Is retirement plausable?
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
April 26, 2009 7:50am CST
Thinking about this while responding to another post in politics....
Can anyone truly afford to retire? I know there are many baby boomers and pre-babyboomers that are able to do so as they've held decent paying jobs ect.
But what about those of us whom work for piddly wages? What about those who will see their pensions disappear while the automakers start what looks to be bankruptcy? They say that Social Security is not "guranteed" but then why do we have to pay into it?? especially my generation and those that followed who they say will not see a dime of it. Doesn't sound fair to me.
This is why so many older folks are still working stead of being able to retire and enjoy their golden years as best as their heath allows. If everyone was guaranteed a pension + social security and inexpensive/free medical benefits people could stop working before they are too old or to sick to even enjoy themselves just a lil bit.
What do you think? Will you ever be able to retire and live comfortably?
I don't think we'll be able to.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
26 Apr 09
For health reasons nobody can afford to retire. At 75 years, I am still working, not because I have to, but because I want to. A friend, worked 28 years for a Manufacturing Company and loved his job. When he reached a healthy 65, mandatory retirement kicked in, and he got kicked out. He was broken-hearted and lived for 6 months before succumbing to a massive heart attack. Retirement is a misnomer, a Fairy-tale that people with Jobs they Hate, Love to dream about. But retirement is a deadly incurable disease, and there are no records of any survivors.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
26 Apr 09
*LOL* very cute answer Bare! & good for you to be able to still work or choose to do so...
It's true I've heard of many working folks that once they retire they don't try to remain active they just lump it and get sick and poof they are gone. I truly believe this is true for many people. My father-in-law was healthy and very active with his church he retired @ 70. Mind you now he's only been retired for a lil over 2 yrs and now has cancer. He was right as rain beyond normal ailments the folks face as they age.
@magnel (2263)
• India
27 Apr 09
I think I have the answer to this.
It is very possible to retire for everyone, provided we stop depending on one 9-5 job. There are hundreds of opportunity that everyone might have come across, but they dont take because of fear. As it is said, its not our fault to be born poor, but it is 100% our fault if we die poor. The biggest risk in the world is not to take risk. I'm planning to retire at an early age of 35 and live my life comfortably because it is very much possible and i'm helping my friends also for the same.
I dont say get in touch with me for good opportunity, but analysi opportunities and go for it, rather than staying behind and living the same old unsuccessful life.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
27 Apr 09
I don't think I'll be all that comfortable when I retire. I'm 55 and I doubt there will be social security. I think we'll probably have to go back to the ways of the old days when parents were taken in by their children and extended families lived together. That wouldn't be all bad, I guess, but we've all invested in this huge government Ponzi scheme and we've been cheated.
I don't begrudge the oldsters their social security payments but I worked for years to pay into my own social security that I doubt I'll get. I don't have much of a retirement fund after the bath I've taken in this latest market, it's maybe a year's worth of expenses. I'll have nothing and many others will have just as much.
Nope, nobody will be able to afford to retire as we think of it. The "up" side is that families will be closer--literally!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 Apr 09
Even if social security were guaranteed, it's not enough to live off really. My in laws both recieve social security, and they are not living that well. When we were living in the home they owned, they demanded rent payments every week just so that they could buy groceries. It certainly isn't a pretty situation.
My husband's company offers a 401K. He was paying into it and had a couple thousand saved up already. Unfortunatly we got a little greedy and cashed it out... I can't even remember what we used it for other than to fix my car. After that we decided we can't really afford to pay into the 401K right now, but in time we will. We're basically just trying to get on our own 2 feet.
