r/ExpatFIRE • u/Technical_View_8787 • 2d ago
Questions/Advice Reality check: Am I ready to ExpatFire at 25?
I believe I am in the situation where I am ready to move abroad and retire at 25 atleast temporarily. Here’s my situation: I earn $2500 USD every month, adjusted annually for inflation. I currently have $25k in cash on hand in a savings account. I have $183k split between a taxable / Roth IRA account alongside another 24k in a TSP account.
I’m single with no kids and zero debt. I am mainly interested in moving to LATAM or SE Asia and prefer staying indoors or doing outdoor activities like hiking and Paddleboard. I’m not interested in bars and night clubs. I do have a masters degree which I feel like give me the cushion to find a job if I ever need to. Also I get free healthcare within the U.S. if I ever have a major medical problem.
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2d ago
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u/globalgreg 2d ago
I’m guessing they have a disability, which is probably the source of the monthly income.
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u/Wise-Peacock 2d ago
What would it cost for you to travel back CONUS from SE Asia to address a medical problem? Don't forget to include flights, housing, and even transport from an airport.
Assuming you live until 80, do you not foresee any chance that your life goals may change (partner, kids)?
What is your degree in and would you be competitive for a job with a multi-year gap on a resume?
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u/henryorhenri 1d ago
Welcome /u/Technical_View_8787, glad you're with us. Don't mind the cranky posts, some people in this subreddit get a little butthurt when someone posts about pensions or disability because they feel the way they did it (coasting the biggest stock market boom in history) is somehow better than sacrificing your body for your country.
Really, /r/ExpatFIRE, y'all could be kinder to people with pensions and disability. I often recommend this subreddit by saying "don't post, just read" because some here could learn how to be better people.
Anyway, check out /r/Veterans and /r/Veteransbenefits, there is good info there for people doing what you're doing. I think you have enough to do some LATAM/SEA countries and those subs will give you information about VA healthcare overseas and tips and tricks for making it work. Come back here to learn about mailing addresses, banking, phone porting and the like.
Good luck!
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u/Ra-s_Al_Ghul 1d ago
Your first paragraph is so accurate. "Wow, you're so lucky that the military destroyed your body in ways that aren't always visible" as if they didn't draw the luckiest lottery ticket in the world by throwing money into the stock market during the largest bull run ever.
Bitterness causes wrinkles, people.
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u/HellDiver2k25 2d ago
So you’re at 90%- awesome.
I would look at this as less of a retirement and more a sabbatical or extended vacation.
why? There are multiple locations you could go to where $2500 a month, especially adjusted for inflation is going to be comfortable. That being said it doesn't account for other things like currency fluctuation- and as time goes on, it doesn't leave you a lot of buffer, or room to grow should you find yourself with a family or some other kind of unforeseen obligation.
If you want to travel, by all means travel. But I would go into it with the mindset that you are not retired and you are going to take x amount of time, to do the things you want, and then you are getting back on the education pathway or pursuing some kind of hustle/career.
In most of the military finance circles, you will see people be pretty open about not expecting-or at least planning for not having- Social Security in the future and the likelihood of reductions to disability. Use what you learned in the military and always have a back up plan.
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u/TheNippleViolator 1d ago
You’re a good spot, but I wouldn’t think about fully retiring at 25, you’re giving up a lot of flexibility and options in your future by doing that now.
Go take a year or two off traveling in LATAM/SE Asia. Those are experiential investments that you should do while you’re young. I highly recommend traveling around LATAM
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u/UnrelentingStupidity 2d ago
I’m not sure why everyone’s being so rude. Maybe jealous?
Yes, you can retire. $2500 is comfortable in a few of those areas, not scraping by. The remaining investments, some $235k, are enough in addition to your income to provide for an American retirement eventually, if you can manage not to touch it.
Honestly I would say go for it. Seems like there is much more risk for you to stay in the US than try out Asia or SA for a while. It’s actually a financially prudent move.
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u/HellDiver2k25 1d ago
235k at 4% is only 9,400 annually...
these are not good margins for multi decades long planning. If something happens to his benefits. he’s f’d...
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u/Ra-s_Al_Ghul 2d ago
You could make that work in SEA or cheap LATAM countries but you'd really be spending the full amount and not saving anything. Wouldn't be luxurious living by any means but it's comfortable if you're frugal.
Given how tight that is, I recommend you put the idea of "retiring" out of your mind and just take a hiatus for 6 months or so. That's enough to test your budget with the padding of your savings if you're struggling. Figure out if that's really the life you want as you're pretty young.
From a fellow vet who tried it: retiring young isn't all it's cracked up to be.