An observation. It’s very clear your plan will change from what you’ve just outlined. What a good life looks like changes over time, and the realities of living these dreams can overshadow some of the challenges.
I'm 54 and my wife and I are VERY worried about our future, gas and food prices rising daily. We have had our savings dwindle with the cost of living into the stratosphere, we are finding it impossible to replace it. We can get by, but cant seem to get ahead. My condolences to anyone retiring in this crisis, 30years nonstop just for a crooked system to take all you worked for.
I think it's especially difficult for retirees and near retirees , I know to focus on the long term but the anxiety when you're supposed to be retiring in 3years is super exhausting , I've been looking into hiring a market expert as well
It is always good to be social and this is why I like reading many comments here to learn, thank you for sharing such info at least I will be doing this together with my partner
You’re fortunate that you still have time on your side, if you are working. If you have assets, like a house nearly or fully paid off, then you are actually further ahead than you might think. It also will depend upon your country of citizenship as to what your health care and social security options are. That said, look into what Neil and Sarah have mentioned in other videos, geographic arbitrage, or look for other videos that discuss it. You can find plenty of videos from people who have taken savings and assets that would have provided a poor retirement in a high cost country and converted that into a very comfortable retirement in a low cost country. Mexico is a commonly cited example in many videos.
good point. The phases being the Go-Go years, the Slow-Go years and the No-Go years. I don't remember the authors name but I just finished an audio book titled "Die with Zero". Great book, and not as irresponsible as the title might suggest. I watched my parents travel and enjoy life, but in their 80's the were in relax mode and spent very little, even with increasing medical costs.
Hey Michael! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! I have read Die with Zero too, a really thought provoking book and as you say... not irresponsible at all. Medical costs was something I thought about including in this video, that is the thing from left field that can make later year retirement challenging for sure. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey Wanderlust! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! That is very cool of you to say, it takes a lot of work and if you saw everything that didn't make it to the video you would think we aren't that good :-) Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Your retirement and slow travel approach is unique in this space. 👍 Thanks for sharing your journey and creating snippets that produce deeper thought. 🧠💪
We wait all week for one of your videos. You have such a great delivery but to be fair, we also miss your other half. Another excellent installment. Kudos!
Hey AD! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever, Although we always get a bit concerned that we have a comment from the Admin Desk, it makes us feel like we have got something wrong :-) then we realise it is you :-) Blimey I have missed her too.... she will be back next week and hopefully won't be going anywhere! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
“No assumptions should be made” in a partnership. So true! It took a long time for me to understand that. Fortunately, we were able to work through that and are - mostly - on the same page.
Hey Aura!! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Nice... we are always learning, it is clear to see that Sarah and I are very different people and Sarah is less vocal than me, so I have to tune into her when I feel I am taking too much control. You saw that in the last live stream lol! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Good to see you out and about sharing all the great advice, Neal! But hoping Sarah (I’m Dara and we rhyme!😉) feels 100% soon! I loved the approach of phases and spending projections. Usually I watch your videos alone but today I watched on the telly with my hubby Ian. He perked up when you mentioned age 56, because that’s what he is now 😉! We are semi retired and living a combination of your Phase 1 and 2 plans. Ok we both LOLed when you said Homes Under the Hammer!😂 Great job with this informative video, Neal! Prayers for speedy healing for Sarah! Cheers XX Dara and Ian
Hey Dara! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah and I are now in full health and doing well thank you. Homes under the hammer, it is an institution in the UK isn't it :-) Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Once again another outstanding video. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the hard work you are doing for us. I'm not a big fan of the ultra low budget videos as it seems like that would be walking a tight rope especially in times of high inflation. You are much more realistic to what I would anticipate spending.. My focus is primarily on Southeast Asia and South America Just love the cultures there, And the much lower cost is just an added bonus.THANKS AGAIN!!! (edit for spelling)
Hey YorkPa! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Yes there is a lot of work that goes into these videos to make them both as useful as possible but also simple to understand. Hopefully we are achieving that. South East Asia, we are loving it here! Hope we see you some day on your travels. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Another well thought out video full of useful info and tools. Hope Sarah recovers and feels like herself soon. Great insight that while we all would love a one-size-fits-all formula, retirement is as individual and unique as the personalities and circumstances of the people retiring.
Hey Carolyn! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is now doing much better thank you. You are of course right that there is never a once size fits all. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Such practical advice, I really appreciate your thorough coverage of the retirement phases. I'm an early retiree too. Just starting out - finished work 3 weeks ago (after packing up the household, storage, selling, etc). Of course, we did a lot planning, but reality is just that, reality. When do we need what funding. When does the gov't pension start, etc. We just sold the house and are living in our RV, moving about Canada and the U.S.A. Fuel costs are insane, but then we cut the costs somewhere else, as much as possible. Anyway, life is always like that - throwing curve balls at you as you go. The main thing is, that I don't have to go to work tomorrow and can take the time to think it all thru!! Thanks as always for the work you put into your videos - you do a terrific job! I'm glad to hear that Sarah is feeling better! Stay healthy - Til next time.
Hey Calico! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! We are so attracted to RV living we are certain that in one of these 10 years of travel we will be doing similar. Have you thought about a UA-cam channel for that? Best regards, Neil & Sarah
@@2GoRoam haha well, after watching your advice on how UA-cam works and how much work it is, i am not sure. 😉 there is a new rv you tube channel everyday, there are thousands. i think we would be lost in the crowd. We follow switchitup faithfully, and you. Prefer to watch and learn lol.
My husband and i travelled for a year at the age of 50 well that was a real eye opener an experience and not for everyone! A few words to describe exhausting, hard on the body, i guess thats why most people do this when they are young. I wish you well and hopefully the experience does not have an impact on your health and the aging process.
Hey Jar! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! This is a good point to raise, check out our video that has just come out... you will see that you are on point with this comment! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
I would say health and fitness must be the priority in planning all phases. Getting naturally fit (not wearing out body parts at the gym) eating well avoiding alcohol or too much sun drinking water these all contributes to success. What about a full body/lifestyle calculator?!
I like the break down of the phases of the retirement . I am going to plan around this kind of phases . Should make it easier to plan !!!!!!!! . Thank you for sharing this info
Hey Sunny! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! BRILLIANT, it is comments like this that make it all so worthwhile. This makes it feel like we are helping which is wonderful. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey Martine! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Good news, Sarah is now doing great... she is starting to nag at me for leaving my shoes in the wrong place and that can only be a good thing phew! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
I just found you yesterday! YAY! You both are so charming eww maybe not the right word but your fun and cool! I’m 68 live in the US. NY state to be exact. I’d love to do what your doing. I have a home in Dubrovnik due to the pandemic have not been. Will go this fall. My partner is a judge has no desire to go anywhere. Poor me so I go alone or with friends. Keep up the wonderful videos I’m going to start from the beginning. I’ll be living vicariously thru the both of you. All the best!
