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Originally Posted by clouwho
Check out “the villages newcomers” YouTube channel and search for their most recent annual budget video. It is very representative of what I would call an average villagers lifestyle costs. My friends and I find it to be very close to our own costs to live here. Jerry is a veteran so some of his costs are reduced for the generous veterans discounts here in Florida.
I am a budgeted, saver, and over-planner (which it sounds like you are also) and have tracked my income and expenses for 50 years and will P.M. you areas of concern based on huge increases across certain areas since we moved to TV full time 5 years ago. I don’t have time right now to open software and get hard numbers and I do want to be specific with someone such as yourself.
You will do great here!
My husband and I did the same kind of path to retirement you are choosing. He was engineer with same company in Georgia for 32 years. When we decided we wanted to retire to TV when he turned 64, he let his boss know he did not want to retire yet, but that we were definitely moving to TV. They did not want him to leave so they created their first “remote” employee position.
It worked fabulously. He worked full time year 1, 30-hour week year 2, 20-hour week year 3 (and started training his replacement), 10-hour week year 4. We maintained his company insurance, 401k match etc for those 4 years.
This allowed us to be debt and mortgage-free when he retired 12/23 at 68. Those extra 4 years also allowed us to create a nice travel fund, a more than adequate home maintenance and repair fund, college funds for grands, and increase our SSA payments by delaying filing.
And at the same time my husband got to enjoy the pleasures of retired life here in TV before and after work hours. We know several people who are choosing this path and have heard of a whole lot more who are moving here in their early 50s to have the best of both worlds.
I wish you a successful transition and happy house hunting. Make sure you work with both an MLS realtor and a Villages sales person to optimize your offerings. READ the Villages sales contract carefully. It is NOT a standard Florida real estate contract. We dealt with The Villages on our investment home and said never again. MLS realtor and standard Florida contract for us for any future transactions. Read your Deed Restrictions carefully. Every district has different restrictions. Since you are wisely renting first I would recommend you attend every new villagers class that is offered. ESPECIALLY the one that explains how CDDs and our district government works. It is unlike anyplace you have lived.
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You sound like a kindred soul, CW!
I appreciate you taking the time to stop by my post and give me your insights.
It's looking good for me to WFH, from The Villages, until the end of 2026 or the end of 2028. Full time, full salary, full benefits.
If I pull the plug in 2026, I'll have to fund health insurance to the end of 2028. If I can weather the insanity until 2028, I'll transition right out of employment benefits, right into Medicare, and start "Me Version 2.0" with no debt and a razor-sharp understanding of what these costs will be.
Please feel free to reach out directly....anyone.
The classes are a real PRO TIP!