Leaving the USA.. to somewhere cheaper

**Mo-BayMom** · 07-28-2008, 11:08 AM

I guess that depends on what you consider a third world country. I am currently living in Jamaica and can recreate the US lifestyle here if I want to. Everything that is found in the states can be found here. The point is, I don't want to. LOL I want to a simple life, a slower life, a healthier life and I can do that here. Even on as little as US $2-3K a mth you can live nicely. Of course, you can live like a king if choose to as well..it's really up to you and how much you have to spend and want to spend.

Food bought in a super market is the same as in the states so I dont' shop in the supermarkets, I shop in the markets and in the smaller family owned stores. Gas is about the same and we really only drive to work ( self employed) and walk to the beach and shopping. I prefer walking..it's just beautiful.

I love the people, the food, the lifestyle and the slower pace of life. There is no rat race here, at least none that I've seen. LOL

**annymoll** · 07-29-2008, 12:45 AM

I enjoy travel and visiting other countries. I so appreciate the US and always feel such happiness when I return home.Ah! the cheap delight of Golden Corral buffet- bread and drink included for 7 bucks!Picking free corn in the farm fields, picking berries, fishing.Cheap eats!!Crashing family reunions and being offered eats.First time home buyer sugar shacks, family, good friends, interesting people, the mannerisms, humor, drama (Ride the bus in Vegas.. more entertainment than a Broadway play.. for free).Leave it and move away?... Nada, never, no way. Me bones will rest in the good ole dark Missouri dirt.

**xtena** · 08-01-2008, 02:34 PM

Well I spent ten years in Communist China, first as a student, then working various jobs and married to a Chinese citizen. It was certainly cheap to live there, and a wonderful life experience, but I was so grateful to finally convince my husband to emigrate, in the 'nick of time' as it transpires (he could have ended up a political prisoner in labor camp or dead for reasons I can't post here). He's now a U.S. citizen, by the way. Sometimes I wish we could go back, but not while the Communists are still under control. If we were to ever leave the U.S. it would have to be to a democratic country, with a low crime rate, low cost of living, where Americans are not hated and it would have to have a very stable political situation. I am not sure anyplace like that exists in this day and age.

**azangie** · 08-01-2008, 03:03 PM

I love to travel and certainly don't feel that the US is the only safe country in the world. I just like it here. I love to visit other places but as Dorothy said "There's no place like home."

I'd be wary of buying property elsewhere. The rules and regs here are bad enough.

The USA is my place to be.

**knitnmom** · 08-03-2008, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by littlemotherhaywood

I can't say for sure whether I would retire out of the country or not, but I think I would like to live somewhere else for a year or two. I would love to allow my children to experience different cultures first hand. Of course that's easy to say when there's no immediate possibility of that happening anytime soon

My thoughts exactly!

**hugxlaughxsmilexlove** · 08-06-2008, 10:43 PM

I wouldn't.. simply because I refuse to get on a plane.. so I'm kinda stuck here in good ol' Michigan for awhile!

**peanut** · 09-05-2008, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by digitalsigma

Has anyone considered moving out of their native country and heading to a country that is less expensive?

I live in Canada and, occasionally we've thought about moving to the U.S. But the state of medical care down there and the high crime rate and poverty we've witnessed on various trips to the U.S. discouraged us. We decided we like Canada's social welfare network, even if it does mean higher taxes.

We've also looked at the Caribbean briefly, until hurricane season. And until I get a look at the World Health Organization reports on the area... nope, we'll stay in good ol' Canada.

Jean

**jvera** · 09-05-2008, 02:18 PM

We are looking into retiring in Mexico (Rosarito Beach). My husband speaks fluent spanish because he was born in Peru. So he would fit in. We have read about their health care and I think it is very reasonable and we could have a nice house near the beach for $500 to $600. Rosarito Beach is only about 30 minutes from the US border. And we could easily cross back into California and visit our children and grandkids.

