government job route. Look into Federal government job fields, particularly. Business is risky, and you don't hear about the multitudes of failures. Only the winners. But the truth is that a lot of business ideas, even after years of work, fail. Or the successful ones eventually fail after years of success. Having a skill that qualifies you for a high paying job is smart risk hedging.

2. I think that looking for a place to match your income is fine for the short term, but entirely too risky for the long term. The past 15 years have taught us that the economics of any given location can change quickly. With the world becoming developed and populated at the rate that it is, you never know what quaint little forgotten towns in EE are going to become excessively expensive in the medium term future. Second, most desirable places are expensive. They are expensive because they are desirable. The benefit is that there is more of an economy there to make money in. Try surviving at more than subsistence level, within the local economy, in the cheapest of cities. Its going to be a struggle because the economy is small.

Given that even a place like Berlin is too expensive or undesirable, I second my recommendation of Belgrade or another city in the region or east of it. Also, Lithuania or Latvia. Furthermore, if you like EE, then why not go to where you know and like? If you can't find a cheap EE city that meets your needs, then you probably should start thinking about a cheaper continent.
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#37

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Or you could do this. But again, good luck making rent working in the local economy [Image: smile.gif]

http://www.hobotraveler.com/travel-journ...frica.html
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#38

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Prague is getting expensive but Budapest is still cheap, for the moment. City is growing quickly, lots of big companies moving there and they just got there first Starbucks.

Our New Blog:

http://www.repstylez.com
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#39

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote:Quote:

Friend of mine in his 20s, scouted the world for countries with the finest looking women on earth. He settled upon Eastern Europe.

Which country is his favorite?

Entropy is like my internet twin.
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#40

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

I guess I'll keep contributing stories of people I know personally who are living amazing lives abroad.

Another guy I know worked started up his own Internet marketing firm, focused on full service search engine optimization and web site development. He chose to live in Helsinki because Finnish women were especially turned on by his look and personality, allowing him to essentially sleep with an unlimited number of women, curtailed only by his laziness in approaching. His business began booming so much that he started an office in neighboring Estonia, where he now has 15 employees (almost all young beautiful Estonian girls). He goes back and forth between the two cities, parties in both cities, and dates women less than half his age when he chooses to (he is well over 40 now). One interesting business advice he had: most of his clients are still Americans and Canadians, who are comfortably hiring people they have not met and interacting only by telephone and e-mail. He feels European clients are a pain in the ass and want constant meetings, both before and after engagement. His other advice: Pick one place, go deep into that country by learning the language, getting to know a lot of people, starting a business, building residency, then travel lightly around only after you are established.
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#41

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote: (11-23-2010 10:01 AM)hydrogonian Wrote:  

Quote: (11-21-2010 08:28 PM)subutai Wrote:  

To give you an example of my experiences, I've often strolled through beautiful little alleys in small, forgotten cities in Eastern Europe, locked eyes with a beautiful girl, and ended up having a romantic evening with her followed by sex. Totally spontaneous and something that makes you feel alive the next day.

In Germany, more often than not, my evenings ended with me sitting on a cold U-bahn train with a bunch of drunken Turkish guys, munching on a doner kebob wondering what I was doing wrong.

I don't know what ethnicity you are, but aside from the high level of xenophobia, I hear great things about Vienna.

It sounds like you know enough about Europe, and the rest of the world, that you really don't need much advice in terms of where to live.

To summarize: Your income isn't where you want it to be, and you are looking for a discussion that either:

1. informs on how to make more income while living in desirable places

2. informs about desirable places, that meet your qualifications, that don't require much income.

