Do You Have Too Much Money to Retire Early and Be Financially Free?

Do You Have too Much Money to Retire Early and Be Financially Free?  But really we're saying, "do you SPEND" too much money to retire early and be financially free?......Some people actually have too much money and believe they need more and more money to FIRE Retire Early with financial independence.  Some of us think we need more and more money to be happy, meaning we value our happiness based on materialism rather than as a tool to give us the happiness we yearn for;  when in retrospect it is the reason we are unhappy. We discuss the elements of rational spending and irrational spending and how our belief system plays money tricks with us when trying or wanting to FIRE.  Don't let money control you life and happiness a minute longer!



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The Right Mindset to Retire Early with Financial Independence and ABUNDANCE - Let's FIRE Now!

The Right Mindset to Financial Independence Retire Early Lifestyle with ABUNDANCE -- Ambition for money is good and we're not minimizing that whatsoever but too much focus on money or only focus on money keeps us off track to allowing our minds to grasp at all of the options available at our fingertips. The money part is just a tool to get us to where we need and want to go but the lifestyle with abundance that we want now is the real focus. We can focus on the money and work our tails off for the next 15 to 20 years to FIRE with delayed gratification... or with the right mindset we can retire earlier and better right now--asap; that's what we did 30 years ago and we're still living our dream lifestyle abroad! Many of you can FIRE sooner than you think! This is a motivational video. We welcome your comments and they are appreciated.

        

RETIRE ABROAD CHEAP! Is It Still Worth It to Move to Cuenca Ecuador in 2020?

Are you thinking about moving to Ecuador? Is It Still Worth It to Retire or move Abroad to Ecuador in 2020? A reader writes in and asks us about Ecuador, specifically Cuenca Ecuador and is wondering if it is still worth it to move there. This video sums up what we think about the different aspects of moving to Ecuador and other overly hyped cities abroad. The other side of the story.


     

EXPAT NEWS FLASH: Top 10 - Are You Taking Your OWN Country for Granted?

EXPAT NEWS FLASH: Top 10 - Are You Taking Your OWN Country for Granted?  EXPAT NEWS FLASH:  We'll bring you up to date about what we mean on that. Today we bring you 7 stories from around the world from Austerity protests to Pollution cleanup to top ten... Enjoy the News Flash and Have a Wonderful and Happy Holiday.

        

The Things Freedom Loving Expats Should Consider Before Buying Property in a Foreign Country!

SHOULD YOU BUY PROPERTY in a Foreign Country? So what does the early retirement lifestyle mean to you? See the outline for this video below. It really comes down to, what kind of lifestyle you want to have when you go/move abroad. Before buying property in a foreign country consider the discussion in this video. There is a time and place for buying real estate and only you can answer that question when that time and place is right for you and or if ever.


        

THE REAL COST OF LIVING BUDGET for the Retire Early Lifestyle Abroad: This can be your's too!

THE REAL COST OF LIVING BUDGET for the Retire Early Lifestyle Abroad: This can be your's too! We've been living the retire early lifestyle abroad for almost a decade now and we are able to do it because we pay the REAL prices for rent, food, transportation, eating out, entertainment. What are the REAL Prices when you MOVE abroad? The real prices are what every resident that lives somewhere permanently can pay to keep prices from going through the roof. It's what the prices really are BEFORE crowds of foreigners move to a place. We understand paying TOURIST prices when you are a tourist or vacationer but what about when you move somewhere with a resident visa? That means permanently, right?  That's the difference. When we moved to Ecuador we already knew the prices for rents and so that's what we paid.  We never understood the paying of tourist prices when you live somewhere permenently and we wouldn't want to pay tourist rents anywhere abroad and won't!

        

THE BEST COUNTRY for the Early Retirement Lifestyle : How to Choose a Country for EXPAT HAPPINESS

WHERE TO MOVE ABROAD for the Early Retirement Lifestyle: How to Choose a Country for Expat Happiness See outline of this video below. Most people choose a country based on what they're being told about cost of living..."it's cheap, it's cheap!" Before we move abroad there are three important factors to take into consideration that will ensure a better chance of your happiness and how long you will stay in a place. Sure, we can just follow the retire abroad media crowds but are those countries a good fit for you? Let's find out. Btw, we chose Italy because of these three factors and they have nothing to do with cost of living.


         

RETIRE EARLIER REACTS: Homes in Sicily Italy, sold for one euro — with a catch

RETIRE EARLIER REACTS: Homes in Sicily Italy, sold for one euro — with a catch!   Can you really buy a house in Italy for one euro? Yes, you can and we just got to tell you guys and gals the other side of the story and well, here it is. Enjoy!  To see the video we are reacting to here's the link: https://youtu.be/r1DiGSrMtz4


       

EXPAT NEWS FLASH: The Beautiful Mexican City of San Miguel de Allende Is in Big Trouble!

EXPAT NEWS FLASH: This Beautiful Mexican City of San Miguel de Allende is a favorite with Americans and it's in Big Trouble!  Reality is the bubble popped in Mexico. We were warning people this would happen in this video; it was only a matter of time: https://youtu.be/B1ewyVb4WNA   We're sorry to have to talk about this but we think people should know what's really happening on the ground in these so called paradises. Knowing what's really happening at the moment in a hyped up place is much more important than a skyscape, don't you think?  We want those people who actually want to know what's going on to be more informed so they can make a better decision about how to move abroad. In this video we also talk about several other recent news flashes that are happening around the world that expats might be interested in. 

