[DaveR]

Shipito might be another option for mail forwarding, depending on your volume. They mainly deal with packages but can do letters as well. They have warehouses in LA, Oregon, Nevada and Austria (the country).

https://www.shipito.com/faq#mail

Fees are:

Receiving mail:
Free receipt of mail and scan of the envelope.
$2 to open and scan each letter (optional). You can choose to scan individual letters of make it automatic.

Mail forwarding (optional. Each letter will be held for 180 days and then discarded if you don't forward them):
$2 per letter processing fee
They offer a range of courier and postal services.

Consolidation (optional):
$120 per year membership fee if you would like the option of consolidating multiple letters into one bulk-mailing package
$3 per letter consolidated into a bulk envelope/package
You can choose individual letters for consolidation. Others can wait in the warehouse for up to 180 days, then they will be discarded fee-free.

[DaveR]

(06-07-2016 10:00 PM)DaveR Wrote:  

Consolidation (optional):
$120 per year membership fee if you would like the option of consolidating multiple letters into one bulk-mailing package
$3 per letter consolidated into a bulk envelope/package
You can choose individual letters for consolidation. Others can wait in the warehouse for up to 180 days, then they will be discarded fee-free.

Just noticed that they offer a discount if you pay yearly instead of monthly billing: $50 for 12 months instead of $120.

So in total, pricing would be: $50 per year + $5 per letter received and consolidated + shipping. I think that's very competitive for low volumes.

[CleanSlate]

Just had a ridiculous phone call with the bank where I keep my savings account.

They called me three times this morning, all within an hour. It sounded urgent, so I followed up with them. They said my new mailing address "appears" to be a PO Box and could not accept it. Backing up a bit - I had changed my mailing address a week ago, and it is NOT a PO Box address. It's just like a regular address. I don't know how the bank found out that it wasn't a real residential address?!

Anyway, they sternly lectured me about not using PO box addresses as banks aren't allowed to under the Patriot Act. Said if I didn't change it back to my old address, or send an utility bill with the new mailing address on it under my name, they would close my account. I fought with them over the phone for half an hour. I even offered to send a notarized Form 1583 that tells the USPS that my mail is delivered and processed at the new mailing address. They refused to even LOOK at it and see if it was something acceptable, stubbornly insisting on an utility bill.

I threatened to take all of my savings out and close the account. In response, they said they could allow me to list two mailing addresses on my account. One would be my new mailing address, and the other would be my old home address. Basically if I did that, they would leave me alone. I updated my account with the two addresses, and when they checked it, they said it's perfectly fine.

Crisis averted. At least for now. I'll be keeping an eye on them. With an itchy trigger finger, I am still prepared to move my money at a moment's notice.

As far as other updates:

- Got my multiple entry visa
- Got all my air/lodge bookings set
- Sold all my furniture (someone should be coming to pick up the bed today)
- Will sell car next week
- Wrapping things up at work before I leave
- Made a packing list and hoping it will all fit in my luggage

[MongolianAbroad]

(11-26-2015 05:22 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  

(11-22-2015 12:52 AM)Suits Wrote:  

Before making the decision of where to settle down for a year, I would suggest doing a world tour for three months. You've got a basic list of places you're considering already, so it's not like you'll be travelling with no direction. Such a tour will really help you narrow it down. Hit a few different countries, a number of different cities and see where you end up.

That's reasonable. I'll definitely hit up Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

But, I have a feeling that settling in the Philippines may ultimately be the best thing for me to do, only because English is widely spoken.

Realistically, I may struggle to live in countries where little or no English is used, but rather tonal languages are spoken (China, Thai, etc).

Travel difficulties in my recent trip only impressed me on the importance of being able to speak the same language as the locals to get myself out of a jam (not just with travel, but in general).

That's where I'm at...but Thailand has really nice wifi. We'll see, as my father would say:

"Al paso de la carreta se acomodan las calabazas."

Good stuff.

[CleanSlate]

(06-21-2016 01:34 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  

I updated my account with the two addresses, and when they checked it, they said it's perfectly fine.

Crisis averted. At least for now. I'll be keeping an eye on them. With an itchy trigger finger, I am still prepared to move my money at a moment's notice.

Pro tip:

All banks need to have a legit home address on your accounts. I thought their crack down was just on PO box addresses, but apparently mail scanning service addresses are also under the gun. The financial landscape seems to be getting increasingly hostile towards US expats.

What I did, and what you could do, is call your bank. Tell them you want to have TWO different addresses on your account. One address to send all your mail correspondence, and the other would be your home address.

I used a relative's address as my home address, and left my mail scanning service address as the address to which they'd send all mail.

On most banks, you will NOT see both your mailing and home addresses when you log into your online accounts. You will only see your mailing address. That's why you need to call (or use live chat) and ask them to add a second address into their system.

[CleanSlate]

Just posted a separate datasheet in the travel section on how to become an expat.

thread-56733.html

Only a few days left before I move out of my apartment... will visit my mother for a week then head off to Thailand after that.

