Best places to retire for under $40K

A modest income needn't mean deprivation. These cities offer top-notch medical care, plenty of things to do and a low cost of living.

By Emily Brandon, U.S. News & World Report

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Homelink
Nov 13, 2012 10:07AM
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All cities with ruined economies...who wants to live in a high crime slum inhabited by blood suckers?
candy land
Nov 13, 2012 9:51AM
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This is hysterical !  Retire under 40K a year???  I have a 4 year degree and NEVER made over 40K a year, raised 3 kids as a single mom and enjoy life.  My assorted bosses have always made sure that I didn't get raises, etc on evals.  And yes, I am a very good employee, take responsibility, and am accountable.  But my work has always managed to get my boss a raise for all their work done before deadlines.  What a joke.  LOL
lambkinwool
Nov 13, 2012 9:50AM
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I've been a stay-at-home Mom for 36 years, with my last one almost out of the nest, but caring for my Mom, 84.  I work part-time from home.  My social security currently would be about $200.  My husband's would be about $600 a month.  We have no debt, as we are frugal and we own two houses and a ranch on 80 acres.  We plan on down-sizing in a few years, but have never made $40,000, so don't expect that when we retire, either. Our desire is to be closer to a city, health care, activities and to have a single story, easy care home.  We built one for my Mom, thinking we would retire there, but, after taking her to medical appts. that take all day due to driving, we have re-visited that and are considering other areas.  We will continue to be frugal.  I don't think this article is very realistic for many American baby-boomers.
So sad for you
Nov 13, 2012 9:48AM
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Stop your crying people.  The only person you can blame for your net worth is yourselves.  You and you alone should plan and save for your futures.  So sick of hearing the winers; the government won't pay my bills, the president needs to make it all batter..... cry cry cry!!! The President doesn't have some magic switch that he is gonna throw and make everything better.  16 years ago when everyone was making fat cash because the economy was great you should have saved for the next slow down.  Not spent like it was never going to end.  Then those of you clowns who borrowed all the equity in your homes to buy a car, take the family on vacation, add an addition to the house... whatever you did and then couldn't make the mortgage payment because you never read the contract... shame on you!!! The banks were simply taking advantage of your stupidity.  I'm just so tired of it.  It's just amazing how all these people can't afford to pay their bills, but they have internet, 3 smart phones, cable or satalite TV and so on.  Stop crying and get a job!  It is time to reolize the only person who is responsable for your bills is YOU!!!!
Bob377
Nov 13, 2012 9:42AM
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These are some of the most dangerous city's in the country
chaseychase
Nov 13, 2012 9:41AM
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 I would not move to any of these locations, without a gun to my head...
everydaysmoe
Nov 13, 2012 9:05AM
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Several of the cities mentioned herein I have lived.  There is "barely" the chance you can live comfortably on 40k a year, especially San Antonio, Texas where I currently reside.  I'd really like to meet the computer that makes the calculations for these erroneous and misleading stories. 

 

My best advice is NOT TAKE MSN's ADVICE!  Do your own research, visit these places yourself, contact all city or county offices and find out the tax and service rates.....go shopping and keep a running list of your expenses as opposeed from whence you came.  Visit realtors and physically go visit homes they have listed in your desired price range.

 

Find out what real taxes are, school taxes are, good 'ole boy taxes are, how much will it cost to  get an in-state title for your car, how often do tags need to be renewed and at what price.  Medical care?  I spent 3hrs and 22mins at the ER at the Methodist hospital and it cost me $7,958.72 and that was for excellerate BP of 172/126.  They discharged me when my BP was still 158/115!!!  That's outstanding medical services???????

 

Remember the old saying, "Buyer Beware"??????

 

Even the change of environment can have a negative effect.  After living on the water and having four seasons for 40 years, I found that moving to this desolate hell-hole which has two seasons and is as arrid as a place might be has been an insurmountable change to me.  That is MY fault for not thinking of such a seemingly minor change having such an impact on me.  But it did and to avoid that, once you find your dream home for retirement, go spend a few months, several times a year and avoid the unseen perils of living elsewhere.  You just might find that the good 'ole homestead is still HOME for you.  Learn by my mistakes.  I asked all the wrong questions of all the wrong people and now I am paying for it. 

when789
Nov 13, 2012 8:43AM
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---Well, so why retire with 40 K a year, most only get 12-14 K from SS, and that means they never made a lot of money and then have no savings either--and that would be 78 % of all retirees, can we try to get the conversation "down" to regular people.