      

RETIRE EARLIER REACTS: 7 Things We Don’t Like about Living in Panama – Expats in Boquete

RETIRE EARLIER REACTS: 7 Things We Don’t Like about Living in Panama – Expats in Boquete.  This video caught my eye when it popped up in my suggestions and when I watched it I actually thought it was...Would you like to go abroad like a pro? It's ALL about Due Diligence! https://tinyurl.com/wpf36s9

          

IS THIS the MOTHER of ALL BUBBLES? You Heard It Here First!

Is THIS the MOTHER of all BUBBLES? You Heard It Here First! This is where all the bubbles in the world begin! You've got the foreigner bubble, expat bubbles, price bubble, inflation bubble, and this is the MOTHER--WHERE IT ALL BEGINS. 


            

WE WERE WRONG! New Information about where American Expats Actually LIVE in the World!

WE WERE WRONG! New Information about where American Expats Actually LIVE in the World! Well, we were only sort of wrong. There is a difference between popular countries that expats are going to now because of all the RAMM pumping and countries where the MOST North Americans live and it can be a bit confusing. Let's take a look. Last week we brought you the video about the MOST POPULAR countries that American expats live in and today we're going to talk about where in the World do most American expats actually live! It might surprise you, it did us. 

       

HOW NOT TO MOVE to a FOREIGN COUNTRY BETTER and Enjoy the BEST of Both Worlds!

HOW NOT TO MOVE to a FOREIGN COUNTRY BETTER and Enjoy the BEST of Both Worlds! There is a way to tickle your fancy and have the best of both worlds!  and we explain exactly how this is possible in this video!  

       

DO YOU KNOW What You're Buying into BEFORE MOVING to a FOREIGN COUNTRY?

The most important thing to know BEFORE moving abroad.  We definitely need to know what it's like LIVING in a foreign country. Not only that but as we have said many times before, between the moles, public etiquette, vested interests and the RAMMs where are you really getting the whole truth or story? Public etiquette about how wonderful everything is rules the Internet! Where is the due diligence? We want you to go abroad like a pro. You pick the country we PROVIDE THE FACTS!

        

THE REAL REASON LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY Is Not Sustainable for most EXPATS

THE REAL REASON LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY Is Not Sustainable for most EXPATS.   No matter where you move to expats can feel culturally misfitted, however, we think even more so in developing countries. Numerous fears keep us from branching away from the touristy cities and enjoying all of what a country has to offer and so we stay confined to the most popular tourist areas, paying touristy prices but is that really sustainable for the long haul? Imagine living and spending like a tourist for the rest of your life?  We think it's time to avoid the retire abroad crowds and live the expat life minus the high prices and crowds.  What do you think? How to Go Abroad Like a Pro with Our Due Diligence Reports!  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz 

         

THE COLD HARD FACTS about THE TOP EXPAT Country in Latin America RIGHT NOW!

THE COLD HARD FACTS about THE TOP EXPAT Country in Latin America RIGHT NOW!  Mexico may have the most expats from North America but THIS COUNTRY is popular with expats and travelers from all over the world. Would you like to do go abroad like a pro?  Now you can with the due diligence reports!  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz  

       

THIS NEW LAW WILL CHANGE the WAY Some Americans MOVE to a Foreign Country!

THIS NEW LAW Will CHANGE the WAY Some Americans MOVE to a Foreign Country. There are all sorts of reasons why people leave the u.s and move to a foreign country but THIS REASON is at the top of the list. We know this because many expats have shared with us why they left the U.S and many said it was because of THIS REASON.. Will this new law in the U.S be a game changer for you or not? Let us know in the comments.  There is no right or wrong answer and everyone's comment is valuable. 

          

UPDATE to the MOST POPULAR American Expat COUNTRY in the World!

UPDATE for YOU about the MOST POPULAR American Expat COUNTRY in the World! More Americans live in this country than any other in the world and this is an important update Message for anyone who wants to hear it!


       

The Biggest Mistakes Expats Make and How to Avoid Them!

What are the biggest mistakes expats make when they go abroad and can you really avoid them? Yes, you can and we share that knowledge from experiences and making some of the mistakes ourselves, except for #2 we've never done that! We want you guys to retire earlier and move abroad better and dodge the mistakes we made when we first moved abroad!  

      

Best Ways Foreigners Can Work and Earn Extra Money Living Abroad - UPDATED 2019

Hello everyone. we first published this article on January 24, 2016 and today we updated this post to reflect any new information. 



We often are asked what the job market is like abroad because younger folks and even older folks that are not yet receiving a pension want to bring their skills abroad and work at a job.  It’s not as easy as you think and in fact, some countries like Panama make it very hard for foreigners to take skilled jobs from the local people; these jobs include such posts as doctor, lawyer, RN worker, skilled laborer, professor, CPA, etc.

View of Cuenca from Pumapungo Botanical Gardens

In most countries a foreign person will need to have a “work permit” and visa that allows for them to work in a local job position. There is always a local person that has the same skills as yourself and in many cases (not always) they will prefer to hire the local person before a foreigner. It is expected that the foreigner has money, otherwise he or she wouldn’t be moving abroad.
 

Just because a place is touted as being cheap, doesn’t necessarily mean you can go there, land a job and start making enough money to live on. That may very well happen, but don’t have that expectation. It's a good idea to be prepared financially and have enough money to live on first, before you visit or move abroad, just in case something doesn’t work out for you. You’ve heard the saying, “don’t put your eggs all in one basket”, right?



Update 2019 - the other thing to think about is in most of the developing countries, wages are very low and so even if you landed a job, pay will not be what you are used to coming from N. America.
 

Foreigners shouldn’t be traveling overseas if they don’t have a way to pay for their travel and living expenses; we’re saying this to say, don’t expect you will land a job; instead have the job already lined up before moving abroad, or have the money you will need for living expenses.
 

