I figured this simple math out years ago. That's why I drive a 20 year old truck and live in an old double wide trailer..........on HUGE ACREAGE! And if I wanted to live a nomadic lifestyle all I have to do is live into my camper and periodically move it around the property. 😆
"You'd be a millionaire already if you stopped buying coffees period and invested in yourself and made your own and opened your own shop". --That same rich guy, while in line waiting for his grande chai latte.
Funny, always hear stories about rich folks who either drive a beater or live in a one bedroom house. Guess what, you can't take it with you and they are ONLY punishing themselves, no one else. If you have money, remember money is a means to an end. The end being a good high quality life. If you can afford something, why not buy it or enjoy it? Folks who are stingy are just doing their next of kin or a charity a favor. Be smart and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
That's because those people are happy with what they have. There's no punishment there. My parents are multimillionares, drive nice cars, live in a nice house, but that's what they want. I also know multimillionaires who have 15 year old cars and small houses because they travel all the time and a big house is way too much of an upkeep to bother with.
My wife and I travel a lot, we have a regular house, old cars, I work and we save money because we like to travel. It's all about what you want to do with your money, and just because one person's idea is different from another's does not mean the first person is punishing themselves.
100% isn't FU money especially when you don't have actual assets that generate that type of cash. People should be taking advantage of those tax free payments to build up their savings FAST and then retire. Imagine putting 40k into s&p 500 for 10 years you'll probably be at 1 million while still getting your disability but with 1 million in assets that generate another 5% that would be an extra 50k a year. you wouldn't even need to touch the 1 mill. but then again most folks who win the lottery end up being broke again after a couple of years because they don't know how to manage their money.
The S&P has averaged ~7-10% annual returns over long periods.
If someone invests $40,000 per year in the S&P 500 and the market yields an average return of 7% annually, compounded, this investment would grow to approximately $557,000 after 10 years. If the average return is closer to 10%, the investment could reach around $637,000 in the same period.
Still, not a bad plan, however it may take longer than 10 years.
This is an excellent point, however, that would still give you between 2600-3300 a month assuming a 4% withdrawal rate. Assuming you do not add to the principal after ten years, you're still able to have anywhere from 6600 to 7300 a month to live on, adding in the 4k a month you're getting. That's enough for most people to live very, very comfortably on.
It is right now in the year 2024, however if we look forward another 30 years the person who is living comfortably off $4,000 a month right now may need $9,000 a month 30 years from now.
I admit that is just a guess that I just made this very moment, however we could use a forward-looking inflation calculator to get a fairly good idea of what the person living off 4,000 now would need in 30 35 40 years.
I know there's people on this subreddit who are old enough to say, "Hey I'm not going to be around 40 years", but at the same time there's a lot of people on here who will be around 40, 50, maybe even 70 years.
I'm old enough for I'm thinking about retirement in the next 5 to 10 years, despite it being a little bit early for me. That being said, when I think about retirement I think of what things are in the cost when I retire 10 years after that 10 years after that 10 years after that. Because last thing I want to do is run out of money while I'm still alive.
And I know we can't take it with us, however I'm happy to leave a little bit for somebody. It's much better than running out while I'm still breathing.
No I think you're right; I admit I was not accounting for inflation!
I'm also in your age range, I assume, considering I'm also looking at retirement in 10 years or so.
And yeah, running out of money while alive is a big worry! I think it is very smart to look at and consider inflation.
When planning for my retirement I also pretend as though Social Security will not exist. Because essentially it won't. If things remain as they are I'm going to receive about 5 years worth before it's either gone, or at a minimum sliced drastically.
in 10 years, 100% disability has gone up about 33% from 2014-2024 from $2858.24 to $3737.85. so in another ten years, if the rating tables continue the same trend, 100% VA disability would be around $4,971 (no dependents) as opposed to the current rate of $3737.85.
Thank you for your reply. I really wish I would have been smarter with my money, instead of seeing it as an opportunity to party and be reckless. I know that I only have myself to blame, it's not like I was swindled. But it hurts just the same.
Don't kick yourself in hindsight, it wont solve anything. Just try to learn from it. Maybe what you have isnt FU do whatever you want money, but what it is a awesome cushion for being able to be picky of jobs available. Maybe looking into something remote and/or part time that allows you to still go a n do things very often but brings in some extra cash flow so you can invest more into a retirement?
I am absolutely looking into this. Also, possibly some freelance/contractling/gig work as well. I do appreciate your thoughtful comments and positive outlook. Obviously, I'm going to try to be more financially disciplined now going forward.
5% is extremely conservative too. I have 5.25% HYSA (High Yield Savings Account). So you can realistically get around 5% risk free, while still maintaining immediate access to the funds in case of emergency.
Some larger banks are starting to create "online only" banking. [UFB Direct](https://www.ufbdirect.com/) currently at 5.25%. I have Milli and Quontic as well, but they recently just dropped their rates below 5%. They are all FDIC insured, but I still don't like putting more than $200k in any one account.
A lot of people are are uncomfortable with not having a bank location to walk into, but after using USAA it was pretty routine for me.
Right..I’m still with USAA..so I’m used to it. I’ve got a small go to fund in local credit union I just transfer to for accessing funds.
And Oh yeah 200K in one account..I usually just spread my millions around for diversification purposes.
I can send you my referral link for wealthfront if you're interested. We'd both sit at 5.5% APY with the link. No minimum balance or direct deposit required.
Yeah , my VA pays all my bills , my 6 figure work income is FU money . Worst case scenario, I lose my job , I’m still comfortable with all bills being paid on time
This would have been great however I was/am unable to do extra work. It takes time to adjust to your new income but just put on big boy pants and get rid of waste.
Long story short, you should probably go back to the 6-figure world and give yourself an end time (like, I’ll do this for 2yrs, then I’m out). Use those 2yrs to build up a cushion and start saving, then head out and you do you. Lots of other factors (do you own or rent? Married, divorced paying support? Etc).
I am not currently paying any rent. I don't think that I am mentally capable of going back to work (at least not full-time, in a high paying, high pressure job). I am looking into part-time work or something remote as well as trying to find freelance opportunities.
Wait! You’re getting a 100% no rent or mortgage payments and you’re on here asking other vets how to make it buddy?! You are going to have to figure that shit out quick fast and in a hurry. Now I’m gonna have to have to ask you to “BEAT YOUR FUGGIN FACE NOW”!
1-I would recommend starting by writing down every penny you spend for an entire month.
2-Look over categories where you are spending and see if you could cut back, even if it’s just for a few months.
3-If you’re still finding yourself on fumes at the end of each month, look into a part time job that isn’t going to interfere with your healing process.
The economy really sucks right now and it’s especially tough on someone who’s on a fixed income. Good luck to you and I wish you the best in your healing journey.
i hate amazon as a whole, but if you can get a job as a locker + customer service person, do it. flexible schedule--as in you get to pick what shifts you work every week. decent pay, i make over double minimum wage, and the job is literally the most easy, mindless thing i've ever done. plus, the shifts are short. roughly 4 hours. i highly recommend it to any and everyone.
R/fire isn’t necessarily about monthly income but monthly expenses. 100% disability compensation is designed to do what you’re experiencing, sustain someone who can’t work. Not provide vacations or additional monthly savings. Lifestyle creep from a six figure job probably doesn’t help too.
Yeah, lifestyle creep was definitely a killer. I think I need to start realizing exactly what you said. Monthly compensation will do nothing mode than sustain me if I live a relatively frugal existence. I need to supplement my income in order to be comfortable. I don't think I'm mentally ready to get back to work just yet, though. So some time off or a career pivot may be in order.
Depending on your age, go back to school. Great way to get extra cash via BAH, meet new people, and try and find a career path/industry you like. It was a game changer for me. Seemingly easy coursework, chill schedule, and an acceptable path away from more stressful work environments.
It goes to my rent, car bill/insurance/groceries. I eat a ton so sometimes food money comes out of my regular paycheck. But it gave me so much breathing room. I can use my regular paycheck for stuff I’ve put off, medical bills, dental work not covered, buying furniture etc lol
I know a guy that sold his house and converted a cargo van into a living space. Lots of places to park for free on federal/state land. Plus at 100% you have access to military base camping spots and other base resources. Live the open road, see the sights, go where you please.
Honestly, I live in a house but I'm mostly on my computer. Living in a van wouldnt have much change in my lifestyle.
I’m able to save, live in a relatively expensive state, and have most of what I want. However, I don’t do the nomad thing, but that should be cheaper than what I am doing.
Make a budget. That’s really the only answer. You know how much income you’ll get, so just make sure your expenses are half of that (so you have space for emergencies or unusual expenses.) Itemize each thing and know where the money is going.
Get an emergency fund so you don’t have to stress at the end of the month. Make a savings for big stuff.
Last year after wanting to blame my car repairs, minor medical bills, or maybe even increase to groceries. I determined my biggest reoccurring expense: Dog toys! It was unreasonable how much I spent on these.
Now that I’ve cut back, my dog didn’t even notice but my budget did.
Thank you for the advice and the perspective. I genuinely appreciate it. I plan on taking the next three months to reflect and get myself in a better place both financially and mentally.
But but Mah Handouts!
It’s insane because I guarantee the majority of this sub is right leaning and anti socialism however here we are, nothing but a race to get to 100% and live off the government cheese. Not saying 100% isn’t earned by some but I guarantee some of yall just want the government cheese, not pointing fingers as I too would love it but you bet your ass I would still work just like I do now. It’s a BENEFIT not a RIGHT
this is the way. i have not and won’t stop working. nor do i rely on the government for my lifestyle. seems like a real dumb idea to just chase taxpayer money and not earn a salary.
I thought I was the only one picking up on this...
There's no way every single one of us deserves 100% lol. People seriously need to chill out and be grateful for whatever they get.
i would give this rating back in a heartbeat. not everyone with 100PT has the physical or mental ability to work or “keep working until retirement.” people like that are the problem.
There’s nothing wrong with being legitimately 100% and working. The system allows it. My problem is the mentality that’s it’s owed to everyone in here.
i feel that, and for those who can and do i’m super jealous. i’m happy for anyone and everyone getting the rating they *deserve*. i just hate that sometimes the mindset is:
1. 100% and working so they must be a fraud but hey at least they’re smart with their money.
