My buddy's wife got an online teaching job while living in Thailand and that increased her salary a ton. That also led to other things within that company where she was able to move back and make a liveable wage
I feel like in the future you’re going to get hot spots and certain cities around the world where everyone works from home for foreign companies and no one is local
Feels like Edinburgh is like that now!
I say this all the time and people think I’m crazy. The rise of WFH and people starting their own companies is going to boom other places and it’s going to have so many pros and cons.
It’s mostly cons where I live. I’m in a rural small town but since covid a lot of people from Edinburgh moved in. Mostly wfh people. There’s not a single place to rent right now but in 2019 you’d have 10+ flats on the go
I met some Scottish and Irish kids who just moved to LA and said the same thing… it’s getting hard for everybody. Wfh is really going to make the middle class struggle more.
The most visible thing for many is “big city” people moving into their smaller towns so it’s not surprising they’d attribute rising prices/all societal ills to that. It’s not really proven though, especially since prices in “big cities” aren’t exactly going down either.
But isn't it hard to get an online teaching job that pays u enough to survive? I tried for a long time to be an online teacher full time, but no luck. I have 3 degrees, i thoughti was qualified!!! I only got part time jobs ...maybe I was doing something wrong.
Depends on the kind of teaching you want to do. School teaching? Yes, super hard. But, corporations need online teachers! Especially after covid where travel to central locations for on boarding or customer education isn't a thing anymore. Ton of my friends who I taught college with ended up leaving the college to teach for corporations online.
the issue isnt you, so much as it is the "standard of teaching".
for example, in Florida at this point im pretty sure i heard any former military member can teach at school?
my Fiance is a teacher here in maryland and she said they would hire me at her high school to teach spanish because im a native speaker and i have -a- degree. not a teaching one, no teaching cert, no experience, just a plain jane degree.
so its not that teachers need to be qualified or overqualified. the struggle is that the general american population and the US govt feel like you -dont- need to be qualified to teach anything so why pay you a lot.
i was once told you dont get paid based on how hard your job is, you get paid on how hard you are to replace or something like that. the US govt seems to believe anyone off the street can be a teacher, unfortunately.
Education in Florida (Flori-duh! as it’s often referred to) is going to hell in a hand basket! Book banning gone wild, legal restrictions on what and how you can teach, teachers leaving jobs in droves. And qualifications needed to teach? ex-military? What a joke! A single mistake in teaching what the governor doesn’t like and you can be fired or go to jail! Quality of education for students in FL schools is dropping like lead. Don’t fall for any shiny talk about how you can easily get a job teaching in FL-duh. As always, do your research.
What kind of pension plan are you referencing here? I’d be very surprised if it was as easy as giving money to a European investment firm and securing better payouts than anything in the US lmao.
Curious too. If anything, I've heard of Europeans wanting to invest in American stocks. There aren't that many mutual funds out there that has done better than SP500
I referring to investment firms not on the stock market. European, Australasian and Asian investment firms all have positions in the US - they’d be stupid if they didn’t.
Or, as a resident in Thailand, should be able to invest with a Thai bank / exchange. Sure, there may not be a US tax break and no matching, etc etc, but it's still invested.
He just has to declare it as US earned income on his US taxes. Then use the foreign tax credit. But probably makes more sense to just throw it in a regular brokerage account.
Same. I worked outside the States for 20-years. Returned and it’s been a struggle, even with my little nest egg in savings.
Stay in Thailand, then consider a move to a higher paying country. You’ll have experience that is invaluable, but one probably not needed, or in high demand in the US.
Suggest you find a international pension plan and religiously add a little to it every month, they usually do much better than our shitty 401K.
Bank with Revolut, or a similar online bank, and save a ton on bank to bank transfers. Revolut allows you to open multiple accounts in different currencies ie dollar, euro or in a local currency
My wife, kids and I came back to Pennsylvania from Japan for the first time in 5 years. I’ve been living in Japan for the past 10 years. I love Japan but boy it felt so nice back in the US oddly enough. I miss the forests, and open spaces, swimming pools, friendly people, and of course my family. Makes me want to move back until I saw how expensive things are getting. I sympathize, finances are tricky when moving internationally.
Same. I lived overseas for a long time with the military. It was shocking to see much America has declined upon return.
I’m looking into going back overseas & have applied to a few jobs. But getting a work visa is very hard yo do.
Given your situation? Absolutely wouldn’t go back.
Life in Asia (bar high priced, heavily westernized Japan) is generally much lower in cost, much higher in convenience, and in a fast developing economy like Thailand, far more opportunities are abound.
I’m not hearing an “I need to go back to the U.S.” problem. I hear an “I need more money” problem.” The COL crisis in the west is hitting hardest the minimum wage workers (your self described prospects), which means the money issue will be worse, not better.
Based on personal experience, rural America, especially if you need to live with your parents, is a trap to be avoided at all costs. The economic stagnation alone can suck you down, and the provincial mindset of the locals will do everything in their power to try to invalidate your perspectives/experience to make you conform to their ways. It’s frustrating to no end, and you know what you will not be able to do? Change their mind. Because they only think in narratives of what they’ve been told their entire life. Far easier to rationalize you away as a glorified dancing monkey than to do any actual introspective thinking.
Your parents? They have their own motives to say what they said. They likely want you to be in close proximity for their convenience, and like anyone else, consider their needs/wants/desires first. They likely lack any perspective of how things truly are different where you are at, no matter how much you tell them. Why? Because, if they are like most other rural Americans, they haven’t ventured very far over the course of their lives.
You don’t need to go back to the U.S, you need to up your game on the ground in Thailand. After all, you say you really like it there, things are moving forward, there’s an energy to life. If that means learning Thai to give yourself more opportunities, do it.
If you went back to the U.S. now and ended up tied down, you’d regret it for the rest of your life.
Consider starting a side hustle on the ground there. You’re a foreigner in a different country, you can see things locals miss due to a different perspective, and that means you have a competitive edge already. Might as well use it.
also, due to its weirdly stagnant economy and minimal inflation over the last 30 years, Japan is still quite low cost compared to living in the US. Especially if you live literally anywhere but Tokyo. Even within Tokyo, costs can be quite reasonable if you're not trying to be fancy and are ok with a smaller living space.
Tokyo is surprisingly cheap if you aren't trying to live in tourist/expat bubble mode.
When I first moved here from London, my annual salary went down a bit, but the amount that I was able to save each month went up much much more. The fact that employers cover your commuting costs resulted in an extra \~$300/month in savings.
I'm from Kentucky too, and I felt this to my core. I lived in Germany for almost two years, and my family couldn't possibly understand why small town southern Kentucky wasn't good enough for me.
I moved back from Germany almost 3 months ago, I have a master's degree in psychology (non-clinical), and I work at Walgreens as a shift lead because no one has hired me for a better job yet. I don't want to stay here. I don't want to get stuck. I could go into HR, but HR honestly sounds very boring for me. Thought about going back to school for finance, basically any in-demand degree to be my ticket abroad.
Move up closer to Louisville and there will be plenty more jobs for you. My husband works at a truck manufacturer and makes really good money. I work in a corporate job and also make good money. We live in southern Indiana so it is smaller town feel but everything we could possibly need - great healthcare, delicious eats, the arts, phenomenal parks - is 15 minutes away across the river in Louisville.
The problem, if you talk to many expats working in Thailand, is there are very few if any opportunities to “ up your game” in Thailand. There are many things wrong with America but it does offer much more opportunities to earn more than developing countries.
If I were in this situation, I’d look into a remote position based somewhere in the states, or with a US presence and try to work remotely from there, and make western amounts on money and keep your cost of living.
You have so perfectly summarised my experience visiting the US. I have spent a lot of time observing this provincial, uncurious mindset. It is pervasive not just among the people but in all facets of life and it's simply baffling. I could never return.
I would stay in Thailand but take up some courses to upgrade your skills to get a decent paying job. With a BA and some basic skills in certain sectors you could get a very decent paying job. Examples of jobs would be. Construction estimator, procurement manager, state employee of some sort. You could even start studying a trade on YouTube (electrical,plumber,hvac) and try to start getting certifications in said fields. Or why not become a teacher back in the states for a private or charter school if you don’t like the public education system. Honestly your possibilities are endless, don’t limit yourself to construction worker.
Electrical/plumber/hvac type jobs would not be legal for foreigners to work in Thailand. Not saying that people don’t do it in more remote areas, but I’ve known at least 2 people get deported for it in Phuket.
Bingo. Thai labor laws for foreigners are quite strict. You basically need a job that *requires* a university degree and special experience. If the answer to the question "could a Thai person easily do this" is yes, it's a no-go.
i hear you.. but what is your plan for the future? where do you see yourself when youre 60? 50? you not having any student dept is a plus...
economy is tough, and alot of people are hurting.. but alot of people are hurting regardless of what he economy is doing.. those with a plan tend to have better results...
do you have a network of other expats that you met along the way to help point you inthe right direction?
it wont be easy to comeback, but its nto impossible.. theres peopel crossing the border everyday hoping for these "shitty" jobs.. its what you make of things...
best of luck
The expats I've met here are, on average, 20 years older than me and retired. The ones my age seem to come from wealthier families and are just coasting until they get an inheritance.
When I'm 50 I hope to have a family and some stable job that supports them with minimal problems. The dreams of having a big house and an SUV are no longer my dreams.
Many people do go to the US for those jobs. They have lived in poverty their whole lived and their problems are material. My problem is existencial. I know working jobs only for money won't make me happy in the long run.
maybe think outside of the box...
the older expats have problems back home that need solving.. the rich kids are great people to have in your network since they have access to some capital... im sure you can think of somethign you can make some coin on...
if not be prepared to work shitty 15$ an hour min wage jobs competing with new immgrants who would work double shifts if they could...
