Villages living only on Social Security

[JSR22]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. Wat a joke!

[retiredguy123]

One bedroom apartments at The Lofts start at $1,600 per month. I don't know of any other one bedroom apartments available in The Villages.

[JSR22]

One bedroom apartments at The Lofts start at $1,600 per month. I don't know of any other one bedroom apartments available in The Villages.

Exactly, total misinformation!

[Djean1981]

There are some rent controlled senior housing areas near, but not in the villages. I think the actual rent is contingent on certain levels of income.

[golfing eagles]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. What a joke!

$1593/month or $1593/DAY:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[kkingston57]

Rented our 3/2 2 years ago $1500 a month with no golf cart. Now probably 2K+. Buyer/renter beware of this article.

[Stu from NYC]

It can be done if you own home free and clear and live rather frugally.

[tophcfa]

It can be done if you own home free and clear and live rather frugally.

Perhaps a year ago, before hyper inflation. Very difficult now unless you never go out and live on ramen noodles.

[Babubhat]

Villages is in top 70 of places with millionaires per capita. Why LSL full of wealth management. Must be talking about historic section that needs a bulldozer

[Vikingjunior]

I heard they're putting affordable housing in the Villages soon. It will be a lottery and need to meet low income financial requirements.
Government says TV needs to be more diverse and open to everyone.

[rjm1cc]

The good news is you know the study is flawed.

[Robbb]

The purpose of these "studies" is to draw clicks to a website, not to inform. Of course they are going to say crazy things, that's how they get clicks.

[Stu from NYC]

I heard they're putting affordable housing in the Villages soon. It will be a lottery and need to meet low income financial requirements.
Government says TV needs to be more diverse and open to everyone.

Where did you hear this?

How in the world can a place like this be open to everyone?

[coralway]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. Wat a joke!




It’s not a joke. This is one of the cheapest places you’ll find. Home prices are low, as well they should considering the quality and small sizes of the houses. Even rent is low here compared to Orlando and Miami.

[Debra Freeman]

Everyone gets a different amount of SS so this doesn’t make sense.

[Bay Kid]

Dad sure couldn't live on the SS he earned. Such a shame people who don't work and sit on their butt all day are given more.

[Worldseries27]

rented our 3/2 2 years ago $1500 a month with no golf cart. Now probably 2k+. Buyer/renter beware of this article.
think we need new signs on the bridges

[Ewalsh43]

I heard they're putting affordable housing in the Villages soon. It will be a lottery and need to meet low income financial requirements.
Government says TV needs to be more diverse and open to everyone.

Why does the government feel the need to determine the diversity of our Community. Yeah diversity has done so much for places like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco…..That’s exactly why I moved here

[Nucky]

Villages is in top 70 of places with millionaires per capita. Why LSL full of wealth management. Must be talking about historic section that needs a bulldozer

You are speaking about the area I live in and do so with so many others who just Love the Historic Section. Speaking for the majority of 4000 plus home owners, clam up if you don’t have anything nice to say.

I’m proud of myself for not passing judgment in writing on you Babuhat. Good job condemning all of us, thanks.

[CSB1228]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. Wat a joke!

Keep in mind, not everyone receives the same amount of SS.
This on the Villagershomes4rent.com
1 Bedroom Patio Villa: Rental amount is $1350/month with a 12 month lease required. Rental amount includes the amenity fee, water, and outside care. Renter pays electric, cable, and internet.

[dewilson58]

Live on $4,000 per month SS in TV....................yep.

[Dusty_Star]

Keep in mind, not everyone receives the same amount of SS.
This on the Villagershomes4rent.com
1 Bedroom Patio Villa: Rental amount is $1350/month with a 12 month lease required. Rental amount includes the amenity fee, water, and outside care. Renter pays electric, cable, and internet.