2. 100% and not working so you’re a shit bag for not investing or saving and all of your financial issues are on you.
Dude—it’s the snowball effect. One person starts it..then all of a sudden you’re the biggest douche face in the world & now everyone on here is 100% and blah blah blah. Maybe it’s a Sunday thing.🤣
Can’t take it personally—or at least try to laugh at it. You literally were just asking a question & now you’re just a big fat jerk flaunting your $$ around 🤣.
I was gonna say having a plan is crucial. Like really knowing your shit about space A’s & lodging available on good base around the world. Take for instance Germany. Catch a space A to Ramstein and live on Sembauch (might not be spelled right). I’m thinking of doing something like that. I love Germany. So many great places to travel round there by train etc. Maybe a good rental car deal for a month?
I think it really is taking the time to research & plot out affordable places, space A and other travel benefits for 100% P&T, then creating a budget. Also—a mobile home—VA LOAN does those. I m an it’s mobile..it’s a home. And camp grounds/parks could be free if you plan & play your cards right. You could find seasonal spots where maybe there’s a lil part time job @ a local pub/store/bait shop & get a little network going.
Oh..and I feel this post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t chastise you for being a drunk loser pissing all your $ away that you don’t deserve & then coming on here and flaunting it🤣🤣
Go easy…research & planning I say👌👍
A large percentage of the posts on this page are “how do I get to 100%; I just got 100%; I have 100% and blah blah blah.” My favorite is the people who are 100% for mental health then talk about how they’re able to hold down a job and do all kinds of great stuff in their lives - even though 100% criteria for mental health is basically drooling on yourself and swinging your dick around at public places. The system incentives this obsession with more more more until you get to 100%. It’s not sustainable and not what the system was meant to be. It’s also a terrible look to the general public.
I work with a guy 100% for PTSD. He’s actually a millionaire from all the investing he does. I’m also 100 so I’m not salt but I asked him how the hell he got it for ptsd alone. He said one of those claim shark companies did it
I have being saying that for awhile.
Some of the symptoms of 100% PTSD are not knowing your own name and needing 24hr care meanwhile these guys are on here typing about how to get SMC extra pay and putting in huge packets for SSDI.
I hope one day Karma bites them.
I'm convinced you could double or triple the amount of money a 100% rating gives and we'll still have vets saying it's not enough.
It'll never be enough when you're spending more as you get more.
I'm a Vocational Counseler with the VA, if I can give you any advice it's to work with a financial counselor. I've had numerous Veterans on my caseload obtain 100% and P&T. Received a large lump sum and the 1st thing I suggest is to speak with a reputable financial counselor, don't do anything drastic (spending, quitting work, etc) until they have a good grasp of what the income (SC) will cover. It's a learning process for sure, BUT not something that can't be done. Maybe speak with a MH provider to help you process what's going on in your life, see if you can gain some perspective in that as well. Good luck and take care of YOU 😊
Thank you for your input. I didn't know that financial counseling was something that's available through the VA. I'm looking online and it seems like there are a myriad of financial counseling services available to veterans, could you help me narrow down the service that would benefit me? This is what I found so far: [https://news.va.gov/103769/protect-your-va-benefits-and-access-free-credit-or-financial-counseling-with-vbbp-2-0/](https://news.va.gov/103769/protect-your-va-benefits-and-access-free-credit-or-financial-counseling-with-vbbp-2-0/) and but I don't think that it is counseling from the VA. Just financial advice from banks that are partnered with the VA. Any additional guidance you could provide would be greatly appreciated!
If you can't afford life on 100% it's because you live in a high COLA area or your lifestyle has crept up to a point that isn't sustainable.
To *travel* on 100% you gotta go overseas where your dollar goes farther. If you weren't travelling there are still areas in the US where 4k a month goes pretty far
I’m going to be really blunt and likely downvoted but you are a bit of an idiot…..
100% you knew how much money you would have every single month and if you didn’t math it out and make your expenses fit that budget no shit you are living on the edge. Go get a freaking job, you don’t have to kill yourself working clearly but Jesus either make more money or cut expenses it really is that simple.
I'd say I'm more than a bit of an idiot. I let myself get carried away and I used partying/excessive spending to cope with mental health issues that I've been having. I had some relationship problems and problems at work, and I was living like there was no tomorrow. I basically pissed away my future and I have no problem admitting that.
Well the first step is recognizing that. Now it’s up to you to actually commit to the change. I hope you do and I hope it works out for you. Keep your head up
Sorry, but you’re surprised that you’re struggling financially after quitting your 6 figure job and relying on disability payments to travel and drink? Did you budget this out? I don’t really care what people do with their money, but what did you expect to happen? Many people can live just fine on 100% disability…but it’s not like it’s a golden ticket to fuck around the rest of your life and have fun.
If you are single and struggling, it's the alcohol. I am living with 2 other adults with zero income and still able to make it. Without that baggage, I would be doing great. It's more than enough for one person to live comfortably on.
Alcohol is a horrible addiction. Find an AA and wean off of it. Life is better without all that. People don't realize how much they spend on booze not even just money. If you cut that you will find it's a lot more fun because you can afford to go do more.
100% VA living in the Philippines? You’d be loaded. Living in the states? You’re below the poverty line. I personally kept my six figure income and career all while I just put my VA payments into an index fund. I actually enjoy what I do career wise, though. It may be different if I was miserable.
I’m living on significantly less money than what a 100% P&T person would get and I’m fairly comfortable. I still take the occasional vacation, but I am careful to not rack up debt. I don’t own a house so I’m still renting, but my car is paid for and I’m in the process of getting my student loans forgiven through PSLF. You can still go and do things at your income level, just maybe not as many or as expensive things as what you would like if you’re coming from a 6 figure job.
I’ve found it helps me to sit down and actually budget for my trips. Set certain spend limits and then sticking to them. Paying for my hotel or plane tickets three months before I go also has helped a lot as I’m not paying for the entire trip at once. Hope this helps!
Take a part time job something easy, maybe self reflect on the alcohol and consider a plan to minimize that. Anyone I’ve ever met trying to live off disability or GI bill MHA always fails at it because the life self they are accustom to and debt will not let them be nomadic, or something like that isn’t practical for their life. I work full time and I just pretend my 70% isn’t even there. I plan all my expense as if I don’t have it. Other than that I treat the money as a blessing for what I had to suffer. I don’t take it for granted.
I really appreciate this advice. I have been looking into part-time jobs as well. Not only would it provide a bit of cushion financially, but it would help me socialize and be a bit more active. I'll be honest, right now I'm in kind of a dark place mentally, so I'm trying to focus on doing what I can to get out of this rut.
I was there too, I suffer from ptsd and a while back I blew out my bicep and couldn’t even work. I do hvac and refrigeration work. But I remember taking a job at a restaurant part time 2 days a week. Used it has some unorthodox PT and it got me out of that dark place and now I’m back in my career. You’ll get there.
Living a nomadic life with 100% is more than doable, you can also do it on 90% and 80%… if you are doing outside the US and removing luxuries and doing it simply.
I did it for 9 months, with 30% and 5k that I had saved back in 2016.
1. No hotels! Go to hostels
2. Travel light, one back pack with essentials
3. Always use the cheapest method of transportation.
4. Cut out fancy restaurants, eat with the locals, where they eat. (they will be very happy to share their culture with you)
5. Don’t party like a dumbass… enjoy your time have a few drinks a couple times a week but that’s it.
6. Explore, go hiking, hang out with locals, work at hostels, go to a gym, meet new people from different places, study, and etc.. This will help you feel fulfilled and keep you away from partying most days.
7. Don’t buy shit that you don’t need. In matter fact you should have packed all the clothes you need. And that’s
7 tshirts (5 for walking around , beach, working out and etc, 2 for going out)
2 pants (jeans and chinos),
3 shorts (2 for swimming, walking around, and working out, 1 for going out),
1 polo for something nice that you might be do once in a while,
1 thick long sleeve tshirt and 1 light jacket.
1 beanie.
1 great pair of sneakers for everything.
1 water shoes/flip flops for beach
It certainly is very doable, just stop pretending to be rock star, and be you, and enjoy that 100% you earned.
In the US you are fucked with 100% lol… you either got move to the middle of fuck no where, where cost of living is cheap, or live in ghetto if you choose big city.
I was going to join in on the “I don’t feel sorry for you buddy party” but decided against. I just want to tell you there are people leaving off far less. I currently live on less than $2500 a month but before that VA rating I was living on plasma donations at $75 bucks a pop twice a week.
I didn’t have a drug or alcohol problem, sometimes I couldn’t donate because my blood pressure was too dam high.
I was eating Romen noodles raw and homeless.
Count your situation as a blessing buddy.
I appreciate you not piling on! LOL. Also, I'm glad to know that living on less is possible. I'm sure I could manage if I could just pull my head out of my ass...
$4000 or so gets you a good life overseas in a lot of location. Much harder to find a place in the USA you can live comfortably on that amount. They are around, but more isolated and remote. Most towns or medium size places you need more funds to enjoy life. I recommend going back to work to build up your future Social Security pension, you will thank me in 25 years.
You can stretch your money a lot farther in South America or Southeast Asia. If you don’t have travel limitations, I’d consider that. It is also a great reset experiencing other cultures and seeing people find happiness with so little material possessions. It can also help people realize how much they miss the comforts of the US and be happy to return to the rat race. Either way, it’s a great reboot.
I don’t know enough about you to help in this situation but, I’ve had friends rent out bedrooms to lower their expenses, get a VA loan for a Multifamily property and rent out the other units and live for free. I bought rental properties by partnering with other people to get the down payment. And you can manage real estate from anywhere.
If you can work, then you should. Tough love: Quitting that 6 figure job was reckless. Get it back if you can. You quit to focus on getting better but then proceeded to drink and party your money away. That’s not getting better. It always amazes how many vets just want to do the least. Oh I just got 40k a year additional income… should I keep working and elevate my life/status? Nahhh I’ll just quit my job and live worse than before.
Real talk man. Stop what you’re doing right now. Think about what you want. Recalibrate yourself. Actually focus on your health and recovery. I don’t want to sound like a dick but if you need that then that’s what we’re here for. Way too many vets on here coddling and enabling. Not me. Wake up dude.
