my husband and I are planning on retiring in three years. He will be 60 years old. I will be 54. We plan on living on $1700 a month. We are living below our means. We are saving a 1/3 of our income now. We plan on being happy. we are staying healthy by staying active.
marieof FL7:27PM April 17, 2009
Retired with about 700k in IRA. Converted it to a lifetime Annuity paying about 44k a year. wife and I receive about 3K a month from SS. Moved to the south. Have a large home, low taxes,great midsized town. No, we don't live high on the hog,but comfortable. The secret to comfortable retirement is to save when working.
It's not that hard.
P.S put first money in Ira at 40 Cashed out at 58.
Expect to live the good life for as long as possible.
David Hughesof GA6:48AM February 24, 2009
looks like we have another one who waits till their dead to be happy .every thing you needed to do before you still have not done so you are where you chose to be. free will this was a gift to you that you did not understand and since you have been so busy here alive you think you will have plenty of time to change after . you do not know whats in the future but you still have time be happy. do not be what others make you feel be what you really are a nice person. no one can change you i did not tell you to change you are a nice person . you do not need to comperhend others you have enough understanding you. forgive them because they have been busy with their own needs. you can take so much of everything and by todays standards explode but you can never stop giving .so stop taking miss understood love accept everything given to you and never stop givng out love your hoarding inside of you . you are so full of love you will not need it where you are going. just like everything else on earth we all have a need for love, please leave it here.
lester paceof TX10:32AM February 22, 2009
Retirees with $1 million or more...are the most likely to feel satisfied with their retirement? Well sure, LOL.
But, how many average Americans retire with a million?
This article needs to come back down to earth and address the vast majority of folks retiring on a whole lot less than a million, or even a lot less than $500k.
BTW, I'm retired and live on $1250/month and I thoroughly enjoy each and every retirement day .... LOVIN' IT!! The lady complaining about her husband's poor measley little $1700/month + her $500 = $2200 could learn to increase her happiness and joy quotient to make life more enjoyable.
Even on my $1250/month, I would not consider eating cat food. Seems that's either a gross over-exaggeration or possibly her food of choice (LOL).
I can't see how she could fix her mouth to say Obama should "give" her money. He didn't create her financial picture or make life choices for her; so how can she expect him to bail her out? Besides, money alone cannot heal her bitter mindset.
Retirement Beats Working!!of NV5:41PM February 21, 2009
It may play out a lot different than you have envisioned , but retirement is not so bad. Complaining won't make you or the people you know feel any better about their situation or yours. Deep down we all get what we deserve and fate has a way of evening out things. Think about your life and how you lived, what you spent money on and how much you contributed to charity. What goes around comes around, I wish you more happiness than you seem to be accepting, Cabrina . The whole economy is not targeted on you and your family, we are all cutting back to the enth. And this is what we have to live with for the time being like it or not. We had the meat and potatoes, now we are stuck with the watery gravy, but thank God we live in the USA.
josieof WA3:19PM February 21, 2009
It's either half full or half empty. A lot of how life unfolds for you is how you view it. Attitude is 90%. You are still better off in NJ than in Darfur or Somalia or some other godforsaken hellhole on this planet. Thank you Mary of PA for the rebuttal. Mother Cabrina, come down and live with me in Florida. There is plenty of room and if you can cook, you are welcome!
equalknightof FL5:58PM February 20, 2009
What a sad letter the woman from New Jersey writes and what a well thought out response the letter that follows it provides. The first letter is so sad because, clearly a couple in America did not take advantage of many of the good things this country provides. And provides for free. Education is the cornerstone of a successful and happy life. This woman's "muslim" comment can only be seen as coming from a person who doesn't (and perhaps never has) taken the trouble to become an informed citizen.
To rant so late in life about all that is "unfair" shows a lack of planning that is regretable. If you have no ability to look to the future, the view when you get there is bound to be dismal. One could say of the couple in New Jersey "No plan is better than theirs."
Another wonderful thing about our country, and one which might be hard for people cloaked in bitterness to accept, is that it is never too late. I haven't tried this one but it's worth a shot. Go to Google and type in "people who succeeded late in life" and see what you come up with.
You won't find stories about people who have given up hope.