Reply:

1. The mobile lifestyle is something that a lot of guys on this board have figured out, and a lot of us are working on. The methods seem to be very varied. I think pursuing this strategy, rather than merely a cheap place to live, is much more sustainable, realistic and long term lower risk than merely looking for a desirable place that matches your current income (for reasons I'll go into next). But it will take a lot of work on the front end (likely years), and a little creativity. My best advice is to become an expert in an area (like your friend who made his money in insurance) and then higher profit and lower risk opportunities will become more obvious to you. Without a specific area of expertise, you are swimming in the same knowledge pool as everyone else out there. The competition is greater and the profits smaller. Take some time, go back to school if necessary or become certified in something. Preferably something for which jobs are plentiful. Work in it a while, and then reevaluate for potential automated businesses within the field. I love playa_with_a_passport's post as well. I especially agree with the government job route. Look into Federal government job fields, particularly. Business is risky, and you don't hear about the multitudes of failures. Only the winners. But the truth is that a lot of business ideas, even after years of work, fail. Or the successful ones eventually fail after years of success. Having a skill that qualifies you for a high paying job is smart risk hedging.

2. I think that looking for a place to match your income is fine for the short term, but entirely too risky for the long term. The past 15 years have taught us that the economics of any given location can change quickly. With the world becoming developed and populated at the rate that it is, you never know what quaint little forgotten towns in EE are going to become excessively expensive in the medium term future. Second, most desirable places are expensive. They are expensive because they are desirable. The benefit is that there is more of an economy there to make money in. Try surviving at more than subsistence level, within the local economy, in the cheapest of cities. Its going to be a struggle because the economy is small.

Given that even a place like Berlin is too expensive or undesirable, I second my recommendation of Belgrade or another city in the region or east of it. Also, Lithuania or Latvia. Furthermore, if you like EE, then why not go to where you know and like? If you can't find a cheap EE city that meets your needs, then you probably should start thinking about a cheaper continent.

You're absolutely right. Raising the income to fit the ideal lifestyle for me is infinitely more worthy an endeavor rather than searching for the cheapest place that meets a meager budget. This is what I'm focusing on right now.

On the other hand, my ideal lifestyle is probably going to sound like some kind of "fantasy, luxury-filled lifestyle" for others. If I was just content living in any old 1-2 bedroom flat in Europe, I could do it today. But my plans require more resources so I've started to hunker down to go into business expansion mode.
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#42

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

sorry double post.
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#43

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Awesome thread in here and a greatly informative read overall. I tried it all ever since I was 16 in high school from mail order, classified ads, to selling unique and so called exotic trinklets that I purchased for cheap or I thought so until I realized that no one wanted them even for free. LOL Marketing 101 lesson learned a long time ago the hard way: first find an hungry market then fill it with a product/service, and not the other way around that I was trying to do in my earlier years in the pursuit of making it on my own. Fast forward 3-4 years ago, started to get into the online bandwagon and looked hard for a good couple of years to find something that is legit and offers real value, which for the vast majority of the so called opportunities online are a bunch of scams.

Around Christmas 2007, I came accross quite by accident of what I thought was too good to be true. From the beginning, I realized that this was different from the hordes of other opportunities I had came accross in the online world in the sense that there was a real product with a real life value, providing a tremendous value to consumers that I would love using myself. And the fact that it pays a very nice commission (1k a pop) to its affiliates didnt' hurt neither. The company in question is Global Resorts Network or GRN. The product in question is a lifetime luxury vacation package which provides to its users unlimited, unrestricted lifetime access to over 5500 resorts worldwide with no ongoing fees such as annual or maintenance or worst, renovation fees; no limits as to how many times a member can use it, up to 52 weeks per year and is valid for 99 years, fully transferable and willable. This membership has been selling in the open market since 1986 by the travel partner/provider without any opportunity attached to it whatsoever. In Dec 2006, GRN obtained the worldwide rights to promote the membership online through affiliates. The icing on the cake is a very generous compensation plan whereby as a member, I make $1K per sale, not only on my own sales but also on the sales of my teammates where I receive a matching commission of $1K each time they sell a package. Last night I was out with a friend and upon checking my email on my phone, realized that a teammate of mine made a sale in Canada and I received 1K without lifting a finger.

