Latest news with #budgetliving
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
In the cheapest place for retirees in the US, you can live well — with no snow — for under $1,000 a month
According to new data, one sunny coastal city offers beaches, arts, and a thriving dining scene — all on a budget likely smaller than your rent now. Retiring in the U.S. can be notoriously expensive — and therefore completely financially daunting. But it doesn't have to be, especially if you're willing to head south. New data from GOBankingRates looked at 25 cities with great year-round weather where retirees could comfortably live on $2,000 a month or less. The cheapest of them all came in way under that threshold — it's Tallahassee, Florida, where renters can get by on just $995 a month. Tallahassee, Florida offers the rare combination of a cost of living nearly 10 percent below the national average, a vibrant cultural scene, and plenty of outdoor recreation. As Florida's capital city, it's home to a lively arts community, historic sites, and nightlife — plus abundant parks and hiking trails for active retirees. Homeowners here also fare well, with a low average monthly cost of $1,248. Several other sunny destinations made the list. Fort Myers, Florida, ranks second, with a livability score of 85 and a sizable retiree population — more than 22 percent of residents are 65 or older. Homeowners can expect monthly expenses of $1,746, while renters average $1,468. While the cost of living is slightly higher than the national average, Florida's tax breaks for residents help offset expenses. Plus, public transportation makes it easy to access and enjoy the local beaches, golf courses, and fishing spots without the hassle and expense of driving. In third place, Raleigh, North Carolina, combines urban amenities with natural beauty. Renters here can live on $1,069 a month, and homeowners on $2,037. Known for its museums, restaurants, and free attractions like the Raleigh Rose Garden, it's an appealing choice for retirees who enjoy a balance of culture and greenery. Jacksonville, Florida, takes the fourth spot, with coastal living and nightlife at a renter-friendly $1,073 per month. The cost of living is about 4 percent lower than the national average, helping retirees stretch their savings while enjoying sandy beaches and urban conveniences. Fifth-place Pensacola, Florida, is a Gulf Coast gem where homeowners spend just $929 monthly — one of the lowest figures on the list. Whether it's Tallahassee's blend of culture and affordability, Pensacola's Gulf Coast charm, or El Paso's desert sunshine and foodie scene, these cities prove that you can retire in warm weather without needing a massive nest egg. Read more: This is the most expensive city in the world Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This City Was Just Named the Best Place to Retire With Great Weather On $2,000 a Month
From Florida to the Carolinas, these top-ranked destinations offer great weather and low costs for retirees seeking quality of life. Key Takeaway A new GOBankingRates report ranks cities where retirees can live well for less than $2,000 per month—without sacrificing sunshine. Fort Myers, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina, ranked in the list. Keep reading to see which destination was the named the best for good weather and low cost of living. While factors like cost of living and access to healthcare are crucial for many retirees planning to relocate, another important consideration is weather. Recently, GOBankingRates determined the top 25 communities with good weather, where retirees can live on a budget of $2,000 a month or less. The personal finance website analyzed U.S. cities for factors like population, age demographics, weather, and cost of living. All the data was collected as of July 14, 2025, and sorted to show the city with the highest overall livability score. Coming out on top is Tallahassee, Florida, which scored 85 out of 100. The Florida state capital has a healthy mix of recreational activities and affordability, with a cost of living that is almost 10 percent lower than the national average for a person over 65. Eleven percent of Tallahassee's population is of retirement age. The monthly cost of living for a homeowner on Social Security is $1,248, while a retiree renting a home can expect to spend $995 in monthly expenses. Tallahassee boasts abundant parks, hiking trails, exciting nightlife, and a lively arts scene. The city has a tropical climate with summer highs in the low 90s, while in the winter, average highs are in the mid-60s. According to the city has high heat and precipitation risk. Florida also snagged the No. 2 spot on GOBankingRates' ranking, with Fort Myers coming up behind Tallahassee. It also scored 85 points for livability, and has an even larger retiree population at 22.2 percent. However, the cost of living in Fort Myers is 4.2 percent higher than the national average. The Sunshine State offers many tax breaks for residents—most notably, no income and inheritance taxes—allowing retirees to maximize their income, while enjoying plenty of outdoor activities like golfing, fishing, and lying on the beach. The top five is rounded out by Raleigh, North Carolina, at No. 3 (livability score: 84); Pensacola, Florida, at No.4 (livability score: 83); and Greenville, South Carolina, at No.5 (livability score: 82). The only city in the West to make it to the top 10 was Las Vegas at No. 7. You can see the complete list on Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Solve the daily Crossword
News.com.au
