The conventional wisdom is this: You go warm when retiring/semiretiring.
But, warm has become increasingly expensive.
With middle class folks unable to afford California any more, they fled to Arizona. That migration drove up the cost of living in the one-time Paradise for the aging.
The deep South isn't dirt cheap any more.
And, you would have to search hard to find a location in Florida that rents for peanuts or whose residential property is a steal.
Outside the United States? Gone are the days where you can be an expat making it on $700 a month. The exception might be bits of Eastern Europe. But good luck struggling to learn the languages. They aren't the Spanish and French you learned in high school.
Amid all those gloomy realities is a part of the United States which allows retirees and the semiretired to live within a budget comfortably - and happily.
That's the midwest. There, Baby It's Cold Outside. Also, there's snow. Tomorrow, residents of Ohio anticipate 4" to 8" and the beginning of a harsh winter.
But OH is among the states in the midwest in which the cost of living can be significantly below average.
For example, in the Youngstown metro area, at Hillbrook Apartments a studio is $545 and a one-bedroom $590. The apartments are large. All utilities, including heat, are included with the rent. Lake Erie is an hour away. Pittsburgh, 90 minutes.
In the Toledo Metro area, Maple Creek provides small one bedrooms, with private entrances, at $425 or $475 (the latter is renovated and has a microwave). The only utility that has to be paid is electricity. Canada is a doable day trip. University town Ann Arbor is an hour away.
Bitter cold only goes on for about three months. That's a short-term "price" to pay for low living costs.
A New Yorker, I have been in the midwest for 5 years. My budget has allowed me to replace my aging car, start investing again and travel on weekends. This holiday I was at resort town Geneva on the Lake. I can also be more selective in the assignments I accept for my communications and coaching boutiques. Yes, I can "afford" to be picky.
Now and then I audit my finances. I play with the idea of going warm.
Admittedly, it's a burden to heat up and, if there is snow, dig out the car. "At my age," as the saying goes, I have to be vigilant walking outside if there is ice. Too often I change plans because I feel "It's too cold outside."
Whatever decision I make, I will always be grateful for these years in the midwest which brought me financial security.
The Future is already underway. Ghostwriting/Marketing Communications and coaching on those issues. Sliding scale fees. Complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)
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