Tag Archives: digital nomads

Travel Tips

Travelling and Working in Bangkok: What Digital Nomads Should Know

1 Comment

It’s no surprise that Thailand has become a hotbed for digital nomads coming from all over the world. With its beautiful beaches, a plethora of islands, delicious foods, choices of co-working spaces, and friendly hosts, Thailand has established itself as one of South East Asia’s most welcoming paradises. The low costs, easy-going lifestyle, and beautiful sights are just a few reasons why the country has attracted so many location-independent professionals. Below is a guide to everything you need to know if you’re working remotely in Bangkok, Thailand.

digital nomads

1. Lifestyle

Bangkok is, for most visitors, the first stop when they enter Thailand. Whether they’re headed north to Chiang Mai or south to the iconic islands, they’ll usually spend at least a day or two in the capital city. What any visitor will soon find is that Bangkok is a versatile city that has something for everyone. It has tropical trees and golden-roofed temples. It has exotic foods and charming, outdoor markets. It also has, however, well-paved roads, efficient public transportation, and refined luxuries like fine dining and impressive shopping malls. It is the perfect mix of an exotic getaway and a well-developed city.

Couple that with warm weather year-round, low living costs, and a booming expat community, and you have yourself one of the most vibrant and growing cities in the world today.

2. Survival Tips

While there isn’t too much to complain about when it comes to the quality of life in Bangkok, no place is perfect. This is especially true when you’re living the life of a digital nomad and are reliant on things like the internet. Depending on your location, wifi in apartments and cafes can be weak. This means you’ll probably have to invest in a solid connection on your own or rent your own workplace.

The issue of getting a visa is always, well, an issue. If you can’t afford a six-month visa, then making frequent visa runs will become an integral part of your life abroad. This also means you’ll have to regularly watch out for your visa status. Most nomads are working in Thailand illegally. And while most people you meet are friendly and genuinely curious about your life and work, it’s better to minimize interactions regarding your work status as it can get you reported. This is, of course, true of anywhere you work without paying taxes.

3. Where to Work

It might be easy for some to work in the comfort of their home or in a cafe. For others, however, proper office space is required to build their business, network, and have a proper workplace environment to rely on.

You can find coworking spaces around you almost anywhere in Bangkok. They not only provide an office space that will anchor your work but are an affordable and flexible resource for networking and community building. They’re great for collaboration, exchanging ideas, and finding work in Bangkok for foreigners. There’s a good chance you’ll find someone in your field considering the limited amount of work being done online.

4. Workshops and Events

A number of nomads have taken the initiative in hosting their own workshops and career-oriented events. Many of these are cheap or free of charge. This is an excellent way to meet other independent professionals in your field of work. As this is becoming more and more popular, locations in Bangkok have been making things easier and more affordable to choose venues for your workshop. Event centers, conference halls, and outdoors summits are becoming the norm and areas accessible to attend as they are to host.

5. Health, Insurance, and Regional Concerns

Be sure to get both vaccinated and insured before arriving to Thailand. Since you’re coming, most likely, on a tourist/temporary visa, getting travel insurance or an alternative option in your own country is a necessary task. You should also take some time to read about food poisoning, water sickness, and other ways that your body might act up as it begins to acclimate to new foods and bacteria.

Thailand also happens to be more conservative on the political spectrum. Knowing what you can and can’t say when it comes to politics can make the difference between time spent in the sun or behind bars. Like visiting any country, do some research on some of the cultural norms, laws, and what is considered taboo before arriving.

Life is a joy for most digital nomads in Bangkok. You can learn more about tips to become digital nomads in Bangkok here. We hope these tips help you in your journey to the land of smiles

Travel Tips

8 Good Money Investment Ideas for Digital Nomads

Leave a comment

It is important to invest your money where you are likely to earn good returns or get a safety net for the future when you will not be earning much. The investment may be in a business or tangible asset that is appreciating. Digital nomads such as freelancers need to identify one or a few projects and plan on the investment in the middle and long-term. Here are some of the best ideas to invest the money as a digital nomad.

Consider Medical Insurance 

A medical cover comes in handy if you get sick or are involved in an accident. As a nomad, you will be travelling from one corner of the country to the other. In case of an accident or if you catch an illness while travelling, you are sure that you will not have to pay the hospital charges from your pocket. The cover also takes care of your loved ones in similar circumstances. Ensure that you pick a medical insurance provider that covers a wide range of risks involved in travelling. 

Invest In Provident Funds 

Provident funds are good long-term investments. In essence, they involve keeping aside a small amount out of your monthly income. This amount grows fast in about 15 years. At the end of the provident fund duration, you could use the money to invest in the other ideas in this guide or take part of it for a holiday to your favourite destination.

Join a Retirement Plan 

There are a number of retirement investment schemes that digital nomads can join. When you are over 60 years, you may not be in a position to make enough from the job that you are currently doing. The retirement investment may come in handy since it ensures that you have enough for your sunset years. Look for reputable private pension schemes to invest in. You can do it with low amounts and still save significant amounts, especially if you start saving early. 

Mutual Funds 

The main advantage of mutual funds is that they are funded by several investors but managed professionally. This saves you from the hustle of having to analyse all the trades that are available for investing. With proper professional management, mutual funds grow rather quickly and bring good returns, making them some of the smart investments to make money. They are also quite flexible and easy to liquidate should you get into financial problems. Instead of saving your cash in the bank, you may pick one or two mutual funds whose managers have a reputation for good fund management. 

Recurring Deposits 

Recurring deposits are saving schemes where you put in your money for a specific period. This is a great way to fund travelling or events at specific dates in the future. You will only be paying a small amount of your monthly income and will have some significant amounts after a definite period. Most investment periods range from six months to several years. However, you have the liberty to determine the ideal length of time you will invest in the fund. 

Investments in Property 

A good number of digital nomads do not see the need for investing in the property market since they are always on the move, which is understandable. However, it is good to plan that time when they will want to settle down and maybe have a family. If that is not among your plans, you can invest in rental properties for some income. Across Australia, holiday homes are the next big thing. You can buy a holiday home and make it a commercial accommodation investment for most of the time that you are not around. 

Invest in Buying Prize Draws 

Prize draws are great ways to invest in communities that you visit around the world. Therefore, consider investing in prize draws run by organisations that support these communities. There is usually a wide range of prizes to be won from these draws.You get a chance of winning a house, trips, car or other worthy prize. When you decide to invest in prize draws, pick one or two so that you do not spend lots of cash on prize tickets. 

Investing In Running Businesses 

You may also consider investing in running businesses and companies. You can buy stocks and shares from particular companies or even partner with others in setting up businesses. With a broad market and good solutions, you can grow a business while still freelancing. However, you must have a background in business management if you plan to take an active role in the venture. This may also limit your freelancing lifestyle. There are still online business models such as drop shipping that you can invest in without active participation in dealing with clients. 

When selecting an investment plan as a nomad, consider the probable returns, the period of the investment and the community around you. Pick a business that promotes your current lifestyle.