[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by dennis11003

I've been a member for several years but seldom post. I do log on several times a week to read posts that interest me. My wife and I are probably 5-7 years from retirement and live in Wisconsin (currently 10 degrees going down to -3 tonight).

This is the type of post that really interests me and I appreciate everyone's input. When we retire, I don't know if The Villages will be for us or not. I've driven through several of the communities and have walked around several areas. My sister lives close by so we have the opportunity to "look around" when we visit her. Eventually, we will pay for a vist to the Villages and hope to experience everything that is offered.

Until then, I will lurk and read and take in everything I can. I want to be certain that when we retire, we can afford the cost and not have to work. Until we can afford it, we won't retire! Someone said to track your expenses for 2-3 years prior to retirement and estimate accurately what they might be when and where you retire. I won't retire if I have to work 2 or 3 jobs - that's not retirement!

I enjoy this forum because there are a lot of smart people giving practical, valuable advice. Thanks for allowing me to read your forums and the opportunity to post.

Welcome Dennis.

Glad to see that you are thinking things through. I betcha you will end up here. It is a choice we are glad we made.

Hope you continue to post. You seem like a person who has a lot to offer us.

Kindest wishes,
Gracie

[Army Guy]

Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida

How can we put a price on "Lifestyle"? When my husband and I decided to live in The Villages over 12 years ago we bought a "lifestyle" along with our home. We could have spent less and had a nice home in any nearby retirement community. Those places are a dime a dozen in Florida. Let's face it, we can't buy a "loaded" car for the price of a stripped-down model. We didn't pay an amenity fee when we lived up north. That is about the only extra cost we have, living here. Our energy costs don't come close to what we spent up there. We didn't have a $50,000 Homestead Exemption there, so our real estate taxes were 3 times what we pay here. Our state imposed income taxes so there was another few thousand dollars going out every year. When we moved here we did so with a mortgage and only 1 pension to live on. It would be several years before Social Security would kick in. Our savings were off limits so we stuck to a rigid budget and went without a lot of stuff that you pay extra for. My husband DID work for two years, part-time, for extra money for championsip golf. We took full advantage of all of the free activities here, including many rides in our golf cart, just thoroughly enjoying the beauty all around us. There wasn't much money for shows or fancy restaurants. There WERE many evenings spent enjoying the sunsets from our lanai and listening to the plaintiff cries of the sandhill cranes high overhead. Did we bite off more than we could chew? Heck, no, we didn't! We wouldn't trade any of our years in The Villages for anything. This lifestyle is unlike anything else in the world. And, 12 1/2 years ago there wasn't one quarter what there is here now. The funny thing is that, now that we have more money to spend, we still enjoy the simpler pleasures that are all around us. We have found that we don't have to spend a lot to be very happy here. It seems that being happy all boils down to what happiness means to us and perhaps how many sacrifices some of us have to make to live here.

VF, this is honestly one of the best posts I have seen here for a long time. You pretty much sum up how a lot of us feel, even though our situations may not be exact like yours. You are right on!

Army Guy

[Army Guy]

Originally Posted by dennis11003

I've been a member for several years but seldom post. I do log on several times a week to read posts that interest me. My wife and I are probably 5-7 years from retirement and live in Wisconsin (currently 10 degrees going down to -3 tonight).

This is the type of post that really interests me and I appreciate everyone's input. When we retire, I don't know if The Villages will be for us or not. I've driven through several of the communities and have walked around several areas. My sister lives close by so we have the opportunity to "look around" when we visit her. Eventually, we will pay for a vist to the Villages and hope to experience everything that is offered.

Until then, I will lurk and read and take in everything I can. I want to be certain that when we retire, we can afford the cost and not have to work. Until we can afford it, we won't retire! Someone said to track your expenses for 2-3 years prior to retirement and estimate accurately what they might be when and where you retire. I won't retire if I have to work 2 or 3 jobs - that's not retirement!

I enjoy this forum because there are a lot of smart people giving practical, valuable advice. Thanks for allowing me to read your forums and the opportunity to post.

Welcome! And you are doing just what we did. We came to TV for the LSV, were very impressed but did not buy right away. I came back home found this site and then started to ask the hard questions on here where I knew I would not just get "the party line". After a couple months of that and another LSV, we bought. But we bought informed and knew just what we wehere getting into!

