There are a whole series of factors driving a new generation of retiree to consider emigrating, moving abroad and settling overseas in retirement. Many surveys have been conducted recently on this growing phenomenon with one of the latest conducted in the UK finding that out of 3,000 people surveyed who were all approaching retirement, 67% had definite plans to retire abroad.

If you too are considering your options and wondering whether you could have a better, more affordable cost of living in a lower cost country with a better climate when you retire, this ‘ten top tip’ guide to ‘How to Retire Abroad’ should make your planning and decision making that much simpler.

1) Be realistic about the amount of money you will have to live on in retirement and whether this can and will afford you a decent quality of life in your own home country. If the answer is a resounding ‘no’ then you either need to think about working for longer or moving to a lower cost country when you retire

2) If you are certain already that you want to move abroad you need to think about the countries where you would be happy living. In a recent survey conducted in the UK, out of 67% of respondents who were definitely going to live abroad in retirement, 24% had their sights set on a country they’d never been to! This is not a good way to start planning your new life abroad – you need to be at least basically familiar with the country you are moving to.

3) If at all possible visit your preferred country repeatedly in the years leading up to your retirement. Go at different times of the year to determine how hot the summer is, how cold or wet the winter is. This will help you when it comes to finding accommodation – even in Mediterranean countries where it is blisteringly hot in the summer, wintertime temperatures drop sufficiently for retirees to need accommodation with central heating.

4) Consider your health today and how it could fare in the future. While you may be glad to escape crippling health care costs in your own home country, will you be able to afford medical care in your new country. What if you need specialist care, is it even available in your preferred country? You may find you need some form of expatriate health care policy – look into what’s available and the associated costs and budget this in on top of your day to day living costs.

5) Think about your family and friends. How will they cope if you move to live abroad. Often hardest hit are grandparents who move abroad leaving grandchildren behind….you will want to see your family and friends you know! So if you are certain you can be happy only seeing them few times of the year at least factor in two things – one) the money needed to fly back every now and then and two) have enough space in your new home to accommodate one or two visitors.

6) Get a support network in place as soon as you can. This will mean you have to get out and about and meet people when you’ve moved abroad. You will need people you can call on for advice if something goes wrong, you will need to learn about who’s a reliable tradesperson and who should be avoided! The sooner you make a few good friends the easier and more enjoyable your new life will be.

7) Do not be seduced by the dream of living abroad without spending some time researching and thinking about the actual, practical reality of leaving behind familiarity and setting out on an adventure at a time in life when most people will be expecting you to settle down! Moving abroad is a great adventure but it is not easy and anyone who thinks it is all plain sailing will be in for a nasty reality check.

8) Before you go consider going on the internet and finding out whether there are any virtual communities or forums where expatriates meet up and where you can communicate with others who have made the same move you’re about to make before you. Talk to other expats if you can and learn from them about what the whole experience is really like. It’s all very well you reading in an article that there will be days when you think ‘oh goodness, what have I done’ – you need to hear others say it and also hear about how they work through negative feelings and learn to embrace their new status as an expatriate.

9) Remember that by moving abroad you cannot and will not escape yourself! If you’re thinking of retiring abroad because you’re bored with your current life, depressed or just dissatisfied with things remember that moving abroad won’t necessarily positively affect your emotions. Think really hard about the real, driving reasons behind your dreams of a new life abroad…if they are practical reasons then fine, but if they are more emotional based feelings then maybe you need to look inside yourself and sort out whatever it is that’s making you feel like running away without actually running away!

10) And finally – no matter how tempting it may be, don’t burn your bridges or sever ties. Especially in the stress and excitement of planning a move overseas it can be all too easy to let off steam in the wrong direction and tell people what you really think….but just bear in mind that one day you might actually want to return home and if you’ve just informed your entire community what you’ve secretly been thinking about them all these years you may find life a little uncomfortable and embarrassing if ever you do decide to return to the arms of your family! Furthermore, don’t cut ties with family and friends back home…it’s hard to make really good friends and you should never forsake a friendship, what’s more, you only have one family and no matter how annoying or demanding they can sometimes be, one day you may just need their help or support..