I think Elbert is probably correct on the "misrepresenting what you are trying to sell" business. Since we first started dreaming of a life on AC several years ago, I have read hundreds of articles on affordability there. Most refer to a basic living expense as living a "Belizean" lifestyle and one article said we could do that for around $800 US per month. If you have ever been to Belize (especially Ambergris Caye) you know what that will get you. But it fits the romantic 'moving to a tropical island' dream until you actually try to live it. Another heading in most of the articles is living an "American" lifestyle. Also a little misleading. The range of costs of living in America are probably more spread out than that of the average Belizean range. I mean, in both cases there is a wide span between the rich and the poor. But here there are more stops on the board. Many of those articles have phrases like "if you are willing to do without your American Corn Flakes or macaroni and cheese". And we dreamers tend to fall prey to the notion that we can live without them. When in reality a 100% change of eating habits and living expectations is not a realistic dream.

And as much as I love IL they tend to sell a lot of magazines subscriptions on a good move to the islands article. Living on $1500 US a month on AC might be possible for most people with a little work. But the truth is not so friendly to those who have their face in their cell phones or computers 24/7.
The stories told to me by self reported high maintenance people and what they missed most and what ultimately made them return to the states are simple things that they couldn't get at any price.

So being a dreamer and buying into the "change your life for paradise" stories is a great pass time. But please, PLEASE, be realistic and don't buy the story from the real estate agent selling the lots or the magazine selling subscriptions.

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.