Hey Elane! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! NY State is beautiful and we are looking to spend some time there in our travels. We also love Dubrovnik, what an interesting and unusual city. Hope you get to travel more as the pandemic eases. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Wonderful stuff Neil! A little joke among people working in "estate planning" re-enforces your point about the 3 phases of retirement. They say, first there is the "Go Go" phase. Next there is the "Slow Go" phase. Finally there is the "No Go" phase. Your point about "anxiety" is critical. First to normalize it, we all experience this anxiety about "will we have enough money". Second your emphasis on how to plan is critical because, the planning process itself that you are presenting, helps us to manage that anxiety! Thank you! Fingers crossed Sarah is back on her feet very soon! Cheers, Gordon
Hey Gordon! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. Firstly, Sarah is doing great and will be back next Saturday, phew! Yes my main concern for people is that we see so many people entering retirement without a plan, that can be a financial plan or even to know what retirement looks like. You know, when you go for an interview for a new job, you always get a Job Description that outlines what you will be doing.... if we didn't see a Job Description we would likely not take the job.... but then people enter retirement with no description and that would worry me a lot. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey RC! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Every time you comment puts a smile on our faces too! We work hard at this and it is lovely to get this kind of feedback, thank you. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
@@2GoRoam btw…we hope Sarah is on the mend by now…we’re heading to Philippines come September. We will also go to Thailand for 2 months on October and we’ll surely follow your route so thanks for cutting down the research for us x
Hey Michael! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment and the Super Thanks is fantastic, humbling but fantastic! Really appreciate your support. We are doing really good now thank you. Wow, this blew us away, thank you Michael. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey Mel! Very kind of you to say, we really appreciate it and you taking the time to comment. Hope you enjoy the video when you get time. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Thank you very much for the video. Many people don't get into their 70s so carpe diem and enjoy yourself now and if you get put into a care home the council will take all your money off you anyway
Hey Brian & Carrie! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! HAHAHA this is what I said to Sarah! When I shared the thumbnail with her, she said "WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT!!!!", which is where I laughed and told her that she had just proved me right, it created such an emotional response in her, we just had to use it. Don't discuss this with Sarah though eh.... her opinion is slightly different :-) Best regards, Neil & Sarah
We will live the retirement smile spending model. We like travel, as you do, and we have allocated 20 to 25K a year in early retirement for just international travel. So running our budget, we will see an increase in spending in early retirement and then at some point you slow down and thus spending reduces and if you live long enough, medical expenses increase. So a smile if you plot that out.
Hey Bob! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! This is brilliant and a great comment, you are working your plan and ensuring you know your phases of retirement. This will mean that you will wind up working out just fine in your old age :-) Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hi Neil and Sarah, I’m from Dunedin, NZ. Love your channel, so pleased to have found it this week and binge watching. Such great information. So good to have your perspective as Brits as so many retirement channels are from US and about financial aspects which are very different from UK and NZ culture. I’m recently retired, my husband has been retired 18 months. Keep up the good work, you should have many more subscribers.
Wishing Sarah a speedy recovery! And the thumbnail to this video 🤣 Had me doing a double take. "What happened to them?!" 🤣 Alas, bumps along the way will always come but it's also the current climate we are in nowadays. Viruses abound. Keep eating nutritious foods and get plenty of fresh air and eventually all will be well. Enjoyed today's video esp the walk around the uni campus. Look frwd next video and hope you both have a pleasant week ahead. 😊
Hey Kate! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. When I shared the thumbnail with her, she said "WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT!!!!", which is where I laughed and told her that she had just proved me right that I thought we had to use it, it created such an emotional response in her :-) Cool seeing the Uni wasn't it, I enjoyed that too. You will see a lot more of Thailand over the coming videos. Have a great week Kate. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Guys, as always....great video. A lot of what you are talking about has to do with 'trust', that each of you are always going to be making decisions that 'support the team' no matter what. My wife and I have been planning to travel since the end of the first year of covid..planning, not just the actual trips but making certain that we can be as successful as possible. So, fitness (swimming an hour a day, changing diet to plant based, regular checks, jabs and chats with the doc) but making certain that each of us is comfortable with the 'big plan' and listening very carefully to each other that when changes have to be made that we both have buy in. I certainly feel that you, included in your conversation today, have that inbuilt trust in each other and that is paramount. As to the cheat sheet? Why don't you get a 'draft' up and ask for everyones input?
This is really good stuff I’ve watched hours and hours of retirement planning vids and you still have new info to offer.. would really love as much transparency on numbers as possible… they don’t need to be your numbers but worked examples of specific amounts needed would be great.eg someone wanting to retire at 50 with 40k per year in todays money :)
love the channel. Ive noticed your budget is £36k a year so using the 4% rule would mean you have investment portfolio of somewhere in the region of £900k. My budget is based on £24k a year so need £600k but would raise by another £3k at 60 and another £10k at 67 giving me £37k a year at the grand old age of 67.
Hey Sick Buffalo (get well soon)! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Great to hear that you are planning ahead to your life phases. This is the way to having success in retirement, knowing your numbers and how you spend, this is something that only you can work out. Great work. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Great information as always! Hope Sarah feels better soon. We’ve been down with something ourselves and it’s important to be patient and heal completely.
Hey Jeanie! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is doing great now, thank you for the concern. Hope you are feeling better, you are right that we should not rush recovery, it never works. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey Jay & Nandita! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Really pleased that you are finding it helpful, it is nice to get some resources to look at and investigate further isn't it. Cool comment thank you. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Thank you. Another greatly informative video. The FireCalc was a little confusing at first. Definitely need to take the time to play around with the numbers. As promised in your last video, we probably "can'" retire earlier than we thought. According to FIreCalc we could retire now, but we're going to stick it out until the market rebounds. My DH is determined to work another 3 years. I am ready to call it quits today. We've decided to make some pretty significant lifestyle changes and hang in at least until we're a little more comfortable with the numbers. Thank you. The reassurance has given me so much peace.
Hey Chrissy! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Really nice to hear that we are helping bring you peace, that is a major reason that we have our channel to inspire and help people to live their dream. FireCalc is very powerful but hard work to use for sure. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
This is a great point that I like to make on my channel. Maybe I need to make a dedicated video just about this point... which is... most don't know what their retirement will cost, because most people don't know what they want their retirement to look like. My wife is retiring this year and for the past year I kept asking her to tell me what she sees her days looking like. And after we'd have a great day or a great weekend, I'd ask do you want every day to look like today? Can you repeat this day every day for the next 40 years? It really takes a lot of thought to figure out what your retirement should look like.
Hey Retirementality! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Our thinking is absolutely in sync here, my concern is that people put a lot of time and effort into things that don't really matter in the fullness of time (such as the latest Netflix season) but don't give time to thinking about their future. I (Neil) had a similar concern about Sarah, I am someone that is always into something and Sarah less so, I wanted to know that she would make a positive retirement plan for herself alongside what I am doing. The UA-cam channel helps of course, as you well know... that is a LOT of work. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Thanks for your labor of love. Most people would not understand how much time goes into a video like this. Great editing! Always useful info brought with your style of wit and humor. Hope Sarah is on the mend. I wonder how this impacts your plan for exploring Thailand. Keep up that great work. Thanks for ALL you do!
