This American Opens Up About the Challenges of Retiring in Portugal

Kalie from ExpatsEverywhere talks to Leslie, an American, who decided it was time to leave the US. She was working too much, getting burnt out, and wanted to retire. But could she financially retire? If she moved to Europe then maybe she could retire early. She spoke with her financial advisor and initially looked into Spain but found out the taxes are too high in Spain. So then she discovered Portugal and all it has to offer. Because she didn't need to worry about healthcare costs in the US, she found that she and her husband were able to move to Portugal. Now she has been living in Portugal for years. Was relocating to Portugal worth it? See as she talks about life abroad, the changes in Portugal, the cost of living, and so much more. Get in touch with Leslie: IG:   / lesliefwilliams   FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... 🌏 ABOUT US Hi! We’re Josh and Kalie, expats since 2009. We’ve lived in Spain, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and now Portugal (we know, we broke the “S” streak 😅). Follow ExpatsEverywhere for expat interviews, city breakdowns, travel tips, and more to help you live your best life abroad! 🛂 VISAS FOR PORTUGAL DIY your move with our step-by-step courses for Portugal's D7 and Remote Worker visas. 📌 D7 Visa Course https://expatseverywhere.thinkific.co... 📌 Remote Worker Visa Course https://expatseverywhere.thinkific.co... 👌 USEFUL RESOURCES Take the hassle out of expat life with these trusted services. 💸 Transfer Cash Wise (formerly TransferWise): Get free transfer fees with this link. https://bit.ly/4hfN8Rh Spartan FX: Speak to a person for money transfers here. https://bit.ly/4gVdzfh 📺 Watch Your Shows Securely SurfShark VPN: Get 40% off your subscription here. https://bit.ly/4hhxDs4 🔒 Digital Security Aura: Free trial for identity theft protection here. https://aura.com/expatseverywhere 🛡️ Insurance Abroad SafetyWing: Get coverage for expat life here. https://bit.ly/3PEqV3L 👣 Learn a Language Ling: Practice any language with our special link here. https://ling-app.com/offer-yearly-sub... Portuguese with Carla: Learn Portuguese here. https://journey.portuguesewithcarla.c... Portuguese with Leo: Get perfect pronunciation here. https://bit.ly/4ahs4b0 💌 Forward Your Mail Use World Post to stay connected here. https://worldpost.anytimemailbox.com/... 💵 Taxes Taxes for Expats: $25 off tax services here. https://www.taxesforexpats.com/ref/239 📲 GET IN TOUCH Questions? Email us at [email protected] or explore our website. https://expatseverywhere.com Follow us Facebook: @expatseverywhere Instagram: @expatseverywhere X: @expert_expat Patreon: Support us   / expatseverywhere   Follow Kalie's white-glove service:   / kalie_slateandkey   00:00 - Intro 01:02 - How long have you been here and where did you move from? 01:44 - Have you always considered Portugal? 03:53 - What was the plan after retiring? 05:00 - How much do you need to live in Portugal? 05:50 - Have you seen Portugal change? 07:18 - What happened once you got here? 15:00 - What other things have changed in Portugal? 18:27 - What are you feeling about the citizenship changing? 24:41 - How has living abroad transformed your life?