FILL IN THE BLANKS.....if your not yet ER'ed

[GoodSense]

Welcome! Everyone can has his or her own goals, since nobody knows your lifestyle better than yourself.

For us, it's:

1) 60 K in today's $
2) & 3) Prefer to rent for mobility, but would like to own a small RV under 24'

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicolette I mentioned not to write any discouraging comments because we've really thought about what we want in retirement and didn't want anyone trying to persuade otherwise.

You know, I think your survey is actually quite helpful. I have been reading here for a long time, and I don't think that this has been directly approached in this way before. My data is $50-$55,000, and renting, or perhaps a bit less spending and owning at max of $280,000 in large West Coast US City. I spend less than that now, but believe I might safely spend up to $55K when SS starts.

But your "I do not want to hear any discouraging ideas" is just a statement that you do not want to learn anything, but rather only gratify your confirmation bias. This is a good way to stay content, but also ignorant of a wider range of possibilities.

Ha

[Martha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire Hi, nicolette. I think that for some (many?) of us, having "a lifestyle similar to when you're working" is not all that appealing. I know that personally, my location is mainly due to the fact that the job is here; many years ago I came here for the job, in other words. Retirement gives us choices and options that we didn't have before.

Yes, now that I am retired I am finding it much more fun to go out to the old farm, with the nearest town having a population of about 200, than spending time in the big city. I don't seem to have as much of a need to be entertained by eating out, concerts, etc, as I did when working. This has been a bit of a surprise as when I first retired we were shopping seriously for a home in the big city.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha Yes, now that I am retired I am finding it much more fun to go out to the old farm, with the nearest town having a population of about 200, than spending time in the big city. I don't seem to have as much of a need to be entertained by eating out, concerts, etc, as I did when working. This has been a bit of a surprise as when I first retired we were shopping seriously for a home in the big city.

Wow! Big change.

Ha

[Martha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha Wow! Big change. Ha

Different things for different points in life.

But this is summer. Winter at the farm is not so appealing.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha Different things for different points in life. But this is summer. Winter at the farm is not so appealing.

When I lived out in the country I knew a lot of older couples or widowers who liked it just fine- gardening, church, quiet, nature, relative freedom from bumping up against other people. I often marveled at the old men who lived very solitary lives, yet did not appear to drink much, or really do much at all beyond keeping a very tidy homestead.

There may be an innate setting for stimulation need. Events that might annoy some can be welcome to others, just because they represent "something going on" beyond birds singing and crickets chirping.

For me in particular, when my family grew up my remaining time in bucolia was starting to tick down. Even if wifey had hung around, it would not have been enough. (For me or her.)

Ha

[Marquette]

1. $40-60k. (it's what we live on now)

2. $don't care. where: probably west side of Michigan. Acreage is important, house will fall in place. Don't care what someone thinks it's worth. That area is fairly close to immediate and extended family.

3. Will probably get a 23' Airstream Safari International.

[nicolette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha You know, I think your survey is actually quite helpful. I have been reading here for a long time, and I don't think that this has been directly approached in this way before. My data is $50-$55,000, and renting, or perhaps a bit less spending and owning at max of $280,000 in large West Coast US City. I spend less than that now, but believe I might safely spend up to $55K when SS starts. But your "I do not want to hear any discouraging ideas" is just a statement that you do not want to learn anything, but rather only gratify your confirmation bias. This is a good way to stay content, but also ignorant of a wider range of possibilities. Ha

Hi Ha....you have a good point. Okay, if any of you wish to provide any discouraging ideas, please do so. It's just that we've really thought about what we want and given that ER is SO ENTICING, we don't want to stray away from our goals and wishes. So for now, the goals and wishes remain the same.

[Moemg]

1) 65,000 -70,000

2) &3) I've been playing around with several different scenarios but for now until the real estate market picks up Sarasota,Fl. is home . Worth of home ? Who knows right know ? It was at a high of $850,000- $ 900,000 now it's probably in the $650,000 range .

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire Hi, nicolette. I think that for some (many?) of us, having "a lifestyle similar to when you're working" is not all that appealing. I know that personally, my location is mainly due to the fact that the job is here; many years ago I came here for the job, in other words. Retirement gives us choices and options that we didn't have before.

Exactly! Some of us want a BETTER lifestyle in ER! And that's why we're breaking our backs now to get there!

[unclemick]

1. 25k unfortunately more like 34k with mortgage, taxes and insurance plus a few thou layed off for reserve repairs.

Cheap bastardhood the first 10 years or so of ER says I need to force myself to at least double or triple that amount to avoid leaving too much on the table.