Army Guy

[LisaJ]

My husband and I watched and learned alot from this site as well. This forum is very informative and we finally were comfortable purchasing in TV. Thank you to everyone for their honest and educational feedback.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by LisaJ

My husband and I watched and learned alot from this site as well. This forum is very informative and we finally were comfortable purchasing in TV. Thank you to everyone for their honest and educational feedback.

Good for you two! Hope you're enjoying your new home!!

Bill

Originally Posted by Army Guy

Welcome! And you are doing just what we did. We came to TV for the LSV, were very impressed but did not buy right away. I came back home found this site and then started to ask the hard questions on here where I knew I would not just get "the party line". After a couple months of that and another LSV, we bought. But we bought informed and knew just what we wehere getting into!

Army Guy

We made a couple of visits, a friend who lives in the villages shared his spreadsheet of expenses and also another he had prepared for different models. We knew coming in what our expenses would be. May be tight while Son finishes college but well worth the move as I see it. Looking out the window at the snow makes me know that July 1 when I move for good. I made the right choice.

[decodiana]

As someone who is considering "the move" but will still need some form of employment income, I was just wondering how does one find good employment in this area? Seems to me that unless you're in the medical field, it may be difficult.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by decodiana

As someone who is considering "the move" but will still need some form of employment income, I was just wondering how does one find good employment in this area? Seems to me that unless you're in the medical field, it may be difficult.

I guess that would depend on what your expertise is. Yes it's tough to get a 'generic' job here that pays what it does up north. Good luck!

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida

How can we put a price on "Lifestyle"? When my husband and I decided to live in The Villages over 12 years ago we bought a "lifestyle" along with our home. We could have spent less and had a nice home in any nearby retirement community. Those places are a dime a dozen in Florida. Let's face it, we can't buy a "loaded" car for the price of a stripped-down model. We didn't pay an amenity fee when we lived up north. That is about the only extra cost we have, living here. Our energy costs don't come close to what we spent up there. We didn't have a $50,000 Homestead Exemption there, so our real estate taxes were 3 times what we pay here. Our state imposed income taxes so there was another few thousand dollars going out every year. When we moved here we did so with a mortgage and only 1 pension to live on. It would be several years before Social Security would kick in. Our savings were off limits so we stuck to a rigid budget and went without a lot of stuff that you pay extra for. My husband DID work for two years, part-time, for extra money for championsip golf. We took full advantage of all of the free activities here, including many rides in our golf cart, just thoroughly enjoying the beauty all around us. There wasn't much money for shows or fancy restaurants. There WERE many evenings spent enjoying the sunsets from our lanai and listening to the plaintiff cries of the sandhill cranes high overhead. Did we bite off more than we could chew? Heck, no, we didn't! We wouldn't trade any of our years in The Villages for anything. This lifestyle is unlike anything else in the world. And, 12 1/2 years ago there wasn't one quarter what there is here now. The funny thing is that, now that we have more money to spend, we still enjoy the simpler pleasures that are all around us. We have found that we don't have to spend a lot to be very happy here. It seems that being happy all boils down to what happiness means to us and perhaps how many sacrifices some of us have to make to live here.

A very insightful post for anyone who's budget would lend itself to living a frugal lifestyle. A testiment that you don't have to spend a lot of money to make yourself happy.



People are as happy as they make up their minds to be. Abraham Lincoln

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by dennis11003

I've been a member for several years but seldom post. I do log on several times a week to read posts that interest me. My wife and I are probably 5-7 years from retirement and live in Wisconsin (currently 10 degrees going down to -3 tonight).

This is the type of post that really interests me and I appreciate everyone's input. When we retire, I don't know if The Villages will be for us or not. I've driven through several of the communities and have walked around several areas. My sister lives close by so we have the opportunity to "look around" when we visit her. Eventually, we will pay for a vist to the Villages and hope to experience everything that is offered.

Until then, I will lurk and read and take in everything I can. I want to be certain that when we retire, we can afford the cost and not have to work. Until we can afford it, we won't retire! Someone said to track your expenses for 2-3 years prior to retirement and estimate accurately what they might be when and where you retire. I won't retire if I have to work 2 or 3 jobs - that's not retirement!

