Mistakes Retirees Make When Leaving America

Today we are talking about mistakes retirees make when leaving America. There are many mistakes we can make when leaving the US. You need to prepare properly to have the best experience while you are abroad.
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[@lindadorman2869]

Two other mistakes are 1) not knowing the proper voltage or adapter needs for each country and having the right cords, chargers, battery packs, etc...to function and 2) not having both printed and electronic copies of important personal and travel documents. You always need to anticipate the worst and be prepared because it probably won't be as simple as when you are in America.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Good ones, thanks!

[@gregjor]

Don't carry anything that isn't compatible with 110 (US) and 220 (everywhere else) volts. Computers, laptops, shavers generally work with either voltage. Hair dryers and straighteners maybe not -- usually that's printed/stamped on the charger or device. Get a universal adapter. Everywhere I've gone finding a local plug adapter was as easy as going to 7-11 or equivalent.

[@carterwetherington153]

My lovely wife sent me a link to one of your videos. It totally ruined the rest of my work day! I was completely useless and could think of nothing but travel plans. I took the rest day off. Cheryl and I travel as much as our work/family allows. I’m blessed to have an amazingly talented beautiful intelligent woman who loves to play the points and miles game and a big plus - she is willing to be seen in public with me! A year or so back we ran the numbers and decided hotel living made a lot of sense financially for my upcoming retirement. After 26 yrs with my local government We will be going nomadic in April 2026. I apologize as I have just started watching you videos and you may have already discussed this: Do you use a mailbox or mail forwarding company. If so would you share which one ? Thank you I love what and how you are doing. Keep up the great videos.

[@lindadorman2869]

Yup, I've made them all too! With regard to credit cards, I would add having multiple forms of payment. I travel with my debit card, a few credit cards from different banks (all with no foreign transaction fees), a Wise multi-currency card plus USD $1000 cash in crisp new $20 & $100 bills. That way, I've got options.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yes, I wanted to mention in the video but forgot, having a Paypal account with a Paypal debit card attached is a good idea too. Sometimes that card works when no other card will.

[@andariegos9466]

With the credit cards, yes, lock them when not using them. But also, have email & text notifications on all of them. That can be a little annoying at first but it can come in very handy if fraud does somehow happen to occur. Great tips!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks, good idea!

[@lailaatallah1857]

So helpful - thank you! Hearing how you plan your trips was quite revelatory for me (starting with your big, bargain “travel rocks” and then planning how you will make your way there & away from there). It’d be so great if you could do a video fleshing out how you plan your travel for the year, on a budget. And another video on how you document your travel information travel and keep it organized - especially in terms of which different apps you use and how they may work together. Like Tripit, Excel, google calendar, etc.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you, and thanks for the ideas!

[@wgarnsey]

I've been following your channel for about 2 months now and find every video has some nuggets of advice that are very valuable. Thank you! My wife is a retired airline employee and we are setting off on our version of slow travel. We are applying for the Panama pensionado visa, and I'm starting to reconsider whether the timing is right for that or not. Well I am fit and feel like I can take most countries. My wife has some health concerns and we are feeling a stronger need to have a more permanent home that would serve as a home base. We currently have sold our house in the US and are dealing with the stuff in the storage which I totally believe your advice that you're not going to use it.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you!

[@pl3666]

I find the two of you to be highly inspirational.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@ericsmith-xd1xm22]

Signed up for the IHG thru your link happy to support this awesome channel and people thanks guys

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Awesome thank you!

[@DaveM-FFB]

I learned so much from this video. Thank you for sharing these tips! We just started traveling with a global hotspot which has its own e-sim. We haven't needed to get local sim cards for our phones since we don't travel full time.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks! Yes, the local sims have become too troubling to get so we love the new esims!

[@dianadiamond9145]

Your advice is amazing! I’m sure I’ll be listening to most of your videos more than once! Thank you 🩷

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@gg13308]

I am retired and I am country shopping. I have no idea where I want to land. The world is a big place. I can take my time…vibe is everything. I am in love with Colombia at the moment. I was in love with Spain, but their government wants to tax me more than I want to pay..until that changes It’s off my list.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We loved our time in Colombia as well!

[@TheSicilianLife]

Great content ~ thank you for sharing!

[@carolynknisely2383]

Thank you!

[@fs5775]

This video is very "East/SE Asia-focused"... clothes way cheaper here, yes. But Brazilians travel to US just to buy designer clothes at cheap prices (I used to live there). And clothes in Dubai are super expensive, way cheaper in the US (I also used to live there). I live in Vietnam now and I just bought two t-shirts and a pair of pants for less than $4 USD the other day.... yes, FOUR.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Very true what you say, most things are inexpensive somewhere

[@jessicasanes9424]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

My pleasure!!

