In another interview with a retiree that has chosen to settle in Bali. We caught up with Sharyn from Sydney who has already called Bali her home for nearly 10 years.
What planning (if any) was involved in preparing for you move to Bali?
We already had retirement funds in place in Australia and a couple of positively geared rental properties and it only took 2 weeks to rent our Sydney residence.
We had great real estate agents for our properties and had already established mail to go to post office boxes and have someone check them monthly for mail. All bills & financial records were on-line.
Have you ever sought the advice of an independent financial advisor to assist you with your financial aspects?
All through my career I had a great financial advisor for my superannuation funds but I had a good money management background, so didn’t have to worry about this when we went to Bali. We are self-funded retirees. We still pay tax in Australia on our other income & the Bali bank, on our behalf pays tax on our Indonesian income.
What inspired you to move to Bali?
The weather, the wonderful happy people and the fact that using Bali as a base to travel elsewhere saved us a seven hour flight to Sydney every time.
What type of accommodation did you choose in Bali and why?
We chose a 5 bedroom house on more than half an acre & and an easy 10 minute walk to the beach. We purchased a 25 year lease on the land as foreigners cannot purchase freehold property in Indonesia.
Where did you choose to settle in Bali and why?
We were lucky enough to know a small group of ex-pats in Bali and mostly they lived in Sanur. We felt really comfortable in Sanur and it had all the facilities we were looking for in our retirement.
How do you finance your lifestyle in Bali?
We sold a couple of properties in Australia and used a lump sum from our superannuation to pay for the house and cars and we invested a large sum of money in an Indonesia Rural Bank and get a consistent and very high return.
What would you consider the main positives of retiring to Bali?
We’ve never felt healthier and are so happy here. We would not consider going back to Australia.The Indonesian government has quickly offered free vaccinations against Covid-19 to all ex-pats. We were glad to be vaccinated in March 2020.
What would you see as the negatives of retiring in Bali?
The way visas are sorted is really complicated and expensive. You need a good visa agent to help you. Health insurance is expensive although there are some very helpful and good hospitals available here.
The clogged roads and the traffic system is difficult to understand. But we both drive here and you get used to it.
How did you go about finding new friends in Bali?
It’s so easy. You meet people across the table in a restaurant, or walking the dog. There are a lot of activities, water sports all other sports, book clubs and a large number of Ex-pat Clubs and charities. We have never had so many friends and been so social. We’ve never had so much fun
What do you miss most compared to your former life in Sydney?
Not much. We can buy just about everything we need or want
How do you fill your time as a retiree in Bali?
I read, we meet with friends for lunch or dinner, we explore the island in our Off-Road Truck. The small villages and the interior of Bali are truly spectacular.
How long do you intend to stay in Bali?
This is our forever home. We feel Balinese. The more we travel around and talk to locals, the more in love with the Balinese we become.
What advice do you have for anyone considering retiring to Bali?
DO IT! Come for a year first and rent a villa. Join Man-shed clubs & International women’s groups and explore the country side.
Any additional learning points you would like to share?
Try to learn Indonesian. Unfortunately I am terrible at it but most people speak English and are incredibly helpful.
We would love to hear from you if you are keen to share your story about your move to Bali then please follow this link