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Can I retire on $500K?
Me | 8/19/2019 | Me

Posted on 08/19/2019 9:03:32 AM PDT by freedumb2003

Can I retire on $500K?

Soon to be ex-wife and I had the last of all our blow-outs. 25 years married, no kids, own the house outright, $1.7 MM (maybe 2), zero debt, 60-something.

Reached out to Cordell Cordell the only law firm I know of that will take care of the man side of things.

soon to be ex-wife does not work.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: retire; retirement
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After all is said and done I think I walk away with $500 clear. I am pretty sure I live well on $500K and probably net $80K/yr or so as a contractor.

I have a $1300/mo for life pension from a State job I had a few years back. SS if I go early would be $2300/mo but I don't know if that is split.

I am seriously thinking going "Jimmy Buffet" on life and just finding a tropical climate and doing computer consulting out of a suitcase.

This is the broadest audience I can reach without giving my RL name away.

Anyone doing OK on $500K?

1 posted on 08/19/2019 9:03:32 AM PDT by freedumb2003
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To: freedumb2003

That all depends on WHERE you are or plan to retire to.

South Texas, yes.

South Philly? No...............


2 posted on 08/19/2019 9:05:46 AM PDT by Red Badger (Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain......................)
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To: freedumb2003

A ton of details are missing in order to give a meaningful reply. But other than that, yes.


3 posted on 08/19/2019 9:06:10 AM PDT by mn-bush-man
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To: freedumb2003

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/shes-63-and-living-by-the-beach-in-mexico-on-1000-a-month-i-cant-imagine-living-in-the-us-again-2019-08-15


4 posted on 08/19/2019 9:06:32 AM PDT by Red Badger (Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain......................)
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To: freedumb2003

I’m getting ready to retire on pretty much nothing but SS and we should be fine. In fact, our monthly cost of living should be about half our SS payments, if that. The key is paying off your house and living in an area where living is rewarding and cheap. In our case, it’s 32 acres in south central KY. Our property taxes are just a few hundred a year.

I also worked in IT and will end up getting close to the max SS payment.

Without going into details, a divorce a long time ago not only decimated my finances, but made me a little bit nuts, regarding saving money. People can’t take what you don’t save.


5 posted on 08/19/2019 9:07:17 AM PDT by cuban leaf (We're living in Dr. Zhivago but without the love triangle)
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To: freedumb2003

I’m interested in what other FReepers have to say. Good luck to my FRiend


6 posted on 08/19/2019 9:07:38 AM PDT by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: freedumb2003

Reliable retirement investment is 5%, so $500k nets $25k/year.


7 posted on 08/19/2019 9:09:02 AM PDT by CodeToad ( Hating on Trump is hating on me and Americans!)
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To: freedumb2003

Please make a large contribution to FR before you get to court. :-P


8 posted on 08/19/2019 9:09:10 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." -- Frederick Douglass)
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To: freedumb2003

I retired on less pension than you have and about the same 401k, not eligible for SS yet so I work 3 days a week.
It can be done if you are frugal.


9 posted on 08/19/2019 9:09:11 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: freedumb2003

Move to the Philippines and live like a king - literally. :)


10 posted on 08/19/2019 9:10:00 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: freedumb2003

Sorry, slightly more pension, not less.
It is possible if you are careful with money.


11 posted on 08/19/2019 9:10:50 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: freedumb2003

The only advice I would give is do not take social security early! It’s a big difference between taking it early, at full time etirement age or even taking it at 70 would give u 20-30% more than taking it early. If u live long, taking it no earlier than full retirement is the best move for u. Good luck to u...u r in a good position financially. There are many people living on much less than u have access to.


12 posted on 08/19/2019 9:11:14 AM PDT by angelrod
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To: freedumb2003
One of Murphy's laws states: "Any hole, no matter how small, will eventually drain any tank, no mater how large."

Figure out a way to get some cash flow to replenish any losses from the drain.

13 posted on 08/19/2019 9:11:22 AM PDT by null and void (Heaven has an impenetrable wall, and a welcoming gate for those qualified, Hell is wide open.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

A friend of mine was in a similar situation. 70 years old, divorced, kids grown and gone. He sold his house and truck then moved to Thailand. Loves it there.


14 posted on 08/19/2019 9:13:28 AM PDT by Texas resident (Democrats=Enemy of People of The United States of America)
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To: Alberta's Child

>>Please make a large contribution to FR before you get to court<<

I don’t know if “irony” applies but that is one of the divorce points. I have had to hide my FR contributions b/c it wasn’t worth the hassle of the argument.

Maybe that explains the whole divorce thing. I gave in/gave up for the last gd time.


15 posted on 08/19/2019 9:13:47 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (As always IMHO)
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To: freedumb2003

You will get 1/2 of all total assets.

And you will pay alimony for the rest of her life, about 50% of your historical gross earnings.

I’ve been through this twice.

Whether you pay Cordell x2 or go in without an attorney will not change the outcome. It’s a formula.

If you have no other income, $500k is not that much.

But, if combined with Social Security, a pension etc. IT’S PLENTY.

After all, you’re expenses are not about 25% of what they were with her as your wife. Whomever she is.

Yes, TWICE.


16 posted on 08/19/2019 9:13:49 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: freedumb2003

Not enough information on expenses, lifestyle, health insurance situation, life expectancy, and investments to add much insight. Also, how many years can you earn 80k/yr after taxes?

Assume you have no place to live, 500k in the bank, 1.3k/mo pension and clear 80k/yr after taxes. Sure, in some places that would be very possible, others not so much. And, need insight into your expenses and whether you are an implosive spender or frugal. So many questions that are needing to be addressed.

The question is really a dollar “mass balance” over some unknown period of time. The unknowns here are many, too many.


17 posted on 08/19/2019 9:14:32 AM PDT by rigelkentaurus
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To: freedumb2003

I don’t understand the question.

You will be getting your pension and SS an doing side contract work possibly.

House is paid off.

You’re not gonna LIVE off the 500k.


18 posted on 08/19/2019 9:15:12 AM PDT by dp0622 (Bad, bad company Till the day I die.)
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To: freedumb2003

I own my house in Florida outright, very healthy, and I could live on the $700/month of Social Security I could get at age 62.

Enjoy your life & money.


19 posted on 08/19/2019 9:15:15 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Mr. Jeeves

>>Move to the Philippines and live like a king<<

If it is not like Puerto Rico then it sounds great! Thanks for the idea!


20 posted on 08/19/2019 9:15:21 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (As always IMHO)
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