You Should Not Retire Cheap Internationally If

My goal when I retire from my current job at the USPS, in less than 6yrs, is to spend about 6 months out of country and the rest in country. I am also retired Navy and put 20% of my pay into my TSP every payday. I don’t understand how people would even want to risk living in another country with bare minimum finances??? I’ve seen videos where ex pats are begging on the streets because their money “dried up”. So my point would be this, not to be so frugal and get the impression that life will be grand on $1000. a month in any country. Sure, you may live slightly better in another country on $1000. a month but I would want to enjoy life to the fullest and not have to budget to the point where I cant go out and have a cup of coffee because I’m broke.

Really…. No insurance? I was 51 when I moved to Thailand and in super shape. The first thing I did was buy a BUPA insurance policy, good anywhere in the world except the US. I was running 5K every day and even though in top physical condition I suffered a stroke at age 65. I could not possibly evacuate back to the US and I was hospitalized for nearly 9 months between International and Rehab hospitals. My bill would have been easily US$200,000 which fortunately I could afford, but it would have hurt. Everyone who travels internationally should purchase insurance. Besides, Thailand right now will not let you enter without proof of insurance for the length of stay. Plus the fact that there is now tiered prices in the hospitals, Thai price and Farang price.

Try Mexico just to save cash where a couple could live for $500 monthly. I was receiving SSDI and lived in Costa Rica and the Philippines and finally Guatemala living on much less than my monthly check investing the extra in Vanguard mutual funds.