Retirement: now or later?
@1creekgirl (40635)
United States
August 18, 2023 10:53pm CST
Retirement means so many different things to different people.
If you're old enough, have you retired? If you're just starting your career, have you given much thought to your retirement?
Dale and I were both blessed to be able to retire fairly early. I was 55 and Dale three years later was 61 when he retired from Weyerhaeuser Paper Mill.
It worked out really well that I was able to retire when I did. We didn't know that our son's wife would die suddenly when their baby Nathan was almost two years old and I went from grandma to mama. We helped our son raise Nathan while Robert was at work.
I loved being mama again and we were truly blessed to be able to help.
Dale and I had pensions from our jobs and then later Social Security. I don't think many employers provide pensions now, people seem to have 401Ks or whatever.
It's really important to save for your retirement if you can.
Have you retired? Planning to?
20 people like this
19 responses
@AmbiePam (85975)
• United States
19 Aug
My dad estimates he can afford to retire at the age of 73, although I actually think he may wait a little longer. You know pastors, unless they are a televangelist, they just don’t make much. Quite frankly, I think he’s better off working since he loves people so much.
It really was a blessing that you were able to retire at 55 after what happened with your daughter-in-law. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for your family. It’s funny, but I can’t think of you as seventy-five.
5 people like this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
Thanks for the compliment! A year ago I would say I didn't feel 75. Now I feel 95, lol. But God's still healing me.
Preachers don't usually want to retire..God puts that desire and need to preach the Gospel in them.
5 people like this
@AmbiePam (85975)
• United States
19 Aug
@1creekgirl I never thought about it like that, but I bet you are exactly right!
3 people like this
@jefferson126 (3086)
• Shenzhen, China
20 Aug
@1creekgirl ,i thought a priest is lifetime career,although they get older,they can still work as a priest.Priest is agent of The God,God won't retire.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
I did that too off and on for a few years after I retired. Just good to be around people.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157865)
• United States
19 Aug
I have a little of a retirement fund where I am now. It is mandatory for state employees. I foolishly have cashed it out more than once. I do not know when I will quit working. I go stir crazy when I do.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
It took me a few years to actually retire, lol. Officially I was, but every so often, I'd get a part time job for a while. My favorite one was doing the sample give aways at Walmart.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
I loved my job at the Health Department and planned to work 30 years, but year 27 became so bad (new director, new supervisor) that I retired early. People were leaving like crazy and their work was given to the few of us left. But it worked out well when Nathan and Robert needed us.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25807)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
19 Aug
@1creekgirl Yes, basically. At age 62, I'm starting my third career.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (158580)
• United States
19 Aug
Sorry to hear about you son's wife. My husband retired in 2004 on disability at 63. I would have had to work until I was 67; but I retired on disability in 2010 at the age of 62. It allowed me to spend more time with my hubby. Enjoy your weekend.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
Glad your retirement ages worked out well. But I know you'd both rather have good health.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
@LindaOHio I think it's good we don't know the future. Keeps us trusting God, that's for sure.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (158580)
• United States
19 Aug
@1creekgirl That's for sure. We had hoped to spend retirement traveling; and I wanted to spend retirement cooking and using my 75 or so cookbooks. Such is life.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (135092)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Aug
At my work you could retire at 58 and get full benefits. I waited until I was 61 and my husband was 62. Than my husband and I had 401k's and and Roth retirement. So we waited until we were 65 to get Social Security. That way we would get a little bit more money.
We planned everything out and it worked out perfect. Our place of work gives us free health care for life. They now pay our Medicare for us. So we get out full retirement. So we both are happy.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (135092)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Aug
@1creekgirl We both worked for the same company for over 40 years.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
Wow, that's wonderful that they pay your health care and Medicare. You all are very blessed.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (460355)
• Switzerland
20 Aug
@1creekgirl As we worked for ourselves, we had to start a private retirement plan. When we moved here in Switzerland, we also paid the Government Pension plan, so we now also have a Pension paid by the Swiss Government.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74114)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Aug
I've been retired a long time now. Never had much money and I manage month to month and find I really don't need a lot as long as I have a roof over my head and food for me and the cats,
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12496)
• Ireland
19 Aug
@1creekgirl I retire on 31 January 2024, just after my 66th birthday. My state pension plus employers pension should see us right along with what we’ve saved but we have to start buying a house now.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12496)
• Ireland
19 Aug
@1creekgirl On the cusp of sealing the deal for a little house on the coast. The legal work takes time.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
20 Aug
That's what my job did. They paid into my retirement pension as did I so I could collect it when I retired. Our daughter in law had a massive and unexpected heart attack at 34.
@Dena91 (15934)
• United States
20 Aug
Mike retired at 61, we had everything paid off and some money in the bank. He wasn't happy with his job, worked as middle management in a furniture factory. So he retired early and when he turned 62 began collecting his social security. No pensions or 401K.
I more or less retired in March of 2020 when the flu came along. The people I cleaned for started working at home and we weren't suppose to leave home. Funny thing is Mike and I talked about me quitting before that craziness came along, it helped me make my decision. The folks I worked for I were some of my first customers, worked for them since 1996. I still work for the church, so I am partially retired, not quite old enough to collect social security yet.
1 person likes this
@florelway (23159)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
19 Aug
I am 61 and must retire at age 65 being the mandatory age for government workers. Honestly I hope I can extend more years working beyond the mandatory age. Although we have our small business it's different when one is still actively working. I hope I can be hired as consultant or maybe get a teaching job which I am now scouting to have.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
20 Aug
I hope everything works out well for you.
1 person likes this
@florelway (23159)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
20 Aug
@1creekgirl I really hope for that. I am a breadwinner and I need money to support my household.
1 person likes this
@jefferson126 (3086)
• Shenzhen, China
19 Aug
I am going to retire 20years later.but don't know how many pension i can claim each month,maybe a small amount.Sorry about your son's wife,you are great grandma to raise Nathan.I also think it's important to save money for retirement.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
I hope your retirement plans work out well.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
20 Aug
@jefferson126 I hope it works out well for you.
1 person likes this
@jefferson126 (3086)
• Shenzhen, China
20 Aug
@1creekgirl ,hard to say whether i will retire as planed,now the country is instituting a new retirement rule which will delay our retirement by 3 or 4years.Hope the new rule is for younger ppl but not my age.We are not confident of our retirement rules.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37764)
• Philippines
20 Aug
That is good to know that you are prepared for your retirement. I'm just working at home
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49267)
• United States
19 Aug
Those were nice ages for y’all to retire.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
19 Aug
I can believe that! You all have such grand adventures.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (116284)
• United States
19 Aug
In theory I can retire in 3 more years after 25 years of service. I'd take a 30% hit on my pension though since I won't be 55. (full pension is 25 years + 55) That was always my plan when I was married. Now it is just me and it makes no sense to do that. Yeah I can retire but I'd be giving up a $100K job to go make $15/hour somewhere. Makes no sense. Soooooo unless I win the lottery I have 9 more years to go. Even then I'll be just 55. My dad said something about "golden handcuffs" and being stuck working until I can collect Social Security. That's like 20 more years. HELL NO.
1 person likes this
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19 Aug
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