The days are over where it is only government workers who have time to sit on the computer all day, regular and all other people these day are on computers due to job requirements, as a matter of fact most people in the top 5 % are almost never on these blogs--that would be the ones with retirement savings, that you are advertising for here indirectly---

Why am I on here--I designed and taught your computer chip/memory chip factory in the worlds largest computer company--old habbits are hard to brake---unfortunatel​y!.

OK

MrDuck2
Nov 13, 2012 8:38AM
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Thesse articles always assume a person would want to live in a city in the south. I think I'll opt for a rural small town in the midwest. That would put me near my family and in an area with a low cost of living and low crime rate
myblackdaddy1
Nov 13, 2012 8:02AM
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Who exactly has $40 k to retire on? How about SS and nothing else? We are talking beans and cornbread three meals a day.
jawdrop
Nov 13, 2012 7:58AM
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It is disgusting the we the people had let it get to this, baby boomers are not something that just came out of no where. The thief's in congress,  and Presidents have robbed us of a retirement. Running for office should be a honor not a reason to clean out the budgets of this nation. We the people should demand pay cuts for all Government officials no pensions no secret service after office not using company assist to run your campaign from. Obama should reimburse the American tax payer for the use OF Air force one and the fuel man hours while he was campaigning . Romney did not have that assistance. If you can not balance your check book you should be fired. Not borrow from us! Now we have to make up for there losses by working longer and receiving less.
Nicolas Berluzzi
Nov 13, 2012 7:44AM
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Not many choices when the economy has stagnated. Articles about where to live are designed for slef serving indiviudals/groups, etc. Don't take their word for granted!

Joe G. Cintron (Capsursea)
Nov 13, 2012 7:40AM
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I'm surprised that only a few weeks ago an article in this very forum warned retirees that the states where these cities are located should not be considered as places to retire. The statistics were crime rates, proverty line and such.

Is someone keeping score?  Don't these editors, edit? 

Please. . . someone take note!
mr. reaper
Nov 13, 2012 7:02AM
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HOW STUPID YOU ARE TO RETIRE IN S. AMERICA. FIRST THEY KILL YOU FOR YOUR MONEY, OR KIDNAP YOU.
SECOND, THE CROOKED POLITICIAN WILL TAX YOU TO DEATH!!!
Ricardo Becker
Nov 13, 2012 6:55AM
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Where did you get your income figures to retire? If you calculate the most retirees are usually widowed, you are now in a half the income bracket, and dwelling is the same usually for oneself than for two. Deduct medicine costs, even with medicare, and you probably looking at a clean slate of about 17,000.- a year, take off rent, food and other entertainment which is what most elder do, because they have a lot of time in their hands, and by the time, you calculate anything else and adjusted for inflation is nothing left. So, yes, to those of us still working, and producing, due to the fact we can not afford to retire, yes, indeed, we might pull 40k. being a healthy couple ( ideal conditions) otherwise, this report is just design to promote certain real estate markets. 
Realistic conditions, are so deplorable in a retro comparison of say, 10 years back that seems unreal, yet here to stay. We must adapt and survive. Its survival of the fittest dejavu, all over again in our 60's

Alan_1993
Nov 13, 2012 6:34AM
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is this true？？？if that，why many retirees are living poor lives...
Donald Waters (DonH20)
Nov 13, 2012 5:37AM
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I have been to everyone of those places and they are nice places to live.
Someone (schmendric)
Nov 2, 2012 4:01PM
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All very well.   But by retiring in Mexico, the dollars go even further.  And it helps to learn to speak Spanish.  Hola!
JRSYMIKE
Nov 1, 2012 4:38PM
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WON'T MATTER THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE BANKRUPTED SOCIAL SECURITY BEFORE THE YEAR 2020 IF OBAMA GETS RE-ELECTED..
Musician42
Nov 1, 2012 3:27PM
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San Antonio?  For people with limited income?  Seriously?  People are executed in Texas for being poor.
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