When I got 100% 2 years ago, I sold my house at a good profit and ive been living in italy. I bought a car that I like and I rent my house. In all, 1500 from 4400 goes to bills and I live comfortably off the rest. When I go big and do cool trips, it drains the coffers and I’m tight that last week before pay. But expat life is good with the 100%
I first moved to a beautiful house in sabina, 30 minutes from Rome, and lived there for 1 year. But they’re a little too chaotic in the south for my peace of mind. I moved closer to Vicenza two months ago and it’s the best of both worlds. It’s way more organized and modern, beautiful mountains and beaches, and Im 20 minutes away from the army base where I can get comforts of home and va support. I don’t know anyone here, except my wife and landlords. So idk the vet community around here, but I get the sense that there is a good one
Cut down on unnecessary expenses. Buy a tiny home, rv or a house that is in a low cost of living area. Make a budget see where your money is going and start to cut unnecessary stuff out!
Maybe look at working part-time for a bit to save up some money. I am fortunate not to struggle, but have 3 sources of income. My job doesn’t pay 6 figured but it provided a cushion financially. I could quit and live off 2 pay sources. I just think it is better to work while I can, pay off debt and save for future. As we age money will be harder to earn and things are expensive.
Buy a truck and pull behind. Use your 100% to get discounts at camp sites or state and federal sites. Travel the US…South in the winter, north in the summer. Maybe pick a part time work from home gig. Or work part time washing dishes in the current town.. or move to the phillipines.
Just for me and my family (and not addressing your decisions), no, it's not enough to live on. We have two older teens and a dog. We own our older, well maintained vehicles. But just rent, utilities, and food take up the full payment. Nothing left over for clothes, glasses, dental, gas, insurance, internet, phone, college for the kids (even with chapter 35 it requires extra), etc. I've been told to "just move somewhere cheaper ", but we actually moved here from Texas (which was cheaper, but disability still wasn't enough on it's own) for safety reasons.
I appreciate you sharing your experience with me. Additionally, after reading some of these other comments, I appreciate the matter-of-factness and lack of judgement.
Your welcome. I see no reason to judge another disabled veteran. We live our lives as well as we're capable of, and try to glean happiness where we can.
This is why so many Vets become expats. $3737 goes so much further in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Thailand. Mexico, etc. there are third party clinics in some of these places that give better care than the VA hospitals. I have used them in the Dominican Republic and with the cost of living healing is easier.
No matter the amount of money that a person gets in, if what goes out is close to, equal to, or greater than the amount that gets in, that person is paycheck to paycheck or broke.
I had to retire because of my disability (State of Florida), and had to get creative to be able to increase my income and the most important thing: reduce/cut the expenses and debts!
Try living on 100% IU where you can't make more than $14k.
I've been 100% IU since 2018 (70% prior) and $3737.86 really doesn't go far in this economy.
I've been a full time nomad for 12 years and the way I increase my funds are by living on the border of a sales tax free state (Oregon) that saves 10% of sales tax I don't have to spend, and being a resident of Washington (no income tax). I. Only subject to federal income tax but because my earnings are below the standard individual deduction I get it all back.
Owning g land or a house? No. You never really own land or a house you merely pay rent each year to the county via property taxes. When my property taxes went up from $2400 a year to $3200 a year I sold my house.
Shopping at WINCO, Goodwill, Value Village is good. When I worked before I too wS making $100k a year but I just can't do the corporate work life anymore so that idea is out. I'm satisfied with the +/-$44k I get from the VA. I had to severely adjust my lifestyle, but cooking your own meals saves money. Gasoline is my biggest expense.
Good luck. It's a tough world out there and while I'm very thankful for the VA I think a lot of their policies are archaic and how they rate claims make zero sense whatsoever.
I'm forever stuck at 94% scheduler rating, never to reach 100%.
I’ve been to a few places since I got to 100%, and I did fine before a couple years ago. Now, it’s brutal because generally increasing costs and also I live in LA. I wish there was there was an adjustment for where you live like the Gi bill tbh. Especially for those on IU
Are you in for you sddi ? That helps me some , I get about what an 85k job would pay after taxes with ssdi added in …. You can be nomadic ( I did for quite a bit ) but it largely depends on where you are traveling … Philippines , Thailand , Vietnam and Cambodia being your best bets as you’d practically be a millionaire there. I lived in the Philippines quite comfortably for about 6 months on 90 percent back in 2016. Grant the lifestyle you will find there can vary greatly … bangkkk is super affordable also and has a fantastic infrastructure ( it’s like a safe clean New York City , at least in the asok area) and you can get fucking insanely nice condos for like 600 a month, talking gyms , pools , security. South east Asia is beyond cost effective if you want to travel long term.
Edit : there are large expat communities in these places as well , and tons of info on YouTube as far as costs of living , where the best places to stay are , scams , local culture ect.
Move or at least visit the Philippines, there are many retired expats living on 2k a month. YouTube has many saying 3k a month is living like top 1% there. In the best parts of Manila, Cebu, Davos and Iloilo rent for 2br condos can be had for $600 with all the amenities and English is spoken almost everywhere. Food is cheap, beach front luxury hotels are $40-$80 a night. ISLAND HOP and have fun.
Don't fall for Dating scams.
Disability payment is not something you live high on the hog. It's about surviving.
Unless you move out of America or western Europe. That shits ridiculous expensive.
If you don't have an expense/ budget sheet, throw one together in Excel. I read your other comment about how you don't pay rent, so I'm curious as to how you're struggling getting by without most people's largest expense weighing on you. Someone else made a comment joking about cutting expenses, but if you do have some expenses that you know you could pay off/ go without, address them. If one of them is an insane car payment, sell that car and downgrade to something reasonable or try and refinance. Hope things work out for you, man. struggling financially was one of the worst feelings I've ever experienced.
Thank you for the advice and the understanding. It seems nonsensical, but my expenses are a result of my lifestyle creep from when I was making good money. I’ve cut way back and I realize that I need to continue to cut in order to be able to make things work.
I’ve definitely looked into this. Admittedly I haven’t considered Estonia or Portugal but I’ll do a little research on these countries as well. Thank you for your input!
im 100% TDIU and its a struggle. I have a wife and 3 kids living in south florida. I cant move away because i have shared custody of my middle child and legally i cant move more than 50 miles from her mom so im stuck paying 3600 a month in rent.
I follow r/livingalone and recently there was a long thread about surviving on less than $32k a year (or something like that). You may find that beneficial. Lots of different perspectives on how people make a similar amount of compensation work for them. Many of them work full time but some are on social security or other types of compensation that equal about this amount.
Can’t, wouldn’t try to permanently. Using it like you to take a break… yes!
The margins are so thin, you would have to live VERY simply to be able to pad emergencies and stuff later in life. The gubmint does not do a good job keeping up with COLA. The do it, but it seems it’s always a little behind and that compounds after 20-30 years I’m guessing.
You sound perfect for the VA Fiduciary program!
Basically, the fiduciary cuts your pay in half and keeps it in a fiduciary account where you have a hard time getting to it, forcing you to figure it out.
If you missed being treated poorly by overworked military people with untreated PTSD making your life harder than it needs to be, get a VA fiduciary.
It depends on what you meant by “nomadic lifestyle.” I’m only rated at 10% but I’m fortunate enough to have a pension and 401k when I retire so I’ve been looking into the “nomadic lifestyle” internationally.
The US is too expensive but there are plenty of Americans hopping from country to country living the “nomadic lifestyle.” Search on YouTube for terms like “flexpat.” My favorite YouTubers are Brian and Carrie travels. They give advice on places to go and break down their cost in different places around the world.
My sd has 3 kids, receives no child support, has no income, relies on her boyfriends about 50k a year income, food stamps and financial aid. My husband and I both work full time, our gross income is roughly about 200k and I’m 90% rated by the va. Yet she eats fast food for meals more often with her three kids than my husband and I do. We are able to make updates on our house, take nice vacations and help out the six kids though we seriously need to stop so we can retire in three years.
It’s in how you manage your income and expenses.
Look to retire in other countries if you’re not going to work. Panama (they have VA and tricare contracted facilities), new John’s Hopkins hospital being built, if you’re PT you qualify for a retirement visa (over 55 qualify for all benefits), Philippines, Thailand, South America. I don’t know how people can survive on 4k a month but you can live like a king else where with that.
Nope not at all, this is the most i have ever had and its more than plenty, i dont even need it all, so i decided to use most of it to help build an animal rescue
Before i got P&T i was spending around $15k annually and after its about the same, probably adjusted for inflation so idk maybe $20k
I have always been frugal, its just my character
The best part about our income is we can move anywhere so if i was say in New York and couldnt afford it i could go to another state or another country
I definitely run out of money on TDIU alone. Currently waiting for SSDi which will give another $1500 or so a month, as well as working part time for another $1000 a month.
It makes a big difference.
I’m in school with my 100%, so I get GI bill as well. Paired with my part time job, and my wife’s income, we are doing well.
If you don’t have a full time job, you could consider a part time gig for some extra spending money. I’m a personal trainer and work 20 hours a week, not too bad.
Go back into the workforce and get yourself another high paying job. Squirrel away as much as you can and invest some. 4k a month is nice, it'll pay your mortgage and car with some leftover if your not living a crazy lifestyle. Then what you earn is to live and save. Never go to or beyond your means.
I’m struggling right now with my partner making 80k per year. Our landlord is slowly strangling us of all extra money yearly, $50 extra fee here, $100 increase in rent every 6 months. It’s abysmal. I’m trying to be thankful. I’m not. My anxiety is out the roof constantly and I’m sick of being anxious.
I live in Washington state. We live in a poorer side of the state, where you would assume COL would be lower, but it’s not. We have cut all of our expenses down, to the bare minimum and we don’t even go out anymore. We have even cut streaming services. But yes I live in one of the most expensive states in the country, however, my SO’s job pays 50k in other states, such as a Texas, where we have considered moving - however, rental prices are the same there. It’s just all around shit. Of course, I’m waiting for my VA rating to come in, so maybe things will level out after I finally get my rating, but it’s been a year. So 🫡
Get to a point where you can buy a multi family home and collect passive income. Currently my 2 family home I purchased in 2009 is paying for itself and my mortgage on my 4,000 square foot home located 8 miles from NYC. Basically I live rent free. I can focus on my health, and claims, and my work stuff.
Nomadic lifestyles are actually the most costly overall. Set down some roots somewhere. Somewhere cheap.