I looked up the average Social Security & as of June 2022 it is listed as $1,542. So the article is padding the average by a bit. But they have rent at $756 which leaves $837 for everything else, including Medicare & basic living expenses. So not much room. A rental at $1350 a month leaves only $243 (from the article's stated $1,593) which taking out Medicare & electric, leaves just about nothing. Probably in negative territory.

[Rzepecki]

I’m sure rental prices have gone up, but one bedroom patio villas exist.

[La lamy]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. Wat a joke!

More like $756 a WEEK!!!

[CoachKandSportsguy]

That's a pure advertising website which probably allows any article by any advertiser. I would perform due diligence on any article's information on which you will be making a decision. Otherwise, not worth taking seriously.

world renown finance critic

[MandoMan]

Villages is in top 70 of places with millionaires per capita. Why LSL full of wealth management. Must be talking about historic section that needs a bulldozer

Being a millionaire may seem rich to you, but it isn’t if you have only one million and want to pass it on to your children. It’s said that you can generally take out about 4% a year and do that. Let’s say you have one million, so you can take out $40,000 a year from your mutual funds. You also have $30,000 a year from Social Security. But your mutual funds firm automatically takes out 20% with every withdrawal for taxes. That’s $8,000, leaving you with $32,000. Then you get taxed on your entire Social Security income because your supplemental income is more than $25,000. Let’s say that works out to $5,000 of your Social Security that you lose, though it may be more. Those two are $13,000 subtracted from your yearly $40,000. So that million dollars is only adding $27,000 to your Social Security.

Thanks to the effects on the stock market of Covid, Ukraine, supply problems, etc., your million dollars has also decreased by 30% total. So ideally you shouldn’t take anything out until that goes back up.

Having TWO million instead of one should help a lot, but the number of people here with two is much smaller than the people with one. (And those who had three million last year May have only about two million at the moment.) If you have a million dollar house and drive a BMW or two, you should probably have four or five million. That’s an even smaller number of people.

[Dusty_Star]

Being a millionaire may seem rich to you, but it isn’t if you have only one million and want to pass it on to your children. It’s said that you can generally take out about 4% a year and do that. Let’s say you have one million, so you can take out $40,000 a year from your mutual funds. You also have $30,000 a year from Social Security. But your mutual funds firm automatically takes out 20% with every withdrawal for taxes. That’s $8,000, leaving you with $32,000. Then you get taxed on your entire Social Security income because your supplemental income is more than $25,000. Let’s say that works out to $5,000 of your Social Security that you lose, though it may be more. Those two are $13,000 subtracted from your yearly $40,000. So that million dollars is only adding $27,000 to your Social Security.

Thanks to the effects on the stock market of Covid, Ukraine, supply problems, etc., your million dollars has also decreased by 30% total. So ideally you shouldn’t take anything out until that goes back up.

Having TWO million instead of one should help a lot, but the number of people here with two is much smaller than the people with one. (And those who had three million last year May have only about two million at the moment.) If you have a million dollar house and drive a BMW or two, you should probably have four or five million. That’s an even smaller number of people.

Agree. A million sure isn't what it once was.

[Hankofthedesert]

It can be done if you own home free and clear and live rather frugally.
Ya....like food stamps

[clouwho]

The purpose of these "studies" is to draw clicks to a website, not to inform. Of course they are going to say crazy things, that's how they get clicks.

Yes, it is called clickbait and everyone HATES these sites. They spread terrible misinformation (which MANY fall for or waste time fact checking) and downright lies. Deadbeats who won’t get real jobs earn income for each of our clicks.

DON’T CLICK! It will be a triple win. You won’t be misinformed, they won’t get paid, and the workforce just might get a much needed WORKER in the process.

[PurePeach]

It can be done if you own home free and clear and live rather frugally.

Not with food prices the way they are these days! :ho:

[Stu from NYC]

Not with food prices the way they are these days! :ho:

As someone else said lots of ramen noodles and also beans and rice

[newgirl]

Wow..God complex?

