making ends meet.

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Hi: Is there anyplace a couple can live on S.S.D.pension &make ends meet.It would be nice to hold your head up with pride once & awhile. stuck in a rut!

-- Dick Dotson (ww6884@dragonbbs.com), February 18, 2000

Answers

Since you don't specify the United States, how about Madagascar? I saw an ad for an almost new home for rent there for $200 per month. It included all of the food that you would eat, along with staff to prepare it and keep the house clean too. Madagascar is somewhat of an island paradise, however it is one of the poorest nations of the world. The climate is very mild.

How about Honduras? The cost of living is very reasonable there as well. Nice climate year around. What more could you want besides someone to speak English to, and to listen to.

In my opinion insurances and taxes are the big money grabbers. If you can learn to control them, many small towns can be pretty economical to live in. A lot depends on your lifestyle and what you consider necessities.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), February 18, 2000.


It also depends on what part of the country you're talking about. Here in Missouri there are several counties that are very rural and very depressed economically. Iron county which is in the Ozarks is a good example. If you look around there are some really good deals on places. It takes some looking though to find them. Since you're on S.S.D. the low employment wouldn't be an issue for you. And you should always keep your head up regardless of what people around you think. It's your inner sense of worth that counts not people's opinon.

-- Jim T (tanner_jim@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000.

I second the motion on Missouri. There are plenty of places there where the taxes are under $200/year and the prices of real estate are not yet crazy, especially if you do not need/desire a huge home.My husband is on SSD thanks to a drunk driver, and if we did not have our youngest son in college (colleges MAKE the parents pay the difference between tuition and financial aid or your kid can't go), we'd have bought a place there ourselves.Since I still need to work, that idea did not fly.As far as holding your head up, my husband had a real hard time accepting the fact that he was disabled. Thirty years of never missing a days work all gone in an instant is quite a life-style change.He still tells folks he took an early retirement because it makes him not have to explain why he cannot work like everybody else.We were shocked at how people are treated when they apply for SSD, like you are criminals out to bilk the government out of your own money.It sets you up to feel like a non-person, but please do not allow that to continue.So, my friend, take a walk on the web and look at Missouri property.I think you will be pleased!!!! Good luck!

-- Lesley Chasko (martchas@gateway.net), February 18, 2000.

The southern 2 tiers of counties in Iowa are also very poor and very cheap places to live. There are lots of good people there and the average age is over 55.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), February 18, 2000.

Hi Dick, Why can't you hold your head up with pride? Did you break your neck? It's not anybodies business where you get your money! Plus, if you're feeling strapped, you can apply for a few more programs, like food stamps and section 8 housing. Are you, or your spouse a veteran? More assistance. I get the feeling you have the guilts, or are depressed, so give a little back by doing volunteer work, for children or the homeless. The CEO down the street, is not BETTER than you, is not HAPPIER than you, and will not go to heaven because he's rich! Sure some areas of the country a less expensive than others, but that also means the assistance is lower. My sister rents an apartment to a lovely couple, here in Westchester, NY and the sec. 8 housing pays 90% of the $750. rent, plus 50% of the elec. bill. Not a bad deal. So check around, you might be able to stay where you are (if you like it) or find something you are eligible for in another state. Above all, hold your damn head up!

-- Kathy (catfish@bestweb.net), February 18, 2000.


great answer jim t,your right it is your inner sense of worth that counts not what other peoples opinions are !

-- kahty h (saddlebronc@msn.com), February 19, 2000.

hi Dick i have a couple of building lots in worth mo. i would consider donating to a family trying to better there lifestyle taxes last year was seven dollars room for mobil home to start.who knows maybe i just like homesteaders yoursuncleduk

-- don summers (uncleduk@netins.net), February 20, 2000.

Don't overlook the beautiful state of WV. In the northcentral area you are 2 hours from Pittsburgh, 2 hours from the state capital, 4 1/2 from Cleveland and the same to Washington DC. Lots of great rural properties and college towns of 30,000+ as well as quiet small communities. WV has the oldest population in the USA. Also a great diverse community due to those same colleges and the recent introduction of high tech enterprises. Call 1-800-CALL WVA for more info.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@hotmail.com), February 23, 2000.

If you don't mind living in extremely rural areas,try Kentucky.The cost of living is pretty low here and if you can do any kind of work there are always farmers looking for help,even part-time,or seasonal and usually under the table pay.I would suggest looking at different areas newspapers on-line and check out the land and rental prices.This will give you an idea of living costs.

