Can you afford to Retire? | Retirement Comprehensive Budget Calculator for Everyone | The Villages

Combined two very popular videos of mine “Can I afford to live in the Villages” and “Budget Calculator/Spreadsheet”. This covers 99% of what you need to consider. I breakdown the monthly costs to own a home in the villages. Utilities, bonds, pest control, lawn services and many other items are covered. Hopefully this will help those know ahead of time if they can afford to live in the villages in retirement!
In order to get a copy of the spreadsheet/calculator, step one subscribe to my channel and then email me for a copy at [e-mail] This file is an excel file which is intended for personal use see disclaimer on the spreadsheet. Thanks for watching my video.
Want to support my channel you can buy me a cup of coffee at bmc.link/garya... or use the Super Thanks button under the video.
See you in the Villages!
#thevillages #retirementplanning #retirement #homecosts #financialspreadsheet
#financialplanning #financialworksheet

[@ronkeyes659]

Gary, this has got to be one of the most thorough and well articulated videos I have ever seen!! It goes without saying you put a considerable amount of time and effort into this presentation and I for one greatly appreciate your input. God bless you!

[@GaryAbbott]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rethinkcps2116]

​@@GaryAbbott- smart dude. Now I'm rethinking the $209k listing for a 1BR/1BA patio villa that caught my eye. 🤨

[@rosarodgers7539]

Thank you for no overlayed music and nice & slow speaking with thorough explanations. The budget tool is unique!

[@GaryAbbott]

Glad you liked it!

[@lauralampe1664]

Hi Gary, thank you for sending me the budgeting spreadsheet. I would add a line item for donations to a church/house of worship & charities. Very useful budgeting spreadsheet for someone's retirement years, even if you are not planning on moving to The Villages.

[@JJ-bl5mz]

Great video Gary. Under transportation section, the Registration/License expense - I believe it should be a one time fee of 200 and not a 200 monthly expense. So unless I’m wrong, that should deduct 2,200 from the yearly expense total.

[@GaryAbbott]

You are right. It should be what you anticipate your yearly registrations divided by 12. My mistake as I own three vehicles including an RV so mine is much higher.

[@pamelam9621]

Thank you! This was very helpful regarding the bond. We are taking a lifestyle visit early November and we want a winter home and plan to keep our house up north. I knew the new area the houses were cheaper and the bonds were higher but I didn’t realize you pay it with interest. That’s a deal breaker for us for buying in the newer section. I wasn’t loving it anyway but haven’t been there yet and wanted to give it the benefit for the doubt.

[@markryan3124]

Hello Gary. What a great video and service you have provided through this video and the spreadsheet. Yes, many items could have a variable component but most of your numbers are quite realistic. I look forward to receiving the planning tool. Stay well!

[@karlajensen3708]

I am eligible to retire June 30 and am starting my research into what I need to do to be able to retire in the Villages or other surrounding 55+ communities. This is VERY helpful. Thank you!

[@GaryAbbott]

Best of luck Karla!

[@romelane2973]

Verizon has the 55 plus program 2 phones for $85. Unlimited

[@fierceflyer5]

Another informative video Gary, thanks. We were there last week for a lifestyle visit that got cut short because of the hurricane. We are planning another one to see the busy time of year as well.

[@DisMindy5767]

I'll be sending you an email to get that budget spreadsheet. I think we can work with that. I'm curious about 2 things. 1. Are you a reverse snowbird? Are you a teacher? You're in the Villages in the early spring and summer and then you're in CT when it's cold! Brrr. 2. Is your RV registered in Florida? We're interested in getting one but maybe not until we sell our primary home. Thank you again for such a comprehensive, useful tool.

[@GaryAbbott]

I sent you the spreadsheet. Yes, I’m what we call a sunbird and my wife works for a school so we get time off in the summer. Up until my purchase in the Villages we spent every summer RVing across the country. Since my primary residence is in NH everything is registered in NH. I travel to Florida in the winter but on weekly trips as I can fit them into my schedule.

[@DisMindy5767]

@@GaryAbbott oh new Hampshire!! I thought you were from CT. Similar accent I guess. That makes perfect sense. Sunbirds! I guess we've been sunbirds with our timeshare in Orlando. Mostly going in summer when the kids were off school. Our youngest is a college senior so those days will hopefully be a memory soon.

[@JeffAlanRule]

Fantastic comprehensive video that leaves others' attempts falling short. Here I am watching it again. Lol. Thanks so much Gary!

[@GaryAbbott]

Glad it was helpful! I agree with you it covers so many area’s that others skip or leave out.

[@ritafaulkner7042]

Great info! Just created my own SS last wk :)

[@GaryAbbott]

Wonderful!

[@cdorsey1269]

Gary, excellent video. This is the kind of thing that really helps give my wife Tina some piece of mind. We’ve been looking in the villages for a while now and hope to be there in about a year. Thanks, Chris

[@GaryAbbott]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Pryselessone]

Thank you, Gary for the video. I must admit i'm shocked by the cost of living in the villages.

[@GaryAbbott]

The Villages is not an inexpensive place to live but I believe it is the #1 55+ community in the country which makes sense that you got to pay for all those amenities.

[@StreetSmartMillionaire]

They are nickel and dimming you to death over there. I am in Boquete Panama which has the best weather all year long. Nice place on the river with HOA of 300.USD includes water, trash, generator, 24/7 security, gas, property insurance hotel resort services next door with gym. On top of that $21 electricity because no ac or heat is needed. Home cable and internet, 3 cell phones 60 dollars per month. Tax free for 20 years than 1k per year which is fixed at the price you paid for the property.

[@lauralampe1664]

Hi Gary, been a subscriber for awhile now. Very comprehensive budgeting tool...thank you. I will be sending you an email for your spreadsheet. I know homeowner's insurance is a hot topic in Florida now. Dave Monty has a KZbin channel focusing on real estate in The Villages. He recently posted a video on his channel saying he recently got homeowner's insurance for an approximately 2,000 sq ft, block & stucco home for just under $1,000. He posted the insurance carrier's information in his video. Maybe homeowner's & car insurance is something that people will have to shop for annually at least until premiums stabilize. He also posted his car insurance information on this video. Thank you for sharing your utility, lawn maintenance & property tax/bond information for your Villages home.

[@nancysullivan9262]

Gary, very informative. Extremely helpful.

[@johnnybq2]

This is great, thanks NH Gary! Kind of an eye opener and not in a good way. Certainly not The Villages fault for all this recent inflation. Retirees stash is certainly at risk and frugality is in order. It would be interesting to take this to the bone… but it seems pretty close to it now.

[@GaryAbbott]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@user-mg3bx1wc4j]

Hi Gary, very informative video, thank you for sharing this with us. Keep up the great work.

[@GaryAbbott]

Thanks, will do!

[@sampropane]

Bonds on new designer and veranda homes available now are $38,000 22:35 to $45,000. September 2023

[@GaryAbbott]

I agree the larger homes and newer homes have much higher bonds.

[@kennyvalentine7644]

😢

[@lauralampe1664]

For people looking for a new patio villa, new patio villas in The Village of Newell have bonds of $23K...got that figure from attending 2 open houses in May, 2023 from Villages sales reps. I wonder what the bond is on new patio villas currently for sale in the Village of Lake Denham?

[@kennyvalentine7644]

Loving your work and this latest video! I have a copy of your original spreadsheet. May I please have a copy of this latest version. Looks awesome! The original has served me well in planning retirement based on budget.

[@GaryAbbott]

Thanks again for watching and glad the spreadsheets are helpful.

[@dogsarefun2]

excellent..

[@GaryAbbott]

Thank you! 🙂

[@johnhayes2427]

Gary, thanks for the information. Can get the retirement budget calculator spreadsheet? Thank you.

[@GaryAbbott]

Thanks John for watching. Hope the spreadsheet helped.

[@sicarguy4478]

Thank You !

[@GaryAbbott]

You're welcome!

[@user-js2xs1ov8l]

I am emailing you Gary, to get the speadsheet thanks.

[@jeana5782]

Thanks!

[@GaryAbbott]

Thank You!

[@kips4298]

HI Gary. Always like your videos. As new snowbirds, we have been renting cars and golf carts when we are in town, which has been getting expensive. I am thinking about buying a car but not sure about leaving it for months at a time. What have you been doing about a car when you are in town? Did you get a Florida car?

[@GaryAbbott]

I’m in the same situation as you. Especially for the first year and half. Now I’m going to try skipping the rental car when I fly down on short trips and just use the golf cart I purchased. Take a shuttle to my home from the airport. If it works or doesn’t I will most likely make a video on it.

[@user-js2xs1ov8l]

Great Video as usual Gary. Do you have that speadsheet to send out thanks

[@GaryAbbott]

Just follow the instructions in the video description. I have been sending it out all day today.

[@nancysullivan9262]

Gary, I can not find the download though to do my own calculation?

[@GaryAbbott]

Hi Nancy, Just follow the instructions below the video to get your copy of the spreadsheet.. Thanks.

[@lauralampe1664]

Question about your homeowner's insurance...do you pay more for your Villages homeowner's insurance because this is a second/part-time home than if you lived in your Villages home full-time?

[@GaryAbbott]

I think the only area in expenses where you get treated differently is if you need a home loan. They charge you a higher interest rate if it is your second home. Not in the insurance categories.

[@apkn1955]

You should have a silver sneaker plan under Medicare instead of gym membership..free

[@tombrown8428]

Gary, great work. How can i get a file to do my own budget?

[@GaryAbbott]

Hi Tom, just follow the instructions in the description below the video.

[@dennis9354]

Does the lawn/garden/pest control include fertilizing and weed control?

[@GaryAbbott]

They do spray weeds every time they mow. So far they have not recommended fertilizer as my lawn looks the best In neighborhood but that’s my opinion.