I sold everything and left Australia for Asia because I was sick and tired of feeling poor. Now I live like a king at 24 and never stress about money

Tom Wedding was tired of feeling ‘poor’ while living paycheck to paycheck in Australia – so he packed up his life and moved to Asia.

The 24-year-old sold his belongings in early 2023 and worked remotely from his laptop while traveling abroad.

Tom, who divides his time between Bali and Thailand, told FEMAIL he could not afford a night out with friends in Australia, rarely dined in restaurants and felt limited by his finances.

He now invests and saves 60 percent of the $6,500 he earns each month while working in tropical paradises.

‘I missed a lot in Australia and it felt like it took over my life. Everything adds up as quickly as you go out,” he said.

‘Now I’m very spontaneous: if I want to go somewhere, I just book it. It’s also nice to work remotely because it gives me the freedom to do that.’

Tom also met his current girlfriend when he lived in Asia (pictured together)

Tom had a short stint in an office job in Australia, but after three months he quickly realized it wasn’t for him. He has been living out of a suitcase ever since.

For the past four months, Tom has been back home visiting family and staying for free between the Gold Coast and Melbourne.

During this time he realized how unaffordable Australia has become.

“The cost of living here in Australia is absolutely insane,” he declared in a TikTok video.

“I haven’t even had a haircut in two months while I was here for Christmas because I don’t want to pay $40-$60 – that’s just ridiculous.

“Sure, I can go somewhere cheap, but I want to get a nice haircut.”

While in Asia, Tom said he can “live like a king” because meals, accommodations and amenities are drastically cheaper.

He also chose to live in Bali and Thailand because they are close to Australia and the locals are friendly despite the language barriers.

Abroad he rents a scooter for $150-200 a month and gas costs about $10 to fill a tank

He spends $1200 a month on a huge villa in Thailand or Bali – while in Australia he paid $2200 a month

When living in Australia, Tom rented a small apartment that cost $2,200 a month, but now he pays $1,200 for a luxury villa in Bali that he has all to himself.

As for food, takeout Down Under usually costs at least $25 per meal, but in Asia Tom only has to pay $5 – $10.

Every two months he has to leave Bali or Thailand to reapply for the visa, but he often travels somewhere he has not been before.

So far he has visited Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, then used Bali and Thailand as ‘home base’.

Abroad, he rents a scooter for $150-$200 a month and gas costs about $10 to fill a tank.

However, one thing he misses about Australia – besides the picturesque beaches – is the safety.

Every two months he has to leave the country to reapply for a $60 visa, but he tends to travel somewhere he hasn’t been before. So far he has visited Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, then used Bali and Thailand as ‘home base’

Tom works two full-time jobs at a real estate company and a marketing brand and earns a combined salary of $6,500. And although he enjoys living abroad, he wishes he had an office space where he could retreat

Tom works two full-time remote jobs at a real estate company and a marketing brand that pay him a combined salary of $6,500 per month.

He also has a side job teaching others how to transition to remote work and live the nomadic lifestyle.

As for finances, he invests 30 percent of his income in cryptocurrency, saves 30 percent for an emergency fund and lives off the rest.

Tom believes that working remotely is the best way to reduce the cost of living and live a balanced lifestyle that is not dictated by finances.

He currently has no plans to return to Australia permanently, but he will always call it home.