[@SKIMSPersonalStylist]

Thanks. Appreciate the virtual trips, and advice. Best wishes to your family.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Same to you!

[@HotelSnob]

Since you live short term in Thailand…maybe you can answer….where are the beaches with lots of fish 🐠 to snorkel and see, and no trash? Inky went to Thailand once (a city and an island Koh Samoi)and then went to Vietnam (pho Quoc) and was so disappointed by the oceans. I love Hawaii and Mexican and Caribbean beaches for the sea life from the beach. If I could find that in SE Asia (and no trash floating in there) would love to know where the magic place is!!

[@sbkpilot1]

Great tips 👍. Thailand is mulling changing to 90 days as well.. that is the latest news :) I have seen this with Portugal, people have not even visited Portugal yet but deciding they want to immigrate there because of fomo, bad idea.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks for sharing

[@shinymonktouchymonk3662]

U have such great channels & videos !!! Mark

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks so much

[@gregjor]

great videos. i've lived kind of like you do for over ten years and i still learned some things, especially about the hotel points. maybe i'll see you on the Bangkok BTS someday.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Awesome, please say hello if you do!

[@andreablack4573]

Great video thanks. Re the foreign transaction charges. Are you comfortable/checked that those charges haven’t just become embedded in the exchange rate given?

[@comment5884]

The nugget of advice. Find the deal and build off of that. Great

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@HotelSnob]

Vietnam visas. What a pain! Also just transiting through and needing one. That hi chi min airport smells like feet 🦶🏼 lol. Cambodia, so much easier to deal with and just the best people ever!!

[@gg13308]

For clothes, it will be interesting for me to see this. I am 5 ft 7, and I am average build with a size 10 foot..I will take my shoes with me…i might have to get an esim…these are great ideas and good things to think about.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

The malls are incredible here, you'll find quite a bit!

[@kimcanty1885]

I am loving all your videos on all subjects, especially the train post. My husband and I are new retirees in our early 60s and want to travel more. We don’t want to do what you are doing full time. How do you handle not seeing your children & family on a regular basis?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We see them quite often. Our daughter was just with us for 2 weeks at Christmas.

[@maneugeni]

Where is your residency for tax purposes? Do you no longer own a home in the US? When back in the US, Do you rent a place to stay?

[@jonathancbc]

Maybe touch on in a future video: Buying clothes locally is a game-changer idea in terms of packing. However, what of XXL size -- does this alter your recommendation? (

[@annhans3535]

We went out of states a few weeks ago. The country we went to that $200 bills that looked like the US $20. Now I had taken a bunch of 20 bills because I wanted to keep some US bills for when we return to pay our taxi. I in my stupidness used about $200 US thinking I was using their money. Until my husband realized I was hoarding $200 bills instead of $20. I feel rather stupid.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

The conversions will get you!

[@carolynknisely2383]

What do you mean your card is locked in the app?

[@katea670]

A friend is moving to Malaysia from the USA next year. They want to keep the USA cell phone number for second verification purposes when doing bank business with USA banks. Do you still maintain a USA cell number for this purpose and which USA companies would you suggest researching?

[@kevinevers7031]

You travel with cold and warm climate clothing? What do you do with extra clothes?

[@steelwheelsintucson]

Hello and thank you for the videos. We have a question about taking cash out abroad. How do you withdraw cash? ATM? Do you just pay the fee? Is there a cash advance fee when you take out cash using a credit card? Can you go cashless? Seems like having local currency when walking the streets would be the easiest option. Do you just get what you think you’ll need for the…day? Week? Month? I know I kind of asked a lot. If there is a video with this info just direct us there and we’ll keep quietly watching and planning. Thanks!

[@user-bg9em7ch6k]

In Mexico, different banks have WILDLY different fees ($8 USD vs $15USD), so look around. The other game changer for me was learning that when the ATM offers you an exchange rate (which is invariably lousy), you can decline it. Instead of ending the transaction, which I always assumed would happen, it just continues, allowing your bank to do the currency conversion at a much better rate. Crazy, but very good to know 😅

[@justinhof6315]

As far as the phones go, can you keep your phone number with the esim? Every time I travel I get hit with the two factor authentication. I just got back from a trip where I paid for an international phone plane on my us phone. However it only worked in one of the 5 countries I went to. How do you get around this?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

The esims we buy don't come with a phone number.

