Florida vs Nebraska for Retirement

BornToShop · ‎03-10-2010

I get to retire in the next 6 months. All my family lives in Nebr., my 88 yr old mom needs help. My son is here in FL & I am divorced. There is state income tax taken in Nebr making it not very retiree friendly. FL has no state income tax. The cost of living is significantly lower in Nebr than FL. I am asking for those of you who are savvy about this if it is a toss up at this point or if the Nebr taxes are that exorbitant to stay here in FL & travel to Nebr as needed. TIA!

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

Based SOLELY on what you wrote, I vote Florida.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@BornToShop wrote:
I get to retire in the next 6 months. All my family lives in Nebr., my 88 yr old mom needs help. My son is here in FL & I am divorced. There is state income tax taken in Nebr making it not very retiree friendly. FL has no state income tax. The cost of living is significantly lower in Nebr than FL. I am asking for those of you who are savvy about this if it is a toss up at this point or if the Nebr taxes are that exorbitant to stay here in FL & travel to Nebr as needed. TIA!

How about your 88 year old mom moves to Florida? You should move to Florida to be near your son. Your mom should move to be near her daughter.

People should move to where they have help for their older years and not expect that everyone will move back to where they are.

Vast experience leads me to say this.

gumboluver · ‎10-26-2016

If you are retiring you shouldn't have any state income tax I would think

SXMGirl · ‎07-07-2010

@BornToShop Move your mom to Florida. The weather will probably be better for her and she will have you near. If you move to Nebraska, your son will have this same decision to make at a later date.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!

libbyannE · ‎10-27-2010

Put a pencil to the actual costs. Does the state income tax in Neb. End up being more or less than the higher cost of living in Florida? Florida is miserable in warm-weather months. To me. Depends on what you like, though.no one else can or should tell you what to do. Can you stay, say, a month in florida this summer to see how you feel?

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

It SNOWS in Nebraska. That would be the deal-breaker for me!!!!

♥Surface of the Sun♥

Marp · ‎03-09-2010

@BornToShop, I won't offer my opinons on you moving to Nebraska or staying in Florida. I do, however, offer this for thought--unless your mother is eager to move to Florida think long and hard before your push that issue.

If your mom feels she is forced to leave HER home and move to another location against her will she will be emotionally (at the least) impacted and if she is beginning to have cognative issues they will be accelerated.

What is good for the goose today will also be good for the gander tomorrow.

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

Is it necessary to make an “all, or nothing” decision immediately?

Living in Florida you already know that lots of people (many from Nebraska) are snow birds, spending part of the year in Florida and part in another state. I’d try that for a while before I made any permanent decision, if possible.

And, of course, most depends on your own personal situation. Most people assume the kids will be the ones to take care of Mom. That’s not always the case. Before I did anything, I’d talk to the other family members—especially your son—and tell them what’s on your mind. I’d want to make sure everyone was on the same page before I actually moved.

There are so many more things to consider than just taxes and cost of living.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@Marp wrote:
@BornToShop, I won't offer my opinons on you moving to Nebraska or staying in Florida. I do, however, offer this for thought--unless your mother is eager to move to Florida think long and hard before your push that issue.

If your mom feels she is forced to leave HER home and move to another location against her will she will be emotionally (at the least) impacted and if she is beginning to have cognative issues they will be accelerated.

@Marp That may be a concern, but if her daughter wants to be near her child and grandchildren, that to me is the overriding issue.

What I have come to believe, that's just me, is that people should not have to abandon their lives and the lives of their children's happiness to move near elderly relatives.

The elderly relatives sometimes outlive their kids, or the kids can spend the last years of their lives, impacting the lives of their children as well, seeing after them.

I have come to think that being elderly does not entitle us to have our every wish fulfilled. In the first place, as it turns out that isnt usually possible anyway.

When we need to be cared for, it should (EDITED to say it should read "should NOT come"-- this is a later edit 10:30 p.m. and others have commented already) "not" come at the expense of the lives of those who take care of us. As we go through life, all of our wishes don't some true, and at some point, some common sense and comprimise has to be made.

People live a long time now. People can't always be cared for at home. People have to make some really hard decisions. People elderly, middle aged or young, should have quality of life.