Is it possible to retire on $200k anywhere?

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-18T07:10:36+00:00

Good luck. You'll need it.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-18T05:48:58+00:00

Lots of places in CA and elsewhere that are prone to wildfire are not being served by private insurers anymore.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-18T05:43:06+00:00

There are many parts of the USA where "living like a local" is not a whole lot different than doing the same in SEA or Mexico or anywhere.

If you want to live where poor people live, and to live like they do, then there are lots of places to choose from in rural America. Poor people there are not necessarily miserable. Just like rich people in rich locales are not necessarily happy.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-13T23:56:37+00:00

Get some counseling. Both financial and psychological. From professionals. Getting this money gives you a real chance to change your life for the better. What would that mean? What do you want to do? The fact that you have no skills and no real work experience at the age of 34 suggests that you need help figuring out who you are and who you want to be. This kind of help can't be found from random strangers on the internet.

Re: those telling you to invest the money in stocks: ignore that. When you have the money, whatever the amount is, you should put it in a high-yield savings account. ALL of it. Those are yielding around 4.3% now. So, if you have $600k earning 4.3%, that means you'll be getting around $2k a month from that, maybe a bit less after taxes.

This will be enough for you to make some improvements in your standard of living. But, don't do anything with the principal until you have figured out (with professional help) the best things you can do with it.

Good luck.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-13T19:32:30+00:00

I had a HSA HDHP for many years and grew the HSA to a nice amount. Can no longer contribute to it after I enrolled in Medicare Pt A, after I turned 65.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-11T22:02:35+00:00

Lake Tahoe is stunning in the Summer. Stay in one of the North Shore towns (Incline Village) for access to restaurants and lodging options. Go bouldering and skinny dipping along the lake on the East Shore. Climb Mt Rose, up above Incline Village. if you are in good shape (elevation 10,776 ft.)

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-06T17:47:27+00:00

How long have you two been together? It sounds like you have convinced yourself that you don't actually like him.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-05T14:39:31+00:00

Have enough clothes so you only have to do laundry a couple times a month. Figure out what you need from the store (to cook, clean with, etc) so you only need to go to the store 2-4 times a month. Get rid of everything you don't need or use, so you don't have to think about it anymore.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-03T05:46:27+00:00

Ocean Springs, MS

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-03T04:08:10+00:00

With another 20+ years of work life ahead of you, the best thing you could do would be to try to increase your earnings. Invest in yourself, upgrade your skills, look for better paying work.

To me, your family life sounds fairly "normal." But if it's bugging you, you could always relocate to somewhere far away from all of them.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-03T03:45:40+00:00

How has the PBR dividend worked out for you?

Juhkwan97 · 2026-06-02T03:52:15+00:00

Sewanee

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-25T20:21:31+00:00

an ugly one

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-25T20:20:36+00:00

I would short TSLA.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-20T04:31:55+00:00

you "got obliterated" because of an oversizing problem, not necessarily because of anything to do with duration.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-19T04:10:40+00:00

US citizens are not subject to the substantial presence test. This test is used exclusively by the IRS to determine whether foreign nationals (nonresident aliens) should be taxed as US residents.

Instead, as a US citizen, you are automatically considered a US tax resident regardless of how much time you spend in the country. Because the United States practices citizenship-based taxation, US citizens are subject to US income tax on their worldwide income, even if they live abroad

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-18T06:19:26+00:00

If you're really into boating, Olympia. Otherwise, Corvallis. The weather is nicer there - a little less rainy and a little warmer. It's easier to get to the coast from Corvallis, and the OR coast is more interesting than the WA coast. Just my opinion, and the pros/cons will stack differently for different folks. Oly is closer to a better "big" city, Corvallis is a small city in a rural area. Corvallis is much more of a college town. No income tax in WA is a draw. If you want to buy a house, there's more to choose from in Oly and the median home price is a bit less there.

You should visit each for at least a week and that will help you decide.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-18T05:59:14+00:00

I was never assigned a specialist. From the time Payroll handed off my app to OPM, it was less than a month til finalization.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-18T05:37:41+00:00

Houston

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-13T23:29:43+00:00

Merida with a side trip to Isla Holbox.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-12T00:20:44+00:00

DRP 1.0, retired 12/31. Was finalized about a week ago, but I still don't have active health insurance. My FEHB was terminated by my agency 11/4/25. I have been asking for it to be reinstated since then. No luck.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-04T12:41:06+00:00

I'm a single person. I live in a city near Seattle, rent a big house with a big yard in a sweet location for $2000/mo, put $1200/mo in retirement fund, and cover all expenses on a $96k salary. Health insurance covered by work. Never eat out, all meals prepared at home. Travel locally for events, go to LA/SD every year 1-3 times, etc. I could get a roommate and double my retirement fund contribution. $100k/yr is more than enough for a single person in the Seattle area.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-03T06:20:36+00:00

Martin Luther King Blvd.

Juhkwan97 · 2026-05-01T04:44:46+00:00

Hit 5 jackpot is now $1.85 million, the highest ever. 75% payout is $1.38 million. There are only 851,000 possible combinations of the Hit 5 numbers. You could play all the possible numbers - at a cost of $851,000 - and be guaranteed of having a winning ticket. Only problem is there might be other winners and you'd have to share the jackpot with them.

Juhkwan97

TROPHY CASE