[@WandererBell]

Great video! How do you go about obtaining a replacement for your credit cards when they expire? Do they ship them to you overseas?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

No they don't because you won't have a mailing address there. We have someone bring them that is eventually visiting, or we get them when we go back. It can take awhile, which is why you need 3 or 4 when you leave.

[@gregjor]

Call the card company, tell them you're traveling. I've had Schwab, Citi, Chase, and even my little credit union send new cards to me in Thailand. Hotels will accept mail for guests. FedEx will hold for pickup at their nearest location -- just did that in Kuala Lumpur. Just never tell a US bank or credit card that you moved out of the US or they may close your account or convert to an international account. Keep a US mailing address and US phone number (Google Voice usually OK for credit card companies).

[@WandererBell]

@@gregjorThank you. Thats great to hear. How long does it usually take to send a card through Fedex and how do you manage to make Fedex hold the card at their office for a pick up?

[@jacqdanieles]

​@@WandererBellit's around 3-5 days. Ask the credit card issuer to send you a tracking number when it has been dispatched. Then track it & when it is en route to your destination country, call your local FedEx office & ask them to hold the package. Also give them your local phone number in case they need to contact you.

[@kevinevers7031]

Language barriers in foreign countries?

[@carolynknisely2383]

Do you have a home base in the states?

[@brookenigh]

Another wonderful video; thank you! I'm curious what you do with your clothes when you depart a country than? Allie, do you find purchasing clothes in your size a challenge in Asia? The ladies there are quite petite and I'm asking because I'm a *ahem* thicker lady.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks! You can find clothes pretty easily, the hardest is pants. They have Lululemon in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur though, so we get a few things that are harder to find when we are there. The malls in Asia are very high end. We end up buying winter clothes at Uniqlo or Decathlon, both budget friendly. Then we donate or leave them behind when we go to Asia.

[@vjn2390]

I haven’t been to Thailand but my friend had a custom made suit done at a discount while visiting.

[@gg13308]

Are you saying you can get cash from your credit card with no fee? I do carry a debit card from Fidelity but that is the only one I carry. I do however have 5 credit cards that I carry with me in order to get points .

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

No we use debit cards to get cash out, we have 4 of them though, just in case.

[@VietnamSteve]

I have a 5 year temporary resident visa in Vietnam but even that requires me to not stay longer than 180 days at a time. Know the rules.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yes, you've got to check them ahead of time.

[@cyndeeferlin2697]

Hi guys. Do you think it would help if you let the credit card company know ahead of time what country you will be in? Just curious.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It might but it's just another thing to keep track of, we usually don't do it.

[@gregjor]

Mostly card companies don't do that, but if they offer travel alerts you can set that through their app or web site. Just never tell them you moved permanently out of the USA.

[@albertprice8414]

What do you mean “locked in the app”?

[@connieg7692]

There's a feature in the app for the bank or credit card where you can lock and unlock the card for use. This prevents unauthorized use. Google what does locking and unlocking your card do?

[@kevinevers7031]

You donate the clothes you don't need?

[@StillPooh62]

While your lifestyle fascinates me, I cannot imagine (at 61) owning nothing but the clothes on my back.

[@Fell214]

Experiences vs things…while knowing they can buy whatever they want. We live a similar lifestyle at 62 (we have enough permanent pension and SS income to live just about anywhere) and enjoy the freedom.

[@sharondalynnewton7562]

I think you never truly own anything living in the USA. Example, you work hard to pay off your 30 year mortgage. Some even manage to get it done in under 30 years. Yet you still have to pay taxes on what you own. If you don’t pay your taxes, you’ll lose your house. Shameful but true.

[@StillPooh62]

@@sharondalynnewton7562 we paid ours off in 14. But I wasn't talking so much about property as sentimental things. It's not in my nature to not have ANYTHING, like these two do.

[@karoltraviss7544]

This lifestyle is just one option. Everyone has different financial considerations and living preferences. Some retirees may feel more comfortable retaining a home base (perhaps a downsized one) and being part time nomads.

[@carterwetherington153]

@@StillPooh62 find the style that fits you. Start with a 3 month trip. Have a home base if it makes sense financially or emotionally. Just don’t hesitate to go travel. 1 month 2 or 3 in a new place is so very different than vacationing there.

[@kevinevers7031]

Your children ever travel with you?

[@ben10122]

best cities for expats 2023..cnbc/forbes..can you try travel to malaga for your nex video and give ur opinion 1.Malaga, Spain 2.Alicante, Spain 3.Valencia, Spain 4.Ras Al Khaimah 5.Abu Dhabi, UAE 6.Madrid, Spain 7.Mexico City, Mexico 8.Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 9.Bangkok, Thailand 10.Muscat, Oman