Living Cheaply in Other Countries [split] Article w/ Bob Wells in today's Guardian

[SLB_SA]

This morning the temperature was a balmy 12 degrees (F) (or -11 degrees (C)).  As the snow fell, I watched a youtube video  $500/mo COST OF LIVING for LOW BUDGET EXPATS in Ecuador (2021) by a couple living in Ecuador.  The currency in Ecuador is the US dollar.  Some vandwellers are on social security, receive more than $500 per month and are vandwellers by necessity rather than desire.  In addition to buying vans for people, does HOWA offer advice on living cheaply in other countries with good, inexpensive health care and greater safety than in the US?

 

[bullfrog]

It always amazes me and makes me sad when I see people leaving this country because they cannot afford to survive in this country. Am I the only one that thinks this is just wrong? Do we think people in other countries or the rest of the world are not having a hard life? Do we as persons or a country really want to take advantage of other people or other countries that are struggling? Why can’t we just try to find a way that helps everyone, instead of looking for ways that temporarily help just us. If you can’t survive in this country then something is wrong and needs to be fixed. It seems the world’s problems are rapidly becoming our problems.

 

[SLB_SA]

I am trying to be factual, not political.  The President is trying to address this by asking Congress to pass another covid relief bill.  While typing and listening to Bloomberg, I just heard that 5 million people can't pay their rent/mortgage this month.  This bill will not solve the underlying problem of inadequate jobs and wages for many and an inadequate safety net.  I am also being factual and not political when I point out that for certain individuals, moving to another nation that offers lower cost of living and more affordable healthcare and has structured their immigration system to encourage expats (from the US, Canada, the EU, Japan, etc) because that nation desires these expats might be a smart personal decision.

 

[Freelander]

I also think that "industrial agriculture" needs to be reformed UN report calls for end to industrial agriculture but I worry that many people would starve without the use of nitrogen fertilizers, huge combines, etc.  

The Chemical Fertilizers are a lot of the problem. When I was gardening, I didn't like to use any chemicals in my garden. I would add things like Cow Poop, Chicken Litter, and LOTS of grass clippings,  and in the fall I would plant Rye Grass and let it grow all winter.

The problem with Chemical Fertilizers, is they kill all the natural elements in the soil. It takes more work, but growing more organically is really the way to go.

 

[LERCA]

HOWA is focused on the US. Try living in a van in Ecuador or any places in Latin America and see what happens.
I have lived in Spain, Denmark, Mexico, Korea, Colombia and Paraguay. Far more countries than US states. I came home for the superior medical care. Denmark has a cancer survival rate on par with Albania. I’m a cancer survivor.
Anyway perhaps you can contact HOWA and ask them.
I’m grateful for Bob being one the early vanners who made basic, easy to understand videos although Kelly Doyle wrote to him and was ignored but don’t make a cult out him. He’s just a man. And an imperfect one at that as he admits.

 

[txmnjim]

It always amazes me and makes me sad when I see people leaving this country because they cannot afford to survive in this country. Am I the only one that thinks this is just wrong?

i definitely agree, and my latest "cause" has been elder poverty. our retirement system has a replacement rate of 30-40% of a person's working income while other countries replace twice that! it can be easily fixed by making the tax code fairer but it would take us working together to achieve  a common goal...something the propaganda doesnt want you to know 
jim

 

[txmnjim]

Denmark has a cancer survival rate on par with Albania. I’m a cancer survivor.

i would like a link if possible as everything i've found says this is not true?
jim

 

[SLB_SA]

HOWA is focused on the US. Try living in a van in Ecuador or any places in Latin America and see what happens.
I have lived in Spain, Denmark, Mexico, Korea, Colombia and Paraguay. Far more countries than US states. I came home for the superior medical care. Denmark has a cancer survival rate on par with Albania. I’m a cancer survivor.
Anyway perhaps you can contact HOWA and ask them.
I’m grateful for Bob being one the early vanners who made basic, easy to understand videos although Kelly Doyle wrote to him and was ignored but don’t make a cult out him. He’s just a man. And an imperfect one at that as he admits.

The video I linked has nothing to do with vandwelling; they are addressing people who want a place to rent, healthcare, food, utilities, etc. for $500 per month (or perhaps a bit more).  This will not appeal to many here but some people live on the road by necessity rather than desire. 
I have only lived in the US and Germany.  I have visited Italy, Lithuania, Spain, the UK, Australia, Taiwan, Canada, etc. and never had any complaints about the healthcare my family/friends or I received.  Dental care in Germany is very reasonable, for example, and Taiwan has an amazing healthcare system and affordable (outside Taipei) cost of living.  I doubt your claim about the cancer survival in Denmark but I could be wrong; Albania might have great cancer survival rates.  I also would like to see a link. 
As for contacting HOWA, I might but I wanted the opinions of people who actually interacted with HOWA.  What advice did you receive from HOWA?  (Bob recommends visiting Mexico but Mexico is less safe than Ecuador and many Latin American nations.)

