Social Security & Medicare

mackerel

(4,412 posts)

28. Here's what my neighbors did

Fri Jan 9, 2015, 03:32 AM

Jan 2015

he sails, so they bought a small boat and live on it down in Mexico for 6 months of the year. Their house which was a moderate size 3 bedroom 2 bath they rent out. But what they did first was modify the house so that they had a small living space of about 600 sq.ft. and enter through the side gate into the backyard. Since they became used to living on the boat they find that living in the small space in the backyard/back part of house is actually quite easy for them. (They took one of bathrooms as part of their living space.)

He had been self-employed for years and just never paid into SS with enough so they barely were getting more than SSI. Now this way it's doable.

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Any ideas for living off a social security benefit of only $680 a month? [View all] whathehell Sep 2014 OP

I wonder if there might be a semi-communal housing arrangement in Madison that would work Arugula Latte Sep 2014 #1

Kick.... daleanime Sep 2014 #2

Camper Van n/t tazkcmo Sep 2014 #3

Does that beat the 'tiny house' option? whathehell Sep 2014 #9

Your post tazkcmo Sep 2014 #11

Can you outfit your van with toilet and shower? nt ellenrr Oct 2014 #19

I have heard living overseas makes money go a lot further. hollysmom Sep 2014 #4

Yes, as I said to someone else, whathehell Sep 2014 #10

It makes a lot of sense! in my case ellenrr Oct 2014 #20

I live in one of the most expensive parts of NJ, the North East. hollysmom Oct 2014 #21

in any town set up by humanitarians - like Marinaleda, ellenrr Oct 2014 #22

well, I like being able to walk to a top grade doctor, hollysmom Oct 2014 #23

You might consider Equador or Panama instead.. whathehell Nov 2014 #27

Move to Costa Rica NV Whino Sep 2014 #5

Yeah, I actually subscribe to something called "International Living" whathehell Sep 2014 #8

there's only a magazine subscribion option Alameda Mar 2015 #34

Say what? whathehell Mar 2015 #36

My post was in response to your post below.... Alameda Mar 2015 #37

Have Social Security redo your benefit yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #6

LOL..Thanks, but I think they got it right, unfortunately, whathehell Sep 2014 #7

Most people get 1300-1600 a month left-of-center2012 Mar 2015 #31

I wish you luck. I am living on $1400 a month social security, RebelOne Sep 2014 #12

Thanks -- I'm not necessarily being forced to live on that little, whathehell Sep 2014 #13

I've also considered a mobile home. ellenrr Oct 2014 #18

Don't get killed -- Go live wherever you can to avoid that possiblity. n/t whathehell Oct 2014 #24

I'm in Georgia. RebelOne Nov 2014 #25

HUD subsidized housing? left-of-center2012 Oct 2014 #14

I never thought of that, whathehell Oct 2014 #15

I live in subsidized housing too ellenrr Oct 2014 #16

Left-of-center - Is your apt in a large building or small? ellenrr Oct 2014 #17

do you have a link? Alameda Mar 2015 #35

double up grasswire Nov 2014 #26

Here's what my neighbors did mackerel Jan 2015 #28

Wow..What an interesting idea! whathehell Jan 2015 #29

Now the wife is bilingual but not the husband, the mackerel Jan 2015 #30

Self employed, never paid into SS. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2016 #38

The wife paid in to Calpers she was a social worker. He never made a lot and so I think mackerel Sep 2016 #39

Mexico? left-of-center2012 Mar 2015 #32

Hi Left -- Sorry I'm getting back to you so late whathehell Mar 2015 #33