Never Retire: Don’t Pay Thousands to Move Abroad — Or for a Life Coach

What’s worth paying for, what’s not, and why the difference matters—whether you’re moving abroad or just moving forward. Here’s what we actually paid, down to the euro, and what we refused to.

Moving abroad is just the example.

The real story is about knowing what’s worth paying for in life—and what’s not.

When we applied for residency in Spain, we did pay about €2,000 to a professional with a proven track record to handle our application. Worth every cent. Because here’s the thing: you don’t MacGyver a legal filing with a foreign government unless you enjoy stress-induced insomnia. You pay for expertise where it’s required.

That’s the lesson: some costs are non-negotiable. Others are bullshit. And figuring out which is which applies far beyond moving abroad. It applies to how you approach a second act at mid-life—or really, how you approach anything that matters.

In a minute, I’ll break down—to the euro—the actual costs we incurred to make the move. But first, let me show you what we didn’t spend money on.