Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country • Hacker News Board

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#221

Post by ltnublet » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:12 PM UTC

agota wrote: post #180

h3333 wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I once read a fictional story about a 20 year old selling his remaining lifespan except 3 months for 30 yen. Imagine how awful that life must be if it only sells for 30 yen. He didn't know it when he sold his lifespan, but his future self would have spent his remaining life in a hospital after an accident. The moral of the story is that it turned out to be a good deal. Those flats are the same. The $15,000 is probabl…

Where is the story from?

Not the original commenter, but it sounds like the manga “Jumyou wo Kaitotte Moratta. Ichinen ni Tsuki, Ichimanen de.”

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#222

Post by bpodgursky » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:15 PM UTC

amerkhalid wrote: post #197

helpPeople wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How bad is it? I pay more than 50 percent of my income in various taxes in the United States. Before anyone asks, federal income, Medicare, Medicaid, social security, state income, state sales tax, local property tax, and lesser- luxury and gas tax.

You have to make more than $2M a year to pay 50% or more of your income in taxes in California: https://smartasset.com/taxes/income-taxes#nJbFzkKePY Of course, above calculator doesn't include sales, property, luxury or gas taxes.

10% sales tax, and a couple percent property tax on a $500k-1mm home (in CA) moves that threshold a lot, lot lower.

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#223

Post by pergadad » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:20 PM UTC

helpPeople wrote: post #150

alipang wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a company in Bulgaria while working remotely for a high-salary EU country, and it's almost shocking to realise how much you spend on taxes in most European countries when you see the difference in your bank account. It's quite a good deal if you want to be a digital nomad since it's an EU country and you can get a really small apartment for almost nothing to use as your official address while travelling. (You'…

How bad is it? I pay more than 50 percent of my income in various taxes in the United States. Before anyone asks, federal income, Medicare, Medicaid, social security, state income, state sales tax, local property tax, and lesser- luxury and gas tax.

If you pay taxes abroad the US will still haunt you to show that you paid - and if it's lower than you would have paid back home claim the difference.

Many American expats in Europe that have acquired the right for local nationality give up their nationality for that reason.

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#224

Post by pergadad » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:22 PM UTC

_hao wrote: post #12

As a Bulgarian living and working in London for more than a year now, I have no intention of going back. The IT sector in the country is booming and the money you can make relative to the cost of living is insane - you can live like a king. To me that is not enough. Money are not enough to make me go back, even though I miss my friends and family. One of the biggest problems for me is that the country is stuck in thi…

Living in a country with lots of Bulgarian expats. 100% understand your position and would do the same thing - but so sad that most of the good and honest people leave the country. If so of you stayed things would probably change very quickly. :-(

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#225

Post by malandrew » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:24 PM UTC

cpursley wrote: post #184

h3333 wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I once read a fictional story about a 20 year old selling his remaining lifespan except 3 months for 30 yen. Imagine how awful that life must be if it only sells for 30 yen. He didn't know it when he sold his lifespan, but his future self would have spent his remaining life in a hospital after an accident. The moral of the story is that it turned out to be a good deal. Those flats are the same. The $15,000 is probabl…

They're cheap because of the population decline, lack of local jobs and overbuilding / speculation leading up to 2008. The flats are fine and many have never even been occupied. In Bansko, most are within walking distance to the main ski lift, the old downtown area, coworking and other public spaces. It's really a unique opportunity for those who work remotely and want to live in an outdoors-oriented place in Europe…

How does Bansko compare to well-known US ski towns?

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#226

Post by pergadad » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:24 PM UTC

tyzerdak wrote: post #207

eanthy wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does the politics and whatever people are saying affect your day to day life though? If you can make 10k a month there and buy a flat for 15k, in a few years you don't even need to work anymore. Why would you not even consider living there? Maybe as the old saying: familiarity breeds contempt

Because in any day your apartment can be turned into potato. Mafia can get eye on you, or government. Or more extreme for example Crimea occupied, ppl got to jail for nothing and nobody gives a fuck. Better to be in some bigger country with at least some law power. I would go to GB, Canada or Australia if i had a chance.

