What does retirement mean to you?

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It means if you started planning for it forty years before you retire life is going to be great. If you started planning and saving 5 years before it you're getting the idea it isn't going to happen because your mortgage is as big as your SS check is going to be.
 
Retirement? Dunno. I like computer programming.
Thanks to Silicon Valley and CA, money is not an issue.

What is important to me is working with family members and others not as lucky as me.
I have nieces and nephews to get through college and on to a sound (?) financial future.
 
Originally Posted by JeffKeryk
Retirement? Dunno. I like computer programming.
Thanks to Silicon Valley and CA, money is not an issue.

What is important to me is working with family members and others not as lucky as me.
I have nieces and nephews to get through college and on to a sound (?) financial future.


I find that luck has a little to do with situations like mine/yours. It's usually a little bit of luck and brute hard work.........whether it's a mental or physical type of work.


I really feel my responsibilities don't filter down to extended family like you do. If you have so much extra-it doesn't affect your retirement plans good for you. But you indicated in your post that it might. I didn't work hard to put extended family through college, JMHO.
 
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I forced both my sons to open Roth IRAs when they turned 18 and working part-time.

I did give them $3000 each to get the wheels rolling.... but they had zero idea what an IRA was.
 
Originally Posted by Mr Nice
I forced both my sons to open Roth IRAs when they turned 18 and working part-time.

I did give them $3000 each to get the wheels rolling.... but they had zero idea what an IRA was.


Don't misunderstand me. I did help two of my three sons buy a house. The third one didn't need any help. AS a matter of fact-still looking for a way to make the situation "equatable" for him.
 
I learned to live comfortably beneath my means - I LOVE retirement ... it's my favorite job
56.gif
 
Originally Posted by CKN
Originally Posted by JeffKeryk
Retirement? Dunno. I like computer programming.
Thanks to Silicon Valley and CA, money is not an issue.

What is important to me is working with family members and others not as lucky as me.
I have nieces and nephews to get through college and on to a sound (?) financial future.


I find that luck has a little to do with situations like mine/yours. It's usually a little bit of luck and brute hard work.........whether it's a mental or physical type of work.


I really feel my responsibilities don't filter down to extended family like you do. If you have so much extra-it doesn't affect your retirement plans good for you. But you indicated in your post that it might. I didn't work hard to put extended family through college, JMHO.

Yeah, Jefferson said something like, "I am a strong believer in luck. In fact, the harder I try at something the more of it I seem to have."

FYI, I made every mistake in the book. Got to AA at the age of 33. 1st degree at 40; now I have 3.
Because of the x86 Win explosion in the 90's, Silicon Valley took a broken man and gave me a chance.

There is death in my family; what are those children to do without a father?
My niece is raising 2 sets of twin girls on her own. My choice is to stay close to them.
I know the other side of life; I have been given a second chance. It makes me happy to see others succeed; to prosper.
Computers, college, etc are tools to that end. I can supply the tools; they gotta pick 'em up.
Again, I am lucky to be in the position to give rather than to be the one who needs.

You should see the older twins operate the Tesla display! Computers are like pencil and paper to them.
 
Originally Posted by CKN
Originally Posted by JTK
You guys that retired at ~50. I assume you didn't have children? Just envi.. I mean curious.


I retired at 55. We had three kids. Not listening to Dave Ramsey and buying several rental properties (with mortgages). That was 30 years ago. They are all paid for and provide income. I just filed early for Social Security at 62.

Healthcare is the big unknown when you retire early. Currently buying on the exchange with outrageous premiums but I have minor pre-existing conditions.



11.gif


I've got some years to go. I've been working 'career' jobs since my mid 20s and have been with my current employer for 22yrs. I've still got a defined pension, plus 401K, etc. Darling bride has been 'stay at home' for the past 10yrs or so given our youngest of four is 8. We certainly don't live fancy and are on the edge at times. I've been having panic attacks over my 17yr/old's college ideas, but we'll figure something out.. I can't support my kids college costs, which I feel terrible about, but then again.. I paid for my own back in the day.
 
Originally Posted by Mr Nice
I forced both my sons to open Roth IRAs when they turned 18 and working part-time.

I did give them $3000 each to get the wheels rolling.... but they had zero idea what an IRA was.


That isn't forcing its a hale of a gift.
 
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Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Originally Posted by Mr Nice
I forced both my sons to open Roth IRAs when they turned 18 and working part-time.

I did give them $3000 each to get the wheels rolling.... but they had zero idea what an IRA was.


That isn't forcing its a hale of a gift.

...Power of 72.. and time
 
Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
Originally Posted by Mr Nice
I forced both my sons to open Roth IRAs when they turned 18 and working part-time.

I did give them $3000 each to get the wheels rolling.... but they had zero idea what an IRA was.


That isn't forcing its a hale of a gift.

Retirement is something you plan for 40 years BEFORE you retire.
 
Originally Posted by JTK
I've been having panic attacks over my 17yr/old's college ideas, but we'll figure something out.. I can't support my kids college costs, which I feel terrible about, but then again.. I paid for my own back in the day.


