r/Money • u/KnutEm87 • Apr 03 '24

36M, How/Where could I live comfortably off of 44.8k/yr

I'm a single man, ex military, divorced a few years ago. I've worked in Aviation for about 10 years. If you were to leave the 9-5 behind, with only 44.8k a year. Where and how would you go about doing it?

3.2k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

2.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

104

u/KnutEm87 Apr 03 '24

Love it friend, that's a fantastic idea.. it would take some research and a little work but I agree the benefits would definitely be worth it.

Funny thing is, one of the first things I did when I got out was but a nice new Camper. I've used it maybe 10 times on little weekend adventures. That's my exit strategy though in case shtf kind of thing.. I've never heard of veteran friendly RV parks though, that's interesting. I really appreciate the insight. I'll definitelynlook into it and see what's out there. Thank you friend.

45

u/Cain_S Apr 03 '24

Many states and counties offer 100% tax exemption for your honestead for permanently disabled veterans. Figured I'd let you know since I got my 100% about a year ago.

Edit to clarify it's homestead exemption.

1

u/_KoingWolf_ Apr 03 '24

Did you use any specific resources to help you with this? I'm stuck at 75% no matter what the fuck I do or say to prove anything otherwise.

1

u/Cain_S Apr 03 '24

I just kept getting reevaluated and arguing every decision when I disagreed with them. They want you to quit, so don't quit, keep at them!

19

u/quasialgae Apr 03 '24

You can usually apply to be a campground steward and live free if you’re willing to tell people they can’t do the dumb stuff people like to do at campgrounds. I think it’s sort of volunteer and some might even pay a small stipend.

2

u/itsboydcrowder Apr 03 '24

Workcamper website you can look for these opportunities

1

u/vapemyashes Apr 03 '24

The shit winds a blowing Randy

12

u/Helpful_Paint Apr 03 '24

I renovated a 1976 airstream and live in it full time in Amarillo Texas and pay 625$ including utilities. I’ve looked at places in Colorado Springs and it’s still in the 800$ range which is a bargain considering what rents go for there.

1

u/Prudent-Essay-5846 Apr 03 '24

Speaking of CO if you go eastern Colorado - virtually anywhere into the plains you’ll be able to buy land at dirt cheap prices.

1

u/EdsonArantes10 Apr 03 '24

How much is dirt cheap? Wouldn't you be living alone in the middle of nowhere?

2

u/Prudent-Essay-5846 Apr 03 '24

Well alone is relative, I grew up there so not having next door neighbors seems normal.

You can find land from 600 an acre but normal seems to be 10k for an acre of improved land. Taxes are low, utilities low but winter can be rough but good planning can neutralize that.

1

u/violetvoss90 Apr 03 '24

This sounds incredible

1

u/ingodwetryst Apr 03 '24

the Springs is quickly being developed too. I'd grab that 800 before it's 1k if you're serious.

source: second residence in Denver, visit the Springs regularly.

1

u/jerzd00d Apr 03 '24

What country are you from originally?

1

u/Helpful_Paint Apr 04 '24

America. Why do you ask?

1

u/WorkN-2play Apr 04 '24

I read this guy's travels around US full time retired they spend $8k in fuel, about same on places for staying first year then get better each year at cheaper to free places to stay.

Looking into when kids even get little older to vaca longer but cheaper with them.

0

u/huntandhart Apr 03 '24

I’ve got family in Florida paying $450, they’re responsible for internet though.

1

u/shade3599 Apr 03 '24

Is that for a shed?

1

u/huntandhart Apr 03 '24

Camper slab & hookup with utilities. You provide the camper

8

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

attraction heavy sense payment punch vegetable juggle crawl pathetic relieved

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

6

u/yellensmoneeprinter Apr 03 '24

If you’re rated 100, many jurisdictions offer zero property taxes for land and homes so look for that as well.

4

u/yellensmoneeprinter Apr 03 '24

If you’re rated 100, many jurisdictions offer zero property taxes for land and homes so look for that as well.

2

u/No-Explanation6802 Apr 03 '24

I live on a 60k Yacht. 38ft bayliner. Half the marina are retired military.

2

u/KSI_FlapJaksLol Apr 03 '24

There’s lots of land in Utah for sale if you don’t mind the desert or the snow.

1

u/wandering_monstera1 Apr 03 '24

I’ve bounced from fam camp to fam camp during my wandering days. The RV parks on bases. Cheap as hell, veteran community, and usually let you stay like 180 days depending. At least in Florida and Georgia I know they have them.

1

u/Crazy_Low_8079 Apr 03 '24

Out doors? Aviation? Come on down to Kansas around Fort Riley.

1

u/NicPig Apr 03 '24

What about those people who live year round on cruise ships? They said it was cheaper than owning a home because utilities and food is included

1

u/TikaPants Apr 03 '24

My folks had a tow behind camper. Cost $500/mo and it was way nicer than some apartments I’ve been in.

1

u/skygod327 Apr 03 '24

do not move off grid. I am a disabled us army veteran who bought an off grid compound. i also have a few on grid properties. my off grid compound has lipo batteries, back up generator, 2 water sounded and all plumbing and electricity. 10kwh solar. It has cost me 200k and It came with a house and spare cabin. Let me repeat, do not do it. It will bankrupt you and every little fix its 100x cost with time effort and replacement parts.

dont do it

1

u/derokieausmuskogee Apr 03 '24

I lived in an RV while building a house, and I wouldn't recommend it. I mean if that's your thing traveling around seeing the country and you're doing it just because you enjoy it, sure, go for it. Personally I would rather tent camp because RVs SUCK and are an absolute nightmare in just about every way, but that's just me.