11-08-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Bed Threads Organic Cotton review: Budget ‘buttery soft' linen
When it comes to home furnishings, I've always had champagne tastes despite my budget being decidedly more beer-adjacent (just ask my husband). I firmly believe every home should be a haven of comfort and that the saying 'buy cheap, buy twice' applies one hundred fold when it comes to your homewares and appliances. That being said, in this current financial climate, one must economise — even when it comes to a place where we spend at least eight hours a day. For years, I've loved the look and feel of linen bedding. It gives your bedroom an understated, chic finish with minimal effort thanks to linen 's natural texture. It is also so comfy in summer and only gets softer with every wash. However it is prohibitively expensive at times, costing upwards of $500 to kit out a queen bed. Which is why it's no surprise we've seen an increase in brands adopting a more affordable material. From $50 at Bed Threads Known for their high-quality 100% French Flax Linen Bedding range, Bed Threads has become the latest brand to release an Organic Cotton range which I have been road testing* for the last four weeks. Bed Threads co-founder Genevieve Rosen Biller told checkout that Organic Cotton 's affordability has been a 'welcome benefit, but it wasn't the driving factor'. 'The main motivator here was delivering customers the Bed Threads experience in the fibre they were genuinely looking for,' she said. Rosen Biller said the response since launching a second material in its signature bedding range has been 'incredible'. 'We sold out of our Espresso and Berry colourways in the first week, which was far sooner than we anticipated,' she said. 'We've been thrilled to receive five-star reviews and comments like 'finally' and 'we've been waiting for this' from customers as well.' FIRST IMPRESSIONS Bed Threads' Organic Cotton range is available in eight colourways: Vanilla, Berry, Butterscotch, Apple, Moss, Aegean and Espresso. Personally, I prefer more muted or neutral tones that lean on the cool tone side for my bedding, so I struggled to pick a colour combo at first. But given Bed Threads is known for its jewel shades and bold colour combos, I decided to go wild and pick out a set of sheets in Espresso, a rich chocolate brown, and duvet colour/pillowcases in Moss, a dark forest green. The bedding came beautifully packaged in organic cotton bags, a nice touch given other brands will usually package their manchester in plastic. Straight away, the quality was evident — the stitching was to a high standard with no snags or lose threads and the cotton was buttery soft to the touch. Putting the set on my bed, it transformed my bedroom instantly into a trendy hotel room — the colour combination was perfection and it gave off a sophisticated, (dare I say) sexy feel. Given it's cotton and not linen it does have a more structured look on the bed which was a bit hard to get used at first. But it still had that understated, elegant look that I love about block-colour manchester. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO SLEEP ON? In short: Extremely comfortable. These sheets are like floating on air on a cool, crisp day. They don't make you feel hot but also aren't as cooling as linen, making it ideal as an all-year bed linen option. The sheets are soft without being slippy or too shiny, a pet hate of mine with high thread count cotton sheets. HOW DOES IT WASH? One of the benefits of Bed Threads' Organic Cotton collection is that they're more low maintenance then their more sophisticated cousin, 100% French Flax Linen Bedding. Bed Threads recommends washing its linen range in a cold, gentle cycle and avoid putting it in the dryer. I've washed this range four times now on a regular cycle, throwing it in the dryer on two occasions. All times the colour has held well and it's stayed soft too. Being cotton, it is also quick to dry if you hang it on the line. My only issue that I find it does collect a few bits of fuzz and my hair. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? A queen bundle set of the Bed Threads Organic Cotton range will set you back $360 versus $576 for the 100% French Flax Linen Bedding range. Each Bed Threads bundle includes a duvet cover, fitted sheet, flax sheet and four pillowcases. Otherwise it's $150 for a queen duvet cover (versus $250 for the linen cover), $50 for a pair of pillowcases ($70 for the linen version), $100 for a queen fitted sheet or flat sheet ($160 and $170 in linen). Despite the price difference, Rosen Biller said that both collections are 'long-lasting products crafted to the highest quality standards' and 'our customers are ultimately choosing the fibre (or colour palette) that most resonates with them'. 'As a more widely available fabric, cotton is naturally more economical than linen – a fibre which is so in-demand that it's often subject to shortages,' she said. OVERALL VERDICT While the Organic Cotton range is still priced at the more expensive end for bedding, after road testing it for a month I can say it is well worth ir. It's incredibly comfortable to sleep on, washes well and you can tell the fabric and stitching is high quality. It's also a great alternative for shoppers who want a more affordable and low maintenance fabric than linen, but don't want to sacrifice on style or comfort. And let's face it, what's better than saving a few pennies on bedding and using that money to treat yourself to a bottle of bubbly. French champagne anyone? Sign up to our free shopping newsletter for the latest deals and sales you won't want to miss.