Opening a Business
 

Nothing is stopping anyone from moving abroad and opening up their own business, whatever that might be, but in countries like Ecuador you have to hire some local workers.  For example, if you moved to Ecuador to open a restaurant you would have to hire some local workers and wait staff. You also may have set up expenses of several thousand dollars plus a couple to a few months waiting time to get all the paperwork in order, just ask an expat who has already done it and they’ll tell you.


Freelancing



Writing, photography, web design, and the like are all good skills that you can bring with you abroad. If you are using your skills in N. America now and are making enough money to live on then why not apply your skills abroad? 



Update 2019 - what skills do you already have? Land your online job using that skill and then go abroad; we think this is the best solution.  We say this so foreigners won't be thinking they can come to these countries and take jobs away from the locals. It's not advisable.

 

Teach English
 

The one thing that is a need in many Latin and Asian countries is teaching English. In most Latin American countries they need English speakers to tutor folks and they welcome it, although in developing countries the pay is not always that great to your country standards but may be enough to just get by, and you will need a TEFL Certificate, which is TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE and you will also need the right to work visa in the country you are wanting to teach English in.
 

Some people might say you don’t need to be TEFL Certified but there’s more and more competition in this field because many younger N. Americans are moving abroad and want to teach English and the TEFL Certified foreigner is going to be hired before the non certified foreigner.



Update 2019: Another way is to work for an online company freelancing your English teaching skills to students or adults. The pay is good depending on how many hours you will work and the best part is you can live anywhere in the world you want and teach English online. You will need a good internet connection to teach English over the internet.
 

Blogging



Can you make money blogging/vlogging? The World Wide Web is overloaded with folks who travel abroad and then start a blog about their adventures. That’s great and we hope you are enjoying that, however with that said, most bloggers don’t make any money, at least not enough to live on. To make any money at blogging it requires a good niche, good content, tons of traffic, much determination and discipline from the writer/videographer and consistency.  It’s a full-time job! The reality is, most blogs don’t get enough traffic to make sufficient money for living.



Bring Your Job with You
 

Some employers, if it is a feasible solution, allow for their employees to work from anywhere in the world. This works great for CPA’s, researchers, data base workers and others who work online where they use the computer for their work. 



Update 2019 - We know of expats that moved to Cuenca Ecuador who are CPA's and they brought their work to Cuenca with them. This is ideal actually.



Update 2019 - We also think that starting your own portable small business (microenterprise, whether it's food catering to the expats or using your skills online or offline in some capacity is ideal for foreigners to make extra money living abroad.
 

We hope you enjoyed the article. We talk a little bit more about this subject in our next video coming up Sunday morning at the usual time of 8am Eastern time, so be looking for it. Leave comments guys and gals! We want to hear from you!
 

If you liked this article you might like this one too.

• Teaching English Abroad


• 
  

What I Don't Like about Financial Minimalism - Retire Earlier and Better

What I Don't Like about Financial Minimalism. Whenever new terms appear on the scene it's usually done to accommodate certain behaviors that either sound better than the real word usage or make us somehow feel better about something and in this instance with the term "financial minimalism", it's both and the term can mislead people who are struggling in the FIRE movement with being frugal and trying to save money for their FIRE. Financial Independence Retire Early. 


       

Tired of the Rat Race Lifestyle? 5 Ways to Retire Early

Would you like to escape the rat race lifestyle of 9 to 5 and retire early, doing what you want?  Most people we know would love to do that. Check out these 5 easy ways to get off that hamster wheel and be in control of how you live your life. We are with you 100% because we did it years ago!   The only thing out of these 5 things we didn't do is retire at 62 we retired in our mid 20's with a microenterprise and then made our own schedule and lifestyle. 

Join Our Free retire earlier retire better Facebook group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/791893957843581/ 

Rewards of Retiring Early Off the Beaten Path - TIME FREEDOM!

Rewards of Retiring Early Off the Beaten Path!  Doing whatever you want whenever you want is the greatest reward of retiring early. It's called FREEDOM!  Now you can retire early following the retire abroad circuit but it's going to cost you more. Where's the freedom in that? Would you like to learn to do what we’ve been doing for years?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz  


          

30 Risk Free Small Businesses to FIRE Earlier and Better | Financial Independence Retire Early

30 Risk Free Small Businesses to FIRE Earlier and Better | Financial Independence Retire Early.  See outline below. Today we bring you 30 risk free or low risk businesses that will allow you to retire early and better. How do you think we've been doing it for years, starting first in the USA, then eventually bringing our lifestyle with us abroad?!



30 Risk Free Small Businesses

INTRO - 0:01

Why these types of businesses (we mention) are risk free? (products business vs. service business) 1:30

Some of the small businesses I've done? 7:27

30 Risk Free Small Businesses 8:32

Bottom Line: 12:51

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Where Can You Still Find $500 Beachfront Rentals Abroad?

Where Can You Still Find $500 Beachfront Rentals Abroad?  You can even find $400 to $500 beachfront rentals in many places around the world! The complete picture which we discuss in this video tells us that sometimes truths stay hidden until the lies are exposed.  The REAL life Abroad!  You heard it here first!  Would you like to learn what we’ve been doing for years? Go abroad like a pro!  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz 



        

What's Wrong with FIRE Part 2? - Is Living Off Your Investments Ideal?