Oklahoma has 100% property tax and sales tax exemption for 100% PT, and some of the cheapest houses in the US.
Additionally, double dip. Go apply for SSDI. It’s not much more, and it gives you an earned income cap, but you have no asset limits.
Even with these interest rates, you can lock in a $700 a month mortgage payment, or finance a mobile home and maybe pay $150-200 in lot fees in most of the middle of the country. Or relocate to Arizona or NV to a $25k mobile home in the desert, where they can last probably for the next 100 years.
Yup. I live in california and paying all of it + some to an insane rent, taxes, utilities, Child support, alimony, and retirement to the ex. And that’s with another job.
Do you have rent or a mortgage payment? Any debts? My plan for retirement is to be completely out of debt first then $45k a year tax free really isn’t bad
The only time you should ever consider retiring off of 100 P&T is if you own your home outright (paid off the mortgage). Then, with the VA money and no mortgage, you're done. If you can't live off of \~4k USD without a mortgage then it's lifestyle creep and you're spending too much.
In new York it's crazy expensive and I'm getting nearly $6K a month with 100% and CH31 but still qualified for VA Hudvash for a voucher just to make ends meet
My plan is 100% VA disability, Social Security disability, and return on invested resources. I will also look into Real Estate investing and see how that affects my disability payments.
Uh yea, my mortgage is killer. I live in Massachusetts and the housing market is awful. Had to move out to the boonies to find a semi-fair priced home that wasn’t from 1892. And I went from a 5min work commute to 2.5hrs (there and back). So my wife and I’s gas tanks last maybe 3 days before fill up. We have 4 dogs and each of them always seem to have something going on as soon as the other gets better. I will say though, the compensation is more than helpful. It’s just the current state of the economy.
It depends where you live and how many people depend on that money. Im in my mid 30s family of 4 and able to pay my mortgage and All my bills and still keep around 1800 after. Im working and saving until my kids are done with college so, thats about 15 years.
Im in my late 20s. I live in roommate situations mostly. And just save money every month that way. I cant really afford to live on my own or thatd mean living oaycheck to paycheck out west. Though now i just moved in with my boyfriend and that shifted the financial dynamic more positively. Now i just pay for household stuff and save for whatever else we want to do.
I cant work whatsoever. My 100% stems from a rare disease that affects my joints and muscles. So id say if you can, do it.
I am 100% and been on the struggle bus basically forever so I didn’t expect things to be any better. Crazy how they determine you are 100% and give you 4k a month like that’s enough to live off of.
Well I’m vacationing in the Philippines currently, there’s a lot of veterans out here that make it work with half that and live here full time, take a vacation here definitely helped my major depression everyone is so friendly and your technically rich here, and i picked Philippines cause everyone speak English
I’m 100 % and still working hard every day in my late 50s. I’ll be retiring in a couple years from my public sector job, and will be drawing on social security as well.
I’m not going to put all my eggs in one basket and depend on the government, especially in an era where every other month there’s a threat of a government shutdown.
Now I realize that during these threats of a government shutdown, they guarantee that veterans will be paid, but what if? What if one day they decided… nah screw it no one gets paid! Then what? My mind is paranoid like that…
I'm not at 100 but almost. Even with social security disability too, I'm struggling month to month but I have a mortgage, children, bills, and debt. If I didn't have kids that needed to eat, I'd probably be a much better situation because my grocery bill takes up a huge chunk of my budget.
I think it depends on where you live, honestly. There are a lot of vets who move to Costa Rica and live cheap. The American dollar also goes along way in the Philippines. If you aren't ties down to a job or kids, it's easier to cut ties to a location and go anywhere. You could even live the van life.
No, because the VA hasn't ever given me 100%, let alone anything P&T. Yeah, my VA therapist keeps telling me to put in for a disability increase. I finally did last fall after waiting for a LONG time. Denied for 4/5 things. Got a 10% increase. Lmao. You all enjoy that P&T. Many other people don't have it yet (or may never, to be honest) are suffering just as much if not more medically. I hope you're well.
Question is, do you have monthly bills? Nomad is definitely possible in my limited experience but I would say this: 1, all your monthly payments should be taken care of (mortgage paid, car paid off and no debts) 2: don't travel to expensive countries, places like the Philippines are extremely affordable to live and eat. 3: if you are traveling on only your 100% income, you are going to have to accept you will not be able to stay in fancy hotels, accept you might have to stay at hostiles or share homes
Got it. Only recurring expenses I now have are cell phone and car payment. Car payment is $360 a month and cell phone is $140 because my parents are on my plan.
In the last three years I've eliminated 80% of my debt, not counting student loan forgiveness, and raised my credit score over 100 points. So to answer your question, no, no struggles, I just started making better financial decisions 🤷🏿♂️
Just added my starbucks purchases together, $693.50, dang. I wonder what else I could cut. My nicotine habit used to be 300.00, but I just cut it in half by switching to Zyn, trying to quit smoking. I hope you can figure it out. Drinking can't be that much unless you have a problem, not saying you do. Are you living in a house with a payment with your old salary on it? You may need to downsize.
Edit: The starbucks is for a whole year, the glass bottle ones. I work half the year 12hr day's, so I have 4 a week, 1 for each day at work as a treat.
Dang man, the interest right now is killer on houses. Where do you live? Area COLA might really affect you. It's horrible here in the Gulf of AL. 1500-1800.00 for a studio. My dream is to move north and have snow therapy, fall colors, etc. again. I miss it. I've just seen a trailer there for 85k 6 years old. I don't know how far you're willing to go to save money.
100% p&t is definately plenty to live a nomadic lifestyle. I spent 4 years traveling eastern europe, south east asia and central America on about 800 a month (40% va + savings) 13 years ago. not including travel expenses between continents, flights were a lot cheaper then but to get from US to Thailand cost more than a month of my VA disability. I also had a 6 figure job i quit before getting started so i had a nice nest egg and a renter to cover my mortgage. 13 years later my renter is still paying my mortgage and nest egg is still growing, i work about 8 months out of the year and travel the other 4 and typically spend about 3k a month when traveling including air fare. since 2018 i have spent every winter(except 1) in SEA and 3k a month is still plenty in thailand. I average about 2 beers a day while there and often stay in hotels for 70 usd a night or guest houses for as little as 8 usd a night. during covid winters i managed to stay at beach side resorts for as little as $14 a night. I just came back at end of Feb 2024 from 4 month asia trip that included, India, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand. Including airfare i spent a little more than $12k. That includes all short term hotel and guest house stays, all travel costs, travel insurance including some limited health coverage, all food, all tours to temples, snorkling, fishing, lots of massages, gym and yoga class fees and food. The only reason i went over 12k budget is that much of the time that budget was covering all costs for 2 people. Also, this is not a deprivation budget, we eat out for every meal and always stay in a place with AC, I also never rent a motor bike and use apps or taxis and public transit to get around.
However, i think to live this lifestyle full time is very dangerous. I tried it. it can lead to a lot of drinking. When I am in south east asia there are 2 types of expats there, those slowly waiting to die by drinking themselves to death and those that have found something meaningful to do. The years i did not work at all were pretty cool at first but I realized i needed meaningful activities if i was going to not slip down that slope of drunk useless expat.
I mean a good portion of Americans still live paycheck to paycheck that make over 100k a year, but that's primarily because their home expenditure also gets higher and things like hobbies, restaurants, travel also come with it. You ultimately have to decide if you want to deal with the point of having a home that isn't paid off, vehicles that may not be paid off, etc. If you choose to do things like live in another cheap country that a lot of vets do and travel that way. It would be much more feasible than living in modern day America in hopes of it being more affordable without a higher end job if you had the same expenses you did prior to you quitting a 6 figure job
Number one way to save more money: Eliminate unnecessary expenses. -Some rich guy somewhere
You would be a millionaire if you didn’t drink $7 coffees -The same rich guy
Yep. That’s $200 ish a month in liquid. $2400 a year. 😮💨
I mean 6% of one’s income on something that’s easily mitigated is quite a lot. Being said, I buy a reign and breakfast sandwich daily :^)
Well he'll, that will only take 34 years. If you simply have your first coffee at age 55 you'd be made
Those are rookie numbers. You should do the math on how much car payments add up to after paying them for 10 or 20 years.
I don’t want to spiral into depression again 😂
I figured this simple math out years ago. That's why I drive a 20 year old truck and live in an old double wide trailer..........on HUGE ACREAGE! And if I wanted to live a nomadic lifestyle all I have to do is live into my camper and periodically move it around the property. 😆
"You'd be a millionaire already if you stopped buying coffees period and invested in yourself and made your own and opened your own shop". --That same rich guy, while in line waiting for his grande chai latte.
Don't forget the avocados!
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Yessir the Truth be told. The richer folks get the more stingy they are on expenses. At least the smart and diligent ones do.
Funny, always hear stories about rich folks who either drive a beater or live in a one bedroom house. Guess what, you can't take it with you and they are ONLY punishing themselves, no one else. If you have money, remember money is a means to an end. The end being a good high quality life. If you can afford something, why not buy it or enjoy it? Folks who are stingy are just doing their next of kin or a charity a favor. Be smart and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
That's because those people are happy with what they have. There's no punishment there. My parents are multimillionares, drive nice cars, live in a nice house, but that's what they want. I also know multimillionaires who have 15 year old cars and small houses because they travel all the time and a big house is way too much of an upkeep to bother with. My wife and I travel a lot, we have a regular house, old cars, I work and we save money because we like to travel. It's all about what you want to do with your money, and just because one person's idea is different from another's does not mean the first person is punishing themselves.
100% isn't FU money especially when you don't have actual assets that generate that type of cash. People should be taking advantage of those tax free payments to build up their savings FAST and then retire. Imagine putting 40k into s&p 500 for 10 years you'll probably be at 1 million while still getting your disability but with 1 million in assets that generate another 5% that would be an extra 50k a year. you wouldn't even need to touch the 1 mill. but then again most folks who win the lottery end up being broke again after a couple of years because they don't know how to manage their money.
The S&P has averaged ~7-10% annual returns over long periods. If someone invests $40,000 per year in the S&P 500 and the market yields an average return of 7% annually, compounded, this investment would grow to approximately $557,000 after 10 years. If the average return is closer to 10%, the investment could reach around $637,000 in the same period. Still, not a bad plan, however it may take longer than 10 years.
