Retirement Abroad
Bureaucracy, Red Tape & Legalities to Contend With When Retiring Abroad
Report filed under: Living Abroad Guides » Retirement Abroad
Fri, March 12, 2010 - 9:29 am EET
There are many things that will cross your mind as you begin to plan your retirement abroad – from where you will live to what type of home you will be able to afford, from how much it will cost to move to how much you will enjoy your new life in the sunshine overseas. However, one of the aspects of your move that will be essential to get right to aid the smooth running of the relocation will, ironically, be one of the last things you probably think about!
Getting the bureaucracy, red tape and legalities of the move right will mean you have far less to contend with when retiring abroad, but because we know it can seem a bit daunting having to get your head around everything that needs to be done, we’ve produced this guide to knowing and managing your responsibilities.
Where possible we’ve provided links to other resources that you may need or find useful; and whilst this guide cannot be exhaustive as it can only take a generalised look at the bureaucracy involved rather than personal considerations on an individual basis, we hope it serves as a good basis from which you can plan and plot your relocation carefully and completely.
Where Can You Afford to Live Abroad in Retirement with a Weak Pound?
Report filed under: Living Abroad Guides » Retirement Abroad
Tue, March 09, 2010 - 8:00 am EET
As part of our week long programme of articles and reports for the 42% of over 55s in the UK who are reportedly thinking about moving abroad pre or post retirement, today we’re going to be focusing on where you can afford to live abroad in retirement with a weak pound in your pocket.
Until just a few years ago we Britons were fairly blessed, we had a healthy currency and plenty of equity in many of our homes that we could cash in and turn into bricks and mortar anywhere abroad. Now the tables have really turned in a dramatically negative fashion. Many of us are restricted by a weakened currency and have little or no cash to play with in our properties because no banks are lending – and the only way we can release equity is to sell in a stagnant and deflated market.
In their survey of over 55s, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office determined that 42% were actively keen to move abroad – but money matters could hold them back. However, as we are about to reveal, you needn’t put your life plans on hold just because the pound is no longer riding high. There are places in the world where you can afford to live, and there are ways you can afford to move abroad and live elsewhere in your retirement…
Helping 42% of British Over-55s Who Want to Emigrate & Retire Abroad
Report filed under: Living Abroad Guides » Retirement Abroad
Mon, March 08, 2010 - 8:53 am EET
A new survey conducted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has revealed that almost half of over 55s in the UK are seriously and actively contemplating relocation abroad, with well over a third planning to move within the next five years if they possibly can. The only thing holding many Brits back appears to be the weak pound…
The statistics and figures from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been published to make us all aware of the fact that Britons are no longer happy living in Britain. However, judging by the correspondence we receive on a daily basis, we at Shelter Offshore knew this already! It seems that the likes of rising crime, unemployment and personal debt, coupled with a poor climate and a broken economy are driving more and more Brits to seek a haven overseas.
The trouble is – where in the world can Brits affected by the weak pound live affordably abroad, and how can they make the move safely and successfully? Well, the good news is that we’re here to help the 42% of British over-55s who want to emigrate and retire abroad with practical support and advice. And all this week we’re going to be running a series of articles and reports aimed at directly assisting those seeking a move overseas. We will focus on where to live with a weak pound, how to find the best country for you, understanding the bureaucracy and legalities of your move, getting your money matters in order, and today we’ll begin by looking at reasons to relocate or remain in Britain so that you can ensure you’re making the right choice.
Daily Telegraph Attacks Rights of Retired Britons Living Abroad
Report filed under: Living Abroad Guides » Retirement Abroad
Mon, February 22, 2010 - 6:39 am EET
I am absolutely sick of certain sectors of society in this country turning their back on British citizens as soon as they move abroad. So excuse the following rant, but after the Daily Telegraph joined in and attacked the rights of retired Britons living abroad, I felt that someone needed to speak up on behalf of us Brits who choose to reside overseas.
