primitive wants to move somewhere smaller, cheaper

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1261254

Oh my.

Apparently it's regular social security retirement, not the disability gravy train.

whathehell (13,659 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 01:15 PM

Any ideas for living off a social security benefit of only $680 a month?

I live in Illinois, in a somewhat distant Chicago suburb...I would consider moving
 
(In fact I'm thinking of buying a 'tiny house' to 'downsize' that way) but I don't want to go further than necessary....I'm thinking maybe Madison, Wisconsin, if I have too. It's a very liberal town and they and are looking to start a tiny house community.

<<<Madison, Wisconsin, doesn't strike as being a cheap place to live; university town and all that.

Arugula Latte (44,856 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 01:21 PM

1. I wonder if there might be a semi-communal housing arrangement in Madison that would work

I know here in Portland (Ore.) there are some co-housing/community living complexes where people share lots of things -- tools, cars, meals, whatever.

daleanime (5,395 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 01:30 PM

2. Kick....

I don't know, but since I'm staring disability in the face I wouldn't mind more information myself.

tazkcmo (1,560 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 01:44 PM

3. Camper Van

whathehell (13,659 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 06:52 PM

9. Does that beat the 'tiny house' option?

Just thinking -- either way, you have to pay or rent the land.

tazkcmo (1,560 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 07:42 PM

11. Your post

Strikes close to home. I'll be in your shoes soon and have been planning it out. The hardest part of this is finding a used van that's fairly good on gas and decent condition that you can buy. Takes a long time to save up enough money to buy that van on 650 a month but I figured you'd have the same problem, if not a greater problem, buying any kind of house. As you said, there's land, utilities, HO insc, etc.
 
With the van, once you've made the purchase and have it titled and driving you're on the down hill run! It's a snap to throw a sleeping bag, ice cooler and camping stove in there and boom! Home sweet home! Your only expenses are gas and auto insc. Even on 650 a month you can swing that.
 
Obviously you'll want to fix it up better than I've described but that'll get ya going and you'll be able to scrounge, beg, borrow (but not steal!) furnishings along the way. Having spent much of my life in construction, I'm aware of many different ways to accomplish the same mission as far as building stuff goes. For example, a quick and easy permanent bed can be made from a hammock which you hang from your ceiling, a rigid piece of material (plywood, old door, etc) to lay in the hammock and what ever padding you can get your hands on. The board/door will hold a form in the hammock, the padding makes it comfy and you can store the bed on your ceiling. That's part of the fun of designing your own home! You can be as traditional or creative as you want and there's lots of ideas on the net.
 
It's not for every one but it's my kind of retirement. The freedom to go anywhere cheaply and have my house with me. As a bonus I can rotate among friends and relatives under the pretext of "visiting" and eat some of their food for a while! lol
 
I hope that what ever you decide it makes you happy. I'd be interested in hearing what you do because I'll always wonder, I care and it may help me and others knowing what you did, the advantages and disadvantages. Good luck to you!

hollysmom (2,821 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 02:08 PM

4. I have heard living overseas makes money go a lot further.

When my company gave me a choice of being laid off or moving to India, there was a pay cut involved with moving to India.

Seriously, I have heard relatives talk about friends who moved to Poland to live on small social security.

whathehell (13,659 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 07:03 PM

10. Yes, as I said to someone else, I subscribe to this site called "International Living" where they write about all the places retirees can live much cheaper -- Panama is supposed to be great, as is Belize and Equador. When you mention Poland, it made me think -- I actually do have "Right of Return" to Croatia (where at least I know some of the language) because of my grandparents. Croatia joined the European Union about a year and a half ago, and it's not as cheap as it once was, but still.
 
In general, I'd prefer to stay in the states.

Truth is, I don't HAVE to live alone on my social security, and there's always the chance I'll get a job (I'm not THAT old!), I was just contemplating my 'worst case scenario".
 
I am, and have, for many years, been in a relationship with someone who is financially quite comfortable,* and I've benefitted from it, that being said, I frequently wish I could live independently.

*in other words, just like the Secretary of State, the primitive married, or is shacking up with, money.

