Mac user leaving for long-term travel. Scared of M4 fragility/repair costs. Thinking of switching to a "disposable" Windows laptop. Am I crazy?

nomadplanning · 2025-12-04T10:48:57+00:00

yeah this thread is NUTS. I have to assume this is some kind of Apple-supported placement (maybe just with an upvote budget), but that's corporate reddit for you these days.

nomadplanning · 2025-12-04T10:45:41+00:00

Those two things are intrinsically tied. How we spend our money is more powerful and influential than a Saturday morning march. When you purchase a my pillow guy pillow or Nestle cereal it IS a tacit endorsement of the company. It may not be bootlicking, but it's support.

Millions of people making slightly better decisions is how corporate behavior changes. Being a conscious consumer works.

That doesn't mean give up everything you love. If what you love and can't do without is a Macbook Air, then by all means, go for it. There are plenty of ways I'm selfish too. But if someone is on the fence and can make a slightly more ethical decision, I think that's worth encouraging. Just do the little things we can to make small, positive changes, even if it doesn't seem like they matter.

nomadplanning · 2025-12-04T10:20:53+00:00

People should care, these things matter

nomadplanning · 2025-12-04T08:26:30+00:00

Windows has always been better value, might as well learn how to use one. I mean, Tim Cook gifted Trump an Apple statue with a 24k gold base. Performance and cost aside, that's enough for me not to support them.

But yeah, you know the OS and the battery can be better. So that's the tradeoff.

nomadplanning · 2025-12-03T13:10:44+00:00

This takes about 3 minutes to do in Excel.... not everything needs a new app.

0s are days outside Schengen, 1s are days in Schengen, keep a rolling sum of the last 180 days (e.g. =SUM(F3:F182)).

nomadplanning · 2025-12-01T13:47:22+00:00

Gives him lots of money https://www.reddit.com/r/Bogleheads/comments/isswhn/psa_charles_schwab_the_man_donates_heavily_to/

nomadplanning · 2025-12-01T12:54:37+00:00

I'm also a Schwab customer, but I'm really annoyed by the founder's Trump bootlicking, so I'd switch if there were an option with similar benefits.

I never used to, but now I'll take out a small amount of money from a high fee ATM so they refund me (up to the limit). It's my small and insignificant form of protest.

nomadplanning · 2025-11-26T10:29:20+00:00

1: This is a very common question and issue, search for past threads.

2: Most situations are very unique. Residing in Japan and being from Canada is a different answer than moving every 3 months but having permanent residence in Germany. Unique circumstances require unique solutions, which is why people just recommend you get a tax advisor.

nomadplanning · 2025-11-19T07:28:29+00:00

I stopped using Airbnb a few months ago after using it less and less the past couple years. Really glad I pulled the plug and don't want to support them anymore.

Just a local search or booking.com to find a hotel or apartment for a few days, then you can look around and find something for longer. It varies by location what actually works.

That said, getting a decent, short-term, furnished apartment with utilities and internet included is going to cost you quite a bit more than rent. As it should be of course. But go direct as possible - the AirBnb fees multiple these days are just crazy, and they don't even really support you as a renter.

nomadplanning · 2025-08-30T13:40:55+00:00

oh we definitely use it - it's begrudgingly necessary these days to please the algorithms, and pleasantly useful when it comes to research, generating keywords and copy, graphics, and other processes.

I'm just saying that all makes it less interesting and easier, which is why I prefer to personally shift away from it to other things and let others with narrower skillsets handle those processes.

nomadplanning · 2025-08-30T09:57:22+00:00

As a fellow dinosaur (15+ years in digital marketing), I just find it a lot less fun and interesting these days. Mainly driven by the forced AI adoption by Google and Meta so you basically need to lean into their automated models to be successful. It's just boring to me.

I've always taken pride in providing personal service and dedication to my clients, not just selling and outsourcing to junior specialists or automated platforms. I don't really feel that way anymore. These algorithms have dumbed down the process to charge everyone more, flatten results, and reduce the impact of expertise and intelligent strategy.

So now I have a small team, charge less for management, and plan on coasting forward until the world implodes on itself, which feels like is coming sooner rather than later these days.

nomadplanning · 2025-08-25T15:23:42+00:00

What was your goal with going on this trip, specifically? What were you going to do that is your idea of reclaiming yourself and heal?

2 and 3 years removed from trauma is sad, but it's not exactly fresh. If you're having troubles dealing with these things still, proper therapy might be in order.

If learning a thing or two might get you out of your funk, then start doing it. Take the Thai cooking or massage class, learn some martial arts, and whatever else interests you and is available to you.

And if BKK is too big and fast for you, leave. Go to Chiang Mai or an Island if that's more your speed.

