There Goes My retirement Plan!

[Sugarcubesea]

If you consider moving, take a hard look at Las Vegas. Once you get in the suburbs, you forget that you are in Vegas and feel like it is any other city. Utilities, tax, food and housing cost are very cheap. Lots to do and see and lots of day trips to explore that will keep you entertained.

Not to hijack the thread, but Vegas is on my radar as a place to retire to… I have really bad RA and I need a warm climate for when I retire...

 

[Fern Modena]

You know that Vegas, being a desert, is not hot all year, right? It will be in the 50's tomorrow, with a low the following morning of 38, And it isn't winter yet!

Just wanted to make sure you know this. Plan to spend several different times of year here before you move permanently if weather is a big factor.

Fern

Not to hijack the thread, but Vegas is on my radar as a place to retire to… I have really bad RA and I need a warm climate for when I retire...

 

[VacationForever]

Not to hijack the thread, but Vegas is on my radar as a place to retire to… I have really bad RA and I need a warm climate for when I retire...

I believe with RA it is about being dry vs. humid as opposed to hot vs. cold. I believe Vegas area will do wonders for your RA. I know alot about RA from my mother's experience. She suffered so much in hot and humid enviroment and her symptoms all went away when she spent a year in Beijing with me. Beijing is very dry year round and extremely cold in winter.

 

[PigsDad]

... I also don't like living in an area where there are water shortages. No deserts for me.

Thinking NH, North Carolina (never been), maybe PA, or possibly Colorado- (never been).

Not sure if you know, but most of Colorado is a high desert. Maybe not as extreme as Vegas area, but if you are looking for a place that does not have to deal with water shortages / droughts, you might consider crossing it off your list.

Kurt

 

[WinniWoman]

Not sure if you know, but most of Colorado is a high desert. Maybe not as extreme as Vegas area, but if you are looking for a place that does not have to deal with water shortages / droughts, you might consider crossing it off your list.

Kurt

Thanks. Didn't know. I guess I have to take a trip out there someday anyway. I think of Colorado and rocky (as in the mtns) but also green. I thought I might like the vibe there- somewhat like Vermont with the skiing and hiking mountains and so on. Are there a lot of Lakes?

 

[Sugarcubesea]

You know that Vegas, being a desert, is not hot all year, right? It will be in the 50's tomorrow, with a low the following morning of 38, And it isn't winter yet!

Just wanted to make sure you know this. Plan to spend several different times of year here before you move permanently if weather is a big factor.

Fern

Fern, Thanks so much… Yes, I know that its not warm all the time, but the key factor is there is no SNOW and ICE to deal with and that is huge for me…

We are going to be using the timeshare over the next 5 years to travel to locations we want to retire in to check it out

 

[Sugarcubesea]

I believe with RA it is about being dry vs. humid as opposed to hot vs. cold. I believe Vegas area will do wonders for your RA. I know alot about RA from my mother's experience. She suffered so much in hot and humid enviroment and her symptoms all went away when she spent a year in Beijing with me. Beijing is very dry year round and extremely cold in winter.

The hot and humid weather in MI does me in each year, but the damp constant rain we got these last few years have been brutal on me…There is no perfect climate but to get hot and dry most of the time will be a blessing for me

 

[WinniWoman]

The hot and humid weather in MI does me in each year, but the damp constant rain we got these last few years have been brutal on me…There is no perfect climate but to get hot and dry most of the time will be a blessing for me

Arizona is another possibility. Or- Hawaii! Or even California- but high taxes and expensive.

 

[klpca]

The hot and humid weather in MI does me in each year, but the damp constant rain we got these last few years have been brutal on me…There is no perfect climate but to get hot and dry most of the time will be a blessing for me

I have RA too (but mine is pretty well under control) and the relief that I feel when we go to Palm Desert is amazing. I love the dry heat.

 

[Luanne]

I have RA too (but mine is pretty well under control) and the relief that I feel when we go to Palm Desert is amazing. I love the dry heat.

Just two words......Santa Fe.

 

[PigsDad]

Thanks. Didn't know. I guess I have to take a trip out there someday anyway. I think of Colorado and rocky (as in the mtns) but also green. I thought I might like the vibe there- somewhat like Vermont with the skiing and hiking mountains and so on. Are there a lot of Lakes?

