You’ve Retired. Now It’s Time to Move!

“I’ve built my life – my career – here in Manhattan,” Annette said. “But now I’ve retired. While I love my neighborhood, the costs of life here are what they are. To make the most of my savings, we’ve decided to move to Florida.” She laughed. “I won’t miss the winter weather, that’s for sure!”

A Third of Boomers Plan To Move in Retirement

According to US News, more than 30% of all Baby Boomers plan to move in retirement. Florida tops the list of retirement relocation destinations, followed by some potentially surprising states: Wyoming and South Dakota are numbers two and three on the list, followed by a much more temperate South Carolina at number four.

The number one reason people move in retirement is financial. Some, like Annette, are hoping to  make their retirement funds go further by moving to a more affordable state. Others use the end of their career as the starting point from which to pursue a new passion: Shleppers recently moved one gentleman from Brooklyn to Utah, where he was eager to get started working on a scientific dig site, excavating dinosaur bones!

Traditional wisdom tells us that retirees move into smaller homes. We’ve actually found that not to be true for many New Yorkers. Retiring in a more affordable zip code can give retirees more space than they’d had in their previous homes! Additionally, some retirees are choosing larger homes so they can have their adult children or even their parents live with them.

Moving to a Warmer Climate: How to Save Money on Your Move

Living in New York means you acquire a certain amount of winter gear, from a warm wardrobe and snow boots through shovels and ice scrapers. If you’re moving to a destination where you’re certain you won’t need those things – they don’t get an awful lot of sub-zero temperatures in Savannah! – save money on your move by disposing of these items prior to your move. Winter clothing can be sold or donated: surely you know someone in the neighborhood who could use your snow shovel!

Moving companies are generally busiest during the first and last few days of each month. If you have some flexibility in your choice of moving dates, you can save significant money. Talk to any Shlepper’s team member for details – we’ll be happy to answer all your questions!