First time I used my membership as I am a very proud member myself, I was able to finally experience the Rio Carnaval like the rich and famous but at hostels price. I was able to get an ocean front suite at the Rio Othon Palace, right on Copacabana beach, on the 21st floor overlooking Avenida Atlantica on the Arpoador side. That same suite was going for US$1100 per night or about $6K for the week of Carnaval and I only paid $650 for the entire week for 2 people. Or a savings of 90% over retail or about 5K saved in 1 week using my membership! I'm also going to be using it here in Thailand over the next few weeks/months. I'm specifically eyeing two spectacular resorts, one in Pattaya where I can get a 1 bedroom suite at a villa with a private swimming pool that is going on agoda.com for around $250/night for between 4-550 for the entire week for 4 people. Other good options here in Thailand include beautiful resorts in Phuket, Krabi and Ko Samui. In Samui, there's a gorgeous resort that is charging around 270 Euros/night for a 1 bedroom suite and I can get with my membership a 2 bedroom unit sleeping 6 for about $5-$600 bucks for the entire week. Membership is full of that kinds of deals and is the primary reason why it's been so successfully selling for over 25 years and why people who see it, first they can't believe it, then once they're educated and see concrete live current examples of deals, they simply love it!

The product in here coupled with the very generous compensation plan is what is changing lives for the better. It certainly did change my life and is the primary reason I am able to be here in Asia for the next 6 months, and to go to wherever I want in the future. This is what has allowed me not to have a JOB for over a year now. This little biz is what is behind me leaving behind me for good the rat race and living the lifestyle I had always envisioned and wanted. Travelling is my biggest passion in life and I truly feel privileged, if not blessed that I have found an opportunity that allows to combine travelling and getting handsomely paid for showing people how to travel like the rich and famous while paying budget prices. Few things are more rewarding and fullfilling than when I hear a costumer of mine tell me "I'm so glad I've found this, I was about to plunk in 20-50K into a timeshare that would have had increasing ongoing costs for just 1 at most 2 weeks per year". And it equally saddens me when I hear one of my clients and prospects tell me" Gosh,I wish I had found this earlier before I wasted a lot of money on a timeshare that I am not even using that is costing me about $2000/year." I've tried almost everything out there and no biz comes even close to this GRN biz for the simple reason that the product is worldclass and offers an amazing and concrete real life value to its members. I love using it. As far as I'm concerned, getting involved with GRN has been by far the best business decision I've made so far and one of the top 3 all time best decisions of my life to date. So this is my story and how I've made it and how I'm able to live the lifestyle that I have fully embraced now.
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#44

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Quote: (11-24-2010 10:59 AM)subutai Wrote:  

I guess I'll keep contributing stories of people I know personally who are living amazing lives abroad.

Another guy I know worked started up his own Internet marketing firm, focused on full service search engine optimization and web site development. He chose to live in Helsinki because Finnish women were especially turned on by his look and personality, allowing him to essentially sleep with an unlimited number of women, curtailed only by his laziness in approaching. His business began booming so much that he started an office in neighboring Estonia, where he now has 15 employees (almost all young beautiful Estonian girls). He goes back and forth between the two cities, parties in both cities, and dates women less than half his age when he chooses to (he is well over 40 now). One interesting business advice he had: most of his clients are still Americans and Canadians, who are comfortably hiring people they have not met and interacting only by telephone and e-mail. He feels European clients are a pain in the ass and want constant meetings, both before and after engagement. His other advice: Pick one place, go deep into that country by learning the language, getting to know a lot of people, starting a business, building residency, then travel lightly around only after you are established.