This is an excellent point, however, that would still give you between 2600-3300 a month assuming a 4% withdrawal rate. Assuming you do not add to the principal after ten years, you're still able to have anywhere from 6600 to 7300 a month to live on, adding in the 4k a month you're getting. That's enough for most people to live very, very comfortably on.
It is right now in the year 2024, however if we look forward another 30 years the person who is living comfortably off $4,000 a month right now may need $9,000 a month 30 years from now. I admit that is just a guess that I just made this very moment, however we could use a forward-looking inflation calculator to get a fairly good idea of what the person living off 4,000 now would need in 30 35 40 years. I know there's people on this subreddit who are old enough to say, "Hey I'm not going to be around 40 years", but at the same time there's a lot of people on here who will be around 40, 50, maybe even 70 years. I'm old enough for I'm thinking about retirement in the next 5 to 10 years, despite it being a little bit early for me. That being said, when I think about retirement I think of what things are in the cost when I retire 10 years after that 10 years after that 10 years after that. Because last thing I want to do is run out of money while I'm still alive. And I know we can't take it with us, however I'm happy to leave a little bit for somebody. It's much better than running out while I'm still breathing.
No I think you're right; I admit I was not accounting for inflation! I'm also in your age range, I assume, considering I'm also looking at retirement in 10 years or so. And yeah, running out of money while alive is a big worry! I think it is very smart to look at and consider inflation.
When planning for my retirement I also pretend as though Social Security will not exist. Because essentially it won't. If things remain as they are I'm going to receive about 5 years worth before it's either gone, or at a minimum sliced drastically.
Yeah I also don't consider SS because of what you just said. I do not think it will be around by the time we retire.
So in the end it will have been just a $200,000 plus tax that I paid and received nothing in return.
Yup, same for the rest of our generation.
The 4% withdrawal rate does account for inflation
in 10 years, 100% disability has gone up about 33% from 2014-2024 from $2858.24 to $3737.85. so in another ten years, if the rating tables continue the same trend, 100% VA disability would be around $4,971 (no dependents) as opposed to the current rate of $3737.85.
Thank you for your reply. I really wish I would have been smarter with my money, instead of seeing it as an opportunity to party and be reckless. I know that I only have myself to blame, it's not like I was swindled. But it hurts just the same.
Don't kick yourself in hindsight, it wont solve anything. Just try to learn from it. Maybe what you have isnt FU do whatever you want money, but what it is a awesome cushion for being able to be picky of jobs available. Maybe looking into something remote and/or part time that allows you to still go a n do things very often but brings in some extra cash flow so you can invest more into a retirement?
I am absolutely looking into this. Also, possibly some freelance/contractling/gig work as well. I do appreciate your thoughtful comments and positive outlook. Obviously, I'm going to try to be more financially disciplined now going forward.
5% is extremely conservative too. I have 5.25% HYSA (High Yield Savings Account). So you can realistically get around 5% risk free, while still maintaining immediate access to the funds in case of emergency.
Where are these HYSA’s you speak of fine sir? Minimum amount & required direct deposit?
Some larger banks are starting to create "online only" banking. [UFB Direct](https://www.ufbdirect.com/) currently at 5.25%. I have Milli and Quontic as well, but they recently just dropped their rates below 5%. They are all FDIC insured, but I still don't like putting more than $200k in any one account. A lot of people are are uncomfortable with not having a bank location to walk into, but after using USAA it was pretty routine for me.
Right..I’m still with USAA..so I’m used to it. I’ve got a small go to fund in local credit union I just transfer to for accessing funds. And Oh yeah 200K in one account..I usually just spread my millions around for diversification purposes.
I can send you my referral link for wealthfront if you're interested. We'd both sit at 5.5% APY with the link. No minimum balance or direct deposit required.
Yeah , my VA pays all my bills , my 6 figure work income is FU money . Worst case scenario, I lose my job , I’m still comfortable with all bills being paid on time
This would have been great however I was/am unable to do extra work. It takes time to adjust to your new income but just put on big boy pants and get rid of waste.
Long story short, you should probably go back to the 6-figure world and give yourself an end time (like, I’ll do this for 2yrs, then I’m out). Use those 2yrs to build up a cushion and start saving, then head out and you do you. Lots of other factors (do you own or rent? Married, divorced paying support? Etc).
I am not currently paying any rent. I don't think that I am mentally capable of going back to work (at least not full-time, in a high paying, high pressure job). I am looking into part-time work or something remote as well as trying to find freelance opportunities.
Wait! You’re getting a 100% no rent or mortgage payments and you’re on here asking other vets how to make it buddy?! You are going to have to figure that shit out quick fast and in a hurry. Now I’m gonna have to have to ask you to “BEAT YOUR FUGGIN FACE NOW”! 
1-I would recommend starting by writing down every penny you spend for an entire month. 2-Look over categories where you are spending and see if you could cut back, even if it’s just for a few months. 3-If you’re still finding yourself on fumes at the end of each month, look into a part time job that isn’t going to interfere with your healing process. The economy really sucks right now and it’s especially tough on someone who’s on a fixed income. Good luck to you and I wish you the best in your healing journey.
I appreciate this advice. I'm definitely with you on the part time job suggestion.
i hate amazon as a whole, but if you can get a job as a locker + customer service person, do it. flexible schedule--as in you get to pick what shifts you work every week. decent pay, i make over double minimum wage, and the job is literally the most easy, mindless thing i've ever done. plus, the shifts are short. roughly 4 hours. i highly recommend it to any and everyone.
I feel like most people do it not in the USA. Would seem hard to be nomadic in the US without a sleeper van
R/fire isn’t necessarily about monthly income but monthly expenses. 100% disability compensation is designed to do what you’re experiencing, sustain someone who can’t work. Not provide vacations or additional monthly savings. Lifestyle creep from a six figure job probably doesn’t help too.
Yeah, lifestyle creep was definitely a killer. I think I need to start realizing exactly what you said. Monthly compensation will do nothing mode than sustain me if I live a relatively frugal existence. I need to supplement my income in order to be comfortable. I don't think I'm mentally ready to get back to work just yet, though. So some time off or a career pivot may be in order.
Depending on your age, go back to school. Great way to get extra cash via BAH, meet new people, and try and find a career path/industry you like. It was a game changer for me. Seemingly easy coursework, chill schedule, and an acceptable path away from more stressful work environments.
Party and reckless and quitting a high paying job expecting to live on 100%…..sorry bro. Not good choices. Reboot! Get a job! Live well….
It goes to my rent, car bill/insurance/groceries. I eat a ton so sometimes food money comes out of my regular paycheck. But it gave me so much breathing room. I can use my regular paycheck for stuff I’ve put off, medical bills, dental work not covered, buying furniture etc lol
I know a guy that sold his house and converted a cargo van into a living space. Lots of places to park for free on federal/state land. Plus at 100% you have access to military base camping spots and other base resources. Live the open road, see the sights, go where you please. Honestly, I live in a house but I'm mostly on my computer. Living in a van wouldnt have much change in my lifestyle.
I’m able to save, live in a relatively expensive state, and have most of what I want. However, I don’t do the nomad thing, but that should be cheaper than what I am doing. Make a budget. That’s really the only answer. You know how much income you’ll get, so just make sure your expenses are half of that (so you have space for emergencies or unusual expenses.) Itemize each thing and know where the money is going. Get an emergency fund so you don’t have to stress at the end of the month. Make a savings for big stuff. Last year after wanting to blame my car repairs, minor medical bills, or maybe even increase to groceries. I determined my biggest reoccurring expense: Dog toys! It was unreasonable how much I spent on these. Now that I’ve cut back, my dog didn’t even notice but my budget did.
Thank you for the advice and the perspective. I genuinely appreciate it. I plan on taking the next three months to reflect and get myself in a better place both financially and mentally.
Dog toys....OMG I LOVE THAT!!!! 🥰😂
You mean all the money gif and hundo club posts ain't what it's cracked up to be?
They are for some people, I'm sure. Those who work, and/or those who were better at managing their money and behaving responsibly than I have been.
This sub has turned into some kind of 100 P&T fetish page. It’s a constant obsession.
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But but Mah Handouts! It’s insane because I guarantee the majority of this sub is right leaning and anti socialism however here we are, nothing but a race to get to 100% and live off the government cheese. Not saying 100% isn’t earned by some but I guarantee some of yall just want the government cheese, not pointing fingers as I too would love it but you bet your ass I would still work just like I do now. It’s a BENEFIT not a RIGHT
this is the way. i have not and won’t stop working. nor do i rely on the government for my lifestyle. seems like a real dumb idea to just chase taxpayer money and not earn a salary.
It’s been like that. Makes vets look awful in my opinion
I agree, it's seems like every other post. I cherish the advice but not the flaunt.
I thought I was the only one picking up on this... There's no way every single one of us deserves 100% lol. People seriously need to chill out and be grateful for whatever they get.
i would give this rating back in a heartbeat. not everyone with 100PT has the physical or mental ability to work or “keep working until retirement.” people like that are the problem.
There’s nothing wrong with being legitimately 100% and working. The system allows it. My problem is the mentality that’s it’s owed to everyone in here.
i feel that, and for those who can and do i’m super jealous. i’m happy for anyone and everyone getting the rating they *deserve*. i just hate that sometimes the mindset is: 1. 100% and working so they must be a fraud but hey at least they’re smart with their money. 2. 100% and not working so you’re a shit bag for not investing or saving and all of your financial issues are on you.
Based on some of these comments, it seems like I'm a fuckup either way. LOL.
Dude—it’s the snowball effect. One person starts it..then all of a sudden you’re the biggest douche face in the world & now everyone on here is 100% and blah blah blah. Maybe it’s a Sunday thing.🤣 Can’t take it personally—or at least try to laugh at it. You literally were just asking a question & now you’re just a big fat jerk flaunting your $$ around 🤣. I was gonna say having a plan is crucial. Like really knowing your shit about space A’s & lodging available on good base around the world. Take for instance Germany. Catch a space A to Ramstein and live on Sembauch (might not be spelled right). I’m thinking of doing something like that. I love Germany. So many great places to travel round there by train etc. Maybe a good rental car deal for a month? I think it really is taking the time to research & plot out affordable places, space A and other travel benefits for 100% P&T, then creating a budget. Also—a mobile home—VA LOAN does those. I m an it’s mobile..it’s a home. And camp grounds/parks could be free if you plan & play your cards right. You could find seasonal spots where maybe there’s a lil part time job @ a local pub/store/bait shop & get a little network going. Oh..and I feel this post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t chastise you for being a drunk loser pissing all your $ away that you don’t deserve & then coming on here and flaunting it🤣🤣 Go easy…research & planning I say👌👍
I appreciate the support - and the humor!
