The Athenian historian and general Thucydides said, “The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage.” The good news is: Today it’s easy to be courageous when it comes to going overseas—because it’s never been easier to have the freedom to live, earn, or retire anywhere in the world.
There are a lot of things to consider with a move overseas…especially how you’ll fund it. If you aren’t yet claiming your Social Security, or you’re looking to supplement it, in this month’s feature story we delve into the three easy online ways to earn while indulging your wanderlust. Portable technology, and a rising new culture of freelancing, means you can ditch the 9-to-5 grind and go wherever, whenever you want…and get paid to do it. Imagine having the flexibility and freedom to spend a month in Europe…or a few weeks in Ecuador’s Andes…or a year soaking up the sun in the Caribbean.
There are many ways to fund a new life overseas. When Sharon Matola, Sue Hufford, and Donna Wilson moved to Belize back in the 1980s (independently of one another), it’s fair to say facilities were basic—no meat, no milk, and no gasoline. Driven by the desire for a more interesting life outside the U.S., these three pioneering ladies saw opportunities to set up their own businesses—a zoo, a jungle resort, and a vegetable enterprise. You can read their story here.
Not only does living overseas offer adventure and numerous ways to earn money, a lower cost of living means the freedom and financial flexibility to indulge in life’s pleasures. In Thailand, Texas native JD Gruen, who lives on $1,600 a month says: “I’m retired and living well in my Social Security; I can breathe freely and live a better life.” His full story is here.
Also in Asia, Ryan Preston lives in the Cambodian city of Phnom Penh, where he pays $450 a month for his two-bedroom apartment. Not only does he enjoy the affordable, fresh food and a lively social life, but he also has the freedom to satisfy his wanderlust as “Phnom Penh is centrally located for travel to the rest of Southeast Asia.”
These days what you really need is simply the courage to give your overseas dream a try.
Asia and India can have brutally hot and humid weather. In colonial times, Western administrators—used to much cooler climes—sweltered, especially in summer. That decorum required suit and tie, or layers of petticoats, didn’t help. The solution was to create “hill stations” where they could escape to a higher elevation with cooler weather...
Moving abroad for the first time seemed overwhelming, especially with two kids in tow. Almost 20 years ago, my wife and I decided to walk away from our comfortable home in rural British Columbia and head for a small village on the coast of Scotland for a year. We were excited about moving to the other side of the pond.
Retire sooner. Spend less. Live better. That’s the end goal. And there’s no question: You can do it. You can do it in all sorts of beautiful, welcoming, good-weather communities that dot the globe from Latin America to Southeast Asia to Europe...
Did you know you can download and read your entire August issue as a PDF? Simply click on the link below and discover the secrets to retiring and investing overseas. Download your August 2018 Issue PDF here. Download your August 2018 Issue PDF