**POOTERSMOMMY** · 09-05-2008, 04:15 PM

I would never consider leaving the USA. I guess it depends on what you are looking for. Cheaper lifestyle isn't everything.
Our basic bills are $700 per month including health insurance. We have a small home paid for and our vehicle is too. We never made over $60,000 between us, but we have amassed a nice retirement savings and live very comfortably. We are on a frugal site - so we all know or are learning how to be frugal. I personally think it's fun, and would be the same way even if I won the lottery!
Personally, being close to family and being a part of this great country is all I ever need.
There isn't enough money for me to ever leave the USA. I would love to visit other places, but not to stay.
This is simply my opinion, and I don't begrudge anyone who wants to experience a different way of life - I hope that those who wish to, get the chance.

**struglew3kids** · 09-05-2008, 04:53 PM

I love Rosarito. Although I am Mexican American, I would never think of living in Mexico. Especially not near the boarder. There is so much crime and abductions for ramson. I would strongly re-think that one. Safety is more important to me then luxury.

**Cricketlegs** · 09-05-2008, 05:22 PM

Heck, I refuse to live outside of TEXAS let alone another country!

**Greebo** · 09-05-2008, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Cricketlegs

Heck, I refuse to live outside of TEXAS let alone another country!

Texas already is another country!

**englishcottage1** · 09-06-2008, 12:02 PM

I have enjoyed reading this thread and I am glad people from outside the US has posted also.

I have lived in different parts of the US and I have to say, it is like moving to a different country at times because of the differnce in both the cost of living, the crime or lack of, the way of life. I noticed the biggest difference for us is when my dh got transferred many years ago from the northeast to the midwest. Although he was paid ALOT more in the NE, the cost of living was much higher as well as the crime rate as well as the problem within the schools etc, but there were so much more you could do there in the world of culture, the trips to the beach, and on and on.

When we moved to the midwest it was like going back in time, on a good level but it took some adjusting. My husband gets paid ALOT less, but the cost of living is so much cheaper, there is hardly any crime, in fact, most of us never lock our doors, even at night, grant it we are somewhat rural, but even in our town (and surrounding towns) the cars still have keys in their ignitions when they run into the stores or the bank, etc and the schools are about 15-1 teacher student ratio. But it gets very cold and very snowy, we need to travel about 2 hours for culture, we do have free concerts in the park in the summer, lol, and more people know your business than you care for and it's about 1400 miles to the nearest ocean, lol. But then what are vacations for, LOL.

I guess it's really what you want the most, what you really want the most in life. You can find that regardless of what country you live in. Many people could not live here where I do, just because it's not what they want, not that it's bad, it's just not what they want. The same can be said of the people who would move from the west coast to the east coast or from the north central to the south central etc.

I do feel you can feel safe in other countries, we have our own crime and problems here, but I think, imo, it does seem by the media that when Americans are in other countries we seem to be "targets" kwim? So it's probably more because we hear about that through our media, not that the country in itself is unsafe but some groups of people who live within certain coutries.

I think there is also some romance involved in living in another country. I fell in Love with Ireland, the west coast of it, and thought how wonderful my life would be to live here, the grass is so green and the people are so friendly and I love the accent, I thought about living there, packing up and having the kids visit for their vacation. Then I started looking into it and started thinking more in reality, the house prices are more than what they are here (where I live now), and it rains alot to get that land so green, lol, so as much as I love visiting there, which I will again, I don't think it would be a whole lot better than where I am now.

Moving to a different country may turn out wonderful for you, the best thing you ever do, did. Just make sure you look at everything and not just the things you want to see. If there was really a perfect place to live, I think we would all be there, and then it would be crowded, LOL.

**quiltergirl** · 09-06-2008, 12:14 PM

We stay where we are now because there are jobs but the people around here have an attitude we don't like. So we will probably move but most likely somewhere here in the US. We're looking for someplace with a strong arts community. And as others have said moving from state to state in the US is often like moving to another country -- some states even speak a different language (accents and vernacular). I really get tired of people making fun of my "okie" accent.

**englishcottage1** · 09-06-2008, 12:22 PM

quiltergirl,

People often ask me what part of the country am I from, LOL, I have no "R" 's in some of my words (Mass) and I throw in a Y'all (from the south) and I call soda "tonic" and so on and so on. I don't think there is an accent here? They do have "sayings" I have never heard before. But I think, regardless of where you go, you have some kind of accent or way of saying things, we'll just say it comes with the territory, LOL.