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I am a 62 yo Single woman who is about to go through my 3rd company layoff. While I had intended to wait a little longer to try to retire, it is apparent that my options to keep working here are likely over.
I’ve done a lot of research on CR and on my trip there have found I love everything about it, especially the people and of course the incredible beauty.
My question is this: Am I insane to think I could move there totally alone with nothing but Social Security to live on?
I should add that I am certified to teach English as a 2nd language, and while I have only very basic Spanish understanding, I am workinkg to improve on that now.
Your comments would be most appreciated.
Thanks!
Pat from Dallas, TX
it all depends on how much you get in SS. you need at least $1000 to qualify for residency, and if you have to pay rent in a safe area, it is very likely that $1000 a month will not be enough to live on. you certainly won’t be able to afford rent AND a car on a grand.
[quote=”maravilla”]it all depends on how much you get in SS. you need at least $1000 to qualify for residency, and if you have to pay rent in a safe area, it is very likely that $1000 a month will not be enough to live on. you certainly won’t be able to afford rent AND a car on a grand.[/quote]
that $1000 -does CR consider that total earnings monthly or after cost of living (car, home,etc)????
hypothetical-I someday move to CR and have a home that is paid for, no mortgage,etc and none here in USA…I have coming in $1000 a month or, certain amount in bank,etc..
[quote=”PatFromTX”]I am a 62 yo Single woman who is about to go through my 3rd company layoff. While I had intended to wait a little longer to try to retire, it is apparent that my options to keep working here are likely over.
I’ve done a lot of research on CR and on my trip there have found I love everything about it, especially the people and of course the incredible beauty.
My question is this: Am I insane to think I could move there totally alone with nothing but Social Security to live on?
I should add that I am certified to teach English as a 2nd language, and while I have only very basic Spanish understanding, I am workinkg to improve on that now.
Your comments would be most appreciated.
Thanks!
Pat from Dallas, TX[/quote]
pat-side note to your main question, how long did it take you to get certified to teach English? was thinking of dowing that as a way to move to CR and/or as a job in retirement……any pointers? Can send me private PM…..
that $1000 is what you have to PROVE you have coming in FOR LIFE!!! they don’t care what you have in the bank, or whether you own your own home. they want to know that — for pensionado status — the $1000 is coming every single month while you are alive.
[quote=”maravilla”]that $1000 is what you have to PROVE you have coming in FOR LIFE!!! they don’t care what you have in the bank, or whether you own your own home. they want to know that — for pensionado status — the $1000 is coming every single month while you are alive.[/quote]
Gotcha and that is for permanant resident, correct?
[quote=”PatFromTX”] My question is this: Am I insane to think I could move there totally alone with nothing but Social Security to live on?[/quote]
The cost of living is rising but you can make it easily on $1,000 if you are not addicted to a totally American lifestyle and can “go Tico” for housing and food. For transportation, the bus system here is incredibly good when you learn the routes.
We live near Ciudad Colon, San Jose and there is at least one retired single woman living in town who is doing quite well in a nice rented home. I’ll see if I can arrange a way for you to communicate with her.[quote=”PatFromTX”]I should add that I am certified to teach English as a 2nd language, and while I have only very basic Spanish understanding, I am workinkg to improve on that now.[/quote]
There are many Tico English teachers but there is a need for those who can teach proper pronunciation. I do so on a sporadic basis and am not certified. Costa Rican certification is probably a good idea.Your comments would be most appreciated.
Thanks!
Pat from Dallas, TX[/quote]
[quote=”Camby”][quote=”maravilla”]that $1000 is what you have to PROVE you have coming in FOR LIFE!!! they don’t care what you have in the bank, or whether you own your own home. they want to know that — for pensionado status — the $1000 is coming every single month while you are alive.[/quote]
Gotcha and that is for permanant resident, correct?[/quote]
It may be important to note that a retired person or ‘pensionado’ is NOT considered a permanent residency, it is a temporary residency. The same applies for a ‘rentista’.
Scott
you will be a legal resident, but not a permanent resident. that comes after being a legal resident for three years or more and a new application to la migra and of course forking out a few more hundred dollars to process your app. without legal residency you will have to leave the country every 90 days, and that gets expensive and seems like a really huge hassle, which was why i applied for resdiency before i even moved here. whatever it costs for residency will be offset by not spending a few hudnred bucks to leave the country every 90 days.
And as a ‘temporary resident’ one [i]cannot legally work,[/i] unless they have a work visa, and is not easy to get.
[quote=”PatFromTX”]I am a 62 yo Single woman who is about to go through my 3rd company layoff. My question is this: Am I insane to think I could move there totally alone with nothing but Social Security to live on? [/quote]
We have plenty of single women VIP Members who were older than you when they moved to Costa Rica…
Jan Hart is just one of them …
You can find 17 of her articles by using the search facility at:
[ https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/programs/search.cfm ]
… and Search for Hart and in the Search Fields section, toggle down to Just Authors and click on Begin Search.
Scott
[quote=”maravilla”]which was why i applied for resdiency before i even moved here. [/quote]
how long did it take? apply in CR? or in USA?
[quote=”maravilla”]i applied in CR and the whole process took less than 6 months. but that was then.[/quote]
ddi you have to give a living address? purpose and occupation?
[quote=”maravilla”]it all depends on how much you get in SS. you need at least $1000 to qualify for residency, and if you have to pay rent in a safe area, it is very likely that $1000 a month will not be enough to live on. you certainly won’t be able to afford rent AND a car on a grand.[/quote]
Thanks for the quick response. My income should be fine. (More than $1500). I just won’t have the resources to buy property, so I’ll be needing to rent.
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