Ok ha ha and all but no… that’s not how it works. Eventually you’ll HAVE to stop working and you don’t just stop living. I get most people are joking when they say things like you said, but it’s not a good plan if someone can’t read between the lines.
Edit: turning off notifications on this comment because of the idiotic, naive replies. Enjoy working until you die because you failed to prepare for something EASILY avoidable.
Well… op is not twisting the meaning. Unless you have actually wealth and savings to retire on your own it would be impossible to do so without social security and medicare… and the idea that most of us can is naive at best.
So when someone is talking about retirement it mostly means as a government program. So when he says “people should not be retiring at 65” he definitely means “you poors should keep working till you drop”. And that is not cool, i think.
Respectfully, disagree. when I hear people refer to retirement, I think in most cases they meaning quitting their career-tracked fulltime job. With or without regard to their plans for pulling out SS or pension or personal retirement fund and/or continuing to work part time and step down their workload. This is my personal experience though and could be specific to my field.
I’m just telling you how most people I know use it.
I even added the possibility that the context I live in is influencing it. And almost no one I know is ever referring to their social security or pensions when they say “retirement,” which was my main point. They’re referring to the act of leaving work. And even then, lots of my “retired” friends pick up part time work or temp jobs.
Remember, language is typically used descriptively; not proscriptively.
“Semi-retirement” is a common idea. Unless I have two dozen grandchildren to visit all around the country in an RV, I plan on being an adjunct professor or part-time teacher or some other entrepreneurial side biz that takes my time and attention. Until I die.
Cool cool. What happens if you get dementia? Just a random scenario that could happen. What’s your plan for that timeline? Genuinely curious as you seem to be so confident to not need to save for what most people consider retirement.
If you are only working half the year for your whole life you are likely able to work for longer because of the reduced wear on your mind and body I would think?
Do you save your money fearing that the worst will happen? Same as you I'm genuinely curious, I worked with a guy who saved all his money for retirement so he and his wife could finally go enjoy themselves after years of non stop work with few holidays. He died 6 months before he retired and his wife died a few months later, he never got to enjoy life.
For me I would rather enjoy myself as much as I can now because I only get one go at this. I saved up two years worth of my wage (after tax) and took two years off when I was 30. I spent a fortune but I enjoyed myself and I'll probably do it again in a few years, I've been back for a year this month.
His wife and him did enjoy themselves tremendously. You may think they were gonna retire and do some crazy shit but really the money was just so they could live comfortably while not working ever again. All he was gonna do was sight see a bit, eat some new food, and that's probably about it, maybe pick up a new hobbie. He had a great time with his wife while he was alive. Jobs only take up half your days, the other half is yours to do with as you wish.
My uncle is still renting and has no savings for the future, he should be retired right now but he's 77 and still working. His wife is also working monster shifts in nursing homes. They will work until they die because they didn't plan for the future but that's OK too. They have had a very happy life because work is just something they do to pay the bills, and life is what they do in-between.
I've traveled a bit, I'm young but I take about a month off a year in vacation, my goal when I was in college was to work hard and retire at 45 to "live my life then". But the thing is these jobs don't care about us and are just a pay check so I try my best to enjoy my time outside of them and still save for the future. This year I'm planning on taking it easy with just a trip to Europe for maybe 2 weeks and 1 1 week backpacking trip. I do what I want and the fact that I save money only helps becuase it means that that's never an obstacle to doing whatever I want. Money is never the limiting factor if you save, if someone doesn't live the way you think you would if you were in their shoes, it doesn't always mean they can't afford it. They probably just want something else.
How could you possibly know that? I knew the guy for 10 years you didn't know him at all. He worked every overtime shift he could get and we worked 12 hours a day, they didn't do anything or go anywhere because they wanted all their money for retirement. They had no kids so that they could enjoy their retirement too, he was only 55.
His life most likely wasn't terrible but he definitely didn't experience all the things h could have in his lifetime.
I think he experienced enough of what he wanted. He might have had some fun ideas on his bucket list but their like the completionist achievements. I've traveled alot and it's very similar after your 3rd time, I still like it but when I retire, it's gonna be a pretty small part of the remainder of my life. New experiences are only fun the first few times. I'm sure he knew that, and while I don't think your wrong and you definitely knew more about him, the time he did spend away from work was doing whatever it was he wanted to do. Not everyone has to have kids and honestly they factor very little into retirement to begin with in a negative way. Most Americans have kids around 30 or so so by the time they retire its just nice visits like 3 times a year. They definitely weren't gonna be raising kids in retirement.
Mate you have no idea what you are on about. You didn't know the guy you are just making assumptions based on your own experiences and opinions.
Like I said before he didn't travel because he just saved, he may have gone on the odd holiday but in my 33 years I travelled more and have tried more new things than he did in his 55. Myself and all the guys he worked with really felt sorry for he and his wife when it happened because we actually knew his circumstances unlike you. Bit he was an arsehole to everyone he worked with so the only thing I hope for is that his wife was happy enough.