What's Wrong with FIRE (Part 2) Financial Independence Retire Early - Is Living Off Investments Ideal?  FIRE happiness now or FIRE happiness 15 or 20 years from now? Outline below

WHAT'S WRONG WITH FIRE Part 2

00:01 Intro

The Genie granting you 3 wishes - 00:33

The story of the Ancient King (insightful and foundational) 3:30 

Invest, save and work towards goals to achieve your FIRE
but.. 6:05

Warren Buffett - 6:32

Examples of people FIRED But they all come back to THIS 6:58

Focus on future and delaying gratification -  7:33

Many things can happen BEFORE you FIRE that can delay or end your goal towards FI - 9:02

So, the question for you today is... 9:53

Getting off the treadmill makes you more CREATIVE - 11:11

The real essence of FIRE is...11:38

What we talk about in our videos and how we became FI - 12:03

Micro-business or Micro-enterprise - No delayed gratification) - It serves YOU rather than you SERVE it! 12:16

Bottom line once again - 14:26












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Retire Earlier Reacts: Cost of Living in Panama 50% Lower for this American Expat

Retire Earlier Reacts to Cost of Living in Panama 50% Lower for This American Expat. She's from big city USA, moved to a small town outside of big-city Panama. Outline to video below: 

INTRO and Cost of Living Index Map - 00:01

(some parts have low volume-SORRY- turn up speakers)

Cost of Living in Boquete Panama 50% Less - 3:52

(the other side of the story)

About Safety - 8:39

About cost of living - 10:28

(small stores and prescription medicines)

About dental costs - 11:47

More cost of living - 12:41

(the meat and potatoes)

About living a quiet and simple life - 16:14

The bottom line - 17:26

The video we reacted to (expats video) - https://youtu.be/jMG-vC1X6ns

The New Dictators and Your Retire Early Financial Plans Abroad Sabotage

We're living in the age of the new dictators and Your Retire Early financial plans abroad may become disrupted or worse end abruptly without warning, that's sabotage!  Wouldn't it be nice to have a Chrystal ball to be able to see what "could" happen in certain situations when you go abroad? Well folks, we're your Chrystal ball.  Nomads especially should consider carefully that these things can and do happen and to find out what you can do to mitigate these issues before you go abroad! 


         

That's It! You Will Never See Us Make Videos Like THIS Again!

That's it! You will never see us make videos like this again!  We probably have at least 20 or more videos about this subject from South and Central America and now Europe. But eventually all good things must come to an end. We are going to still share our secrets, tips and strategies to those people who are interested in our retire earlier and better LIVE WELL ABROAD information and classes.  Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz     --- We got you covered!   

HOW Unsafe is Cuenca Ecuador Compared to NYC in the 1970s or Today’s Detroit or Chicago? UPDATED October 2019

This article has been updated to reflect any new information since first published on 11/7/14



My burning question is just HOW unsafe is Cuenca as compare to, say, NYC in the 1970s or today’s Detroit or Chicago?
 

How unsafe is Cuenca? Firstly, it was not too long ago (2007 to early 2012) that Cuenca would have been considered unsafe for gringos and locals alike. Foreigners from all over the world have been targets to thieves for years in Cuenca, not just pickpocketing but armed robbery and assault.
 

There are two reasons for this. No proactive police patrolling and no information for expats on how to behave. You see, you can’t behave in South America like you do in the states. You have to pay attention to the differences.
 

Example: from 2007 (when foreigners started traveling to Cuenca) to early 2012 there were NO police, or very few police in Park Calderon, even at night and foreigners were getting robbed left and right. There were not many blogs about Cuenca back then and no one ever talked about “how not to be a target” of a crime.
 

                        That Was Then This is Now
 

We remember when we first arrived in 2011 there were drunken guys walking around in the quaint Calderon Park in El Centro and some of them got aggressive, pushing their fingers into your chest and begging for money. Today, the Cuenca tourist police keep drunks and hoodlums out of the parks, at least during the day.
 

Just three years ago foreigners were coming to Cuenca and behaving like they were still in the states, pulling out their cell phones, cameras, and other electronic gadgets in public! It is not advised to do that in public in Ecuador, not even today in 2014, if you can help it.
 

Crime is different in South America, and so you have to behave differently and adapt to the changes so you will not become a target to a crime. We say this over and over and it bears repeating. Because this is what we’re told over and over and over by the locals when we travel throughout Ecuador. So, it’s not coming from us, it is coming through us, from the locals. See?
 

In late 2012 they ramped up security (tourist police)  in much of Cuenca and that helps a lot to keep the hoodlums and thieves away. PLUS, gringos now have the information about how to conduct themselves as a foreigner in a foreign land, and that helps to deter crime just as much as the added police, but only for those that heed the advice we’ve been writing about since 2011.
 

So there you have it, Cuenca is quite a bit safer today because of these two added features, more cops and wiser gringos. The crime rates have decreased exponentially. However, we still think it is best to walk in pairs and not be out after dark if you can help it. If you happen to be out after dark, take a taxi instead of the bus. 





          How Savvy Are the Gringos in 2014
                      about Petty Crime? 

UPDATE see 

BELOW 

On a scale from one to ten we think that most travelers and expats to Cuenca are about an eight (many of the gringos that used to live in Cuenca went home so who knows how savvy the new gringos are) when it comes to crime awareness. They’ve read the information about crime and they’ve taken heed. However, there are still a few expats that do not take heed, such as the gringo woman who wore a purse to Feria Libre just recently (September 2014) and it got snatched from her. Well, of course it got snatched, that’s what happens when you wear a purse to an outdoor market in South America! These are the kinds of things we talk about in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.  



Update OCTOBER 2019: We will NEVER talk out of both sides of our mouth to our viewers and readers, especially on important subject as personal safety. When people that live in Cuenca say one thing and then contradict that thing, they are basically what we call pumpers, so watch out for that. They are VERY good at sweeping anything negative under the rug. Remember, we have a son who speaks fluent Spanish, who is married to a local, lives like the locals, and gets his information from the locals. We talk with him on Skype constantly and we know what's going on in Cuenca, more so than the gringos who isolate themselves from the locals.



