Comments on: How Soapy is Geoarbitraging in China

By: Max

Max — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 12:26:45 +0000

Great post and real-life examples of how geoarbitrage can really change personal finances. It’s a total underutilized resource in my opinion. When you don’t have to worry as much about paying the bills it frees up time to focus on investing in ourselves through education, side hustles, or just having fun. I journaled a bit about using geoarbitrage as a key tool for enabling taking a mini-retirement: https://interestinlife.com/early-retirement-blog/why-geoarbitrage-is-underrated-for-achieving-goals-in-life. I hope Soapy has this opportunity in the future too!

By: Money Mindset – Financial Sloth

Money Mindset – Financial Sloth — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 17:41:49 +0000

[…] relationship with money. To preface this whole article, not all Chinese are good with money (see Soap’s story over at The Frugal Gene). Nor are all of anybody good / bad / whatever at anything. […]

By: Lily

Lily — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 18:37:08 +0000

In reply to Mr. Groovy. Thank you Mr. G!

By: Lily

Lily — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 18:35:39 +0000

In reply to Financial Sloth. Thanks FS! Too bad she can only stay 90 days and have to "pretend" to leave before coming back. It's so silly!

By: Mr. Groovy

Mr. Groovy — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 02:02:13 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Lily. I wish Soapy well. It’s sounds like geoarbitrage China-style is her only chance to right her financial ship. If she plays it right, she can return to Toronto five years from now in style. Keep us posted. I love stories like this. They’re so inspirational.

By: Financial Sloth

Financial Sloth — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:07:24 +0000

Good luck to Soapy. We lived in a number of cities in China for about 10yrs (well my wife lived there forever!) and geoarbitraging is a thing. But like you said, you have to pick your city. We still go back and it is just as easy to spend money in Shanghai as it is in NYC or London. Even after living there for so many years, the hardest thing is smaller cities was the cultural gap. Even if you can speak and understand the culture, there are many days when you are just longing for a group of people that understand where you come from. In the smaller cities, that can be hard to find. I was spending time in my wife’s hometown one time (and usually I was the only foreigner there) when I saw another westerner on the street. We both stopped and looked at each other like, “what are YOU doing here?!) Turns out we were both dating a local 🙂 But I digress, if Soapy can stick it out, it is a great way to save and even pick up some frugal habits along the way!

By: Lily

Lily — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 18:12:39 +0000

In reply to Mr. MFC @ Morning Fresh Cent. It is still crowded and polluted! Of course it would be! Mr. Groovy (Freedomisgroovy.com) talks about it all the time. It's pretty smart if you're retiring or can work location independent.

By: Lily

Lily — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 18:11:04 +0000

In reply to GYM. Posh! A maid!