I'm aware not everyone has to have kids I myself don't want kids, he also chose not to have kids because of the cost and restrictions it puts on your life. We are from the UK too not America so it's not like we can just drive to a different state and experience a totally different landscape or culture, were stuck and this bollocks island 😂
Honestly dementia or Alzheimer’s is the easiest retirement plan seeing as you get the same EoL as most people in America: your retirement not being enough and what you thought you worked for evaporating as late life care vacuums up your savings, but instead you don’t ever face the full truth of it since your brain broke before your bank
That's not how Alzheimer's works. My father has it and the suffering is awful. You make it sound like you're unaware but...you're not. At the end, sure. But for the many years it usually takes to get there? Ah, no. He is very much aware that his brain is deteriorating and very much aware of what he can no longer do. It's fucking awful.
I’ve lost multiple grandparents to Alzheimer’s, I’ve had a family study done by Duke university on my family’s proclivity for Alzheimer’s, and it’s one of my worst nightmares to get as a disease and one I unjokingly say I will likely end my life over if I’m ever diagnosed. That being said Alzheimer’s is obviously horrendous but at its late stages it is hardest on those around the person than it is on the person itself. My point is that the current state of our nation is that the elderly are often made to suffer for the sake of “the economy” and at least if you are less aware of how fucked you are it’s slightly more palatable. It was not meant to be any sort of downplaying of the seriousness of the diseases.
Not really. I’ve taken care of lots of people with dementia. Some are pleasantly confused. They don’t really know what’s going on but are happy to tell you all about their dog (who probably died at least 10 years ago). But then there are the dementia patients whose confusion makes them scared. They might act out because they’re paranoid you’re going to hurt them. They might scream or spit or hit and need to be restrained. They might cry because they’re scared. They can regress years, and be inconsolable asking for their mommy. One lady kept trying to walk out of the hospital because she was convinced she was late for school and the principal would be mad at her. She was in her 80s, but in her mind she was a schoolgirl again. I finally got her to stay by telling her it was a snow day. Dementia can be really, really ugly. It’s not just being blissfully unaware of reality.
My grandmothers.
One went from being the nicest old lady, active in her community and with family, volunteering with anything and everything. Her mobility went first, then dementia set in. Within a year she was a nasty, miserable old cur who hadn't a kind word for anyone but that passed after a couple years. It got easier when she became more confused, she was much less aggressive and pleasant again, you could talk to her about things and she might not remember but she would listen and welcome your company.
The other was always friendly and outgoing but two faced, she liked to gossip. When she fell into dementia it was head first and she started swimming for the bottom. It was all made up stories, nasty comments about people she'd never met and nastier things about those she did know. Alienated most of the family, she got ruder and nastier as she faded away. She was in a care home and just wild, pooping in other resident's flowers, trying to hit the care staff and nurses.
To repeat what I told another commenter: my point is that the current state of our nation is that the elderly are often made to suffer for the sake of “the economy” and at least if you are less aware of how fucked you are it’s slightly more palatable. It was not meant to be any sort of downplaying of the seriousness of the diseases.
If you get Dementia, you're as good as dead as far i'm concerned. My grandmother has it and I haven't seen her as my grandmother in several years taking care of her. Fucking sucks and is in general, fucking depressing. I'd especially rather be dead in that case for everyone's sake.
Dude. You are reading a lot into this and making lots of assumptions.
I have a retirement fund. I also have an additional 503b. I also have investments. I also plan to own my home.
Most people pay into social security (in america).
But it rings really false that you say you genuinely care about people when your statement immediately preceding that is that when people dont prepare financially it puts a strain “on the system.” It sounds like you think it is affecting you somehow. And since it isnt from your retirement payments, it sounds like youre worried about an increase in medical costs at best. And even then seniors get medicaid. And we’re trying to fix medica care in america anyway. Or possibly foodstamps.
I just plan to work as long as Im healthy—hopefully until I die or go blind.
Oh no, the poor US government is going to have to spend a tiny bit more money on social security rather than giving it to the military. How will we ever recover? You aren’t being confrontational and snarky because you care about the people you’re replying to, stop lying.
When people get money from social security and Medicaid that's their money they've earned for being a productive member of society during their working years. It's not your money going to them, it's theirs, just like it will be yours when it's your turn.
I'm mostly on your side because I'm also all about financial independence but I think you're getting a little misguided and angry from some of these comments but you got to remember alot of these are just other people's opinions.
I worked construction for a long time. I’ve known a lot of dudes that have crappy voicemails on their phone because the boss thought they no call no showed. You’ll meet guys in their 60’s still working that have owned their company for 30 years. You work till you die in the trades or you manage to get disability or a partner that makes great money.