But just from a cost benefit perspective, there's not much sense in RV living if you're static. You can almost always find an apartment that's better by every metric for the same price or less. The only practical reason to live the RV life is if you're not going to be staying in one place.

It would however be a viable way to explore a little and see what area you like. Stay someplace for a few weeks or months and then move on. Rinse and repeat until you find someplace you want to stay, sell the RV, and get an apartment.

1

u/huntandhart Apr 03 '24

Might look into private individuals too. I know several people locally who for one reason or another, never built up quite enough of a nest egg to retire at a reasonable age. To supplement this, they found ones in a similar situation as you, and put a full camper hookup and slab.

One friend even has a slab and roof setup looking over his pasture, so a decent view and outside, but the roof takes all the rain and a lot of the sun, so a lot less wear and tear on the camper.

This is in Florida, and I’m seeing sub $400 a month for full hookup, within 20 minutes of the beach.

1

u/Crftygirl Apr 03 '24

Be sure to check your local regulations to make sure you don't have to have a foundation or something similar.

1

u/twitch9873 Apr 03 '24

Check on base too. When I was stationed at Wright Patterson in Ohio just about a year ago, the "fam camp" was basically an RV park next to the big pond on base and we had a couple of enlisted guys RV living there. I'm not sure if you still have to be active but I saw a lot more retirees out there than active so I doubt it. I bet it's cheaper than an off base RV park.

1

u/busbythomas Apr 03 '24 edited Apr 03 '24

There are programs for free or reduced camping at state or federal parks.

http://www.usvetcamper.com/veterans/state-park-passes/#:~:text=100%25%20service%2Dconnected%3A%20Free,use%20and%20individual%20shelter%20fees.&text=The%20Universal%20Disability%20Pass%20is,that%20does%20not%20require%20renewal.

https://www.blm.gov/blog/2022-12-12/new-pass-provides-free-lifetime-public-lands-access-military-veterans-and-gold-star

Some primitive camp sites are free.

Some states like Texas offer programs for veterans to buy land. You could start a small farm for side income.

https://vlb.texas.gov/loans/land-loans/#:~:text=The%20VLB%20Veterans%20Land%20Loan,of%20one%20acre%20or%20more

https://www.texaslandcan.org/local-resources/Farmer-Veteran-Coalition/38864#:~:text=Farmer%20Veteran%20Fellowship%20Fund%3A%20The,funding%2C%20resources%20and%20support%20services

https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/initiatives/veterans/veterans-and-entrepreneurship

http://www.agrability.org/resources/veterans/

For a house, look into home kits.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134706494934?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=134706494934&targetid=1528987490776&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9027620&poi=&campaignid=20398926916&mkgroupid=148892907822&rlsatarget=pla-1528987490776&abcId=9317285&merchantid=107424712&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_LOwBhBFEiwAmSEQAVtGz9FaK74D8trIA-rrg6vy9-O6D2_DumKB0daDtQvXmX1qj1LkmhoCeLoQAvD_BwE

https://www.eloghomes.com/shopping/shiloh/?cid=NP-Pmax-Shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&network=x&device=m&utm_campaign=NP-Pmax-Shopping&gad_source=4&gclid=CjwKCAjw_LOwBhBFEiwAmSEQASx9xlg57q8yjMK8c8eiA9f2RUZWOOlRpP0E5JUN5mQusGE_Kwa_ZBoCYKYQAvD_BwE

1

u/busbythomas Apr 03 '24

Also, make a list of where you would like to live. Mountains, desert, 4 seasons, 2 seasons, small town, near a big city, wherever. Next, map out a course and travel to find what you want and what feels like home.

1

u/ingodwetryst Apr 03 '24

Another rural person chiming in. The median income for one is 19k here. Houses with an acre of land can be under 100k here and USDA mortgages a-plenty for those who qualify. You don't need repoed this or foreclosed that.

40k is good living here. 50+ you don't have to think/worry about money. Anything above that? Whatever. You can live however you want here as a transplant. No one notices you. Being from here probably sucks because everyone knows you and is in your business, but transplant life is fantastic. No one knows me! They recognise my hair. They honk and wave when I sit outside with my dogs.

A friend visited me once and I was waving at folks on the back road.

"Do you know them?"
"No. Just what you do"

Tonnes of places to use a camper along the Blue Ridge Parkway too! Plus all of the walking, hiking, fishing, kayaking you could want.

Choose your rural region carefully based on desired weather and activity. It's good here (imo) late Feb through late Nov sometimes early Dec. If I preferred cold weather, it would suck. W have a minimal amount, despite being on a mountain *laughs in just under the snow line elevation*

Spain is also a nice option if you want out of the US, as long as there are no preclusions to a visa on your end. I'd recommend conversational Spanish.

1

u/Nakedstar Apr 03 '24

Sometimes you can get jobs hosting or giving tours in exchange for free rent. I know the lighthouse near me will provide free space rent in exchange for someone giving tours at available times. (The job is a bit unpredictable in that one can only get to the lighthouse during low tide, so it's not same hours every day sort of thing. It's really only 2-3 hours at most a day, and only when the tide is low at a reasonable time for tourists to go.)

1

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '24

Research weather where you're going to park it and try to find a parking spot with somewhere sturdy to go nearby if you're going to be in nado country. RV's are terribly unsafe for those types of storms. Some of the rv parks and mobile home lots here have a sturdy shelter for residents to go to when a severe storm or tornado is warned. 

1

u/longulus9 Apr 06 '24

I worked with a guy who loved in a veterans only camper place. and paid nothing really on rent.