-- Barbara in KY (conlane@prodigy.net), February 24, 2000.

Lots of good suggestions here, Dick. I can't make any decisions for you, but I do see merit in Greenbeanman's suggestion of exploring other countries.

I have considered relocating to a Latin American Country myself, and only partly for financial reasons. I doubt I will do so, myself, because I don't want to move farther away from my kids and grandkids. But it's very inexpensive to live in many places there. I've paid as little as 25 cents a night for a very basic, clean hotel room in Guatemala back in the eighties, and stayed in Bolivia for $2.70 a night for a very pleasant hotel room. The owner brought breakfast in the roomm for a buck, and her hubby did the laurndry by hand for a buck for a week's clothing. He hung it up on a clothesline across the courtyard, tied off to the balcony railing. I love the people in most places I've been in Latin America, too.

My ex brother in law is looking at retiring to Mexico, as my sister managed to get half his retirement in their divorce. Last month I was visiting him, and he showed me a book called "Choose Mexico For Retirement" which states that a person can live their comfortably on $600 per month. I got a copy, just for information, and the author mentions lots of different areas, including enclaves of English speaking expatriots, as well as more "native" areas, which is my personal prefeerence.

I'm not pushing this approach, though; lots of others' ideas look very valid, too.

Good luck!

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), February 24, 2000.



I wouldn't consider Illinois. Taxes are terrible and will only continue to rise. Our corrupt Govenour's horrendous appetite for cash has really hurt the fixed income and pooor. Lic plates and vehicle titles almost doubled starting this year. State sales tax and now counties are getting in on the "rip the public" mentallity. Angry? You bet! Nothing you can do I guess. I like my farm, family and surroundings. Moving isn't an option----.

-- hoot gibson (hoot@wworld.com), February 25, 2000.

Dick,

I don't have a place to recommend, but I would provide a heads up to you and anyone else in this situation to NOT consider western Washington state, specifically any locations around Puget Sound.

The cost of living is really high, and the population is just swelling daily because of Microsoft, a lot of dot com companies spun off by retired MSFT folk, etc. Also people move here because of the mountains, sea, rivers, etc. It is beautiful.

We also have the Growth Management Act which is to ensure that growth (sprawl) stays contained, and as a measure to protect open space. It is a mixed blessing. Environmentally it's better, but it's really hard on housing and development costs, which get passed on to the consumer, who is already at the mercy of high costs due to above mentioned growth, etc, and subsequent high rents. Now our state is trying to rescue our endangered salmon, which means every water course (including ditches) is subject to environment reviews, etc. We may even be taking down some dams around here....

A friend of my husband just got a permit for putting a culvert under his private road. He applied LAST AUGUST! Another private homeowner was just informed that the property he was going to build on is now considered a wetland (and as such has different setbacks for building, more restrictions, etc). Get this: The property wasn't a wetland when he bought it, but because the county made road improvements, they graded a higher shoulder on his lot line, which created a dam and impounded rain water!!! Yikes!

I love where I live, but it's getting ridiculous with all this going on....so to all of you, please consider not just the issue of moving *here* but what to watch out for in your own backyards. Manage your growth in a balanced way, if such is even possible.

I know this is not strictly on topic, but thought I would share.

Dick, anywhere would be better than here, in many ways. But you would be welcomed anyway.

The best of luck to you.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), February 25, 2000.


Sheepish, I didn't know that Washington was as bad as Oregon on these regards. We are also having a population explosion, with an attendant explosion in "rules". I agree that they are a mixed blessing.

I am just starting to get involved with a few individuals who are trying to reestablish what is known as "Goal 1" rules, which were part of Oregon's land use laws, passed in 1973. The state law says that the counties have to facilitate citizen involvement. Our local Board of Commissioners passed a new law in 1993, which effectively ended the citizen involvement program. A lot of folks think this was to make it easier for the "good old boys" to continue business as usual, while making it harder and harder for all the home builder types to accomplish their goals.

I recommend that you find out if there are any groups in your area who are informed about how all these rules are written, by whom, etc. and how you can have an influence.

Believe it or not, you "can" fight city hall. Typically there are only a tiny minority of citizens who ever follow what is hapening, or take time to write lettes, visit their government leaders, or testify at meetings. Hence, your voice carries a lot more weight than you may think.

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), February 26, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