Crime has increased in Cuenca, burglaries and home invasions are on the rise. Thieves are getting into locked gated communities (not manned by guards) by climbing over the fences. This is happening in the Don Bosco *good neighborhood) of Cuenca. Both locals and gringos are the targets. Petty crime has also increased. It seems the police are too busy giving out traffic tickets and doing road blocks to spend their time policing the city.



Safety Tip: Remember, when we still lived in Cuenca, we told you that you need electric fence installed around the perimeter of your home, and this safety measure still very much stands. Do not rent detached homes without this feature, having an inside dog will also deter prowlers and thieves. We say "inside dog" because we know personally of two outside dogs that were poisoned so as not to wake their mommy and daddy up sleeping inside. 





           LESS Gringo TARGETS on the streets    
             means LESS Gringo CRIME!
 

We rarely see gringos behaving in ways that says “come rob me”, but we used to. They used to wear shiny, expensive jewelry and carry around nice leather purses and huge, expensive cameras around their neck; they’d pull out their money clip in the Mercado with hundreds of dollars in it and then wonder why they got pick-pocketed or robbed five minutes later. That kind of behavior is not advisable here! Or anywhere in Ecuador, for that matter.
 

Today we do not see that too much. Instead we see the gringos blending in and being careful about “how they present themselves” and “how they do things”, that’s why there is less crime towards them!  However, even though petty crime is down it certainly does not mean that we’ll never get robbed, but just knowing how we should present ourselves and staying vigilant certainly does lower the chances a great deal! 



Update October 2019 - The above probably still does not stand true. Around 2017 many of the people that moved to Cuenca left and went back home and now new people have arrived, not reading any REAL safety tips and that makes people more vulnerable to crime because they do not know how to behave in a foreign country. Please read our crime and safety articles on this website if you plane on moving to a Latin American country. 



We are not pumpers, therefore we're not going to be sweeping anything under the rug and making it sound like everything is peachy!
 

                  Cuenca Crime Compared to 1970’s
                     NYC or Today’s Detroit
 

The crime in those big cities is totally different kind of crime that gringos will experience than in Cuenca Ecuador. Those cities are huge while Cuenca barely has 450,000 population. However for the question poser we’ll amuse you a bit.
 

Crime here is mostly personal theft to folks walking around unaware of what’s going on; and to folks who look like they cannot run after the thief who just snatched their cell phone. Violent crimes against foreigners are few and far between in Cuenca, although it does still happen occasionally. There is more to it than that however, and we go into more detail in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.
 

Crime in NYC and Detroit is very violent and usually drug related shootings, robberies, stabbings and murder. Need we say more?
 

One thing that folks should learn not to do is compare apples to oranges, especially when it involves an important issue such as crime. If you must compare, compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Two apples might be comparing crime in Cuenca, Ecuador to Manta, Ecuador. If we had a choice to either be on the back roads of Cuenca or the back roads of Manta, we’d choose Cuenca, hands down. Manta has a long way to go before it is as safe as Cuenca, even though Cuenca is larger than Manta.
 

Cuenca is the safest big, little city in all of Ecuador!  So we hope this helps to provide a little bit more insight to crime in Cuenca Ecuador. Some really good safety tips for living in Latin America can be found in these articles below, which still stand true for anyone who cares about their personal safety while traveling and or living abroad. Take care everyone! Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years? http://t iny.cc/dyzddz

• How Do Ecuadorians Protect Themselves against Crime?


• How Not to Become a Target of Crime in Ecuador

To enjoy a few giggles about our life in Cuenca, see the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide, the ultimate guide for saving money and getting acquainted with your new life in Ecuador. 



As always, enjoy the blog and your comments and questions are important to us. 

Crime and Safety Abroad and What You REALLY Need to Know!

Crime and safety abroad and what you really need to know. Chances are, you didn't think about this perspective before and chances are this is the first time you've heard about this because we are the only ones talking about it. But your safety does matter and people forget, someone always becomes a victim.  Welcome to the other side of the story!


       

Are The Millionaires Right? Does Buying THIS Make You Poor? Retire Earlier and Better!

Are the millionaires right? Does Buying THIS Make You Poor?There are some millionaires on the Internet like Graham Stephan and Kevin Oleary that agree, buying THIS will make you poor, facetiously of course. While other folks scoff because they do not want to quit. What do you think?  We think it's probably not going to interfere with your capacity to make millions but our common sense says, it is a waste of money. However, splurging once in a while is OK.  We want you to Retire Earlier and Better!  Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years? http://tiny.cc/dyzddz

Are These Good Reasons to Pack Your Bags and Move to a Foreign Country?

Are These Good Reasons to Pack Your Bags and Move to a Foreign Country? According to many of us it is. But first, here's Frank and Angie having another light-hearted discourse about some of the reasons that many folks move abroad for.  Let us know what you think.  Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz 


       

EXPATS ADMIT Starting a New Life in a Foreign Country Will Humble You

Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz  ~~ EXPATS ADMIT Starting a New Life in a Foreign Country Will Humble You. Frank and Angie having a light-hearted discourse about different aspects of expat life in a foreign country. 

       

Moving or Retiring Overseas? The One Thing You Must Know!

Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz  ~ Without a doubt, this is the most valuable and Untold INSIGHT of living overseas. Moving and living abroad carries with it a lot of details such as VISA types and cost of living  etc, etc...all easy things to find out BUT this is NEVER talked about EXCEPT by Retire Earlier and Better. We're going to give you the INSIGHTS that matter for a BETTER LIFE abroad--the one thing you must know!