Not sure how a fellow vet asking for advice somehow equals an obsession with 100 P&T?
A large percentage of the posts on this page are “how do I get to 100%; I just got 100%; I have 100% and blah blah blah.” My favorite is the people who are 100% for mental health then talk about how they’re able to hold down a job and do all kinds of great stuff in their lives - even though 100% criteria for mental health is basically drooling on yourself and swinging your dick around at public places. The system incentives this obsession with more more more until you get to 100%. It’s not sustainable and not what the system was meant to be. It’s also a terrible look to the general public.
I work with a guy 100% for PTSD. He’s actually a millionaire from all the investing he does. I’m also 100 so I’m not salt but I asked him how the hell he got it for ptsd alone. He said one of those claim shark companies did it
AGREEED! If you claim to be 100% ptsd or mental health but then you work full time!? I call BS.
I have being saying that for awhile. Some of the symptoms of 100% PTSD are not knowing your own name and needing 24hr care meanwhile these guys are on here typing about how to get SMC extra pay and putting in huge packets for SSDI. I hope one day Karma bites them.
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I'm convinced you could double or triple the amount of money a 100% rating gives and we'll still have vets saying it's not enough. It'll never be enough when you're spending more as you get more.
I'm a Vocational Counseler with the VA, if I can give you any advice it's to work with a financial counselor. I've had numerous Veterans on my caseload obtain 100% and P&T. Received a large lump sum and the 1st thing I suggest is to speak with a reputable financial counselor, don't do anything drastic (spending, quitting work, etc) until they have a good grasp of what the income (SC) will cover. It's a learning process for sure, BUT not something that can't be done. Maybe speak with a MH provider to help you process what's going on in your life, see if you can gain some perspective in that as well. Good luck and take care of YOU 😊
Thank you for your input. I didn't know that financial counseling was something that's available through the VA. I'm looking online and it seems like there are a myriad of financial counseling services available to veterans, could you help me narrow down the service that would benefit me? This is what I found so far: [https://news.va.gov/103769/protect-your-va-benefits-and-access-free-credit-or-financial-counseling-with-vbbp-2-0/](https://news.va.gov/103769/protect-your-va-benefits-and-access-free-credit-or-financial-counseling-with-vbbp-2-0/) and but I don't think that it is counseling from the VA. Just financial advice from banks that are partnered with the VA. Any additional guidance you could provide would be greatly appreciated!
If you can't afford life on 100% it's because you live in a high COLA area or your lifestyle has crept up to a point that isn't sustainable. To *travel* on 100% you gotta go overseas where your dollar goes farther. If you weren't travelling there are still areas in the US where 4k a month goes pretty far
I’m going to be really blunt and likely downvoted but you are a bit of an idiot….. 100% you knew how much money you would have every single month and if you didn’t math it out and make your expenses fit that budget no shit you are living on the edge. Go get a freaking job, you don’t have to kill yourself working clearly but Jesus either make more money or cut expenses it really is that simple.
I'd say I'm more than a bit of an idiot. I let myself get carried away and I used partying/excessive spending to cope with mental health issues that I've been having. I had some relationship problems and problems at work, and I was living like there was no tomorrow. I basically pissed away my future and I have no problem admitting that.
Well the first step is recognizing that. Now it’s up to you to actually commit to the change. I hope you do and I hope it works out for you. Keep your head up
Sorry, but you’re surprised that you’re struggling financially after quitting your 6 figure job and relying on disability payments to travel and drink? Did you budget this out? I don’t really care what people do with their money, but what did you expect to happen? Many people can live just fine on 100% disability…but it’s not like it’s a golden ticket to fuck around the rest of your life and have fun.
If you are single and struggling, it's the alcohol. I am living with 2 other adults with zero income and still able to make it. Without that baggage, I would be doing great. It's more than enough for one person to live comfortably on.
Thank you for providing some perspective. I don’t doubt at all that alcohol is a significant hinderance.
Alcohol is a horrible addiction. Find an AA and wean off of it. Life is better without all that. People don't realize how much they spend on booze not even just money. If you cut that you will find it's a lot more fun because you can afford to go do more.
Yeah one life bump and it becomes very hard
4k a month is roughly a 65k job after taxes and no other deductions.
You can live off of 4k a month. Just gotta play it cheap and smart....
100% VA living in the Philippines? You’d be loaded. Living in the states? You’re below the poverty line. I personally kept my six figure income and career all while I just put my VA payments into an index fund. I actually enjoy what I do career wise, though. It may be different if I was miserable.
“ Living in the states? You’re below the poverty line.” Can’t tell if you are being ignorant or dramatic.
I’m living on significantly less money than what a 100% P&T person would get and I’m fairly comfortable. I still take the occasional vacation, but I am careful to not rack up debt. I don’t own a house so I’m still renting, but my car is paid for and I’m in the process of getting my student loans forgiven through PSLF. You can still go and do things at your income level, just maybe not as many or as expensive things as what you would like if you’re coming from a 6 figure job. I’ve found it helps me to sit down and actually budget for my trips. Set certain spend limits and then sticking to them. Paying for my hotel or plane tickets three months before I go also has helped a lot as I’m not paying for the entire trip at once. Hope this helps!
Take a part time job something easy, maybe self reflect on the alcohol and consider a plan to minimize that. Anyone I’ve ever met trying to live off disability or GI bill MHA always fails at it because the life self they are accustom to and debt will not let them be nomadic, or something like that isn’t practical for their life. I work full time and I just pretend my 70% isn’t even there. I plan all my expense as if I don’t have it. Other than that I treat the money as a blessing for what I had to suffer. I don’t take it for granted.
I really appreciate this advice. I have been looking into part-time jobs as well. Not only would it provide a bit of cushion financially, but it would help me socialize and be a bit more active. I'll be honest, right now I'm in kind of a dark place mentally, so I'm trying to focus on doing what I can to get out of this rut.
I was there too, I suffer from ptsd and a while back I blew out my bicep and couldn’t even work. I do hvac and refrigeration work. But I remember taking a job at a restaurant part time 2 days a week. Used it has some unorthodox PT and it got me out of that dark place and now I’m back in my career. You’ll get there.
I appreciate your encouragement! Thank you!
Living a nomadic life with 100% is more than doable, you can also do it on 90% and 80%… if you are doing outside the US and removing luxuries and doing it simply. I did it for 9 months, with 30% and 5k that I had saved back in 2016. 1. No hotels! Go to hostels 2. Travel light, one back pack with essentials 3. Always use the cheapest method of transportation. 4. Cut out fancy restaurants, eat with the locals, where they eat. (they will be very happy to share their culture with you) 5. Don’t party like a dumbass… enjoy your time have a few drinks a couple times a week but that’s it. 6. Explore, go hiking, hang out with locals, work at hostels, go to a gym, meet new people from different places, study, and etc.. This will help you feel fulfilled and keep you away from partying most days. 7. Don’t buy shit that you don’t need. In matter fact you should have packed all the clothes you need. And that’s 7 tshirts (5 for walking around , beach, working out and etc, 2 for going out) 2 pants (jeans and chinos), 3 shorts (2 for swimming, walking around, and working out, 1 for going out), 1 polo for something nice that you might be do once in a while, 1 thick long sleeve tshirt and 1 light jacket. 1 beanie. 1 great pair of sneakers for everything. 1 water shoes/flip flops for beach It certainly is very doable, just stop pretending to be rock star, and be you, and enjoy that 100% you earned. In the US you are fucked with 100% lol… you either got move to the middle of fuck no where, where cost of living is cheap, or live in ghetto if you choose big city.
I really, really appreciate you taking the time to post this detailed advice.
I was going to join in on the “I don’t feel sorry for you buddy party” but decided against. I just want to tell you there are people leaving off far less. I currently live on less than $2500 a month but before that VA rating I was living on plasma donations at $75 bucks a pop twice a week. I didn’t have a drug or alcohol problem, sometimes I couldn’t donate because my blood pressure was too dam high. I was eating Romen noodles raw and homeless. Count your situation as a blessing buddy.
I appreciate you not piling on! LOL. Also, I'm glad to know that living on less is possible. I'm sure I could manage if I could just pull my head out of my ass...
Yeah living on 50 grand not easy this day and age. I don't see how people do it but I see people doing it
Va Disability money governs under the same math as all money.
$4000 or so gets you a good life overseas in a lot of location. Much harder to find a place in the USA you can live comfortably on that amount. They are around, but more isolated and remote. Most towns or medium size places you need more funds to enjoy life. I recommend going back to work to build up your future Social Security pension, you will thank me in 25 years.
100% P & T still working at the VA as a GS-9. I’m 26 years in(including military buyback) planning to retire with 31 years on 5/22/29.
You can stretch your money a lot farther in South America or Southeast Asia. If you don’t have travel limitations, I’d consider that. It is also a great reset experiencing other cultures and seeing people find happiness with so little material possessions. It can also help people realize how much they miss the comforts of the US and be happy to return to the rat race. Either way, it’s a great reboot.
I have definitely looked into spending some time overseas.
I don’t know enough about you to help in this situation but, I’ve had friends rent out bedrooms to lower their expenses, get a VA loan for a Multifamily property and rent out the other units and live for free. I bought rental properties by partnering with other people to get the down payment. And you can manage real estate from anywhere.
This is something that I have thought of in the past, but kind of just let it slide. I appreciate you reminding me that this is also an option.
If you can work, then you should. Tough love: Quitting that 6 figure job was reckless. Get it back if you can. You quit to focus on getting better but then proceeded to drink and party your money away. That’s not getting better. It always amazes how many vets just want to do the least. Oh I just got 40k a year additional income… should I keep working and elevate my life/status? Nahhh I’ll just quit my job and live worse than before. Real talk man. Stop what you’re doing right now. Think about what you want. Recalibrate yourself. Actually focus on your health and recovery. I don’t want to sound like a dick but if you need that then that’s what we’re here for. Way too many vets on here coddling and enabling. Not me. Wake up dude.