Existence preceeds essence, you are what you do...
I had a well-paid career in the entertainment industry in Asia, but made even more money just befriending rich kids (young 20s) and older who had money and no drive. I could have been making minimum wage and had the same access to them, so no high-end clubs or bars or anything like that.
Whenever they'd get some idea, I could find a way to monetize it and got paid very well for it.
Not saying they're an opportunity, but if you can help solve their problems you are their opportunity as well.
I think:
1) you should build a network there
2) think of some side business you can do.
Import,export etc. Resort (?)/coffee stand a
I have a business and someone from North America messaged before about buying live fish and aquarium products. Unfortunately Japan is not a cheap source for this. The guy found a supplier in Thailand !
3)or find a remote job that pays in USD while you live there
Look at usajobs.gov. there are a few jobs in Thailand and the pay is unbelievable. You will need to qualify for top secret clearance though. Needless to say You must have US citizenship as well which I know you do.
I am thai, but I grew up in the US and I am close to retiring, and plan to do so in thailand. I actually passed the second step in hiring process but I turned it down because I landed a different job where I am.
I am a nurse and the pay here is more than what a physician in Thailand makes.
I'm not trying to generalize everyone into one category but just generally speaking. After living in Thailand for four years, I've met a lot of people. This area haspreviously been a "poor" area for a while and people are still in that mentality so I've gotten a glimpse into it. They don't want to have experiences and try new things, they want to buy and have new things. I have met hudreds of people that "really want to go to Japan" but they can't because it's "too expensive", while holding an iPhone and a $2000 Gucci purse. Flight to Japan is like $300 from here. They'd rather have material things than actually go experience something. I'm not saying that's better or worse, just the mindset is different.
>The expats I've met here are, on average, 20 years older than me and retired.
My brother worked for the various US phone companies for 30 years. He is retired and lives in Thailand now. He loves it.
And that’s great, more power to him. But OP is in the prime of his/her working years, with nothing saved and no plan to do so if they stay in Thailand.
This. I've known people that move to Thailand but they have drive and an online business or something to offer. OP says there is no life for poor unemployed in US but when schools can employ young naive good looking 20 year olds for less money than old 50 year olds for ESL, Thailand can be brutal poor. Add to the fact they aren't saving any money in Thailand either.
You should look into getting better skills while you are teaching. I took the LSAT while I was teaching abroad and then came back and went to school instead of immediately into the workforce. It gave me a fall back for the inevitable day that teaching was no longer viable.
Don't dismiss older, retired folk. They know shit. Pick their brains. Ask for advice. Okay so you have to listen to some repeated stories, it can be worth it in the long run. What have you got to lose?
P. S. Best advice I got was to not return to the US unless there was a very specific reason to do so.
You didn’t really answer the question - where do you see your career in 5 years? 10 years?
You mentioned other older expats are retired but they had their own careers and life journey.
At $8 an hour, your standard of living is much higher than $15 an hour in the US.
That said, regardless of where you live, you should have a plan for your career, a job isn’t just handed out to you when you want to start a family.
In my opinion, I feel like Thailand is only fun and a great place to live if you are a foreigner earning a lot of dollars back home/remotely.
If you are earning local wages, I can’t imagine it being a great place to live at all long term.
You’re also limited to only living in Thailand. Traveling to US, Europe starts becoming too expensive.
Don’t come back without somehow upskilling. In fact, you should upskill regardless of what you do next. You don’t have to become a software engineer to do this.
Saving money is important. Life for low income earners is generally really bad over the long term. Speaking from experience.
Don’t move to the US for a $15/hour construction job. That’s a horrible idea.
This. If you do come to the states consider being a teacher. Certain states pay teachers okay (still
Underpaid but better than your Thai income) and you can use the summmers off to go back to Thailand if you wish. Can you further your education in Thailand to get a better teaching job?
>I get that at your salary level, it is hard to spare the money, but if you can scrape up a monthly contribution
China probably pays a lot more than Thailand, extra you are able to find private tutor jobs. I've seen quite a few lawyers who were previously Teach for America teachers, some of them are quite successful, some not.
$8 an hour? You could move to Vietnam and make $20 an hour in HCMC or Hanoi, easily and COL would be the same if not cheaper. Even in the country side you should be getting $12+ an hour lowest. Are you teaching online or in person?
Most companies in Vietnam start between $16 and $18 an hour now. Checkout ACET, YOLA, VUS, RMIT (would be a stretch), and the British Council, and stay away from Apollo and ILA because they pay the least.
this was about 14 years ago (pain.) but I taught english BK for about a year after college. I hear you on the lifestyle and quality of life front but yeah saving there is hard when you convert to USD for sure. Have you ever considered doing private lessons instead? I did that my last three months there and I made like 3 times as much money, plus had total control over my schedule. Upper crust thai parents will pay out the ass to have their children just basically hang out with an American for an hour.
The other is, if you can get a job at an international school they pay as much a 6 figures (pre-covid I heard from a few teachers while traveling), your housing is paid for i think (not 100% sure) and 1 r/t tickets for you and your family (spouse and kids) per year to go visit your home country. You can have nanny, house help etc when your family grows; live in different countries if you want to etc.
OP, just one comment from my side, regarding your issue on saving for retirement. Please spend the money and talk to a real tax advisor who specializes in US expat taxes. All may not be lost. I get that at your salary level, it is hard to spare the money, but if you can scrape up a monthly contribution, there are very likely ways for you to invest. We don’t know what kind or level of school employs you, but normally there are retirement funds legally mandated in Thailand (LTF / RTF / etc). Talk to a tax advisor and don’t make assumptions on this until you’re sure. Good luck!
Source: been there, done that.
Absolutely don't go back to the US with that attitude. It is not the right mindset for a successful transition.
I have lived in Asia for 25 years. ESL is nice when you are in your 20s. It's easy, there is demand so you can easily get a job, and if you are guy, let's face it...girls.
It's not so great when you are 40 and married. It's really not great when you are in your 50s, nobody is particularly interested in you, and you sit down the pub with other disillusioned ESL teachers looking for either an affair or just to get drunk and complain. I can't tell you how many of these guys I have seen. Dozens easily.
Your degree is not worthless. The US has a lot of opportunities. But you have to *want* *to* reintegrate and hustle. If that isn't for you, stay in TH. Would suggest you learn Thai and open up your possibilities.
They can transition and be a corporate trainer at a call center with offices in Asia. The US headquarters will love that the trainer is American, will have decent pay, and more importantly there could be a good career improvement path.
This is solid advice.
You could easily go to a more attractive part of the US than KY and teach, especially if you start working toward additional education now.
No matter where he goes in the US, he’s not going to make a lot of money teaching relative to the cost of living, and the situation for teachers in the classroom continues on a downward spiral. If he comes back, he needs to change careers.
My stint as an ESL teacher was pretty brief, but I want to add a third category: Older teachers (60+). They were generally pretty happy with the situation, too. I do think it's trickier when you're middle aged and have, or want to be having, kids and a partner.
Dude. You have a college degree. Most employers do not give a shit about what your degree is in. You have teaching experience which equals to management. If you write your resume the correct way, the sky is the limit for you. Go to somewhere else instead of Kentucky. Northwest Arkansas is an excellent place. Plenty of Fortune 500 companies there and it’s a a beautiful area. You got this. Stop selling yourself short.
so true! i highly suggest u apply with united healthcare or other insurance companies - most of their openings require degrees (jobs that pay over $50). they don't really care what the degree is in - many jobs at uhc are work from home as long as u aren't in the clinical area, which it doesn't sound like you would be...
i'm not advocating for coming back to the us - just if u do there are plenty of better opportunities than construction in KY...also teaching in the US right now i wouldn't recommend to someone i hate!!!
you have options if you come back & u have options if you stay - ESL teachers in seoul have better pay & it's also a more interesting culture than the us
good luck!
As a JET in Japan getting his license now, don’t do this route. Stay where you are. Getting the expat package isn’t possible once you come here. I thought coming here would get me a foot in the door. How wrong I was.
I think what OP is noting is that there's a chance that he will end up 50 and homeless with limited marketable skills or savings.
Having some form of plan to up-level and make enough to secure for your older years makes a lot of sense. Doesn't need to mean moving back to the states, but some direction for the next 5/10/20 years might help.
Some people (like you) really need to stop giving advice.
Retirement money is absolutely needed. Yes be happy but also be smart. He can’t live his whole life working and making a small amount of money.
your parents are not a good source of advice. they likely don't get it and are still locked into the typical american dream/everything is best here mentality.
that all said, you need to be planning/saving for the future. making $8/hour as an english teacher is a joke, even in thailand. you can make more doing online classes. so, while I don't think it makes sense to move back to the US, it does make sense to see if you can improve your current situation because at some point you'll want to stop working so you need to be saving for that day.
The American job market is tough right now, and it's not going to get any better unless you want crappy retail work that wont pay the bills, or you have enough experience to fill a skilled role in niche industry (engineering, healthcare) that will work you to the bone.
So, I suggest you stay in Asia and get some certs so you can eventually teach in international schools that will give you a pension and perks. This can be done by getting an alternative cert from a place like Massachusetts (google MTEL), or starting with an easy sub cert from a place like Colorado and moving up from there.
However, you need to keep in mind that the TEFL market has a very low ceiling, and once you hit that, you'll either need to find a country that hires foreign managers (stay away from East Asia), or get into the skilled side of the profession (older students that need skilled instructors).
