AlmostThere
Dryer sheet aficionado
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2008
- Messages
- 37
Hi Everyone,
I'm 46, have limited savings but few bills, getting serious about leaving work no later than 55, sooner if possible. I'll have a small pension, $13k a year at 55. Will have maybe $70k in savings by then.. Obviously I won't be living the high life but that's fine with me. I'm hoping to find a wife in the Philippines but that's a whole other subject. After years of reading about Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama and a few others I've decided Ecuador is my best bet.
Why Ecuador? Beautiful scenery and great climate in the Andes. Great beaches too.. They use the American Dollar for their currency. You can get permanent residency by doing one of 3 things: 1. Buy a home worth at least $25,000, or, 2. Deposit $25,000 in a bank there, or 3.Demonstrate guaranteed monthly income such as a pension of at least $800 a month. Permanent residency grants you all the rights of citizenship except to vote or run for office.
The capital, Quito, has all the amenities but Ecuador has numerous beautiful places attracting expats. And if you choose a smaller place you can get Directv Latin America with most of the U.S. channels. One thing I just found out is that USAToday has on online edition identical to their print edition for $14.95 a month so I can read my favorite paper anywhere.
It's not perfect, but for someone retired, not needing work or trying to run a business, there's plenty to do and see. And at about 1/4th to 1/3rd the cost of living in the States.. I just wanted to share this, not hawking real estate or have a vested interest. Regards!
I'm 46, have limited savings but few bills, getting serious about leaving work no later than 55, sooner if possible. I'll have a small pension, $13k a year at 55. Will have maybe $70k in savings by then.. Obviously I won't be living the high life but that's fine with me. I'm hoping to find a wife in the Philippines but that's a whole other subject. After years of reading about Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama and a few others I've decided Ecuador is my best bet.
Why Ecuador? Beautiful scenery and great climate in the Andes. Great beaches too.. They use the American Dollar for their currency. You can get permanent residency by doing one of 3 things: 1. Buy a home worth at least $25,000, or, 2. Deposit $25,000 in a bank there, or 3.Demonstrate guaranteed monthly income such as a pension of at least $800 a month. Permanent residency grants you all the rights of citizenship except to vote or run for office.
The capital, Quito, has all the amenities but Ecuador has numerous beautiful places attracting expats. And if you choose a smaller place you can get Directv Latin America with most of the U.S. channels. One thing I just found out is that USAToday has on online edition identical to their print edition for $14.95 a month so I can read my favorite paper anywhere.
It's not perfect, but for someone retired, not needing work or trying to run a business, there's plenty to do and see. And at about 1/4th to 1/3rd the cost of living in the States.. I just wanted to share this, not hawking real estate or have a vested interest. Regards!