Shao Chun Chen moved from Singapore to Thailand in November 2024.
Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen
When Shao Chun Chen was laid off from his dream job at Google in early 2024, he was compelled to take a break and rethink how he wished his life to appear like. Instantly, he was not obligated to remain in his house nation of Singapore, the place he had constructed his whole profession.
“When the layoff occurred, I used to be [reflecting], you already know, feeling sorry for myself,” the 39-year-old informed CNBC Make It. “Then I requested myself: ‘Hey, let’s flip it round. How can this be a optimistic factor?”
“I wished to attempt one thing completely different, and I’ve all the time loved Thailand,” stated Chen.
Shao Chun Chen’s one-bedroom condominium in Chiang Mai, Thailand prices about $462 a month.
Courtey of Shao Chun
He was drawn to the varied environments that it provided, from bustling cities to serene seashores and mountains. As well as, he appreciated how the Asian nation had visas and insurance policies that have been clear and pleasant to foreigners.
In the end, Chen stated that his layoff allowed him to get out of his consolation zone and experiment with constructing out his dream life, and as a part of this life-style re-design, he and his spouse moved to Chiang Mai in November 2024.
Immediately, the 2 reside in a 600-square-foot one-bedroom luxurious condominium which prices 15,000 Thai baht (about USD $460) a month. The condominium got here totally furnished, and he pays about $20 a month for utilities, and about $15 a month on WiFi.
Chen’s condominium in Chiang Mai prices one-fifth what he was beforehand paying for lease in Singapore.
Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen
Chen stated he’s presently paying for his unit on a month-by-month foundation, so his lease could be cheaper if he commits to an extended lease. Beforehand, his 500-square-foot condominium in Singapore price about $2,500 a month — greater than 5 occasions the quantity he’s paying presently in Thailand.
His present condominium affords facilities resembling a gymnasium, a small pilates studio, a co-working house, a number of swimming swimming pools and a water slide.
Chen’s condominium in Thailand comes with a pilates studio.
Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen
Since getting laid off from his company job, Chen works for himself by creating instructional content on YouTube and from his teaching enterprise, by way of which he says he can cost $500 an hour, relying on the consumer.
He has additionally made cash by educating as an adjunct lecturer on the Nationwide College of Singapore, which required him to supercommute between Singapore and Thailand as soon as every week. Nonetheless, he’s now taking a break from this gig, he stated.
Moreover, Chen has constructed a seven-figure portfolio over the course of a few decade, in response to paperwork considered by CNBC Make It, which has afforded him monetary independence.
A ‘zero stress’ life
Chen famous that life in Thailand is way slower and “zero stress”, in contrast to how mentally taxing it was in Singapore, he stated. This has allowed him to chop down on bills.
“After I was in Singapore … [my job] paid very nicely, however the life-style was very hectic. I used to be working like 12 to 14 hours a day,” he stated. As a result of excessive stage of stress he skilled, Chen would cope by spending cash on issues like remedy, spa visits and consuming on weekends.
“The humorous factor is that now that I am right here, these items are far more reasonably priced, however I do not even need [them],” he stated. “My head house is totally completely different.”
Immediately, on high of utilizing the gymnasium in his condominium, Chen stated he sometimes pays for massages, which price about $15 an hour.
“I discover that I truly save extra money, although I do not work as a lot,” stated Chen.
Chen’s condominium additionally comes with a fully-equipped gymnasium.
Courtesy of Shao Chun Chen
Although he’s very joyful residing in Thailand, he would take into account shifting again to Singapore if the proper alternative opened up, he stated. For now, he’s residing presently and having fun with the life that Thailand has to supply.
“The earlier model of myself … I valued every little thing on effectivity and ROI,” stated Chen. “However then right here, individuals do not suppose that means. They could not have as a lot as a security web … however they appear to take pleasure in their daily, and so they even have time to take a seat down and revel in their espresso and have time to learn a ebook.”
“These are a number of the easy pleasures that I now am capable of afford, which does not truly price loads,” he stated.
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