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I'm also considering the time when my world will shrink and can't drive anymore (tho my mother is 89 and is still a safe driver) but retirement villages don't look appealing to me. A lot of places have programs to pick up non-driving seniors to go to certain places from their homes periodically. I want the option of a retirement village but hope not to have to do that for a very long time, or maybe never.
One reason I look vaguely way into the future towards an Erickson retirement place (62+). I think I really want to live somewhere with an indoor pool and resturant meals!
One reason I look vaguely way into the future towards an Erickson retirement place (62+). I think I really want to live somewhere with an indoor pool and resturant meals!
If you really are on a limited budget the following won't work. However, in terms of RELATIVE cost, it is cheaper to live full time on a cruise ship than pay for a Nursing home or some Assisted Living facilities. You don't need a car on a cruise ship, meals are fantastic, maid service, the scenery changes every day..........
And they do generally medivac folks off to shore hospitals for serious issues.
On my last sub, on of our cooks was retiring and he had a follow-on career lined-up to live on a cruise ship. He wife was already working on one as a physical therapist. He had been trained in ice sculpture and as a sauce chef.
Actually, I wasn't the person who originally posted about having a limited budget. If nothing goes particularly wrong, I could easily sell my house and use that for entry fee to an Erickson community. Minimum monthly fee there right now is about $1600, which presents no problem to me. I appreciate that not everyone is in a position or of a desire to live in a retirement community.
I think I'd feel safer and appreciate the services, even if not old or frail. However, I do love my home and having dogs, and not having dogs or total home control would definitely be another stage in life.
I was at a VFW meeting this evening, and we have one member who is in his nineties and lives alone, that is being evicted from his apartment for smoking. He lives in one of the town's Housing-authority's operated complexes, due to his age and level of SS payments his rent is 'adjusted'. So he pays $250 /month, for a one bdrm apartment. The city is moving him to a neighboring city, where they have another complex that still allows smoking. His portfolio still has a couple hundred thousand in mutuals, but the state-aid only looks at his SS pension, to determine his rent.
We are helping him during his move, though it does surprise me on two different ways.
One is that the town's housing authority has already been subsidizing his rent. They saw that he would no longer be able to live there with the 'no smoking' rules, and they found another place for him to live.
Actually, I wasn't the person who originally posted about having a limited budget. If nothing goes particularly wrong, I could easily sell my house and use that for entry fee to an Erickson community. Minimum monthly fee there right now is about $1600, which presents no problem to me. I appreciate that not everyone is in a position or of a desire to live in a retirement community.
I think your idea is great! And you are among the fortunate ones who have a home to sell and be able to afford ~ $1600/month rent. I will be limited to no more than $500/mo rent and do not have a home to sell. I will be dependent on s/s, 401k, savings, and working part-time (hopefully not full time) to keep my head above water.
I have fortunately found subsidized apartments (they are similar to duplexes with a garage) that rent for $450-550/mo depending on the area, they are in many different states mainly in the mid-west, central plains area. There are income restrictions that apply obviously, but with my limited income I would have no problem with that at all. These units are all in safe areas and are relatively new.
And I keep searching, I will find appropriate housing. And everyone on this site has been wonderful giving excellent advice!!
I have read many informative posts on this Board about where to retire in the U.S. What I am seeing are retirees who already own a home (mortgage paid off), have either a dual pension income (married couple) or a huge pension as a single person, have health insurance provided by a former employer....and, these individuals are financially able to relocate and purchase another home or live in a retirement community that runs around $2-3k/month, or they are in a position that they can travel a lot, play golf, etc.
I am not in any of the situations listed above. I will be on a very limited income, I do not own a home (have never owned a home), will not have health insurance other than Medicare and whatever supplemental health insurance I can afford to purchase.
I will have to continue to work after starting to collect s/s when I turn 66, either part time or full time for as long as I am able to work. I would love to start collecting s/s prior to age 66...BUT, I cannot survive financially on the lower monthly benefit...and with the rules about what I can earn annually (prior to age 66)...I would not make it.
Therefore...I am looking for areas to relocate to (other than KS where I am now...terrible winter weather and HIGH taxes, etc.)...that would offer me as mild a climate as possible (am thru having to drive in the winter on ice/snow)...and looking for housing (apartment to rent) that is below $600/month. At my stage of life and looking at my finances, purchasing a home would not be feasible, it would be better to just rent. Mainly because it is better to use the money to eat, etc., than have to put out a huge down payment and have to worry about the cost of maintenance on a home.
Anyone out there have any ideas where a single woman can live safely, in a weather climate better than KS, where the rents are in the $600/month or lower range?
I am not a 'party' person, not into traveling a lot, nor do I need to be on the go all the time. Also am not materialistic or into the night life scene. I am not into shopping and only buy clothes when they are really needed. I'm a person who is content and just looking for a place to "hang my hat" and be able to buy food, be safe and find full or part-time office work.
Maybe I'm just dreaming of the impossible. But there has to be others in a similar situation as I am. Not everyone has big bucks when the retirement age arrives.
Cheaper foreign country! (obviously, it isn't for everybody...)
I know in Costa Rico you can buy into the health system for $10K and receive some fairly decent health care. Rents are very cheap compared to USA and the people are friendly.
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