Hey Kimberely! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. Sarah is doing great now... she is already nagging me for leaving my shoes in the wrong place in the apartment so that is a good bellwether on how she is feeling. Yes it does take a lot of work to plan and make what can appear complex simpler to understand. We appreciate that you get that and it means a lot. Have a good week. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Your bravery in playing around with an aging filter is commendable! However, you both still look great 40 years from now 😁. And great content, as always. Thanks for sharing the Firecalc info - I’m sure that will be a very helpful tool as we continue to play out our own projections and scenarios.
Hey Ashley! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. Sarah was HORRIFIED about me using that filter and said that she "DID NOT" want that to be the thumbnail. I said that she is articulating what a good thumbnail it is, as it produced such an emotional response from her :-) Firecalc is great Ashley, there are so many different levels you can pull in there to give different ways of looking at your money, we love it. Speak soon! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Neil, another amazing video! Get well soon Sarah. Getting sick is never fun, but we know you're tough. This was a great breakdown of the phrases of retirement. Never viewed it like this, but makes complete sense!
Hey Wity! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is now doing great which is a huge relief, thank you for your concern. I hope this video helps you! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Great. Glad I caught this one. I just subscribe so I can get a notice on everyone coming through. I’ve just started watching your channel and I enjoy how you presented. Thanks so much.
Hey Tom! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Great to have you here, hopefully you will enjoy our journey and some of the ideas we present on retirement and money too along the way. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Great video Neil, best wishes to Sarah for a speedy recovery. Some very useful points and questions we should all think over. Looking forward to seeing where you both travel to next. Travel safe !
Hey Karen! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Exciting times ahead that is for sure, we are planning at the moment. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
This is great information. Thanks! Our biggest issue in deciding how much to budget going forward is that our life after retirement will be completely different than it is now. We have been struggling a little bit with figuring out what a reasonable budget will be when we are traveling full time since it is so different from our daily life now. Your videos have been a great help in approximating what we might expect to spend, but given how risk adverse Erin is, it is a process to gain the confidence to pull the trigger.
Hey You Two! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. We know that struggle all too well, it took years for us to really have confidence about the money we would need. If you fancy a phone call or video call to talk it through, we would love to help in some way. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
As per usual, a very interesting and thought provoking video. I really like your plan to, after you’ve completed your 10 year odyssey, to spend longer stretches of time in places you want to. The great flexibility to adjust destination is appealing. I also appreciate the insight into the stages, few FIRE articles ever seem to go beyond the 4% rule in the way you have. Looking forward to part 3 and glad to hear Sarah is on the mend.
Hey Owen! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. Yes it is hopefully thought provoking, these are the things that we thought about for years before we retired, so it is nice to now have a chance to air that and help other people think too. Sarah is doing great, thank goodness. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Many thanks for putting this together, wealth creation to wealth depletion stage is the interesting concept with the many phase’s therein. Agree with the concept of the extra spend in the early years of the 1st phase. So we will expect you guys to increase the spending for the travel years, then reduce in the slow go years when you can park the travel costs. Everything is dependent though on one’s health and the global economy ! Stay safe.
Really good guidance. Very sensible approach that can be applied. Good structure that’s easy to understand, really appreciate the reality of planning that helps de stress
Hey Mac! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as usual. This is really cool to hear. To make the videos easy to understand takes a lot of planning and re-writing before turning on a camera, so we love to hear that it is appreciated, thank you. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
As always, excellent --- contrary to what some say, with your planning and paying attention to your budget, I have a feeling that you will wind up with more money in your second ten years than you began your first ten years with ---- this is how it should be done. Too many people fail to plan or keep track along the way!
Hey Quo! Thanks for getting in touch, yes we get that. If you aren't eating away at your investments and they are growing then the return will grow also in line. It's all about the planning isn't it. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Sorry if I've missed this, but how do you deal with visas? Can you please do a video on this topic (if you haven't already.) Thank you so much for all of the info you provide!! You are inspirational!!!
Hey Eva! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! We will be talking about our visa here in Thailand in a few weeks time, that will be part of a wider story! Hope it is helpful once we get it out :-) Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Great video! These 3 phases seem sensible for anyone who likes to see new places. I wonder how long phase 2 will last in the reality. The length of phase 1 is chosen by you (the retirees). The beginning of phase 3 will be a decision reflecting your health. I doubt there are exactly 10 years between the end of phase 1 and the beginning of phase 3. Still with your present knowledge it's a good plan.
Hey Geeky! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. You make a good observation here, we like to look at it this way... get an outline plan together and the we can flex but to start without a plan seems a little dangerous. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Great video. You guys are really inspiring as most of the fire/travel videos are people in their 20s and 30s. As some of us are not too far behind you, it would really help if you did a video on if/how you plan to you use your pensions, and also you mentioned in another video you used tax effective accounts, most of them you cant access until 60 or above. It would be great to understand how you will be using them as well.
Hey Steven! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! We are working on that, you will see that a lot of our videos at the moment relate to the financial side, we are building a series over the next 3 months, so hang on in there and you will get your answers on this. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Thank you for all the informative content you give us in your videos! You always provide food for thought and make me think of things I hadn’t thought of before. You’re such a treasure to us, since we still have 2 years to go before we slow travel, that it feels like having a conversation with a good friend who has the experience to back up the teaching. Sorry to hear that Sarah is still out of sorts. ☹️. I hope she’ll be back in good health very soon.
Hey Lorrie! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Ahh and you are a treasure to us, one of our loyal followers. Sarah is doing great now. Hope we get to meet you one day in this journey! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
I am really enjoying your videos. I am ready to retire and travel but my partner is more cautious. We both currently are mid 50s and still work fulltime. I have done all the calculations and believe we are fine. Would be really interested to know how you have your money invested ( just the basics, nothing personal- sorry if I missed this in previous vids) our money is invested in properties.Looking forward to part 3 and seeing Sarah with all fingers in tact 😳
There are so many unknowns and unfortunately, I don't have a working crystal ball... For example, a partner may suddenly pass away..Who knows when an individual may need assisted living.? I wouldn't want to live in assisted living in for example, Thailand or Vietnam, or whatever.. At your most vulnerable and weak having to communicate with someone who may only barely speak English, or German, or in my case Dutch..To each their own, I guess, but if want to retire in a location that I feel comfortable in.. A culture, where I can speak the language and a culture that I can feel at home.. Just going to some random country where the costs are low and hoping for the best is certainly not a wise choice for me..
Hey Comrade! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! You are 100% correct and that was something that always struck me when I was in my working years... sitting in an interview and being asked "Where do you see yourself in 5 years." and me thinking... "I don't even know what I have planned this weekend!" Having a plan but then having the flexibility to change as the conditions around us change is the key to a more positive future. Really thought provoking comment, thank you. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Thanks for your contribution. I was curious what services you use to secure accommodation in the countries you visit? Also how good have they been? Thanks again.
Hey ShokWaveRider! Really appreciate the comment, we have covered that in videos when in Greece but we likely need to do an update. We will add that to our list, maybe putting it together with visas and insurance too. Thanks for the idea. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Great video Neil and looking forward to seeing Sarah again in this weekends video :) I have a question about next stage countries on your travel plans, e.g. will they mostly be lower cost geo-arb countries like Thailand and well known retirement destinations like Panama, Costa Rica & Portugal? And will you be skipping most of the high cost of living countries like western Europe, Austrailia/NZ, and North America? Be interested to hear more about your next stage plans or maybe this is a topic for a future video :) All the best!