Can You FIRE Earlier and Better by Going Abroad? Financial Independence

Can You FIRE Earlier and Better by Going Abroad?  Financial independence retire early or FIRE is an aspiration for may in the FIRE movement. If your goal is to go abroad and retire earlier and better then you're ready to live your best life now and so you better watch this video! :-)

Behind the Scenes: 8 Ecuadorian Police Captured by Indigenous - Political Unrest Continues...

Behind the scenes: 8 Ecuadorian Police Captured by Indigenous, Political Unrest Continues...This is some new updates for both Cuenca and Quito Ecuador. As always we'll keep you all posted on what's going to happen as it comes in. 

10 Beautiful Cities around the World You Can Rent for Less than $400

Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  Renting at local prices and living your best life today?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz     Today we're going to show you 10 Beautiful Cities around the world NOT being pumped and touted by the Retire Abroad Media and ( very few YT vloggers) where you can Rent for Less than $400! It wasn't easy finding these because we look for VALUE according to size, location, price, etc, etc...Let us show you these locally priced houses and apartments from South America to Asia to Europe you'll love these places!      

Political Unrest in Ecuador Update October 2019

Political Unrest in Ecuador Update October 2019 - In Cuenca it seems as if most people are going about their daily lives as normal, however what seems normal on the surface has many sides to it such as what we discuss in this video with closures and services shut off. There is a different look coming from Guayaquil and Quito with unrest and protests still going on... Moreno vs. Indigenous Standoff? We'll keep you posted on that...   

The Smart Way to Go Abroad that No One Is Talking About

Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years? then click here! The Smart Way to Go Abroad is doing it like this. Our side of the story brings flexibility and way more travel options which is TRAVEL FREEDOM! You do want travel freedom, right?         

Locals 'Kicked Out from their Homes' to Tourists and Foreign Residents (Expats)

In just three years the rents in Valencia Spain have shot up by 60%.  This is happening right now in Lisbon Portugal. This same thing happened in Panama City Panama and other cities around the world.  Displacing the locals is too much of a good thing. The majority of Panamanians have to live 30 miles or more from where they work because they can't afford to live in the city. It's not just a tourist thing either, it's also a expatriation issue where the RAMM's keep pushing tourist traffic and "move abroad" traffic to these same countries promising a cheaper and better life abroad!


 

How to Live Like a Local and Retire Better in Your New Country!

We've been living like the locals in various countries and sharing our local adventures for almost 10 years.  Not to be confused with tourism because short stay vacationers cannot actually live like locals but they can experience different aspects of the culture and do things the local people love to do.  You too can live like a local and retire better in your new country!  

      

The Big Secret to Getting Local Rental Prices Abroad that No One Knows!

Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz     This is the big secret to getting local rental prices abroad.  As you can see after watching the video it's only for certain people that WANT to do this. But we can't be giving away all of our secrets in mainstream videos! Why not? Well, you heard of the kids who we're given large inheritances from their billionaire parents, right? Most of them misused it and abused it!  Need we say more? 



ps.... The content of this video is not for tourism!  It's for people living (residence) abroad. We have so many great strategies and tips to help you retire earlier and better; it's what we've been doing for years and why we're able to do it!


      

Lisbon Portugal too Expensive? Is Cheap Living Outside the Expensive Areas Still Possible?

So now because Lisbon Portugal has become too expensive for most people, guess what's happening to the Portugal foreigner vicious cycle? Is Cheap living outside the expensive areas going to be the solution? Many people think that's all they got to do but this is misleading information once again in the retire abroad world!    

3 Ways to Spot the Shills and Move to Portugal without Your Rose Colored Glasses On!

Here's how you can recognize the retire abroad shills and pumpers. Move to Portugal without your rose colored glasses on. You can now become even savvier as a expat in these touted countries. We want to help you guys to retire earlier and better and the first thing is giving you the knowledge to make a more INFORMED decision about staying home or moving abroad. 

        

Next 5 Big Foreigner Bubble Cities Abroad for 2020

These will be the next 5 big foreigner bubble cities abroad for 2020.  These 5 cities abroad are very popular right now and on the radar of many people contemplating moving abroad. These cities are either starting to bubble or are almost at the top of the bubble;  We talk about the different stages of the bubble these cities are in, in the gringo / foreigner vicious cycle.  Just giving you a heads up!  

ps...these are NOT the only cities bubbling in the world; there are plenty of old-timers like Costa Rica and Panama that have been bubbling up and down for years now!  And look at their prices!

      

We Survived the Best Place to Retire Gimmick! PORTUGAL NEXT!

As most of you may already know, Ecuador was considered one of the cheapest countries to live back in the day and it was named the best place to retire only about 5 times in a row!  It didn't stay the cheapest though.  Ecuador is a lovely country with great people but the way it is presented is a gimmick and shall we say, exploitation. Now Portugal is next and about 5 other places in the retire abroad sphere!   If we had a t-shirt slogan it would read: We Survived the Cheapest Country and the "Best Place to Retire!"

      

The Reality of Living on Less in a Cheap Country Pros and Cons

Can you really live cheaper abroad and are there any consequences in doing so? What may seem like a pro to many people and one of the reasons why they move to a cheap country to live can actually be a detriment. In this video we touch on culture., food, adventure, living cheaper abroad, weather, renting, better Life, Portugal and the reality of living on less in a cheap country and the pros and cons.

 

Will You Be a Successful Expat or Just an Average Joe and Jane?

This videos discusses the reasons why some expats are extremely successful in their move abroad and why some move back home! The successful expat versus the average Joe and Jane who end up leaving the country they moved to abroad. Find out where you stand as an expat abroad!

Which Country Will Be the Next Big Gringo Bubble?