As we all know, the UK government is only too happy to tax British expatriates on gains arising in the UK, any income arising in the UK and our worldwide estates upon death, and no one in the UK sticks their neck out and says that’s wrong – but as soon as it’s revealed that Britons living abroad can potentially claim their winter fuel allowance, the media is on the back of British expats, berating them for claiming what’s rightfully theirs.
An article in the Daily Telegraph supports this narrow-minded view and slams Brits abroad who are claiming their £250 - £400 winter fuel allowance. The article reluctantly highlights the fact that the government is ‘not allowed to discriminate against’ those Brits who live elsewhere within the EU when it comes to the payment of benefits – too right it’s not, it cannot be one rule for the government and one rule for everyone else despite what the average politician would probably like to think! Yet jealous journalists promote the idea that anyone who lives overseas should be abandoned by the British government…
Basic Mexico Retirement Guide
Report filed under: Living Abroad Guides » Retirement Abroad
Fri, February 19, 2010 - 8:06 am EET
Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular option for people thinking of retiring abroad, due to its warm climate, beautiful beaches and increasingly excellent facilities. Mexico enjoys fantastic weather all year round and all the modern amenities you are used to in the UK…but it’s not been as popular with British retirees as it has been with our American baby boomer cousins, which is why we’re going to take a closer look at it for your consideration today.
The first main decision when planning your retirement in Mexico is whether to live within a community of expatriates or to live among Mexicans in normal towns and cities. This is a personal choice depending on what kind of retirement you have planned and how confident you are about integration. Living in a community means everyone will speak English and you will have no immediate need to learn Spanish for everyday life. But for those who want to integrate themselves in to Mexican life, living away from a community offers a more authentic experience.
Retirees have many options when it comes to deciding on a location to live in Mexico – because the country is vast and diverse, beautiful and welcoming. For those who love to be by the sea, Mazatlan, Acapulco or the famous Mayan Riviera are just a few of the many choices available. Or if you wish to be nearer to the USA, Lake Chapala and Ajijic are ever popular with people who wish to travel in to the USA for shopping and site seeing. Many may prefer to embrace everything Mexican and live in more traditional surroundings, in which case Oaxaca offers wonderful scenery along with city living.
Where to Live Abroad Cheaply in Retirement Review Part 2
Report filed under: Living Abroad Guides » Retirement Abroad
Fri, February 05, 2010 - 8:26 am EET
In the first part of our review of GlobalPost’s affordable places to retire abroad, we introduced you to the fact that their top ten listing had been compiled featuring data from the UN’s Human Development Index Scale and facts from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Cost of Living Index. We took time out to review the first 5 of GlobalPost’s suggestions, covering Costa Rica, Ecuador, Thailand, Mexico and Uruguay.
As we discussed in the first part of this review of where you can live abroad cheaply in retirement, cost of living should not be the only criteria a would-be retiree places on a potential nation in their short list of retirement paradises abroad. Somewhere can be cheap – but life can also be cheap there or the standard of living may reflect the low cost of living for example…
Therefore, to bring perhaps more insight into a given country that’s been selected specifically as an affordable place to retire by GlobalPost, particularly for our British readers who may never have considered some of the American publication’s chosen cheap nations, we’re today going to break down the pros and cons of calling South Africa, Panama, Malaysia, Argentina or Bulgaria home in retirement.
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Further Articles
- Reviewing GlobalPost’s Affordable Places to Retire Abroad Part 1
- 10 Ways To Find The Right Place to Retire Abroad
- Retiring Abroad But Staying in Touch With Home
- Retire Abroad With Shelter Offshore’s New Overseas Retirement Channel
- Should Expat Retirees Buy or Rent Property Abroad
- Staying Healthy Abroad as a Retired Expat
- 10 Critical Money Matters for Those Thinking About Retiring Abroad
- What is the Best Country to Retire Abroad to Live in?
- Does it Make Sense to Retire Abroad