Finding the right expat hub for your personality and finance

In the UK, the USA and Europe, the number of workers who’ve saved enough to retire in comfort in the home country is shrinking fast.

As a result, more and more are searching for a safe haven where their money goes further and their lives are far more enjoyable. Warm or even tropical weather is a must, as is a friendly expat community able and willing to steer new expat arrivals through the maze of new experiences. The majority of retirees are looking for a long-term stay, whilst others plan to return to the home country for short spells or even visit new destinations on holiday.

Early retirees who’ve saved and invested in order to emigrate while they’re still relatively young and active could be placed in the class of adventurous expats simply by their choosing of destinations where they can live life to the full. Another class of would-be expats prefers to try a number of expat hubs until they find the one which truly fits their lifestyles and finances. The process can take several years, but much is seen, experienced and enjoyed along the way.

True travellers to whom settling down is an admission of defeat are known to roam the world during a travel-rich lifestyle, the ultimate aim of which is to discover the perfect location for their elder years. Seeing the world before settling down is a must for this group. Solo retirees look for a safe, friendly place to hang their hats, with an active, supportive and like-minded expat community important in order to avoid the loneliness which often comes with advancing years.

Perhaps the most cost-effective way when taking early retirement is to join up with the house-sitting crowd for a chance free if temporary accommodation in prized locations. Snowbirds escape cold winter weather in the home country, spending a few months every year in sunny locales, although they’re often not as popular in the average expat community as the long-stayers. The beauty of expat retirement is that you can, visa permitting, go anywhere which suits your budget and move on should you so decide.