This country will soon be the next big gringo bubble and crime will increase (in two certain cities) and expats will come and go like a revolving door...in the months ahead you will see more and more vloggers making videos about this new paradise, talking about "how cheap it is" and showing off their over-priced apartments; and those who still live there, after their honeymoon, they will make pros and cons videos about the place...after studying the market we see it coming from a mile away.  Enjoy the roller coaster bubble ride!        

Unhappy with FIRE Financial Independence Retire Early? The Other Way No One Talks About

Unhappy with FIRE Financial Independence Retire Early? The Other Way No One Talks About.   We're not dissing FIRE but The FIRE SYSTEM doesn't work for everyone, including us and others who want to retire early and start living their BEST LIFE NOW!  We make these videos so you can be encouraged to retire earlier and better too!  We have so much more to share so join us at our Facebook community.



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Living Cheap! Would You Rent This €300 Euro Apartment?

Living Cheap! While the (RAMM's) Retire Abroad Media and Magazines are busy drumming up traffic for their intentional bubbles, we’ve never paid more than €300 for a furnished nice house or apartment in Ecuador or Europe and we can do this almost anywhere abroad!  Would you rent this €300 Euro apartment?

The 10 Cheapest Countries to Live and Retire LUXURIOUSLY on $1000 - The Other Side of the Story

The 10 Cheapest Countries to Live and Retire LUXURIOUSLY on $1000. Ever wonder why foreigners move back home? We provide you with a deeper understanding of what's at stake when we allow this kind of verbiage to tell us where we should move, why we should move there and most importantly, what kind of experience we will have living abroad in the so-called 10 cheapest countries in the world. Talk about sensationalism. There is always the other side of the story...and you probably already knew we were going to tell it.              

The Most Effective Way to Financial Freedom and Early Retirement - Side Hustle vs.Microenterprise

Side Hustle vs. Microenterprise: The Way to Financial Freedom that Serves You! FIRE!  It might be outside the box but it has worked for us for 30 years. Most people have never heard of this before because it's not the mainstream way to make it to financial independence. It actually serves you rather than you hustling at side jobs for a living.

        

Portugal Is Better than Spain or Italy --- Retire Earlier and Better

Portugal Is Better than Spain or Italy. Really? Well of  course locals are going to love their own country. But do you see how opinions are there for considering and not for believing? We see this a lot in the VLOG world where Portuguese people say their city is the best for various reasons, Spaniards will say their city is the best and Italians will say Italy is the best and it's all very much subjective. It's best for them, not everyone! Why do we compare anyway? To make something seem better than what we're comparing to. But remember "BEST" is an OPINION which invariably boils down to personal preference.

Portuguese People Say: No More Foreigners in Portugal! ~ BUBBLE!

Portuguese People Say: No More Foreigners in Portugal! It was just four months ago we made the video "3 reasons not to move to Portugal https://youtu.be/PMXhM4qp8y0 which talks about the retire abroad media induced bubble in the making and now, just a few months later, local Portuguese are letting us know that their country is becoming too expensive, especially in the cities where they live!.  People ask us in these pumped places, "am I too late? Is it too expensive now?" We share in this video one of the first signs of a RAM induced bubble and many other tips to help you retire better!

           

This Crazy Bull Market and the FIRE Movement! Why Isn't Anyone Talking about This!

This Crazy Bull Market and the blind spots in the FIRE Financial Independence Retire Early Movement. There is definitely some blind spots in the FIRE movement and history is showing us something we should pay close attention to...

      


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What's the Shortest Route to FIRE Financial Independence? Retire Earlier and Better Abroad!

Retire Earlier and Better Abroad! Be on Fire! Keep Working! We're literally on FIRE and you can be too! True or False: Does "Early Retire" mean to stop working? Is it possible to be "retired" and still be making money? Frank and Angie retired earlier and took their early retirement abroad!

        

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5 Things You Should Never Do in Italy BUT You Can If You Want!

Best way to be spotted as a foreigner in Italy, wear this! I Speak Italian But Wearing This Tags Me as a Foreigner Every Time! It's funny when they just stare at me with bewildered faces! 5 Things You Should Never Do in Italy But what if I forget?...not to get too serious guys, this is just our 5 things. You can do whatever you want.

          

The Simple Truth about Moving Abroad and Early Retirement They Won't Tell You!

The Simple Truth about Moving Abroad and Early Retirement They Won't Tell You! Great Insights about retirement at home or abroad: Retire earlier and better 2019. 



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The Smartest Thing We Did When We Moved Abroad

The smartest thing we did when we moved abroad nine years ago.. These 2 smart things that we did led up to the smartest thing we did and are now doing and where we are living abroad. 

           

FIRE: Retire Earlier and Better: The 3 Different Types of People Firing!

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FIRE, Retire Earlier and Better: The 3 Different Types of People Pursuing the Good Life or Firing! In this video we discuss the three different types of people in the FIRE community, all going after the same goal---The Good Life of Financial Independence Retire Early. We say Retire Earlier and Better!

        

We Successfully Retired Early Abroad - This Is What Early ECUADOR Retirement Is Like

We Successfully Retired Early Abroad - So This Is What Early ECUADOR Retirement Is Like. We are and have been so blessed with so much in the last decade since we've been abroad that we couldn't imagine anything different.  Of course, it hasn't been without challenges to our health, which we share on this blog. It's all about choices and how much flexibility you're willing to take. We did not leave the U.S without skills and something to fall back on but we did put our "possibility thinking" caps on and as you can see, never looked back!  

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2 Big Social Differences that Apply 100% When You Leave the United States for Abroad

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2 Big Social Differences that Apply 100% When You Leave the United States for Abroad! These two social differences will keep you on your toes next time you go abroad. The neat thing about travel and life abroad is experiencing the cultural and social differences and trying not to disrespect those customs and norms. And when you live abroad integrating them into your lifestyle. 