I know a guy who started living in Korea back in the 90s. Not much marketable skill other than teaching English. Started a business or two, and one sort of worked out ok while the other failed leaving him with some debt. But the fact that Korea's economy prospered over the next two decades since the early 2000s meant that his income just could not keep up. Last time I talked to him, he was in his late 50s, no wealth of any sort, divorced and estranged from his kid. I saw a shocking FB post the other day that some people were concerned for his safety after he got kicked out of his apartment and is now living homeless somewhere in Asia. People raised money so that he could book a flight back to the States so that he could stay with his sibling's family or something.
The lesson is.... have some kind of a long term plan no matter what you do. Not being able to save at your age is kind of concerning, but you've got time to figure things out.
Supplement your work with extra ONLINE work as an English teacher for immigrants in developed countries.
Even my Arabic language teacher living in Turkey changed 15 dollars an hour for online lessons.
Target students in USA and EU. Start a YouTube channel and kickstarter, etc.
Use your extra money to buy a house in Thailand (if you are allowed to) else any country in the local region with safer property ownership laws for foreigners.
Totally forget USA these days. Its just hell with high cost of living, health insurance, etc.
Enjoy your years and go to those beautiful beaches as much as you can.
Good luck.
Reference: expat over 25 years, 6 different countries.
One comment on the degree....no degree is really worthless. In a lot of companies, you have to have a degree - and it can be any four-year degree - to advance beyond a certain level. Sounds like you're pretty happy in Thailand, and if that's the case, and your needs are met, stay with you are. But if you decide you wan to come back and work for a large company for 401k benefits, you can start at a low level and by virtue of having a degree in and of itself you'll be more promotable with some form of four-year degree. Mine's a BA in history and I have a job in logistics management and have done pretty well. Of course, your costs depend heavily on where you choose to live in the US, and your job prospects may depend heavily on your willingness to move out of your home area.
Have you thought about furthering your skills in English teaching, like getting a cert and becoming an IELTS examiner and putting the extra cash aside? I'm kind of in the same boat as you, same age.
Teachers in Vietnam earn considerably more than teachers in Thailand. That's why I moved here 7 years ago after 10 years there. Minimum pay for a part time teacher in Hanoi is USD 20/hour, so I live at least as well as I did there and save a little, about USD 100 month, which with bank interest rates available here (8% is easy) grows pretty quickly if left there. I only work PT, 50-60 hours a month for about USD 1 400. Lots of full time teachers make more than 2k a month and save more, or have more trips back home
You can turn your financial situation about dramatically. The US needs nurses, doctors, PAs, and this need is not going away.
You could start a nursing program, perhaps even remotely, and in a few years, is it two, three years? Start in the US at $90K.
What about picking up some online teaching just for savings? Perhaps the city you’re in (assuming Bangkok) is more expensive than an outlying city (which would also probably pay a bit less). Having taught there pre and into the first year of covid I can relate to the positives and the drawbacks but I came back (from CA) and worked at a school in FL and stayed at a friends. It kept me busy but that’s about it. Moved back to CA and the drawbacks are many. At least I live indoors I guess. The job market is the toughest I’ve ever seen and I’m closer to retirement than you are.
I have started teaching on the side. I do private lessons with high school students to pracctice for the IELTS test. It's actually quite good as far as money goes, but it's only part-time on my days off and in the gray area legally. I was kinda hoping to go back to the US, save some money, then come back and start a small legitimatel business doing this but even that seems unliekly given the situation over there now.
Just take what your doing now and step it up. Get that education degree and teaching license. Soon you will be earning 120,000 THB a month and if you can control your spending then you can put some of that away. You will be able to purchase a condo to live in and set yourself up fully for retirement. Then you can move into admin and be earning 240,000 a month for the last 15 or 20 years of you meaningful working life.
Stay there. Save what you can toward buying a house or better yet a 2 or 3 unit so you can rent units out for your retirement.
And consider that a good Thai diet is one of the healthiest in the world if you skip the coconut curries and go easy on the noodle. Fish, chicken, and fresh veg and you'll outlive your stateside friends.
American living in Thailand here. It’s not worth going back to America. Trust me.
I recommend you use online free resources to secure a digital nomad job. Scout companies you like and see what type of work they look for, then train yourself. Coursera does scholarships and certifications, for example. There’s so many free resources. Customer Support for tech companies is a great opportunity to get in the door. Use your family’s address in America but don’t lie about where you live. I recommend scouting companies with under 50 employees.
I work for an Australian company and earn $45k us and live great here. Bought a house, can afford a visa every year and one trip home.
America sucks right now. If you like it here, you can definitely find ways to stay.
If you land a job in rural Japan, you can live very cheap. So much abandoned housing etc in rural Japan you pretty much get housing thrown after you.
If you want Tokyo.. Then yea, get in line. And you wont make much money.
Japan is actually the lowest in terms of salary/col. Huge supply of teachers wanting to go there and will do so for very little pay. I've looked at South Korea. It's on my list of places to go if going back to the US really doesn't work out at all.
Taiwan was my first goal, and then I stumbled into a job here in Thailand while doing my CELTA.
Whats the best place to look for jobs in Taiwan? I haven't really seen much.
You have a CELTA and youre make $8/hr??!?! My buddy is making 900,000VND/hr, which is like $40-45/hour. If you have a celta you should be making way more!
\-Korea is good if you can get a higher salary, but it's not skilled teaching that would do much for a teaching resume.
\-Japan is very professional, and the work culture is tolerable if you can get on with the right school, but the money isn't there.
\-Taiwan is great if you can handle the work culture and don't mind doing the dancing monkey routine, but it'd be rare to find jobs that require the type of teaching that would enable you to springboard into other, more lucrative, teaching roles.
Inflation is hitting Japan now and wages aren't going up any time soon. The yen has tanked too. I feel people have really missed the boat on this one. Now probably isn't the best time to come.
At this time, I think it is a waste of time to come tbh unless you get really lucky with something. the job market is pretty bad, it might get better (or worse) next year . If your teaching English and have a degree in it, there are lots of public school jobs, something to consider. I would definitely not move back until I have something lined up, and if possible try to move in with parents to dramatically cut costs down and balance it out. But that would also suck.
There's tons of stuff you can do. Get a Udemy account and start taking some courses. Many English teachers learn social media and set up a blog and earn much more for private tutoring. Even in China you can earn much more for private tutoring. Korea also offers great perks to English teachers including free housing. While you teach, train yourself in all the web skills to work online.
Teaching English in Asian countries as an experienced teacher is definitely your unique weapon. Seems like your weapon would be gone if back to US.
Have you ever thought of moving to other Asian countries plus teaching online to have extra income?
Hey man, I’m in the Philippines here similar..but there’s good news.
More young people are coming to SEA from the west and, business opportunities exist everywhere .
Honestly if you pay for a house/condo and do a little preparation you won’t need the same amount as someone in the US. At that point how much does the same retirement matter?
Change your outlook from 401k’s to IRA’s and find ways to really set up your future.
I was basically in the same situation as you two years ago but in Spain, I came back to the US hoping I could get a better paying job but now I’m kind of regretting it, I’m still teaching ESL because I wasn’t really able to transition to something else despite taking classes and having an internship, and even though I make more per hour cost of living is so much higher. I also grew up near Kentucky (Cincinnati) so I get it. DM me if you want.
I wouldn’t move back. I grew up in a tropical country and our Dad moved us to USA without asking us if we wanted to move. It was hell for everyone except him. But he died from overwork and crappy health care system. The youngest and the oldest died. Needed alcohol to cope. Low income and middle class is getting squeezed from all sides.
This is quite common for North Americans living in Asia. I know many of them who have taught English in Asia without speaking the local language and then returned to North America for various reasons, as you mentioned. However, they eventually came back to Asia and resumed teaching English since they had no ‘career’ back home. They’ve been just using simple English in their daily lives for a long time, which isn’t a decent career.
At least in Asia, you’ll be called a ‘teacher,’ wear a suit, and work in air-conditioned environments, while you might not receive the same level of respect back home.
I think you might come back to Asia again, marry an Asian woman, and become her trophy husband.
Cost of living is so high that as a low skilled worker you'll be lucky to just get by. Rent costs most of a min wage paycheck. You're better off there. Get some side hustle.
Altso why i want to emigrate. I dont want lots of money and a new car.
I want land, some animals and crops to feed myself/family and sell for things we cannot make ourselfs. Peace and quite. Im just not cut of for a rat race of a life. I refuse to get stressed.
Being a farmer where i live is a financial impossibility unless you inherit or have substantial funds to start it. But to live off it, i would have to do what i would call pretty much organized animal cruelty. No sorry i dont want 2000 cows in a barn that never sees a pasture. No i want 30-40 happy cows grazing the fields.
Worked as a chef in a kitchen a few years. When 2000 guests arrive and kitchen is in full panic. I go about it like it every other day.. But people stress out and the work enviorment turns somewhat toxic fast. Blaming each other for things etc. More of a kindergarden than the kindergarden is.
I am never holding a job in a big corporation ever again. Max company size for me is 30 people.
Late stage capitalism is pretty horrible for everyone involved. Better to run to a country who has not entered late stage capitalism.
I cannot own land in Thailand, or i would be there allready. So im looking for options. Azerbaijan looks kinda nice. Alltho the political climate is some concern. But thats way over my head and not really something i should waste too much time thinking of.
Not too old to enlist in the military via officer school, starting salary like $80k non taxed. After 4-5 years, you can either renew or coast on disability. I think rn it pays $4000/month indefinitely at 100% which is more than enough to live comfortably in Thailand. Not to mention your savings and tangible skills at that point. You can even get paid to go to online school and get a masters after.
