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I figured best to ask the frugal folks. Of course snowbirding isn't frugal at all.
But can I stay somewhere sunny and warm in FL with my Chihuahua, so likely needing at least a studio? Is there somewhere that snowbirds aren't going, so the rent isn't jacked up during the winter months, that I could have nice and safe and simple place to wait out the dark and cold.
Husband would like to live in Louisville, and he said that I could snowbird (otherwise I don't want to stay there in the winter.) So can I make his dream come true for him without making my life a frozen hell in the winter?
We spent a decade in FL, so I have come to worship the sun.
Thanks for any advice, tips, knowledge of special bargain sunny and warm places in the winter I can go, even not FL for 4months for around 3k?
I figured best to ask the frugal folks. Of course snowbirding isn't frugal at all.
But can I stay somewhere sunny and warm in FL with my Chihuahua, so likely needing at least a studio? Is there somewhere that snowbirds aren't going, so the rent isn't jacked up during the winter months, that I could have nice and safe and simple place to wait out the dark and cold.
Husband would like to live in Louisville, and he said that I could snowbird (otherwise I don't want to stay there in the winter.) So can I make his dream come true for him without making my life a frozen hell in the winter?
We spent a decade in FL, so I have come to worship the sun.
Thanks for any advice, tips, knowledge of special bargain sunny and warm places in the winter I can go, even not FL for 4months for around 3k?
Snowbirds are more popular in the southern half of FL, on both coasts, from the middle of the state southward. There are not as many snowbirds in N FL. It gets colder there in the winter. But it can be cheaper because not as much demand.
I don't think being frugal rules out travel or enjoying life. You can travel and be frugal. You can live in a campground instead of a $200 a night hotel and then cook your own meals and eat "at home". You can really be frugal and work as a campground host so you earn your campground lot and utitilities.
You're basically asking to live in FL for $750/month. At that price, you won't find any studios that will take pets for a short-term or month-to-month lease. You may find a room to rent from an understanding homeowner. For Lakeland, you're looking at $450/month ( lakeland rooms & shares classifieds - craigslist ). That leaves you $10/day for food, gas, expenses, and entertainment for two people and a pet. Sorry, that's not gonna happen.
A more realistic number will be $6000 to snowbird and enjoy your time in FL.
Thanks for any advice, tips, knowledge of special bargain sunny and warm places in the winter I can go, even not FL for 4months for around 3k?
I'm living on less in my airstream.... just took the trash to the dumpster... in my T shirt.
And living well.
Southern La, AL, Ga, or the panhandle... it's easy to get campgrounds under $400.
I'm staying in one right now for $380, includes power, sewer, water, trash, and internet.
I like it.
I think I'll be putting a big metal garage on my ozark property rather than a cabin.
You might do well to outline WHAT lifestyle you want. You might want something like what I've got, you might want a park model, you might not want something like this at all.
Escapees forum etc caters to people who are interested in the nomadic lifestyle.
Otherwise... the 'not near the beach' areas of Fl... are very depressed in price.
I'm living on less in my airstream.... just took the trash to the dumpster... in my T shirt.
And living well.
Southern La, AL, Ga, or the panhandle... it's easy to get campgrounds under $400.
I'm staying in one right now for $380, includes power, sewer, water, trash, and internet.
I like it.
I think I'll be putting a big metal garage on my ozark property rather than a cabin.
You might do well to outline WHAT lifestyle you want. You might want something like what I've got, you might want a park model, you might not want something like this at all.
Escapees forum etc caters to people who are interested in the nomadic lifestyle.
Otherwise... the 'not near the beach' areas of Fl... are very depressed in price.
Only flaw in your reasoning is that the OP doesn't have a camper! So the question was can I get into a place for $750 a month, not $380 byoc (camper).
Only flaw in your reasoning is that the OP doesn't have a camper! So the question was can I get into a place for $750 a month, not $380 byoc (camper).
Didn't say it was THE answer.... Said it was AN answer.
And there are some decent TT for $5k Ish...
Even allowing for repairs, and if you NEVER use it otherwise... You break even (except you have an asset) in less than 4 years.
Didn't say it was THE answer.... Said it was AN answer.
And there are some decent TT for $5k Ish...
Even allowing for repairs, and if you NEVER use it otherwise... You break even (except you have an asset) in less than 4 years.
Yes, I think having a camper is about the only affordable way to really do what the OP is asking. It's not hard to find a smaller camper for $4K which should last a number of years and make it possible to stay for under $400 a month or even free. If someone is wanting to stay under $3K in the winter and wants to do this every year which is what snowbirds tend to do, then definitely a camper or RV would be the easiest way.
Campgrounds will hire someone on as a campground host and then the campground stay is free. That's what my dad did, he wanted to stay longer in Florida than he could afford to stay so he became a campground host which required only 4 hours of work 5 days a week. He also had free use of a truck and the golf-carts. He really enjoyed doing that because he was the kind that loved to have something to do. It did require having an RV or camper which he already had and he was able to stay the whole time rent free and utitilies paid plus have all the great outdoors around him. And having dogs was no problem except they had to stay on leashes.
Also since he could board up his northern house for the winter and put the heat at 50 or lower, he felt the savings on heat bills pretty much paid for the trip and he got to run around in shorts instead of shoveling snow and paying high heat bills.
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