"The Retirement Rule" You Need to Know
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- Опубліковано 17 чер 2024
- When should you retire? The answer is part math, part philosophy and this video will help you answer this age old question.
And if you are looking to retire sooner, you should consider Thailand as a great option. I'll explain why in this video.
If you plan to live in Thailand you should Learn to speak Thai. This is the best way: www.thailanguagechallenge.com...
Here's a link to the Adam Parker interview with Bob and Paula: • Why This American Coup...
Tools to help you move to Thailand:
🇹🇭 LEARN TO SPEAK THAI: www.thailanguagechallenge.com...
🏠 Buying or Renting Property in Thailand: retiredworkingforyou.com/real...
🍲 Experience Thailand Like a Local With My Mobile App: retiredworkingforyou.com/teenee/
🌴 Epic Thailand Group Tours: www.rw4utours.com
✈️ Free Flights, Meetups, and Fun: retiredworkingforyou.com/memb...
0:00 When Should You Retire?
1:19 Enough is Enough
3:17 Which of these 2 are you?
7:02 3 Body Problem
10:08 You Don't NEED More
10:59 Don't Compare Apples to Oranges
12:37 Viewer Comments
17:20 Words to Live By
18:43 The Math Behind When To Retire
20:21 The Answer
21:56 Why Thailand?
If you plan to live in Thailand you should Learn to speak Thai. This is the best way: www.thailanguagechallenge.com/a/2147830747/LuoaQmdG
I am DONE! Sold everything and will be there next month......hopefully forever! See you soon!
Funny thing is, I am Laotian American and never left the US outside of Canada and Mexico but mainly speak English so it will be a journey to learn my roots in person as I would have the opportunity to visit Laos while living on Thailand. Its still a plan but your videos help!!
want to disclose how much you make from this? come on Chris and Adam , be honest with your subscribers
Retirees who struggle now to meet their basic needs are the ones who could not accumulate enough money during their active years to meet their needs. Retirement choices determine a lot of things. My parents both spent same number of years in the civil service, but my mom was investing through a wealth manager, and my dad through the 401k.
This is true. I'm in my mid 50's now. My wife and I were following this same trajectory. Last two years, I pulled out my money and invested with her wealth manager. Not catching up with her profits over the years, but at least I earn more. I'm making money even before retiring, and my retirement fund has grown way more than it would have with just the 401(k). Haha.
Its unfortunate most people don't have such information. I don't really blame people who panic. Lack of information can be a big hurdle. I've been making more than $787k passively by just investing through an advisor, and I don't have to do much work. Doesn't matter if the economy is misbehaving; great wealth managers will always make returns.
@@hasede-lg9hj Could you kindly elaborate on the advisor's background and qualifications?
Finding financial advisors like Sharon Ann Meny who can assist you shape your portfolio would be a very creative option. There will be difficult times ahead, and prudent personal money management will be essential to navigating them.
Thank you for this tip. It was easy to find your coach. Did my due diligence on her before scheduling a phone call with her. She seems proficient considering her résumé.
I retired three days ago! Next job, book flight tickets and head in your direction.
38 years in the same job, done. see you all soon!
You won't regret it. Bring the positive. Leave anything negative behind.
@@ScooterOnHisWay2024 I will arrive with an open heart and open mind, hopefully by Christmas. Leaving the UK end of august, 3 months in Penang, unwind, adjust, then extended malaysian family taking me From Penang up to Hat Yai to find a condo and bank account.
Congratulations!
Legend!
Don't forget to take a few weeks to get the "vacation" mindset out of your system. I burnt myself out before I figured out how to keep busy and find something to pursue and that you've always wanted learn or try. Careful with the bar scene good luck!
The answer is easy. It’s when you have enough money.
Correct. I was 45, back in 2007 I had a good income from my 5 rentals and the Baht ex rate was great 75= £..
Now 18 years on still here, 130,000Bt per mth, so pleased I left the "Rat Race"
Yes 👍
And when you KNOW what is enough.
@@rickyzoom8059 The problem is most of us don't know what or when is enough!
And what is enough ?
