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Friends of ours retired, got rid of everything that wouldn't fit in half dozen suitcases, and set out for Costa Rica.
Before they left, they set up residency in Florida, and use an address there for official business.
They didn't plan to stay in Costa Rica, but rather start there. So far, it has turned out to be a good home base. Couple times a year they fly to visit their kids. Seems to be working out.
Friends of ours retired, got rid of everything that wouldn't fit in half dozen suitcases, and set out for Costa Rica.
Before they left, they set up residency in Florida, and use an address there for official business.
They didn't plan to stay in Costa Rica, but rather start there. So far, it has turned out to be a good home base. Couple times a year they fly to visit their kids. Seems to be working out.
Glad to hear the Florida residency thing is working for them. Based on other info offered in this thread, I think we're looking at South Dakota for the same purpose. Seems Florida, South Dakota and Texas are the most workable options.
Glad to hear the Florida residency thing is working for them. Based on other info offered in this thread, I think we're looking at South Dakota for the same purpose. Seems Florida, South Dakota and Texas are the most workable options.
I'm not sure they considered South Dakota, but IIRC, Texas was an option.
They've been doing this for close to 10 years. They originally started out to have an adventure. They'd worked hard, raised the kids, and were ready for some thing different.
Because of the cost of insurance, they decided not to stay in the U.S. until they were both eligible for Medicare.
They've been pleased with the medical care in Costa Rica -- affordable, and focused a wellness rather than sickness.
They rent in one area for a time, then another. By my calculations, they re both over 65 now, but I've not heard any word about them returning to the U.S.
We rented a storage shed over the weekend. We are moving next year so we started putting things we bought for the new place in there. When we are ready to move- we can pull the moving van up there load up and then get the things we want from our house. I have had fun buying new things for our kitchen, and new bedding and bath towels. All in the shed. Once we move we won't need the shed.
With our daughter buying our house-she will keep most of the furniture and beds we don't want.
By my estimates, it would cost roughly three times as much to live this way as it would cost to rent a decent unfurnished house or apartment with a year's lease and using your own furniture. Of course, this doesn't mean that it can't be done. It simply means that you would be paying about triple the living costs for ten years compared to what it would cost to rent for a longer (one year +) term with your own furniture. This may or may not be of interest to you. Just thought I'd mention it.
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I was wondering what my cost comparison would be on a daily basis. For the month of April, an average 30-day period, I calculated a daily cost just for housing and amenities like TV, trash removal, and some basic upkeep (mostly gardening in April). I pay a relatively small mortgage payment that includes real estate tax. I didn't count food costs since I have to eat regardless. My cell phone is now a personal appendage, so I didn't count that cost. The daily cost for that month was $46.00. (I have a well for water, so I don't have a water bill until the pump goes out and then the cost of buying and installing a new pump would be about the same as a low monthly bill -- I didn't include that.) Costs would be higher in winter but not much of a difference in summer.
Prepared food cost while on the road would be expensive but less if one is able to buy groceries and cook.
The $46.00 daily cost ($1380.00/month) is far less than a short-term furnished apartment that includes utilities. I would never consider a travel trailer or motorhome. I think I'll stick it out and take periodic trips if I want to see some different scenery.
I was wondering what my cost comparison would be on a daily basis. For the month of April, an average 30-day period, I calculated a daily cost just for housing and amenities like TV, trash removal, and some basic upkeep (mostly gardening in April). I pay a relatively small mortgage payment that includes real estate tax. I didn't count food costs since I have to eat regardless. My cell phone is now a personal appendage, so I didn't count that cost. The daily cost for that month was $46.00. (I have a well for water, so I don't have a water bill until the pump goes out and then the cost of buying and installing a new pump would be about the same as a low monthly bill -- I didn't include that.) Costs would be higher in winter but not much of a difference in summer.
Prepared food cost while on the road would be expensive but less if one is able to buy groceries and cook.
The $46.00 daily cost ($1380.00/month) is far less than a short-term furnished apartment that includes utilities. I would never consider a travel trailer or motorhome. I think I'll stick it out and take periodic trips if I want to see some different scenery.
You quoted only a "part" of my post. You left out what it was I was referring to. I was referring to traveling around the country and living in short term furnished rentals.
Here is my quoted text that you left out: "It seems that if you are not living in a motor home or something similar as you travel around the country and instead are staying in short-term fully furnished rentals of some kind, that would be rather expensive..."
I was wondering what my cost comparison would be on a daily basis. For the month of April, an average 30-day period, I calculated a daily cost just for housing and amenities like TV, trash removal, and some basic upkeep (mostly gardening in April). I pay a relatively small mortgage payment that includes real estate tax. I didn't count food costs since I have to eat regardless. My cell phone is now a personal appendage, so I didn't count that cost. The daily cost for that month was $46.00. (I have a well for water, so I don't have a water bill until the pump goes out and then the cost of buying and installing a new pump would be about the same as a low monthly bill -- I didn't include that.) Costs would be higher in winter but not much of a difference in summer.
Prepared food cost while on the road would be expensive but less if one is able to buy groceries and cook.
The $46.00 daily cost ($1380.00/month) is far less than a short-term furnished apartment that includes utilities. I would never consider a travel trailer or motorhome. I think I'll stick it out and take periodic trips if I want to see some different scenery.
That's pretty good. If I leave out FOOD, our biggest expense, our daily cost is $13.3.
With food, it's $30 per day. That's our entire budget.
Not for me. I like sleeping in my own bed, know where my things are.
I take pleasure in the ordinary.
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