Since I now travel extensively in the U.S. promoting my books, tours and other ventures, I had to buy a cell phone and line to use while I am there. I went to an Apple Store in Seattle and purchased a new iphone. In order to purchase the phone I had to sign a contract with AT&T. When the first bill came it was almost $100 dollars. This came as quite a shock to me since I pay less than $10 dollars a month in Costa Rica. In fact, my son’s cell line and mine add up to less than $20 dollars per month. Talk about bargains!

Probably the main reason why people move to Costa Rica is to save money and live better for less. This is especially true now that the U.S. Economy has taken a plunge. The example I gave above is just one of the many ways you can save money by moving here. Domestic help, most foods, housing, property taxes, medical care and so much more are bargains here.

Since I moved to Costa Rica in 1980 I have learned a lot. In fact, I never stop learning , whether it be the language or the daily skills I need to survive here. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t know everything. I am not a lawyer, economist or sociologist but I feel that having lived here for so many years I know what makes this country and its people tick.

Since I speak the language with native fluency I can really delve into the local culture and people. If you don’t know the language you will always be a foreigner. The Costa Ricans are incredible people and have a great sense of humor. I love joking with the locals about almost anything. You would have to experience this to know what I mean.

During the time I have lived here I have met people from all walks of like and had the opportunity to interact with them at length. I have met everyone from criminals and street people to several Costa Rican presidents and have learned something from all of them. I make it a point to talk to strangers like cab drivers almost every day. This has really helped me understand the many ingredients which make up Costa Rica. You might say that I have developed good street smarts and sixth sense which have proved to be invaluable.

I have also made hundreds of contacts which very few foreigners have. I have personally visited several Costa Rican presidents in their homes and know some of the country’s most influential and powerful people. This did not happen over night but is the result of developing an extensive network of reliable contacts. I made many friendships when my son went to Lincoln School which the children of the country’s elite attend.

I honestly think that my many years of experience in Costa Rica combined with all that I mention above qualify me to help people move here and provide my clients with the knowledge that will ensure their success. All of this cannot be learned overnight. I see people doling out advice in forums and on the Internet after living here for only a short time and wonder if they are providing the correct information. If you were sick, would you go to a specialist with five years experience or one with thirty years in the field? Do you get my point?

The recent financial crisis has been hard on Americans from all walks of life even those who are more affluent. What I have seen recently is that many of the people who are taking my monthly relocation/retirement tours are trying to salvage what they have left including those who are well off.

Mark and Darlene are a good example of people from this group. They are both in their sixties, have Social Security and other assets. Their home was valued at over $1,000,000 before the crash. Now they are trying to sell in at a reduced price but without losing all of their equity like many others who want to bail out of the U.S. They also took a big hit in the stock market. With a water bill of almost $1,000 monthly, plumbers who charge over $100 per hour, changes in the United State’s health care system on the horizon and other huge expenses, they want to live for less and enjoy their retirement. They do not want to out live their nest egg in the U.S. They want to have money to travel, pursue a new hobby and take full advantage of their remaining years.

The solution: Like a growing number of savvy people they decided that moving to Costa Rica is the only way they can achieve their retirement goal.

Costa Rica have an affordable public transportation system.

This article is based on the feedback I have received from some of the foreigners who live here and does not reflect my beliefs. It is important to remember that the positives outweigh the negatives when we talk about Costa Rica. I think it is important to share both the good and bad about Costa Rica on my monthly relocation/retirement tours.

I respond to the negatives below in parenthesis.

1. The driving (not that bad because the drivers can be courteous and show good manners at times. There is a lot of road rage and many deaths in the U.S, so it is important to keep things in perspective)
2. Crime (more than before but nothing when compared to the other countries in Latin America i.e. Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala)
3. Foreigners who take advantage of their own (this problem has increased because of the Internet, unlicensed real estate agents and Costa Rica attracting its share of unsavory characters, carpetbaggers and outcasts. Check out who you are dealing with.)
4. Bureaucracy (it is also bad in other countries including the U.S. where it can be even worse)
5. The rainy season, especially October (There is a lot of sunshine and warm weather during the rainy season. This is unlike the U.S. and Canada)
6. Long waits for attention at public hospitals (Not all the time. The medical care is good at a fraction of the cost of the U.S. There is always the private system which is also affordable when compared to its U.S. counterpart)
7. The country’s immigration office is a mess (This statement is true but things will change in the future)
8. Hard to get phones (IN some cases….hopefully with privatization this will end)
9. Hard to return merchandise in stores (Yes, this is true in some cases but not impossible since there is an organization that protects consumers)
10. Lax immigration (True…many people stay here illegally for years. There is a new immigration law scheduled to go into effect to help put an end to this problem).
11. Lack of regulation in the tour business (There are many tours operating without government approval and licenses)
12. A lot of stray and undernourished street dogs (This is sad. I know a lot of people who have adopted street dogs. Bless them)
13. Salad bars are lacking (very true, but you can always buy vegetables at a low price and make your own salad)
14. No good Mexican or Chinese food (Tin Ho is the only good oriental restaurant in the country and Mexican restaurants leave a lot to be desired)
15. No bike lanes (true but there may be some in the future)
16. Steep custom’s duties on imported items (try to buy the local versions)
17. Expensive cars (true but you can always use the country’s affordable public transportation)
18. The locals think all foreigners are rich (in most cases they are when compared to most Costa Ricans)
19. High cost of living (Not true. One thing is to come here as a tourist and another is to live here full-time. Once you get settled and know the ropes you will find it more affordable than the U.S. If you try to live like you did in the U.S., have expensive habits and buy a lot of imported products the country will be expensive.
20. Books are overpriced (yes, but there are used bookstores and you can order from Amazon without much duty)

I’ll bet we have heard that expression used hundreds of times. Well in Costa Rica many people can get back their lives.

Because of the recent financial crisis in the U.S. a large number of middle class retirees are facing the prospect of outliving their financial assets. Furthermore, even if the stock market comes back it is highly unlikely anyone will recover 100% of their loss. Fifty percent at best according to the experts. Those who planned on using the equity in their homes to help with their retirement are going to lose out, too because most of their equity of that is now gone. So what can you do?

One solution is to move offshore to a country like Costa Rica to get more bang for your buck and to enjoy a high quality life style. Nobody wants to spend their retirement years worrying about money and not enjoying themselves. In Costa Rica you can live on a few thousand dollars a month and have all the amenities of home. You will have to the time to do things that are important, such as devoting more time to the grand kids, pursuing a new hobby, making friends, traveling and in general enjoying a lifestyle you could never have afforded in the States.

Costa Rica has more foreign retirees per capita outside of the U.S. They can’t be wrong! They have discovered what life is for — living.

This is all possible in Costa Rica since the country offers year-round spring-like weather, every imaginable indoor and out door activity to stay busy and happy, low cost housing, first-world affordable medical care, high-speed Internet, first-run movies in English, theater, shopping malls, private mail services to help you stay in touch with the States and order products and so much more. The medical care alone is what brings scores of people here. In the States many people’s nest eggs have been wiped out by illnesses. That isn’t the case in Costa Rica which offers several attractive health care plans. I have had dozens of people on my monthly relocation/retirement tours end up moving here just for the medical care alone.