The advice is spot on. I retired 2 years ago and moved from the US to the awesomeness that is Bangkok. I am typing this from my living room looking out across the beautiful Chao Phraya and enjoying every minute doing whatever I want every day.
A river full of plastic is beautiful? Perhaps from a distance......
How old are you? When did you decide to retire?
@@axwack mid 50’s. From idea to execution was around 4 to 5 years
@@LBinBKK Did you have to deal with children's education? How do you manage taxes and benefits in the US? Perhaps something we can talk on a separate line? I am very serious about moving and going to Thailand in August to check it out as well as to have some fun and learn about the culture.
People should retire when they feel it is right for them and their circumstances.
After 23 years, I left the army at the age of 40, in 1991, with a pension and a small gratuity.
I tried working but couldn't fit in with the mind set of civilians so, I called it a day and fully retired in 1993.
I am now 73, divorced for 37 years, no kids, with a house, 2 luxury German cars - Audi A8 & Mercedes S Class. No debts and $500,000+ cash assets and near & $40K / year pensions.
I have travelled extensively to 88+ countries. I spend winters in warm climates, summers in the UK.
When you feel retirement is right for you - jus do it.
Enjoy.
Doesn’t really explain how you acquired so much wealth.
@@cseosborn892 why even mention it? That’s the Western mindset that I want to escape from. Look at my cars , look at my big house
Military does pay or pension that well. I sense another expat porky 😅
@@cseosborn892 I don't believe he was trying to explain that. Just that you should retire whenever you feel like it makes sense.
@cseosborn892
Doesn’t matter. He has enjoyed his life. You should do. Money doesn’t buy happiness
I love this channel. Top of the food chain for anyone moving to Thailand. Thank you, sir.
Damm…this is spot on… the trip around the sun thing mate me think..I am 56 years now living in Copenhagen Denmark and the number in my head for retire that’s came to my mind is max 10 years.
My girlfriend and I is in Thailand 4-6 times a year and absolutely love the place.
Living there all year round is moving closer after I discovered your Chanel 🙏🏽🇹🇭❤️thanks…
Spot on Bob! Chris, I've been watching you and Adam for a long time. I will b retiring this fall and will b moving to Korat. Great info and enjoy your day bud. 😊
Thanks Uncle Chris! When all the kids are out of high school, moving on with their own lives, and when I can convince the Mrs that at least 4 months out of the year in Thailand are good. Not all 12 months, gotta cheer on my Padres!
Hi Chris my husband and I are planing to move to Thailand next year and seeing your videos makes us want to go already. We lived in Phuket Thailand from 1995 to 2002 and came back to Montreal for our children education. Now our children are adults and it is our time to live our life. We haven’t been back in Thailand since Covid started and seeing your videos it seems still very affordable to retire with a certain level of comfort. Thank you for all those informational video retiring in Thailand. I am sure you are helping a lot of people wanting to move to Thailand. Keep up the good work. ❤😀
Chris: How is this for specific.....April 26, 2024. 7:05PM. Take off to Chiang Mai.
Retirement begins at 6PM the same day.
Only 13 days to go.
perfect!
love CNX but the air quality there is terrible. wish you the best
Congrats, I'm going there tomorrow and will leave for Bangkok on 26th! This is my scouting trip!
@@Antandthegrasshopper prepare to be amazed.
@@Antandthegrasshopper it's like my post makes no effect. check the air quality pm 2.5 is toxic but you still go there. . . I guess it s human nature to wait to get sick to do something about it.
Dear Chris, I stumbled upon your broadcast today. I was pleasantly surprised. What a great talk. All so true everything you talked about. So many people, particularly in the US think they can't retire...YES YOU CAN! You don't need what you think you need to not work. People have many more options than they realize...Thank you for illuminating "us" to the prospects and opportunities that are out there for them if they just learn about it. You are one that helps people do this. Many thanks!
Great info. Thank you so much for taking some of your retirement to help others plan their adventure and avoid some pitfalls and frustration
@RW4U Chris! Love your content man! I lived in Singapore for 10 years and frequented Thailand over 200 times. My wife and I are preparing for Early Retirement right now. Our retirement looks like continuing to work in Thailand but at half throttle. We are bringing the retirement ship 🚢 to a smooth stop. But we want to enjoy our 40s and maybe 50s living our best slower but healthier life! 🎉 Thank you for the encouragement.