Crimea is Ukraine though. Putin might be bold enough to annex Ukrainian territory but I doubt he'd challenge an EU country.

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#227

Post by BerislavLopac » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:29 PM UTC

zimmerfrei wrote: post #152

Zenst wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2011/12/poland-income-... "An individual is defined as resident of Poland, if at least one below-mentioned condition is fulfilled: the individual has closer personal or economic relations with Poland (center of vital interests) or The individual stays on the territory of Poland longer than 183 days in a given fiscal year." So if you have somebody working abroad, paying tax abroad…

The keyword is "center" (though something may have been lost in translation): the same treaty conditions against double taxation exist between other EU countries and what matters is always what is the country you have the tightest relationship with. Sending home money is definetly secondary compared to pay for bills, rent, groceries, etc in the country you are actually living in.

Croatian tax authority has been trying something similar for people working in countries that don't have a double-taxation-prevention treaties in place. So people working in UAE, USA and other non-EU countries find themselves double-taxed e.g. if they have any property and/or family (spouse and children) back in Croatia, as many do.

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#228

Post by abawany » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:32 PM UTC

cpursley wrote: post #25

A side effect of a stagnant economy and population shrinkage is that Bulgarian property is really cheap. You can purchase a modern flat starting around $15,000 (or rent for really cheap) in a ski community with a very strong remote worker presence (Bansko). If you do this right, you can also become a resident and benefit from a flat 10% income tax which is lowest in the EU. No affiliation; I just find this type of ar…

This article from NYT implies that prices in Bulgaria are generally increasing: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/realestate/house-hunting-... .

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#229

Post by gdy » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:36 PM UTC

tyzerdak wrote: post #209

gdy wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is a disgusting russophobia. You should be ashamed.

Crimea, downing airplane, war in Ukraine. Just last 5 years. So I think it's true.

What is true?

Imagine someone saying "Jews are locusts in the Middle East". What do you think would be the reaction?

Re: Bulgaria is the world’s fastest-shrinking country

#230

Post by dimitar » Wed, Oct 02, 2019, 5:38 PM UTC

I'm living in Sofia and I wouldn't live anywhere else.

I got a comfortable job in IT which makes me a outlier though. I pay around 20% of my income in taxes and national insurance funds, excluding VAT. I actually believe I should be taxed more, even thought I'm far from the 1%. My costs for housing, utilities and transportation are low. Entertainment is cheap and the cafe's and clubs are always full.

I get to eat out or go out as much as I want without straining my budget and I appreciate it because my friends in Western Europe live in lonely suburbs away from any friends and from the expensive city centers. And comfortable as they are they are still foreigners - something I tried for a few years, but didn't enjoy too much. That said I know a lot of expats that love it here.

My friends in richer countries afford nicer cars and Apple products, but spend very little time outside their homes, long commutes and workplaces. I have yet to have one I envy even the slightest, but many people here believe that emigrants are showered with money for nothing.

I travel a lot, both in richer countries and have been poorer parts like in Africa and Latin America. Travelling has only made me appreciate my country more. Seeing much people in poorer societies being much happier and grateful is eye opening!

The healthcare is actually not that bad, if you have private insurance. People complain about the ZOC because it covers very little costs, but is focused on the most needy. I have close friends who had very expensive heart surgeries and didn't pay a lev for it. It is shameful and suspicious to say good things about any government institution so these friends keep quiet anout it. It is true that many of the medical workers stay here because of their families and out of charity for the country. Recently the nurses went on strike because they are paid close to minimum wage.

My perspective might change if I get older, but so far I'm happy.

I don't think the statistics are misleading but I don't think they represent the future. The trend is your friend until it ends..