Americans, put your debit & credit cards away and pay with cash !

[opebo]

I use strictly cash.  Go to the ATM about get a three hundred dollars and keep it in my wallet.  When I start to get low, I go to the ATM again.  I've had a "debit card" with my account for years, and have never used it other than at the ATM to get cash.

How often do you run through $300, rich guy? 

ALDI used to have a cash only policy until about a year ago.  That was nice.  The line moved through so smoothly back in those days.

What the heck?  There's no way ALDI had a cash only policy - the majority of their customers only have EBT and no cash income.

[opebo]

Burned through 200 today and it's not yet even 7 o'clock.  Back when I was single I could go to the ATM and take out fifty and expect it to last nearly a week.  Nowadays, I always get 300 at a time and I probably do that a few times a week.  Being a family guy is rough in so many ways. 

You have an enormous income!

[opebo]

I've some cash and I'd like to move somewhere in the country. Would Thailand be a good option?

Heh heh.  Yes.  I will send the bank account information right away!

But seriously, the economy is good here, as in much of Asia.  Still growing after a gang-buster year or two coming out of the very shallow recession.

I think international investors want to come here much more than they are - they're holding off due to the political troubles and the fact that so much appears to hang upon the health of one 82 year old man.  But I have a feeling that the Ancien Régime has a little more to it than just HM.  Southeast Asia is definitely one the very hot regions for the coming decades.. and Thailand is most definitely the center of that regional economy (not the central player, just the center).

I'll look into it further if you like.  To be honest I have thought about looking for some kind of business opportunity here to avoid impoverishment, but also to be honest, its probably not really my style.  While I have been subjected to the humiliation of paid employment, it has at least been in the traditionally higher calling of 'teaching', and I have as yet to sully my hands with trade.

Or wait, did you mean to invest or to become an expatriate?

[opebo]

If I were you Opebo, I would stay as a teacher. They are well respected in Asia.

Yes, I've noticed, but alas the salary is terribly meager

[opebo]

Speculation.

What are the chances (and cost in dollars) of buying an old farm and living by yourself?

My choice has been Colombia, but i could listen to other offers...also thais = cute boys.

I did not know you were a gay!  The farming business here is on a major upswing, so farmland values are rising fast, but anyway foreigners are not allowed to own land, so it is moot.

Do you actually want to farm?  If you just want to live in an isolated place I'm sure there are very comfortable farmhouses you can rent for next to nothing - people (particularly farangs married to Thai ladies) are always building fine homes in the country and then finding out they don't want to live there because it is too boring, or because they have to go home, or because they can't get used to it, whatever.  

I think you could rent something like that for like $50-100/month, or even get a free house-sitting deal.  Then the remainder of your monthly budget would be minimal - maybe $3-5/day for food, eating out.. buy an old motorbike for $200 and you're set.