[HonantheBarbarian]

Reading this thread got me pumped man, its like we're going through this with you. I give you props for putting it all into action and hope you kill it in Thailand. Thanks for the post, ill be checking out the datasheet as well!

[TejasRojo]

I would say if you use a relative's home address, be careful to choose one that doesn't live in a high tax state or a state with an income tax. They may choose to try to classify you as a "resident" for tax purposes even though it's only an address. . . .

[AneroidOcean]

(06-29-2016 11:05 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  

Just posted a separate datasheet in the travel section on how to become an expat.

thread-56733.html

Only a few days left before I move out of my apartment... will visit my mother for a week then head off to Thailand after that.

So how are things going?

[CleanSlate]

Today marks exactly 1 year to the day since I left the U.S.

Only recently did I start making money, and it is looking less and less likely that I will return to the U.S. permanently. The only things I miss are family and the 4 seasons (as opposed to sweating my ass off every single day).

There are a lot of big questions in my mind about how I'm going to spend the next 4 years as part of my 5 year plan.

From the geopolitics threads to the crypto threads and the rapid development/growth in developing countries, I feel the next 4-5 years are going to really shake up the entire world. It may be a very different place than it is now -- in both good ways and bad ways.

As far as my own journey, I'm hesitant to map any details that far out. For now, I am taking it day by day.

But at the same time, I am looking for ways to permanently settle in a country of my choosing -- most likely either in Vietnam or Philippines or one of the SEA countries with high-levels of English (if the language barriers proves too much for me to handle). For that, if I want kids, I will be looking for places to raise them -- places near decent first-world medical clinics and international schools. Will cost a lot more than otherwise, but I'm making good money compared to locals here, and I don't think my mom would object to helping out with her grandkids, if it comes to that.

I'm getting ahead of myself here, though. One day at a time.

Back to working on my projects...

[DirectDanger]

Congrats CleanSlate.

You have accomplished what many men can only dream of doing.

[CleanSlate]

(07-12-2017 08:46 AM)DirectDanger Wrote:  

Congrats CleanSlate.

You have accomplished what many men can only dream of doing.

Thanks DD. Your advice offline was invaluable.

Obviously, success is not a destination where you could rest on your laurels. It's part of the journey and I still have to work for it every day. And that's a good thing. It keeps me stimulated.

It never ends. Until I die.

[This Is Trouble]

Huge congrats. It's been fun to work with you on the blogs the last few months.

[Seth_Rose]

Cheers Cleanslate. In the OP you said you would go to a new country every year, taking vacations every few months. Seems like you are not following that plan. What made you change your mind?

[CleanSlate]

(07-28-2017 06:57 AM)Seth_Rose Wrote:  

Cheers Cleanslate. In the OP you said you would go to a new country every year, taking vacations every few months. Seems like you are not following that plan. What made you change your mind?

Actually I lived in Thailand for 9 months and moved to Vietnam, been here for 4 months. Taken vacations around SEA every now and then.

Being required to leave every 3 months for visa reasons gets my vacations built in. But at the same time, I like staying in one place for a while. My productivity goes up, my social circles expand, and quality of life increases while lowering expenses the longer I stay in one place.

Constantly moving around gets tiresome at times. Vietnam will be my base for the foreseeable future, with trips to Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia and maybe China coming in the pipeline.

[Suits]

(07-29-2017 03:42 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  

(07-28-2017 06:57 AM)Seth_Rose Wrote:  

Cheers Cleanslate. In the OP you said you would go to a new country every year, taking vacations every few months. Seems like you are not following that plan. What made you change your mind?

Actually I lived in Thailand for 9 months and moved to Vietnam, been here for 4 months. Taken vacations around SEA every now and then.

Being required to leave every 3 months for visa reasons gets my vacations built in. But at the same time, I like staying in one place for a while. My productivity goes up, my social circles expand, and quality of life increases while lowering expenses the longer I stay in one place.

Constantly moving around gets tiresome at times. Vietnam will be my base for the foreseeable future, with trips to Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia and maybe China coming in the pipeline.

This isn't talked about enough, but travelling isn't healthy. The only reason why everyone on OKCupid "loves travelling" is because they haven't done it enough to hate it.

I'm anti-travel, pro-relocation.

I consider a minimum visit to a new place a one-month adventure, but if I could swing it, a 3 month visit would be more ideal.

Going somewhere new for a few days or even a few weeks feels good if you were bored with what you were doing already and is a class "grass is greener" reality, but the activities you engage in during that "break from reality" are not activities you'd be satisfied engaging in long term. No way.

People draw fulfillment from good relationships, meaningful hobbies, parenthood and not much else.

If you don't have one or more of these three things, you're basically fucked until you do.

[Burn]

(07-29-2017 03:51 AM)Suits Wrote:  

This isn't talked about enough, but travelling isn't healthy. The only reason why everyone on OKCupid "loves travelling" is because they haven't done it enough to hate it.

I'm anti-travel, pro-relocation.

I consider a minimum visit to a new place a one-month adventure, but if I could swing it, a 3 month visit would be more ideal.