I enjoy this forum because there are a lot of smart people giving practical, valuable advice. Thanks for allowing me to read your forums and the opportunity to post.

dennis110003:

to TOTV. Try reading Zcavemans info in the "nuts and bolts" section. This is a great site to become more familiar with the happenings of TV.

A LSV is the only way to feel and see the beauty of the TV. Words on a page cannot describe it. Once you have visited, you can decide if it's for you. I know I was blown away.

IMHO - Having to work several jobs is not being retired. If one wants to work if additional income will help them have a better time or to not get bored is ok
unless they really enjoy what they are doing.

Best Wishes for your retirement plans.

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by carol_piirto

I love how most everyone has expressed their empathy and come up with suggestions. To me, that care is typical of The Villages. We all could use a few hints on pinching pennies. Be well.
This is my first post/just joined

Welcome Carol to TOTV. Carol was my sisters name.

As you know, this site is great for finding info about TV. There are many threads on how much it cost to live in TV. If you can't find what your looking for by doing a search, then just ask. There are so many wonderful people willing to help.

Keep on posting!!!

[rjm1cc]

Originally Posted by decodiana

As someone who is considering "the move" but will still need some form of employment income, I was just wondering how does one find good employment in this area? Seems to me that unless you're in the medical field, it may be difficult.

I think your best bet is your current employer. "Work form Home". Otherwise I think their would be too much competition for jobs and the wages less than they are in your current location.

[ladylake1]

Originally Posted by decodiana

As someone who is considering "the move" but will still need some form of employment income, I was just wondering how does one find good employment in this area? Seems to me that unless you're in the medical field, it may be difficult.

As wonderful as life in TV is, securing a good job is not easy. Before I moved here I checked the help wanted ads in the Ocala paper and checked websites for local government in Marion and Lake counties. I was fortunate to get a job in my field but at a significantly reduced salary. That was over 10 years ago and the employment market has declined since then. Keep checking around to get a good idea of what kind of decrease you may have to make and if you can live comfortably if those earnings are your sole/major source of income. All things considered, I took a big hit to come here but I took that into consideration prior to making the move and I can honestly say I haven't looked back since. I am now retired and can fully enjoy all TV has to offer.

[Trogg]

Originally Posted by arabianhorse59

I have lived here now for close to 2 years. I am a full time resident and moved here because my husband is a golf addict! I can honestly say that this is the most expensive place I have ever lived in my life and I came here from Illinois, the over tax em state. I realize alot of you sold property and moved down here with no mortgages on your backs but, we couldn't do that. We have a mortgage here but, I am talking about the over the top fees for everything. The monthly fee for golf is $150, trail fees, mandatory garbage fees at $55 a month (whether you have garbage picked up or not! If you own property, you pay it!), the internet for $96 a year, Progress Energy, which is the most $$ utility company I have ever had to deal with...on and on. I am young enough that I am able to work (I am 51) and I have to hold down 3 jobs to keep food on the table here.
Before people buy here, they need to research the fees. If I would have known that this place was so costly, I never would have moved here!

If you find it expensive here, I can just imagine how expensive it was in Illinois.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by dennis11003

I've been a member for several years but seldom post. I do log on several times a week to read posts that interest me. My wife and I are probably 5-7 years from retirement and live in Wisconsin (currently 10 degrees going down to -3 tonight).

This is the type of post that really interests me and I appreciate everyone's input. When we retire, I don't know if The Villages will be for us or not. I've driven through several of the communities and have walked around several areas. My sister lives close by so we have the opportunity to "look around" when we visit her. Eventually, we will pay for a vist to the Villages and hope to experience everything that is offered.

Until then, I will lurk and read and take in everything I can. I want to be certain that when we retire, we can afford the cost and not have to work. Until we can afford it, we won't retire! Someone said to track your expenses for 2-3 years prior to retirement and estimate accurately what they might be when and where you retire. I won't retire if I have to work 2 or 3 jobs - that's not retirement!

I enjoy this forum because there are a lot of smart people giving practical, valuable advice. Thanks for allowing me to read your forums and the opportunity to post.

Hi Dennis,
You have a good voice of reason and hope we hear from you more often. Welcome and thanks for posting!