NV Whino (16,625 posts)   Mon Sep 8, 2014, 02:19 PM

5. Move to Costa Rica

Me, I'm gonna die with my boots on because I can't afford to retire.

yeoman6987 (3,178 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 02:19 PM

6. Have Social Security redo your benefit

Most people get 1300-1600 a month. There is a huge mistake on yours. Worth a shot. Good luck! I will take a donation to DU for your additional funding you get.

whathehell (13,659 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 06:48 PM

7. LOL..Thanks, but I think they got it right, unfortunately,

because I started taking it early -- at age 63 and I didn't have high paying jobs.

RebelOne (30,117 posts)    Mon Sep 22, 2014, 04:42 PM

12. I wish you luck. I am living on $1400 a month social security,

and it is not easy. I own a mobile home and pay lot rent of $400 monthly that includes garbage pickup and water. The only other bills are for cable, internet, phone, electric and car insurance and one credit card, but I still run short by the end of the month. Fortunately, I have some savings that I can draw from. I am going to have to move into my son's house soon to save some money.

[BattleHymn]

There should be a 100% inversion tax on primitives' social security if they expatriate.

[franksolich]

There should be a 100% inversion tax on primitives' social security if they expatriate.

 

[Fourwinds]

Basically what I get from this is "I want to move to a small idyllic place, let my lib buddies know about it so they can move there and screw it up with my politics"

[BattleHymn]

Basically what I get from this is "I want to move to a small idyllic place, let my lib buddies know about it so they can move there and screw it up with my politics"

Or, "I can't afford all the government I voted for, so I will just move somewhere else."  It happens on a domestic scale too, when the parasites move from a failed blue state to a thriving red state.

[Fourwinds]

Or, "I can't afford all the government I voted for, so I will just move somewhere else."  It happens on a domestic scale too, when the parasites move from a failed blue state to a thriving red state.

And wreck it. You should see what they've done to Colorado. They're like a damn virus.

[Big Dog]

whathehell (13,659 posts)    Mon Sep 8, 2014, 07:03 PM

I am, and have, for many years, been in a relationship with someone who is financially quite comfortable, and I've benefitted from it, that being said, I frequently wish I could live independently.

So, the WTH??? primitive is a 65 year old whore who wants to cut loose from her sugar daddy and get back on the market. That sounds like a big step off a bigger cliff.


This DUmmy is a scream:

tazkcmo

a quick and easy permanent bed can be made from a hammock which you hang from your ceiling, a rigid piece of material (plywood, old door, etc) to lay in the hammock and what ever padding you can get your hands on. The board/door will hold a form in the hammock, the padding makes it comfy and you can store the bed on your ceiling.

Taz from Kansas City recommends the old whore live in a van, and sleep on a wooden door suspended in a hammock. That will certainly put a crimp in her business!

For the love of Dog, taz, you are one stupid son of a bitch. She's 65 years old. Even if she isn't trying to make a living on her back, she's not going to live in a van with no toilet and a sling-loaded door for a bed.

[Chris_]

Death Valley.

Knock yourself out. 

[DefiantSix]

Death Valley.

Knock yourself out.

I think poor, stupid Beth is still living in an Airstream trailer in that area. She ought to be ready for some neighbors by now.

[Chris_]

I think poor, stupid Beth is still living in an Airstream trailer in that area. She ought to be ready for some neighbors by now.

I thought she was in Texas.

Either way, probably explains why we haven't heard from her.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Live in a VAN down by the RIVER, DUmmies.

 

[obumazombie]

It's like they never imagined a rainy day was coming.

[RobJohnson]

Death Valley.

Knock yourself out. 

It's not that cheap.

[JohnnyReb]

There's packing crates down by the docks....cardboard boxes at the appliance store.

[obumazombie]

There's packing crates down by the docks....cardboard boxes at the appliance store.

Dracula got along just fine with a coffin.

[diesel driver]

Live in a VAN down by the RIVER, DUmmies.

 

Damn, DAT, you beat me to it.   

However, DUmmies by a river during flood season could produce a possible enviromental disaster if one of "those" vans fail to start.   

[GOBUCKS]

I don't know why all the DUmmies don't just move to Tucson.

You get a free apartment, and you even get to select all your free furniture and free appliances.

You get free food and utilities, including broadband internet.

If you want more spending money for weed or whatever, they will give you a free job serving free coffee to other deadbeats.

All you have to do is get a bus ticket to Tucson and wait out a month or two at the Sallie.

