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The World’s Best Boater Havens for Retirement

By U.S. News & World Report

Many people dream of enjoying their retirement years sailing or cruising America’s waterways. The trouble with that retirement plan is that it can require a big retirement nest egg. If it’s the boater’s life you fantasize about for your retirement, don’t give up on the dream. Consider taking it overseas.

Here are three places with top-notch marine facilities where you could embrace a boating lifestyle on a very modest budget.

[See: The Top Travel Destinations for Retirees.]

Mazatlán, Mexico. Mazatlán doesn’t just offer a great marina; this city includes an entire Marina District featuring a large waterway, developed by the city, that meanders for more than a mile and a half along the coast between 150 and 1,000 yards inland from the ocean.

The full service marina has 428 slips and can accommodate boats up to 120 feet in length. In addition to the gas dock, amenities include free Wi-Fi, showers, rest rooms, laundry service, a social center and a supermarket. If you’re cooking on board, you can arrange for daily fresh fish, shellfish and vegetable deliveries.

Along Mazatlán’s waterway, developers have put together attractive waterfront projects that include boat slips. The largest of these are the El Cid projects, single family homes, condos, marina space and a 27-hole golf course.

Mazatlán is an established resort city offering a full complement of resort amenities. The city is known for its fine dining, miles of beaches and boardwalk. The famous golden zone is adjacent to the Marina District, while the newly renovated historic center is about 20 minutes farther away. Between the two stretches is one of the hemisphere’s longest continuous beaches, bordered by a well maintained boardwalk and fronted by a few miles of restaurants, cafés and shops.

In Mazatlán, you could live right at the marina, meaning that, when you’re not boating these waters, you could sit on the terrace of your condo and watch the other boaters passing by. At the current rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the Mexican peso, you could purchase a nice condo in a position to allow for a view of the Pacific sunset for less than $200,000.

[See: 10 Places to Retire Overseas in 2017.]

Punta Del Este, Uruguay. The municipal marina at Punta del Este includes a total of 500 slips and moorings that can accommodate boats up to just over 42 feet in length. If your craft is longer, you can moor it out in the bay where the cruise ships anchor.

In addition to its gas dock, the marina offers a restaurant, Wi-Fi, dressing rooms, a weather center, gas station and a supermarket. The yacht club (and its notable restaurant) are located just across the street.

Punta del Este is South America’s premier beach resort, and the marina is one of the best located in the world. From your boat, you can walk to a long, calm swimming beach, as well as the best restaurants, cafés and nightlife that the city has to offer.

Punta del Este’s beaches, casinos, restaurants and upscale shops have attracted resort-goers from around the world for almost a century. Perhaps best of all, it’s located in Uruguay, a first world country with one of the continent’s highest standards of living, lowest levels of corruption and best infrastructure.

Right at the edge of the marina is Punta del Este’s Peninsula sector. Older, modest apartments here can be had for just over $100,000. Also available are large, luxury apartments priced in the millions. You could enjoy the boating life in Punta del Este part of each year and rent out your apartment when you’re not using it yourself.

[See: 10 Ways to Celebrate Your Retirement.]

Lagos, Portugal. Marina de Lagos claims to be the best marina in the Algarve and has received awards for the quality of its facilities. It is equipped with 462 slips that can accommodate craft up to 98 feet in length, and it is located on a stretch of Portugal’s coast said to offer the best sailing in Europe.

In addition to fuel services, Marina de Lagos offers Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, showers, rest rooms and professional drivers to shuttle you around. The marina also hosts a commercial center with restaurants, shops and bars, and a full supermarket is located just 200 yards north of the marina.

The location of this marina is ideal for a European boating base. You’re just 200 yards from a beautiful sandy beach bordered by calm, clear waters and within easy reach of 42 golf courses.

Best of all, you’re located alongside Lagos, a historic city of narrow cobblestoned streets, quaint cafés and shops. Lagos’ 16th-century city walls still encircle the whole of the old town, and Phoenician and Greek merchant ships once sheltered in its Bandeira Fortress, complete with drawbridge and moat, today an important tourist attraction.

With more than 320 days of sunshine per year, this is one of the sunniest spots in Europe. It’s also one of the old world’s greatest bargains. All this history and lifestyle can be enjoyed on a modest retirement budget. You could purchase an apartment directly on the marina and a short walk to the beach for as little as $200,000.

Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group.

More from U.S. News

Top Beach Retirement Spots on Mexico’s Pacific Coast

5 Beach Retirement Spots to Escape Rising Sea Levels

10 Places to Retire on a Social Security Budget

The World’s Best Boater Havens for Retirement originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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