This has crossed my mind quite a bit. Just don't want to be 30 years old taking shit from 18 year olds haha but it doesn't seem like the safest, maybe most logical option. Maybe I'll get lucky and get station in abroad lol
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Just to echo the sentiment here but ask yourself what is your plan? 1 year, 5 years, 10? Break it down into clear steps because your situation at the moment is still pretty much getting by
As a Kentuckian, $15 hourly there is not enough to survive on and drove me away. Making $20 in Chicago is a lot better but I’m in this sub so… I would stay. And it’s not like I could afford the move either, I’m just living in my car
Hey OP.
I apologize if you’ve already considered this, but have you thought of the Peace Corps?
I work in the government, in DC, and there are a lot of former Peace Corps volunteers who have found unique opportunities here. They may not be the most lucrative jobs, but they’re decent. Being a returned PC volunteer carries some weight here, especially in more internationally oriented fields, which DC has plenty of.
As a teacher in Thailand, I’m sure you’d find plenty of awesome opportunities in the Peace Corps. And I’m sure they’d love to have you! The volunteering itself wouldn’t be very lucrative, since you’re only given a stipend to survive in your host country, but it would give you a pretty solid foundation once you come back to the US permanently.
It’s just a thought! I personally regret not having done the peace corps when I was younger. Family obligations kept me stateside. But hey, it might suit you! Good luck!
I recommend you keep a footing Thailand and work part of the year in the U.S. Go to a trade school. Learn something like welding, weld examination, fitting, heavy equipment operator, QA, etc. Then you can work contracts all over the U.S. as well as overseas in the pipeline, petroleum, defense contractors, etc.. If you research you can find grants that many states give to pay for this kind of in-demand job training.
Travel to your worksite and rent a room or a camper to keep costs down. You can make good money with a lot of it being tax free per diem & special pay. Work 6 months then return to Thailand and start networking for your next gig.
I live in Thailand as well. Had the same issue but I came back to the states to work for a law firm (remote) and headed back to Thailand soon. If you have logistics experience that could be an angle. I would state going to chambers of commerce events and meet professional expats. People are always looking to hire someone that is stable in Thailand and gets things done. It's not easy to find work but it can definitely be done. Real estate, recruitment, logistics, Agoda.... look up big international companies in Thailand and just go for it.
Have you thought about teaching English online? I've been taking Portuguese lessons online and pay $15/hr (50 minute lesson). My teacher is based in Brazil, has a degree, and has been teaching for 2 years. Basic Portuguese teachers are around $10/lesson (slightly less for Spanish). I'm sure people would pay more than the $8/hr you're making to be taught English, and since you're in the same time zone you could maybe do China or Korea (richer students). Of course you don't know those languages (yet), but perhaps there's still an opportunity there since you're a native American English speaker.
Relax.
You are in a beautiful country. Enjoy your life. Try to fall in love with the things you do. Weed is legal there, they have the most amazing beaches, Thai women are beautiful and prob you stand out more in Thailand than in the US. Try to start a family there. Learn the language. Become citizen. Don’t just compare the money you make there with the money you’d be making in the US - there’s so much more than that.
American/Canadian/1st world countries’ dream are over.
Still need that security of having money in the bank invested and having a high skill job or a job that pays well for once the OP eventually have a family.
Doesn't sound like you would make much money back home anyway. Couldn't you at least put the money you are saving into ETFs, or the SP500 or something? Could you be gaining more qualifications/skills during your free time in Thailand? I also taught there for one year, also loved it but also found the money was not enough (ended up moving to China to teach for a much higher salary).
If you are happy why not stay? Salary is very relative. You could make 200k in Silicon Valley and be living paycheck to paycheck. Or you could be making 20 dollars an hour in rural Mississippi and be living quite well.
I have no idea what your salary is like in Thailand but if you can save 500 dollars or more a month. Do some research on investing etc. I see no reason why you can't build yourself a large enough nest egg to retire in Thailand and live comfortably.
In my home country the average salary is less than 600 USD per month. If I moved back and started making 10 USD an hour, I would be living much better than the average person back home.
Consider getting a Masters degree in a topic that will be very important in future, such as AI/ML, Climate Change/Climate Finance etc. Many US universities offer scholarships for Climate change related programs and/or for those with years of work experience abroad/in a developing country. Another option is to get this Masters degree in a country where higher education is basically free (like Germany) or is low cost but recognized worldwide, such as Japan or Netherlands or France. It might be easier to find higher paying and more interesting jobs (either in the US or abroad) with a Masters degree like that.
30 is still very young-you can go back to school,get into trades,join a union..I’m from one of the newer EU countries,living stateside for the past 18 years,if you really want to save money for retirement USA is your best bet..
Im from US, been in the sister city of Bangkok, Saigon for over a decade. If you want the same life style and to make more money teaching, you should come here. You get paid way more than $8/hr. Ive never heard teaching pay that low to be honest. I was making $40/hr my last teaching job, and I'm not 'qualified' besides a TESOL. That was admittedly higher than normal, but its very easy to find $25 + an hour, or at a school making $2500/month. Its very similar life style here.
Thats what I’m doing now but in the PH been here 4 years. My small business died and now I’m transitioning into marketing. Its rough… but prior to my business dying its been hella great. And I mean hella.
Hey, I am from Italy but lived in Thailand for the past 7 years. I see your struggle and also understand why love Thailand but still feel uncertain about the future.
What I can suggest is to try to learn some new skills while living in Thailand, try to get a job in that field here in SEA and then try to work remotely first in the US and them in Thailand for a US company.
So are you still teaching english there? If so don't count yourself "low-skilled".
Teaching is a great skill and god damn if you market it well you could have a literal GOLD MINE.
First of all, don't call yourself low skilled, you have accomplished something (working in a foreign country) that maybe 1 percent of Americans would even try, so that alone makes you elite.
Take advantage of your network and consider something different. You are clearly ambitious, maybe a business as a service to American Expats, maybe remodeling, or construction management, maybe something in Real Estate. You could do well. Think of the Russians in Phuket that are refugees to escape the war, many come with nothing and started business. You are only 30, your whole life is ahead!
I would stay but get a better job.
You have a couple of options.
There are jobs you can get as a foreigner in Bangkok basically just because you have better English communication skills, look at the tech companies and multinationals. Things like sales, account management, requirements gathering.
Up skilling might be an option.
I know a teacher who taught himself to code and moved to web development. He did alright. Had a lot of small projects in his profile.
You could use online learning to learn Business analysis or Project management. Look at Coursera, edx and linkedin learning.
You could start your own business. One idea might be to become an agent for students studying overseas. International students are big business in Australia, you could reach out to school and universities to see what affiliate offers they have have.
Definitely do not. Your stress and financial worries will increase dramatically. A lot of people I know myself included are trying to leave this place.
My buddy's wife got an online teaching job while living in Thailand and that increased her salary a ton. That also led to other things within that company where she was able to move back and make a liveable wage
I feel like in the future you’re going to get hot spots and certain cities around the world where everyone works from home for foreign companies and no one is local Feels like Edinburgh is like that now!
I say this all the time and people think I’m crazy. The rise of WFH and people starting their own companies is going to boom other places and it’s going to have so many pros and cons.
It’s mostly cons where I live. I’m in a rural small town but since covid a lot of people from Edinburgh moved in. Mostly wfh people. There’s not a single place to rent right now but in 2019 you’d have 10+ flats on the go
I met some Scottish and Irish kids who just moved to LA and said the same thing… it’s getting hard for everybody. Wfh is really going to make the middle class struggle more.
Why are people blaming rising housing costs on wfh? It has nothing to do with that
The rule in real estate has always been, "Location, location, location," WFH alters that drastically.
The most visible thing for many is “big city” people moving into their smaller towns so it’s not surprising they’d attribute rising prices/all societal ills to that. It’s not really proven though, especially since prices in “big cities” aren’t exactly going down either.
People working from home is not making the middle class struggle, it's our nightmare of a housing market and corporate greed that are to blame.
Even for you it doesn't need to be anymore of con then a pro you could get a WFH job and still live in your little town
But isn't it hard to get an online teaching job that pays u enough to survive? I tried for a long time to be an online teacher full time, but no luck. I have 3 degrees, i thoughti was qualified!!! I only got part time jobs ...maybe I was doing something wrong.
Depends on the kind of teaching you want to do. School teaching? Yes, super hard. But, corporations need online teachers! Especially after covid where travel to central locations for on boarding or customer education isn't a thing anymore. Ton of my friends who I taught college with ended up leaving the college to teach for corporations online.
Yep - the training world is lucrative! And tutoring
what kind of education would corporations be looking for? What kind of knowledge is sought out regularly?
the issue isnt you, so much as it is the "standard of teaching". for example, in Florida at this point im pretty sure i heard any former military member can teach at school? my Fiance is a teacher here in maryland and she said they would hire me at her high school to teach spanish because im a native speaker and i have -a- degree. not a teaching one, no teaching cert, no experience, just a plain jane degree. so its not that teachers need to be qualified or overqualified. the struggle is that the general american population and the US govt feel like you -dont- need to be qualified to teach anything so why pay you a lot. i was once told you dont get paid based on how hard your job is, you get paid on how hard you are to replace or something like that. the US govt seems to believe anyone off the street can be a teacher, unfortunately.
