there was a thread on retiring early on piston heads a while back with loads of good links in it,the apartment in portugal and one in the north of scotland seems the best plan if you have the means https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1716776
I’m thinking about the excuses to just pop up and check out the house etc ..... and the garage looks good !
I'm spending about £100 a week on diesel to travel to work to earn about £800 before tax. And that's basically commuting to the job, not driving as a chargeable aspect of the work I do. Don't know how that compares but it seems a stiff percentage. I dream of the day when a tank of fuel will last me a fortnight.
Exactly... add on all the Costa coffees etc and it’s shocking. I’m not saying live like a pauper but my local Wetherspoon does a coffee for 99p etc and you have time to enjoy it which is what it’s all about. I worked my backside off for all those years and enjoyed it but I’m bloody glad I finished when I did.
It all comes off the bottom line . At one point I was covering the whole of Scotland plus the North East as my area, sub contracting. Fuel could be £180 a week, plus digs very easily. Then had to wait up to 2 month to get paid. Naughty. Only plus side is being able to offset against tax. On the positive side, it taught my son a great lesson as I took him with me one week when he had just turned 16. Seeing the site (and materials) covered in ice, walking around in boots that would not get time to dry out over night did him the world of good.....he is now in his final year at Uni. Working toward a degree in biomedical science.
There seems to be a lot of very lucky people on here, what everyone is saying is if the finances allow you would be a fool not to retire. I couldn't agree more, get it done. Steve
Value for money has to be France. Biker friendly, great roads (obviously choose your area!), but the big plus is the number of people. Last time I checked it was around 1/6 of ours per square mile. Northumberland has been mentioned, but Seahouses, Beadnell, Craster, you cant get moved. Just too many folk. And, if its a nice place to live then prices are obscene. If it wasnt a step backwards for dark nights and worse weather, then the area generally around Oban is fantastic. Summer hols and bank hols though then be prepared to be stuck behind caravans! Europe may be an issue, going to have to wait and see what our 'deal' is with the EU. But if you have deep pockets you can currently buy your way in via Spain. $500,000 Euro http://www.goldenvisas.com/spain/?u...MIlOvWlLrN2QIVqbftCh1wXACbEAAYASAAEgIMIfD_BwE I have had a quick look at this, and it may be an option as the money can be invested in property which I think can include what you live in. Depends how desperate you are for climate but the thought of riding around the Pyrenees, Picos, Alhambra etc. is very appealing. Sure would not get bored!
The last week or so I've been buying a Daily Telegraph and a jumbo Snickers bar every morning. Its an extravagance that must cease or I'll be working til I'm dead. Its a shame I couldn't offset the expenditure by boiling the water for my flask at work and using their electricity but since I work in a field its not an option.
Don't do it! I drifted into semi retirement years ago; you'll find yourself busier than ever you were before.
If considering a move abroad the 'sensible' advice seems to be to rent your own property out and rent while there, at least initially. If Brexit goes bad (health care wise) you can scurry back to blightly.
Good for you Jonnybiscuit. Even reading that is a pleasure. That...is good solid advice from experience. You've got it sorted and done what's right for you, not what other people want you to do. I take my hat off to you.
If you're considering retiring to Spain, Portugal actually has the cheapest cost of living in western Europe and its only a hop to the Pyrenees. People from all over the world retire there so I can't see there being any problem for Brits after Brexit. But that's the problem: the nicer it is the more people will be doing it. You could find yourself living in a European Florida full of sunbathing wrinklies. https://internationalliving.com/the-best-places-to-retire/
i have many happy memories of seaside holidays spent in Girvan and other bits of the Ayrshire coast - good choice.
