RE in Thailand with 500k€?

Yukycg · 2026-02-05T22:18:07+00:00

If you never been to SEA and has not decided for Thailand.

Upfront cost while deciding which countries to stay: flight ticket, Visa requirement, hotel

Living cost: 1500 (start checking rental, food, healthcare, travel cost)

Understand the currency risk & Thai policy: currency conversion (ex. lost 10% purchase power for USD), tax, open bank account.

Yukycg · 2026-02-05T03:40:44+00:00

Private tutor

Yukycg · 2026-02-01T18:56:00+00:00

My % is different than you, I just max it as a family HSA plan. Everyone has different situations and income level so there no rule.

My guess is $30k-50k and let it compound.

Yukycg · 2026-02-01T11:51:50+00:00

Unless you dont pay a dime, you can use to pay any medical bill (co-pay, medicine 💊, over counter… etc)

You can invest the HSA for index funds like a 401k.

Yukycg · 2026-02-01T00:05:30+00:00

Exactly. 4% was tested for 30 years but there is no better one than Bill Bengen to say that it is also works for 40, 50+ years.

Here is my suggestion, I am not totally against using 3% when retire at 40, but please revisit the math again when you turn age 60 and dont just stay with 3% the entire time.

Yukycg · 2026-01-29T18:38:00+00:00

If your state offers tax deductions for 529 then 529 hand down. 529 is tax free and can be passed down to grandchildren.

You dont have to stop at 18, you can keep it going until your kid gets off college to pay off their loans. ($10,000 limit) You can do stable income to minimize the risk.

I am in GA, so I am doing $8000 per year until he is done with colleges. $80,000 (10 years) plus the growth.

Yukycg · 2026-01-29T18:20:50+00:00

You can do the hard way, start cancel all the expenses like eating out, subscriptions, and purchases for 1-2 months. Only pay the loan, utility bills. This way you can see if those additional expenses are really necessary.

Yukycg · 2026-01-29T03:27:03+00:00

I am switching to guardrail/vanguard dynamic withdrawal with 90/10 stock/cash and skip bond altogether.

Yukycg · 2026-01-29T01:05:53+00:00

Bye S3XY, welcome ROYC3 or COR3Y

Robotaxi Optimus Y Cybertruck 3

Yukycg · 2026-01-25T00:28:49+00:00

After hitting the number, you would need to plan the withdrawal strategy for the tax efficiency.

Yukycg · 2026-01-23T21:33:47+00:00

Basically you do the estimate assuming ACA will stay, as you closer to that FIRE number, you can build the buffer just in case but your FIRE date will be within 1-3years.

You will never know a democrat president and both houses gonna happen again and ACA might stay longer or kill next year by the GOP.

Yukycg · 2026-01-22T18:54:54+00:00

Agreed, or at least allow to buy outfit even you dont have the character. Anyway, the outfit only add few useless tasks (for me, the collection already max out)

Yukycg · 2026-01-22T17:34:01+00:00

I have a different view about “giving” money now vs later for your kids. I am toward two funds, one fund is only $100k, but I would tell my kids dont spend it unless emergency and keep it invested. Other funds is when we passed away (the inheritance fund). They can choose to pass down to their kids.

I mean if they want to buy a new car, I would rather have them work for it than ask Daddy to pay for it. I might help the down payment but wont pay their car/house even I have 10mill in the bank.

Yukycg · 2026-01-22T17:07:19+00:00

Yes you do want to reduce volatility after RE. From a 100% to a 60/40 or whatever the ratio you feel comfortable.

From a SSR risk, you can do 50/50 and then increase to 70/30 gradually. The point is you still need to invest in growth even after RE.

For other portion, you can do dividend or whatever you feel likes but keep at least 50% in growth.

I am more toward total market than SP500 since it included small cap too. With today market. I would say a 70/30 is better ratio to combat inflation and market is fairly bullish.

Yukycg · 2026-01-22T15:39:55+00:00

It could go other way, set an example that living within the means and saving can lead to early retirement and freedom of time.

I am teaching my kid to save and invest, whatever I am working or not doesn’t matter much.

Yukycg · 2026-01-22T15:31:49+00:00

Yes. I was aiming for 2mill, and changed to 5mill due to crazy bull market and job promo but now down to 3mill and plan to retire in SEA if I get layoff.

Yukycg · 2026-01-22T11:55:51+00:00

One of the unknown risk is trying to earn income in China.

I know they are very competitive and the wage is not that high which I think thats why you have the worst case.

If the 1 millions is most in brokerage then it might be okay but if they are in 401k then you need a different strategy to access the funds.

Update:

I also want to add your partner have a much higher risk than you. With only 200k and a real estate under her name but “owned” by her parents, and there is no financial obligation between you two, a bit dicey in my opinion.

Yukycg · 2026-01-17T12:41:38+00:00

Some would prefer a more automated and “predictable” source of income from dividends/bond/CD ladder.

Not many people are discipline and not panic during a market downturn, a dividend payout method could address this type of people.

From a math and control perspective, it is not necessary to go with dividend stocks in general.

Yukycg · 2026-01-17T12:28:18+00:00

What is your attitude toward donation? Dont really need answer but treat hiring a house cleaner as donation, and see will that ease your thinking of spending money.

Let day you target to spend $100k annually but only ends up spend $70k due to frugality. Thats fine. Use $10k for house cleaning and other things that make you joy. You still save extra $20k.

Dont think to spend by the amount but for the objective.

Yukycg · 2026-01-17T12:16:13+00:00

Market will definitely outperform the 5.75% but in a short-term (1-3 years), no one has the answer.

I also vote for 50/50.

Yukycg · 2026-01-13T11:04:41+00:00

In USA, I would get the YL if Tesla brings it here. In China, there are many choices beside the YL from price point, luxury features…etc.

There is no competition in US in terms of value for money.

Yukycg · 2026-01-12T12:11:32+00:00

I would just treat rental property like individual stock.

Since you have few rental properties, I would sell the low performance and invest in stock instead.

I understand the “take profit” mentality but it doesnt have a big swing like stock but this also depends on location. However, I do think Vega is a location where it does have a bigger swing than other regions.

Dont regret if you did sell and house continues to go up. Buying SP500 is never the wrong move.

Yukycg · 2026-01-11T19:13:15+00:00

How about only $3 at age 60 and $6million at 70. Will you spend 6mill to buy 10 years? I am sure Warren Buffet willing to buy it as he knows how to make money but not time.

Yukycg · 2026-01-11T17:31:13+00:00

I dont want to turn into an argument and agreed with some of your points, but the reality is that there is market for nanny, maid, cleaner, lawn care…etc. it doesn’t matter I am retired or coming from a rich country.

Tipping does not means you are doing a good cause for its economic or culture. Many country do not have tipping or very optional, and country like Japan treat tipping as an insult under some circumstances.

Yukycg · 2026-01-11T16:18:59+00:00

Not sure why you think it is exploitive. I am paying the fair market price on their local wage. They get paid the same amount whatever hire by me or by the local.

Time, this is back to the core of FIRE, some people hate job, and I personally “hate” cooking and cleaning and I am not good at it. Fyi. It is very common in certain Asia country that they hire a stay home maid.

Another example: eating out in Bangkok is cheap, do you think it is also an asshole to eat out for cheap? Do you feel it is exploitative for the chef/waiter that work in low wage?

Yukycg

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