2. 85k 1100 sq ft 1970 suburban house north of Kansas City - 3 bedroom, one bath - amazingly people raised whole families in these back then.

3. May toss up a Jim Walter or put a trailer/mobile on my twenty acres of timberland - north of Gulfport, MS - 15 -30minutes to beaches/casino's.

At 15th year of ER - precise plan to party til I puke on 87.1 k until age 84.6 and croak(I have a funeral plan).

Accuracy is another story. I have no idea wait inflation will do to mead, flaming arrows and wooden boats in 19.6 years.

heh heh heh - it's a good bet I won't be w*rking though.

[nicolette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Exactly! Some of us want a BETTER lifestyle in ER! And that's why we're breaking our backs now to get there!

Hi Meadbh - with the realization that we are definitely city folks, for us, a BETTER lifestyle is being in the city. Being in the country doesn't suit our interests, wishes and wants.....it just suits the financial situation. We've learned that we need to be happy and lifestyle is definitely important.

Hi Martha - wow, I agree... drastic lifestyle change, but I'm glad your happy. For us, we'd go stir crazy. For you, perhaps your career was so stressful, you needed to go country. You're right, your goals and wishes depend on where you are in life.

[FIREd]

Welcome Nicolette!

1) 65K (30-35K for bills, the rest for fun). That's the amount we live on right now.
2) a 200-300K house in the south (AL, TN or NC)
3) a condo in Europe (300K, probably inherited). We might live half year here, half year in Europe.

[Khan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicolette Short and simple.... What are your Lifestyle and Financial GOALS in order to reach FIRED (in today's dollar)? 1. I (We) wish to have $______/yr after tax to live on to support my (our) lifestyle in retirement. AND 2. I (We) want to live in a primary residence worth __________, preferably in the city, town, of ____________. for those who want more: 3. I (We) want to live in a secondary residence worth _________, preferably in the city, town of ____________. To start, me (us) : 1. $75K - 100K/yr 2. $1M - 1.5M, Vancouver, BC Canada 3. $500K - 750K, Southern California (in the winter) No discouraging comments please.....just want to hear your FIRE LIFESTYLE WISHES and GOALS.

Already retired:
1) 'income' less than $35K USD
spend ~$25K (except bought a car in '07)

2) live near Dayton OH in a house assessed at ~$65K

3) H### no

[SecondCor521]

Just me, no we.

1. $13K
2. $230K in Boise, Idaho
3. NA

2Cor521

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicolette Hi Meadbh - with the realization that we are definitely city folks, for us, a BETTER lifestyle is being in the city. Being in the country doesn't suit our interests, wishes and wants.....it just suits the financial situation. We've learned that we need to be happy and lifestyle is definitely important. Hi Martha - wow, I agree... drastic lifestyle change, but I'm glad your happy. For us, we'd go stir crazy. For you, perhaps your career was so stressful, you needed to go country. You're right, your goals and wishes depend on where you are in life.

Hi Nicolette, welcome to the forum. It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to do in retirement plus it is something that you are very familiar with and that is great. As you can see from my earlier reply I too have a large expense target as we plan to live in a place that has most everything we need plus we plan to travel a lot while we are still fit.

But, over the last 30 years our lives and lifestyle have taken several different turns so we expect that our plans may change with experience and unforseen events.

[explanade]

1. $50-60k

2/3. Currently live in Bay Area, in townhouse appraised at $700k.

Looked at how cheap places like Vegas and Phoenix are, not just housing but all taxes.

The heat and culture puts me off.

One idea would be to take more trips to Europe or figure out way to do extended stay.

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by explanade One idea would be to take more trips to Europe or figure out way to do extended stay.

Furnished rental houses are plentiful and very affordable in Europe. this is what we plan to do.

[explanade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Furnished rental houses are plentiful and very affordable in Europe. this is what we plan to do.

They were more affordable when the exchange rate was better.

I've only rented apartments for weeks at a time, usually in big cities, in areas usually in demand.

Are you talking about farm houses in rural areas?

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by explanade They were more affordable when the exchange rate was better. I've only rented apartments for weeks at a time, usually in big cities, in areas usually in demand. Are you talking about farm houses in rural areas?

Rural areas, not necessarily farm houses. This year we went to the Basque region of Spain 30 miles from Pamplona. Large house in a village of about 20 houses, 1/2 mile from a larger village (easy walk) with shop, pub/restaurant etc.

There were plenty of others available. The region is very popular in the winter as it is skiing country (foothills of Pyrenees (sp?) so the summer months are cheaper.