Retire in Style: How to Live a Fabulous Florida Life
By Alycia
You’ve finally hit the Golden Years and you plan to retire in the Sunshine State. What could be better? There’s constant sunshine, beautiful beaches, flavorful cuisine, and a vibrant community of fellow retirees. If you were frugal during your working years, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to afford a lavish lifestyle in Florida.
But what exactly does this Southeastern state have to offer? If you want to spare no expense, take a look at how you can attain that fabled and fabulous Florida retirement. You’ve earned it!
Take Advantage of Lenient Tax Laws
Let’s start off on a practical note. Florida doesn’t have state income tax, which means there are no taxes on Social Security benefits, pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement accounts. Thanks to these lenient laws, your money will last a lot longer and fund more amazing adventures! There’s also no inheritance tax or estate tax, so you can spend that hard-earned cash however you like without giving a cut to the government. Welcome to the good life.
Cruise the Beaches in a Killer Car
Now let’s jump into the fun stuff. Florida is a large state, and you’re going to want to explore it now that you have so much time on your hands. The first step is to snag a luxury car so you can cruise around the beaches and city streets. Fancy cars are a way of life for many Floridians, so don’t take the decision lightly. Head into one of the major cities to find the deals. An Audi dealership in Orlando will likely have better prices and more models to choose from than a dealership in Pensacola.
They don’t call Florida the “Sunshine State” for nothing! Soak up the sun as you enjoy the easy life, and remember what it was like to be a kid with the wind in your hair.
Another tip: get a convertible. They don’t call Florida the “Sunshine State” for nothing! Soak up the sun as you enjoy the easy life, and remember what it was like to be a kid with the wind in your hair. Plus, the grandkids will love to come visit and go cruising in grandma or grandpa’s sweet set of wheels. It’s time to enjoy the finer things in life, so why not live like retirement royalty.
Spend Time in the Keys
No matter where you live most of the year, a fabulous Florida life requires spending plenty of time in the Keys during the long summer months. Head on down to Little Palm Island Resort and Spa to live the island dream. This exclusive resort features luxurious thatched-roof bungalows and can only be reached by boat or seaplane—it doesn’t get fancier than that!
The Florida Keys has amazing cuisine you can indulge in. From Cuban-inspired meals to fine American dining, there are plenty of delectable restaurants in the Keys to satisfy even the biggest foodie. There’s nothing more moneyed than spending a couple hundred dollars on a good meal, and when you have seafood this fresh, you’ll have no problem doing it every night!
Buy Vacation Property
Your lavish retirement is clearly a sign of being a savvy businessperson earlier in life. Use all this free time to invest in a vacation property that can take your retirement up a notch! Not only will you have a beautiful second house to relax in when the busy city life gets to be too much, but you can also make supplemental income by renting it out when you aren’t there. As a tourism capital, Florida visitors are always seeking luxurious lodging.
But where’s the best place to buy a second home? You have several options. Miami is a thriving metropolis, and you could easily find a beachfront property to start earning some extra cash. Orlando is packed full of families visiting the theme parks, and Daytona Beach is a haven for NASCAR fans. Florida is ripe with rental properties, and there’s a diverse clientele that you can rent to.
So what are you waiting for? Pack up your Hawaiian shirts, khaki shorts, and golf clubs and hit the road! With more than 3.5 million residents over 65 years old, Florida truly is an oasis for older folks. And if you plan to live a posh life, this is certainly the state to do it in!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
“Alycia is blessed with four beautiful girls and enjoys DIY crafting with them in her free time. After receiving a Master’s in education from the University of Colorado, Alycia pursued a career as an educational consultant in order to help students and their parents plan for a better future. She’s a staunch advocate of continuing education, and believes that an insatiable hunger for knowledge is the key to better finances, a warm family, and an overall fulfilling life.
Alycia finds it important to write about what she’s learned and express her opinions before a larger audience online. She leads by example, and teaches her readers that despite juggling four kids and a full time job as a single mom, it is possible to go back to school and achieve success. She enjoys finding new ways to work around tight budgets and offering tips for how to readjust and settle in a new situation—whether it’s collegiate life or a recent divorcée status. Her platform shares her wealth of information with the hope of empowering parents and students everywhere.”