Great mindset to have a few gems I didn’t realize. Thank you sir!
Well said. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
Great vid. Been watching you since the early days. Inspired me to re-run my retirement data. I’m close my man. Keep up the great work.
Awesome video. I completely agree. So close to retiring and making the move to Thailand as well!!
New sub from Australia. Absolutely enjoy your channel and am considering retiring to Bangkok. This vlog speaks straight to my heart! Toxic materialism of the western world. ugh. The more you have the more you want. An endless unfulfilling cycle.
From Aus aswell. Hearing what your putting down
Capitalism is big in Thailand too, just like everywhere. Best to admit it, and then chill ✌️
👍👍👍
Chris might be retired, but the Thailand Tourism Bureau should hire him pronto. He sells the Country with more gusto than most ads out there. 😂 Total compliment Brother.
He does well on these videos. Trust me.
Hi Chris, we are completing our last tour here in Dakar, Senegal. My family and I have been moving around the world for the past 23 years working for Department of State but chose Chiang Mai, Thailand for our retirement. We will be there once my daughter’s school is out. Trying to scale down our things and organizing all the logistics, it’s a lot of work but we are excited for this new chapter. Thanks for the video, been thinking about this move for the past few years, finally it’s coming around. Hope we can meet someday!
I first considered retirement when I realized my job was no longer fun. My workplace was undergoing big technological changes and I was going to be obsolete or at least doing something I wasn’t excited about doing. I checked my retirement benefits at that time. I realized I was essentially working for free. I could retire right then and there and maintain my lifestyle. Really though . . . I made the retirement spreadsheet. I worked on it for a month and saw that the numbers looked even better. I retired at 55. That was 13 years ago. Seven years ago I moved to Thailand. I didn’t move because of the lower cost of living in Thailand though that is a nice benefit. I moved because I like Thailand and it seemed like the best thing to do at this phase of my life. No regrets. 😊
Good video man ! Keep up the good work .
You are so optimistic and fun person Chris i enjoy all your videos 📸
Hi Chris, inspiring as usual. Hitting 61 in a couple months and just retired. Living in Canada and kind of bored already. I know Thailand, but was scared of the big change. You're helping reignite my enthusiasm for adventure vs fear of change. Thanks. Also, I use numbeo to compare cost of living between different cities around the world, if anyone isn't aware of that resource.
Excellent video Chris. A lot to consider here as I ponder retirement. Off topic I just have to mention that I laughed at the way you threw "Stockholm" in with such gusto at the end of your list of cities at 22:17 lol
Chris... Like I told you one or two years ago, you inspired me.... And actually I make it come true. I retired last month in the age of 55. And it feels great, every day starts with a big smile in the mirror 😊 Now I can extend my time staying in Thailand and perhaps moving completely to this wonderful country in a couple of years. Regards from Germany,😊
That is awesome!
What do you plan for your budget for the year?
Love your channel Chris- you bring a lot of good points. I am not retired yet, still in NJ and plan to retire this year. I have a condo in Pratumnak Hills area in Pattaya overlooking the beach, but I want to sell that condo and live in Bangkok area because it looks like life is much better in BKK. You have inspired a lot of people including myself. Keep up the great work!
I like your vibe! Thank you for putting out this great content. I am kicking around the idea currently at 56 years old and married.
Greetings Chris, I’ve been retired two years now living in South Korea and loving it. No plans to move to Thailand as my wife loves her homeland, the ROK however, I am loving your content on both of your channels. The new taxation concerns there is definitely a deal breaker if I wanted to move there. Wishing to you, your Korean wife and daughter the very best. We do plan on visiting Thailand in the future. Thanks for sharing.
Another authentic inspiring video!
Chris
Finally i am over there to live this year
Happy days
Retirement days i am looking forward to it
Great video. It’s all about what lifestyle you want. You brought up everything I talk about daily in my current job.
