Affordable Paradise: The Secrets of an Affordable Life in Hawaii

by H. Skip Thomsen and Camille Thomsen

The Fourth Edition! Updated,and expanded with lots of new info and 2009 Real Estate pricing. Please note that some of the reviews below are for the first three editions. Since this is dated material,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971918503
• ISBN13: 9780971918504
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Oregon Wordworks
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Great Book....Highly Recommended

After reading reviews on this site I ordered Affordable Paradise, as well as So You Want to Live in Hawaii by Toni Polancy. I loved Affordable Paradise and highly recommend it. I do suggest purchasing both books and reading them together. Toni Polancy's (So You Want to Live in Hawaii) book is quite pessimistic, right from the opening lines...but it does contain some valuable information. Skip Thomsen's book is my favorite by far. The author also maintains a website where updates are available free of charge.

Great book, be sure to check which edition you're buying though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I wish there were a version of it for every city or area I wanted to move to, Hawaii or not, very informative and entertaining for what it sets out to do. It's not an all-inclusive everything-for-everyone book, it's like having someone show you their life on the big island and having them share everything they like or don't like, more of a "what it's like to really live here" approach that includes the cost of groceries and how people drive. One real view is more valuable to me than some blanket approach even if it's less comprehensive, I can get a tourist map anywhere. Be sure to check which version of the book you're buying if you purchase used, though, the real estate scene has changed a great deal since the first edition and if you don't at least check his website for updates, you'll be sorely disappointed when you check real estate prices.

enjoyable and thorough

I had also bought "So You Want to Live in Hawaii", which i thought had a somewhat pessimistic tone for considering moving to Hawaii. Affordable Paradise seems to have a very realistic and thorough understanding of whats involved both physically, financially, and mentally for considering making the move. It presents both positive and negative aspects for choosing Hawaii, and what to look for in purchasing a home, shopping, and understanding the locals. Very good book.

For anyone seriously considering a move to Hawaii

Affordable Paradise: The Secrets Of An Affordable Life In Hawaii by long-time Hawaiian resident Skip Thomsen is a practical, straightforward book about living economically day-to-day in one of the most beautiful and sunny of America's 50 states. From finding a serviceable house for less than $100,000 to work and retirement opportunities, Affordable Paradise is an indispensable reference to consult for anyone seriously considering a move to Hawaii for the best of what island living has to offer, yet needing to live within budgetary constraints.