Budget Retirement Lifestyle

  The Hidden Cost of Loneliness When Traveling Solo or Retiring Abroad — And How to Stay Emotionally Healthy Traveling the world alone—or retiring in a quiet apartment far away from family—can be one of life’s greatest freedoms. You set your own pace, choose your own destinations, and enjoy the peaceful beauty of independence. But with this freedom comes a quiet cost many people do not talk about: loneliness . And if left unaddressed, loneliness can affect your mental, emotional, and even physical health just as strongly as poor diet or lack of exercise. In today’s world, where retirees are exploring Mexico, Portugal, Colombia, Thailand, or Panama on their own, loneliness has become one of the biggest hidden challenges of the expat lifestyle. Understanding these psychological drawbacks—and knowing how to prevent them—can make the difference between a flourishing retirement and an emotionally draining one. The Psychological Drawbacks of Loneliness During Solo Travel or Retirem...

52+ Ways to Save on Travel is being updated.  This is a quick excerpt from Chapter 25:  Digital Nomad & Retirement Destinations That Save You Money.  - Sign up here to receive a free copy of the book once it is uploaded to Amazon.  Chapter 25: Digital Nomad & Retirement Destinations That Save You Money Not all destinations are created equal when it comes to affordability, internet access, and comfort. Some places are built for travelers who want to live well on less. These digital nomad and retiree-friendly countries combine low costs, good infrastructure, and easy visa options. 🏝️ Latin America’s Budget-Friendly Gems Mexico — Cities like Mérida, Oaxaca, and Playa del Carmen offer strong Wi-Fi, affordable apartments ($600–$900/month), and easy access to the U.S. Ecuador — Expats love Cuenca and Vilcabamba for their temperate climate and low cost of living. Colombia — Medellín’s “eternal spring” weather, low rents, and digital nomad visa make it...

  Quick comparison table – 2025 investor / property thresholds Country Minimum investment / property value (2025) Type of residency / visa Key notes Colombia ≈ COP 500–520 million (about US$110k–120k ) in real estate M-6/M-10 investor visa (temporary) Law requires 350× monthly minimum wage (SMMLV) in 2025. With SMMLV around COP 1.43M, that’s ~COP 500.5M for real-estate investment, which gives you an M-class investor visa first, then renewable. ( https://nexo.legal ) Belize BZ$500,000 (≈ US$250,000 ) in real estate / business Temporary Investment Residency You must invest BZ$500k in Belizean real estate, business or other approved projects; this gives Temporary Investment Residency renewable yearly and can lead to permanent residency if maintained. ( CitizenMatch ) Costa Rica US$150,000 in most real estate / productive investments Inversionista (Investor) temporary residency Law 9996 reduced the minimum from $200k to $150k . You can qualify by buyi...