Great discussion and some of those comments are given by people who feel the need to rationalize their fear of change
Amazing advice, thank you! You only get so many rides around the sun ❤
Chris you don’t have to convince me. I have been traveling to Thailand for 50 years . Always told myself I am going to retire there. Is happening. At 72 years old. I am doing it. Leaving in a few weeks to look for an apartment, come home pack/ ship and be there. Life is too short and we only live once. Enjoy your videos. Thank you. Hope I will run into you and Hailey to say Hello.
Such a great perspective! Thank you! I’ll be retiring sooner now!
Hey Chris! Love the video. Like I told you today at Siam Paragon… I’ll be retiring in two years from San Francisco and moving to my Coconut Farm here in Thailand!! Dream that comes true
Chris, love your common sense comments about life. Thanks from Seattle.
Hi Chris. You are a true Guru. Thanks for the video 😁
Chris Thanks for your amazing vlogs!!
Luv yer channel me buddy from a good Newfoundlander to a fellow Canadian appreciate the insight and support - considering a retirement move to Huahin later in 2024 and am watching your channel closely.
Best video I've seen, areal eye opener we have traveled to thailand once and totally love the place and the people .
We don't live a lavish lifestyle but own our own home,we are more into the simple things in life because like you we have realize you only get so many laps of the sun
We are coming over in November for 6 weeks on our second trip to do a bit more travel around the beautiful country ,we love it
Keep up the great videos and we might bump into each other one day
Happy Songkran!
Scott and I just came back from a Songkran market celebration at Pai restaurant, here in Toronto, and had some of Chef Nuit's amazing dishes :)
Excellent video! We own a condo in downtown Toronto and could rent it out (rents are high, as you know Chris) to live quite comfortably in Bangkok. However, we have a dog, who may be too old to travel, so we have to wait. We're hoping to at least be snowbirds for a few months in Thailand this winter :)
Wow it's a wake up call thank you very much for the video
So glad I found your channel. I'm a college professor saving what I can as well as adding top dollar to my retirement account. I'm planning on leaving for Thailand in 2-3 years. Building a home next year near Prasat, just outside Surin City.
A great listen/watch, very interesting thank you
thank you so much for your channel, you are much appreciated my friend 🤲❤️
I just stumbled onto this channel. I’m definitely not moving to Thailand when I retire in a couple years, but great thought provoking info. 😃
Retired, sold up and moved to Samui from the UK six months ago.
So much of what you just said in the above video describes our thought process in making the move and how we are financing it.
See you when you get here.
Best video Chris and the guys ever made
It's like you were sitting across the kitchen table talking directly to me, Chris. ThiS, made things crystal clear. Let's just say, enough is enough. See you soon.🏊♀🏊♀
I have been retired for some time and have more than enough to relocate and live in Thailand very comfortably however I have a senior dog almost 13 yrs of age who I consider my mightiest of companions that I am stewarding out and simply won’t abandon her at this stage so I keep watching you ( in much gratitude) and am aware when I am alone will make the move as it’s a no brainer and totally biting at the bit as I have had enough of what feels like the equivalent of remaining in an extremely unhealthy relationship living in the states.
Hybrid Human, Beautiful.
I was in the same way. Rebecca. My German Shepherd was 8 years old. I was waiting for him to pass. I made a comment about it on one of these videos on UA-cam and somebody said why don't you take him? I thought I can't take my dog to Thailand. Can I? I found that I could. There's a Facebook group for pets in Thailand and Bangkok. I started reading and realized that yeah I could. I went to Thailand on 2 week holiday leaving my dog in my RV in Arizona with my friends watching him and 3 days before returning he died. A healthy 8-year-old German Shepherd dog. Never even got to say goodbye to him or touch him. He was my constant companion for 8 years. Was my son's dog but when my son went in the army he became mine. I miss him everyday. I would have put him through the terrors of a flight to Thailand knowing that he would have loved it there. He always liked the beach. So you can., it cost me a more than I thought.
@@RobFomenko Thanks So much for sharing this all with me. Firstly, I am sorry for your loss and am aware how deeply it runs. At almost 13 yrs of age, I really hadn’t considered transporting Grace due to limitations with her health already. I can imagine how heartbreaking the manner in which you lost your 8 yr old German Shepard is/was as you relay such a touching account here. Living in the states feels unbearable at times as it’s very different than the past wherein I felt at peace. I consider myself to be a fairly open soul so will consider what you have shared. I honestly hadn’t thought or considered I might be able to get her abroad too. Appreciate your sharing all this very much🙏🏻
I recently lost my beautiful Lucy (the red head chihuahua) after 16 years as my faithful companion. I bawled like a baby and miss her terribly. I admire your dedication. It speaks volumes of your character.