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Travel + Leisure
10-07-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
Amazon Just Listed a 2-bedroom Tiny Home With a Spacious Porch and a Sturdy Steel Frame—and It's Under $10K
I can almost guarantee that when you imagined your future home while growing up, you certainly didn't picture ordering it online. But with the real estate market being what it is, the dream of owning a home in the traditional sense may feel just out of reach—which is where Amazon comes in. The major retailer is stocked with no shortage of impressive tiny homes made to order, and it just listed the Expandable Prefabricated 2-bedroom Tiny House for under $10,000, with a multitude of features that lend themselves to comfortable living on a budget. This pre-built tiny house will scratch your itch of being a homeowner at a more affordable price, and it's designed in a way that'll make it easy to make yourself feel right at home. The layout of the house features two compact bedrooms, one full bathroom, and an open-concept living room and kitchen that offers ample space for furniture, including a couch, dining table, and more. You'll find plenty of counter space in the kitchen, making this home a great fit for budding hosts. Plus, you can use the additional bedroom as a guest room, adding to the home's charm. It's only natural to wonder if your tiny home will be able to withstand the elements, and while we haven't tested it for ourselves, the manufacturer notes that the steel exterior of the prefabricated home should be sturdy enough to withstand rain, wind, and snow. Not to mention, shoppers have the option of selecting a 20-foot or 40-foot design, so you can ensure you'll have enough space to live comfortably in your petite abode. While the interior of the home is undeniably appealing, it's the exterior that really shines, with a porch that spans the front of the house. If you've ever dreamed of drinking your coffee out in the sunshine or hosting a dinner party for friends, this porch is the perfect place to set up shop and take in the view of your surroundings. Huge windows at the front of the home and in each bedroom allow an abundance of natural light to shine through, and it'll even be easy to assemble upon arrival. At just over $9,000, Amazon's Expandable Prefabricated 2-bedroom Tiny House may just be your dream starter home, allowing you to experience the joys of home ownership on a smaller scale. Luckily, Amazon has no shortage of modular homes to choose from, so keep reading to discover more quaint options starting at just $6,000. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Mum shares the ‘awful reality' of having a new build social housing home – and people think the builders did her ‘dirty'
A MOTHER has shared a close-up look at the 'reality' of having a new build home. And not only did others claim to have experienced the same with their 'awful' new build properties, but people think the builders did this woman 'dirty'. 2 Posting on social media, Kez, a single mother from the UK who recently moved into a social housing new build property and is currently on a mission to kit out her home whilst on a budget, gave her followers an insight into the 'snags' in her garden. During a seven-second clip that was shared online just days ago, the savvy mum lifted up a patch of grass in her garden, only to reveal a layer of stones and rubble. Alongside the clip, the bargain-hunter wrote: 'New build life be like…' Not only this, but as she showed off the 'new build snags', she then explained: 'Reality of having a new build house … lawn laid on literal stone.' She also added: 'Then they tell you to keep watering it so it doesn't die.' According to Haywood Landscapes, a number of factors can cause water-logging of your garden and particularly in new build gardens, there are two common causes - soil compaction and shallow topsoil over clay subsoil. The experts suggest that topsoil should be at least 15cm thick for satisfactory lawn growth, 30cm for shrubs and ideally deeper still for trees. If less, plant growth may be adversely affected. Having 15cm as standard will ensure healthy root development, water retention and nutrient availability, which are all essential for plant survival and growth. Kez's TikTok clip, which shows a clear lack of topsoil, was posted under the username @ kez1643 and has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 431,300 views. Not only this, but it's also amassed 2,354 likes, 112 comments and 282 shares. I've transformed my horrendous council house & now I want to buy it - haters say I'm contributing to the housing crisis Social media users were gobsmacked by Kez's garden find and many eagerly flocked to the comments to share their thoughts. One person said: 'New builds are required to have 30cm of topsoil… they did you dirty.' Another added: 'I used to clean new builds... I wouldn't live in one. My friend got given one from the council, nothing but problems.' A third commented: 'This happened to us with our new build a few years ago. What to do if you fall foul of a dodgy builder Under the Consumer Rights Act, anyone who enters a contract for goods and services can expect these to be supplied with reasonable care and skill - and this includes builders, plumbers, decorators and electricians. It also includes materials, which should be of satisfactory quality, as described and fit for purpose. If you've fallen victim to a builder, or had a dispute with your contractors, you should firstly collate all evidence you have, including paperwork, photos, videos, messages and bank statements. Then, try to resolve the issues directly with the firm, before trying an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme such as mediation or ombudsman services. If this doesn't work, contact your bank to find out whether you can recover any money spent using Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (if the job cost between £100 and £30,000, your credit card company is jointly liable if something goes wrong). If this doesn't work, report them to the police on 101. While the lines between what is criminal and just bad practice are blurred, a contractor could be done for fraud. It is also important to contact Trading Standards. Citizens' Advice has an online form to help you do this. TS will then decide whether to investigate further based on the information you provide and help negotiate a settlement. Even if it doesn't, the details may help if anyone else complains about the same firm. It is also possible to take builders to a small claims court if you have been left out of pocket. However, you run the risk of racking up significant costs. While most home insurance policies don't cover building work, it is worth confirming this with your provider. And you should also, if possible, find out whether your builder holds liability insurance, which would also help. "The builders put turf on top of builders rubble in the back garden. The turf lasted a few weeks!' Not only this, but someone else wrote: 'Oh my god same!!! Mine's awful.' At the same time, another user gasped: 'It's crazy how many people fall for the trap of buying a new build.'