[Miekies]

I heard they're putting affordable housing in the Villages soon. It will be a lottery and need to meet low income financial requirements.
Government says TV needs to be more diverse and open to everyone.

Do you have links, proof of this? Would love to see actual proof of this claim so I can properly respond vs hear say. Thank in advance for sharing where you received this other than a friend of a friend or someone in authority told me so

[jacqueline larsen]

$1593/month or $1593/DAY:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:
Perhaps in Wildwood.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Wow..God complex?

who? where? damn, I missed it

[manaboutown]

As someone else said lots of ramen noodles and also beans and rice

Maybe in Cuba?

[Vermilion Villager]

I heard they're putting affordable housing in the Villages soon. It will be a lottery and need to meet low income financial requirements.
Government says TV needs to be more diverse and open to everyone.

"I heard......"
Is that like "Many people are saying?" :wave:

[MrFlorida]

Social Security was not meant to live on , it's a retirement supplement.

[Stu from NYC]

Social Security was not meant to live on , it's a retirement supplement.

Very true. When they first started it with retirement at 65 vast majority of people passed on before that age.

Later on seems like many people never understood that it was meant to be only part of your income in retirement.

[Goinghiway]

One bedroom apartments at The Lofts start at $1,600 per month. I don't know of any other one bedroom apartments available in The Villages.


thats 800 a month from each, husband and wifey..?

[JSR22]

thats 800 a month from each, husband and wifey..?

tarts at $1600 per couple. Does not include amenity fee, utilities or garage.

[Michael G.]

Yes, it is called clickbait and everyone HATES these sites. They spread terrible misinformation (which MANY fall for or waste time fact checking) and downright lies. Deadbeats who won’t get real jobs earn income for each of our clicks.

DON’T CLICK! It will be a triple win. You won’t be misinformed, they won’t get paid, and the workforce just might get a much needed WORKER in the process.

Sounds like the news media in general.

[sdifede313@aol.com]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. Wat a joke!
So, not true? Exactly what would it cost to live in TV ? 1 BR rental???

[DAVES]

It’s not a joke. This is one of the cheapest places you’ll find. Home prices are low, as well they should considering the quality and small sizes of the houses. Even rent is low here compared to Orlando and Miami.

My view, my opinion, I've been poor, as a kid. I am comfortable, thanks to 45 years of HARD work and SAVINGS. Having BEEN poor is perhaps good training.

It is perhaps, true money does not buy happiness. if, that is true, money does make life more FUN with far more options.

[DAVES]

Seems to be several threads on this topic. Far as food, perhaps it is still up, there was a website, recipes from the great depression. Though I don't like them, so don't eat them, suppose, I could, would if very hungry, Sardines are healthy for you and cheap.

Lentil beans are the beans with the highest protein. I make a great soup. They were NOT LONG AGO a dollar a pound today like $1.50. That is, too lazy to look up my recipe, roughly a gallon of soup. I like soup. Almost anything can make soup. That is what soup was. Gotta be on sale soup. Look around the grocery store.


For many Villagers. Teasing BUT, that room called the kitchen, that is for COOKING not just for dishing out TAKE OUT.

[EdFNJ]

There are those who sold their previous home for big bucks, downsized here to a smaller home like a 2/2 or even a 1/1 and paid cash for their home and have 2 folks collecting SS. Between the equity in the bank from the sale and SS 2 could decently live here assuming they want to deal with all the snobs. So many variables but it can be easily done. Just with SS and zero other cash that of course would be simply absurd.

[Two Bills]

I love these 'living in poverty' threads.
The same posters who complain about rising costs of food. gas, etc move straight over to another thread to discuss their latest gripe on their most recent cruise.
Talk about 'cake, and eat it!'

[Nick B]

Villages is in top 70 of places with millionaires per capita. Why LSL full of wealth management. Must be talking about historic section that needs a bulldozer
No doubt the poors are bringing us down.