This is so true, specially the part I highlighted in bold. Even tough, I have ads all over the world, the majority of my clients are still from the US/Canada and by far the worst to deal with are the Europeans, specially the French and I am French. LOL
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#45

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

I'd like to ask question to the entire community in here, but more specificially to those of you who are successful in your global mobile lifestyle: have you noticed that as you started getting successful, leaving behind you your JOB and the rat race and started travelling the world whenever you wanted, have you noticed that some of your friends and even relatives are starting to detach themselves from you, even trying to ignore you? I've noticed this specially on my facebook page where I only have relatives and only my very best friends as I don't add anyone just for the sake of adding someone. And these people that I've know for years, some of them even I grew up with, as I am here in Asia and having the time of my life, living my life on my terms, doing the very thing that I have always wanted to do and they know that as i've shared those dreams and aspirations with them all along. I am sensing that they are indifferent, almost even ignoring me and as if I were threatening them and being a threat to them. And that's what truly baffles me. The reason I am asking and I care and I ask you guys is because these are people I've known for a long time, some of them for ever and it hurts to see them react that way to my success. If they were just one time aquaintances, I wouldn't even care nor give a flying schloof about it but relatives and friends I've known for ages, that hurts.

It's not that I got lucky and I won the lottery or that I've been trafficking drugs and doing other illegal stuff. Luck has absolutely nothing to do in that as I've worked my butt off to get to that level. I've had my fair share of hard times when I still remember the days when I only had 5 bucks in my wallet and had to decide whether to spend that on the bus ticket home from work/school or to get a snack/hot dog as I was starving and yet my pride wouldn't let me ask my parents for money even tough they would have gladly given it to me. So this is what truly baffles me: you'd expect these people that are close to you, being happy and supportive of your decisions and the way you've decided to live your life and instead, they give you the cold shoulder. I've done nothing more than making my goal of living my life on my terms a reality and going after my dreams and not follow the typical path of JOB, marriage, 2.5 kids, SUV and house in the suburbs. As the old proverb says, in life, there are 2 doors: one is called Security and the other is called Freedom. And if you opt for security, you'll lose both. I've chosen a long time ago that Freedom is what I want and aspire to. And after finally getting there, it seems from their perspective, I made the wrong choice. I mean, is it a bad thing, or worst a mistake or a crime to want to live your life the way you want and not follow the same patern as everyone else as a sheep? why can't they understand and respect that? It's not that I'm taking anything away from them. Ultimately, we all have the same opportunities in front of us, the difference being that some will go after them and others will just watch from the sidelines. So have any of you encountered the same shift in perception from the people in your life whether they'd be relatives, or long time friends after your success and them still being stuck at the JOB?And how do you cope with it, specially emotionally as that's the tougher part to take. I'd appreciate your feedbacks and would love to hear your stories on that aspect of our lifestyle.
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#46

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

VP,

Thanks for the great posts. I suppose I can give you my thoughts, as someone who lived abroad for a long time, before recently returning to the US for family reasons.

I believe your friends are reacting with a psychological defense mechanism not all that different from the character from The Matrix, who upon learning of reality, would prefer to retreat back into the artificial world where he can be comforted with the illusions he has always lived with.

You even see it on this very web site when American guys have knee-jerk reactions to posts about life abroad, and start to passionately defend the U.S. & American women while simultaneously knocking foreign countries they have not visited much less lived in.

They don't want to hear about your life because it threatens the fragile walls they've built their worlds around.

I don't know whether your friends & family are in France or North America, but I believe at least in the USA, a lifetime of media indoctrination has people believing from birth that:

1. The U.S. is the best country in the world
2. The U.S. is the epitome of "freedom"
3. Everyone wants to live in the U.S.
4. American women are beautiful and you must make yourself worthy to get them in the sack
5. Owning a big car, a big house, big muscles, big television, big everything is the American Dream
6. If you want to leave the US to live in a developing country, you are a loser or "strange"
7. You must find a job, a spouse, buy a dream home, have kids and live happily ever after

The list of necessary illusions can go on and on, but "society" has its mechanisms for putting people who dare attack these pillars in their place.

