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Claim Your Dream Life: How to Retire in Paradise on a Shoestring Budget
In this unconventional book about “retirement”, Claim Your Dream Life, trailblazer Dawn Fleming explains how and why she and her husband, Tom, threw caution to the wind after financial devastation in the 2008 crash.
Sailing over 5,000 miles from California to Florida, the couple found their direction in the winds of change. At age 50 and 60, they knew it was probably too late to accumulate that “magic number” in their bank account in order to retire. Instead, they moved overseas and found a simpler, happier and richer life at a fraction of the cost of living in the US. After so many people asked Dawn how they could do it too, she had to teach others how to create their Dream Life in Paradise. She launched the Overseas Life Redesign podcast to share the wealth of inspirational stories from people she’s met who are Living the Dream. In Claim Your Dream Life, Dawn outlines the step-by-step process she and Tom used to turn their dream into reality, along with sharing the success strategies her guests have used. Dawn wrote Claim Your Dream Life to provide a roadmap for others to follow.
Sailing over 5,000 miles from California to Florida, the couple found their direction in the winds of change. At age 50 and 60, they knew it was probably too late to accumulate that “magic number” in their bank account in order to retire. Instead, they moved overseas and found a simpler, happier and richer life at a fraction of the cost of living in the US. After so many people asked Dawn how they could do it too, she had to teach others how to create their Dream Life in Paradise. She launched the Overseas Life Redesign podcast to share the wealth of inspirational stories from people she’s met who are Living the Dream. In Claim Your Dream Life, Dawn outlines the step-by-step process she and Tom used to turn their dream into reality, along with sharing the success strategies her guests have used. Dawn wrote Claim Your Dream Life to provide a roadmap for others to follow.
190 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 5, 2023
A trend has developed among 50yo+ US semi-retirees to move completely to Mexico, and this book documents one couple doing that, with enough detail that someone could try and imitate it. For healthy people with social security and other income streams, perhaps a fine choice. This “plan” could expose the median US retiree to scams.
So Fleming took advantage of favorable exchange rates, tax arrangements, and climate, and the regrettable reality that many US seniors have some home equity but are priced out of retiring in their current communities. And that many family ties are frayed enough family and local community are no longer central, and her offer of expat community could even be better.
It chaps my hide that she doesn't recognize her tremendous white priviledge as an expat with dollars. "Earn dollars, spend pesos" is a rare temporary lucky break, and not something she discovered or created. It is in fact transnational exploitation, even if it persists for decades. This book too will be a relec of colonialism before by young adult kids will reach my age. Their properties have resale value to other expats exactly until the moment they do not.
Fleming is proud of the retirement plan she developed for herself, and this book is a marketing invitation to her projects. While not excluding other similar expat developments, this book is barely enough to join an established community, and creating (even a tiny one) could take much more.
The chapter on US healthcare is depressing, but also teeming with wishful thinking and bias. Expat retirees are ALL reliant on Medicare, even if they denigrate it. "what is the worst that could happen" being a "return to their former lives" is prima facia ridiculous.
Fleming is absolutely right that most of us will live longer than American culture is prepared for us to live, and that most are planning for it poorly. The specific anecdotes, she highlights, however, are not written credibly and obviously highlight only positive elements of their new situation. This is overly seductive to less objective readers. Some societal statistics cited are obviously wrong, and similarly I doubt whether the legal details are up to date.
Then again readers should be treated as adults, and the book could give some people courage and confidence to choose an adventure for themselves, and the ways she cites other formative classics of our generation, like Robert Kiyosaki or Wayne Dyer, is accurate. Yet without any organized references, it is impossible to follow her deeper.
Her advice on positive thinking and positive community are valuable and wise. Fleming included on gem on p116: if leaving the US for living abroad, don't leave from California directly.. to avoid the high income tax establish residency in a zero income tax state first. Otherwise her anti-tax screed is just tedious, since she so heavily benefits from the high tax burden of all other tax paying citizens. Given her anti-gratitude towards the government that creates her expat priviledge, I wish her Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) tax loophole (p125) on income up to ~$200k gets closed. She warns against "downers", and this doesn't make me one😉 He final advice to never play the victim with your one life is truly wise, yet it is amazing how some people bounce between that victim state and conning people from a position of confidence.
So Fleming took advantage of favorable exchange rates, tax arrangements, and climate, and the regrettable reality that many US seniors have some home equity but are priced out of retiring in their current communities. And that many family ties are frayed enough family and local community are no longer central, and her offer of expat community could even be better.
It chaps my hide that she doesn't recognize her tremendous white priviledge as an expat with dollars. "Earn dollars, spend pesos" is a rare temporary lucky break, and not something she discovered or created. It is in fact transnational exploitation, even if it persists for decades. This book too will be a relec of colonialism before by young adult kids will reach my age. Their properties have resale value to other expats exactly until the moment they do not.
Fleming is proud of the retirement plan she developed for herself, and this book is a marketing invitation to her projects. While not excluding other similar expat developments, this book is barely enough to join an established community, and creating (even a tiny one) could take much more.
The chapter on US healthcare is depressing, but also teeming with wishful thinking and bias. Expat retirees are ALL reliant on Medicare, even if they denigrate it. "what is the worst that could happen" being a "return to their former lives" is prima facia ridiculous.
Fleming is absolutely right that most of us will live longer than American culture is prepared for us to live, and that most are planning for it poorly. The specific anecdotes, she highlights, however, are not written credibly and obviously highlight only positive elements of their new situation. This is overly seductive to less objective readers. Some societal statistics cited are obviously wrong, and similarly I doubt whether the legal details are up to date.
