Supplementing Your Retirement Income Abroad

By Jamie Douglas

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If, like many expats, you have lived abroad for a while, you surely must be feeling the squeeze of the constant downward slide of the US dollar, with the attendant crimp that this puts in many retirees’ lifestyles. Of course there are those who will not suffer as much as others, but sooner or later, most of us will have to make “adjustments” to our lifestyles, which will probably involve fewer meals out, cutting back on entertainment, and eventually even the possibility of moving into a less desirable neighborhood.

Many retirees who live in foreign nations are precluded from taking jobs, as their Visa status pretty much limits them to living off their fixed income, and with not only devaluation but also inflation, its value is shrinking all the time. So what options are available to those who may need to supplement their income without making waves?

There are a few opportunities that, if exercised discreetly, should keep you in the shadows of the established business community, while not directly competing with anyone.

New Expat Assistant

If you have been living in a particular location for a while and have familiarized yourself with all the ins and outs of living there, as well as having a decent command of the local language, you may consider offering your services as a guide to new and potential transplants. The knowledge and experience you have gained in your settling in certainly will allow you to lead great sightseeing tours for those who are merely visiting as tourists, but those same experiences also taught you to navigate the complex bureaucracies, being able to share important knowledge, such as how to get a driver’s license, open bank accounts, hook up utilities, what ministries to go to for a particular purpose, assisting your compatriots with obtaining housing, recommending good immigration specialists, the best bakery in town, etc.

You may even earn yourself an occasional commission on sales of essentials such as automobiles or real estate, something you will have earned by assisting in an honest and forthright manner by revealing that you stand to make a small financial gain in the transaction, something that a satisfied client neither would nor should object to.

English Lessons

Then there is the ESL route, where you, having a decent command of the local language, may offer classes or tutoring in English as a second language (ESL) either in your home or in your students’ residences. Having a good lesson plan is of essence, and there are several available for download by checking “The Google!” Several great “how to” books are also available. It should be mentioned here that advertising should be kept to word of mouth, as you are directly competing with established language schools that may not appreciate your offering these services. Of course the easy route here is to offer conversational English practice, with helpful corrections and discussion of the proper forms to use, perhaps utilizing a dry erase board or essay writing. The idea is to facilitate guided practice with the student – and you will probably learn some of their language, in the exchange.

Tour Guide

And the third suggestion is perhaps the most fun one, and that is to offer yourself as a tour guide in your locale, or countrywide, depending on your knowledge. You can offer your services on country specific websites and forums, doing simple things such as guided city tours, with museums and the most popular attractions, to multi-day excursions to various interesting parts of the country where you reside. Be sure to know in advance what your potential clients want to experience, so as not to bore them to death by stopping at every monument to local heroes, as that may be completely meaningless to them.

If you don’t own an appropriate vehicle, the best way to arrange this type of tour is to have your clients rent a vehicle that you offer to drive. An alternative would be bus or rail transportation. All accommodations should be booked in advance, so that you don’t show up at a destination, only to find out that the day of your arrival coincides with the day of the local Patron Saint. This type of travel involves good advance planning, and your clients should be prepared to give you an upfront non-refundable deposit of at least 50%, as you will have to spend money to make all the advance arrangements. Courtesy Airport pickup should absolutely be part of the package, as well as a detailed itinerary, so that you will all be on the same channel. Again, you will want to keep your operation low-key.

So, hopefully one of the above options will give you a bit of extra income, but most of all, it gives you an impetus to socialize and make new friends, as well as giving you a stimulating opportunity to show why you chose to be where you are.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

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