Retiring abroad
So you've battled with commuters and faced the daily grind for more than 30 years and are thinking that it might be time to slow down.
Although retirement may still be a while off it might be worth at least thinking about where you want to live out the rest of your days. For many, the ideal is to escape the rat race and head out of town or even out of country – but whichever you decide it is vital that you do your research. Retiring abroad can be a fantastic opportunity to get away from it all – with many foreign lands offering up cheaper housing, sunshine and exotic places to visit.
But before signing on the dotted line it is advised that anyone heading in to retirement considers the consequences of such a big move both financially and in terms of health. Charity Age Concern recently warned that long-term financial planning is "essential" for those retiring abroad as a growing number of people are finding themselves unable to support themselves overseas. "Retiring to another country is very different from holidaying there. The key to a successful move is to know what to expect," said a spokeswoman for Age Concern, adding that a trial period is advisable before making the big move.
A recent survey by YouGov found that 17 per cent of those asked had a desire to move away from the UK in the next five years and a fifth said they planned to retire in a foreign country. France and Spain remain the most popular countries for Brits to live out their days thanks to the warmer climate and close proximity to the UK.