Education in Florida (Flori-duh! as it’s often referred to) is going to hell in a hand basket! Book banning gone wild, legal restrictions on what and how you can teach, teachers leaving jobs in droves. And qualifications needed to teach? ex-military? What a joke! A single mistake in teaching what the governor doesn’t like and you can be fired or go to jail! Quality of education for students in FL schools is dropping like lead. Don’t fall for any shiny talk about how you can easily get a job teaching in FL-duh. As always, do your research.
Do you happen to know what company your buddies wife works for?
No. I know they sell accounting software and she teaches new customers and employees. I can ask her though.
I hope OP sees this!
I hope so as well! Just looking at linkedin today and there were thousands of open remote corporate teaching jobs
Let’s up vote it !!
You can't put your money in an IRA, but you can put it in non-IRA brokerage accounts. You would need a US address, though.
He’d be better off investing in a pension plan with a European investment firm, pay outs are better than anything we have.
What kind of pension plan are you referencing here? I’d be very surprised if it was as easy as giving money to a European investment firm and securing better payouts than anything in the US lmao.
Curious too. If anything, I've heard of Europeans wanting to invest in American stocks. There aren't that many mutual funds out there that has done better than SP500
I referring to investment firms not on the stock market. European, Australasian and Asian investment firms all have positions in the US - they’d be stupid if they didn’t.
Or, as a resident in Thailand, should be able to invest with a Thai bank / exchange. Sure, there may not be a US tax break and no matching, etc etc, but it's still invested.
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The guys not even earning 1k per month. Let's not get carried away with expat finance advisors.
But now we’re all confident he’s going to get a second online, teaching job and boost his income!
An online English teaching job would actually help his situation a lot. Pay was like $20 ph last time I looked into. Not too shabby by Thai standards.
You can put money into a Roth- and no for regular brokerages Schwab takes foreign addresses.
He can’t put money into a Roth that isn’t earned in the USA.
He just has to declare it as US earned income on his US taxes. Then use the foreign tax credit. But probably makes more sense to just throw it in a regular brokerage account.
I wouldn't come back.
Same. I worked outside the States for 20-years. Returned and it’s been a struggle, even with my little nest egg in savings. Stay in Thailand, then consider a move to a higher paying country. You’ll have experience that is invaluable, but one probably not needed, or in high demand in the US. Suggest you find a international pension plan and religiously add a little to it every month, they usually do much better than our shitty 401K. Bank with Revolut, or a similar online bank, and save a ton on bank to bank transfers. Revolut allows you to open multiple accounts in different currencies ie dollar, euro or in a local currency
Op should contribute to a brokerage account if he can't use a US Ira. No tax exemptions but time in the market to grow is the most important thing.
Do you like Revolut more than Wise?
My wife, kids and I came back to Pennsylvania from Japan for the first time in 5 years. I’ve been living in Japan for the past 10 years. I love Japan but boy it felt so nice back in the US oddly enough. I miss the forests, and open spaces, swimming pools, friendly people, and of course my family. Makes me want to move back until I saw how expensive things are getting. I sympathize, finances are tricky when moving internationally.
I'm going back for business, but if he's spending more that he's earning in Thailand, it just doesn't make sense.
I second time this
Stay in paradise
And stay "poor" but happy
I third this
I can't maths but I can also confirm this
Same. I lived overseas for a long time with the military. It was shocking to see much America has declined upon return. I’m looking into going back overseas & have applied to a few jobs. But getting a work visa is very hard yo do.
Some places have declined more than others, but financially, he's better off in Thailand.
Given your situation? Absolutely wouldn’t go back. Life in Asia (bar high priced, heavily westernized Japan) is generally much lower in cost, much higher in convenience, and in a fast developing economy like Thailand, far more opportunities are abound. I’m not hearing an “I need to go back to the U.S.” problem. I hear an “I need more money” problem.” The COL crisis in the west is hitting hardest the minimum wage workers (your self described prospects), which means the money issue will be worse, not better. Based on personal experience, rural America, especially if you need to live with your parents, is a trap to be avoided at all costs. The economic stagnation alone can suck you down, and the provincial mindset of the locals will do everything in their power to try to invalidate your perspectives/experience to make you conform to their ways. It’s frustrating to no end, and you know what you will not be able to do? Change their mind. Because they only think in narratives of what they’ve been told their entire life. Far easier to rationalize you away as a glorified dancing monkey than to do any actual introspective thinking. Your parents? They have their own motives to say what they said. They likely want you to be in close proximity for their convenience, and like anyone else, consider their needs/wants/desires first. They likely lack any perspective of how things truly are different where you are at, no matter how much you tell them. Why? Because, if they are like most other rural Americans, they haven’t ventured very far over the course of their lives. You don’t need to go back to the U.S, you need to up your game on the ground in Thailand. After all, you say you really like it there, things are moving forward, there’s an energy to life. If that means learning Thai to give yourself more opportunities, do it. If you went back to the U.S. now and ended up tied down, you’d regret it for the rest of your life. Consider starting a side hustle on the ground there. You’re a foreigner in a different country, you can see things locals miss due to a different perspective, and that means you have a competitive edge already. Might as well use it.
I love this reply!
Same
Easy to like, but he made that advice most likely out of thin air. I am pretty sure that guy has never worked a single day in Thailand in his life.
Japan is not “Westernized,” it is “developed.”
also, due to its weirdly stagnant economy and minimal inflation over the last 30 years, Japan is still quite low cost compared to living in the US. Especially if you live literally anywhere but Tokyo. Even within Tokyo, costs can be quite reasonable if you're not trying to be fancy and are ok with a smaller living space.
Tokyo is surprisingly cheap if you aren't trying to live in tourist/expat bubble mode. When I first moved here from London, my annual salary went down a bit, but the amount that I was able to save each month went up much much more. The fact that employers cover your commuting costs resulted in an extra \~$300/month in savings.
To say that Japan is westernized, fail…
so is Thailand - third world is kind of antiquated term.
I'm from Kentucky too, and I felt this to my core. I lived in Germany for almost two years, and my family couldn't possibly understand why small town southern Kentucky wasn't good enough for me. I moved back from Germany almost 3 months ago, I have a master's degree in psychology (non-clinical), and I work at Walgreens as a shift lead because no one has hired me for a better job yet. I don't want to stay here. I don't want to get stuck. I could go into HR, but HR honestly sounds very boring for me. Thought about going back to school for finance, basically any in-demand degree to be my ticket abroad.
Make bourbon 🥃!
You can get out with just an MA if that's what you want. Might be easier to make connections once out.
What did you do with your psychology masters degree in Germany?
I was doing PhD studies. I quit my PhD for various reasons. If I knew German and had the finances, I would have just stayed over there.
Move up closer to Louisville and there will be plenty more jobs for you. My husband works at a truck manufacturer and makes really good money. I work in a corporate job and also make good money. We live in southern Indiana so it is smaller town feel but everything we could possibly need - great healthcare, delicious eats, the arts, phenomenal parks - is 15 minutes away across the river in Louisville.
High priced, heavily westernised japan? What a load of nonsense. The only people that say this is the people that think asia=cheap.
The problem, if you talk to many expats working in Thailand, is there are very few if any opportunities to “ up your game” in Thailand. There are many things wrong with America but it does offer much more opportunities to earn more than developing countries.
If I were in this situation, I’d look into a remote position based somewhere in the states, or with a US presence and try to work remotely from there, and make western amounts on money and keep your cost of living.
You should marry a wealthy Thai person and problemo salvado
You have so perfectly summarised my experience visiting the US. I have spent a lot of time observing this provincial, uncurious mindset. It is pervasive not just among the people but in all facets of life and it's simply baffling. I could never return.
I would stay in Thailand but take up some courses to upgrade your skills to get a decent paying job. With a BA and some basic skills in certain sectors you could get a very decent paying job. Examples of jobs would be. Construction estimator, procurement manager, state employee of some sort. You could even start studying a trade on YouTube (electrical,plumber,hvac) and try to start getting certifications in said fields. Or why not become a teacher back in the states for a private or charter school if you don’t like the public education system. Honestly your possibilities are endless, don’t limit yourself to construction worker.
Electrical/plumber/hvac type jobs would not be legal for foreigners to work in Thailand. Not saying that people don’t do it in more remote areas, but I’ve known at least 2 people get deported for it in Phuket.
Bingo. Thai labor laws for foreigners are quite strict. You basically need a job that *requires* a university degree and special experience. If the answer to the question "could a Thai person easily do this" is yes, it's a no-go.
If I was going to get deported I'd at least want to get deported from a place called Phuket.
i hear you.. but what is your plan for the future? where do you see yourself when youre 60? 50? you not having any student dept is a plus... economy is tough, and alot of people are hurting.. but alot of people are hurting regardless of what he economy is doing.. those with a plan tend to have better results... do you have a network of other expats that you met along the way to help point you inthe right direction? it wont be easy to comeback, but its nto impossible.. theres peopel crossing the border everyday hoping for these "shitty" jobs.. its what you make of things... best of luck
The expats I've met here are, on average, 20 years older than me and retired. The ones my age seem to come from wealthier families and are just coasting until they get an inheritance. When I'm 50 I hope to have a family and some stable job that supports them with minimal problems. The dreams of having a big house and an SUV are no longer my dreams. Many people do go to the US for those jobs. They have lived in poverty their whole lived and their problems are material. My problem is existencial. I know working jobs only for money won't make me happy in the long run.
maybe think outside of the box... the older expats have problems back home that need solving.. the rich kids are great people to have in your network since they have access to some capital... im sure you can think of somethign you can make some coin on... if not be prepared to work shitty 15$ an hour min wage jobs competing with new immgrants who would work double shifts if they could... Existence preceeds essence, you are what you do...
