Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
October 30, 2023 — Spain and or Portugal retirement is very popular, as these Iberian countries are for tourism as well. Americans and Europeans are checking out these two countries, not only as great places for a retirement trip, but for where to retire too. Your editor recently spent 2 happy weeks touring some of the best tourist spots on the Iberian Peninsula, the home of Spain and Portugal. Our hope is that this experience might help you plan a potential trip to the region. And, it might help you learn what it might be like to retire in one of these amazing countries.
Portugal Retirement Trip
This beautiful, dry country has a long western coastline on the Atlantic Ocean that in the south curves eastward past Gibraltar to the Mediterranean. Lisbon, on the coast, is the capital and largest city. Portugal's cost of living is one of the lowest in Europe (65th highest in the world - the U.S. is 12th), the country is safe, and the food and wine are excellent. The country has a complicated history - Celts, Phoenicians, Roman, Visigoths, and the Moors (Arabs) all had their day, and then its eventual retaking by the Crusaders. Towns and buildings reflect that heritage within their walled cities, Roman ruins, and Christian cathedrals, that were often Muslim mosques for a time.
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Published on October 30, 2023
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Category: Medicare
what is the best medicare plan for you in open enrollment period
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Published on October 25, 2023
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Category: Medicare
October 2023 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts.
Medicare Part B Premiums and Deductibles
Medicare Part B covers physicians’ services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A.
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Published on October 18, 2023
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Category: Social Security
October 12, 2024 –The 2024 Social Security COLA Increase is coming back to earth. Administration announced today that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 71 million Americans will increase 3.2 percent in 2024. That is a considerable drop from the inflation-fueled 8.7% increase of 2023.
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Published on October 12, 2023
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Category: Real Estate Listings
October 11, 2023 -- The key to getting your dream home for retirement is to find the right real estate agent. Maybe you know where you would like to retire (region, state, or even town) and the lifestyle you want to pursue. But how do you find the right real estate agent to help you reach that dream? A place to retire that comes at the right price, and one you can afford. In a neighborhood that suits you, and that will be a good investment down the road. And most importantly, a home that makes you happy, not having to worry that you might have made a mistake.
One of the best ways to find your retirement dream is to make sure you know how to find the right real estate agent. That is not always that easy, particularly when you move to an area far away, and unfamiliar to you. In that situation, any contacts you already have are probably of no use.
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Published on October 10, 2023
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Category: Home and Garden
October 11, 2023 -- Some unbelievable deals are here today, Oct. 11, for Amazon Prime members. They will find savings of 60% or more on items like 50" TVs, Phillips air fryers, Roomba vacuums, Bose headphones, etc. These are some of Amazon’s best deals of the season to start the season of savings and holiday shopping! In some cases you have to to request an invitation in order to get the deals. The link below goes to a page on Amazon with dozens of these dazzling deals.
Amazon Prime Deals Today Page
Fire TV - request an invitation
If you not an Amazon Prime Member already (includes extensive free TV streaming and free shipping on all orders), here (Prime ad below) will take you to where you can become a Member.
Try Prime for 30 days
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Published on October 8, 2023
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Category: Singles and Retirement
Oct. 7, 2023 -- Who says people in retirement are too old for love? The Golden Bachelor, a new spinoff on ABC from the popular Bachelor series, has many seniors glued to their TV sets. Community centers are hosting viewing parties, where folks watch, cheer, speculate, and gossip together.
The New York Times reported on three girlfriends at a New Jersey who attended a viewing party for The Golden Bachelor, a handsome fellow of a certain age. They had different takes on the featured bachelor, Gerry Turner, a widowed 71 year old from Indiana. One woman in her late 70's thought Mr. Turner was "too young" for her, but Toni Plugh, 68, commented that he was "right up her alley".... except, that she already has a husband. Her 73 year old friend, also married, agreed, except she joked that after 50 years, she was ready for a change.
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Published on October 7, 2023
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Category: Medicare
October 5, 2023 -- The Biden administration announced that 10 drugs will negotiate Medicare price to lower prices in the future. Several of them complained of being " forced” to sign on; but all will participate to avoid penalties if they do not agree to negotiate prices.
The White House predicts that the ten drugs selected for negotiation meant $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs for an estimated 9 million Medicare enrollees in 2022, and would save the government about $100 billion over a decade. The negotiations were authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed without any Republican votes.
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Published on October 4, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
Sept. 26, 2023 -- When it comes to the best selling communities in Florida for 2023 many of the usual suspects, like The Villages, are pretty obvious. But within the top 10 there were plenty of surprises too, with some communities, like Westlake and Wellen Park, not previously on Topretirements radar.
Master planned communities might be a foreign term to some people. They are large-scale, mixed-use residential developments that try to approximate the experience of living in a self-contained town. They usually have amenities like parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses and more. Many master planned communities are aimed at 55+, while others are aimed at families or even singles. Some of those have 55+ neighborhoods within them. Some claim to be New Urban Style communities.
These are the best selling communities in Florida
No surprise - The Villages on top as a best selling master planned community in Florida.
The Villages in Central Florida was the hottest selling master planned community in Florida in 2023, according to a survey by Real Estate Consulting (RLCO). With 150,000 residents, this ever expanding community has both resales and new homes. The average home here sells for more than $400,000. It has an almost endless array of amenities with dozens of golf courses and hundreds of pickleball courts. Plus 3 central shopping and entertainment centers. RLCO reported 1,960 sales so far in 2023.
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Published on September 25, 2023
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Category: Uncategorized
September 19, 2023 - Quick - What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2023? $2810/mo., $3035/month, $4193/mo., or $4,555/mo.? And, how much is the average benefit? If you guessed $4,555 as the highest benefit, which amounts to $54,660 a year, you are correct. Compared to the average 2023 recipient's payment of $1,827, that is an amazing difference!
So what is driving this $2,728 per month disparity? The answer is a combination of 3 big factors.
The first is that the Agency uses your highest 35 earning years to calculate your benefit. If you had zero or very low earnings in some of those years, that will knock down your benefit.
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Published on September 18, 2023
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