5 tips to make a snowbird retirement affordable

(NC) Snowbirds get the best of both worlds – access to Canadian healthcare and summers, while avoiding the snow and darkness of wintertime. If you’re a retiree hoping to adopt the lifestyle or are planning your future retirement, here are some tips to make your dream a reality:

1. Downsize locally. If you’re going to be spending months of every year away, chances are you don’t need a large place in Canada, especially if the kids have moved out. Consider “right-sizing” to something that meets your current needs, like a condo or retirement community that will take care of maintenance and shoveling.
2. Rent your place. If you want to keep your current home – or even if you want to downsize – another option is renting out all or part of your home. Take advantage of that basement apartment for a long-term renter or rent out your whole home while you’re away.
3. Start small. Can’t decide if you want to take the plunge? Before uprooting your life, get a taste of the snowbird lifestyle with a vacation. A cruise that stops at many destinations can let you explore potential future homes in the Caribbean, which can be more adventurous than a second home in Florida.
   Relax on board, take in the fantastic views, dine on delectable cuisine and disembark to delve into each city’s rich culture and history at your leisure to find your favourite place. You might even discover that longer vacations are enough to satisfy your need to flee the snow. Book a package with Air Canada Vacations to take the stress out of planning.
4. Cut back at home. There are actually lots of ways you can save if you’re not spending many months at home. While things like groceries and haircuts will still be regular expenses, cable, internet, car insurance and cleaning services in Canada can all be scaled back.
5. Use your points. Frequent flights can really make those travel miles and points rack up, so make sure to take advantage of them to save. A credit card with travel rewards can help you double up on points and savings – just make sure to the pay the balance off in full every month to avoid interest fees.

Learn more at aircanadavacations.com.