@@WallaceDunn prayers for loving gentleness while you make this transition. I pray peace arises out of the spaciousness she left and that her essence rests in the eternal from whence she came 🙏🏻❤️
I am 43 and planning my future retirement now and watching your videos as part of my 10+ year research. I want out the rat race and a simple and chill life. I dont care about partying and ok with nature/beach walks and connecting with positive people. Thank you for all your informative videos!
US citizens can collect social security in Thailand as well! I can sell my condo (these units sell like hotcakes) and use the monies to outright pay off 2/3 condos in Thailand and still have money if I want to. Then theres 401k and company matching up to 5%. 18 years in my corporate career which will be 28 years if I quit in 10 years. No kids and single and live a simple life now.
I cant wait for the next season of 3 body problem!
Get your health and body right with some TRT
Just the fact you have a plan and time frame puts you in the 90% bracket.
Wow, how is it that I ran into you today because I’m fighting this urge to go there to Thailand that is I look forward to watching the rest of the video. I’m just getting started.
Love your Videos CHRIS. Always very interesting Topics and Thought’s to discuss. Also is a great platform to learn more about beautiful Thailand 🇹🇭 Hopefully 🙏 I’ll retire out there in the near future. Honestly I’m so fed up to live in the WEST. Is boring! Expensive and far too many silly Rules and Regulations! Thanks again for sharing your Videos Mate. Keep safe and Happy SONGKRAN 🙏❤️🇹🇭
love your videos. very informative and eye opening.
i am 39 years old. been saving for 3,5 years. goal is to retire in thailand when i hit 50 by getting a retirement visa. it's long jouney. hope i will be able to achieve. wish me luck.
You can do it! Just takes long term fiscal discipline which seems like you have. I'm 51 and will be applying for 1yr retirement VISA in 2025 to hopefully make a semi-permanent transition there.
My job went to Cebu 3 years ago, at that point I knew I was done after 30 years in IT. Now surfing out my senior Akitas life then heading there for a 6 month winter for a discovery trip…all thanks to you! 🍻
Yeah, well the US and Europe are moving positions to countries with cheap labor so that the executives can make more money while telling everyone how much they care about people
You should retire as soon as you can afford to ,and not a day more.i retired at 50 because I could and love it.
I’m going to retire at 55 and I’m 51 now I can’t wait
@@frede3921 I know the feeling. I started counting down to retire 4 years ago. The day finally came last week!
My goal is to reach financial independence, when I retire is a different story. I do want the flexibility in choice of work, which includes working for myself.
I plan on cutting ties to the conventional workforce in 2 years to travel around the world to find my final resting place to enjoy reminiscing of days past
As soon as my youngest child finishes school and is settled into something, I’m booking my one way ticket to early retirement. Loved this video btw.
Totally agree Chris. Fellow Canucklehead here. Retired similar timing as you from the rat race outside Toronto. No regrets. Living MY best life. I can see you are too. Looking well. Keep on keeping on😊. Happy days. I am headed home briefly in May for the first time since The Situation. Not expecting to second guess my decision.
Yes, we certainly do only get so many trips around the sun. We just had a terrible violent incident here in Sydney yesterday, and it reminded me that we may not be here tomorrow because of one chance decision. Make plans to live your best life ✌️😁
Pulled the pin at 59 best choice i ever made! Bob's 100% correct!
Great video, I agree with so much of what you said. I wanted to retire at 50, could not afford it. Got forced out at 55. A million miles an hour to zero in one doctor appointment. If you are healthy, and as Bob said, can maintain your lifestyle, even though it might be slightly different. Run, jump, don't wait. We are guaranteed nothing in life! Right now, half time in Thailand is all I can do but I'm working on more. I got my LTR visa and looking at options.
GREAT VIDEO!!!