Only lakes of any size are man-made reservoirs (no trees / natural shore lines). Mountains are fairly wooded, but not a dense as your would be used to out east, but that is only about 1/2 of the state. Living in the mountains is 1) expensive, and 2) you have to deal w/ the constant threat of forest fires. #2 is what keeps me on the plains (especially after living through a few really bad forest fire years.

Kurt

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Just two words......Santa Fe.

Is Santa Fe, dry heat like AZ? What do you love most about this area

 

[WinniWoman]

Only lakes of any size are man-made reservoirs (no trees / natural shore lines). Mountains are fairly wooded, but not a dense as your would be used to out east, but that is only about 1/2 of the state. Living in the mountains is 1) expensive, and 2) you have to deal w/ the constant threat of forest fires. #2 is what keeps me on the plains (especially after living through a few really bad forest fire years.

Kurt

Thanks for the info. Where I live in the woods in Hudson Valley, NY, we had a fire in our area last spring that was really becoming a concern. It started on the ridge and kept spreading. First time we ever experienced a threat of that kind.

Well, guess I have to stick with the east coast then. I like big gorgeous lakes and mountains and lots of greenery and scenery.

I am not into the plains or desserts. When we were in Wyoming and Montana and Arizona I decided that. Although- don't get me wrong- they were awesome states to explore. And I definitely don't want more expensive.

 

[Luanne]

Is Santa Fe, dry heat like AZ? What do you love most about this area

Yes dry heat, dry cold. It doesn't get as hot as some areas of Arizona (although there are areas of Arizona that don't get as hot as others). We are in the high desert so we do get snow, but it usually doesn't stick on the roads for long.

Things we love are the beauty of the area, there are so many things to do, plus wonderful restaurants.

Santa Fe is definitely a city for retirees. For example there is an organization called Renesan, which is billed as lifelong learning. Some fabulous classes and field trips. The symphony starts at the civilized hour of 4 p.m., so you're done by 6 and can have dinner after. It takes us about 15 minutes from our house to get into town, park and get into our seats. When we lived in California going to the symphony became a weekend event as it took an hour to get there (and back) and it didn't start until 8:00 p.m.

 

[DebBrown]

I am embarrassed to admit that I am in my 50s and had no idea about how social security really worked. I am confused about the spousal benefit vs my own work record. It seems that only one of us can take the full benefit at whatever age we choose. The other is limited to just spousal benefits? We have both worked full time but I never realized that we wouldn't each get our own full benefits. What the heck?!

We have managed to save quite a bit so I've never thought that we'd be dependent on SS. Still, I expected to get full benefits. :annoyed:

Deb

 

[Sugarcubesea]

I am embarrassed to admit that I am in my 50s and had no idea about how social security really worked. I am confused about the spousal benefit vs my own work record. It seems that only one of us can take the full benefit at whatever age we choose. The other is limited to just spousal benefits? We have both worked full time but I never realized that we wouldn't each get our own full benefits. What the heck?!

We have managed to save quite a bit so I've never thought that we'd be dependent on SS. Still, I expected to get full benefits. :annoyed:

Deb

I thought that if both spouses worked you would each get your own benefits vs.one having to take the spouses…dang, I might have to get divorced in retirement….

 

[DebBrown]

I thought that if both spouses worked you would each get your own benefits vs.one having to take the spouses…dang, I might have to get divorced in retirement….

Well, maybe you are right. That's what I'm trying to figure out.

I just found this on the SSA website: "If a spouse is eligible for a retirement benefit based on his or her own earnings, and if that benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, then we pay the retirement benefit. Otherwise we pay the spousal benefit."

So I guess I was upset for nothing? DH will probably have a higher benefit than me but not by much so my benefit will be better than the spousal benefit. Definitely confusing!

 

[Elan]

Well, guess I have to stick with the east coast then. I like big gorgeous lakes and mountains and lots of greenery and scenery.

.

Yeah, we certainly don't have any of those things out west, LOL.

