So, you’ve worked hard your whole life, and now you’ve reached the golden age of retirement. But how are you going to spend it? Many people nowadays decide to sell their house and move their lives abroad! Living out the rest of your life in the sun, surrounded by beautiful scenery, sounds absolutely perfect. But what do you need to do before you can enjoy your retirement abroad?
Insurance
We all know that insurance is essential, even on short journeys and trips, but when you’re moving abroad for good, you need to be covered against every single eventuality. It’s likely to be a stressful journey, considering everything you have to think about, so get your own health taken care of ahead of time. You should never run any risks with travelling, especially if you’re of retirement age, and you’re undertaking an enormous journey!
There are so many options out there, so you may be asking yourself what is the best travel insurance for seniors? You should do your research and factor in your own health complications and requirements. Every person is different, as is their insurance policy! Make sure you’re using a trusted provider who will take care of any issue that may arise.
Selling your Home
Selling your home is likely to be an essential part of your journey, as a way of funding the expedition! Most people who retire abroad sell their home and use those funds to make the move and buy a new place out there. Putting your long-term home on the market can be a challenging process emotionally and financially, but it should fund your expedition and allow you to live your best life abroad.
You should look into the property markets of your home country, and the country you’re planning on moving to. That way you can assess what you may be able to get for your budget. Be realistic and deduct travel expenses, fees, and additional costs, and then budget for your new home with what’s left. The chances are that you’ll move to a country with a more lenient property market, and you may be able to find a bargain!
Moving your Belongings
One of the more obvious and pressing matters in a major move abroad is the fact that you have to bring so many possessions with you! You’re likely to leave most of your furniture and start afresh, but all of your clothes, decorations, and sentimental objects will be coming with you on the journey!
Look into the best international freight services that will transport your possessions overseas safely and securely. Make sure you read reviews and speak to them in person, you need to be sure that you can trust these companies with your belongings! The best companies will even help you securely pack your belongings to make sure they are safe for the entire journey overseas.
Building a Network
A major concern for most people who are moving abroad is the fact that you’ll be leaving your long established friends and support network behind. Moving to a new country is a huge step, and leaving your friends and family is a part of the process, so you need to get prepared ahead of time and establish as much of a network as possible!
There are many online services that help you to find friends overseas. Expat communities are thriving in so many countries, so why not go and get involved? You can set up a pen-pal system before you go so that you’ll have contacts and friends out there already! Set up a meeting with them and enjoy the new relationships you’re creating!
Language
If you’re moving to a non-English speaking country, then the language barrier is an essential obstacle to overcome! There are plenty of countries around the world where you can get by just speaking English, but if you want to assimilate with the culture and feel truly at home, you’ll need to put the hours into learning the language.
Try to get into a routine with your practice and stick to it. Practice makes perfect, and consistency is key! There are plenty of apps and online services that will teach you any language you want, but if you’d like to speed up the process, you could always book in some sessions with a language tutor for some one-to-one assistance.
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Your retirement should be an exciting, rewarding, and ultimately fulfilling time of your life. If you’ve always wanted to live abroad, now may be the best chance you’re ever going to get! So don’t waste it. Follow these steps and build yourself the perfect life overseas. Get to grips with the language, arrange your new home, and get yourself into the community of fellow expats, that way, you can hit the ground running and truly enjoy your retirement.