This is why being an expat is often a lonely existence. The bonds that tie you to friends from your former life fade away while the locals will only accept you so much (and oftentimes, only because you've married or f*cked your way into their social circles).
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#47

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

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#48

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

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#49

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

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And these people that I've know for years, some of them even I grew up with, as I am here in Asia and having the time of my life, living my life on my terms, doing the very thing that I have always wanted to do and they know that as i've shared those dreams and aspirations with them all along. I am sensing that they are indifferent, almost even ignoring me and as if I were threatening them and being a threat to them. And that's what truly baffles me.

I have started noticing this more and more with my friends also. I think Subutai nailed it with the Matrix analogy. Your success makes your friends question their own life choices and that makes them uncomfortable.

If they have the same opportunities you do, but not the same end result...Then they have to ask themselves a lot of really uncomfortable hard questions like: Why can't I do what he is doing? Why am I watching TV all day? Maybe I shouldn't spend all my time playing fantasy football? Maybe I shouldn't obsess about celebrities who don't even know I exist?

Most people are unable to handle this amount of cognitive dissonance and choose to instead protect their ego by distancing themselves from the person that makes them feel uncomfortable with their life and/or make excuses to rationalize why they can't have the same success. (He got lucky, his parents were rich, he met the right person, blah blah ego-soothing bullshit)

You need to align yourself with people who share similar views to you and will help you get closer to your goals, not try to drag you down. You should still spend time with and enjoy your original friends/family, but focus more on finding others on a similar path. You have shown your friends the door with your success, but no matter how hard you wish - it is still up to them to walk through that door.

Learn how I created a successful 4HWW Muse Online Business and travel around the world.
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#50

Lifestyles of the New "Rich"

Subutai and phoenix abroad,
thanks for sharing your experiences and your views on my question. I am somewhat relieved to hear that this is not an isolated case that we all, those of us who are living a successful mobile lifestyle, at some point will face that kind of attitude from people that are/were close to us. You both gave excellent reasons for that and I totally agree with them all.

Another thing that I've noticed and maybe some of you may have also noticed is that the wives and girlfriends of my buddies are I'm feeling trying to make their men avoid me. Like yesterday, I talked to one of my cousins with whom I was very close from high school and onward as he was basically my partner in crime and wingman when we went clubbing. I was talking to him while his wife was sitting besides him and it was clear that she was trying to cut the conversation as soon as possible as I was telling them about how awesome life is here in BKK, how nice the people are and how cheap things are here compard to NA and all. I wasn't even talking about girls or nightlife, but just regular touristy and general stuff. And the only thing that his wife asked me throughout the conversation was :"so when are you returning home and settle down?" Unreal. I mean if settling down is being stuck with a girl that doesn't leave you alone a single moment and working 70-80 hours/week, then I firmly believe it's very unlikely I'll "settle down" anytime soon.

You're spot on again Phoenix abroad in surrounding myself with like minded people and that's one thing I like the most about this site which is at least a start towards that direction. And of course here in BKK, I've been attending expat meetings aka Bangkok Beer Camps held every 2 weeks and also met another cool and successful French internet marketer and making some nice connections with like minded people.

Subutai,
when you wrote on your point # 6 (If you want to leave the US to live in a developing country, you are a loser or "strange"), I can totally relate to that as well. Almost everyone around me is wondering why I left Canada, a place that for them, most people in the countries I'm going to would kill to have a chance to get there and go to third word countries. For them, if I want to build something, it has to be here in North America or in Europe, but for them, the notion of building a business or a life in SEA or SA/Brasil is a crazy if not inconsiderate thing to do.

Don't get me wrong, while Canada is awesome in many many aspects and IMO, a lot better than the US in many ways, I wouldn't want to stay there full time again at least in the near future. The most I could tolerate Canada from now on is 2 at most 3 months a year during the summer. I want to see the world and get to experience other parts of the world that most people only read about. And that's something that they have a hard time accepting. And as you PA eloquently wrote, a major reason for that is that this whole thing is making them question their own life decisions and lifestyle and that is not an easy thing to do at all. But thanks a lot guys for your valuable feedback. If anyone else wants to share their views on that, by all means please do so.

Cheers guys.
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