Mark Bromfieldof MA3:02PM February 20, 2009
You know, I wish I could feel sorry for you, but you're making it difficult for a number of reasons. Let's start with your husband's pension: the Post Office DOES take care of its employees, but your husband's pension apparently doesn't meet your requirements. Most folks' Social Security is MUCH less than $1700, and a lot of people are living on it. And I don't believe that you OR they are "eating cat food." They are taking advantage of food stamps, Angel Food Ministries, food banks, discount grocery outlets etc. We're doing that, and we're feeding our 4 cats the cat food. Look it into it. Second, did you have a chance while you were a hairdresser to look into more lucrative employment, with a retirement plan, or were you counting on your husband's pension? It sounds as if the $550 is your Social Security Income. Third, it seems that both of you are eligible for Medicare. Perhaps you should swallow your pride, and go down to the county welfare office to see if you are eligible for Medicaid based on your income. Medicaid covers more, but of course there is an income and assets test.Fourth, I did some research into Lakewood, NJ, and discovered that part of it is designated as a Federal Enterprise Zone, in which sales taxes are only 3% instead of the statewide 7%, giving residents quite an incentive to shop within the township. Why else did you move there,other than to feel sorry for yourselves? My parents lived well in Palm Bay, Florida after my father abruptly retired at the age of 53. The weather is warm, it's a city with public transportation, housing is cheap, senior services are legion and very inexpensive, and when you get depressed you can go for a walk on the beach. They didn't "move there to die,", they moved there to LIVE the best they could with the years they had left. My dad hated the cold. We are soon moving to the same modest 2 bedroom 2 bath house they left us. Last, but certainly not least, it is hard to believe that some people in this great land are still saying the President is a "Muslem." Madame, there is no such thing: if he were a follower of Islam he would be a Muslim. But he's not: he is a baptized Christian and a member: of the United Church of Christ. Please stop spreading this poison. No, I'm not going to tell Obama to "give you the money" because I'm afraid you would spend it on things that are not likely to advance your situation. Your rant in all capital letters makes you seem unbalanced and very bitter. You should sit down calmly, and rethink some of the ways in which you are spending your money. For example, I am constantly amazed when I see Senior Citizens scrimping on food so they can buy cigarettes. Does that fit you? I hope not. In any case, I write not to condemn you but to offer some valuable advice and some alternatives. Good luck to you, and God Bless the USA. We're all gonna need all the help we can get.
MARY of PA2:39PM February 20, 2009
ME AND HUBBY ARE RETIRED. OH WHAT A LOVELY EXPERIENCE. WE ARE ON A FIXED INCOME. HE GETS 1,700 DOLLARS A MONTH AND GUESS WHAT HE DID FOR 45 YEARS HE WORKED FOR THE DISGUSTING POSTAL OFFICE AS A LETTER CARRIER. POST OFFICE DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF IT'S EMPLOYEES. THEY ONLY WORK YOU TO DEATH TILL YOUR SICK. PERHAPS WE ARE STUPID. IM NOT SURE. I WAS A HAIRDRESSER ALL MY LIFE AND I GET A WHOPPING 550.00 SO YOU SEE WE EAT CAT FOOD AND MOVED DOWN TO LAKEWOOD NJ TO DIE HERE. WE HAVE NO MONEY IN THE BANK DUE TO ILLNESS AND CHILDREN AND WE DO NOTHING AND PINCH OUR PENNIES. SO WHAT DO I THINK OF RETIREMENT YOU CAN THROW TO THE PEOPLE WITH MONEY WHO ARE KILLING US THE POOR PEOPLE THAT BROKE THEIR ASSES. GO TELL THE MUSLEM OBAMA TO GIVE ME MONEY SO WE DONT DIE HUNGRY OR WITHOUT A HOUSE, WHAT A COUNTRY WHAT A LEADER WHAT A MESS WHAT A SAD SAD SITUATION FOR ALL YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE POOR YOUNG ONE TRYING TO LIVE THE DREAM OF A HOME CHILDREN AND WORKING AND THEY ARE WINDING UP IN THE STREETS TY COUNTRY TY USA TY SENATORS AND ALL THE CROOKS WHO TOOK OUR MONEY TY TY TY MY NAME? YEA SURE
PS TONIGHT WE ARE HAVING LIVER CAT FOOD FOODTOWWN BRAND YEEPEE
MOTHER CABRINAof NJ1:33PM February 20, 2009
What I get most out of this article is that the happiest retirees were those that had a plan and executed it. Thanks. That really hits home.
Reader Comments
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marie of FL 7:27PM April 17, 2009
David Hughes of GA 6:48AM February 24, 2009
lester pace of TX 10:32AM February 22, 2009
Retirement Beats Working!! of NV 5:41PM February 21, 2009
josie of WA 3:19PM February 21, 2009
equalknight of FL 5:58PM February 20, 2009
Mark Bromfield of MA 3:02PM February 20, 2009
MARY of PA 2:39PM February 20, 2009
MOTHER CABRINA of NJ 1:33PM February 20, 2009
Neal Frankle of CA 12:41PM February 13, 2009