[JSR22]

So, not true? Exactly what would it cost to live in TV ? 1 BR rental???

A 1BR in the LOFTS start at $1600. Add the amenity fee and utilities around $2000.

[Bilyclub]

I heard they're putting affordable housing in the Villages soon. It will be a lottery and need to meet low income financial requirements.
Government says TV needs to be more diverse and open to everyone.


Just a poster trying to be funny or raise a few blood pressures.

[Stu from NYC]

Just a poster trying to be funny or raise a few blood pressures.

I go with the poster trying to be funny

[village dreamer]

I heard they're putting affordable housing in the Villages soon. It will be a lottery and need to meet low income financial requirements.
Government says TV needs to be more diverse and open to everyone.

and you get a free golf cart , phone , and a pack of new ports. oh and only $1000 in food stamps.

[golfing eagles]

and you get a free golf cart , phone , and a pack of new ports. oh and only $1000 in food stamps.

Yep, but they're no longer "food stamps", it's an EBT card. Years ago it was decided that the stamps were "demeaning":1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[CoachKandSportsguy]

all in our house cost about $22,000 a year, no mortgage, etc.
SS for two at max from tables = 72,000 . . cars paid for, insurance about $2K per year,
the rest is medical, golf and food, I think it can be done. .

even without any extra income. .

back of the envelope finance guy

[JMintzer]

all in our house cost about $22,000 a year, no mortgage, etc.
SS for two at max from tables = 72,000 . . cars paid for, insurance about $2K per year,
the rest is medical, golf and food, I think it can be done. .

even without any extra income. .

back of the envelope finance guy

You're assuming that both recipients are receiving the maximum SS payments.

The vast majority of people don't receive $3000+/month...

[golfing eagles]

all in our house cost about $22,000 a year, no mortgage, etc.
SS for two at max from tables = 72,000 . . cars paid for, insurance about $2K per year,
the rest is medical, golf and food, I think it can be done. .

even without any extra income. .

back of the envelope finance guy

Sounds good on paper, but I would suggest that those who are marginal enough to need to live on SS alone:

a) are not receiving the max SS amount
b) have a mortgage
c) may still have their car financed

[CoachKandSportsguy]

You're assuming that both recipients are receiving the maximum SS payments. The vast majority of people don't receive $3000+/month...

Yes, and the vast majority don't live in the villages. Getting the max social security is middle management pay, and there are many people who qualified in the last 20 years. looking at the tables, hitting max social security only required low $100Ks in salary.

So lets say a couple with 1 max and a spouse with 50%, so that is $54K per year, with house and car at $24K per year total expense. still seems doable. Now, this does not mean 2 weeks vacation in Europe and eating out every night. . . etc. means that its doable to live here with the income to spend on groceries.

A single person at the max, that might be too tight, a couple each at 50% that would be tight. The only reason I reference SS is because public and private pension payments are highly varied and not public information like SS. A state teacher's pension, might start out fine, but 20 years in with no cost of living increase, not so much. . again, the options are highly varied, and I am familiar with the SS chart as my sole retirement basis. . .

future former finance guy

[Lindsyburnsy]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. Wat a joke!
As believable as TV being the capitol of STDs. Haha

[Lindsyburnsy]

Not with food prices the way they are these days! :ho:
And they want to faze out SS and Medicare!!

[Babubhat]

gobankingrates.com has rated TV as the 5th place in FL where you only need SS to live. They claim you can get a 1br rental for $756 a month and total expenditures $1593 a month. Wat a joke!

They probably confuse TV with Fruitland park. Lots of dilapidated mobile homes to choose from

[JMintzer]

And they want to faze out SS and Medicare!!

"They" do?

Who is "they"?

[JMintzer]

Yes, and the vast majority don't live in the villages. Getting the max social security is middle management pay, and there are many people who qualified in the last 20 years. looking at the tables, hitting max social security only required low $100Ks in salary.