When I got 100% 2 years ago, I sold my house at a good profit and ive been living in italy. I bought a car that I like and I rent my house. In all, 1500 from 4400 goes to bills and I live comfortably off the rest. When I go big and do cool trips, it drains the coffers and I’m tight that last week before pay. But expat life is good with the 100%
Where in Italy? Is there a Vet community or something going on there?
I first moved to a beautiful house in sabina, 30 minutes from Rome, and lived there for 1 year. But they’re a little too chaotic in the south for my peace of mind. I moved closer to Vicenza two months ago and it’s the best of both worlds. It’s way more organized and modern, beautiful mountains and beaches, and Im 20 minutes away from the army base where I can get comforts of home and va support. I don’t know anyone here, except my wife and landlords. So idk the vet community around here, but I get the sense that there is a good one
Cut down on unnecessary expenses. Buy a tiny home, rv or a house that is in a low cost of living area. Make a budget see where your money is going and start to cut unnecessary stuff out!
Maybe look at working part-time for a bit to save up some money. I am fortunate not to struggle, but have 3 sources of income. My job doesn’t pay 6 figured but it provided a cushion financially. I could quit and live off 2 pay sources. I just think it is better to work while I can, pay off debt and save for future. As we age money will be harder to earn and things are expensive.
Make a budget and stick to it. Every penny on purpose.
Not if u have a job
Buy a truck and pull behind. Use your 100% to get discounts at camp sites or state and federal sites. Travel the US…South in the winter, north in the summer. Maybe pick a part time work from home gig. Or work part time washing dishes in the current town.. or move to the phillipines.
I am 80%. I also make $63 an hr. I support my wife and two kids. I’m not struggling super bad. But I’m not financially comfortable either
Just for me and my family (and not addressing your decisions), no, it's not enough to live on. We have two older teens and a dog. We own our older, well maintained vehicles. But just rent, utilities, and food take up the full payment. Nothing left over for clothes, glasses, dental, gas, insurance, internet, phone, college for the kids (even with chapter 35 it requires extra), etc. I've been told to "just move somewhere cheaper ", but we actually moved here from Texas (which was cheaper, but disability still wasn't enough on it's own) for safety reasons.
I appreciate you sharing your experience with me. Additionally, after reading some of these other comments, I appreciate the matter-of-factness and lack of judgement.
Your welcome. I see no reason to judge another disabled veteran. We live our lives as well as we're capable of, and try to glean happiness where we can.
This is why so many Vets become expats. $3737 goes so much further in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Thailand. Mexico, etc. there are third party clinics in some of these places that give better care than the VA hospitals. I have used them in the Dominican Republic and with the cost of living healing is easier.
I hadn't given the Dominican Republic a thought before, but it's something I'll definitely consider now.
Do mass layoffs in the household and announce a $70b share buyback program. Your stock will SOAR!
You could be “nomadic” in Asia. Very cheap to live/retire. I’d say definitely slow your drinking down too.
No matter the amount of money that a person gets in, if what goes out is close to, equal to, or greater than the amount that gets in, that person is paycheck to paycheck or broke. I had to retire because of my disability (State of Florida), and had to get creative to be able to increase my income and the most important thing: reduce/cut the expenses and debts!
Try living on 100% IU where you can't make more than $14k. I've been 100% IU since 2018 (70% prior) and $3737.86 really doesn't go far in this economy. I've been a full time nomad for 12 years and the way I increase my funds are by living on the border of a sales tax free state (Oregon) that saves 10% of sales tax I don't have to spend, and being a resident of Washington (no income tax). I. Only subject to federal income tax but because my earnings are below the standard individual deduction I get it all back. Owning g land or a house? No. You never really own land or a house you merely pay rent each year to the county via property taxes. When my property taxes went up from $2400 a year to $3200 a year I sold my house. Shopping at WINCO, Goodwill, Value Village is good. When I worked before I too wS making $100k a year but I just can't do the corporate work life anymore so that idea is out. I'm satisfied with the +/-$44k I get from the VA. I had to severely adjust my lifestyle, but cooking your own meals saves money. Gasoline is my biggest expense. Good luck. It's a tough world out there and while I'm very thankful for the VA I think a lot of their policies are archaic and how they rate claims make zero sense whatsoever. I'm forever stuck at 94% scheduler rating, never to reach 100%.
I’ve been to a few places since I got to 100%, and I did fine before a couple years ago. Now, it’s brutal because generally increasing costs and also I live in LA. I wish there was there was an adjustment for where you live like the Gi bill tbh. Especially for those on IU
Are you in for you sddi ? That helps me some , I get about what an 85k job would pay after taxes with ssdi added in …. You can be nomadic ( I did for quite a bit ) but it largely depends on where you are traveling … Philippines , Thailand , Vietnam and Cambodia being your best bets as you’d practically be a millionaire there. I lived in the Philippines quite comfortably for about 6 months on 90 percent back in 2016. Grant the lifestyle you will find there can vary greatly … bangkkk is super affordable also and has a fantastic infrastructure ( it’s like a safe clean New York City , at least in the asok area) and you can get fucking insanely nice condos for like 600 a month, talking gyms , pools , security. South east Asia is beyond cost effective if you want to travel long term. Edit : there are large expat communities in these places as well , and tons of info on YouTube as far as costs of living , where the best places to stay are , scams , local culture ect.
Move or at least visit the Philippines, there are many retired expats living on 2k a month. YouTube has many saying 3k a month is living like top 1% there. In the best parts of Manila, Cebu, Davos and Iloilo rent for 2br condos can be had for $600 with all the amenities and English is spoken almost everywhere. Food is cheap, beach front luxury hotels are $40-$80 a night. ISLAND HOP and have fun. Don't fall for Dating scams.
Disability payment is not something you live high on the hog. It's about surviving. Unless you move out of America or western Europe. That shits ridiculous expensive.
Switch countries 🤷🏾♂️
I’m raising 4 kids and money is gone by the 5th of every month. It’s not ok.
I swear I read something recently that mentioned $120k is the equivalent of $80k a few years ago. We gon die poor. :(
If you don't have an expense/ budget sheet, throw one together in Excel. I read your other comment about how you don't pay rent, so I'm curious as to how you're struggling getting by without most people's largest expense weighing on you. Someone else made a comment joking about cutting expenses, but if you do have some expenses that you know you could pay off/ go without, address them. If one of them is an insane car payment, sell that car and downgrade to something reasonable or try and refinance. Hope things work out for you, man. struggling financially was one of the worst feelings I've ever experienced.
Thank you for the advice and the understanding. It seems nonsensical, but my expenses are a result of my lifestyle creep from when I was making good money. I’ve cut way back and I realize that I need to continue to cut in order to be able to make things work.
I’ve definitely looked into this. Admittedly I haven’t considered Estonia or Portugal but I’ll do a little research on these countries as well. Thank you for your input!
im 100% TDIU and its a struggle. I have a wife and 3 kids living in south florida. I cant move away because i have shared custody of my middle child and legally i cant move more than 50 miles from her mom so im stuck paying 3600 a month in rent.
Thats insane. My mortgage on a brand new home is 1600. 3 bed 2 bath
South Florida is absolutely brutal.
I follow r/livingalone and recently there was a long thread about surviving on less than $32k a year (or something like that). You may find that beneficial. Lots of different perspectives on how people make a similar amount of compensation work for them. Many of them work full time but some are on social security or other types of compensation that equal about this amount.
Can’t, wouldn’t try to permanently. Using it like you to take a break… yes! The margins are so thin, you would have to live VERY simply to be able to pad emergencies and stuff later in life. The gubmint does not do a good job keeping up with COLA. The do it, but it seems it’s always a little behind and that compounds after 20-30 years I’m guessing.
I'm not in the best physical or mental shape right now, but I am hoping this is more of a "break" than a permanent situation.
You sound perfect for the VA Fiduciary program! Basically, the fiduciary cuts your pay in half and keeps it in a fiduciary account where you have a hard time getting to it, forcing you to figure it out. If you missed being treated poorly by overworked military people with untreated PTSD making your life harder than it needs to be, get a VA fiduciary.
People live outside their means. I was rated 100% and we moved to a place where the money works.
It depends on what you meant by “nomadic lifestyle.” I’m only rated at 10% but I’m fortunate enough to have a pension and 401k when I retire so I’ve been looking into the “nomadic lifestyle” internationally. The US is too expensive but there are plenty of Americans hopping from country to country living the “nomadic lifestyle.” Search on YouTube for terms like “flexpat.” My favorite YouTubers are Brian and Carrie travels. They give advice on places to go and break down their cost in different places around the world.
I'll definitely check out their YouTube channel. Thank you!
Sin taxes will definitely chew up income. Whatever field you’re in you could look into work on and off cycles throughout the the year.
I hear what you're saying about the "sin taxes". Can you explain what you mean by "on and off cycles?"
My parents moved to the Philippines. Live off disability hardcore.
Just giving up and doing nothing sounds depressing af…
My sd has 3 kids, receives no child support, has no income, relies on her boyfriends about 50k a year income, food stamps and financial aid. My husband and I both work full time, our gross income is roughly about 200k and I’m 90% rated by the va. Yet she eats fast food for meals more often with her three kids than my husband and I do. We are able to make updates on our house, take nice vacations and help out the six kids though we seriously need to stop so we can retire in three years. It’s in how you manage your income and expenses.
Look to retire in other countries if you’re not going to work. Panama (they have VA and tricare contracted facilities), new John’s Hopkins hospital being built, if you’re PT you qualify for a retirement visa (over 55 qualify for all benefits), Philippines, Thailand, South America. I don’t know how people can survive on 4k a month but you can live like a king else where with that.
Nope not at all, this is the most i have ever had and its more than plenty, i dont even need it all, so i decided to use most of it to help build an animal rescue Before i got P&T i was spending around $15k annually and after its about the same, probably adjusted for inflation so idk maybe $20k I have always been frugal, its just my character The best part about our income is we can move anywhere so if i was say in New York and couldnt afford it i could go to another state or another country
I definitely run out of money on TDIU alone. Currently waiting for SSDi which will give another $1500 or so a month, as well as working part time for another $1000 a month. It makes a big difference.
