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5 best cities for cheapskates | 5 best cities for cheapskates. Next time someone calls you a "cheapskate," take it as a compliment. After all, frugality is the new black in these post–Great Recession times. Even the super-rich pinch pennies to help them stay that way. And bargain-hunting is practically a televised sport (see "Extreme Couponing" on TLC or news coverage of Walmart on Black Friday for proof). If now is prime time to be a cheapskate, where is the best place to be one? Kiplinger scoured the country for cities where living costs are well below average and incomes are higher than average. Yahoo! Related on Kiplinger.com: • 10 Great Places to Live • 61 Fabulous Things You Can Get for Free• 10 Places Where the Millionaires Live In America. The least tax-friendly states for retirees.

Forget what you know about withdrawal rates. The key to making your nest egg last is to spend less money than you earn. Due to state tax law differences, however, you'll soon learn that where you live during retirement largely dictates what you spend. Some states, such as Minnesota and Vermont, impose a hefty tax on retirement income, while California's top income tax rate is a budget busting 13.3 percent.

Others, including New Jersey, have the highest property tax rate in the nation, while 14 states tax Social Security benefits either in part or in full. They are: Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. (Not all, though, made our list of least tax friendly states for retirees.) Up-and-Coming Retirement Cities, Around the World California The sunny skies of California may be a playground for movie stars and millionaires, but retired residents should take their money and run.

Iowa. Yahoo! Yahoo! 7 Real People Who Are Winning Their Fight With Debt. As human beings, there are some traits that we all have in common — two hands, one heart, red blood, and, unfortunately for most of us, a wealth of debt. The average American carries a $47,000 debt load, and as a nation, nearly $2 trillion of our collective debt is either delinquent or 90 days past due. Part of the problem in figuring out where to begin getting out of the red is knowing who to turn to for help.

Maybe you're too embarrassed to fess up to your issues or you can't afford a financial advisor. So you might pick up a $20 self-help book or enroll in a $200 debt makeover course online. Save your money. Some of the greatest advice out there can come from the person standing next to you in line at the grocery store. To prove our point, we've rounded up 7 truly inspiring stories of real consumers who faced their debt head-on and managed to come out on the other side. 1. Carrie Smith Her debt wake-up call: "Three years ago ... 2. Kari Gordon 3. Grayson Bell 4. Cait Flanders 5. Joe Mihalic. How to Retire Abroad. For many seniors with a sense of adventure and an updated passport, the ideal retirement destination lies outside the U.S. Attracted by a lower cost of living, high-quality health care and an exotic locale, retirees are putting down roots across the border and around the globe.

The Social Security Administration sent benefit checks to more than 346,000 retirees living outside the U.S. in 2011, the latest year for which figures are available. That's up from about 307,000 in 2008. See Also: SLIDE SHOW: 8 Great Places to Retire Abroad While Central and South America's low costs and proximity to the U.S. have long attracted expats, intrepid retirees are also pursuing the good life in places as far-flung as Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Ed and Beaty Fomby, both 68, moved to Costa Rica from Crockett, Tex., in 2011 and live comfortably on $2,500 a month. Baby steps Even if you're convinced the expat lifestyle is for you, consult the experts before you venture outside the U.S. Crime. Phuket, Thailand Gets More Appealing for Retirees. Thailand's Phuket Island is an internationally famous beach destination, and rightfully so. Beautiful sandy shores, separated by rocky headlands, grace the entire west coast of the island, the largest in Thailand . The surrounding Andaman Sea is warm, clear and inviting, one of Phuket's main attractions. Onshore Phuket is a welcoming place that can quickly begin to feel like home. More than 100,000 foreign residents have chosen to make a life here. Foreigners from across the globe have integrated into the local community, transforming Phuket into a multicultural, international retirement destination. Expats make up more than 21 percent of the total permanent population of Phuket Province.

One of the biggest appeals is the cost of living . For that very low cost, you could be buying a big and interesting lifestyle. Phuket Island's large foreign population is scattered throughout several towns and villages. Phuket has something for nearly every budget. More From US News & World Report. 10 Best States for Retirement. What are the best states for retirees?

The popular answer seems to be anywhere along the Sun Belt, where retiring Americans have flocked for generations in search of sunshine, swimming pools and year-round golf. Yet, if you consider other factors that are important for seniors, you'd find that some of the best spots are actually located farther north.

Bankrate pored through a slew of key factors, including access to medical care, cost of living, local crime rates, state and local taxes -- as well as climate. Here, in ascending order, is Bankrate's list of the 10 unexpectedly best states for retirement. No. 10: North Dakota Saddako/Shutterstock.com Yes, it's frigid there. If you can handle the cold, North Dakota could be an excellent place to settle down. North Dakota also has the second-lowest crime rate in the nation, and the state and local tax burden, which takes into account income, sales, property and other taxes, is at a relatively mild 8.9 percent of income.

No. 9: Nebraska. 8 Great Places to Retire Abroad. Retiring abroad can offer a host of advantages over buying a condo in Florida. Living expenses can be cheaper, cultural experiences richer and the lifestyle more satisfying. But picking the right place to retire for you can be tricky: Climate, cost of living, ease of traveling to the U.S. and access to adequate health care all need to be weighed. We took those factors and others into account in making these picks. As part of our research, we consulted three experts on overseas retirement: Betsy Burlingame of ExpatExchange.com, Kathleen Peddicord of Liveandinvestoverseas.com and Jennifer Stevens of InternationalLiving.com. We also looked at International Living's Global Retirement Index, which ranks the 22 countries most popular with American retirees on eight categories ranging from entertainment options to infrastructure.

Ecuador ranked highest overall on the index; the Dominican Republic came in 22nd. We focused primarily on the cost-of-living component of the index. 1. Getty Images 2.