So lets say a couple with 1 max and a spouse with 50%, so that is $54K per year, with house and car at $24K per year total expense. still seems doable. Now, this does not mean 2 weeks vacation in Europe and eating out every night. . . etc. means that its doable to live here with the income to spend on groceries.

A single person at the max, that might be too tight, a couple each at 50% that would be tight. The only reason I reference SS is because public and private pension payments are highly varied and not public information like SS. A state teacher's pension, might start out fine, but 20 years in with no cost of living increase, not so much. . again, the options are highly varied, and I am familiar with the SS chart as my sole retirement basis. . .

future former finance guy

Changing the parameters doesn't negate what I said...

[jimbomaybe]

Agree. A million sure isn't what it once was.

You got that right, last week I was talking to a lady at one of the squares , she had just found a Dime, it was of the copper core ones , if it had been an older dime pre 60s (64?) and real silver it would have been worth $1.65

[CoachKandSportsguy]

You're assuming that both recipients are receiving the maximum SS payments. The vast majority of people don't receive $3000+/month...

Point 1 - correct observation

Point 2 - true, so what. . . doesn't make anything I said wrong, just biased towards those who tend to buy in the villages in the current environment, due to the price of housing.

Counter point, the vast majority don't live in the Villages, also true, none of these factual observations changes, challenges or refutes anything.

those are just observational facts by you and me, all true.

there is nothing to debate with true observational facts.


so not sure what the response you want with true observational facts.

[JMintzer]

Point 1 - correct observation

Point 2 - true, so what. . . doesn't make anything I said wrong, just biased towards those who tend to buy in the villages in the current environment, due to the price of housing.

Counter point, the vast majority don't live in the Villages, also true, none of these factual observations changes, challenges or refutes anything.

those are just observational facts by you and me, all true.

there is nothing to debate with true observational facts.


so not sure what the response you want with true observational facts.

Well, you extrapolated your "observational facts" about two people receiving the max from SSD having no problem living in The Villages...

My only problem with that is that I don't believe that the vast majority of Villagers meet that criteria...

[Pairadocs]

One bedroom apartments at The Lofts start at $1,600 per month. I don't know of any other one bedroom apartments available in The Villages.

Made me wonder if this source was actually quoting prices from apartments for seniors that "appear" to be within the villages (for people who may only be looking at a map f the area). I recently was trying to help a relative (a senior in her 70's) on a VERY limited budget to find a place here. Those were approximately the prices and costs I was given when I looked at a brand new apartment building for seniors just off 466, and a "stones throw" to our village. Perhaps national publications, etc. really don't realize the details of actually living IN a village, as it really looks like part of the villages on a map. Our relative was not at all concerned since she is not at all interested in golf, or pickle-ball, etc. and is aware that the entertainment in the evenings is paid for by merchants and state tourism grand monies, so anyone is welcome to enjoy.

[Pairadocs]

"They" do?

Who is "they"?

Sure hope the poster answers your question ! I too wonder who "they" really are ? Someone at the state level ? or is this MANY people at the federal level ? Did the person mean "congress" in total ... ? It's a very strange posting ! Very little information to go on.

[Pairadocs]

Villages is in top 70 of places with millionaires per capita. Why LSL full of wealth management. Must be talking about historic section that needs a bulldozer

Needs a "bulldozer" ??? I guess we all have our own opinions of course, but we ate at OBCC last week and took a GC ride through OBH's, hadn't been over there for over a year (since our good friends moved to a more southern retirement community). Have others seen what a lovely area it is ? Could not imagine it needs a "bulldozer" ! The smaller homes are so nicely kept, hard to imagine why someone would say that, and the new homes they are building there really surprised us too. Still think the original village and country club is exceptional.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

About half of US income is earned by households making more than $100,000 per year, with most owning their own homes. https://twitter.com/lisaabramowicz1/status/1571810104432857089

Bloomberg Lisa Abramowicz today

With max Social Security income limit currently at like $140K, that means that slightly less than 50% of the population today qualifies for near max social security. . .