 

[SLB_SA]

I was in Taipei a couple years ago for a three week long visit (as a scientific consultant). At breakfast, I talked with two nurses visiting Taiwan to study their healthcare system. One of the nurses work for the Cleveland Clinic and the other worked in SF for Kaiser. Both of them said Taiwan's healthcare system was far better than the US system and they were trying to learn things to take back to the US. These nurses were touring medical facilities throughout Taiwan, including urban areas, rural areas, island communities, etc., and were extremely impressed.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

One issue, in America, around developing a good safety net is that a large number of Americans think it is socialism which in their minds equates to communism which in their minds equates to being forced to break stones with a small pick axe in a quarry all day under the hot sun without their guns, along with the distrust of their government and all those that work there so not an easy task to get things done. It is a survival of the fittess attitude even from some of the most unfit. Not really sure how that developed or how to fix it.

 

[bullfrog]

Amazing some use social security to go live in countries with socialized medicine or health insurance that costs much less than in the US because it is basically a form of socialized medicine and claim they leave because of rising socialism in this country! I had an acquaintance years ago that after being an operative in Afghanistan moved to Afghanistan that had an agreement with the local tribesmen he could live there on his property, be left alone and basically do whatever he pleased with any trespassers. His cost was rather high for the property and privileges but it apparently made him happy as he was able to be mostly independent or free of what he considered “radical” government policies. Just goes to prove for some people moving to a foreign country may be the solution! Lol!!!

 

[abnorm]

""..... does HOWA offer advice on living cheaply in other countries with good, inexpensive health care and greater safety than in the US ?"

WHY would they ?

Do you think HOWA has some secret knowledge base of the world economies ? ........they teach what they Live.......what they Know

""Our mission at Homes On Wheels Alliance, Inc. is to prevent homelessness for our Veterans, Seniors, Women and the Working Poor while building community.""

Isn't that enough ?.....They don't give advice based on a YOUTUBE video......Mission Statement ^ from the last Annual Report PDF available:

https://homesonwheelsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Annual-Report-2019.pdf

 

[RoamerRV428]

HOWA is your focus in your post. They help here, in this country as it needs all the help it can get on the issues it addresses.

Of course many can go to other countries and live if they want. Cheap too. But not many want to fly away into unknown to 'live cheap'. Those who do want it, do it

Contact HOWA is your best bet but I never had any interaction with HOWA on your subject or any other subject.

If you want a van in another country go for it. You want to buy a small house in another country, go for it.

I am not gonna get into the 'what country is cheapest to live' etc debate or what country is best for this or that. I live here. I deal with here I don't wanna go there LOL

Just personal choices I make and others can make their personal choices, but contact HOWA is your best bet cause anyone contacting HOWA on this site, good chance it is all about the USA and not asking info about export to another country.

 

[jacqueg]

I’m grateful for Bob being one the early vanners who made basic, easy to understand videos although Kelly Doyle wrote to him and was ignored but don’t make a cult out him. He’s just a man. And an imperfect one at that as he admits.

Who on earth CARES whether he's perfect or not?

All I care about is when I have questions about being a van dweller, his website, including this forum, and videos are where I go first for ideas on how I might address my question. I don't accept anyone's opinions without checking around, but this is a great starting point, especially for folks who can't afford to just buy their way out of any problems they encounter.

BtW, who is Kelly Doyle?

 

[Cammalu]

Who on earth CARES whether he's perfect or not?

All I care about is when I have questions about being a van dweller, his website, including this forum, and videos are where I go first for ideas on how I might address my question. I don't accept anyone's opinions without checking around, but this is a great starting point, especially for folks who can't afford to just buy their way out of any problems they encounter.

BtW, who is Kelly Doyle?

Right. I’ve only seen a few of his videos but I don’t remember any of them being full of fluff. You could get actual info from them unlike many others who have nothing to talk about but their boring lives.

Never heard of a Kelly Doyle but I’ll bet Bob gets enough email to need a full time secretary and has no intention of answering it all.

Hey, that’s an idea. Somebody volunteer to be Bob’s secretary haha.

Poor Bob.

 

[crofter]

Thanks for the link on minimalist people living in Equador during the pandemic. A interesting detour from van dwelling in the hot dry desert, their area had the darker skies like PNW does without the high prices. I wonder if anyone ships their van there, or if van dwelling is possible there? 
-crofter

 

[eDJ_]

Hopefully, in before the lock.

If you don't know about these two sites you may want to check them out.


American Citizens Abroad Forum
https://www.expatforum.com/forums/
https://www.expatforum.com/forums/5 Steps to Expatriate
https://www.expatforum.com/forums/
https://www.expatforum.com/forums/

 

[crofter]

I did find these dwellers in Ecuador, link to video also includes a lived in van tour. 
-crofter

 

[crofter]

I did find these dwellers in Ecuador, link to video also includes a lived in van tour. 
-crofter

Best quote "this guy looks rich and homeless at the same time."

See I'm not the only one who takes cold showers.
-crofter