How to become a digital nomad (and live like a king)

I’m 26, from the UK, and I’ve lived in Bangkok for 2 years. My rent is under $600/mo, and I earn over $10K/mo.

It's never been a better time to become a digital nomad. The lifestyle is amazing, you get to experience new cultures, learn new languages, meet new people, all while stacking the bank because of the low cost of living.

It's an incredible opportunity to leave home, throw yourself in the deep end, and learn a lot about who you are.

It is the ultimate definition of "freedom".

Here's everything you need to know in order to become a digital nomad:

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1. Online money

The most important part of being a digital nomad is being able to make money online. The most secure way of consistent online income is by having a freelance-able skill. You do NOT want to go broke out here and have to ask mommy for a flight back home.

There's multiple to choose from:

• Marketing

• Copywriting

• Web design (I did this one)

• Development

I sourced my clients from X by re-designing a popular crypto company's landing page, posting it on X, tagging them, and catching their attention.

Pick one. Get good at it. Increase your rates until you're making $3,000-4,000/mo. Now you're ready to move.

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2. Moving abroad

Now you're making $3-4K/mo online, you can afford to travel while working. Some like to backpack - but I prefer to base myself in one place.

A few places I'd recommend starting out at this budget:

• Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket

• Vietnam: Da Nang, Ha Noi

If you like the city life, choose a city. If you like the beach life, choose an island. Visit a few places first, then decide where you want to stay.

VISAS

VISA options are better in Thailand. For only $500, you can get a DTV VISA which allows you to stay up to 5 years in Thailand (you just need to re-enter the country every 6 months).

COSTS

Budget for around $2,000-2,500/mo. Here's my costs:

• 1-bed condo: $500-600/mo

• Wifi, water, electricity, phone: $150/mo

• Food (delivery): $550/mo

• Other: $500-800/mo

Make sure you have at least $5,000 saved up. As you'll want to party a bit in the first couple months, and if there's one thing that isn't cheap in Thailand - it's nightlife.

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3. Increasing your income

You've had your couple months of fun. Now it's time to lock in. It's all very well living on $3-4k/mo - but let's be real, we wanna be driving lambos, not budgeting our meals.

I went from $3k/mo to $12-15k/mo within 6 months. Here's exactly how I did it:

1. Built a mobile app, learned marketing, scaled it to $10K/mo

2. Shared mobile app advice on X, built my following, earned from extra revenue streams (X payouts, sponsorships, consulting)

3. Built SaaS for other builders, more revenue

4. Got hired by a big startup, paid very well, because they knew me from X

It's quite a simple formula really:

Get good at something → Teach others how to do it → Build your personal brand → Open up new revenue streams

Building your personal brand is genuinely the most AI-proof thing you can do. No one can replace your face, your voice, or the trust your audience has in you.

But you won't build your personal brand by shitposting - you NEED to offer people value if you want to be valued.

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4. The golden zone

You've got the personal brand, the SaaS, the sponsorships. You're making over $10K/mo in Thailand, where your costs are <$2,500/mo.

This is the "golden zone". This is where:

• You can afford to travel more

• You can afford to invest a LOT into ETFs

• You can afford to invest in your own SaaS/startups

• You can afford to invest in YOURSELF

This part is the best part. You're not worried about getting clients. You're not worried about anything really. If anything, you're finding it harder to be motivated, because there's no immediate risk.

Funnily enough - this is the zone that will catapult you towards $50k/mo, $100k/mo and so on. The super successful are the ones who can afford to take their time with their next venture, and think further ahead into the future.

I am in this zone right now. Making enough money to live like a king, but not enough to feel "rich".

You won't get rich on your first attempt. But you might on your second, your fifth, your fiftieth. Who knows. With a solid income, and savings stacking up, you afford yourself more shots at the dart board. Because eventually something will hit bullseye and you'll achieve true financial freedom.

Examples of people who have done this: @levelsio, @marclou, @wickedguro - I strongly recommend you follow them, if you haven't already, and learn about their journeys. Each are different. And so will be yours - but man is it helpful to see how these people think, operate and execute.

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5. Things to be aware of

I've told you all the good things. Here's a few things to keep in mind, as not a lot of people mention it:

Loneliness

It can be quite lonely at first. You need to make new friends, which is not easy. You won't be able to speak to Thais. And other travelers are mostly here for a short trip. It's a good thing really - it forces you to go outside and become more confident speaking to people. Just be aware that your first couple months might feel a bit "meh".

Temptations

There are a lot of things you can do here - especially in Thailand - and many go broke because of it. Have your fun, but don't make a habit of it. The cost racks up fast.

Time zones

Obvious one but it can be annoying having to wake up early or stay up late to make a call to someone in the US.

That's about it. None are deal-breakers for me. But definitely worth mentioning!

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6. Summary

You don't need to lock yourself in your mom's basement to get rich online.

You can enjoy these years, live cheap, meet new people, have fun - all while traveling the world.

Take the leap. Experience the world. Build your empire in luxury.

You've got this.

Feel free to ask any questions below - I'd love to help you take that leap 👇