Hey Ian! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! This is a good idea for a topic and we should work on this one. In a nutshell, we are dealing with this quite straight forward, that is to say... for example... if we wanted to visit Iceland, then we will link that with having spent time in a place like Panama, that way it evens out our budget. But yes, we will get into a video on that one. Sarah is doing great now and you will see her in today's video. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Great video! Definitely going to have a look at The fire calculator. Hope that Sara is feeling better soon. How is Chang Mai so far? Do you think it is the cheapest place of your travels so far?
Hey Dina! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. Sarah is doing much better now, she will be in next Saturday's video, fear not. Chiang Mai is wonderful it really is and yes, the cheapest. We have yet to look at our costs for June but on first glance it seems extremely cost effective. We will share that in a video soon. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Good planning but you missed out the HEALTHCARE costs which will be increasing as you grow older even worse if you are diagnosed with some disease which will need expensive medication etc
Poor Sara has been sick 🤒 for a while now. Hope she recovers very soon! Do you feel medical care in Thailand is sufficient for her? Is traveling wearing her down or compromising her immunity, perhaps? I want to retire in January, but got to find an affordable place that I can transport my 21 pound Spaniel without too much hassle! Probably will be in Mexico.
Hey Jodie! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is doing great now, she is even starting to nag at me for leaving my shoes in the wrong place, so she must be feeling fine :-) We haven't needed medical assistance yet but we will make a video on that subject relatively soon, we are getting our meds here and also visiting the dentist so will look for building that into a video. Well we loved Mexico, a fantastic country and it is a country of dog lovers too, that could well be a great option! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Glad to see she is back up and out! I thought you must have seen medical professionals to get COVID testing. I know there are other options in US, so must be there also! Take care of yourselves and each other! Thanks for trucking on in the face of adversity, you are an inspiration! ♥️
I am 61 and my wife is 57. We are planning to retire next year. How long did it take you to get everything ready for that first trip when you decided to sell all and go?
interesting and useful considerations thanks! Although ... It took 1 minute to see that Firecalc is exactly the same graph over and over, just stretching the plot for the different 'spreads' according to the 2 input variables, either lifting the plot above zero or sinking it below which translates to hitting zero either sooner or later. (the duration in years variable just clips the graph off either sooner or later) Firecalc is basically 1 graph of unknown credibility and does not deserve any support of donations they ask for. IMHO
Hey Kevin! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Appreciate your view and there are many calculators out there. The graphs are based on cohorts of retirees going back decades and the important thing to study are the other 5 or 6 tabs that sit behind the data, to do that will take a lot longer than 1 minute and I recommend giving it some time before you discount it out of hand. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey AAQ! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Good question, if you see last week's video you will see that the 4% rule dictates an increase in line with inflation each year. What it is important for us all to do is to be actively involved in our own drawdown strategy. For Sarah and I, we are proponents of GeoArbitrage meaning that this year of high inflation we are likely to spend less than ever through being in South East Asia. Hope that gives some insight but there is a lot to say on the subject. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
I don't know brother: Sarah isn't with you??? hehehe! Wealth creation stage!! That is what it is!! - It is just me but, I thought I would just stay there- keep making the wealth. I keep re designing aspects of my production facility and want to build some houses/property using local standards. Likely keep me in wealth production as long as my health keeps up. Best!! C-U soon.
Hey Gabe Gordon! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Yes, we visited Portugal a lot before we retired and will be back there again as soon as is practical. We actually nearly became Portugal residents a few years ago, that is likely a story we will tell in a video some day soon. Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey Comrade! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Don't ask LOL Well... there is a video that we are working on that will be coming out on the 13th August where you will get some insight into that question! Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Hey Dan! Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Just checked and the link is working with what was in the video, but here it is again :-) firecalc.com/ Best regards, Neil & Sarah
Ok my main comment about your channel is that there is a lot of vagueness. I'm trying to figure out your anticipated FIRE pot. This helps me look at what you are doing and how much it costs fro something similar. So this is just a stab.... All figures are in todays monies So you say your spend for 1 year was set at about £35,000 Assuming over and under for the next 10 years, one could estimate you need £350,000 (53yo - 63yo) Then you say the next 10 years at +33% (top end), so that is another £465,000 (63yo - 73yo) Then the 3rd phase you estimate spending -30% of Phase 2, so another £312,000 (73yo - 83+yo) So disregarding inflation, your pot to 83 ( you are 53 now and each phase assumed at 10 years) that you will need is: £1,127,000 or USD $1,368,375 in todays numbers Now...... At 67 or 68 UK State Pension kicks in (currently 9k-ish a year), so £18,000 (no inflation) for the 2 of you Our projection above is up to 83 years old for you... so £18k x 16 = £288,000 (remember I disregarded inflation) So now the pot you need is: £839,000 In fact I assume you both have other private/company pensions, so the period 67yo+ is probably covered by pensions Looking at the houses in the area you are from, yours may have sold for £500,000 (assuming fully paid off) So you need an additional £339,000 (+ inflation) from savings or from growth in your savings. Just for fun, I think if you had a pot of £500,000 at the start of year 1 and it grows by 7%, you are probably reasonably set. So this helps me, I'm 53 too, I have £392k in investments and £300k equity in the house... the kids will all have left home by this Christmas... so I think it is time to pull the plug. The one bit of information it would be nice for you to discuss is how you have invested your money? What growth do you expect or need?
I'm not making any specific accusations here... However, can we have some "proof of life" re: Sarah? You seem like a basically decent man, but I have watched various documentaries like The Talented Mr Ripley, or Girl on the Train, which do suggest there are people with darker sides in this world...
Hey Daniel! Really appreciate the comment, I guess I could send a finger or something? Here is something.... Sarah has actually written the video for next Saturday and will take a centre stage! Until then, let me know if a finger in the post would be ok? Best regards, Neil & Sarah
An observation. It’s very clear your plan will change from what you’ve just outlined. What a good life looks like changes over time, and the realities of living these dreams can overshadow some of the challenges.
I'm 54 and my wife and I are VERY worried about our future, gas and food prices rising daily. We have had our savings dwindle with the cost of living into the stratosphere, we are finding it impossible to replace it. We can get by, but cant seem to get ahead. My condolences to anyone retiring in this crisis, 30years nonstop just for a crooked system to take all you worked for.
I think it's especially difficult for retirees and near retirees , I know to focus on the long term but the anxiety when you're supposed to be retiring in 3years is super exhausting , I've been looking into hiring a market expert as well
It is always good to be social and this is why I like reading many comments here to learn, thank you for sharing such info at least I will be doing this together with my partner
You’re fortunate that you still have time on your side, if you are working. If you have assets, like a house nearly or fully paid off, then you are actually further ahead than you might think. It also will depend upon your country of citizenship as to what your health care and social security options are. That said, look into what Neil and Sarah have mentioned in other videos, geographic arbitrage, or look for other videos that discuss it. You can find plenty of videos from people who have taken savings and assets that would have provided a poor retirement in a high cost country and converted that into a very comfortable retirement in a low cost country. Mexico is a commonly cited example in many videos.
good point. The phases being the Go-Go years, the Slow-Go years and the No-Go years. I don't remember the authors name but I just finished an audio book titled "Die with Zero". Great book, and not as irresponsible as the title might suggest.
