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The Best-Kept Retirement Secret in Italy

By U.S. News & World Report

As you ski lazily down a gentle slope, a ray of sunshine hits your face, and you look down to the coastline. The sun is glittering on the Adriatic and has just illuminated the endless vineyards and olive groves that lead down from the mountains to the beaches. The gently rolling hills are ablaze with blossoming cherry and peach trees, while lavender, daffodils, iris and crocus are beginning to peak out after a short and temperate winter, punctuating the landscape like a colorful Renoir. This is April in Abruzzo, Italy.

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

Arriving back down to the ski resort, you can have a restorative espresso and meander back toward the coast. An hour later, you’re enjoying fresh clams and white wine at a beachside café, to be followed by handmade pasta topped with today’s catch. After a leisurely lunch, you take a walk on the beach, maybe settle into a quick nap on the sand, reveling in the warm springtime sun. Perhaps you take a quick dip, though the waters are still shaking off their winter chill.

Abruzzo, historically one of the poorest regions in the country, had fallen off the national map until just a few decades ago. Since the 1950s Abruzzo has seen steady economic growth. In the 1990s, its growth surpassed that of any other region. The per-capita GDP now well outpaces that of the rest of southern Italy. Abruzzo is now the richest region in this part of Italy.

The construction of new highways made it more easily accessible from Rome, opening the region up domestically and attracting state and private investment. New development is taking place, especially in Pescara, where a new bridge is under construction and large-scale housing communities are underway along the seaside. Small historic towns including Città Sant’Angelo, Tocco da Casauria and Popoli are working hard to attract investment in efforts to save their historically significant but nearly deserted streets.

[See: The Top Travel Destinations for Retirees.]

The Abruzzo Business Board and the Abruzzo Tourism Board are working hard to attract more tourism, both domestic and international, more foreign investment and more general recognition. While the region is still several years away from being a recognized vacation spot, and perhaps even further from being the household name that Tuscany is, the tide is turning. It won’t be too much longer until the world begins to pay Abruzzo the attention it deserves. For now, you could say that Abruzzo is Italy’s best-kept retirement secret.

You’ve surely heard of the wonders of Tuscany. Maybe you’ve long dreamt of experiencing them for yourself in retirement. If you dream of the best of Italy, look beyond pricey Tuscany to much more affordable Abruzzo. Abruzzo has everything Tuscany offers and more at a fraction of the cost. The low cost of living is bolstered by the continuing weak euro. At today’s exchange rate between the euro and the dollar, a couple could live in Abruzzo comfortably on $1,400 per month or less, including rent. Your monthly budget could be even less if you own your own home.

One particular seldom-considered opportunity in Europe is the chance to live off the land in this corner of Italy. A nice plot of fertile land, enough for a self-sufficient farm, is a bargain. Thanks to the year-round temperate climate and abundant sunshine, Abruzzo is an ideal choice for this kind of back-to-basics resilient lifestyle.

[See: 10 Retirement Hot Spots in the U.S.]

Abruzzo is not a major tourist area. This is a traditional, rural region. That reality comes with pros and cons. The pros include the low cost of living and property and the lack of tourist over-development. You could buy a tumble-down but charming property for renovation for as little as 5,000 euro. The primary con is that, for all these reasons, you’ll need to learn Italian to make a life here.

If you’re up for tackling the language barrier, Abruzzo could be the ideal place to make your dreams of la dolce vita come true. Escape to Abruzzo to embrace a low-key and peaceful way of life. The best of Italian country living is available at a fantastically bargain price.

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

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The Best-Kept Retirement Secret in Italy 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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