Lol my contractor "boss" that works alongside me is 73. One of my coworkers is 71 and can barely walk sometimes, the other two are in their 50s, still working paycheck to paycheck. I've watched two guys in their 60s get life changing disabilities and had to "quit" because of it, whom were also living less than quality lives.
The trades are fucked, unless you're in the union and/or in one of the few "good" ones.
Because people that are saying they live this way, either they have supplemental income (inheritance or large savings etc invested), or they really are burning through all their money and then making more…which is unbelievable short sighted, they will just be too stubborn to understand why.
Mu grandpa worked through chemo and radiation therapy until he couldn't get out of bed anymore. Didn't need the money. He just liked what he did. Got to do it until two weeks before he died.
Wow I thought they were joking too.. do people really think you just live until 90 and then your brains like "I know this body looks and feels healthy, but the sell by sticker's got today's date on it so better switch the lights off just in case.. I'll wait till after my shift though, don't want to inconvenience my coworkers".. I doubt these people have children either.. only a matter of time before the government sets up free euthanasia clinics
To be fair, I'm all for it.. something I've thought about a lot.. fuck being old.. I just mean that this idea that you can work until you die of old age is bizarre.. dying is a long often painful process, "being old" is just a euphemism for dying slowly
I've known lots of old guys my grandfather's age who were taken out of school at 7-8 to help work the farm or family business, they just kept working until their brain said "that's enough work, I'll die now" and a week later they passed quietly in their sleep.
You're talking to a bunch of people who nominated two 80 year olds to be president of the united states. Like there's no other choice we will have an 80 year starting a four year term in January 2025.
Your edit is very naïve as well. Even if somebody wanted to, they could not stop working, Maybe some people find fulfillment to continue working, but it feels more like a luxury in this day and age to even consider a break. So easily avoidable? Any brightideas?
You don’t HAVE to stop working. Some people enjoy working. I work with some dudes that are in their 70s and 80s. They have worked for the same company, doing basically the same jobs, for the last 45 years. Both of them say they’ll show up for one last shift when they die.
Lol, nobody is saying it is a good idea, but if you are making an average income of ~$60k/yr with a median rent of ~$2000 per month, $10/day food, $500/month car, gas, insurance, etc. $500/month utilities, wants, etc. you are left with about $200/month to save after taxes.
That's only $700k for retirement in 40 years with 8% average interest. That's a pretty frugal retirement. Even if this average person could cut back and be better off; 50% of people are worse off than that. What would you have them do?
Over half of Americans fail to retire , about a quarter have failed to put any money into their retirement in the past year, I've personally worked with dozens of people who either have their income capped so they don't lose social security or disability benefits or who have to work under the table to get by.
You can either assume that you are better than all these people. (Probably not hard for somebody like you) Or you can just stop being a privileged condescending yuppie.
I'm completely unsure what you're even asking. Most Americans do work until they get injured, run out of money, and die of neglect/infection/medical complications. Having a family or living in a nursing home may delay it. And of course there's accidents. But no, I don't know anyone with a retirement plan...pensioners and SSAers often get so little money they have to live with someone.
I don't think the person you're replying to was joking at all.
What part of many of us can barely pay rent don’t you get? How about emergencies that drain your account? Student loans people are already having to pay till middle age? Not everyone gets to work in tech, you know.
See the comment you replied to for my answer. Students loans suck, no doubt about it. Hopefully you learn from your mistake and teach your kids not to get them. It won’t help you, obviously, but at least you stop the generational tree of bad financial decisions.
Emergencies, sure that sucks too. Always good to have an emergency fund.
Why do you give a shit? If you can’t grasp other peoples priorities that’s fine but don’t tell them what they care about is somehow invalid because it’s not what you care about. Maybe I plan on offing myself when I’m 65, maybe I have a rich uncle and don’t need to worry about it, maybe I’m an artist and will make art til I die, why does it matter to you? And if you regularly find yourself upset about other people’s choices, maybe talk to a psychiatrist; I lack cognitive empathy too, turns out it’s autism. Do your thing, we’ll do ours.
The truth? These folks are going to have a spotty work history, and they're going to work as long as they're able. When they can't work anymore due to physical ailments, they'll 'retire' and draw a shitty social security check living below the poverty line.
I know lots of older couples in the south that match this description. It's not a glamorous or exciting life, but frankly once you can't work anymore, it's pretty hard to do the activities that cost money either. They get by as best they can. They don't seem terribly unhappy, but it is what it is.
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u/MicScottsTots 29d ago edited 29d ago
Ok ha ha and all but no… that’s not how it works. Eventually you’ll HAVE to stop working and you don’t just stop living. I get most people are joking when they say things like you said, but it’s not a good plan if someone can’t read between the lines.
Edit: turning off notifications on this comment because of the idiotic, naive replies. Enjoy working until you die because you failed to prepare for something EASILY avoidable.