Seriously, is there a mountain of note east of the Rockies?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Luanne]

I thought that if both spouses worked you would each get your own benefits vs.one having to take the spouses…dang, I might have to get divorced in retirement….

Both dh and I are taking our own benefits.

 

[Passepartout]

We have both worked full time but I never realized that we wouldn't each get our own full benefits. What the heck?!

We have managed to save quite a bit so I've never thought that we'd be dependent on SS. Still, I expected to get full benefits. :annoyed:

If both spouses worked and paid in to SS, both spouses get their own retirement benefits. This thread has been more than a little misleading. IF there is a large discrepancy between the spouse's contributions- and consequently- benefits, the lower earning spouse can choose to take half the higher earning spouse's benefit- or their own. Whichever is greater.

So, there is no reason to be annoyed. Your benefit is your own, based on what you and your employers contribute during your working years.

Jim

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Yes dry heat, dry cold. It doesn't get as hot as some areas of Arizona (although there are areas of Arizona that don't get as hot as others). We are in the high desert so we do get snow, but it usually doesn't stick on the roads for long.

Things we love are the beauty of the area, there are so many things to do, plus wonderful restaurants.

Santa Fe is definitely a city for retirees. For example there is an organization called Renesan, which is billed as lifelong learning. Some fabulous classes and field trips. The symphony starts at the civilized hour of 4 p.m., so you're done by 6 and can have dinner after. It takes us about 15 minutes from our house to get into town, park and get into our seats. When we lived in California going to the symphony became a weekend event as it took an hour to get there (and back) and it didn't start until 8:00 p.m.

Thanks for this great info… I'm going to have to plan a trip to Santa Fe to check out the area….

 

[tompalm]

Well, maybe you are right. That's what I'm trying to figure out.

I just found this on the SSA website: "If a spouse is eligible for a retirement benefit based on his or her own earnings, and if that benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, then we pay the retirement benefit. Otherwise we pay the spousal benefit."

So I guess I was upset for nothing? DH will probably have a higher benefit than me but not by much so my benefit will be better than the spousal benefit. Definitely confusing!

What plan might work best for you is to take the spouse benefit at FRA, 66-67, and later at age 70 you could apply for your own benefit that would be a lot higher than getting it at FRA. So if you have longevity in your family and expect to live past 90 years old, you would collect more by waiting.

 

[MuranoJo]

What plan might work best for you is to take the spouse benefit at FRA, 66-67, and later at age 70 you could apply for your own benefit that would be a lot higher than getting it at FRA. So if you have longevity in your family and expect to live past 90 years old, you would collect more by waiting.

And I heard they're considering getting rid of this option.

This thread has certainly been a' wandering all over the place.

 

[WinniWoman]

I am embarrassed to admit that I am in my 50s and had no idea about how social security really worked. I am confused about the spousal benefit vs my own work record. It seems that only one of us can take the full benefit at whatever age we choose. The other is limited to just spousal benefits? We have both worked full time but I never realized that we wouldn't each get our own full benefits. What the heck?!

We have managed to save quite a bit so I've never thought that we'd be dependent on SS. Still, I expected to get full benefits. :annoyed:

Deb

No! NO! If you each worked you each are entitled to your own full benefit.

But- there are/were other strategies for collecting SS that couples could utilize to maximize their Lifetime benefits, such as file and suspend. I have spent a lot of time reading books and articles on it, but now the Congress has eliminate the key strategy my husband and I were going to implement, hence the reason for my original thread here.

 

[WinniWoman]

Yeah, we certainly don't have any of those things out west, LOL.

Seriously, is there a mountain of note east of the Rockies?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

What I meant was you said the mountains were expensive to live in in Colorado. Not as much here in the East.

You said there wasn't the same greenery or lakes.

I think the scenery and mountains out West are awesome! My husband really loves Wyoming- but I don't like the flat plains to live on or the cold winters, which I hear are really windy and freezing. I love a lot of things about the West- love to travel there and want to see more- never been to Utah or the Dakotas- but- not sure I would want to live in those areas, that's all.

BTW- Mt Washington and Mt Mansfield are note worthy, and I here there are some good ones in the Smokies down south. Sure- nothing like the Rockies for sure. But still beautiful nonetheless.