[Dori]

Years ago we bought a great little used camper for $750.  It was old, but in great shape.  It actually had better storage than the motor home.  A queen sized over the cab bed compartment. Behind the cab was a closet for hanging clothes above and port-a-poty in a below cabinet (We only used it in emergencies), and opposite, a long cabinet with several shelves and three large drawers. It had curtains there, so you could use that area as a dressing room.

It had a u shaped table nook with all kinds of storage above and below that easily made into a double bed.   There was a lot of cabinets above and below the sink, a four burner stove and a small fridge with lots of drawers below that.

There were all kinds of storage compartments on the outside of the camper too.

The only thing someone would need is a place to park it.  I liked it better than I do the motor home. 

[Big Dog]

I don't know why all the DUmmies don't just move to Tucson.

You get a free apartment, and you even get to select all your free furniture and free appliances.

You get free food and utilities, including broadband internet.

If you want more spending money for weed or whatever, they will give you a free job serving free coffee to other deadbeats.

All you have to do is get a bus ticket to Tucson and wait out a month or two at the Sallie.

Don't forget the therapy cat!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Coffins are relatively cheap... 

[JohnnyReb]

Coffins are relatively cheap... 

....as long as Obama doesn't start a government program to buy up all the used ones.

[Texacon]

So, the WTH??? primitive is a 65 year old whore who wants to cut loose from her sugar daddy and get back on the market. That sounds like a big step off a bigger cliff.


This DUmmy is a scream:

Taz from Kansas City recommends the old whore live in a van, and sleep on a wooden door suspended in a hammock. That will certainly put a crimp in her business!

For the love of Dog, taz, you are one stupid son of a bitch. She's 65 years old. Even if she isn't trying to make a living on her back, she's not going to live in a van with no toilet and a sling-loaded door for a bed.

Taz is even dumber than that. If you're going to throw a door on a hammock, I guarantee 4 ropes and 8 eyebolt screws are cheaper.

KC

[BlueStateSaint]

....as long as Obama doesn't start a government program to buy up all the used ones.

"Cash For Caskets," eh?

[DefiantSix]

Don't forget the therapy cat!

I would have thought that was covered under his inclusion of "free food"... 

[freedumb2003b]

Maybe it is just me.   I was just doing my retirement planning with Mrs. FD and the most conservative estimate of my SSI (which I still do not count on) is around $3,000 a month at 65 -- $4,000 if I wait until 70 (which I will do).

So I retro-calculated using different annuals salaries at: http://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/

I went with a 1/1/1950 birth date which would match the primitive's.  It took more than a few assumptions to come up with a monthly payment less than $700 -- current earnings of $14,000 (with reductions going back accordingly) return a monthly benefit of $693.

I would like to revisit how I was "privileged" (yes I am a white male) -- additional commentary by Maynard G. Krebs/DU primitive whathehell:

* I grew up in poverty -- that is a story for another day
* I studied hard (WORK!) in HS since my Mom made it clear that was the only way to get ahead
* Before that I worked (WORK!) for my dad and was paid less than minimum wage -- and rode my bike an hour each way to do so (WORK!)
* The result of my studies (WORK!) was good grades and a good SAT which led to admission to a very VERY good University
* I also had scholarships and loans (the latter of which I paid 100%) as a result of my work (WORK!) in HS
* I learned my craft (now called IT) in college and graduated (WORK!)
* Upon day 1 of working my first job I continued to learn (WORK!) as much as I could about not only my job but its context -- how what I did affected the entirety within which I did it (WORK!)
* I continued to learn and work my profession for many years (WORK!) -- always learning more about both my profession AND its context (WORK!)
* I planned for tomorrow (WORK!) and invested wisely (WORK!)
* Oh and I work (WORK!) my ass off every day.

I ain't bragging folks -- this is the traditional American dream and how to pursue it.  Anyone who worked their ass off (WORK!) to get a decent living should see red (as I do) when I see terms like "income inequality."  It means I worked (WORK!) while they sat on their dead asses. I am not alone.  There are millions who did the same -- many who also came from poverty.

And for lurking DUmpmonkies, don't try to convince anyone that there are huge swaths of Americans who have been disabled and thus unable to follow this path.  The only thing that results in a Social Security payment of <$700 is lack of work (WORK!).