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How Independent Living Can Save You Both Time and Money

seniors talking with a financial advisor about senior living costs

While the American dream may be owning your own home, what do you do after it no longer fits your lifestyle? What happens when all the upkeep becomes more of a burden? That’s why thousands of seniors like you are trading in the responsibilities of homeownership for the possibilities of an independent living community like Galleria Woods

This blog post will show you how moving to a maintenance-free independent living community can help you save time and save money while also giving you a happier and healthier lifestyle.

 

Time Well Spent?

Think about all the time you spend on chores around the house. Doing laundry; cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen and floors; taking out the trash and recycling; cooking and doing dishes; the hours can quickly add up. A 2019 American Time Use Survey found homeowners, on average, spent almost 1 ¾ hours per day on household chores, maintenance and yardwork. That’s 12 ¾ hours per week, over 53 hours per month, and 647 hours per year. (That’s over 26 days!)

According to a 2018 ACI National Survey, the most dreaded cleaning tasks include:

  • Bathroom: 52% 
  • Kitchen: 23% 
  • Dusting: 21% 
  • Mopping: 20%
  • Laundry: 17%

 

The True Cost of Homeownership

Sure, you can get around the time it takes to maintain your home by hiring someone else to do it for you. But in 2018, personal finance site Bankrate.com found that homeowners spent an average of $2,000 per year on upkeep and maintenance. Some of their top monthly expenses included:

  • Housekeeping: $285
  • Homeowners association (HOA) dues: $210
  • Landscaping: $144 
  • Security systems: $130
  • Pool care: $123
  • Septic service: $67
  • Trash and recycling collection: $55

And that doesn’t include all the other costs that come with owning a home. Compare your yearly costs to these 2020 numbers for people 65-75 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and American Family Insurance:

  • Housing: $15,838
  • Home maintenance: $2,040
  • Transportation: $8,338
  • Food: $6,303
  • Health care: $5,956
  • Entertainment: $2,988
  • Utilities: $2,400

 

Save Time and Save Money at Galleria Woods

When you step foot onto our wooded 20-acre campus and experience our resort-style services and amenities, you’ll quickly see the benefit of freeing yourself from the burden of homeownership. With just one monthly payment, you’ll be able to start exploring all the possibilities awaiting you just outside the door of your senior apartment, like:

  • Fitness and wellness programs, including yoga
  • Lifelong learning, including arts and crafts
  • Regularly scheduled transportation
  • Personal concierge services
  • Utilities (except phone, cable and internet)
  • Pest control
  • Wi-Fi access
  • In-home emergency response system
  • Fully equipped fitness center
  • Outdoor aquatic center with heated pool 
  • Arts and crafts studio
  • Game room
  • Library
  • Full-service salon and barbershop
  • Business center with computers
  • Community flower and vegetable garden

Just imagine what you could accomplish when you have time to focus on doing what you love, while a team of people you know and trust handles everything else, including:

  • Interior maintenance, including plumbing, painting, and appliance upkeep and repair 
  • Exterior maintenance, including lawn care, landscaping, painting, gutters, downspouts and roof
  • Weekly housekeeping and flat linen service 
  • Chef-prepared meals in our dining room and casual options at the bistro
  • 24/7 security

Plus, at Galleria Woods, you’ll have access to a continuum of on-site care — assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation — should you ever need it. To compare our independent living costs with what you spend staying in your current home, contact us here.