I watched my parents travel and enjoy life, but in their 80's the were in relax mode and spent very little, even with increasing medical costs.
Hey Michael!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! I have read Die with Zero too, a really thought provoking book and as you say... not irresponsible at all.
Medical costs was something I thought about including in this video, that is the thing from left field that can make later year retirement challenging for sure.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Really enjoying your videos. You are a natural at this. You have learned the art of UA-cam creation very well.
Hey Wanderlust!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! That is very cool of you to say, it takes a lot of work and if you saw everything that didn't make it to the video you would think we aren't that good :-)
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
His heads big enough without adding to it. 🤣🤣
Your retirement and slow travel approach is unique in this space. 👍
Thanks for sharing your journey and creating snippets that produce deeper thought. 🧠💪
We wait all week for one of your videos. You have such a great delivery but to be fair, we also miss your other half. Another excellent installment. Kudos!
Hey AD!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever, Although we always get a bit concerned that we have a comment from the Admin Desk, it makes us feel like we have got something wrong :-) then we realise it is you :-)
Blimey I have missed her too.... she will be back next week and hopefully won't be going anywhere!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
“No assumptions should be made” in a partnership. So true! It took a long time for me to understand that. Fortunately, we were able to work through that and are - mostly - on the same page.
Hey Aura!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Nice... we are always learning, it is clear to see that Sarah and I are very different people and Sarah is less vocal than me, so I have to tune into her when I feel I am taking too much control.
You saw that in the last live stream lol!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Good to see you out and about sharing all the great advice, Neal! But hoping Sarah (I’m Dara and we rhyme!😉) feels 100% soon!
I loved the approach of phases and spending projections. Usually I watch your videos alone but today I watched on the telly with my hubby Ian. He perked up when you mentioned age 56, because that’s what he is now 😉! We are semi retired and living a combination of your Phase 1 and 2 plans.
Ok we both LOLed when you said Homes Under the Hammer!😂
Great job with this informative video, Neal! Prayers for speedy healing for Sarah!
Cheers XX Dara and Ian
Hey Dara!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah and I are now in full health and doing well thank you.
Homes under the hammer, it is an institution in the UK isn't it :-)
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thank you. Have a great evening.
Hey Matt & Taysia!
Thank you, really appreciate the comment. Same to you, have a good one.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Once again another outstanding video. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the hard work you are doing for us. I'm not a big fan of the ultra low budget videos as it seems like that would be walking a tight rope especially in times of high inflation. You are much more realistic to what I would anticipate spending.. My focus is primarily on Southeast Asia and South America Just love the cultures there, And the much lower cost is just an added bonus.THANKS AGAIN!!! (edit for spelling)
Hey YorkPa!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Yes there is a lot of work that goes into these videos to make them both as useful as possible but also simple to understand. Hopefully we are achieving that. South East Asia, we are loving it here! Hope we see you some day on your travels.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Another well thought out video full of useful info and tools. Hope Sarah recovers and feels like herself soon. Great insight that while we all would love a one-size-fits-all formula, retirement is as individual and unique as the personalities and circumstances of the people retiring.
Hey Carolyn!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is now doing much better thank you. You are of course right that there is never a once size fits all.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Such practical advice, I really appreciate your thorough coverage of the retirement phases. I'm an early retiree too. Just starting out - finished work 3 weeks ago (after packing up the household, storage, selling, etc). Of course, we did a lot planning, but reality is just that, reality. When do we need what funding. When does the gov't pension start, etc. We just sold the house and are living in our RV, moving about Canada and the U.S.A. Fuel costs are insane, but then we cut the costs somewhere else, as much as possible. Anyway, life is always like that - throwing curve balls at you as you go. The main thing is, that I don't have to go to work tomorrow and can take the time to think it all thru!! Thanks as always for the work you put into your videos - you do a terrific job!
I'm glad to hear that Sarah is feeling better! Stay healthy - Til next time.
Hey Calico!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment!
We are so attracted to RV living we are certain that in one of these 10 years of travel we will be doing similar. Have you thought about a UA-cam channel for that?
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
@@2GoRoam haha well, after watching your advice on how UA-cam works and how much work it is, i am not sure. 😉 there is a new rv you tube channel everyday, there are thousands. i think we would be lost in the crowd. We follow switchitup faithfully, and you. Prefer to watch and learn lol.
My husband and i travelled for a year at the age of 50 well that was a real eye opener an experience and not for everyone! A few words to describe exhausting, hard on the body, i guess thats why most people do this when they are young. I wish you well and hopefully the experience does not have an impact on your health and the aging process.
Hey Jar!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! This is a good point to raise, check out our video that has just come out... you will see that you are on point with this comment!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
I would say health and fitness must be the priority in planning all phases. Getting naturally fit (not wearing out body parts at the gym) eating well avoiding alcohol or too much sun drinking water these all contributes to success. What about a full body/lifestyle calculator?!
I like the break down of the phases of the retirement . I am going to plan around this kind of phases . Should make it easier to plan !!!!!!!! . Thank you for sharing this info
Hey Sunny!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! BRILLIANT, it is comments like this that make it all so worthwhile. This makes it feel like we are helping which is wonderful.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
As always fab video and very clearly described. Sorry to hear that Sarah is still poorly - hope she feels better soon.
Hey Martine!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Good news, Sarah is now doing great... she is starting to nag at me for leaving my shoes in the wrong place and that can only be a good thing phew!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Love this video! Even some humor about phase 4: which might be 10k to be put in the ground! Very thoughtful and introspective! Thanks
I just found you yesterday! YAY! You both are so charming eww maybe not the right word but your fun and cool! I’m 68 live in the US. NY state to be exact. I’d love to do what your doing. I have a home in Dubrovnik due to the pandemic have not been. Will go this fall. My partner is a judge has no desire to go anywhere. Poor me so I go alone or with friends. Keep up the wonderful videos I’m going to start from the beginning. I’ll be living vicariously thru the both of you. All the best!
Hey Elane!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! NY State is beautiful and we are looking to spend some time there in our travels. We also love Dubrovnik, what an interesting and unusual city. Hope you get to travel more as the pandemic eases.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Wonderful stuff Neil! A little joke among people working in "estate planning" re-enforces your point about the 3 phases of retirement. They say, first there is the "Go Go" phase. Next there is the "Slow Go" phase. Finally there is the "No Go" phase. Your point about "anxiety" is critical. First to normalize it, we all experience this anxiety about "will we have enough money". Second your emphasis on how to plan is critical because, the planning process itself that you are presenting, helps us to manage that anxiety! Thank you! Fingers crossed Sarah is back on her feet very soon! Cheers, Gordon
Hey Gordon!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever.
