“Yes, retirement is coming – sure as the sun is coming up tomorrow morning.  And just like that magnificent event, retirement is something you should really look forward to – and thoroughly enjoy! Because retirement should mean “the beginning of the rest (the best) of your life”.” Barbie Parks

This doesn’t mean that the day after the last “work” day is going to be absolutely perfect and free of stress… not unless you have planned for a long time for this event!

No one is going to be carrying you on a chariot through golden streets during your retirement – not unless you have really planned!

The future possibly 30 or 40 years may not be filled with joy and relaxation, doing what you’ve hoped to do in all that spare time – not unless you planned!

But, if you long ago realized that someday that good old paycheck would end and that the trips to the grocery store wouldn’t… if you planned… your future should be engulfed in a very rosy glow…  if you planned!

SO… Get busy working on a budget… a realistic budget.

Decide if you need to go down in size for housing – no one wants to be cleaning and repairing every day just for some extra square footage.

Make sure all your bills are discharged – yes, I even mean the automobile loan.  Especially, try to get that mortgage out of your pocket!  And going smaller sometimes is an easy way to accomplish that – if you have planned – paid a little extra toward you mortgage while that good old paycheck was still being counted on.

Think hard about whether or not it’s necessary to have two cars – the tires, the insurance, the upkeep – those dollars could be seriously cutting into that home mortgage instead of paying for something that in the end, ends up totally worthless – other than to a junk yard.

Then, consider… there is always the possibility of getting everything in order, being in fairly good financial shape, and then moving to another country – someplace where your pennies suddenly become as powerful as dollars.  A couple of dollars stashed away will enable you to do just that – and where you move is up to you.

This is the result of one study, showing the best places to retire in 2012:

Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay…

…Of course, the nearest “escape” remains to be Mexico.

Mexico is still holding onto 7th place, even considering the drug battles going on.  But do keep in mind that escape to one person may be another person’s misery.  The ability to travel back and forth to keep near to family for most people is quite important in the years when health concerns may pop up.  And just to see grandchildren during their formative years and keeping the family ties strong could easily mark half of these countries off most people’s list.  But, if you are totally free to fly, hey, go for it – a new culture may just give you back many happy and thrilling years.  I do have to stick in my concern for health care – affordable and quality healthcare should be right up at the top of most people’s lists.

Each one of us is so individual that one person’s paradise does not mean it’s for every other person out there.  So, get busy, make your lists, consider your total lifestyle, get busy planning – it’s not too late if you face retirement squarely and bravely, if you start PLANNING.

Planning Retirement Article by Barbie