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No matter what you do for a living, some days are better than others. There were times when I couldn’t wait to go to work, when I was excited to make a big presentation or when I felt that today was the day we would make a big breakthrough.

Other times, a sense of dread would start to set in late Sunday afternoon.  My blood pressure would rise until I could feel it pumping in my ears, and I would feel like running away, going anywhere but back to the office

In times like these, I would sometimes sit down and look at the portfolio and think, “Where can we retire today?”

And then I was able to make it through another Monday

A lot of Senior Citizens spend their retirement years abroad, moving to a cheaper locale in order to stretch their Social Security checks or small pension.

But why not get a head start on things?  We’d already accumulated some savings, not enough to live as we do today, but enough to go… somewhere, anywhere

Of all of the ways to think about passive income milestones, this was one of my favorites.  I would get books from the library about faraway places and think about what it might be like to live there

In the modern world, we have the luxury of being able to step into another persons shoes, and see how they live.  We can even see how much they spend, and make adjustments for our own values and preferences

The internet is full of great examples

Shannon at A Little Adrift was spending less than $500/month – $16/day to live in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  That is half of what we paid just for rent in Seattle.

James Clark of Nomadic Notes spent $724/month – $24/day in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.  I once saw an ad to lease a BMW for more than that

Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán

We spent about $1800/month – $60/day on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, where we spent our days hiking and dining and our evenings pickling our livers (Fresh mint mojitos, 2 for $1 during Happy Hour!)

We manage to make even the cheapest place look expensive.  In the same location, Pauline of Reach Financial Independence spends less than $1000/month – $33/day (She owns her own home)

Simon and Erin of Never Ending Voyage spent $1800/month – $60/day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a bit more in Brazil and less in Paraguay

In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, we spent about $2400/month – $80/day, but we rented a 3 bedroom house.  We could still live like royalty in SMA for less than $60/day

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

But of course, we don’t need to go abroad to find great places we can retire today.

Houses can be purchased for less than $100k in many small towns across the Midwestern and Southern United States.  Find one within biking distance of a Costco in South Dakota, Texas, or Florida (three States with no income tax), and you are guaranteed for some quality living at a low price

Mr & Mrs Frugalwoods plan on retiring to a homestead in the woods of Vermont with a quite reasonable budget

Or with the Euro in retreat, maybe Europe is the answer.

Jed of Bucking the Trend is living in Spain for a year (or more) with his wife and 2 children, in order to help their boys become fluent in Spanish.  $1,300 is not a bad price to pay for a 3 bedroom furnished home

With 196 195 countries on the planet, and hundreds of states and territories, there is bound to be a place that is just right for you

Maybe a virtual road trip will help you too escape those Monday doldrums.

Or maybe… maybe you’ll find somewhere you can retire today

Addendum: Check out The Earth Awaits for real budgets for cities around the globe.

Where would you like to Retire Today?