How To Improve Your Lifestyle & Reduce Spending During End-Stage Capitalism (2023)

Escape plans for westerners to keep their economic heads above water amid the rising tides of inflation and the decline of the west.

Don’t worry, this piece starts off a little gloomy but ends up pleasantly surprised.

What I am about to share isn’t easy to handle for most people. The topic is controversial and only a few people might be able to take advantage of this approach as a solution for their circumstances.

But it could literally save your life.

If you’re looking at your future and weighing your options just like I am, then this article may help you consider new avenues to reaching your goals. For me, I want to prolong enjoying life. I’d also like to reduce the stress of the struggle that so many of us westerners live with every day. And, well, I’d like to have a little money left over every month that I can enjoy spending.

I don’t think that’s asking too much for a life spent working. What I know for certain is that staying in western countries, at least for people like me, is unsustainable.

Suffice it to say that western culture has went too far into excess and it’s probably too far gone to find it’s way back to sanity. The reasons one might consider leaving their home country are many and growing.

In this article:

• who this article is for
• how much money you’ll need
• methods you could use to improve your life and spend less
• places where your money goes farther
• some tools and further reading

Who is this article for?

Well, unfortunately, very few people fit into the specific groups I will describe as the best chance of escaping the economic woes in western countries in this decade.

One group I will not be discussing are those who have enough money to retire comfortably in their home country. Congrats to them. They don’t need the information herein.

My goal is to reach the groups who are in danger of falling through the cracks; those with economic challenges that are dramatically exacerbated by inflation, unfettered capitalism, and aging.

Unfortunately, most people who fit into those groups currently don’t fit into any of the target groups that might benefit from this article. But some do.

The list is narrow because western society has spent a century to corral labor and markets into profit funnels for the wealthy.

We’re all taught to punch a timeclock, work hard, and put in a days work in order to earn a day’s pay. But at the end of the day, we’re cast out into the streets with nothing. No pension, no retirement, and it happens just when health problems arise.

Any individuals that dared not adhere to the western economic culture have been met with manufactured obstacles shoe-horning them back in step with the masses of economic slaves the west depends upon.

Therefore, this is a list of the fortunate few who still have a way to improve their lives despite the west’s ever-increasing noose around their necks.

A. Social Security Recipients and Pensioners

If you’re able to collect social security or a pension, and it’s more than $1,000 USD per month, then you might be able to benefit from a lifestyle change that will enable you to weather the coming economic storm. You may not be in this category yet, but one day you might. This is why I think it’s important to remind you to start planning now.

B. Passive Income Recipients

If you’ve invested or have some kind of way to receive a fairly solid income stream — without physical labor — that pays you more than $1,000 USD per month, then you might be able to take advantage of the approach I will be discussing herein. You might not be in this category now, but one day you could be if you found a way to make this happen.

C. Remote Workers and Digital Freelancers

If you have proven skills or experience working remotely or creating digital income streams that amount to more than $1,000 USD per month, then you’re in the right place. If you’re not used to working online, using streaming video, or working as a digital creator, you might want to start learning how now.

There may be other groups I have not thought of, but these three groups are the target audience of this article.

The main reason I am confident this article might be a best-fit for these groups is because I fit into two of these groups and in a short few years I will fit into the third group as well. I have already done the research and done deep dives into the data to ensure an unbiased approach.

How Much Money You’ll Need: Peanuts

Start putting away some money if you can. Even if it’s just peanuts. You’re probably going to need it. Most people live paycheck to paycheck, which makes saving money impossible. But if you can, put some aside. I’ll recommend some amounts based on a few scenarios later in this article. Of course, the best way to cross the bridge from where you are now to a better lifestyle is with a little pocket money.

One option you may have when the time is right is to sell everything you own except your passport, some clothes, and a carryon. If you’ve been lucky and have a vehicle that’s been paid off, plan to sell it. Used cars are increasing in value and that might be enough spending money to set yourself up somewhere more affordable.

Methodologies: Strategic Relocation & Geoarbitrage

Improving your lifestyle whilst reducing your spending is possible through strategic relocation and geoarbitrage.

The cultural condition westerners receive their entire lives tells them they just need to work harder, work more, and make themselves more valuable to their employers in order to get ahead, advance and keep up with the Joneses.

Well, contrary to popular belief, that’s horseshit!

The notion that we must earn more to survive is unsustainable. The truth they don’t want you to hear is that spending less is more powerful than earning more. Let me say that again…

The truth they don’t want you to hear is that spending less is more powerful than earning more.

Although most people’s lives are stuck in the artificial financial funnel system that’s enslaved them for most of their lives, some lucky folks can avoid that by living elsewhere. You can spend less somewhere else!

As I said earlier, not everyone can or even wants to consider leaving the country they were born in. But what choice do you have?

If you have the choice to remain in a western country, then are you truly considering what you’re missing out on by living somewhere else?

We live in a global society more now than ever before. The basic concept in the art of geoarbitrage and strategic relocation is that the world is now more open and accessible. So why not go where you’re treated better — where your dollar stretches farther?

