One of the reasons I’m still working at age 67, despite many ailments. And the ailments are the other reason; I can’t afford the Medicare supplement I would need and all the deductibles and copays, compared to what I pay for my share of my employer provided insurance and lesser deductibles and copays. Travel? To the X-ray lab and pharmacy, and then home…
It’s really a crime the way there’s no way to know way ahead of time that, one day, you’d like to retire with enough of an income stream for modest desires, like travel. Could have made some plans. Right?
.Okay, kids and not so kids. This lesson is for you. You don’t have to be wealthy to retire in comfort. You do have to forego the new cars every three years and the stupid house upgrade to more rooms than you need with the mortgage that can’t be paid off in time and all the other money you throw away on junk and paying people to do things for you that you can learn to do yourself. And, most of all, you have to decide what shape you’d like to be in one day and actually have a plan.
@Megonow: And some people never have enough money to sock away any surplus in investments or retirement plans, or if they do, some current emergency eats the surplus instead of some far future one. Sometimes all you can do isn’t enough. I never made over $13,000 a year, and I’ll be getting Social Security in a few months. I did most things for myself. I managed to pay off a 15 year mortgage. After driving clunkers all my life, I bought a new truck after my Dad died, as a reward for shuttling him around for the last 20 years of his life. It is 14 years old now. I can barely afford to stay home, never mind travel. Luckily I don’t want to.
Argythree about 7 years ago
One of the reasons I’m still working at age 67, despite many ailments. And the ailments are the other reason; I can’t afford the Medicare supplement I would need and all the deductibles and copays, compared to what I pay for my share of my employer provided insurance and lesser deductibles and copays. Travel? To the X-ray lab and pharmacy, and then home…
CeeJay about 7 years ago
This strip hit the nail on the head!
MeGoNow Premium Member about 7 years ago
It’s really a crime the way there’s no way to know way ahead of time that, one day, you’d like to retire with enough of an income stream for modest desires, like travel. Could have made some plans. Right?
.Okay, kids and not so kids. This lesson is for you. You don’t have to be wealthy to retire in comfort. You do have to forego the new cars every three years and the stupid house upgrade to more rooms than you need with the mortgage that can’t be paid off in time and all the other money you throw away on junk and paying people to do things for you that you can learn to do yourself. And, most of all, you have to decide what shape you’d like to be in one day and actually have a plan.
grainpaw about 7 years ago
@Megonow: And some people never have enough money to sock away any surplus in investments or retirement plans, or if they do, some current emergency eats the surplus instead of some far future one. Sometimes all you can do isn’t enough. I never made over $13,000 a year, and I’ll be getting Social Security in a few months. I did most things for myself. I managed to pay off a 15 year mortgage. After driving clunkers all my life, I bought a new truck after my Dad died, as a reward for shuttling him around for the last 20 years of his life. It is 14 years old now. I can barely afford to stay home, never mind travel. Luckily I don’t want to.
Jim Kerner about 7 years ago
This is a real Catch 22. What a shame!