Where in Europe can you retire on 200k? I mean, without going 'buy 15k plot of land in backwater Romania, live there in a wooden shack for the rest of your life'?
Maybe if you live alone in your own house at some small village and let goverment pay for your social security, medical and give you some additional pocket money (you get that in most EU countries). But still, forget travelling, splurging on new appliances and such.
The government will not pay anything for you if you have a considerable chunk of savings you can pay for yourself from. You are only really considered poor if you have no savings.
It depends on how you declare your savings, even if you declare your income out of invetment of 300k it might be less than poverty line and you might be able to claim some monetary help from govt. Anyway, even if you didn’t get those, your medical and social insurance should be paid by govt.
For the rest of your life? And where would you stay the rest of the year? All of these things are fine when you're a student, but they're hardly realistic retirement plans.
So one “hack” is as follows: you live like a student in your 20s, then you put that savings into... well, rental properties (my preference) or the default low fee index fund recommendation. Then you just... peace out. Live like a bum and do work exchanges and volunteer things.
I’m only going to bum it for one year, as I still have some ambition left in my spirit, but people can do it indefinitely, and just go part time if they decide to work again.
Oh please. https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/vienna - it's just as expensive as other European capitals, <10k/y is barely above poverty level - not to mention with kids. Please define 'comfortable' - because to most people, that includes living in a good area in a city or a detached house outside of that, not having to thrift shop for clothes and not having to grow your own food unless you like to. And most likely a car too, even if it's only an old and small one. And not having to worry about whether you have money to get a new washing machine when yours breaks. No way that's possible on e833 a month (assuming e here - $ is even more ridiculous).
You can live like student for 20k/year in Prague, sharing room with other person and dont go out much. Doable, sure but maybe not a great plan for next 40 years.
There are probably many places in the US where you could retire with 200k, you just wouldn't want to live there.
But beyond that, the US has a baked-in working culture. For any hard-worker, 200k won't be enough. Neither will $1M or $1B. Not saying this is healthy, it's just a part of being american.
I live with 500-700Eur/month since multiple years and I live a life of luxury compared to most others (and with that I mean my friends from Western Europe) and that includes traveling. So that'd be about 25-30 years which I'd call enough for retirement.
Don't forget: it's not like you'll never work again...honestly who wants to not work the next 30 years? there will always be some small jobs or part time projects which will produce some sort of income, even if not monetary
I am not even that frugal, I live reasonable, but I spend lot of money on sport equipment, obviously I am not driving a Maserati or live in a Villa with pool, but neither do I live like a monk or live in hostel dorms, my luxury is that a) I don't have to work b) if I work I do what I enjoy and as many hours as I wish (which is probably the best of it) c) I can go wherever I want whenever I want.
Ok, but you're not really spilling the beans here. You could be living at your parent's place in Western Europe. Or perhaps you're living in rural India. That's what I'm wondering about.
