In our quest to possibly change course on our lives my wife and I started to evaluate just how much money does it take to live? I have known folks that made a lot less than what I thought was necessary to survive, but they survived just fine. What is well? I suppose we all define that differently, but as I see it as a home your comfortable with, food on the table, power & gas for teh home, a car or bike with insurance, all bills paid, with a little extra left over to make improvements, vacation, and save for retirement.

As I see it, assuming the house & car's are paid for and there are no other bills, it would take about $3000 cash per month to live for a family of 4. That's tax and insurance on house & cars, cable and cell phones, and college fund for kids. No retirement or health insurance factored in because with Obamacare and Social Security who needs insurance or retirement planning? Seriously, no money is factored in for emergencies, but reasonable cash reserves is assumed.

What say you?

and as an afterthought, how much does it take to retire? One friend of mine said for him to maintain his standard of living he set is target at 3 million. I think that is high, but that is my opinion. I know someone that retired with about 500k with everything paid for, but with the market fluctuations, it has not been enough. I know another couple that lost thier jobs in thier 50's and have been living ok on thier savings and now social security. They even save a little money. A lot of the equation is a person's health and lifestyle, but on average what does it take?

$3 Million? WTF? I guess if you have it you'll spend it.
I've always lived a simple life - was raised on very little so I've never had expensive tastes. I buy quality stuff that usually lasts and I fix what i can to keep it working. As long as I have my health I'll continue to work no matter how old I get. I see people living beyond their means all the time out here in CA. I don't understand it. For me, a few hundred bucks a month pays my bills other months - repairs or maintenance ups it considerably. I cook at home - I eat well and healthy - I buy my food on sale - I make my purchases by planning for them. I've done this my whole life. I have friends that spend more in one night out than I spend in a month so I don't think there is a definitive amount of savings that one could last on. It all depends on ones tastes and habits. Are you a happy person - or are you one of those that must be out on the town to enjoy your days? Some people aren't content unless they can eat at restaurants, go on trips, see shows, have brand new cars - bikes - boats - etc...
I guess the formula would be -
$how much you spend per month on all the things that KEEP you happy.
food could be a constant with increases for cost of living/inflation
your reoccurring bills are pretty constant

ADD it all up and multiply by how many years you plan on living. You might not live that long or you will out live your projection, in which case you better put away some extra.

kickstand,

First let me share a quote I cannot remember where I heard it: "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans".

With that said I feel that economics is geographic in the USA. One should considering balancing expected estimated monthly income and the economy where you live, where you'd like to live and what other place you'd consider living that your hard earned money would go the farthest.

Up here where I live you cannot rent a 2 bedroom apartment,nothing included for under 800$ a month. Cheap shitty houses are over $200,000. Heating expenses are thru the roof and for 4-5 months.

I know in Eastern North Carolina for an example, all you need is 1000-1100$ a month to cover your bets for a family of 3 and with some left over. And if you make more you're golden. In a decent trailer park you can rent older trailers for 200-275$ a month. Or purchase a new one for the same amount a month mortgage but you'd need a piece of land to place it. There is plenty land available in Eastern NC for decent prices. Add to that utilities(phone($70)/electric($75)/water($40 every 3 months)/heat(part of electric bill) might avg 140-145$ a month, lower some months,higher other months.

So far thats; 485$ covering rent/mortgage and utllities. Add another 400-450$ for groceries and there ya go. A total of 840-935$: rent/mortgage(300$),Utilities(140-145$) and food(400-450$). Of course you need to add a smidge more for a few more kids but you get the gist.

Up here and in too many other parts of the country that monthly amount triples and more. Luckily my wife and I combine to cover our bets but that all changes at retirement. We too have projected changes come retirement if healthy enough and alive.

Of course North Carolina isn't the only economically friendly place in the country. And North Carolina isn't necessarily the best place in the country either. Its just one choice that I am personally aware of. I can tell you there is not one perfect place where by certain concessions won't have to be made of one kind or another. And sometimes its not bad to dance with the devil you know so to speak(staying where you're established)?

Personally I try not to make a big fuss of when I retire because I have to make sure I make it that far. I just know as a motorcyclist I am tired of the snow and cold. The cost to stay warm. Driving in the sh*t.

Good luck Kickstand. I am excited for you and that you have the energy and the spirit for such a journey.

Ain’t that the truth. You made me chuckle with that very accurate quote.



$1380 a month that’s pretty cheap living. It’s much lower than I would have guessed. I need to go to NC and ride around the state. My wife loves the mountains around Asheville, but I have never seen any of it. We still have that acre in Leicester and I really want to go there and see it. If all goes well maybe we can go there this summer. We just got too many strings attached to make solid plans. I have still not been to NC. My wife does not like the idea of driving there in the heat of the summer. I dunno… I may just have to take a road trip on the WG.

Thanks for the feedback.

Keep in mind that North Carolina economics is also geographical, meaning there are some exclusive and expensive places to live in NC too.

No matter where you chose you have to do your research and homework before you pull the trigger. Once you decide on an area write or call their chamber of commerce for that area and they will send you tons of valuable and usefull information.

This far out I am doing my research. It's a funny thing how life can be. I was talking with a co-worker today that recently moved to a different house. It's an area some find very desirable, nothing too fancy, but it's the lifestyle people like. It's on an island. He mentioned that he wished he had done it years ago. The people and area are a lot different, but it's not very far from his old house.

The area we move to, where ever that may be, has to be an area we will want to live for a long time. I know guys that have thier homes paid for and because of where thier house is, it cost them 10k a year taxes/insurance/HOA to live there. I don't want that. A log cabin on 5 acres in the mountains with cool neighbours, low taxes, and no HOA.

I didn't think this move through as well as I should have 20 something years ago. Was living in North Carolina and had forgotten how forbodden the winter is here.

In my defense I have tried on 2 different occasions to transfer. Once to Asheville and another time to Salisbury,NC. No luck in both cases. Another time to Topeka, Kansas with no luck.

I prefer no extremes. No extreme heat and no extreme cold. A little snow/winter but not a couple months of part time career in snow removal.

I did the same thing - I got all excited about going out west. Didn't realize how much I'd miss the old gang - or what type of people I'd meet out here. This is a great place to vacation in but it is a bit much to live out here. The traffic, the over crowding, the foreigners that ruin this place, the lack of work for a "White" man... I'm contemplating a relocation back to NY, or maybe NC - I have a sister there. Either way, I getting tired of my "Permanent Vacation".
I don't think anyone can predict all the variables involved in re-location. Do your best to think it through but it is impossible to foresee the future or all of the situations that come with it.

RK...the wintes up here and upstate NY are a biotch. Moving back here would work if come winter you could pull up stakes and head south until the winter was all clear. Depending where your sister lives in NC would be the better relocate. Cheaper too.