Going somewhere new for a few days or even a few weeks feels good if you were bored with what you were doing already and is a class "grass is greener" reality, but the activities you engage in during that "break from reality" are not activities you'd be satisfied engaging in long term. No way.

People draw fulfillment from good relationships, meaningful hobbies, parenthood and not much else.

If you don't have one or more of these three things, you're basically fucked until you do.

Couldn't agree more on this. Working online and living abroad while keeping good habits such as lifting, eating healthy and having a good sleeping schedule requires a huge amount of discipline. And for me, it takes at least one month to build up my good routines in a new place. That is finding a good place to live, finding gym, restaurants with good food and getting the excitement of new girls out of the system(more than a month on this one ) etc.

[WeekendCasanova]

I'm currently location independent, and my view on travel agrees with the above.

Whenever I travel, I like to stay 3 months minimum in a country. It lowers my transportation costs, stress on my body, and allows me to learn the language, create a social circle, and stick to a consistent schedule.

In saying that, I do occasional travel during the odd weekend to a different country, city etc...as I do personally love travel, exploring historical sights etc...

I'm planning a 1-year long stay in Georgia (the country) in the future, because the benefits of relocating somewhere for 3+ months are quite evident.

[Seth_Rose]

Cool, thanks for the responses guys. And sorry to hijack the thread but like Suits said it is an important topic that doesn't get talked about enough. I'm a few years off from location independence but think about it often, particularly what is the best long term travel schedule? And how can one reconcile the desire to visit different places with staying rooted and buckling down to get work done and maintain good habits.

Cleanslate's original travel schedule piqued my interest--would be something I'd consider. I suppose one would have to research a lot beforehand to find the city that best suits them.

[MongolianAbroad]

(07-29-2017 04:41 AM)WeekendCasanova Wrote:  

I'm currently location independent, and my view on travel agrees with the above.

Whenever I travel, I like to stay 3 months minimum in a country. It lowers my transportation costs, stress on my body, and allows me to learn the language, create a social circle, and stick to a consistent schedule.

In saying that, I do occasional travel during the odd weekend to a different country, city etc...as I do personally love travel, exploring historical sights etc...

I'm planning a 1-year long stay in Georgia (the country) in the future, because the benefits of relocating somewhere for 3+ months are quite evident.

I've considered Georgia as well, but every time I research it, the hairy arms, large, crooked noses, sunken eyes, and very pale skin kills it for me.

Winter would be a problem there as well.

On the plus side, cost of living is very, very low, the visa situation is fantastic, and wifi looks to be acceptable.

The typical Georgian type is not attractive to me, though (I like button noses, olive to brown skin, and bright eyes, not sullen/sunken eyes). Even when I see videos on YouTube of these girls partying in a nightclub, the "hottest" among them that get up on stage to dance are 5's or 4's to me...they just don't do it for me for some reason, and their faces look like they will age horribly and become even more jagged-looking over time.

The experiences posted on the forum so far point to foreigner value being all right, but not astronomical enough to make up for a bad ratio of sullen eyes/hairy arms/pale skin to bright eyes/hairless arms/tan skin.

I'm still curious though, that visa situation is amazing and nothing makes up for on-the-ground experience.

[WeekendCasanova]

(07-30-2017 01:11 AM)Spaniard88 Wrote:  

(07-29-2017 04:41 AM)WeekendCasanova Wrote:  

I'm currently location independent, and my view on travel agrees with the above.

Whenever I travel, I like to stay 3 months minimum in a country. It lowers my transportation costs, stress on my body, and allows me to learn the language, create a social circle, and stick to a consistent schedule.

In saying that, I do occasional travel during the odd weekend to a different country, city etc...as I do personally love travel, exploring historical sights etc...

I'm planning a 1-year long stay in Georgia (the country) in the future, because the benefits of relocating somewhere for 3+ months are quite evident.

I've considered Georgia as well, but every time I research it, the hairy arms, large, crooked noses, sunken eyes, and very pale skin kills it for me.

Winter would be a problem there as well.

On the plus side, cost of living is very, very low, the visa situation is fantastic, and wifi looks to be acceptable.

The typical Georgian type is not attractive to me, though (I like button noses, olive to brown skin, and bright eyes, not sullen/sunken eyes). Even when I see videos on YouTube of these girls partying in a nightclub, the "hottest" among them that get up on stage to dance are 5's or 4's to me...they just don't do it for me for some reason, and their faces look like they will age horribly and become even more jagged-looking over time.

The experiences posted on the forum so far point to foreigner value being all right, but not astronomical enough to make up for a bad ratio of sullen eyes/hairy arms/pale skin to bright eyes/hairless arms/tan skin.

I'm still curious though, that visa situation is amazing and nothing makes up for on-the-ground experience.

I've been there before, briefly, and I noticed a plethora of attractive women in Tbilisi - and this is coming from me, who's been to Poland, Ukraine etc..

I think Georgia is definitely more for if you're interested in a low-cost alternative for running your business; less-so the game aspect.