Please stop the distracting background music. Its fine between background b-roll clips but not while talking. Its hard to focus on what you are saying.

yep healthy life expectancy all my parents were disabled to some degree long before they died

After 55 you're not really wanted in the workplace.

I want delay the moment I become a burden to society as long as I possibly can. I already enjoy my life, both my job and my leisure time

Nice one, u2 look younger and happier now than 3 years ago. Travel must be the fountain of youth

Amazing video, A friend of mine referred me to a financial adviser sometime ago and we got talking about investment and money. I started investing with $120k and in the first 2 months , my portfolio was reading $274,800. Crazy right!, I decided to reinvest my profit and gets more interesting. For over a year we have been working together making consistent profit just bought my second home 2 weeks ago and care for my family.

Retire from the work/slave system by all means. But don’t retire from life at the same time, that will Kill you. As most retirees find out. If you retire from work, take up an active hobby or business interests and fill your days with proactive challenges every day.

In the US, women can retire at 60 if they're a widow and they can draw off their husband's SS.

I'm drawing my SS in the US the minute I could. It's not much but who would hire me? I'm also healthy so I want to enjoy that.

I retired in Pattaya, Thailand. My condo is a five-minute drive to the beach, and the rent is $207 + electric and water $105 = $312/month. (I have a video of the Condo.)

The key point is at the end of the video; know what the target is and adjust everything as you go to achieve the target at the age you want to retire. If you don't have a target you will never hit it!! My dad died at 56 which spurred me on. I was mortgage free at 50 and my 35 years NI was done around the same time. I retired at 52 (I'm 60 in Feb) and don't regret a second of it. To achieve this was a combination of luck such as buying a house that went up a lot, starting work at 16 so the NI years started early, having a reasonably well paid job and pension freedoms being a thing for the masses. I was borderline obsessive about achieving our goals and now preach this to our adult children, who have finally got on board with their own retirement aspirations. My wife retired at the same time as me and we have a comfortable life doing the things we want and answering to nobody. Sadly, I think it will be much harder for those following, unless they are educated about, savings, pensions and retirement from a young age with time to do something about it.

No kids??????

Your vids are informative. You say you sold everything but I take it you're using family as an anchor for a tax resident address status in the UK while you are roaming so you can manage banking and investments. If you don't have that link i.e. retire to more cost effective countries, the UK ceases to be friendly with banking and no longer allows new market investments so basically freezes you out of the system. What's your thoughts on that as it nullifies a lot of what you promote if you're no longer in the UK. Other countries may be similar.

Anyone due to retire that isnt a mortgage free homeowner is a loser.

It appears that I have lived 5 years more in good health than average.

Off script is great! We need our toys. Travel and audiophile equipment and live music is my thing. We have all the latest TV’s and a new car. We deserve it. The clock is ticking. Spend your money. It’s fun. Die with zero. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Neil and Sarah from Canada with love. Paul and Helen

For budgeting I always would breakdown how many hours of work the particular item was costing me. It definitely stopped me buying so many items i couldn't justify.

Thank you for this video. Your community members shared sobering points as well. My question is: Are you lot prepared to meet your life's records and stand at the bar of our Creator? Have you lot consider what manner of character you have formed in the year of probation given?

Every generation thinks the world is worse now than when they were young….but nobody can really identify when these halcyon days were. The 1970s weren’t great in the UK but many will say life was much better for them 50 years ago…. rose tinted spectacles.

Good video, thank you. Have you ever done anything on the PIC/NIC model? It’s a really good method to understand why people prefer instant gratification and also what you need to do to try and get people to prefer the delayed gratification. It’s a very simple and a fascinating insight into human behaviour and how instinctive we all are.

Cinnamon rolls? Really?

I’m with the 70% marshmallow eaters, never budgeted never worried about money and no i never had a lot. But i had enough to get by, when I earns big i spent big, when i didn’t i cut back. Had a business 35 years could have done much better certainly could have saved more, but i lived my life with no retreats. Now at 68 living in Thailand in some ways as i don’t have enough to stay in the uk, plus the weather of course. My philosophy is ‘you cant take it with you’ cheers Neil, Swindon’s getting a few wins at last !

I have a number in mind. I’m close to that number now, but not close enough. I’ll be finished working one year from today. The idea that anyone would presume to know when another should retire is daft to me.

Haha, 65 a month ago didn't enjoy seeing the health issues part of the video 😢 although, as far as I'm aware everything is still fine. It just focuses the mind on being able to walk away from work at the end of 2025. People are always saying ' are you sure that you want to stop working? ' to which my answer is YES! It will be tight for sure, but it has to be done! If only to enjoy more than 2 weeks at a time in Thailand 😊😊

I can certainly agree with the driven by fear of failure/poverty driving the basis of my own relationship with work and money. I think at 55 I now have the majority of the stuff ( wife, house, kids, cash in bank instead of an overdraft) that 16 year old me thought life was all about. There is a certain sense of relief that the slog is largely over , but an increasing sense of , “ well now what…”

If you have kids you should already been doing this. We do and we have and it’s made all the difference. Not saying they listen all the time or apply either but hey you have to try and figuring out how to make these things land is all part of the journey. Great content and ideas as always thanks Neil.

Wise words.

Bloody fantastic video here. Loving your channel mate. I wish you nothing but success and happiness. Cheers

It is a bit rich to say "Look Poor" when you are cruising in luxury. Do you really need the trip from point A to B? 😆

Hi Neil watched quite a few of your videos. This one really resonated with me. Just handed in my resignation letter at 65, but still feel like 16! Playing in two bands for a few quid and a couple of pints...and I'm thinking I played in a band at school for nothing! So I guess that's progress. Thanks for a very thought provoking video. Cheers

where's the spain house video?

