Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="vantexan" data-source="post: 3106674" data-attributes="member: 24302">Since we&#039;re all comparing notes let me put my two cents in.&nbsp; I&#039;m heading to Albania first of the year.&nbsp; I took an accelerated pension early this year at 55 that pays me $1840 a month for 12 years, then drops to $228 the rest of my life.&nbsp; Albania has a cost of living approximately half of the U.S. not including housing.&nbsp; Rent is more than 80% less.&nbsp; A decent one bedroom with a sea view can be had for less than $200 on the coast.&nbsp; Seafood is exceptional, and due to the Italian and Greek influence they have a very healthy Mediterranean diet.&nbsp; In the capital Tirana if you want the big city life they have a huge selection of restaurants, plus malls, movie theaters playing the latest in English.&nbsp; An inexpensive restaurant meal can be easily had for $5 or less.&nbsp; It does get hot and humid in much of the country which is why the coast is so popular.&nbsp; Very scenic mountain coast with great beaches.&nbsp; Violent crime is extremely low.&nbsp; And because the U.S. saved Kosovo from the Serbs, and Kosovo is 90% Albanian, plus gave Albania needed help, Americans are treated extremely well there.&nbsp; We&#039;re the only nationality that gets a year on a tourist card, most all others get 90 days.&nbsp; I think Italians get favorable treatment too.&nbsp; So depending where I live there, my $1840 a month is easily like $3600-$4000 a month in the States.&nbsp; Even more if you live in high cost cities in the States.&nbsp; I know some will start ripping this, but really, the States aren&#039;t going to get any cheaper and most FedEx employees aren&#039;t going to have the retirement Oldfart has.&nbsp; With the internet you can stay in touch, even watch American tv online.&nbsp; So you can scrape by, or you can consider options.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="vantexan, post: 3106674, member: 24302"] Since we're all comparing notes let me put my two cents in. I'm heading to Albania first of the year. I took an accelerated pension early this year at 55 that pays me $1840 a month for 12 years, then drops to $228 the rest of my life. Albania has a cost of living approximately half of the U.S. not including housing. Rent is more than 80% less. A decent one bedroom with a sea view can be had for less than $200 on the coast. Seafood is exceptional, and due to the Italian and Greek influence they have a very healthy Mediterranean diet. In the capital Tirana if you want the big city life they have a huge selection of restaurants, plus malls, movie theaters playing the latest in English. An inexpensive restaurant meal can be easily had for $5 or less. It does get hot and humid in much of the country which is why the coast is so popular. Very scenic mountain coast with great beaches. Violent crime is extremely low. And because the U.S. saved Kosovo from the Serbs, and Kosovo is 90% Albanian, plus gave Albania needed help, Americans are treated extremely well there. We're the only nationality that gets a year on a tourist card, most all others get 90 days. I think Italians get favorable treatment too. So depending where I live there, my $1840 a month is easily like $3600-$4000 a month in the States. Even more if you live in high cost cities in the States. I know some will start ripping this, but really, the States aren't going to get any cheaper and most FedEx employees aren't going to have the retirement Oldfart has. With the internet you can stay in touch, even watch American tv online. So you can scrape by, or you can consider options. [/QUOTE]

Verification