My husband and I are reaching retirement age and we’ve been having a lot of discussions about what we want to do in our retirement. We live in the midwest, so we know we don’t want to spend our winters there, and we know that we do want to travel. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the snowbird life, because that is how we both see our future coming together: stay in the midwest in the summer and travel to warmer climates in the winter months, i.e. snowbirding.
There really is a lot to take into consideration when you choose the snowbird life, things that I had never really thought about. There’s a lot more to it than just picking up and taking off. It really will change your lifestyle in many ways, because it can be overwhelming, but it can also be very rewarding if you plan ahead and are knowledgable about what to expect.
I’d like to share a few tips on how to better manage the process to help out any newbies (like us), anyone that might be considering that lifestyle, or are already seasoned snowbirds.
Snowbird Lifestyle
Snowbirds are usually 55+ and are also known as sun seekers or winter guests. Typically, they are retirees that are seasonal travelers. They prefer to travel to different locations than where they live, that have a warmer climate during the winter months. Most of the time, they are affluent, have a good education, and most are very active and live a healthy lifestyle. The warmer climates that they flock to help them to maintain their activity level and their good health. They often stay in homes, condos or RV’s and cook their own meals and have the same lifestyle that they have at their summer homes. But, you don’t have to be wealthy to snowbird, you just need some tips on how to manage the snowbird life.
That’s not to say that in today’s world you have to be retired to be considered a snowbird. It can also be considered as someone that works from home and/or home schools their children. Most recently, we’ve seen the young snowbird (often called the baby snowbird), people in their 30’s and 40’s who are hoping to live in two different places. They are doing that through home swaps or renting out their properties. During the pandemic, many people were able to work from anywhere, which allowed them to travel for their work. Zoom meetings, and other methods of conversing and messaging, allowed them to be able to do so. Many decided to take their jobs on the road and seek out warmer places and trade the ice and snow for sunshine! Lots of companies realized that their employees were much happier when they were in a happy place, so still allow for their employees to continue doing so! While it might present a whole new set of needs for this type of snowbird, many of these tips below can be of benefit to them as well.
Pace Yourself
If you want to start out slow, meaning don’t put all your eggs in one basket, perhaps stay in one area for a month by renting a nice condo or home. But, if you plan to be a 3-month snowbird, you should try booking one month rentals in different locations for the first year. Then, unless you prefer to stay in multiple destinations each year, you should book the condo you feel in love with, quickly, for the following year. Most often, if you wait too long, there might not be availability as many owners or property managers give their returning guests the first chance to rebook the same place each year, by a certain deadline. If you like a place, don’t miss that deadline and book early!
Premium Beach Condos has great snowbird rates if you rent for an entire month or longer. A reminder, once you find your “home away from home” and you are happy, go ahead and book for the following year before you head home, because great rates and an amazing rentals will go quickly! And, if you book with Premium Beach Condos, we also offer a returning guest discount on top of the already great snowbird rates!
How To Handle Those Bills
Technology has made our lives so much easier for us than it used to be. Instead of bills being paid through the mail or emails, they can all be set up electronically. If you set up your bills to be paid that are regular creditors or utilities, you won’t have that worry or stress about whether your lights or water will still be on when you return home. So, before you head out on your snowbird adventure, go ahead and take care of all those bills!
What to Pack to Wear
In a nutshell, keep it as simple as possible and try to not overpack. First of all, make sure that you pack for the climate you will be in. Some places might be hot in the daytime and cool down quite a bit at night, like the desert or beach areas. So, while you want to have summer gear for the days, be sure to pack a light jacket or lightweight sweater that you can have on hand for those cooler evenings or in restaurants. Bring slacks or jeans and a few lightweight long sleeve tops, along with the short sleeves and shorts. Regardless, don’t overpack and try to assemble your wardrobe that will mix and match so you’ll have plenty of variety and don’t feel like you’re wearing the same thing over and over.
Don’t Eat Out A Lot
Not that I’m opposed to going out and having someone cook FOR me, I love to eat out and I do it often enough. But, eating out can become very expensive. Staying in more often and cooking your own meals can save a lot of money – money that you can use for other entertainment or hobbies. Make cooking “in” fun by planning a date night once a week where you cook together.