Firstly, Sarah is doing great and will be back next Saturday, phew! Yes my main concern for people is that we see so many people entering retirement without a plan, that can be a financial plan or even to know what retirement looks like. You know, when you go for an interview for a new job, you always get a Job Description that outlines what you will be doing.... if we didn't see a Job Description we would likely not take the job.... but then people enter retirement with no description and that would worry me a lot.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thanks Neil…what a reassuring tool you’ve presented. Each time we watch you, you put a smile on our faces x
Hey RC!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Every time you comment puts a smile on our faces too! We work hard at this and it is lovely to get this kind of feedback, thank you.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
@@2GoRoam btw…we hope Sarah is on the mend by now…we’re heading to Philippines come September. We will also go to Thailand for 2 months on October and we’ll surely follow your route so thanks for cutting down the research for us x
Thanks! Your content is just excellent and accessible. Hope you both stay well. Michael from Canada
Hey Michael!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment and the Super Thanks is fantastic, humbling but fantastic! Really appreciate your support. We are doing really good now thank you.
Wow, this blew us away, thank you Michael.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great information. I didn't have time to watch thoroughly but will do so later. Your next video sounds very intriguing! Best wishes to Sarah!
Hey Mel!
Very kind of you to say, we really appreciate it and you taking the time to comment. Hope you enjoy the video when you get time.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thank you very much for the video. Many people don't get into their 70s so carpe diem and enjoy yourself now and if you get put into a care home the council will take all your money off you anyway
That is the best thumb nail ever!! 😆
Hey Brian & Carrie!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! HAHAHA this is what I said to Sarah! When I shared the thumbnail with her, she said "WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT!!!!", which is where I laughed and told her that she had just proved me right, it created such an emotional response in her, we just had to use it.
Don't discuss this with Sarah though eh.... her opinion is slightly different :-)
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
We will live the retirement smile spending model. We like travel, as you do, and we have allocated 20 to 25K a year in early retirement for just international travel. So running our budget, we will see an increase in spending in early retirement and then at some point you slow down and thus spending reduces and if you live long enough, medical expenses increase. So a smile if you plot that out.
Hey Bob!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! This is brilliant and a great comment, you are working your plan and ensuring you know your phases of retirement. This will mean that you will wind up working out just fine in your old age :-)
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Hi Neil and Sarah, I’m from Dunedin, NZ. Love your channel, so pleased to have found it this week and binge watching. Such great information. So good to have your perspective as Brits as so many retirement channels are from US and about financial aspects which are very different from UK and NZ culture. I’m recently retired, my husband has been retired 18 months.
Keep up the good work, you should have many more subscribers.
Awesome! Thank you! We are seeing more NZ and AUS viewers joining us which is great! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Wishing Sarah a speedy recovery! And the thumbnail to this video 🤣 Had me doing a double take. "What happened to them?!" 🤣 Alas, bumps along the way will always come but it's also the current climate we are in nowadays. Viruses abound. Keep eating nutritious foods and get plenty of fresh air and eventually all will be well. Enjoyed today's video esp the walk around the uni campus. Look frwd next video and hope you both have a pleasant week ahead. 😊
Hey Kate!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. When I shared the thumbnail with her, she said "WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT!!!!", which is where I laughed and told her that she had just proved me right that I thought we had to use it, it created such an emotional response in her :-)
Cool seeing the Uni wasn't it, I enjoyed that too. You will see a lot more of Thailand over the coming videos. Have a great week Kate.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Guys, as always....great video. A lot of what you are talking about has to do with 'trust', that each of you are always going to be making decisions that 'support the team' no matter what. My wife and I have been planning to travel since the end of the first year of covid..planning, not just the actual trips but making certain that we can be as successful as possible. So, fitness (swimming an hour a day, changing diet to plant based, regular checks, jabs and chats with the doc) but making certain that each of us is comfortable with the 'big plan' and listening very carefully to each other that when changes have to be made that we both have buy in. I certainly feel that you, included in your conversation today, have that inbuilt trust in each other and that is paramount. As to the cheat sheet? Why don't you get a 'draft' up and ask for everyones input?
This is really good stuff I’ve watched hours and hours of retirement planning vids and you still have new info to offer.. would really love as much transparency on numbers as possible… they don’t need to be your numbers but worked examples of specific amounts needed would be great.eg someone wanting to retire at 50 with 40k per year in todays money :)
love the channel.
Ive noticed your budget is £36k a year so using the 4% rule would mean you have investment portfolio of somewhere in the region of £900k.
My budget is based on £24k a year so need £600k but would raise by another £3k at 60 and another £10k at 67 giving me £37k a year at the grand old age of 67.
Hey Sick Buffalo (get well soon)!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment!
Great to hear that you are planning ahead to your life phases. This is the way to having success in retirement, knowing your numbers and how you spend, this is something that only you can work out. Great work.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great information as always! Hope Sarah feels better soon. We’ve been down with something ourselves and it’s important to be patient and heal completely.
Hey Jeanie!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is doing great now, thank you for the concern. Hope you are feeling better, you are right that we should not rush recovery, it never works.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thank you for this informative video with details and online resources. Very helpful!! Thanks!
Hey Jay & Nandita!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Really pleased that you are finding it helpful, it is nice to get some resources to look at and investigate further isn't it. Cool comment thank you.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Another interesting vlog guys hope Sarah is on the mend looking forward to the next one 😎👍
Hey Martin!
Very kind of you to say, we really appreciate it and you taking the time to comment. Sarah is doing great now.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thank you. Another greatly informative video.
The FireCalc was a little confusing at first. Definitely need to take the time to play around with the numbers. As promised in your last video, we probably "can'" retire earlier than we thought.
According to FIreCalc we could retire now, but we're going to stick it out until the market rebounds.
My DH is determined to work another 3 years. I am ready to call it quits today.
We've decided to make some pretty significant lifestyle changes and hang in at least until we're a little more comfortable with the numbers.
Thank you. The reassurance has given me so much peace.
Hey Chrissy!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Really nice to hear that we are helping bring you peace, that is a major reason that we have our channel to inspire and help people to live their dream.
FireCalc is very powerful but hard work to use for sure.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
This is a great point that I like to make on my channel. Maybe I need to make a dedicated video just about this point... which is... most don't know what their retirement will cost, because most people don't know what they want their retirement to look like. My wife is retiring this year and for the past year I kept asking her to tell me what she sees her days looking like. And after we'd have a great day or a great weekend, I'd ask do you want every day to look like today? Can you repeat this day every day for the next 40 years? It really takes a lot of thought to figure out what your retirement should look like.
Hey Retirementality!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Our thinking is absolutely in sync here, my concern is that people put a lot of time and effort into things that don't really matter in the fullness of time (such as the latest Netflix season) but don't give time to thinking about their future. I (Neil) had a similar concern about Sarah, I am someone that is always into something and Sarah less so, I wanted to know that she would make a positive retirement plan for herself alongside what I am doing. The UA-cam channel helps of course, as you well know... that is a LOT of work.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thanks for your labor of love. Most people would not understand how much time goes into a video like this. Great editing! Always useful info brought with your style of wit and humor.
Hope Sarah is on the mend. I wonder how this impacts your plan for exploring Thailand. Keep up that great work. Thanks for ALL you do!
Hey Kimberely!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever.
Sarah is doing great now... she is already nagging me for leaving my shoes in the wrong place in the apartment so that is a good bellwether on how she is feeling.
Yes it does take a lot of work to plan and make what can appear complex simpler to understand. We appreciate that you get that and it means a lot. Have a good week.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Your bravery in playing around with an aging filter is commendable! However, you both still look great 40 years from now 😁. And great content, as always. Thanks for sharing the Firecalc info - I’m sure that will be a very helpful tool as we continue to play out our own projections and scenarios.