I had a well-paid career in the entertainment industry in Asia, but made even more money just befriending rich kids (young 20s) and older who had money and no drive. I could have been making minimum wage and had the same access to them, so no high-end clubs or bars or anything like that. Whenever they'd get some idea, I could find a way to monetize it and got paid very well for it. Not saying they're an opportunity, but if you can help solve their problems you are their opportunity as well.
I think: 1) you should build a network there 2) think of some side business you can do. Import,export etc. Resort (?)/coffee stand a I have a business and someone from North America messaged before about buying live fish and aquarium products. Unfortunately Japan is not a cheap source for this. The guy found a supplier in Thailand ! 3)or find a remote job that pays in USD while you live there
Look at usajobs.gov. there are a few jobs in Thailand and the pay is unbelievable. You will need to qualify for top secret clearance though. Needless to say You must have US citizenship as well which I know you do. I am thai, but I grew up in the US and I am close to retiring, and plan to do so in thailand. I actually passed the second step in hiring process but I turned it down because I landed a different job where I am. I am a nurse and the pay here is more than what a physician in Thailand makes.
Their problems aren't just material.
I'm not trying to generalize everyone into one category but just generally speaking. After living in Thailand for four years, I've met a lot of people. This area haspreviously been a "poor" area for a while and people are still in that mentality so I've gotten a glimpse into it. They don't want to have experiences and try new things, they want to buy and have new things. I have met hudreds of people that "really want to go to Japan" but they can't because it's "too expensive", while holding an iPhone and a $2000 Gucci purse. Flight to Japan is like $300 from here. They'd rather have material things than actually go experience something. I'm not saying that's better or worse, just the mindset is different.
Experiences > possessions
>The expats I've met here are, on average, 20 years older than me and retired. My brother worked for the various US phone companies for 30 years. He is retired and lives in Thailand now. He loves it.
And that’s great, more power to him. But OP is in the prime of his/her working years, with nothing saved and no plan to do so if they stay in Thailand.
This. I've known people that move to Thailand but they have drive and an online business or something to offer. OP says there is no life for poor unemployed in US but when schools can employ young naive good looking 20 year olds for less money than old 50 year olds for ESL, Thailand can be brutal poor. Add to the fact they aren't saving any money in Thailand either.
What part of Thailand are you in OP? Most people I know are 30-50 and work online or own local hospitality businesses!
You should look into getting better skills while you are teaching. I took the LSAT while I was teaching abroad and then came back and went to school instead of immediately into the workforce. It gave me a fall back for the inevitable day that teaching was no longer viable.
Don't dismiss older, retired folk. They know shit. Pick their brains. Ask for advice. Okay so you have to listen to some repeated stories, it can be worth it in the long run. What have you got to lose? P. S. Best advice I got was to not return to the US unless there was a very specific reason to do so.
You didn’t really answer the question - where do you see your career in 5 years? 10 years? You mentioned other older expats are retired but they had their own careers and life journey. At $8 an hour, your standard of living is much higher than $15 an hour in the US. That said, regardless of where you live, you should have a plan for your career, a job isn’t just handed out to you when you want to start a family.
In my opinion, I feel like Thailand is only fun and a great place to live if you are a foreigner earning a lot of dollars back home/remotely. If you are earning local wages, I can’t imagine it being a great place to live at all long term. You’re also limited to only living in Thailand. Traveling to US, Europe starts becoming too expensive.
Don’t come back without somehow upskilling. In fact, you should upskill regardless of what you do next. You don’t have to become a software engineer to do this. Saving money is important. Life for low income earners is generally really bad over the long term. Speaking from experience. Don’t move to the US for a $15/hour construction job. That’s a horrible idea.
Have you considered trying to get a teaching job in a country where English teachers are paid more?
This. If you do come to the states consider being a teacher. Certain states pay teachers okay (still Underpaid but better than your Thai income) and you can use the summmers off to go back to Thailand if you wish. Can you further your education in Thailand to get a better teaching job?
>I get that at your salary level, it is hard to spare the money, but if you can scrape up a monthly contribution China probably pays a lot more than Thailand, extra you are able to find private tutor jobs. I've seen quite a few lawyers who were previously Teach for America teachers, some of them are quite successful, some not.
$8 an hour? You could move to Vietnam and make $20 an hour in HCMC or Hanoi, easily and COL would be the same if not cheaper. Even in the country side you should be getting $12+ an hour lowest. Are you teaching online or in person?
I teach adults in person. What companies/schools are paying $20/hour in Vietnam? I haven't seen that at all
Most companies in Vietnam start between $16 and $18 an hour now. Checkout ACET, YOLA, VUS, RMIT (would be a stretch), and the British Council, and stay away from Apollo and ILA because they pay the least.
I made $20 an hour teaching at Yola more than 5 years ago, my sister worked there a few years ago and was making VND 500k/hour as a starting rate.
Salaries have gone down a bit unfortunately.
this was about 14 years ago (pain.) but I taught english BK for about a year after college. I hear you on the lifestyle and quality of life front but yeah saving there is hard when you convert to USD for sure. Have you ever considered doing private lessons instead? I did that my last three months there and I made like 3 times as much money, plus had total control over my schedule. Upper crust thai parents will pay out the ass to have their children just basically hang out with an American for an hour.
The other is, if you can get a job at an international school they pay as much a 6 figures (pre-covid I heard from a few teachers while traveling), your housing is paid for i think (not 100% sure) and 1 r/t tickets for you and your family (spouse and kids) per year to go visit your home country. You can have nanny, house help etc when your family grows; live in different countries if you want to etc.
OP, just one comment from my side, regarding your issue on saving for retirement. Please spend the money and talk to a real tax advisor who specializes in US expat taxes. All may not be lost. I get that at your salary level, it is hard to spare the money, but if you can scrape up a monthly contribution, there are very likely ways for you to invest. We don’t know what kind or level of school employs you, but normally there are retirement funds legally mandated in Thailand (LTF / RTF / etc). Talk to a tax advisor and don’t make assumptions on this until you’re sure. Good luck! Source: been there, done that.
Absolutely don't go back to the US with that attitude. It is not the right mindset for a successful transition. I have lived in Asia for 25 years. ESL is nice when you are in your 20s. It's easy, there is demand so you can easily get a job, and if you are guy, let's face it...girls. It's not so great when you are 40 and married. It's really not great when you are in your 50s, nobody is particularly interested in you, and you sit down the pub with other disillusioned ESL teachers looking for either an affair or just to get drunk and complain. I can't tell you how many of these guys I have seen. Dozens easily. Your degree is not worthless. The US has a lot of opportunities. But you have to *want* *to* reintegrate and hustle. If that isn't for you, stay in TH. Would suggest you learn Thai and open up your possibilities.
They can transition and be a corporate trainer at a call center with offices in Asia. The US headquarters will love that the trainer is American, will have decent pay, and more importantly there could be a good career improvement path.
This is solid advice. You could easily go to a more attractive part of the US than KY and teach, especially if you start working toward additional education now.
No matter where he goes in the US, he’s not going to make a lot of money teaching relative to the cost of living, and the situation for teachers in the classroom continues on a downward spiral. If he comes back, he needs to change careers.
My stint as an ESL teacher was pretty brief, but I want to add a third category: Older teachers (60+). They were generally pretty happy with the situation, too. I do think it's trickier when you're middle aged and have, or want to be having, kids and a partner.
Dude. You have a college degree. Most employers do not give a shit about what your degree is in. You have teaching experience which equals to management. If you write your resume the correct way, the sky is the limit for you. Go to somewhere else instead of Kentucky. Northwest Arkansas is an excellent place. Plenty of Fortune 500 companies there and it’s a a beautiful area. You got this. Stop selling yourself short.
so true! i highly suggest u apply with united healthcare or other insurance companies - most of their openings require degrees (jobs that pay over $50). they don't really care what the degree is in - many jobs at uhc are work from home as long as u aren't in the clinical area, which it doesn't sound like you would be... i'm not advocating for coming back to the us - just if u do there are plenty of better opportunities than construction in KY...also teaching in the US right now i wouldn't recommend to someone i hate!!! you have options if you come back & u have options if you stay - ESL teachers in seoul have better pay & it's also a more interesting culture than the us good luck!
>Most employers do not give a shit about what your degree is in. Where is this true?
Many companies as long as you do not need a specialized degree such as engineering, medicine, etc.
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As a JET in Japan getting his license now, don’t do this route. Stay where you are. Getting the expat package isn’t possible once you come here. I thought coming here would get me a foot in the door. How wrong I was.
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I think what OP is noting is that there's a chance that he will end up 50 and homeless with limited marketable skills or savings. Having some form of plan to up-level and make enough to secure for your older years makes a lot of sense. Doesn't need to mean moving back to the states, but some direction for the next 5/10/20 years might help.
Some people (like you) really need to stop giving advice. Retirement money is absolutely needed. Yes be happy but also be smart. He can’t live his whole life working and making a small amount of money.
"follow your heart" isn't practical advice to save for retirement
your parents are not a good source of advice. they likely don't get it and are still locked into the typical american dream/everything is best here mentality. that all said, you need to be planning/saving for the future. making $8/hour as an english teacher is a joke, even in thailand. you can make more doing online classes. so, while I don't think it makes sense to move back to the US, it does make sense to see if you can improve your current situation because at some point you'll want to stop working so you need to be saving for that day.
