Lifestyle changes - Page 29 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vwnate1 · #**421** 05-02-2018, 12:19 PM

Sadly too many don't think of this when they're crowing about increased property values as time goes on ~ for retirees on fixed incomes it's a very bad thing ~ many have lost their homes due to an inability to pay the taxes .

t walgamuth · #**422** 05-02-2018, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Sadly too many don't think of this when they're crowing about increased property values as time goes on ~ for retirees on fixed incomes it's a very bad thing ~ many have lost their homes due to an inability to pay the taxes .

It can happen.

vwnate1 · #**423** 05-02-2018, 08:50 PM

It DOES happen and that's a shame .

barry12345 · #**424** 05-04-2018, 05:12 AM

If we had our residence In the local town. Our taxes would be at least three times more. Even up to six times more is possible. Plus a water meter and sewage connection charge yearly. If they provided that service as well. There was a time when the town tried to expand their boundries just past us. At that time I felt if they did manage it. We would sell.

There is at least one good thing in this locality. Your assessment for tax purposes stays the same until you sell the property. On a personal dwelling plus our cottage. They still get periodically re assessed and that new amount is on the tax bill. Yet once again we are taxed only on the original assessment at time of build or acquiring a resell.

If they change this and they could. Our property taxes would increase substantially. This real break does not apply to our other properties. You could easily rent a provincially owned apartment in town much cheaper than the property tax and maintenance costs on the average dwelling in town. These apartments are for people with just basic pensions. Not sure but cost a quarter or a third of their pensions a month including all of the utilities etc. They are in general very well kept up and modern units as well.

What did get my attention. Was the signifigant amount of older people today still dealing with debt issues after retirement. Like a hefty mortgage payment. When their financial means have been reduced.

I have had people even ask me what can they do. As they cannot afford to retire. Not much you can really say. Door person at Walmart would be offensive. Yet it could become their reality.

Another modern situation. People that have really high incomes and losing their jobs. Having no provision or cushion at all for the event. Beyond a certain age they cannot find equal paying employment in all too many cases.

vwnate1 · #**425** 05-04-2018, 07:20 AM

Thanx Barry ;

This is a real thing for many Americans, I hope my efforts to prevent it from happening to me are successful .

Not enough people look ahead IMO .

barry12345 · #**426** 05-04-2018, 01:15 PM

It is a very real thing for many Canadians as well.

I picked up a 240d in New Jersey many years ago. The older fellow was selling his house and many items. As we talked he told me he was moving to Pa. His property taxes where about ten thousand a year and increasing.

The house was fairly new and perhaps 2k square feet. It was well out in the country as well. On a very large lot. But really if he was telling the truth it makes you wonder who really owned the house.

He also sold specialty pet foods by mail to help sustain himself. This was at time when mailing things was much cheaper than today. My take from the situation was that property taxes vary a lot from state to state.

Remember this was probably at least fifteen years ago. No ideal of what that house and property would command property tax wise today.

I guess as a safety issue financially. One can develop a sideline of some sort. Since I am seventy five now we have been kind of retired for ten years. When young we as a couple never gave this period in life a lot of consideration.

Inflation alone can become a serious issue to retired people. For example if we were just on fixed pensions alone. I can assure you the reduced buying power today compared to ten years ago. When we started to draw those pensions is substantial. The indexing of those pensions to inflation is a total joke.

Technically retirement should be a cheaper time to live. The reality for all the basic needs inflation has changed this. Today our actual cost of existence although we do not monitor it. Has to be higher than say twenty years ago.

Things like the utility bills and insurance policies plus food in general have probably doubled in cost at least. I like and buy a certain brand of tire for example. I noticed they are up twenty percent in the last year alone. Automotive fuel was perhaps 2.00 a gallon back then. We will see six dollars a gallon this year. In our area of Canada.

t walgamuth · #**427** 05-04-2018, 03:12 PM

Having property fixed taxes on primary residences at least is what should be the universal truth.

t walgamuth · #**428** 05-06-2018, 04:42 PM

Went up to look over the two new income homes in Michigan city. I may regret them as there is a lot to maintain....7 more toilets! Yikes! I fixed one yesterday and will get a professional for the other as it involves changing a shut off valve which looks pretty corroded. The ac and all appliances work....hooray! We tried to get the cable and wi fi up and running yesterday and did in the living room of the bigger house, the smaller one is not served by comcast so I'll have to go through direct tv. Great weather!

t walgamuth · #**429** 05-31-2018, 08:38 PM

We had our first guests over the holiday weekend. Cool!

t walgamuth · #**430** 05-31-2018, 08:41 PM

Today I went to the eye doc and had an exam. I knew I had some issues with the beginnings of cataracs and some issues with my eyes wanting to cross.

I figured he'd crank in a few more degrees of prism and give me new prescriptions for the glasses.

No. I am going to have my muscles worked on to correct for the tendency to cross. He said to get that done then we'd look at the cataracs. The eyes are healthy with no glaucoma or any other things beyond muscles and cataracs.

Unfortunately it will be July before I can get it done.

vwnate1 · #**431** 05-31-2018, 09:24 PM

Interesting .

I have the 'lazy eye', my father was too cheap to have it corrected when I were a lad, no one's ever mentioned it's still done these days .

I need to go get my eyes tested and order in some sunglasses, my last two pairs *vanished* ~ I bet they were stolen out of my map pockets as I keep them there .

t walgamuth · #**432** 08-11-2018, 10:51 PM

Tuesday I'm going in for left eye catarak. I'm not getting muscle surgery. We'll be cranking in some more prism too.

It looks like I have enough booked at the vacation rental homes to cover expenses now. Its been touch and go and am getting more bookings on a fairly steady basis...that will end mid september though and I am expecting off season renters in two of the three units.

vwnate1 · #**433** 08-12-2018, 08:24 AM

I'm keen to hear how it goes, please report back .

I don't know what cranking in more prism means.......

Speaking of lifestyle changes ~ I'm back astride a Motocyle and enjoying it greatly ~ I wasn't sure I would after all the damage caused by the crash in 2017 .

t walgamuth · #**434** 08-12-2018, 10:16 AM

I have prism in my eyeglasses which allows my eyes mechanically to cross a bit and straighten the image I receive. After the catarac surgery I'll have new glasses made with more prism built in.

t walgamuth · #**435** 08-15-2018, 09:12 PM

Had the first catarac surgery today at 800 am on my left eye. It is pretty painless but the patch needed is a bother and using only the one eye is a bit disconcerting for walking around. Tomorrow I'll be without the patch. The mrs says I have a black eye too.