         

This Is What Happens to the Banking Systems Abroad During and After Expat-Gringo Bubbles

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This Is What Happens to many of the Banking Systems Abroad when thousands of expats are funneled in; it usually occurs during and after the Gringo Bubbles. This is what happened in Ecuador and my personal experience and this is what happened in Chile. Similar scenarios in Panama also.

4 Reasons to Diversify Your Assets Overseas and KNOWING When NOT To

4 Reasons Why You Should Diversify Your Assets Overseas, according to the promoters. This is my counter-balance to these 4 reasons and dose of reality for you guys. 



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Retiring Abroad IRS Free: Which Assets Give u.s Citizens IRS Freedom in another Country?

Retiring Abroad IRS Free: Which Assets Give u.s Citizens IRS Freedom in another Country? Let's do some critical thinking on this subject and see where we're at in this whole scheme of things. Everyone's situation is a little bit different and there is not a be all end all either. Remember, we don't want to jump into something just because big names say it's a great thing to do. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but in the end you be the judge of what's best for you and your finances when you go abroad. In other words don't be lured by something that might not be factual for your situation.

       

This Is the Most Important Skill for Living Your Best Life Now and Later!

You Will Need This Skill to Live Your Best Life Now and Later! It's the most important skill to have if you want to retire early and better. Remember RETIRE does not mean not doing something to earn money, it means doing things you want.

       

Goodbye Tourist Traps, Hello Live Wherever Your Heart Desires Best Life Now!

Goodbye Tourist Traps, Hello Wherever Your Heart Desires Best Life Now!  You really can start living your best life now! 


       

Do you want to be in control of how much you spend abroad and avoid gringo bubbles? Do you want to move abroad and spend half of what your gringo counterparts are spending to live abroad? Would you like clarity and confidence on how to find and make your own Shangra-la? Will you let me show you how I have been doing so for years? if you’d like to know how some of these things could work for you, it’s different for everyone, so I’d like to have a chat with you and talk about how you could potentially save up to $1000 per month and live like a king while doing it. 



Click here to schedule a chat: https://calendly.com/feellikethemiddleclassagain

Which Country Abroad Will YOU Most Likely Become a Victim of a Crime? MUST WATCH!

It’s called the “Gringo Vicious Cycle” and you’re part of it.

Introduction to crime waves in various Latin American countries (and other)

Stage 1 Gringo Vicious Cycle – 1:42

Stage 2 GVC – 5:19

Stage 3 GVC - 8:53

Stage 3.5 GVC - 10:50

Stage 4 GVC - 18:07

The Solution - 20:44

Please share this video 21:25



        

Watch Out for Real Estate Scams Abroad, It Doesn’t Have to Affect You!

Watch Out for Retire Abroad Real Estate Scams, It Doesn’t Have to Affect You unless You Fall for It!  Every country has them, especially where they think they can scam foreigners... so stay diligent not gullible!!

        

Your Best Place to Live and Retire Is Not Where You Think!

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Your Best Place to Live is Where YOU Want to Live! Where do you want to live? Really want to live?  We can help YOU make your dreams come true and LIVE your best life now!



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Be Careful of This Trick on Trains in Italy Say Local Italians! - Travel VLOG

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Be careful of this trick on trains in Italy, say local Italians! We love train travel in Italy; it's comfortable and faster than bus travel. There's this one trick though that we find annoying but by using this travel tip we show you in this video, summer train travel in Italy is great!

        

A NEW Way to Financial Independence Retire Early, Savvy Money Advice, NO Money Fears

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NEW Way to Financial Independence Retire Early Savvy Money Advice for No Money Fears...gleaned from our experiences with professional Industrious early retire frugalism - PIERF. 



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Traveling Abroad from South America to Europe - 30 Hours Travel, 8 Hours Sleep!

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Traveling Abroad from South America to Europe - 30 Hours Travel, 8 Hours Sleep!

Ecuador Taxi Ride and Amazing Sky from Plane 00.01

Commentary starts at 4:25

What you don’t see in many travel abroad videos, including this one is long airport layovers, hauling the luggage from place to place, paying extra for luggage that was supposed to be free, no room in the overheads for your carry-on, standing in long lines thru immigration,  having no leg room on the plane, (always worse for tall people),  resting (not sleeping) sitting up in a chair on long overnight flights, extreme thirst, hunger, tiredness, etc, etc….Is long flight travel worth it? You bet it is and we’ll continue to do it as long as our bodies allow us to. 

      

What's Wrong with FIRE Financial Independence Retire Early? The Other Side No One Talks About

What's Wrong with FIRE Financial Independence Retire Early Movement? The Other Side No One Talks About



Introduction - the 3 legs of the FIRE Stool 00:01 

First Leg 1:24 Frugality 

Second Leg 6:07 Investing

Third Leg 10:15 Making More Money

Micro-enterprising -12:40

Retire in F.I.R.E doesn’t mean never working again 13:34

The Reality of What F.I.R.E can do for you (the reality and the results) 14:12



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How We Really Afford to Travel the World Whenever We Want, Our Money Secret Revealed!

It's a strategy and one we use ourselves so we can travel the world whenever we want! You can do it too. How We Really Afford to Travel the World, Our Money Secret Revealed!  Also, LIVING like a local is a lot less expensive than traveling some place and only staying a few weeks like you're on vacation. We don't just travel, we LIVE!

         

Here's How YOU CAN Travel and Live Like a Millionaire without Being One!

Here's How You Can Travel and Live Like a Millionaire without Being One!  Because we're doing it! We became financially savvy  in the states over 30 years ago and then we took that "live well on less mentality" abroad with us and now we want to show you how to do it too!  Join Our Free retire earlier retire better Facebook group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/791893957843581/