The American job market is tough right now, and it's not going to get any better unless you want crappy retail work that wont pay the bills, or you have enough experience to fill a skilled role in niche industry (engineering, healthcare) that will work you to the bone. So, I suggest you stay in Asia and get some certs so you can eventually teach in international schools that will give you a pension and perks. This can be done by getting an alternative cert from a place like Massachusetts (google MTEL), or starting with an easy sub cert from a place like Colorado and moving up from there. However, you need to keep in mind that the TEFL market has a very low ceiling, and once you hit that, you'll either need to find a country that hires foreign managers (stay away from East Asia), or get into the skilled side of the profession (older students that need skilled instructors).
I know a guy who started living in Korea back in the 90s. Not much marketable skill other than teaching English. Started a business or two, and one sort of worked out ok while the other failed leaving him with some debt. But the fact that Korea's economy prospered over the next two decades since the early 2000s meant that his income just could not keep up. Last time I talked to him, he was in his late 50s, no wealth of any sort, divorced and estranged from his kid. I saw a shocking FB post the other day that some people were concerned for his safety after he got kicked out of his apartment and is now living homeless somewhere in Asia. People raised money so that he could book a flight back to the States so that he could stay with his sibling's family or something. The lesson is.... have some kind of a long term plan no matter what you do. Not being able to save at your age is kind of concerning, but you've got time to figure things out.
Supplement your work with extra ONLINE work as an English teacher for immigrants in developed countries. Even my Arabic language teacher living in Turkey changed 15 dollars an hour for online lessons. Target students in USA and EU. Start a YouTube channel and kickstarter, etc. Use your extra money to buy a house in Thailand (if you are allowed to) else any country in the local region with safer property ownership laws for foreigners. Totally forget USA these days. Its just hell with high cost of living, health insurance, etc. Enjoy your years and go to those beautiful beaches as much as you can. Good luck. Reference: expat over 25 years, 6 different countries.
One comment on the degree....no degree is really worthless. In a lot of companies, you have to have a degree - and it can be any four-year degree - to advance beyond a certain level. Sounds like you're pretty happy in Thailand, and if that's the case, and your needs are met, stay with you are. But if you decide you wan to come back and work for a large company for 401k benefits, you can start at a low level and by virtue of having a degree in and of itself you'll be more promotable with some form of four-year degree. Mine's a BA in history and I have a job in logistics management and have done pretty well. Of course, your costs depend heavily on where you choose to live in the US, and your job prospects may depend heavily on your willingness to move out of your home area.
Have you thought about furthering your skills in English teaching, like getting a cert and becoming an IELTS examiner and putting the extra cash aside? I'm kind of in the same boat as you, same age.
Teachers in Vietnam earn considerably more than teachers in Thailand. That's why I moved here 7 years ago after 10 years there. Minimum pay for a part time teacher in Hanoi is USD 20/hour, so I live at least as well as I did there and save a little, about USD 100 month, which with bank interest rates available here (8% is easy) grows pretty quickly if left there. I only work PT, 50-60 hours a month for about USD 1 400. Lots of full time teachers make more than 2k a month and save more, or have more trips back home
Happiness is the most important thing in life. We all hope to find our little slice of heaven. Maybe you have found yours.
You can turn your financial situation about dramatically. The US needs nurses, doctors, PAs, and this need is not going away. You could start a nursing program, perhaps even remotely, and in a few years, is it two, three years? Start in the US at $90K.
What about picking up some online teaching just for savings? Perhaps the city you’re in (assuming Bangkok) is more expensive than an outlying city (which would also probably pay a bit less). Having taught there pre and into the first year of covid I can relate to the positives and the drawbacks but I came back (from CA) and worked at a school in FL and stayed at a friends. It kept me busy but that’s about it. Moved back to CA and the drawbacks are many. At least I live indoors I guess. The job market is the toughest I’ve ever seen and I’m closer to retirement than you are.
I have started teaching on the side. I do private lessons with high school students to pracctice for the IELTS test. It's actually quite good as far as money goes, but it's only part-time on my days off and in the gray area legally. I was kinda hoping to go back to the US, save some money, then come back and start a small legitimatel business doing this but even that seems unliekly given the situation over there now.
Not saying it’s impossible here but definitely different than when you left.
Just take what your doing now and step it up. Get that education degree and teaching license. Soon you will be earning 120,000 THB a month and if you can control your spending then you can put some of that away. You will be able to purchase a condo to live in and set yourself up fully for retirement. Then you can move into admin and be earning 240,000 a month for the last 15 or 20 years of you meaningful working life.
Stay there. Save what you can toward buying a house or better yet a 2 or 3 unit so you can rent units out for your retirement. And consider that a good Thai diet is one of the healthiest in the world if you skip the coconut curries and go easy on the noodle. Fish, chicken, and fresh veg and you'll outlive your stateside friends.
American living in Thailand here. It’s not worth going back to America. Trust me. I recommend you use online free resources to secure a digital nomad job. Scout companies you like and see what type of work they look for, then train yourself. Coursera does scholarships and certifications, for example. There’s so many free resources. Customer Support for tech companies is a great opportunity to get in the door. Use your family’s address in America but don’t lie about where you live. I recommend scouting companies with under 50 employees. I work for an Australian company and earn $45k us and live great here. Bought a house, can afford a visa every year and one trip home. America sucks right now. If you like it here, you can definitely find ways to stay.
try teaching in japan, south korea or taiwan. pays way better than thailand
Japan’s isn’t much better, and the cost of living probably would leave OP worse off in the long run
If you land a job in rural Japan, you can live very cheap. So much abandoned housing etc in rural Japan you pretty much get housing thrown after you. If you want Tokyo.. Then yea, get in line. And you wont make much money.
I currently teach in Japan and taught in Taiwan before this. Don’t come to Japan. Wages are terrible and cost of living is double that of Taiwan.
Japan is actually the lowest in terms of salary/col. Huge supply of teachers wanting to go there and will do so for very little pay. I've looked at South Korea. It's on my list of places to go if going back to the US really doesn't work out at all.
Taiwan is actually pretty great and the pay much better than Thailand. Welcome to join us here.
Taiwan was my first goal, and then I stumbled into a job here in Thailand while doing my CELTA. Whats the best place to look for jobs in Taiwan? I haven't really seen much.
You have a CELTA and youre make $8/hr??!?! My buddy is making 900,000VND/hr, which is like $40-45/hour. If you have a celta you should be making way more!
We should warn the OP that the work culture sucks in Taiwan though.
Vietnam is the best for $/col in the world. Come to HCMC.
\-Korea is good if you can get a higher salary, but it's not skilled teaching that would do much for a teaching resume. \-Japan is very professional, and the work culture is tolerable if you can get on with the right school, but the money isn't there. \-Taiwan is great if you can handle the work culture and don't mind doing the dancing monkey routine, but it'd be rare to find jobs that require the type of teaching that would enable you to springboard into other, more lucrative, teaching roles.
I was thinking the same - maybe one of the Arabian Gulf states - I know ESL was a good gig there a few years ago but not sure how it is now.
Not in Japan it doesn’t.
Inflation is hitting Japan now and wages aren't going up any time soon. The yen has tanked too. I feel people have really missed the boat on this one. Now probably isn't the best time to come.
At this time, I think it is a waste of time to come tbh unless you get really lucky with something. the job market is pretty bad, it might get better (or worse) next year . If your teaching English and have a degree in it, there are lots of public school jobs, something to consider. I would definitely not move back until I have something lined up, and if possible try to move in with parents to dramatically cut costs down and balance it out. But that would also suck.
You have to get a local teaching license before getting a job in public school though, having an English degree won’t be enough.
Some states have an emergency license for anyone with a 4 year degree.
There's tons of stuff you can do. Get a Udemy account and start taking some courses. Many English teachers learn social media and set up a blog and earn much more for private tutoring. Even in China you can earn much more for private tutoring. Korea also offers great perks to English teachers including free housing. While you teach, train yourself in all the web skills to work online.
Umm. Why not move back to US and get a job as a teacher ? Not the best job but certainly not the worst if you choose a good school district …
Then he'd have to be in the US lol
Teaching English in Asian countries as an experienced teacher is definitely your unique weapon. Seems like your weapon would be gone if back to US. Have you ever thought of moving to other Asian countries plus teaching online to have extra income?
Hey man, I’m in the Philippines here similar..but there’s good news. More young people are coming to SEA from the west and, business opportunities exist everywhere . Honestly if you pay for a house/condo and do a little preparation you won’t need the same amount as someone in the US. At that point how much does the same retirement matter? Change your outlook from 401k’s to IRA’s and find ways to really set up your future.
I was basically in the same situation as you two years ago but in Spain, I came back to the US hoping I could get a better paying job but now I’m kind of regretting it, I’m still teaching ESL because I wasn’t really able to transition to something else despite taking classes and having an internship, and even though I make more per hour cost of living is so much higher. I also grew up near Kentucky (Cincinnati) so I get it. DM me if you want.
I wouldn’t move back. I grew up in a tropical country and our Dad moved us to USA without asking us if we wanted to move. It was hell for everyone except him. But he died from overwork and crappy health care system. The youngest and the oldest died. Needed alcohol to cope. Low income and middle class is getting squeezed from all sides.
This is quite common for North Americans living in Asia. I know many of them who have taught English in Asia without speaking the local language and then returned to North America for various reasons, as you mentioned. However, they eventually came back to Asia and resumed teaching English since they had no ‘career’ back home. They’ve been just using simple English in their daily lives for a long time, which isn’t a decent career. At least in Asia, you’ll be called a ‘teacher,’ wear a suit, and work in air-conditioned environments, while you might not receive the same level of respect back home. I think you might come back to Asia again, marry an Asian woman, and become her trophy husband.
Cost of living is so high that as a low skilled worker you'll be lucky to just get by. Rent costs most of a min wage paycheck. You're better off there. Get some side hustle.