Obviously, you won’t be packing up your entire kitchen to take with you, so you want to find a place where you are able to have all the amenities of home. If you book with us, we have a fully stocked kitchen with everything you need to cook a delicious meal, all with an amazing view of the gulf, while you share a table on the balcony. We even have some great ideas for meals in our Dining With A View series, that we think you’ll love! Or try one of our Sunkissed Cocktail recipes that you can make right from your condo to go along with your dinner!
Find Some Hobbies
I plan to do some remote work as my hobby while we snowbird, but most snowbirds are retired. That means you might have a lot of extra time on your hands. Hobbies can be a great way to pass the time. Think about a hobby that might interest you before you leave home, in the event what you decide determines you need to bring any items with you, such as a camera if you want to take pictures as your hobby. Hobbies can enrich your life, make you happier, and help you become an interesting, well-rounded person. Whatever hobby you choose, it should be a completely pleasurable activity that enhances your snowbird lifestyle!
READING – I personally LOVE to read so whenever I travel, I take a few books with me. You can always find books to read at a library or a thrift store to save money. Reading has many benefits to you as well. When you read, parts of your brain – such as vision, language, and associative learning – work together. According to one study, mental stimulation like reading can help protect memory and thinking skills, especially as you age. The authors even suggest that reading every day can slow down the late-life cognitive decline.
YOGA – Yoga can improve strength, balance and flexibility. It increases your blood flow and warms up your muscles, while holding a pose can build strength. Just start out a few minutes a day and see how you feel. To help get you started, try this website out for a great yoga for beginners workout!
GOLF – Why should you take up golf as a hobby? The top reason is that it can help keep you healthy. Golf provides great arm, leg, and core workout. It’s a low-impact sport, so you won’t have to worry about over working your joints and muscles either. Furthermore, its social aspects promotes camaraderie and creates lasting bonds among players. Be sure to enjoy playing a round of golf in Panama City Beach and check out our blog post on our website featuring the Top 5 Golf Courses in Panama City Beach.
Watch Your Expenses
Calculate your budget. It is key to being able to be comfortable snowbirding, especially if you’re on a fixed income. Do so by developing a realistic budget by covering all the expenses you might incur, to include:
- Housing – Rent on your winter residence
- Food – Groceries, eating out, and entertainment
- Transportation – Gas, maintenance and insurance for your vehicle. Include travel expenses from your home when you do head out
- Healthcare – Insurance premiums, prescriptions, copays
- Utilities – Electricity, water, cable TV, Internet and phone service (you might not need this if you are renting and all these items are included in your rental cost
- Entertainment – Activities and hobbies
Track what you spend currently per month for each category. This will give you an idea of how your spending might translate to your snowbird lifestyle.
Next, research costs for your snowbird destination. Compare housing listings, grocery prices and other costs. Use tourism sites for details on entertainment options and fees.
Taking from what you’ve learned, create a monthly snowbird budget and add for any unexpected expenses. Consider an emergency stash to prevent any financial surprises. Take into account that some of the expenses you would incur at home would just be a change of location, such as food, utilities, and entertainment.
Consider turning things off at home while you’re gone, like cable, and anywhere else you might be able to cut back. Most vacation rentals provide WIFI and cable TV, so you might not have to double up on those expenses. Be sure to check with your rental management company so you know what to expect.
Just be sure to explore ways to supplement, especially if you’re on a fixed income. Perhaps consider renting out your primary home while you’re gone and that can offset some of your expenses while snowbirding. Or look into working a part-time job, maybe something you can do from your snowbird home, for extra money.
“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” — Carl Reiner
If you do your research, snowbirding can allow you the chance to escape the cold northern winters for beautiful, sunny southern warmth and fun, without going broke. You can spend winter wrapped in comfortable warmth while engaging in all of your favorite activities and hobbies.
Don’t hesitate and don’t let the snowbird lifestyle dream get away from you. With research and proper planning, you will be able to take that leap and let your dreams begin!
Start your research by looking at what Premium Beach Condos has to offer and be sure to tell them you’re a snowbird. Remember, it’s always important to look for a rental company that will be attentive to your needs as though you were a short-term rental. At Premium Beach Condos, we are available for our guests 24/7/365 to ensure that you have the 5-star experience you deserve!
Panama City Beach has everything to offer, from the white-sugar sands, clean air, turquoise waters, and beautiful sunsets, to exploring the abundance of nature at the many parks and beaches. You’ll be sure to find everything that reflects your style.