Then again readers should be treated as adults, and the book could give some people courage and confidence to choose an adventure for themselves, and the ways she cites other formative classics of our generation, like Robert Kiyosaki or Wayne Dyer, is accurate. Yet without any organized references, it is impossible to follow her deeper.
Her advice on positive thinking and positive community are valuable and wise. Fleming included on gem on p116: if leaving the US for living abroad, don't leave from California directly.. to avoid the high income tax establish residency in a zero income tax state first. Otherwise her anti-tax screed is just tedious, since she so heavily benefits from the high tax burden of all other tax paying citizens. Given her anti-gratitude towards the government that creates her expat priviledge, I wish her Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) tax loophole (p125) on income up to ~$200k gets closed. She warns against "downers", and this doesn't make me one😉 He final advice to never play the victim with your one life is truly wise, yet it is amazing how some people bounce between that victim state and conning people from a position of confidence.
February 26, 2022
More than an interesting idea, this book makes the possibility of retiring in a tropical location a tempting prospect. Fleming fleshes out a systematic plan to help the reader know themselves and their goals first, and then outlines the way to achieve them.
December 27, 2021
We began our traveling lifestyle in 2010 when we sailed the Panama Canal from California to Florida and later relocated to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Originally from Minnesota, I began my career in real estate and had success in many facets of the industry. I graduated from Western State University College of Law and specialized in international business transactions as a licensed California attorney. I finally found my calling for two decades as a mentor to thousands of entrepreneurs, coaching them through the growth of their home-based businesses before I established Overseas Life Redesign.
If you’ve ever fantasized about living in a distant paradise, an international hub, or any beautiful location overseas, here is your unequivocal invitation to chase those dreams.
I walk you through every step of an international move, from choosing your location to budgeting for success. Don’t let fears and travel myths deter you. It’s too expensive, and I can’t afford it. False. But is that country safe? Yes. My thorough, fully researched and fully explained advice is accumulated over decades of personal experience. An experienced traveler, entrepreneur, international business attorney, and lifestyle consultant, I begin with my central message: No matter where in life, everyone has dreams to discover and pursue. And with some entrepreneur coaching and financial tricks, it can be easy. Even if you think it’s too late to achieve that “magic number” needed to retire comfortably, there is a simpler, happier, and richer life waiting for you.
Start your journey by learning all there is to know on relocating to your dream home. Then use my tips, quizzes, and exercises along the way to make it happen.
If you’ve ever fantasized about living in a distant paradise, an international hub, or any beautiful location overseas, here is your unequivocal invitation to chase those dreams.
I walk you through every step of an international move, from choosing your location to budgeting for success. Don’t let fears and travel myths deter you. It’s too expensive, and I can’t afford it. False. But is that country safe? Yes. My thorough, fully researched and fully explained advice is accumulated over decades of personal experience. An experienced traveler, entrepreneur, international business attorney, and lifestyle consultant, I begin with my central message: No matter where in life, everyone has dreams to discover and pursue. And with some entrepreneur coaching and financial tricks, it can be easy. Even if you think it’s too late to achieve that “magic number” needed to retire comfortably, there is a simpler, happier, and richer life waiting for you.
Start your journey by learning all there is to know on relocating to your dream home. Then use my tips, quizzes, and exercises along the way to make it happen.
December 27, 2021
I've known for a while that there's more to life than what I am doing now. "Claim Your Dream Life" came at the right time and most importantly, with the right information!
If you know what you want, great! Dawn Fleming's insightful guidance will help get you there quickly.
I was thrilled to discover that although I don't know exactly what I want, "Claim Your Dream Life" has given me the jump start I need to figure it out.
Filled with real-world examples, thoughtful, self-discovery-driving questions, and very specific "how to's", this book leaves you feeling inspired and motivated to take the actions needed to create your road map to start making it happen. Thank you, Dawn!
If you know what you want, great! Dawn Fleming's insightful guidance will help get you there quickly.
I was thrilled to discover that although I don't know exactly what I want, "Claim Your Dream Life" has given me the jump start I need to figure it out.
Filled with real-world examples, thoughtful, self-discovery-driving questions, and very specific "how to's", this book leaves you feeling inspired and motivated to take the actions needed to create your road map to start making it happen. Thank you, Dawn!
May 1, 2022
This is like.... retirement for dummies.
It's me, I'm a dummy. I'm not even ashamed to admit that because finance and math has never been my thing, but neither is cold weather, so Wisconsin is not my end location, I'll tell you that much.
I loved this and I even got my non-reader husband reading it and he's actually *taking notes* because this is a how-to-retire book any and all of us can understand and use. If you're really stuck and you don't know where to start, I highly suggest you start with this one!
Thank you to PR By The Book for sending me a copy for review, it's nice to actually be making a game plan!
It's me, I'm a dummy. I'm not even ashamed to admit that because finance and math has never been my thing, but neither is cold weather, so Wisconsin is not my end location, I'll tell you that much.
I loved this and I even got my non-reader husband reading it and he's actually *taking notes* because this is a how-to-retire book any and all of us can understand and use. If you're really stuck and you don't know where to start, I highly suggest you start with this one!
Thank you to PR By The Book for sending me a copy for review, it's nice to actually be making a game plan!
April 18, 2022
An inspiring read!
Whether you choose to live abroad or not, this is your navigation manual for identifying your dream life.
You can't achieve it if you can't envision it.
Two of Dawn's subheads, late in the book, particularly resonated with me.
1st, You are the Master Creator of your life and 2nd, Responsibility or Blame.
An enjoyable read, that I highly recommend.
Whether you choose to live abroad or not, this is your navigation manual for identifying your dream life.
You can't achieve it if you can't envision it.
Two of Dawn's subheads, late in the book, particularly resonated with me.
1st, You are the Master Creator of your life and 2nd, Responsibility or Blame.
An enjoyable read, that I highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews