The American dream has turned to a nightmare for millions

[baja]

More than 9 million retired Americans don’t have enough money to cover basic living expenses, according to a new study.



Of the nearly 20 million older Americans who live alone or with a spouse, about 47% can’t afford everyday necessities such as proper nutrition and medical care, according to the analysis by Wider Opportunities for Women, a nonprofit research firm in Washington.

(Another 20 million seniors live with family members or in group settings such as nursing homes. They aren’t included in the study.)

The research organization used Census Bureau data to calculate median 2010 income levels for people 65 or older. Income came from a variety of sources, including Social Security, pensions and retirement savings.

It compared that to basic living expenses in individual states and determined the gap between the two.

Though there is a chasm between income and living expenses in every state, it’s especially pronounced in some urbanized states where the rising cost of living has outstripped the fixed incomes on which many seniors depend.

In California, for example, a single person renting an apartment would need an annual income of $25,884 to cover everyday needs. But median elder income is only $19,200, according to the group.

Given that they’ve already retired, that means the typical senior must cut expenses to bridge that gap of $6,684.

“This situation is dire and households are making untenable choices between paying the rent and buying nutritious food,” said Donna Addkison, the group’s chief executive.

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[Garcia Bronco]

That's why I am depending on myself and not others and lucky we've got better investment opportunities.

[alkemical]

Baja - have you seen/read about the increasing tent cities?

Crazy. Yet that's never on the news either.

[baja]

Originally Posted by alkemical

Baja - have you seen/read about the increasing tent cities?

Crazy. Yet that's never on the news either.

Yes I have. Interestingly enough here in Baja you never see homeless people. I think it is because the government gives a lot to needy people and allows them to build in stages.

[alkemical]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_offender

what sort of ramifications do you see happening with this "gap" baja?

In JP they have a problem with "aging offenders", out of survival - are we going to have some increases with this issue? What's the cost? How do we deal with this?

[Rohirrim]

They should move to Mexico.

[baja]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

They should move to Mexico.

They are moving to Mexico, in record numbers.

[Dukes]

Originally Posted by baja

They are moving to Mexico, in record numbers.

Not a bad place if you have money. Not so great if you don't.

[baja]

Originally Posted by Dukes

Not a bad place if you have money. Not so great if you don't.

And that is different where exactly.

[Dukes]

Originally Posted by baja

And that is different where exactly.

I don't see thousands of Americans running for Canada every day for jobs. It's different because Mexico is a ****hole run by the Cartels.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by baja

They are moving to Mexico, in record numbers.

I wish we'd kept our house in Rosarito Beach. Of course, that's a little too close to the border.

[baja]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

I wish we'd kept our house in Rosarito Beach. Of course, that's a little too close to the border.

I have a new friend that just moved here from TJ and she says if you stay out of the bad neighborhoods you will be fine. I also have two long time friends that own a house on the beach In Rosarito and everything considered feel safer there than they do in San Diego (La Jolla) where they also have a home.

[baja]

As an example I own a 3,000 sq ft home in a nice neighborhood with all the servicesyoyd expect in the USA. I pay 80 dollars a year in property tax. Propane is about $35 a month, electric is about $100 a month on average that's with three frigs a freezer and a hot tub and air cond. water is about $10 a month. So you can see why retiring in Baja is attractive.

[pricejj]

Originally Posted by baja

As an example I own a 3,000 sq ft home in a nice neighborhood with all the servicesyoyd expect in the USA. I pay 80 dollars a year in property tax. Propane is about $35 a month, electric is about $100 a month on average that's with three frigs a freezer and a hot tub and air cond. water is about $10 a month. So you can see why retiring in Baja is attractive.

Are you worried about the Mexican governmint taking your property, or is that not a danger? I've never been to Mexico, but I'd like to go to check it out. Are American's allowed to have farms there or other businesses?

[baja]

Originally Posted by pricejj

Are you worried about the Mexican governmint taking your property, or is that not a danger? I've never been to Mexico, but I'd like to go to check it out. Are American's allowed to have farms there or other businesses?

Global corps have billions invested in Mexico and their room full of lawyers have advised them it is secure. Yes Americans can own farms here. If you want more info PM me.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by baja

As an example I own a 3,000 sq ft home in a nice neighborhood with all the servicesyoyd expect in the USA. I pay 80 dollars a year in property tax. Propane is about $35 a month, electric is about $100 a month on average that's with three frigs a freezer and a hot tub and air cond. water is about $10 a month. So you can see why retiring in Baja is attractive.

Life is about more then just what your bills are to me. I love living in Southern Calif but thats not why I stay. I stay because Long Beach is my home. I know so many great people here and just feel like in Mexico I would get depressed. It's been hard for me to form close friendships with people i met after a was a an adult. Maybe its because so many of my grade school friends, HS friends, still such a big part of my life? Maybe in some ways I never grew up. Plus I live right down the street from my 70 yr old mom who i convinced to buy a little duplex by my house. Now she has a rental income from the 1 side, and still her own place close to me in case she needs me. I just love her so much and with my dad passed on 5 yrs ago I just feel he would want me to stay close. I guess its sort of lame i hang out with my mom a lot, but her being happy just more important to me then anything. I think I will never leave my country either. I know we aren't perfect and in many ways far from it. I'm just so proud though to be an American and quite honestly i think about it a lot. I think to myself how lucky we all were to get born in a great country like the USA. You know what its not even that, i don't feel proud to be an American, i feel blessed.

I have traveled some, many times to Mexico. I have a close friend who is Mexican that after HS decided to live there and work in SD. But he had tons of family there and spoke fluent spanish so it made a lot of sense lol. I will say this I could live in Canada. I have been there twice and people i didn't even know, that i had just met, treated me with respect and kindness. So from my experiences Canada kicks some major ass. Also Vancouver was just so awesome. I loved that city because in some ways it reminded my of So Calif. Obviously not the weather in the winter, but for sure just the fact you have ocean and mountains in close proximity and lots of fun people, things to do etc etc. I'm sure the expat areas of Mexico, Costa Rica etc etc good to live in, but in my travels to Mexico i never once said man i would like to live here.

Vancouver, i said that. I love Canada I think they have some the nicest people living up there our hemishpere has to offer.

[Meck77]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

Life is about more then just what your bills are to me. I love living in Southern Calif but thats not why I stay. I stay because Long Beach is my home. I know so many great people here and just feel like in Mexico I would get depressed. It's been hard for me to form close friendships with people i met after a was a an adult. Maybe its because so many of my grade school friends, HS friends, still such a big part of my life? Maybe in some ways I never grew up. Plus I live right down the street from my 70 yr old mom who i convinced to buy a little duplex by my house. Now she has a rental income from the 1 side, and still her own place close to me in case she needs me. I just love her so much and with my dad passed on 5 yrs ago I just feel he would want me to stay close. I guess its sort of lame i hang out with my mom a lot, but her being happy just more important to me then anything. I think I will never leave my country either. I know we aren't perfect and in many ways far from it. I'm just so proud though to be an American and quite honestly i think about it a lot. I think to myself how lucky we all were to get born in a great country like the USA. You know what its not even that, i don't feel proud to be an American, i feel blessed.

I have traveled some, many times to Mexico. I have a close friend who is Mexican that after HS decided to live there and work in SD. But he had tons of family there and spoke fluent spanish so it made a lot of sense lol. I will say this I could live in Canada. I have been there twice and people i didn't even know, that i had just met, treated me with respect and kindness. So from my experiences Canada kicks some major ass. Also Vancouver was just so awesome. I loved that city because in some ways it reminded my of So Calif. Obviously not the weather in the winter, but for sure just the fact you have ocean and mountains in close proximity and lots of fun people, things to do etc etc. I'm sure the expat areas of Mexico, Costa Rica etc etc good to live in, but in my travels to Mexico i never once said man i would like to live here.

Vancouver, i said that. I love Canada I think they have some the nicest people living up there our hemishpere has to offer.

Sounds like the American dream to me. I certainly agree that the plans of millions of Americans have changed with the recession. However, I'd argue that the same could be said for hundreds of MILLIONS of people around the globe.

Besides the Mexican dream was the American dream.

Bars on windows hoping to not get robbed? I guess that's the American dream in Mexico. Wow sounds great and Cabo is suppose to be a safer part of mexico.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

[baja]

Watch the full movie THRIVE here;

http://www.thrivemovement.com/

[chadta]

Originally Posted by baja

Watch the full movie THRIVE here;

http://www.thrivemovement.com/

i have a link for the whole movie for anybody interested, will try and watch it later

[Requiem]

Dreams.

[spdirty]

Baja, do you have bars on your windows?

[baja]

Originally Posted by spdirty

Baja, do you have bars on your windows?

Yes I do. Break ins are a problem here. But in 22 years in Baja and 3 more in PV I have never been broken into. Best to deal with the world you are actually in.

[baja]

Great question BTW...

[Odysseus]

Runaway Capitalism - http://hbr.org/2012/01/runaway-capitalism/ar/1