So that's why i made the statement I did, a lot more people have near max SS than one might realize.

I also see the salary and wages of the entire population of 15,000 employees in a utility company across 3 states and 3 segments, gas, electric and transmission, so I have some familiarity with income ranges and potential SS payouts. . I specialize in designing financial forecasting models for corporations, revenues in the billions. . .

but its a web site, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

future former corporate finance guy

[Nucky]

Needs a "bulldozer" ??? I guess we all have our own opinions of course, but we ate at OBCC last week and took a GC ride through OBH's, hadn't been over there for over a year (since our good friends moved to a more southern retirement community). Have others seen what a lovely area it is ? Could not imagine it needs a "bulldozer" ! The smaller homes are so nicely kept, hard to imagine why someone would say that, and the new homes they are building there really surprised us too. Still think the original village and country club is exceptional.

You know I've got to thank you and compliment you for being a really decent person. When we moved in in 2016 I could have gone for a house with a mortgage or pay off life #1 in N.J. and buy a beautiful Manufactured Home amongst older but phenomenal neighbors and be debt free and do whatever I want whenever I want. I choose door #2 there Monte Hall. I have no regrets whatsoever. We really love it here.

I have had several medical incidents self-inflicted because of slip and fall accidents from being in a rush all the time and I've had to dip into the first million of what we have left. LOL. Other than that we do live on Social Security and still save every month. We are free to go out to dinner 4 or 5 times a week but haven't started that up again since covid started.

The big difference is no $800 to $1000 car payment and taxes that are less per year than we paid per month up north. We have a beautiful Golf Cart that usually looks like it came out of the showroom and we stay up all night when we feel like it and then sleep all day if we want to. This is it. Last chance, gotta live it up. What the hell did I get up at 3 to 4 AM every day for 40-plus years if I'm not going to live it up now?

Against my better judgment, we gave each of our three boys a financial blast because I would rather see them enjoy some better things now instead of giving them the money when I'm taking a dirt nap.

Can you live in The Villages on Social Security only? You better believe it. We just passed the six-year anniversary in Orange Blossom Village and we wouldn't trade it for the world.

P.S. before the new section really took off I had always planned on buying a CYV. When the rates were low and all the best circumstances were available is when I got hurt. When I was on the mend and we went to see some friends with a beautiful house in St. Johns and I fell in love with the idea of a new house. When I was driving home and talking about my plan a few tears came from my wife, I asked what's a matter you? She told me if I wanted to make her happy just stay put in the Love Shack. Case Closed. We're here till the end. If that's what makes her happy then it's the simple life for us and back to the Bonefish a whole lot of times a month. :mmmm:

Thanks for listening. We are not at the top of SS but whatever the $number$ is it made getting up early all those years worth it. Peace Out!

[Caymus]

About half of US income is earned by households making more than $100,000 per year, with most owning their own homes. https://twitter.com/lisaabramowicz1/status/1571810104432857089

Bloomberg Lisa Abramowicz today

With max Social Security income limit currently at like $140K, that means that slightly less than 50% of the population today qualifies for near max social security. . .

So that's why i made the statement I did, a lot more people have near max SS than one might realize.

I also see the salary and wages of the entire population of 15,000 employees in a utility company across 3 states and 3 segments, gas, electric and transmission, so I have some familiarity with income ranges and potential SS payouts. . I specialize in designing financial forecasting models for corporations, revenues in the billions. . .

but its a web site, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

future former corporate finance guy

Not many husbands AND wives (spousal equivalent) make the maximum SS taxable salary. This is especially true of people that were born in the 40's and 50's. Most women were stay at home moms. Your argument has more merit for future SS recipients.