I'm 65 and raising my two teenage grandsons on $40,000 a year. I can't afford to retire or get legal custody.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Carol Leonard and her grandsons.
Carol Leonard has been raising two of her grandsons for the past few years.

Carol Leonard

They struggled to care for their aging parents with dementia and cancer. They built what they needed themselves.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Style
Srdjan Stakic with his parents
Srdjan Stakic vibe coded a security system for his parents.

Ian Tuttle for BI

What elder care looks like today: 8 people told us their stories

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
Elder care

Courtesy of Natalie Tucker; Courtesy of Jacob Watson; Amanda Goh/BI; Courtesy of Tyler End

Five figures a month.

That's how much elder care in the US can cost.

I left the US to retire in Mexico at 50. My first year of mistakes and surprise expenses taught me what it really takes to live abroad.

Tech Insider : Business, Style, Travel
Woman posing below arch on pier
Living abroad in Mexico has come with many challenges, but I'm glad I retired early and made the jump.

Ivy Ge

A YouTuber who saved enough cash to quit his job explains the 'Camp FIRE' path to financial freedom

Tech Insider : Business

The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

Steve Antonioni
Toronto-based YouTuber Steve Antonioni.

Courtesy of Steve Antonioni

I'm a financial planner. Most people don't understand long-term care costs.

Tech Insider : Business
Mom and son posing for photo
Tyler End has had to have money conversations with his mom, who is in her 70s.

Courtesy of Tyler End

Microsoft offered me a buyout at 47. In tech, that's basically grandma age, but I'm not sure I'm ready to retire.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Technology
Marisela Cerda
Marisela Cerda received a buyout offer from Microsoft, where she's worked since college.

Courtesy of Marisela Cerda

We moved to a care center in Thailand in our 70s. It's like an insurance policy for whoever is left.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A couple holding hands while sitting on their couch.
Peter and Rita Millard lived in countries across Europe after they retired. In 2023, they decided that Chiang Mai, Thailand, is where they want to grow old.

Amanda Goh/Business Insider.

I cashed out $60,000 from my retirement account to pay for my child's education. I have no regrets.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
mom and child wearing masks
The author has no regrets about draining her retirement account.

Courtesy of the author

I retired early from Google after 18 years. My grandfather's advice helped me invest enough to leave my job at 55.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
Matt Lowrie is sitting at an outdoor table with a drink glass in front of him
Matt Lowrie quit Google in November 2025.

Courtesy of Matt Lowrie

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