Kiplinger's is releasing its annual list of great places to live July 25, and I was fortunate enough to visit and write about the number-one pick. It's definitely a place I would considering living because of its stable economy, affordable homes and ample amenities. In fact, most of the cities on our list have a cost of living that's below the national average -- making them ideal places to relocate if you're looking to cut back on expenses.
My husband and I made the decision to relocate from Washington, D.C., to a more affordable city ten years ago. I've been lucky enough to continue writing for Kiplinger's, which is based in D.C., while living in a place that costs significantly less than our nation's capital. If you've been thinking about moving to a place with a lower cost of living, here's a roundup of advice from personal finance bloggers about relocating -- as well as tips on downsizing to cut costs. And be sure to check out our great places to live list on Kiplinger.com tomorrow and on Twitter by using the hashtag #KipCities.
Cost of Living Does Make a Difference: Is Switching Worthwhile? [Bargaineering]
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"If you live in an area with a high cost of living and having trouble getting ahead or making ends meet, you may want to consider moving to a different city or a suburban location where the cost of living is substantially lower."
Home Ownership -- Would You Move to a Lower Cost of Living Area? [Everything Financial]
"A three hour drive in any direction would put us in an area with much more affordable housing, where we could buy our dream home for less than $200,000 and pay property taxes of less than $5,000 every year. Is it worth it? I think so."
Should You Relocate to Save Money? [MoneyNing]
"You don’t have to suffer the high costs of living in places like Manhattan or Orange County if you have, or can establish, a remote career."
Growin' Home: How Much House Do You Really Need? [Wise Bread]
"How can we build or buy with a sense of what's sufficient or even moderate in this new Gilded Age of home design? If you're in the market for a new home, here are a few considerations that might help you determine how much space you really need."
Downsizing: The Highest Impact Financial Move You Can Make [20Somethingfinance]
"One move suddenly has a domino effect of more than a handful of additional cost savings and lifestyle benefits. Less stuff, less maintenance, less cleaning, and less costs = less stress and more time and money to do things you really want to do."
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Six Missteps to Avoid as You Transition to RetirementDon't lose sight of your finances when you finally reach retirement. These six classic missteps can chip away at the nest egg you’ve worked so hard to build.
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Why Does One Claim Jack Up My Insurance After Years of No Claims?Even loyal customers can be hit with an insurance premium hike after a claim, despite going many years without any claims. There's a reason for that.
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3 Tips to Update Your Bathroom for Lessreal estate The time of year, where you shop, and how you design can all affect your remodel costs.
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Trim Your Mortgage Rate With a 'Nonbank'real estate Online lenders could help you cut your expenses.
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Seven Reasons Your House Is Still on the Marketreal estate You stuck a for-sale sign in the front yard but the offers aren’t rolling in. Here’s why.
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5 Reasons You Hate Your Homeowners Associationreal estate You want the property, you sign on with an HOA and bear the consequences.
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Scam Alerts: Beware Unattended ATMs, Down-Payment FraudScams Fresh hustles and cons you need to avoid.
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Worst Things to Buy at Memorial Day SalesSmart Buying Good deals can be found over the long holiday weekend – just not on what you’d expect.
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3 Strategies to Remodel Your Kitchen for Lessreal estate What to do about everything from buying cabinets and appliances to scoring discounts.
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How to Get a Refund on Your Water Bill If You Have a Leakreal estate Refunds for water leaks are available from municipalities if you report and fix the problem.
