In 2019, Mike Holp was working as a delivery person in Austin, Texas, making between $15 and $20 and hour delivering food on his bike and living in a small apartment with three roommates. He was forced to work tirelessly to make ends meet, and constantly felt like he was missing out on life. So, in November 2019, the 38-year-old quit his job, left his old life behind in Austin, and moved to Bali, Indonesia. He figured he’d spend a few months traveling, before returning home. During his travels, his ended up in Phuket, Thailand. He instantly fell in love with the area and knew he’d never go back to his old life. Holp has been living in Koh Samui, Thailand, for the last four years, where his financial situation has immensely improved. He works as a content creator — someone who writes, edits, and updates content for websites — while spending his days hiking, lounging on the beach, and snorkeling. He now lives in a brand-new one-bedroom house just five minutes from the beach, and his rent is only $600 a month. Saving money isn't the only thing Holp prefers about living in Thailand. He also said the people are super friendly, the food is delicious, and the tropical climate is warm all the time. His advice to other Americans stuck in a dead-end job and barely making ends meet: “It’s important to get out of your comfort zone in order to grow personally. Thailand has a lot to offer to anyone wanting to live a more unconventional life.”
