Preparation, and surviving the days to come.....

[absyntheminded]

Preparation, and surviving the days to come…..

I’m reading a number of posts outlining various folks’ plans to cope with the inevitable onslaught of across-the-board changes that will undoubtedly hurt, if not crush many of us who fall within the middle, lower middle/working class. I’m moving away from the why or how this happened and who’s to blame and focusing on what I can do to shore up what I have in order to protect myself, and still occasionally be able to assist my three young adult daughters and grandson moving forward.

I’m a 62 yr old, retired Air Force Vet, and current federal service employee, and with a Harris/Walz win, I was fairly confident I could retire in three years (at 65 - still early) and manage a very modest/frugal retirement. That simple hope was obliterated in last Tuesday night’s decision. Every modest income stream I was counting on in retirement is now on the GOP/Trump chopping block. From a massive federal employee “purge” which I’d certainly fall into, to a very real and significant reduction in my social security benefits.

I know most of us on some level will be wrestling with significant, life-changing decisions in the next 6-12 months. I’m hoping that among the very astute and savvy minds with decades of experience across many fields that regularly provide their insightful opinions on this site, freely chime in and share their thoughts.

I’m simply trying to weigh the pros and cons of retiring now from federal service and begin drawing SS under the current normal early retirement reduction or gut out the next two or three years in an already less than desirable work environment, til I’m laid off (forced to retire) as part of the purge. Gutting it out til the purge, would leave me subject to an unknown SS reduction plan that’s put in place by the new regime. That is of course, if the Trump SS reductions are a “from this point forward” law versus an across-the-board reductions affecting past, present and future SS recipients. In which case retiring entirely now may be pointless.

I understand I may be in a better position than others that gather and share ideas on this site, and some may be in a similar position to mine, while more fortunate souls are blessed to be able to look abroad, whatever your personal circumstance, my heart truly goes out to all of you.

Good Luck, God Bless and happy Veteran’s Day

Absyntheminded

[LisaL]

1. Federal employees are going to

get it the worst. Trump is already planning to shut down whole departments.

[Leghorn21]

2. Thanks for this great post, A

We’re all gonna do what we can do during this historic Armageddon fixin to drop
“Hang tough, laugh often, lend a hand” will be our motto!!

Best wishes to you and yours!!
- Sandy

[marybourg]

3. Are you thinking that if you take S.S. now, you won't

be affected if benefits are reduced?

[absyntheminded]

4. Essentially

That's what I'm asking. Will future reductions/cuts apply to everyone receiving SS (past & present) or will there be a "start" or "cutoff" date affecting future recipients. Much like the age requirements when they bumped it up to 67 and likely 70 in the near future.

If it affects everyone regardless, I'll just gut out my job til the purge and take the hit to my SS just like everyone else.

[marybourg]

5. I have no way of knowing, but I think it would be very objectionable

to treat people who continued working worse than those who retired earlier. After all, isn’t it one of the rw nut jobs’ big complaint that “nobody wants to work any more”?

I also don’t really think they’ll succeed in cutting anyone’s benefits. But what do I know- I never dreamed an insane, traitorous, fascist, malevolent nincompoop could win the votes of half the voting population. Anyway, you’re in a good position, with three potential income streams. Most are in much worse shape. Good luck !