Hello Chris. I am not trying to be snarky, but how do you consider that you are retired with all the irons in the fire that you have. You can definitely say that you have changed careers. You can say that you moved your life to a new part of the world. You started a new chapter in your life. I would never say that YOU are currently retired, unless you have a different definition for retirement.
Prior to 10 years ago, I was working paycheck to paycheck in the USA. That was work. So frustrating. Ten years ago, I became an ESL teacher in China. I fell in love with my new career. I was living like a king and my life had purpose and meaning. It definitely felt like retirement, but in reality, it was a working existence. When my dad died a year and half ago, my financial future was secured in which I can actually retire at the age of 56. The problem for me is that I love teaching. Because of my newly found financial freedom, I will teach for the love of it, and not to try to build up a "nest egg". The reason I bring this story to light is, in your concept of retirement, am I retired or am I still working? This was the premise for the first paragraph to you.
There are two overlapping concepts. There is the traditional concept of retirement and there is financial independence. They are both more or less the same. You have control over your time and life. You can what you want when you want and get paid for it or not.
I definte retirement as doing what i want, when i want. i did retire. the only reason i started this youtube stuff is cuz i got bored during the lockdown. then i realized i loved doing it. as soon as i don't....i'll stop. to me, that is retirement.
@@RW4U amen. Retirement is freedom.
@@RW4U If you consider all of the things you are into, as well as the nice financial opportunities you have developed as retirement, I am sure many would hope for such a retirement. It may not be a 9-5, but there are many non-traditional jobs people are getting into now days. As I do not know you personal, or even your real work life, I can only accept your claim of retirement. As a UA-camr, an ESL teacher, and financially independent, I could never claim I am retired since I am actually "working" at those endeavors. I will know I am retired when I see a "retirement visa" stamp in my passport saying that I can no longer work. Perhaps that is the real indicator that a person is retired in Thailand.
@@billg7531if you need a stamp to define your retirement then thats a oersonal goal and 100% awesome. You get a bit presumptuous to think thats a standard others should be held to because they have hobbies that generate income which requires a work visa to be in compliance with Thai law.
35 years old, planning to retire in Thailand before 2030. The reason is simple, i watch too many of your videos. I hope to meet you and have a Leo with you one day :)
Me too man!
This is the best video you have made.
Subscribed, watched your channel and decided a year ago or so that we are going to retire. We are moving out to Thailand in June from UK but first making the most of it by visiting my partners parents in Slovakia for 3 weeks before moving out to Thailand. My partners last day at work is 3rd May she is very much surprised we can do it, but I have crunched the numbers and our passive income more than covers everything and then some. See you very soon. Oh, we are using Thailand as out gateway to South East Asia as we plan to travel, cheap flights to places like Singapore.
Great vlog bro.
Chris, great video. You make a lot of good points. Personally, I have 6 years 3 months left before heading your way.
Thank you Chris!
Thanks for all your positive retirement info . My preferance is like les from retired and livin the dream . But i also see the pluss of citi life . Bothe seam afordable . .. im in prep mode to retire . And my thai wife and i livin in australia . Are gonna test the waters in thai . Just not shore on location . We have a house in phuket . But phuket has lost my attention . So we hope to pull the plug in a year abouts and go exploring . .. keep the info commin . Your info and your positive way is great . . The trips around the sun seam to be getting less . So sooner i pull the plug on work the better
That was an awesome job.
I was forced to retire due to vision loss. I spent the last three winters in SE Asia and have decided to move on my disability pension. I have plans to sell my single family home and buying an investment property in Canada. This will give me a passive income with no other bills. My pension and this will greatly improve my standard of living. Just the methods of transport in SE Asia will give me a mobility that I cannot afford here. In Canada I am trapped in my home due to lack of affordable transport in my rural community. Thats a massive improvement in quality of life. Thanks for you information. Cheers Hoser.
Hey Chris! My wife and I are planning our retirement to Thailand!! We are Canadian and I just finished day 5 of the Thai Language Challenge with Kru Faa! See you in class next week brother ✊🏼🇹🇭🇨🇦‼️
LOVE the disclaimer.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
This video about when to retire should really wake some people up that have got caught up in corporate America . I live in Cambodia and retired five years ago . Best move ever .