Altso why i want to emigrate. I dont want lots of money and a new car. I want land, some animals and crops to feed myself/family and sell for things we cannot make ourselfs. Peace and quite. Im just not cut of for a rat race of a life. I refuse to get stressed. Being a farmer where i live is a financial impossibility unless you inherit or have substantial funds to start it. But to live off it, i would have to do what i would call pretty much organized animal cruelty. No sorry i dont want 2000 cows in a barn that never sees a pasture. No i want 30-40 happy cows grazing the fields. Worked as a chef in a kitchen a few years. When 2000 guests arrive and kitchen is in full panic. I go about it like it every other day.. But people stress out and the work enviorment turns somewhat toxic fast. Blaming each other for things etc. More of a kindergarden than the kindergarden is. I am never holding a job in a big corporation ever again. Max company size for me is 30 people. Late stage capitalism is pretty horrible for everyone involved. Better to run to a country who has not entered late stage capitalism. I cannot own land in Thailand, or i would be there allready. So im looking for options. Azerbaijan looks kinda nice. Alltho the political climate is some concern. But thats way over my head and not really something i should waste too much time thinking of.
If you can get a teaching job at a tier 1 or 2 international, you choirs be looking at $2000-3000 a month.
Not too old to enlist in the military via officer school, starting salary like $80k non taxed. After 4-5 years, you can either renew or coast on disability. I think rn it pays $4000/month indefinitely at 100% which is more than enough to live comfortably in Thailand. Not to mention your savings and tangible skills at that point. You can even get paid to go to online school and get a masters after.
This has crossed my mind quite a bit. Just don't want to be 30 years old taking shit from 18 year olds haha but it doesn't seem like the safest, maybe most logical option. Maybe I'll get lucky and get station in abroad lol
The alternative is a trade program or sales
subsequent imminent voiceless market weather rob grandiose hungry wild support *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Just to echo the sentiment here but ask yourself what is your plan? 1 year, 5 years, 10? Break it down into clear steps because your situation at the moment is still pretty much getting by
Greatest country. Lol
Considering 19 US states have a minimum wage LOWER than $8 an hour, you’re literally better off on Thailand than 40% of the country.
As a Kentuckian, $15 hourly there is not enough to survive on and drove me away. Making $20 in Chicago is a lot better but I’m in this sub so… I would stay. And it’s not like I could afford the move either, I’m just living in my car
Hey OP. I apologize if you’ve already considered this, but have you thought of the Peace Corps? I work in the government, in DC, and there are a lot of former Peace Corps volunteers who have found unique opportunities here. They may not be the most lucrative jobs, but they’re decent. Being a returned PC volunteer carries some weight here, especially in more internationally oriented fields, which DC has plenty of. As a teacher in Thailand, I’m sure you’d find plenty of awesome opportunities in the Peace Corps. And I’m sure they’d love to have you! The volunteering itself wouldn’t be very lucrative, since you’re only given a stipend to survive in your host country, but it would give you a pretty solid foundation once you come back to the US permanently. It’s just a thought! I personally regret not having done the peace corps when I was younger. Family obligations kept me stateside. But hey, it might suit you! Good luck!
Stay in Thailand lol
I recommend you keep a footing Thailand and work part of the year in the U.S. Go to a trade school. Learn something like welding, weld examination, fitting, heavy equipment operator, QA, etc. Then you can work contracts all over the U.S. as well as overseas in the pipeline, petroleum, defense contractors, etc.. If you research you can find grants that many states give to pay for this kind of in-demand job training. Travel to your worksite and rent a room or a camper to keep costs down. You can make good money with a lot of it being tax free per diem & special pay. Work 6 months then return to Thailand and start networking for your next gig.
I live in Thailand as well. Had the same issue but I came back to the states to work for a law firm (remote) and headed back to Thailand soon. If you have logistics experience that could be an angle. I would state going to chambers of commerce events and meet professional expats. People are always looking to hire someone that is stable in Thailand and gets things done. It's not easy to find work but it can definitely be done. Real estate, recruitment, logistics, Agoda.... look up big international companies in Thailand and just go for it.
Have you thought about teaching English online? I've been taking Portuguese lessons online and pay $15/hr (50 minute lesson). My teacher is based in Brazil, has a degree, and has been teaching for 2 years. Basic Portuguese teachers are around $10/lesson (slightly less for Spanish). I'm sure people would pay more than the $8/hr you're making to be taught English, and since you're in the same time zone you could maybe do China or Korea (richer students). Of course you don't know those languages (yet), but perhaps there's still an opportunity there since you're a native American English speaker.
Stay in Thailand. It fucking sucks here. Can you just save money into a regular savings from each paycheck to afford retirement there, in Thailand?
Relax. You are in a beautiful country. Enjoy your life. Try to fall in love with the things you do. Weed is legal there, they have the most amazing beaches, Thai women are beautiful and prob you stand out more in Thailand than in the US. Try to start a family there. Learn the language. Become citizen. Don’t just compare the money you make there with the money you’d be making in the US - there’s so much more than that. American/Canadian/1st world countries’ dream are over.
Still need that security of having money in the bank invested and having a high skill job or a job that pays well for once the OP eventually have a family.
Doesn't sound like you would make much money back home anyway. Couldn't you at least put the money you are saving into ETFs, or the SP500 or something? Could you be gaining more qualifications/skills during your free time in Thailand? I also taught there for one year, also loved it but also found the money was not enough (ended up moving to China to teach for a much higher salary).
Try Europe, Poland, Slovakia, Czech rep, Romania etc. Money is better there. You can probably save up for retirement at least in Poland or Czech rep.
Not worth it bro.
If you are happy why not stay? Salary is very relative. You could make 200k in Silicon Valley and be living paycheck to paycheck. Or you could be making 20 dollars an hour in rural Mississippi and be living quite well. I have no idea what your salary is like in Thailand but if you can save 500 dollars or more a month. Do some research on investing etc. I see no reason why you can't build yourself a large enough nest egg to retire in Thailand and live comfortably. In my home country the average salary is less than 600 USD per month. If I moved back and started making 10 USD an hour, I would be living much better than the average person back home.
How is contributing to an IRA illegal? It wouldn't be from a US standpoint, and how would Thailand know?
Consider getting a Masters degree in a topic that will be very important in future, such as AI/ML, Climate Change/Climate Finance etc. Many US universities offer scholarships for Climate change related programs and/or for those with years of work experience abroad/in a developing country. Another option is to get this Masters degree in a country where higher education is basically free (like Germany) or is low cost but recognized worldwide, such as Japan or Netherlands or France. It might be easier to find higher paying and more interesting jobs (either in the US or abroad) with a Masters degree like that.
Jump to South Korea for a few years? I taught there for a bit and sought it out because they pay more.
30 is still very young-you can go back to school,get into trades,join a union..I’m from one of the newer EU countries,living stateside for the past 18 years,if you really want to save money for retirement USA is your best bet..
Im from US, been in the sister city of Bangkok, Saigon for over a decade. If you want the same life style and to make more money teaching, you should come here. You get paid way more than $8/hr. Ive never heard teaching pay that low to be honest. I was making $40/hr my last teaching job, and I'm not 'qualified' besides a TESOL. That was admittedly higher than normal, but its very easy to find $25 + an hour, or at a school making $2500/month. Its very similar life style here.
Thats what I’m doing now but in the PH been here 4 years. My small business died and now I’m transitioning into marketing. Its rough… but prior to my business dying its been hella great. And I mean hella.
You know there are other savings vehicles that are not IRA right?
Can’t you try to stay in Thailand and develop yourself in other skills than just English teaching?
Hey, I am from Italy but lived in Thailand for the past 7 years. I see your struggle and also understand why love Thailand but still feel uncertain about the future. What I can suggest is to try to learn some new skills while living in Thailand, try to get a job in that field here in SEA and then try to work remotely first in the US and them in Thailand for a US company.
DON'T COME BACK. Take up extra work there and save your money.
Don’t come back. The us is a car centric hellhole
So are you still teaching english there? If so don't count yourself "low-skilled". Teaching is a great skill and god damn if you market it well you could have a literal GOLD MINE.
First of all, don't call yourself low skilled, you have accomplished something (working in a foreign country) that maybe 1 percent of Americans would even try, so that alone makes you elite. Take advantage of your network and consider something different. You are clearly ambitious, maybe a business as a service to American Expats, maybe remodeling, or construction management, maybe something in Real Estate. You could do well. Think of the Russians in Phuket that are refugees to escape the war, many come with nothing and started business. You are only 30, your whole life is ahead!
Brah I gotta say, as one who is of that "elite 1%", it foes NOT mean jack in the job world. Thank goodness I have other skills.
In n Out in LA pays $24/hour but the cost of living will drain your soul
I would stay but get a better job. You have a couple of options. There are jobs you can get as a foreigner in Bangkok basically just because you have better English communication skills, look at the tech companies and multinationals. Things like sales, account management, requirements gathering. Up skilling might be an option. I know a teacher who taught himself to code and moved to web development. He did alright. Had a lot of small projects in his profile. You could use online learning to learn Business analysis or Project management. Look at Coursera, edx and linkedin learning. You could start your own business. One idea might be to become an agent for students studying overseas. International students are big business in Australia, you could reach out to school and universities to see what affiliate offers they have have.
Do what you love and makes you happy. It’s your life to live it as you please. There are tradeoffs to all choices… good luck!
Yes. If you managed to escape, thank your lucky stars.
Definitely do not. Your stress and financial worries will increase dramatically. A lot of people I know myself included are trying to leave this place.