Using strategic relocation or geoarbitrage you can find a place that’s just right for you. Here’s an article that explains this very well:

Places Where Your Money Goes Farther

Depending on where you decide to live, your money will stretch farther than in any western country. ALL the countries listed below have a cost of living that’s far below ALL western countries. That means your money will enable you to level up your lifestyle while spending less every month.

No matter where you go, chances are you’ll save money and live better. If you appreciate a more simple life, and you don’t mind less access to western style food and housing, then you’ll be able to reduce your cost of living by more than 75%.

For me, I like the idea of being able to celebrate with visiting friends and family. But I like to be able to afford it even better. That’s fairly impossible in most western countries. Everything is just too expensive.

To make the experience of visiting friends next-level, you just have to have them come visit you in a wonderful place that’s unfamiliar or even tropical. Maybe, near the beach or in a place most only experience on vacation.

Imagine living in Panama and having an extra $500 USD per month to spend. You could save up for summer and invite friends over for a week of adventure, beach trips, sailing, dining out, exploring little town, and much more. You’d be able to cover most of the costs because the cost of living there is so much cheaper than a wester country like the US or UK.

Maybe you prefer Southeast Asia, Portugal or Spain. Since you’ll have more financial flexibility, you could send an invitation to your loved ones that says you’ll put them up in a villa if they’ll fly out for a weekend or an entire week. Your cost for a 4 bedroom villa on the coast of Spain for 10 days, $1,200 USD. You could find a cheaper villa if you wanted. But for the sake of discussion, that’s an average rate.

The point is to image yourself in a happy place. Then go there.

In every country I recommend below, you can have as lavish a lifestyle you want the bigger your budget. Which means you can scale up your lifestyle and still save money over what you’d be paying at home in your western country. You can also scale down your costs just as easily. In most western countries, you can’t scale down.

Rather than provide a detailed explanation for each of the many countries where you can live happily for less, I’m going to list a few of my favorite countries you might add to your research list — because you need to find the right fit for yourself.

Below that list I will give you a few articles that go into much more detail about many of the places I recommend.

In alphabetical order, here are the best places you might consider relocating or retiring to:

• Belize
• Cambodia
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• Bali, Indonesia
• Mexico
• Montenegro
• Thailand
• Panama
• Philippines
• Portugal
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Uruguay
• Vietnam

This list of countries is by no means ideal for everyone. Sure there are other countries that didn’t make my list. That’s not because they’re not wonderful places. I just couldn’t put that many here to keep the list relatively short.

I have researched the countries on the list. Some are easier to get visas for, some more difficult. Another option is to perpetually travel from country to country — which is still more affordable than staying full time in a western country.

Despite the myths you might have heard, most countries do have flush toilets and are as safe as whatever country you are used to. In some cases, the safety and security is better.

Some people can’t mentally see themselves living in some of these countries because of their standards or customary lifestyle.

Meanwhile, some people would prefer a grass hut on the beach. In any case, if you do a little research on one or more of those places on the list, you’ll discover there’s a lot of significant benefits to living abroad.

Retirement vs Relocation

For many reasons it’s worth a mention that some countries make it easier to immigrate to and stay longer durations for retirement age westerners. So if you are over 50, then your chances are even better to get a longer term visa with many countries. Retiring in another country is like going all-in. It’s nice to have a backup plan, but many have committed to a life of learning another language and culture.

There are a lot of people who juggle countries and travel perpetually. Some are often referred to as “digital nomads” and they typically don’t stay in one country very long.

Many perpetual travelers practice “slow travel” and stay as long as the country will allow, then move on to their next place. For some, that might get old quick. But there’s something amazing about the freedom to explore that drives many travelers to do just that for many years.

Relocation or retirement are just where you spend most of your time. It’s important to mention that you do not have to give up your western citizenship or your residence in almost all cases in order to stay long term in most countries. You can maintain a western address, bank, and other western connections you may enjoy while relocating abroad.

Tools & Resources

• YouTube — research
• Wise — Money Transfers and Exchange
• Google Search — seriously, it’s a good tool.
• Numbeo — cost of living crowdsourced info
• International Living — News and Info for Expats
• Travel & Leisure’s Cheapest Places to Live Abroad
• Conde Nast Traveler — How to Retire Abroad
• Global Citizens Abroad
• Expatra — Top 20 Best Countries to Retire

Further Reading and Watching

If, after reading this article, and checking out the articles and watching the videos below, you still need help with where to relocate, leave a comment and I’ll be glad to point you in the right direction.

Please share, subscribe, and comment. Thank you!

Erik Blair is a highly experienced and versatile individual with a diverse professional background. He has served in the military, worked as a police officer, held various leadership positions, and successfully run his own business as a self-employed entrepreneur, web developer, and content creator. His unique set of skills and experiences have prepared him to take on a wide range of challenges and opportunities. In his free time, Erik enjoys writing, traveling, photography, and technology, and he is also a published author who writes for several publications.

For info about relocating abroad or retiring overseas, visit ESCAPETHE.US