Hello Neil, i have thought about this a few times and I don’t have any advice for the 16 year old me. I have been very stupid at times but very lucky as well. I would have a few words to my 51 year old self for my foray into day trading in 2001.

Dark Entries- Only my fave Bauhaus song.

Reminds me of the Ship of Theseus. If parts of the ship, or indeed your life, are replaced over time, at what point is it (are you) not the same ship.

You have a very relatable way of explaining things which I really enjoy. Thanks!

I agree - very useful information Neil. Great video as usual.

Never could understand the instant gratification thing. For example, you are in town and are hungry/thirsty, it's only 15 to 30 mins to get home. Waiting those mins will not only save you money, but you get to decide exactly what you want to eat/drink the way you like it. The Amazon Prime thing not only satiates the gratification thing, it also helps to diminish local traders, increase the money supply if bought on credit and deflate the value of the currency. Fortunately I heard the same advice, i.e. be yourself, early on in life, and have thus far not had too many calamities. Work harder and persevere would be the key points I would tell my 16 year old self.

Cracking video Neil, thanks.

Probably if you'd joined a startup, you'd have enjoyed it more. Probably FI quicker too.

Anticipating redundancies due to lack of work in current job, managed to get an offer for civil service. Taking a strategic small pay cut but I will get more back for my pension contributions and I have a side hustle which I am hoping to expand. Also, civil service seem reasonable for allowing reduced hours and job share. I'm 58 now, hoping to consider that at 65 or earlier.

Confusing. At 4:25 You don't explain how 9% inflation gives you a pay rise. It should be the opposite. ie that inflation devalues your pension. You passed over it so quickly without explaining. That is frustrating. Please do explain this counter intuitive outcome.

A very helpful reminder to be more full of our actions as it all has consequences for our def. 🙏 travel well x

Why start all this good stuff next year? Start today!

Not sure why you feel the need to announce a change in lifestyle? You're not accountable to anyone on here. You did make a similar statement in Thailand, Malaysia and when you bought the mororhome. FWIW for me It's the most difficult part of this lifestyle. It's far easier when living a 'settled life' to eat healthily and exercise than it is when traveling. When we use the car I carry a lot of fitness equipment including adjustable dumbbells, heavy bands and a TRX trainer. When we travel lighter I can only have the bands and TRX so I like to mix in some hotels with gym's occasionally. Cardio is not a problem. But eating/shoping in foreign countries takes some getting used to. There's no shortcut with dieting. I see no benefit to fasting but everyone is different and you can't get past the laws of thermodynamics. Work out what you need each day and keep within the parameters. Some people naturally have more will power than others. But those beers taste all the more better when they become a real treat!?

Not sure if I missed it, but did you get your dad's grass cut?

You look right at home out there - although in all seriousness, it's all very well planning for retirement, but if you're morbidly obese, you're not going to last long enough to enjoy it = dementia, vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, certain cancers (e.g., breast, colon, endometrial), chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, depression, anxiety, reduced mobility, chronic pain, kidney disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), impaired immune function, low quality of life, increased surgical risks, reduced lung function, social stigma, discrimination, poor mental health outcomes, metabolic syndrome.

But why did you have your work phone switched on at 11pm and 1am ? Me thinks you should have turned it off before going to sleep

I like travelling but it’s even nicer to return home again.

I hate it that someone pointed out that you have gained weight. As if you didn't know. I'm sticking my tongue out at them for you and sending you big chubby hugs (I've also put on weight this year due to injuries). So! In 2025 I am going to be in constant motion. If my bad foot is hurting I will go on a cycling trip. If my back is hurting I'll go cycling then too. If my thumb is hurting (it's a thing trust me and it keeps me from changing gears on my bike and from safely squeezing the brakes) then I'll go backpacking. And if all else fails I'll buy myself a tiny and cheap used car so that I can travel around to wild swimming spots. I have a suggestion for you and Sarah though. Next time you're back in the UK see if you can find 2 secondhand Bromptons and BUY them immediately. Take them on all your travels and feel the joy of riding like a kid again and you'll be getting fit at the same time. And you'll still be able to ride even if your back, hips, feet etc hurt (I hope). Take care of yourselves and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Thank you for sharing your lives and foibles and joys with us.

Another great video Neil. I was sad when you guys went on hiatus. I do like the Phoenix rising out of the ashes. And I like the way you’ve split the content. I just hope you’re not going to burn out twice as fast. My health recommendation to everyone is to limit / eliminate as much seed oil from your diet as possible. Prior to WWII most seed oils were used as machine lubricants. Some Recent studies show that seed oil has a negative impact on health and particularly brain health. Eat butter, olive oil, peanut oil and coconut oil. Think I’m wacky, ask ChatGPT ( or your favorite AI tool) to tell you about seed oil. Vegetable oils used for frying breakdown into toxic chemicals, the older the oil the more degradation. Fast food French Fries, no matter how good they taste, are really bad. Please, anyone reading this, don’t dismiss it out of hand. Do your own research. As for retirement, we have been retired for a while now. We do okay. And I mean that in sort of a negative way. I would rather be doing great. I often wonder how much better our finances would be if we had spent less on lunch at the office, coffees everyday, eating out more from laziness than from eating as entertainment, … Good advise in all things. Live with intention, not consequences.