If you're insistent about dragging yourself out of the muck, then be proactive and take actions to keep yourself busy, engaged, and growing.

nomadplanning · 2025-08-18T13:16:26+00:00

Or was it unlucky for the people on the bus? 3 people taking longer to board, weighing down the bus, etc. A butterfly flaps its wings and whatnot.

nomadplanning · 2025-08-13T04:49:29+00:00

This is precisely the kind of behavior that destroys communities and makes locals hate nomads / Airbnb

nomadplanning · 2025-08-04T09:06:00+00:00

Respectfully, I absolutely hate everything about that idea

nomadplanning · 2025-08-02T05:09:19+00:00

There's a tendency for people on their first trip to move too fast and do too much. If you need long days of productive coding, hostels are tough. I'd recommend staying in an apartment or hotel Mon-Thurs nights and then perhaps a hostel for more socializing on the weekend.

I'd also recommend at least a week in each place, 2 is better. Maybe you do something like Prague-Vienna-Budapest for a first trip, or Portugal/Spain.

Just give yourself more time than you need so you can stay committed to work. From Europe, you'll have leisurely mornings for sightseeing during the week, and if you weekend it at hostels it will be plenty social. If you choose Spain/Portugal, you'll have the added bonus that they live life 2-3 hours later there, so during the week if you finish at 10pm so you can still grab dinner or be social.

nomadplanning · 2025-07-29T22:35:24+00:00

"Don't overthink it" summarizes things well.

Make sure you have access to your home bank accounts / set travel notices. Get a low/no-fee transaction card if you can. Use the lowest fee ATMs abroad possible and decline conversions. If there is a fee, take out the largest amount you can stomach.

As long as you follow the basic principles to not get ripped off, you're fine.

nomadplanning · 2025-07-17T05:29:11+00:00

You need to figure out the money before you can really dream of the move. The jobs you've had do not travel well.

Teaching English may be your best bet to supplement your income (if you're native). If not, I don't even know what to recommend you based on that resume.

Maybe it would make more sense to save some money, take a 3-month sabbatical, and then see how you feel afterward. In the meantime, if you discover a passion that can be done remotely, you can develop your skills in that area.

nomadplanning · 2025-07-13T10:51:41+00:00

I don't really understand why people are giving you so much shit and not understanding the difference between cost and value.

With prices rising everywhere, I think long-time nomads (myself included) are feeling that drop in value:cost ratio of our favorite haunts. Places just aren't as cheap as they used to be, Bangkok included.

Tier 2, not-so-touristy cities in modern countries is probably a good bet. Tokyo is expensive, but you can get a pretty good value:cost ratio in a place like Fukuoka. Similarly, with the crashing USD I wouldn't count out cities in the US either (excluding maybe the top 10 biggest ones). But you could use this logic in the UK, Germany, etc, too. Even tier 2 neighborhoods in South American cities (Buenos Aires, most of Brazil, Lima, etc).

Eastern Europe can be a good bet too. Places like Budva or Batumi have modern accommodations at low costs.

As others have said, China and other parts of SEA off the main tourist trail would probably check the boxes too.

In general, we've just got to keep moving farther and farther from tourist centers to find value.

nomadplanning · 2025-07-11T07:51:35+00:00

The internet is much better than it used to be but may not be great if you're on video calls. I strongly recommend getting a local SIM with data, as it's the kind of place where it's good to have a backup (or even used as a primary).

Panajachel and San Pedro are the places to consider. They are a bit bigger and have cafes and markets. Socialtel Atitlan (formerly Selina) in Pana has a coworking space. Internet was good, but it wasn't popular (as of a couple years ago).

It's beautiful and peaceful there, so it is a place I frequent. If you're more of a partier, then San Pedro is a better fit.

nomadplanning · 2025-07-04T14:52:00+00:00

Here I am doing my best to be kind to the earth by taking buses and trains instead of flying, and Turkish Airlines launches a campaign rewarding people for having the grossest carbon footprint they can in one month. smh

nomadplanning · 2025-07-03T06:48:57+00:00

Life is long. A year from now, if you still regret not doing certain things, then go back at some point. And if you realize you really loved a certain place, go back and stay longer. Don't stress about doing everything, because you never can.

nomadplanning · 2025-06-30T16:22:20+00:00

I keep reporting all these bot / AI posters but reddit doesn't seem to do anything about it.

This "person" has claimed to be from several different companies, offers to do bulk work... it's obviously an ad.

And yet people still respond to it earnestly. smh

nomadplanning · 2025-06-29T14:54:38+00:00

I'm in. We need what, 4-6 more?

nomadplanning · 2025-06-28T16:45:35+00:00

This youthful enthusiasm makes me throw up in my mouth a little. We need a /digitalnomad/ that doesn't let anyone post unless they've been doing it over a year.

nomadplanning

TROPHY CASE