Fixed Expenses $1,000 or less (with no mortgage) Can you do it? (benefit, Florida)

[PNW-type-gal]

Nope, our health care alone is half again that.

[Keeper]

I know a few ppl who do it but they live in low cost apts. It is rough and there aren't very many jobs in a small town unless you work at Wally World.

I could almost make it if I didn't have pets. I don't have a car note, house is paid and the taxes are less than $200 a year. Insurance on house and car are around 1,200 a year. Health insurance just went up from less than $50 a month to $150.00 a month. It is the little things like replacing the heat pump, new roof, new washer/dryer that kill ya

[slackjaw]

Pets would be a deal breaker for any chance with us doing $1000/month too. It seems like every few months there is some reason to be spending $60 to take our dog our cat in to be told by a vet to "keep an eye" whatever malady has befallen them.

I can honestly see it being possible if it weren't for unexpected major expenses. Cruising along with just food/rent/utils is one thing, suddenly having a leaky roof, broken air conditioner, or needing a root canal and crown would wreck everything in a hurry.

[NHartphotog]

Our property tax bill, for a regular house on a small lot, is $13,600 this year. We are being told that the $1,400 increase this year is nothing, to be prepared for REAL increases in the future. So $1,000 a month wouldn't even meet that if we had NO expenses.

Why we aren't storming local town offices in NH and telling them we won't allow them to confiscate our homes? They won't stop until they've taken everything it took us a lifetime to earn.

[newenglandgirl]

Originally Posted by NHartphotog

Our property tax bill, for a regular house on a small lot, is $13,600 this year. We are being told that the $1,400 increase this year is nothing, to be prepared for REAL increases in the future. So $1,000 a month wouldn't even meet that if we had NO expenses.

Why we aren't storming local town offices in NH and telling them we won't allow them to confiscate our homes? They won't stop until they've taken everything it took us a lifetime to earn.

My sympathies go out to you. It looks like you live in NH? (Isn't your state motto "Live free or die"?)

Long ago I had considered a move to NH (Keene area) before I found out your outrageous property taxes (no sales tax, who cares ). I cannot imagine paying that much in taxes no matter how nice the property. That's over $1000K a month!!! Does NH have property tax reduction for seniors???

[Ketabcha]

Originally Posted by NHartphotog

Our property tax bill, for a regular house on a small lot, is $13,600 this year. We are being told that the $1,400 increase this year is nothing, to be prepared for REAL increases in the future. So $1,000 a month wouldn't even meet that if we had NO expenses.

Why we aren't storming local town offices in NH and telling them we won't allow them to confiscate our homes? They won't stop until they've taken everything it took us a lifetime to earn.

OMG! Property tax of $13,600? That is outrageous.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Ketabcha

OMG! Property tax of $13,600? That is outrageous.

Yes, and highly possible (probable) right there in TX !!. Mine are $12k in WA and my investigation of TX investment properties showed that much of desirable TX was considerably higher than my WA property tax nightmare. Similar in parts of SD (another no income tax state). WY and AK are better due to their access to energy $$.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Yes, and highly possible (probable) right there in TX !!. Mine are $12k in WA and my investigation of TX investment properties showed that much of desirable TX was considerably higher than my WA property tax nightmare. Similar in parts of SD (another no income tax state). WY and AK are better due to their access to energy $$.

My wife and I briefly considered Texas and did some house-hunting outside of Austin as well as San Antonio. I noted that the property tax rate was roughly 3%, which was triple what he had been paying in Maryland. That's one of the reasons I like Nevada so much. Even though it, like Texas has no income tax, Nevada's property taxes also are low (~1%).

[NY Annie]

Property taxes is the main reason we headed to TN. I am a Jersey girl, but my kids/grandkids are in Rhode Island. Neither state is conducive to living on retirement income. Property taxes. Outrageous these days. So we found a state with reasonable taxes and temperatures we can live with. No income taxes was a plus.

[Submariner]

Assuming no mortgage / no rent; there are many areas where property taxes for a home and 50-acres are less than $100/month.