It's nothing to feel terrible about. I don't know when it became obligatory for parents to be expected to fund their kid's college education. I put myself through college also. Having said that, times have changed. College costs have escalated many times above inflation. Kids cannot get good paying summer jobs in manufacturing or even instead of college to build up a savings. I'm talking about today's equivalent of $25+/hour, like we could do decades ago.

My kids started out at community college and my wife was a bulldog finding MANY scholarships for them. You would not believe the number of scholarships available at the community college level - all kinds of individuals and corporations set up scholarships. And, you don't need to be on food stamps to get them. Please check them out.

Back on topic...........everyone's situation is different. I do/have done a lot of retirement activities throughout my life (why wait?). I enjoy my career - no dread when I wake up every morning. I will navigate retirement as it gets closer and hopefully choose the path as I see fit. So far, living the dream (with some adjustments).
 
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Originally Posted by doitmyself
Originally Posted by JTK
I've been having panic attacks over my 17yr/old's college ideas, but we'll figure something out.. I can't support my kids college costs, which I feel terrible about, but then again.. I paid for my own back in the day.


It's nothing to feel terrible about. I don't know when it became obligatory for parents to be expected to fund their kid's college education. I put myself through college also. Having said that, times have changed. College costs have escalated many times above inflation. Kids cannot get good paying summer jobs in manufacturing or even instead of college to build up a savings. I'm talking about today's equivalent of $25+/hour, like we could do decades ago.

My kids started out at community college and my wife was a bulldog finding MANY scholarships for them. You would not believe the number of scholarships available at the community college level - all kinds of individuals and corporations set up scholarships. And, you don't need to be on food stamps to get them. Please check them out.

Back on topic...........everyone's situation is different. I do/have done a lot of retirement activities throughout my life (why wait?). I enjoy my career - no dread when I wake up every morning. I will navigate retirement as it gets closer and hopefully choose the path as I see fit. So far, living the dream (with some adjustments).


Thank you Sir!

That's the route we're pushing. Community college + scholarships (hopefully). Problem being the 17yr/old mind doesn't work like ours in seeing the pro's of this.


Your take on career and retirement is much like mine. There's times that my job has stressed me out and completely exhausted me, but I still love it and never dread it.
 
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Originally Posted by JTK
Originally Posted by doitmyself
Originally Posted by JTK
I've been having panic attacks over my 17yr/old's college ideas, but we'll figure something out.. I can't support my kids college costs, which I feel terrible about, but then again.. I paid for my own back in the day.


It's nothing to feel terrible about. I don't know when it became obligatory for parents to be expected to fund their kid's college education. I put myself through college also. Having said that, times have changed. College costs have escalated many times above inflation. Kids cannot get good paying summer jobs in manufacturing or even instead of college to build up a savings. I'm talking about today's equivalent of $25+/hour, like we could do decades ago.

My kids started out at community college and my wife was a bulldog finding MANY scholarships for them. You would not believe the number of scholarships available at the community college level - all kinds of individuals and corporations set up scholarships. And, you don't need to be on food stamps to get them. Please check them out.

Back on topic...........everyone's situation is different. I do/have done a lot of retirement activities throughout my life (why wait?). I enjoy my career - no dread when I wake up every morning. I will navigate retirement as it gets closer and hopefully choose the path as I see fit. So far, living the dream (with some adjustments).


Thank you Sir!

That's the route we're pushing. Community college + scholarships (hopefully). Problem being the 17yr/old mind doesn't work like ours in seeing the pro's of this.


Your take on career and retirement is much like mine. There's times that my job has stressed me out and completely exhausted me, but I still love it and never dread it.

I didn't fund my kid's college even though technically I was supposed to help according to the divorce decree but there was no way I could afford paying for college and paying child support.

My son had a full ride scholarship in track the two years he went and my daughter who is finishing up her third year, has gotten scholarships and taken out a small loan. My parents did not pay for my college. I got grants and worked to pay for mine. I'm not a big fan of paying for a kid's college because there is no guarantee that they will finish and then you are out all of that money if they don't. I had a cousin who did that. Went three years that parents paid for and quit and never went back. I would have been [censored] if I would have paid for my son's two years and then him dropping out with no plans to go back.

I wouldn't feel bad. Sometimes circumstances don't allow you to fund a college degree.
 
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Freedom. Don't have to wake up in time and love just piddling around house upkeeps, since I can't travel with the Covid around. My earlier reply:
"have been retired since I turned 58. I was lucky enough to come to US after high school on F1 Visa - students Visa. After college I went to work for a large defense contractor in their non defense unit. After citizenship I moved in their defense unit and after 30 years of service they offered an enhanced retirement to older guys with a bridge to Medicare and I took it. I was born in a 3rd world country & I lived frugally & bought Land, maxed out on IRAs, 401k and made personal investment (Vanguard Health care fund). Married 32 years NO kids and do quite a bit of Road trips & a single foreign trip. Loving it & go to gym at my time rather then at 6 AM, taking Yoga and pilates. Forgot started my SS at 62. If you can retire early do it."
 
Does it mean never working again?
Not having to work to live?
Travel and leisure activities?

I "retired" from my full time job at 55. However I still work 3 part time jobs now as I am too young to not work and am still physically able to. However I will probably take SS at 62 and stop working.

I think true retirement to me is not working at all.
It means enjoying life. Being respected. Having peace.
 
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