Housing to Live on Less - Advice from the Retire Early Lifestyle Couple
by Nancy Fernandez Mills
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired early…very early! At the age of 38, they left their lives as stock broker (Billy) and restaurant manager (Akaisha) and moved from California to the tiny West Indies island of Nevis. From there, they began to travel the world. Today, they maintain a home in an active adult community in Arizona. They’re still retired and say they manage to live on $ 24,000 a year.
Billy and Akaisha make their home in an Active Adult Community, where they spend about half of every year.
“We have the best of both worlds,” says Akaisha. “Billy and I often leave the States for months at a time to visit exotic locations. We set up a home base on the other side of the globe and settle into the local community. Then, due to visa restrictions or a desire to see family and friends once again, we return home to America’s stunning Southwest.”
The home they chose is a “manufactured” home. From appearance, it’s similar to a trailer but shaped more like a bungalow or small ranch house. It offers about 1000 square feet of living space and is priced around $ 7000.
“I realize that there are some who feel that manufactured housing aren't real homes, that they are like toys, or somehow, inferior places to live. These types of houses have improved greatly over the years, and the attractiveness of their affordability has been proven by their rise in sales," say Billy. “Our home is paid for so we don't carry a mortgage with the financial weight that this brings to any lifestyle. Let me say that this is a very attractive arrangement and it frees us up to roam the world, renting apartments or hotel rooms without thought of draining our finances in the housing category.”
Billy and Akaisha take advantage of their community’s many amenities, including social clubs, ballrooms for dancing, computer centers, fitness rooms, tennis courts, swimming pools, softball fields, libraries, travel offices, and lecture halls. All are included in a reasonable “lifestyle fee.” They don’t own their land, however. They decided that leasing was a better option, leaving more of their money available for travel.
”It’s our position that many people do not realize how expensive owning property is. The maintenance it requires and the rising property taxes are expenses that cannot be ignored. We’ve lived here since the early 1990's, and our lifestyle fees are less than most homeowner's property tax bill. During these many years, our lease has increased a couple of hundred dollars total, but it is still a measurable value for all of the amenities included,” says Akaisha.
By owning less, Akaisha and Billy have less to insure. The say they feel a greater sense of freedom, to just lock the door and walk away to travel or visit friends and family. They know it’s not for everyone, but they prefer to pay for experiences, to buy very little “stuff” and to have time to pursue hobbies, volunteer and community activities and making friends and memories around the globe.
It's not for everyone, by it's a low stress way to live! You can learn more about Akaisha and Billy at their Retire Early Lifestyle website.
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired early…very early! At the age of 38, they left their lives as stock broker (Billy) and restaurant manager (Akaisha) and moved from California to the tiny West Indies island of Nevis. From there, they began to travel the world. Today, they maintain a home in an active adult community in Arizona. They’re still retired and say they manage to live on $ 24,000 a year.
Billy and Akaisha make their home in an Active Adult Community, where they spend about half of every year.
“We have the best of both worlds,” says Akaisha. “Billy and I often leave the States for months at a time to visit exotic locations. We set up a home base on the other side of the globe and settle into the local community. Then, due to visa restrictions or a desire to see family and friends once again, we return home to America’s stunning Southwest.”
The home they chose is a “manufactured” home. From appearance, it’s similar to a trailer but shaped more like a bungalow or small ranch house. It offers about 1000 square feet of living space and is priced around $ 7000.
“I realize that there are some who feel that manufactured housing aren't real homes, that they are like toys, or somehow, inferior places to live. These types of houses have improved greatly over the years, and the attractiveness of their affordability has been proven by their rise in sales," say Billy. “Our home is paid for so we don't carry a mortgage with the financial weight that this brings to any lifestyle. Let me say that this is a very attractive arrangement and it frees us up to roam the world, renting apartments or hotel rooms without thought of draining our finances in the housing category.”
Billy and Akaisha take advantage of their community’s many amenities, including social clubs, ballrooms for dancing, computer centers, fitness rooms, tennis courts, swimming pools, softball fields, libraries, travel offices, and lecture halls. All are included in a reasonable “lifestyle fee.” They don’t own their land, however. They decided that leasing was a better option, leaving more of their money available for travel.
”It’s our position that many people do not realize how expensive owning property is. The maintenance it requires and the rising property taxes are expenses that cannot be ignored. We’ve lived here since the early 1990's, and our lifestyle fees are less than most homeowner's property tax bill. During these many years, our lease has increased a couple of hundred dollars total, but it is still a measurable value for all of the amenities included,” says Akaisha.
By owning less, Akaisha and Billy have less to insure. The say they feel a greater sense of freedom, to just lock the door and walk away to travel or visit friends and family. They know it’s not for everyone, but they prefer to pay for experiences, to buy very little “stuff” and to have time to pursue hobbies, volunteer and community activities and making friends and memories around the globe.
It's not for everyone, by it's a low stress way to live! You can learn more about Akaisha and Billy at their Retire Early Lifestyle website.
posted at 6:56 PM
1 Comments:
I believe Living on less will be the key for many boomers. I wish they would have lived on less throughout their life.
If they continue to spend as much as they have throughout their adulthood America will collapse. It is already going to be extremely hard for us {gen y} also known as {your kids} to pay back your debt.
Leaving on less does not have to be a bad thing. You can live like you have been for far less in Baja California. My parents are moving to San Felipe and I can not wait to visit them their new home at El Dorado Ranch is only 3 hours from where I live {San Diego} and it is beautiful.
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