Mom has $170k USD to start a new life after a house fire, we need help budgeting/planning how to use it.

Unfortunately I'm in Canada, she can't live with me. It's too bad because there's a really cute house right down the road for sale. ): So she's left trying to live near the border in Michigan, or we used to talk about New York, but I think that's a bit too far for her comfort.

No retirement fund that I know of, we hardly talk about it. Going to bring it up with her next time we talk. She's 55. Another person mentioned social security benefits, another thing I hadn't thought of and plan to bring up with her. Realistically... she'd probably get minimum wage or a bit above. She's been a secretary for over 20 years at the same company and makes $11 and some change per hour currently. I don't know what kind of part-time work she'd consider doing. I've pitched a few ideas from other jobs she's done in the past like housekeeping or being a waitress, but she doesn't really respond or want to discuss it. I'm not sure if she wants to continue being a secretary or not. It's stuff I try to talk to her about, but she kinda avoids it.

/r/personalfinance Thread Parent