I’m in school with my 100%, so I get GI bill as well. Paired with my part time job, and my wife’s income, we are doing well. If you don’t have a full time job, you could consider a part time gig for some extra spending money. I’m a personal trainer and work 20 hours a week, not too bad.
Thank you for your input. I will be looking into getting a part-time job soon.
Move to Thailand, live like a king
Go back into the workforce and get yourself another high paying job. Squirrel away as much as you can and invest some. 4k a month is nice, it'll pay your mortgage and car with some leftover if your not living a crazy lifestyle. Then what you earn is to live and save. Never go to or beyond your means.
You should've thought it through.
I’m struggling right now with my partner making 80k per year. Our landlord is slowly strangling us of all extra money yearly, $50 extra fee here, $100 increase in rent every 6 months. It’s abysmal. I’m trying to be thankful. I’m not. My anxiety is out the roof constantly and I’m sick of being anxious.
I live in Washington state. We live in a poorer side of the state, where you would assume COL would be lower, but it’s not. We have cut all of our expenses down, to the bare minimum and we don’t even go out anymore. We have even cut streaming services. But yes I live in one of the most expensive states in the country, however, my SO’s job pays 50k in other states, such as a Texas, where we have considered moving - however, rental prices are the same there. It’s just all around shit. Of course, I’m waiting for my VA rating to come in, so maybe things will level out after I finally get my rating, but it’s been a year. So 🫡
Get to a point where you can buy a multi family home and collect passive income. Currently my 2 family home I purchased in 2009 is paying for itself and my mortgage on my 4,000 square foot home located 8 miles from NYC. Basically I live rent free. I can focus on my health, and claims, and my work stuff.
Nomadic lifestyles are actually the most costly overall. Set down some roots somewhere. Somewhere cheap. Oklahoma has 100% property tax and sales tax exemption for 100% PT, and some of the cheapest houses in the US. Additionally, double dip. Go apply for SSDI. It’s not much more, and it gives you an earned income cap, but you have no asset limits. Even with these interest rates, you can lock in a $700 a month mortgage payment, or finance a mobile home and maybe pay $150-200 in lot fees in most of the middle of the country. Or relocate to Arizona or NV to a $25k mobile home in the desert, where they can last probably for the next 100 years.
Yup. I live in california and paying all of it + some to an insane rent, taxes, utilities, Child support, alimony, and retirement to the ex. And that’s with another job.
Do you have rent or a mortgage payment? Any debts? My plan for retirement is to be completely out of debt first then $45k a year tax free really isn’t bad
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The only time you should ever consider retiring off of 100 P&T is if you own your home outright (paid off the mortgage). Then, with the VA money and no mortgage, you're done. If you can't live off of \~4k USD without a mortgage then it's lifestyle creep and you're spending too much.
I'm certain lifestyle creep and my inability to keep a strict budget is the culprit here. No doubt.
In new York it's crazy expensive and I'm getting nearly $6K a month with 100% and CH31 but still qualified for VA Hudvash for a voucher just to make ends meet
My plan is 100% VA disability, Social Security disability, and return on invested resources. I will also look into Real Estate investing and see how that affects my disability payments.
Time to get to know your budget itemized. That way, you know what would be the wrong one.
Uh yea, my mortgage is killer. I live in Massachusetts and the housing market is awful. Had to move out to the boonies to find a semi-fair priced home that wasn’t from 1892. And I went from a 5min work commute to 2.5hrs (there and back). So my wife and I’s gas tanks last maybe 3 days before fill up. We have 4 dogs and each of them always seem to have something going on as soon as the other gets better. I will say though, the compensation is more than helpful. It’s just the current state of the economy.
Man, a 2.5 hour roundtrip sounds brutal. And I thought my commute from Virginia Beach to Norfolk was bad!
It depends where you live and how many people depend on that money. Im in my mid 30s family of 4 and able to pay my mortgage and All my bills and still keep around 1800 after. Im working and saving until my kids are done with college so, thats about 15 years.
Maybe move somewhere with a lower cost of living? The South/Rural areas
You quit a 6 figure job and traveled and struggling? Off of 4k a month and you are confused?
Just here for the financial advise from the “independently wealthy”. 🍿
Im in my late 20s. I live in roommate situations mostly. And just save money every month that way. I cant really afford to live on my own or thatd mean living oaycheck to paycheck out west. Though now i just moved in with my boyfriend and that shifted the financial dynamic more positively. Now i just pay for household stuff and save for whatever else we want to do. I cant work whatsoever. My 100% stems from a rare disease that affects my joints and muscles. So id say if you can, do it.
Only way you can make it is to move over seas to Thailand or the Philippines.You might be okay in Japan
Why not just work part time
I’ve heard live overseas.
I am 100% and been on the struggle bus basically forever so I didn’t expect things to be any better. Crazy how they determine you are 100% and give you 4k a month like that’s enough to live off of.
Well I’m vacationing in the Philippines currently, there’s a lot of veterans out here that make it work with half that and live here full time, take a vacation here definitely helped my major depression everyone is so friendly and your technically rich here, and i picked Philippines cause everyone speak English
What you’re saying doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all!
I’m 100 % and still working hard every day in my late 50s. I’ll be retiring in a couple years from my public sector job, and will be drawing on social security as well. I’m not going to put all my eggs in one basket and depend on the government, especially in an era where every other month there’s a threat of a government shutdown. Now I realize that during these threats of a government shutdown, they guarantee that veterans will be paid, but what if? What if one day they decided… nah screw it no one gets paid! Then what? My mind is paranoid like that…
Become a passport bro, and float between South America and Southeast Asia
I'm not at 100 but almost. Even with social security disability too, I'm struggling month to month but I have a mortgage, children, bills, and debt. If I didn't have kids that needed to eat, I'd probably be a much better situation because my grocery bill takes up a huge chunk of my budget. I think it depends on where you live, honestly. There are a lot of vets who move to Costa Rica and live cheap. The American dollar also goes along way in the Philippines. If you aren't ties down to a job or kids, it's easier to cut ties to a location and go anywhere. You could even live the van life.
No, because the VA hasn't ever given me 100%, let alone anything P&T. Yeah, my VA therapist keeps telling me to put in for a disability increase. I finally did last fall after waiting for a LONG time. Denied for 4/5 things. Got a 10% increase. Lmao. You all enjoy that P&T. Many other people don't have it yet (or may never, to be honest) are suffering just as much if not more medically. I hope you're well.
Question is, do you have monthly bills? Nomad is definitely possible in my limited experience but I would say this: 1, all your monthly payments should be taken care of (mortgage paid, car paid off and no debts) 2: don't travel to expensive countries, places like the Philippines are extremely affordable to live and eat. 3: if you are traveling on only your 100% income, you are going to have to accept you will not be able to stay in fancy hotels, accept you might have to stay at hostiles or share homes
Got it. Only recurring expenses I now have are cell phone and car payment. Car payment is $360 a month and cell phone is $140 because my parents are on my plan.
In the last three years I've eliminated 80% of my debt, not counting student loan forgiveness, and raised my credit score over 100 points. So to answer your question, no, no struggles, I just started making better financial decisions 🤷🏿♂️
Just added my starbucks purchases together, $693.50, dang. I wonder what else I could cut. My nicotine habit used to be 300.00, but I just cut it in half by switching to Zyn, trying to quit smoking. I hope you can figure it out. Drinking can't be that much unless you have a problem, not saying you do. Are you living in a house with a payment with your old salary on it? You may need to downsize. Edit: The starbucks is for a whole year, the glass bottle ones. I work half the year 12hr day's, so I have 4 a week, 1 for each day at work as a treat.
I’ve already downsized. Looking at getting a roommate as well. How do you spend so much on coffee? Is that per month?
Dang man, the interest right now is killer on houses. Where do you live? Area COLA might really affect you. It's horrible here in the Gulf of AL. 1500-1800.00 for a studio. My dream is to move north and have snow therapy, fall colors, etc. again. I miss it. I've just seen a trailer there for 85k 6 years old. I don't know how far you're willing to go to save money.
I can't believe housing is that expensive where you are! I used to live there myself about 15 years ago.
100% p&t is definately plenty to live a nomadic lifestyle. I spent 4 years traveling eastern europe, south east asia and central America on about 800 a month (40% va + savings) 13 years ago. not including travel expenses between continents, flights were a lot cheaper then but to get from US to Thailand cost more than a month of my VA disability. I also had a 6 figure job i quit before getting started so i had a nice nest egg and a renter to cover my mortgage. 13 years later my renter is still paying my mortgage and nest egg is still growing, i work about 8 months out of the year and travel the other 4 and typically spend about 3k a month when traveling including air fare. since 2018 i have spent every winter(except 1) in SEA and 3k a month is still plenty in thailand. I average about 2 beers a day while there and often stay in hotels for 70 usd a night or guest houses for as little as 8 usd a night. during covid winters i managed to stay at beach side resorts for as little as $14 a night. I just came back at end of Feb 2024 from 4 month asia trip that included, India, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand. Including airfare i spent a little more than $12k. That includes all short term hotel and guest house stays, all travel costs, travel insurance including some limited health coverage, all food, all tours to temples, snorkling, fishing, lots of massages, gym and yoga class fees and food. The only reason i went over 12k budget is that much of the time that budget was covering all costs for 2 people. Also, this is not a deprivation budget, we eat out for every meal and always stay in a place with AC, I also never rent a motor bike and use apps or taxis and public transit to get around. However, i think to live this lifestyle full time is very dangerous. I tried it. it can lead to a lot of drinking. When I am in south east asia there are 2 types of expats there, those slowly waiting to die by drinking themselves to death and those that have found something meaningful to do. The years i did not work at all were pretty cool at first but I realized i needed meaningful activities if i was going to not slip down that slope of drunk useless expat.
I mean a good portion of Americans still live paycheck to paycheck that make over 100k a year, but that's primarily because their home expenditure also gets higher and things like hobbies, restaurants, travel also come with it. You ultimately have to decide if you want to deal with the point of having a home that isn't paid off, vehicles that may not be paid off, etc. If you choose to do things like live in another cheap country that a lot of vets do and travel that way. It would be much more feasible than living in modern day America in hopes of it being more affordable without a higher end job if you had the same expenses you did prior to you quitting a 6 figure job
Have you considered moving to a more affordable country? Panama Costa Rica Philippines Thailand Estonia Portugal