The cost of living in the United States continues to rise, and the average monthly expenditures for a couple exceed $3,500. From college students to retirees, people struggle to afford a fulfilling lifestyle, so many US citizens are flocking to other, less expensive countries to live better lives for less.

Younger workers fear they may never have a chance to retire. Wages are flat while the cost of living is skyrocketing. There needs to be a better way.

Perhaps working remotely or retiring in another country. But which one?

You could pore through data on 200 countries, but don’t bother…

This story is a continuation of my 90-day journey to retirement. Read the first chapter HERE.

Day 65 Thursday

“I’m retiring early,” I keep telling myself and anyone else who’ll listen. And it’s true, but only a little bit since I’m already on the dark side of 60. Still, there’s a certain prestige to being able to say it. In another life, I might have joined the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early). That’s when people retire at age 38 or 46 or whatever — super early relative to the norm — and they live a simple life doing whatever they want. …

From the Life After Work Zone

*Editors note: The author of this story is Chip Stites (bio below) and is reprinted with his permission.

Having spent almost four decades in the financial services industry: first as an insurance salesperson, then as a licensed Registered Representative, then a Certified Financial Planner®, then a licensed supervisor, and winding up as an independent broker of financial products, I loved what I did. At times I managed over $100,000,000.00. I enjoy investing!

I learned that there are three primary things to consider:

1. The risk you take.
2. The cost or price of the investment.
3. The return you get for the cost…

From The Life After Work Zone

Do you dream of traveling the world, meeting people, and exploring exotic places but can’t afford it? Well, you’re in luck. There’s a perfect solution for you, assuming you’re a pet lover.

People all around the world need your help. They want to travel too but need trustworthy people to watch their homes and pets while they’re away. They would love it if you’d stay at their house and take care of things.

They live in the south of France, the jungles of Brazil, on the beaches in Mexico, and deep in the woods of British Columbia. Would you like…

A retirement decision is serious business. Once you cut the cord, it’s not so easy to splice it back together. In as little as a year or two, your skills will be outdated. Technology will pass you by. Your resume will have a gaping hole that’s hard to explain.

33% percent of all retirees go back to work because they retired on a whim, miscalculated their financial needs, or just got bored. Then to make matters worse, they usually can’t return to their prior profession and end up taking whatever job they can get.

One out of every three retired…

A man named Dick, a widower, age 84 died peacefully in bed on a Sunday morning. He was a friendly guy, unabashedly proud and ferociously independent. His children were devastated from the unexpected news, grieving, barely able to function. The funeral home called his eldest daughter Maggie and asked who would oversee the decisions, who would be paying for services, would they like a viewing, and did Dick prefer burial, cremation, or what?

She dropped to her knees, sobbing.

Maggie and her twin brothers Adam and Lance flew into town and met at Dick’s house to try and locate his…

I’ve been a manager my entire career. My style has evolved from authoritarian in the early years with hourly workers to servant leadership with more professional employees. Most of my colleagues and staff would say I’ve done a fine job over the years, and that makes me feel good.

But I was never a superstar. I always admired other managers who had staff that were loyal, passionate, and deeply engaged — and I wondered how they did it. Sadly, I never discovered the answer, and ultimately found satisfaction in being “good enough.”

Then out of the blue, I stumbled into…

Larry found he could afford to retire at age 52 by building a home in Los Barriles on the coast of the Baja Peninsula. For fun money, he works part-time as a ghostwriter for a US publisher.

Patty quit her job 23 years ago and drove to Sayulita, a coastal town just north of Puerto Vallarta. She opened a business on the beach where you’ll still find her every day of the week.

Bob, a stage designer from Boston, drops in on the Romantic zone in Puerto Vallarta for two months every winter so he can enjoy the lively atmosphere…