General Discussion

Retrograde

(11,423 posts)

41. and the less you have the more important it is to plan

Fri Jan 29, 2016, 09:03 PM

Jan 2016

I've been where you were, Snobblevitch: in these parts employer-funded pension plans are the exception, so Mr. Retrograde and I knew we'd have to ultimately provide them for ourselves. We had budgets, took advantage of all that was available, like IRAs and 401(k)s and employee stock purchase plans, and made a point of saving 10% of our takehome when possible. Yeah, we got lucky with a few investments, but when the last tech bust happened and we both lost our jobs we were able to still live comfortably.

I do think, though, that it is getting harder: student loans are ginormous compared to what we had, housing costs here are out of sight, and employers are not as generous as they used to be (does anyone still do profit sharing?).

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Too poor to retire and too young to die - sad story about elderly working seasonal jobs [View all] Liberal_in_LA Jan 2016 OP

...... daleanime Jan 2016 #1

I hope someone sets up a gofundme for this woman Liberal_in_LA Jan 2016 #5

I hope we pass some substantial.... daleanime Jan 2016 #12

If only Steinbeck had lived to see this. KamaAina Jan 2016 #2

Yep. Liberal_in_LA Jan 2016 #4

If only people still read Steinbeck. WinkyDink Jan 2016 #22

A-yup. KamaAina Jan 2016 #24

The Golden Years!!! Downwinder Jan 2016 #3

My most prized possession is something I inherited from my mother Warpy Jan 2016 #9

sadly, it's the 50K in credit card debt that is really doing her in. dixiegrrrrl Jan 2016 #58

Yeah, I know, it's pay the minimum every month until her body gives out Warpy Jan 2016 #64

Sounds like 2naSalit Jan 2016 #6

K & R historylovr Jan 2016 #7

My husband and I used to do that but mostly we worked at Cleita Jan 2016 #8

this story really makes me sad, especially for Ms. Westfall steve2470 Jan 2016 #10

ever get that stinking feeling onethatcares Jan 2016 #11

A full one point two trillions of dollars was lost in terms of the market truedelphi Jan 2016 #26

There are a lot of us out here leftyladyfrommo Jan 2016 #13

Yes so many of us did get wiped out with the last truedelphi Jan 2016 #29

I work with those same type of people. Unfortunately Thinkingabout Jan 2016 #30

Am I the only one who is horrified that if she's on such a limited income SheilaT Jan 2016 #14

What can you do if you have no cooking or storage facilities. hobbit709 Jan 2016 #15

Do you think her motorhome came without Snobblevitch Jan 2016 #16

could be broken. hobbit709 Jan 2016 #18

A cooler would allow her to do better. Really. Yo_Mama Jan 2016 #21

Anything is possible. Snobblevitch Jan 2016 #37

To keep beef for the next two lunches means she does have storage facilities. SheilaT Jan 2016 #23

No my best friend has no fridge ....long story dembotoz Jan 2016 #48

Wow. You're just full of compassion for your fellow man, aren't you? notadmblnd Jan 2016 #52

picture of her kitchen Liberal_in_LA Jan 2016 #51

No, you are not. It was a strange moment for me. n/t Yo_Mama Jan 2016 #20

Yeah catnhatnh Jan 2016 #47

She just has an RV and it probably isn't very big. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2016 #49

I live alone. I cook for one person. I know how tricky it can be. SheilaT Jan 2016 #56

tbh... shanti Jan 2016 #67

She was hungry at that moment. bought based on her appetite. we've all done it before. Liberal_in_LA Jan 2016 #50

shame on you Fairgo Jan 2016 #53

I did think that at first. ohnoyoudidnt Jan 2016 #55

Actually, the best thing she could probably do is to declare bankruptcy. SheilaT Jan 2016 #57

absolutely shanti Jan 2016 #68

The key phrase in the OP is Snobblevitch Jan 2016 #17

That may well be the key phrase, truedelphi Jan 2016 #31

Financial planning NOT only available to only the well to do. Snobblevitch Jan 2016 #38

You are well to do. truedelphi Jan 2016 #40

Having a steady job and a roof over your head does not make you well to do. Snobblevitch Jan 2016 #42

Maybe then it is a matter of perspective - try being without a job, or without a truedelphi Jan 2016 #43

Of course there are people who are jobless and homeless. Snobblevitch Jan 2016 #44

and the less you have the more important it is to plan Retrograde Jan 2016 #41

K&R Solly Mack Jan 2016 #19

To quote Pete Townshend PasadenaTrudy Jan 2016 #25

Exactly what I'm thinking. smirkymonkey Jan 2016 #34

Another greedy senior traveling the country on permanent vacation, guillaumeb Jan 2016 #27

She is greedy, because the Koch bros are on record saying they dont have enough yet, randys1 Jan 2016 #28

What I have found out about most people is this truedelphi Jan 2016 #32

Ought to put this on a poster and bumper sticker. nt raccoon Jan 2016 #60

Add to this too old to keep or get employment Matariki Jan 2016 #33

Yep, it's so depressing! smirkymonkey Jan 2016 #35

I will work until I die. JEB Jan 2016 #36

The trouble with that is that most people's health leftyladyfrommo Jan 2016 #46

Some of us awoke_in_2003 Jan 2016 #63

Could be you Johnny2X2X Jan 2016 #39

it's been a bi-partisan effort. KG Jan 2016 #45

My mother is considering taking a job, even at Walmart. Tab Jan 2016 #54

Painful. Really hate seeing anyone her age having to struggle flamingdem Jan 2016 #59

I have my exit strategy FLPanhandle Jan 2016 #61

Omg Liberal_in_LA Jan 2016 #62

Spend time around a madville Jan 2016 #65

+1 PasadenaTrudy Jan 2016 #66

Doesn't sound crazy to me. mountain grammy Jan 2016 #69

It's hard to read these stories.. mountain grammy Jan 2016 #70

I lived on the edge growing up SheilaT Jan 2016 #71

I am in touch with the author of this story and have her CurtEastPoint Feb 2016 #72