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The Costa Rica Retirement Plan

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:08:36 +0000

Are you starting to plan your retirement and worrying about how the state of the economy will effect your life style after you turn 65?Are you watching your friends make plans to cash in their paper assets, move to a smaller home, and cut down on spending? This is what many people are doing in the face of a recession in the United States right now. But you imagined having a little money to travel, visit Paris maybe, or go on a cruise. Is all of that just a fantasy now?

Well some people have discovered out how to make the dream a reality and retire in style by living and investing in the heavenly paradise of Costa Rica! It all begins with the real estate market. Those who know say the real estate market in Costa Rica is one of the most stable in the world, and prices are easily comparable to US property or lower. You could easily find a beautiful beach house for $300,000 overlooking the ocean. Or buy a piece of land near the beach for $100,000 and build your dream home. Imagine spend your days walking on the beach, a drink on the terrace, watching the sunset, and socializing with new friends who share your enthusiasm for a good retirement!

You may think it sounds crazy, that people only go to Costa Rica on vacation, but that’s no longer true. More and more foreigners are retiring in Costa Rica, especially Americans but also Europeans and other foreigners. And they are all doing it the same way: investing in property which will only go up in value for years to come, while living their retirement in the sunshine. But how? you ask. The following are just a few examples of the things that make it so easy to live the dream and retire in Costa Rica:

ONLY 2 HOURS AWAY

Costa Rica is only 2 hours away from Florida and all the comforts of home. Take a log weekend in Miami and do some shopping, or grab a connector flight to visit your family, and have them come visit often! And be careful who you invite to come visit you, it is so easy to get to Costa Rica that they will certainly come!

ESPANGLISH

Maybe not everyone speaks English, but no matter where you are, there is probably someone around who will be able to translate. A large majority of the population can speak at least some English, and most of the private schools are English Immersion, so from a young age many of these kids are bilingual. And hey, why not take some Spanish lessons yourself? Stretch your brain a little and make some friends while you are at it.

COST OF LIVING

The cost of living is comparable to the US if not slightly lower. There are some items which are shockingly inexpensive, while others are what you are used to at home. Groceries, restaurants and shopping tend to be about what as you are used to, however workers such as a live in maid or gardener are much less expensive than in the US. During retirement, it can often be a great blessing to have people around to help you with the daily chores.

HEALTH CARE

Health Care in Costa Rica is known for its quality and inexpensive price tag. Many of the doctors are trained in the US or Europe, and hospitals are very modern with all the latest equipment and technologies. Not to gossip but Costa Rica is known for its movie star plastic surgery!

MEDICARE

Both the Costa Rican government and Medicare and are making it extremely easy for ex-patriots to receive their Medicare checks in Costa Rica through a network of banks in now offering direct deposit to your Costa Rican bank account.

VISAS & LEGAL ISSUES

Do I need a visa, or how does it work? If you are 45 years or older you can apply to be part of a retirement program set up by the Costa Rican government to encourage foreigners to come to Costa Rica. Benefits include tax exemptions and incentives, but the greatest thing is that you don’t have to pay tax on your retirement income in Costa Rica!

CAN I OWN PROPERTY IN COSTA RICA?

In Costa Rica foreigners are in no way penalized when purchasing property. Foreigners have the same rights as a Costa Rican and the law will treat them as an equal. You can also incorporate your own company and purchase the property through your company for additional tax breaks.

OF COURSE THE BEAUTY …

The words Cost Rica actually mean Rich Coast, a name Christopher Columbus bestowed on this country overflowing with natural beauty, lush rain forests, mountains, cloud forests, and sandy beaches. Costa Rica is world famous for its diverse natural habitat and beautiful sunsets.

So there you have it, not a bad list of reasons to rent out your house, cash in your paper assets, and retire to a beach house in Costa Rica! There may be a coming recession, but you don’t have to live in it, or let it spoil your long awaited liberation from the rat race.

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Planning For Summer Vacation

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:51:11 +0000

Summer vacation is fast approaching, and as every kid is salivating about escaping school, sleeping later and watching TV and mindless movies, moms and dads everywhere may be concerned about how to maintain a healthy balance of relaxation and productive disposal of free time so that the kids, children don’t return to school this Autumn, saying that they did “nothing” all vacation long. Blended families have the added stress of planning for summer visitation, coordinating parent schedules and ensuring that their brood have organized activities as well as a good time.

Michele Farias, an educator and school counselor for at least 25 years, addresses this compelling issue in her best-selling book, “25 Ways to Keep Your Child Safe, Healthy and Successful: Lessons from a School Counselor.”

Farias explains that she is constantly surprised at the multitude of children who report that they did nothing of substance for the ten weeks of summer. Of course, summer is a chance to relax, unwind from the strain of a demanding school workload and engage in enjoyable activities that may not be feasible the rest of the year. In any case, Ms Farias maintains that it is healthy for children to balance summer vacation time with productive activities because it prepares them for a successful school year to look forward to.

Following are some helpful pointers in a chapter exclusively geared to summer activities:

Family Time

Summer vacation offers a great chance for increasing family time. This is extremely critical for children in blended family units who may not be capable of maintaining close ties with cousins, grandparents and family friends due to moving back and forth between separate homes, or because of geographic or logistical challenges. Families can renew emotional ties by traveling together on a road or a camping trip, spending time at the beach or the park, playing board games or having fun with a sport or a pastime.

Ms Farias labels these activities ?memory builders,? because when people reminisce about important and significant childhood memories, they mostly involve family activities. Family vacations furnish a significant opportunity to enjoy meals together, sleep in close proximity, share experiences and strengthen family ties. There are many different ways to accomplish this without unloading a bundle of money, and Ms Farias urges parents to visit http://www.puttingfamilyfirst.org for interesting and reasonable ideas for affordable family activities.

