floridariz
Longwood, Fl
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Joined: 05/17/2004
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I have been reading with interest all the discussion about when to retire. There were some neat websites recommended and now I can't seem to locate them through the search. Would you mind sharing your favorite retirement planning websites?
Dad-traveling computer software geek 
Mom-homeschools the boys 
We PREFER living in the fiver to our sticks and bricks!
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sumerduck8
Virginia
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Joined: 01/12/2005
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I highly recommend: http://firdude.thefiredude.com/....Tony really helped me out in all aspect of going fulltime in a RV. I could not say too much about his site. Your friend Houston
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Campnfuls
Hilt, CA
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Joined: 10/18/2007
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Retirement is a personal decision that one has to make. If you are totally unhappy with your job or just hate the monotonous routine of getting up and fighting traffic to get to work then you should be thinking of retirement. Your mental health affects your physical health so hanging on to get that better pension or extra few thousand dollars in your nest egg may not be worth the wait. Your decision will also strongly depend on whether you will have the monetary resources to pay the normal monthly bills. Probably $2000.00 a month if the house is already paid for should be sufficient to cover monthly non-discretionary spending (utilities, food, etc.). In retirement you should also be setting a bit aside to cover annual property taxes and home maintenance and upkeep ($500.00 to $1000.00 a month should adequately cover that unless you live in some upscale neighborhood. That's a total of 2,500.00 to $3,000 a month to pay all necessary expenses including minor maintenance and servicing of the TV and RV. Anything more than that I would consider entertainment and expendable travel allowance that can be used for doing the things including RVing that bring enjoyment. Your nest egg you have built up is for all those unexpected major expenses that crop up now and then. As for my DW and I, we have not had to touch our nest egg in three and a half years of retirement and don't really expect we will ever touch it unless we want to live more extravagantly than we are use to(i.e. beyond our means) or a major health issue arises. We average about $400.00 a month for fuel for traveling and propane. Our camping fees are $449.00 a year, (yes a year because we belong to Thousand Trails) so nightly camping fees, water and electricity are not an issue as we travel from TT campground to TT campground across the country. As you can see, for us $4,000,00 a month is more than adequate to live comfortably in retirement.
I want to leave this earth quietly in my sleep like my grandfather and not like the hysterical, screaming passengers riding in granddad's RV just before the big crash.
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floridariz
Longwood, Fl
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We are in our mid-40's and trying to figure out how much we have and how much we want to have when we do retire. There were two really good websites recommended by someone on the boards. There were calculators you could use to determine how much money you would have if you put so much in annually and a certain percentage rate. I am also looking for the best places to put money right now (isn't everyone!). We have 20 years until we will retire and I am trying to determine where to put what we have and where we should put our annual savings for retirement. We are self employed so we do this on our own and do not have an employer doing it for us. I am not really excited about how the mutual funds have been doing. We also are in church bonds which from what I can tell are actually performing better than the others. If you can't tell, I am a complete newbie at all this! I have just gotten interested enough to look at what we have and it is time to get serious :-) Any pointers would be welcome. Like, if you are older and were looking back to your 40's and said, "gee, I wish I had done this and such", I sure would like to hear your thoughts!
Thanks!
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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Joined: 03/19/2004
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Quote:As you can see, for us $4,000,00 a month is more than adequate to live comfortably in retirement.
Hmmmmmm, yup, I could live on that, too 
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
DataStorm
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2005 Teton 39' Frontier Grand
2003 Freightliner FL60
Life Member Good Sam
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WTTCS
freedom , U.S.A.
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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Floridariz, I strongly recommend you consult an expert. Those calculators are made by people who intend to make money off you.
Get an expert that makes money off other peoples investments, not yours.
1997 chev crew cab 454, 5 sp. 4.10
2000 Fleetwood Caribou 11.5
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floridariz
Longwood, Fl
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WTTCS, any suggestions?
Paula
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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Joined: 06/17/2001
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Let me suggest that you look around for a retirement planning seminar. We attended one that was put on by the local school district. Many community colleges have them in the public service course offerings. Check with your accredited adult education organizations.
The other thing that I would say is to retire as early as reasonable but plan for that retirement so that you stay busy and happy. Our planning course required us to make a plan and set goals for the first five years. It really made things go very well for us. Also, remember that if you wait to retire until you have enough money, you will never retire.
Good travelin! ........Kirk
sent via Starband, Manual Flyer dish
www.adventure.1tree.net
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junmy3
Warner Robins GA
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Joined: 02/03/2004
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In our travels we have never found anyone that has told us that they wish that they had waited to retire. Everyone has said that they wish that they had retired earlier. Our plan is to retire as early as possible. (1200 days but who is counting)
Jim & Junnie
2005 Sunline Solaris T-2553
Our Web Site
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RGordon
Atoka, TN
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Joined: 02/17/2003
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I retired today after 37 years! Hurray!!!!!
Ron & Libby Gordon
07 Ford F350 Dually Tow Boss Diesel
07 Mobile Suites 38RL3 #3698
02 Winnebago Adventurer 35U V10 (Former RV)
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow
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