Hey Ashley!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. Sarah was HORRIFIED about me using that filter and said that she "DID NOT" want that to be the thumbnail. I said that she is articulating what a good thumbnail it is, as it produced such an emotional response from her :-) Firecalc is great Ashley, there are so many different levels you can pull in there to give different ways of looking at your money, we love it.
Speak soon!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Neil, another amazing video! Get well soon Sarah. Getting sick is never fun, but we know you're tough. This was a great breakdown of the phrases of retirement. Never viewed it like this, but makes complete sense!
Hey Wity!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is now doing great which is a huge relief, thank you for your concern. I hope this video helps you!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great. Glad I caught this one. I just subscribe so I can get a notice on everyone coming through. I’ve just started watching your channel and I enjoy how you presented. Thanks so much.
Hey Tom!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Great to have you here, hopefully you will enjoy our journey and some of the ideas we present on retirement and money too along the way.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great video Neil, best wishes to Sarah for a speedy recovery. Some very useful points and questions we should all think over. Looking forward to seeing where you both travel to next. Travel safe !
Hey Karen!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Exciting times ahead that is for sure, we are planning at the moment.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
This is great information. Thanks! Our biggest issue in deciding how much to budget going forward is that our life after retirement will be completely different than it is now. We have been struggling a little bit with figuring out what a reasonable budget will be when we are traveling full time since it is so different from our daily life now. Your videos have been a great help in approximating what we might expect to spend, but given how risk adverse Erin is, it is a process to gain the confidence to pull the trigger.
Hey You Two!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever.
We know that struggle all too well, it took years for us to really have confidence about the money we would need. If you fancy a phone call or video call to talk it through, we would love to help in some way.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
As per usual, a very interesting and thought provoking video. I really like your plan to, after you’ve completed your 10 year odyssey, to spend longer stretches of time in places you want to. The great flexibility to adjust destination is appealing. I also appreciate the insight into the stages, few FIRE articles ever seem to go beyond the 4% rule in the way you have. Looking forward to part 3 and glad to hear Sarah is on the mend.
Hey Owen!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever. Yes it is hopefully thought provoking, these are the things that we thought about for years before we retired, so it is nice to now have a chance to air that and help other people think too.
Sarah is doing great, thank goodness.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Many thanks for putting this together, wealth creation to wealth depletion stage is the interesting concept with the many phase’s therein. Agree with the concept of the extra spend in the early years of the 1st phase. So we will expect you guys to increase the spending for the travel years, then reduce in the slow go years when you can park the travel costs. Everything is dependent though on one’s health and the global economy ! Stay safe.
Really good guidance. Very sensible approach that can be applied. Good structure that’s easy to understand, really appreciate the reality of planning that helps de stress
Hey Mac!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as usual. This is really cool to hear. To make the videos easy to understand takes a lot of planning and re-writing before turning on a camera, so we love to hear that it is appreciated, thank you.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
As always, excellent --- contrary to what some say, with your planning and paying attention to your budget, I have a feeling that you will wind up with more money in your second ten years than you began your first ten years with ---- this is how it should be done. Too many people fail to plan or keep track along the way!
Hey Quo!
Thanks for getting in touch, yes we get that. If you aren't eating away at your investments and they are growing then the return will grow also in line. It's all about the planning isn't it.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Sorry if I've missed this, but how do you deal with visas? Can you please do a video on this topic (if you haven't already.) Thank you so much for all of the info you provide!! You are inspirational!!!
Hey Eva!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! We will be talking about our visa here in Thailand in a few weeks time, that will be part of a wider story! Hope it is helpful once we get it out :-)
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
thank you!!
Hey !
Thank you for the kind comment, hope you enjoy our content as we go forward!
Love this topic and your logical breakdown of the phases. Good stuff Neil.
hi guys Ur looking very happy & well, enjoying you content too😜 am looking for traveling 1st then finding a favourite too v (in the UK)
Great video! These 3 phases seem sensible for anyone who likes to see new places. I wonder how long phase 2 will last in the reality. The length of phase 1 is chosen by you (the retirees). The beginning of phase 3 will be a decision reflecting your health. I doubt there are exactly 10 years between the end of phase 1 and the beginning of phase 3. Still with your present knowledge it's a good plan.
Hey Geeky!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever.
You make a good observation here, we like to look at it this way... get an outline plan together and the we can flex but to start without a plan seems a little dangerous.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great video. You guys are really inspiring as most of the fire/travel videos are people in their 20s and 30s. As some of us are not too far behind you, it would really help if you did a video on if/how you plan to you use your pensions, and also you mentioned in another video you used tax effective accounts, most of them you cant access until 60 or above. It would be great to understand how you will be using them as well.
Hey Steven!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! We are working on that, you will see that a lot of our videos at the moment relate to the financial side, we are building a series over the next 3 months, so hang on in there and you will get your answers on this.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great vlog big man. Not sure about this slow travel if you age that quickly. Very clever, obviously Sarah's idea.🤣🤣
Hey Shaz & Daz!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! You know who the clever one is in this team :-)
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thank you for all the informative content you give us in your videos! You always provide food for thought and make me think of things I hadn’t thought of before. You’re such a treasure to us, since we still have 2 years to go before we slow travel, that it feels like having a conversation with a good friend who has the experience to back up the teaching.
Sorry to hear that Sarah is still out of sorts. ☹️. I hope she’ll be back in good health very soon.
Hey Lorrie!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Ahh and you are a treasure to us, one of our loyal followers. Sarah is doing great now. Hope we get to meet you one day in this journey!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
I am really enjoying your videos. I am ready to retire and travel but my partner is more cautious. We both currently are mid 50s and still work fulltime. I have done all the calculations and believe we are fine. Would be really interested to know how you have your money invested ( just the basics, nothing personal- sorry if I missed this in previous vids) our money is invested in properties.Looking forward to part 3 and seeing Sarah with all fingers in tact 😳
There are so many unknowns and unfortunately, I don't have a working crystal ball... For example, a partner may suddenly pass away..Who knows when an individual may need assisted living.? I wouldn't want to live in assisted living in for example, Thailand or Vietnam, or whatever.. At your most vulnerable and weak having to communicate with someone who may only barely speak English, or German, or in my case Dutch..To each their own, I guess, but if want to retire in a location that I feel comfortable in.. A culture, where I can speak the language and a culture that I can feel at home.. Just going to some random country where the costs are low and hoping for the best is certainly not a wise choice for me..
Hey Comrade!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! You are 100% correct and that was something that always struck me when I was in my working years... sitting in an interview and being asked "Where do you see yourself in 5 years." and me thinking... "I don't even know what I have planned this weekend!"
Having a plan but then having the flexibility to change as the conditions around us change is the key to a more positive future.
Really thought provoking comment, thank you.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thanks for your contribution. I was curious what services you use to secure accommodation in the countries you visit? Also how good have they been? Thanks again.
Hey ShokWaveRider!