A relaxed summer schedule provides an ideal opportunity to foster family mealtimes which are often impossible during the over-scheduled school year. The family dinner are often an acute challenge in blended families who have conflicting schedules, transitioning children and general shortage of time. It is well-documented that family mealtimes increase communication, cooperation and closeness, and reduce the likelihood that kids will indulge in drug and alcohol use. Plan to have meals as a family group when everyone is sitting face to face, involved with each other and not distracted by cell phones, Blackberries, TV or video games.

No need to break out the fine china or having strict manners on display. Instead, keep it simple and have all members contribute in every way, from planning the menu, buying the ingredients, preparing the meal and setting and removing the dishes from the table. Even the littlest members of the family will feel useful, and all the members will feel more connected, more valued and a vital a worthwhile part of a cohesive family unit.

Participate in Activities

Summer break offers an ideal opportunity for kids to acquire new skills and activities that they may not have a chance to investigate during every day with no TV, computer, or I Pod anywhere around. Farias strongly asserts that reading skills contribute in large measure to success in school, and notes that children who do not read well have trouble in all subject areas, even math.

She requests that parents help their children understand that reading is well-appreciated at home, and so that they may convey this important message to their offspring, Ms Farias puts forth the following: 1) read to younger children daily; 2) talk over with older kids what they are reading and encourage them to comment on plot, characters and setting; 3) take kids to the library and assist in finding appropriate books for younger kids; 4) sign up for reading clubs; and 5) consistently give kids books as gifts.
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Retire in Costa Rica

admin — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:21:02 +0000

People choose to retire outside of their native country for a variety of reasons. Some people choose to retire abroad in order to bask in a preferred climate. Some people crave a shift in their pace of life, and some retire abroad for a change of scenery-be it the mountains or a beach. For a large number of retirees, the primary consideration for retiring abroad is their finances.

The reality of rising inflation and a falling income come retirement age encourages a search for affordable living, beyond borders, in retirement.

Over the last 45 years, inflation in the U.S. has averaged about 4.5% annually. If you currently earn $50,000.00 per year, you will need to earn $52,250.00 next year ($50,000.00 x 4.5) and so forth in order to maintain your present standard of living and stay even with inflation. In the same vein, if your investment returns an average of 8% you can reasonably expect inflation to eat away about 3% to 4%, based on historical figures. At 4% inflation you will lose half of your purchasing power in 18 years. Certainly no one can predict the future and inflation could in fact decrease and inflate investments.

However, most American retirees are not counting on inflation decreasing to secure their future.

International living has revealed itself as a viable option for retirees. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2002, 242,128 American retirees had their Social Security benefits sent outside of the U.S.

Costa Rica sports between 20,000 and 30,000 Americans, according to the U.S. embassy there. Costa Rica has lured American and European retirees with its beauty, affordability, and stable government. One reason being that so many retired Americans have chosen Costa Rica is that Costa Rica is a tax haven for retirees. Americans living in Costa Rica do not have to pay income taxes on social security received from the U.S. government.

Countless testimonials from Americans now living in Costa Rica claim their social security check affords them luxuries that it wouldn’t afford at home in the states. In Costa Rica, dining out will set you back $10, beach front real estate can be a fraction of what it costs in the U.S., and an orange will cost you seven cents. Additionally, testimonials by American retirees describe a more peaceful day to day life in Costa Rica-one void of crime and stress.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2010, nearly 40 million Americans will be 65 or older. By the year 2030, that number will jump to nearly 76 million. One can be certain that as inflation continues to rise, a percentage of people will be looking to retire outside of the U.S.

If you have traveled in Costa Rica then you know how captivating the beaches, jungles, and mountains can be. The beauty of Costa Rica along with the warmth of the Ticos and the affordability of a day to day life encourage retirees to research what Costa Rica offers. It is not uncommon for retirees to look towards their favorite vacation spots as a possible place to call home. If you have never traveled in Costa Rica, I suggest you enrich your life and take a trip to the paradise many now call home.
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Advantages of Retiring in Costa Rica

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:05:50 +0000

Costa Rica has become a popular destination for vacations, weddings, honeymoons, and many other trips. It has also become home to many resorts, conferences, and social gatherings. With so much hype about this country, you may consider retiring there. You are not alone. Many people from the United States and other English-speaking countries have retired there. There are many advantages of retiring in Costa Rica.

First of all, the lower cost-of-living in Costa Rica makes it a great retirement spot. Your savings and your retirement income will buy you more in this Central American country than it will in the United States. If you lived and worked in Costa Rica, you would also receive a lower pay, which would balance out the lower cost-of-living. However, retirees have the advantage of receiving the same income no matter where they live. By retiring in this country, you can save a lot of money.

Another great thing about retiring in Costa Rica is that the local people are so polite. Politeness is a major part of the culture. You will find that polite and helpful people come in especially handy when you have moved to a new place and do not know your way around that well.

You will also love the weather in this region. It is warm year-round. The only drawback is that the country does have a rainy season. If you really dislike the rain, this country may not be for you.

The wildlife in the country is amazing. There are all sorts of animals and plants. It is very green in this country, and the scenery is beautiful.

Costa Rica also has beautiful beaches on both sides of the country. If you really wanted, you could visit the Pacific beaches on one side of the country and the Caribbean beaches on the other side all in the same day. You can relax on the beaches, but you can also engage in various activities such as SCUBA diving or fishing.

Before retiring in Costa Rica, you want to think about it carefully. Research the country and the retirement laws. You do not want to make such a major decision on an emotional whim. If you have not visited the country, try visiting it a few times before deciding on retiring there. Also, remember that Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country, so you probably want to start learning some Spanish if you plan on moving there.

Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!