I'm 57 & Retired: America Feels Too Expensive.

Early retirement, retirement planning, cost of living, healthcare, insurance, and retiring in America are all starting to feel different than many of us expected. I’m 57 and retired, and lately I’ve been asking myself a question I never expected to take seriously: Is America becoming too expensive to retire in? In this video, I talk about how rising costs feel different once the paycheck stops — groceries, property taxes, home insurance, auto insurance, healthcare, and everything else that can chip away at retirement confidence. This is not a political video. It’s a practical and personal look at how retirement in America feels right now, and why more retirees and near-retirees may be thinking about options they never considered before — moving to a lower-cost state, downsizing, renting, spending part of the year somewhere else, or even retiring abroad. I’m not saying I’m leaving the United States, although I’ve been thinking about it as a future possibility. I’m not saying everyone should move abroad. But I am saying retirement planning is about more than hitting a number. It’s also about flexibility, quality of life, and whether the place you live still supports the retirement you imagined. 👇 Comment Below: What cost has surprised you most? Groceries? Insurance? Healthcare? Property taxes? And have you ever seriously considered moving somewhere else in retirement — another state or another country? ❤️ Like, Subscribe, and Share this video if you found the information in it helpful! ✅ Free resources available on my Patreon: All Roadmap tools, checklists, worksheets, downloads, and resources are now available to free members — including the ones mentioned in this video: 📊 Free MAGI Calculator Excel Template 📊 Free 12-Step Early Retirement Planning Checklist 📘 Free eBook: ACA Premium Shock Fix — 10 Ways to Pay Less for Marketplace Coverage All Year Long 👉 To get the free downloads, go to my Patreon here:   / earlyretirementroadmap   Click *Join for Free**, then go to the **Tools* collection. You can download any of the free tools and resources there. If you’d like to go a step further, the $5/month Roadmap Member tier includes early access to podcast episodes, ad-free podcast episodes, and access to the private Roadmap Member community discussion space. 💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool, and that I mentioned in this video! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy. 👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirement... Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you! 🎧 Listen on the go: Early Retirement Roadmap Podcast Available wherever you get your podcasts! 🌐 Visit my website for all my media, including my blog or to contact me about sponsorship or other business opportunities: https://mikeupland.com/ ☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com) DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information. #EarlyRetirement #RetirementPlanning #CostOfLiving Chapters: 00:00 Everything Feels Out of Control 00:41 The Biq Question 01:16 Costs Hit Different 02:22 The Part I Missed 03:30 Location Is a Lever 06:09 More Than a Number 07:32 Planning Questions 08:15 Different Requires Flexibility 08:54 Maybe There's Another Way 09:31 It's About Quality of Life 09:45 Retirement You Imagined Still Fit? 10:19 Your Turn/The Goal 11:06 Free Resources