Retiring now Chris . Will be in Thailand before end of 2024 !!!!…. Also doing your 100 day Thai course !!!
Where can we find that?
Where do I find this 100 day course?
You had me at Soi Cowboy 😉 seriously a lot of good advice to mull over as I am on the fence for a major life change. It's a matter of choosing what's the best fit for me: India, Thailand, or Vietnam.
This is a great video. I don't think I would retire but have 5 weeks every year holiday in Thailand - 2 weeks in April and 3 weeks in October - until I could not travel or work anymore. You only live once. Just all depends on what you can afford. A great video Chris. Well done.
I live in a small town in Nova Scotia and can only afford to work, eat and sleep (some months, winters get challenging). Life has had more downs than ups so I will need to rely on my small Government pension, but even so I think living in rural Thailand or the Philippines will improve my quality of life. The goal is to retire the fall of 2025.
Hi Chris absolutely spot on . I'm about 3 years away .Already got a nice Condo in Pratumnak. Another option is staged retirement which Works for some of my friends. It also stops them from being in 24/7 Holiday mode , which can be lethal.
Chris, you nailed it.
Totally doing it.
I retired 15 years ago. 5 years in Thailand, 5 years in Chile, 5 years in Puerto Rico and the next to come. A wonderful journey and what I tell other expats wherever I go. "Lower your expectations".
Chris, been watching you and others for years. Great info. I plan to retire in either 23 months or 35 months to Hua Hin. Get a condo for a month or two and try out another area for a month or two. May settle on an area or just keep moving to other areas around the country.
Thanks again, love your channel, my goal is 2 1/2 years !
I am 57 in Canada. Retiring next year. Tired of giving away my good years to my job. Travel lots. Was in TH in Feb...luv it. Plan is to keep house and spend 6mos in a different country spending summers at home. If I fall in luv w a place...might cash it all in ❤
60. Same plan here. Six months in Canada and six months away.
Was in BK for 3 weeks, but need to do a longer 3 month test run.
I retired 2 years ago & should have done it 20 years ago! I am busier now than I ever been, the difference is I am now sharing my life with my wonderful Thai wife and we are looking to split our time between Thailand and Australia (6 Months each). I am now 69 years old and not thinking about the expiry of my "use by" date. It is a wonderful feeling!
Excellent video
I retired in 2015, because the oil price fell. But I love Thailand, it’s the best place I’ve found I the world.
Great video, Chris. Totally on the same page with you every step of the way. Currently in process of selling everything and planning to move to Thailand within the next six months. One thing though - you were talking about how cost-of-living in Thailand is 50% of current in the US. Right now, my mortgage, HOA and property tax alone is $4000 USD a month (that’s what you get for living near Marty’s hamburgers on Pico). That 4000 doesn’t even include electricity, water, gas, groceries, entertainment, health, insurance, etc., etc. etc. i’m thinking at the end of the day, once I’m in Thailand my expenses will be about 1/4 to 1/5 what they are in the US. Not too shabby.
Great channel Chris, Hope to be retired in Hua Hin by Christmas. Happy Days 😎
We started watching your videos 2 years ago. And thought -could we could do that!?!! And after lots of planning, we sold our house in USA, bought a place here, closed up life in USA and now live in Samui. We are under 60 years old, are both retired and living comfortably and have much less stress. Our cost for things like health insurance and electricity are the biggest expense. (we purchased a Cigna Global plan to cover serious illness, but we are currently healthy). While we will no longer take expensive vacations to Europe every year, lets say, we can easily travel back to the USA 1-2 times year, on our budget. And obviously its amazing to be retired and living with such lovely people here in Thailand. Thanks for giving us the encouragement to make a change!! Our suggestions to others is STOP BUYING STUFF in the USA and put money away. We gave aways thousands of dollars worth of stuff....why did we need all that to begin with? hahaha
Doing similar now.
Currently Giving stuff away that cost us hundreds if not thousands. And we were pretty good at minimalism already (hence fire).
It’s just stuff - not experiences. I know which I remember from my childhood, I know what our kids remember from their childhood, it was always experiences.
ain't that the truth. All the stuff we bought that later is designated as 'crap'. Felt so good to purge.
Did you put your kids in College? What kind of visa do you have or will have?
Not blessed with children- so no college fund. We have a non OA retirement visa applied for from USA before we left.
I don't have much stuffs but recently cleaned out my closets. I felt every good afterwards. Finally, it was April/30/2024. I left a rat race 😊
Chris, I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with your videos (think I've watched MOST of them!) I LOVE your insight, knowledge, and above all positivity! ...and HATE that I cannot retire sooner and move to Thailand! LOL
About 4 years ago I made the decision that I would retire as soon as I am eligible in 2026 (that is, as soon as my pension isn't penalized for retiring early!). In other words, I have the proverbial "Golden Handcuffs".
Based on some comments from friends, I traveled to Thailand and fell in love. Aside from Canada and Mexico, I'd never been out of the U.S. The sense of calm serenity I felt the moment I stepped off the plane in Phuket was almost overwhelming. The friendly people, the beautiful scenery, and of course, the cost of living. Since then, I've been back every year since then - Bangkok, Pattaya, Krabi, Koh Samui and of course Phuket; scouting out locations as a "jumping off point".
Already planning on how to fill up my new "canvas"
Thanks for all your videos!
2026 is coming soon!!!!
Great episode. I’m retiring in 9 weeks and already have a lease signed in Bangkok. BTW your daughter and my oldest graduates together at NIST. We moving back so our younger boys can finish high school there too. See you around.
Chris, I had been planning retirement for a decade or more. Not planning but yearning. 39 years in the medical field in the US and while I loved my job and was good at it, I was ready was so ready.
I retired in 2020. Soon after covid hit my hospital in Texas. I was 62. In fact, I worked 3 weeks past my birthday. I had a plan. A few months before my wife of 27 years decided she wasn't happy and would file for divorce. It was only the second time in my life. I had to go through that so not so bad right? Yeah maybe maybe not. It took a while to get over that. Now here it is. 2024, I'm approaching my fourth year full-timing as an rver in my 40-ft motorhome and have been all over the US. What a retirement, what a blast! In the last year I started watching UA-cam as my primary source of entertainment and along in my feed came a video on Thailand. I was hooked. I thought that's where I need to live. So in November I made plans and in February I visited Thailand for 2 weeks. Bangkok, Hua Hin, Sam Roi Yot, Jomtien beach and Pattaya, then back to Bangkok. I loved every minute of it except for the jet lag. I decided right then that that's where I wanted to be. I'll be back.
Just be careful in retirement with your finances. I never want to go back to work and so other than my social security which is enough to live comfortably in Thailand, I have no income. I agree that if you're still earning income, you're not really retired unless it's passive. Seems like you do a lot of work. Unless somebody else is editing those videos for you because that is work. It might be work that you love, but still work. work to me is chasing the greenback. Once I was able to let that go, life became easier and harder.
I know that in Thailand I will have to be very careful with my finances. If I'm careful, I've got enough to live the rest of my life. If not, I still have enough to live, just not as well.
Lifestyle. I don't agree with Bob even though I'm Bob. Your lifestyle will change as you get older and as your finances change. Good luck with wanting to live with the same income as you had while working. Unless you have very deep pockets, you will go through that money quickly. How quickly? Well that depends on your lifestyle.
One of the things that I love the most about me now is that I am not so focused on the material, things. And more on just the life experience. Now what that means for me will be different than what it means for anybody, but just the fact that you do not have to wake up to an alarm. Drag yourself out of bed and back into work, priceless. Worth the wait.
What's the lifestyle you want? What's the lifestyle you can afford? What's the lifestyle that you can settle on and be happy? And content. That is the key to a successful retirement. And now that I'm single I only have to worry about me. I only have to think about what it is that I want to do or not do today. And not what another person wants to do. I would have been okay being married in retirement. It was my plan. It was my lifestyle. It isn't anymore! And that is fine with me. It takes time to get to that space in your head though. Don't be hard on yourself. Love yourself. Accept yourself and above all, let go of any past negative emotions and feelings and go forth into retirement, fresh and new. There's a whole world waiting for you. What are you waiting for?
you are right on the money! I hope to meet you one day. My wife and i have a farm in Nong Khai