Can you live well for less by retiring abroad?
Retiring abroad isn't for everyone or even for most people, admits MSN columnist Liz Pulliam Weston. But the adventurous can find comfortable, even luxurious, lifestyles in many locales for far less than what they would pay at home.
Despite the attractions, most people are more than a little leery of becoming expats – and that’s really too bad, say the editors at EscapefromAmerica, a clearing house for all those who dream of someday being somewhere else.
Unfortunately, most people just talk about heading elsewhere, says Susan Bradley, a zealot who made the move a few years ago and now sends out regular invitations to do the same via her a blog, the Expat Daily News.
And there has never been a better time to learn about and plan for making this fantasy a reality, she maintains. A strong dollar and rebounding stock markets will help stretch your money far beyond what you might enjoy by staying at home.
Not convinced? Here are her 7 most common excuses for not making a move abroad and how you can overcome them.
Thinking of going it alone? Then you might like to take a look at RetiringSinglesOverseas, a social networking and travel site where retired single people post their profile and their pictures, discuss where in the world they want to visit, live, or retire and meet up with others who share their dreams and ideas.
You never know.
Would you consider moving abroad? Do you buy the argument that your dollar will go a lot farther if you spend it out of the country?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: John Gaul | Jul 6, 2021 8:24:27 AM
So, consume the benefits of Canada in your pre-retirement years, take your CPP, OAS, your pension and investment income and move away? What is wrong with this picture?
I would like to see the government apply a penalty beyond no provincial health care coverage. How about a leaving tax to help Canada recoup some of the lost money from people spending their Canadian generated wealth somewhere else?
People should be free to leave their country however they should leave something such as a reduced government pension rate to make up for their loss to our economy and to future generations left behind.
John Gaul
Posted by: d. mckinstry | Jul 6, 2021 8:57:59 AM
get a life. after spending 45 years working and paying taxes that get applied to programs, policies and people like you that disgust me, i have the right to live anywhere i desire!
Posted by: Lisa | Jul 6, 2021 9:05:40 AM
Yes, I would consider moving abroad, where things are much cheaper, in retirement.
As for the comment about our "health care"...here's a scenario for you. This happened to someone I know. This person is in a wheelchair and on disability. The problem is, disability for this person, here in Canada is less than $1000. a month. Who can live comfortably on that?? So...do I feel bad for the Canadian gov't. No. Not in the least. By the way, our tax dollars keep getting wasted in our "so-called" great country. Do I want to stay here? No.
Posted by: Ron | Jul 6, 2021 9:11:57 AM
I don't think it matters where someone retires. The money that they receive from CPP is their own money and not the governments or any tax payers. It's money that the government has taken from them during their working years. Objecting to this, would be like telling someone you can't leave your country for a vacation because you are spending money that should be spend in your own country.
I absolutely agree that if you can retire somewhere else for pennies on the dollar do it. After all, it's YOUR money.
Posted by: Susan Beverley | Jul 6, 2021 11:18:55 AM
Thank you for picking up on my articles and sharing them, but can I just point out my name is Susan Beverley, and not Susan Bradley. No big deal, just wanted to set the record straight.
Warm regards.