Work While You Travel: Strange Ways to Save Money

If you’ve ever wanted to travel extensively but aren’t sure how you could afford to be on the road for months at a time, work share arrangements might be the answer you’re looking for.


When you work share, you receive either free or discounted lodgings or meals in exchange for your labor. The work you may be asked to perform can include landscaping, maintenance tasks, cleaning, receptionist work, or helping arrange/host special events or parties. If you have special skills such as photography, accounting, or design skills, you may be asked to help with the books, or design a new brochure for a bed and breakfast.
If work share arrangements don’t appeal to you, you can also find other work in many destinations. Temporary work, seasonal jobs like farm work or Christmas tree sales, and part time jobs are also alternatives. If you need to supplement your income while you’re on the road, here are some ideas:

Work camping: As a work camper you will usually receive your site rental for free and possibly a discount on any metered utilities. You may also get some meals for free if the campground hosts a special event. You may have to mow the grass, answer the phones, clean the bathrooms, or help maintain the facilities in exchange for your freebies. Some work camping arrangements can be short term (just a week) or long term (a whole season). Many campgrounds post openings on their web site, but it can’t hurt to call and ask campgrounds in your area if they need help.

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Investigate Before You Expatriate

Retiring abroad sounds intriguing to those seeking balmy climes and cheaper living. But there are pitfalls.

Planning a postretirement move from, say, New York to Florida is relatively simple. But if you're thinking about spending your golden years abroad, there are many more unknowns. How can you check out a prospective retirement haven before you make a big move--and maybe a big mistake?

Taxation. The U.S. taxes its citizens' income no matter where they live. Those living abroad can claim an annual $91,500 exclusion of income from work, which retirees often don't have. Tax treaties usually protect against double taxation, but many countries have higher rates than the U.S.

Continue Reading this informative article at Forbes

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Expatriates advised to take out overseas health insurance

One in four European workers wish to retire to Spain and take up the expatriate lifestyle when they have finished work, new research has revealed.

A survey carried out by Aon Consulting found a rich source of expat health insurance opportunities for brokers in the World Cup-winning country, as a quarter of the 7,500 Europeans questioned opted for Spain as the retiree destination of choice.

France was also popular with 15 per cent of those considering becoming expatriates, while Italy and Australasia made it into the top five most popular destinations with would-be expats.

Oliver Rowlands, Aon Consulting head of retirement for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, noted that the prevalence of cheap air travel and the internet allowed individuals to remain in close contact with their family even after moving overseas.

"Not surprisingly, most people want to spend their retirement predominantly in countries with good weather and good social and government benefits, and ideally close enough so that they can get home quickly if they need to," he pointed out.

Mr Rowlands added that those thinking about retiring overseas need to consider taking out international medical insurance for peace of mind.

Online expat magazine Shelter Offshore recently advised those moving abroad to get their finances in order before they leave to save time and stress upon arrival.

Expatriate Healthcare specialise in providing international health insurance. Make sure you're protected.

Why International & Expat Health Insurance is Important For Overseas Workers

Finding yourself working overseas without the usual 'safety net' of the NHS could bring about a sudden rash of insecurity. However, most employers with staff based abroad ensure some kind of international or expat health insurance plan is in place, offering their staff (and families) peace of mind. This helps to keep sickness absenteeism to a minimum and strengthen the company's credibility as a caring organisation.

Ensuring quality medical care for people working abroad is essential, since local medical facilities could be very basic, expensive or even inaccessible.
Private healthcare plans offer varying levels of medical cover (often including the family), usually with an overseas repatriation or evacuation service as standard. Most international healthcare packages also provide access to a 24 hr confidential advice line as well as a foreign language interpretation service.

Overseas employees who are covered by private healthcare are able to receive prompt access to expert medical attention. This reduces absence due to sickness and helps to maximise corporate productivity. Where non-emergency treatment is needed in hospital, the patient will be notified of the date in advance, allowing their employer to make arrangements to cover their absence.

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Hong Kong Expat Medical Insurance

The GlobalHealth Advantage Range

Advantage 100
Features
> Worldwide coverage
> Plan maximum up to US$250,000 per disability
> Choice of deductibles starting at US$500 per disability
> Lowest premiums


Advantage 200
Features
> Worldwide coverage
> Plan maximum up to US$250,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Choice to add coverage for out-patient treatment


Advantage 300
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient with extensive pre and post-hospitalization cover


Advantage 400
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient and out-patient


Advantage 500
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient and out-patient
> Maternity cover up to US$10,000 per pregnancy


 To Know About Their Optional Extra Benefits
Visit Hong Kong Expat Medical Insurance

Small-Business Lobby Joins Florida Health-Care Suit

By William McQuillen     May 14 (Bloomberg) -- The National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business lobbying group, joined Florida’s legal challenge to the health-care reform law passed in March, becoming the first private organization seeking to overturn the measure.     The group’s filing today came as the end-of-week deadline approached for amending the complaint initially brought by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs now include 20 states.

The states claim the legislation places an unconstitutional burden on their budgets by expanding Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for the poor. Virginia sued separately in March, contending that a requirement that people buy health insurance exceeds Congress’s powers.

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American Expats Giving Up Citizenship in Record Numbers

The number of Americans choosing not merely to retire but often to live and work in other countries — expatriates or "expats" — has been increasing steadily for a number of years now. According to one source, the number of American expats has risen to four million, and the steady trickle of Americans out of this country shows no signs of abating.
Americans’ reasons for leaving differ from case to case. Some are convinced that the global empire emanating from Washington, D.C. is in its declining days, as was Rome at one point, and are seeking safe havens for themselves and their families just in case economic shocks in the United States continue. Others have either been sent or have chosen to pursue desirable careers overseas. Some, finally, just desire the experience of living in a different culture.
A new report now indicates that American expats are not just relocating overseas but taking the much bigger leap of relinquishing their U.S. citizenship. According to the Federal Register, during the final quarter of 2009 502 expatriated Americans gave up their citizenship or permanent residency status to fully embrace that of a foreign land. This was the largest quarterly figure in years — and more than twice the figure for all of 2008, which saw 235 renunciations. The total figure of renunciations for 2009 was 743.

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