Welcome — and Why This Exists
Hi,
Thanks for being here.
Since this is the first message in this journey, I wanted to start with something simple: why I created Retire Beyond Borders, and what you can expect from this newsletter.
A lot of people spend decades working hard, doing the right things, and planning for retirement — only to reach that stage and realise it may not look like the life they hoped for. Rising costs, later retirement ages, and uncertainty can make the idea of finally slowing down feel further away, not closer.
For me, the turning point was personal.
Someone close to me — my grandfather — worked his whole life and only had a short time in retirement before his health declined. He never really got the chance to enjoy the freedom he spent years building toward.
That stuck with me.
It made me question why so many people wait until the very end of their working life to finally start living the way they want — and why retirement has become something people push back rather than look forward to.
Over time, I discovered that many people are now exploring something different: retiring abroad — or at least considering whether life could be more affordable, more enjoyable, and maybe even start earlier in another part of the world.
Places like Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Bali aren’t just holiday destinations anymore — for many, they're realistic options offering:
Lower cost of living
Good healthcare
A slower pace of life
Warm weather
And a sense of adventure many thought they'd left behind
But the problem is this:
There’s a lot of noise online — hype, outdated information, and stories from people who make moving abroad sound either impossibly difficult or unrealistically perfect.
This project is about cutting through that.
No gimmicks.
No pressure.
Just clear information — the kind you'd want if you were making one of the biggest decisions of your life.
What You’ll Get From This Newsletter
Over time, I’ll share:
Cost comparisons between Southeast Asia and the UK
Insights into visas, healthcare, lifestyle and housing
Things people wished they knew before they moved
Guides for popular retirement destinations
Neutral, honest pros and cons
The goal isn’t to convince you to move.
It’s to help you make a decision based on facts — not fear, assumptions or marketing.
If You’re Reading This, You’re Already Ahead
Most people never question the default path.
The fact that you're exploring options already puts you in a different position — one where retirement isn’t just about waiting, but about designing something that feels right.
So thank you for joining early.
There’s a lot more to come — and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.
Until next time,
— Retire Beyond Borders