Really appreciate the comment, we have covered that in videos when in Greece but we likely need to do an update. We will add that to our list, maybe putting it together with visas and insurance too. Thanks for the idea.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great video Neil and looking forward to seeing Sarah again in this weekends video :)
I have a question about next stage countries on your travel plans, e.g. will they mostly be lower cost geo-arb countries like Thailand and well known retirement destinations like Panama, Costa Rica & Portugal? And will you be skipping most of the high cost of living countries like western Europe, Austrailia/NZ, and North America? Be interested to hear more about your next stage plans or maybe this is a topic for a future video :)
All the best!
Hey Ian!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment!
This is a good idea for a topic and we should work on this one. In a nutshell, we are dealing with this quite straight forward, that is to say... for example... if we wanted to visit Iceland, then we will link that with having spent time in a place like Panama, that way it evens out our budget. But yes, we will get into a video on that one.
Sarah is doing great now and you will see her in today's video.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great video! Definitely going to have a look at The fire calculator. Hope that Sara is feeling better soon. How is Chang Mai so far? Do you think it is the cheapest place of your travels so far?
Hey Dina!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment as ever.
Sarah is doing much better now, she will be in next Saturday's video, fear not. Chiang Mai is wonderful it really is and yes, the cheapest. We have yet to look at our costs for June but on first glance it seems extremely cost effective. We will share that in a video soon.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Good planning but you missed out the HEALTHCARE costs which will be increasing as you grow older even worse if you are diagnosed with some disease which will need expensive medication etc
Poor Sara has been sick 🤒 for a while now. Hope she recovers very soon! Do you feel medical care in Thailand is sufficient for her? Is traveling wearing her down or compromising her immunity, perhaps? I want to retire in January, but got to find an affordable place that I can transport my 21 pound Spaniel without too much hassle! Probably will be in Mexico.
Hey Jodie!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Sarah is doing great now, she is even starting to nag at me for leaving my shoes in the wrong place, so she must be feeling fine :-)
We haven't needed medical assistance yet but we will make a video on that subject relatively soon, we are getting our meds here and also visiting the dentist so will look for building that into a video.
Well we loved Mexico, a fantastic country and it is a country of dog lovers too, that could well be a great option!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Glad to see she is back up and out! I thought you must have seen medical professionals to get COVID testing. I know there are other options in US, so must be there also! Take care of yourselves and each other! Thanks for trucking on in the face of adversity, you are an inspiration! ♥️
I am 61 and my wife is 57. We are planning to retire next year. How long did it take you to get everything ready for that first trip when you decided to sell all and go?
interesting and useful considerations thanks!
Although ... It took 1 minute to see that Firecalc is exactly the same graph over and over, just stretching the plot for the different 'spreads' according to the 2 input variables, either lifting the plot above zero or sinking it below which translates to hitting zero either sooner or later. (the duration in years variable just clips the graph off either sooner or later) Firecalc is basically 1 graph of unknown credibility and does not deserve any support of donations they ask for. IMHO
Hey Kevin!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Appreciate your view and there are many calculators out there. The graphs are based on cohorts of retirees going back decades and the important thing to study are the other 5 or 6 tabs that sit behind the data, to do that will take a lot longer than 1 minute and I recommend giving it some time before you discount it out of hand.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Great ideas. Except, how do you deal with cost of living increases?
Hey AAQ!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Good question, if you see last week's video you will see that the 4% rule dictates an increase in line with inflation each year. What it is important for us all to do is to be actively involved in our own drawdown strategy. For Sarah and I, we are proponents of GeoArbitrage meaning that this year of high inflation we are likely to spend less than ever through being in South East Asia.
Hope that gives some insight but there is a lot to say on the subject.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
I don't know brother: Sarah isn't with you??? hehehe! Wealth creation stage!! That is what it is!! - It is just me but, I thought I would just stay there- keep making the wealth. I keep re designing aspects of my production facility and want to build some houses/property using local standards. Likely keep me in wealth production as long as my health keeps up. Best!! C-U soon.
Have you checked out Portugal yet? Heard good things
Hey Gabe Gordon!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Yes, we visited Portugal a lot before we retired and will be back there again as soon as is practical. We actually nearly became Portugal residents a few years ago, that is likely a story we will tell in a video some day soon.
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Just wondering, how the diet is going?? Is it harder to keep fit living this type of lifestyle?
Hey Comrade!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Don't ask LOL
Well... there is a video that we are working on that will be coming out on the 13th August where you will get some insight into that question!
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
Thank you for the video. I tryied to use the web link but does not work. 😥 can you please tell me the correct link.
Hey Dan!
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop us a comment! Just checked and the link is working with what was in the video, but here it is again :-)
firecalc.com/
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
@@2GoRoam Thank you. 😃
Majority of us won't have a car in less than 10 years time - robotaxis will drop the cost to a point it makes no sense to have own car.
how much do you need to travel for 10 years
Ok my main comment about your channel is that there is a lot of vagueness. I'm trying to figure out your anticipated FIRE pot.
This helps me look at what you are doing and how much it costs fro something similar.
So this is just a stab.... All figures are in todays monies
So you say your spend for 1 year was set at about £35,000
Assuming over and under for the next 10 years, one could estimate you need £350,000 (53yo - 63yo)
Then you say the next 10 years at +33% (top end), so that is another £465,000 (63yo - 73yo)
Then the 3rd phase you estimate spending -30% of Phase 2, so another £312,000 (73yo - 83+yo)
So disregarding inflation, your pot to 83 ( you are 53 now and each phase assumed at 10 years) that you will need is:
£1,127,000 or USD $1,368,375 in todays numbers
Now......
At 67 or 68 UK State Pension kicks in (currently 9k-ish a year), so £18,000 (no inflation) for the 2 of you
Our projection above is up to 83 years old for you... so £18k x 16 = £288,000 (remember I disregarded inflation)
So now the pot you need is: £839,000
In fact I assume you both have other private/company pensions, so the period 67yo+ is probably covered by pensions
Looking at the houses in the area you are from, yours may have sold for £500,000 (assuming fully paid off)
So you need an additional £339,000 (+ inflation) from savings or from growth in your savings.
Just for fun, I think if you had a pot of £500,000 at the start of year 1 and it grows by 7%, you are probably reasonably set.
So this helps me, I'm 53 too, I have £392k in investments and £300k equity in the house... the kids will all have left home by this Christmas... so I think it is time to pull the plug.
The one bit of information it would be nice for you to discuss is how you have invested your money? What growth do you expect or need?
How old are you two now? I’m 41 contemplating early retirement
Hey Gabe Gordon!
Thank you again, we are 54 and 53 respectively so you have a few years on us :-)
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
I'm not making any specific accusations here...
However, can we have some "proof of life" re: Sarah?
You seem like a basically decent man, but I have watched various documentaries like The Talented Mr Ripley, or Girl on the Train, which do suggest there are people with darker sides in this world...
Hey Daniel!
Really appreciate the comment, I guess I could send a finger or something? Here is something.... Sarah has actually written the video for next Saturday and will take a centre stage! Until then, let me know if a finger in the post would be ok?
Best regards,
Neil & Sarah
@@2GoRoam Picture of Sarah with today’s newspaper?
If only Sarah could read! :-)
Going on holiday and still going on holiday??! 🤔
your videos are too draggy. Pl go straight to the point, If draggy, pp lose interest. TQ