10 Ways to Ruin Your Retirement

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Keep in mind............................
All people in america are foreigners except red Indians

jemy of TX 6:57PM December 16, 2010

Raise the retirement age to 70. Great! Where are they going to get jobs? I was turned down for a front desk position because I was 36 years old. ( was told I lacked experience--then they hired someone a great deal younger than I who would have been in grade school while I was gaining experience. Hiring people...hire older workers or they will retire early and drain YOUR social security.

Tigger of UT 12:36AM December 15, 2010

What I really dont understand is this I have been working since I was 15 I will be 61 next Wednesday. I understand that people who have lost a limb or are blind or have something wrong that really prohibits them from working a job deserve Social Security. What I dont understand is this. I have been paying out of my pay check for years now toward Social Security. How can someone who claims to be a drug addicit or alcoholic or bipolar as they call it now days which back in my days was bad nerves which trust me I have been dignosed but that dont keep me from working how do they get to collect? These people are just plain lazy I know so many people that are out there living off of our yes our money who could be trained to do some kind of job but it like welfare once they get on it they dont want to get off. I have a niece thats around 40 some years old she has been on it since she was in her twenties I mean come on now give me a break she can run all around town doing other things but cant work give me a break. My sister her husband my two brothers they are on it the two brothers is justifiable they are in very bad shape but the others just like some of the close people I know should not be on it. I am sorry they just hand out money and no follow ups afterwards. Its disgusting I can barely walk but because of bad knees and arthritis but I still get up everyday and go to work. Yes I have PRIDE.

DIANNE of MD 11:24AM October 28, 2010

I also wanted to add. To Carmalita, You said Racism always comes up. Well I do not believe it is because Our President isn't white that everyone is complaining. The people that are complaining are the ones that worked all their life paid their social security, and then constantly being told it is running out. It is not fair. The money should be there. If you did not pay into social security you should not get it. That simple. They need to be an american citizen be able to prove it and then go on welfare.Who has the right to steal our money and give it away! That is our Savings. Would you like for someone to take money from your savings account and give it to a charity with out asking you If they can???? Welfare is there for Americans that are poor and Not Lazy! Repeat! Americans. It is not racism it's facts. Who is taking the money? Not all Americans that's for sure. The foreigners are stealing our money and illegals too!That is a fact. Not all of them but alot of them. Obama is really spending our money like it is his. It is NOT! I'll be glad when he is gone. Only thing he will have spent all our money before he's gone. It is very sad. If the country only knew what kind of man he is ,we wouldn't be trillions of dollars in debt. It is such a shame. He is a muslim! What the h--l is he doing as an AMERICAN PRESIDENT It is so scary living in the United States at this time,. I am so scared for my grandchildren. Well really to be honest I am scared for us all.

Mzmarty of TX 8:51AM September 30, 2010

I am angry too! If you paid into SS you should not feel guilty about getting it. But I am really angry about the mismanagement of the SS money. For instance. I got hurt on my job 15 years ago. I had been with the company for 20 years. I have always worked. I also paid for disability insurance in case I got hurt and couldn't work. Well what happens I get hurt and the insurance (United Healthcare) didn't pay. They made me go on disability and start recieving paychecks from the government and get on Medicare. I don't understand. What happened to all the money that I paid into the insurance company??? Everyone says that's the way it is done. That is crazy. I should not be getting my SS yet. My insurance company should be paying. Also they should be paying for my medical. Not Medicare.Well People seem to be shocked also when I tell them medicare is NOT Free. I pay $82.00 an month for medicine and $99.00 a month for Medicare Part B. Everyone acts like I don't have insurance when I say I just have Medicare, I am sooooo confused. I am sorry for all my spelling mistakes. hard to type when you are upset. I hope I got my message across. It felt good to vent. Mzmarty

Marty of TX 8:28AM September 30, 2010

I don't really understand how this article leads to racism, but actually I do. Since Obama took office, the ugly have risen up and have been quite vocal in there hatred. It seems under any topic people try to air views that some how involve Foreigners and people of color, as being a source of irritation. Just something that I have noticed.
# 11. I have been thinking of taking out my retirement early to get out of debt. I am aware that taxes and penalties will take 50%. I am aware that I will have to work for the rest of my life. I work two jobs now, assisting family that I can't deduct, during this extremely hard financial crisis. The more I make the deeper in debt I go. The IRS now wants 15,000 dollars more.
The IRS sent a letter the other day. They said, Oh, remeber that refund check we sent you in 07,we like it back in 30 days, sorry for the inconvience.(over 4,000.00)
I see no other lump sums coming to me in any near future, and this isn't living life, struggling everyday to get out of debt. Have I just worked all my life for a monthly check? If I take this money and get out of debt and never get back in, work till social security kicks in in 9 years, Is that a bad idea. Also I might have a little savings I can set aside. is there anywhere I can hide money from the IRS? Because I know they will keep taxing interes earned. We need to reform this tax system. If my taxes were for socialized medicine and good education for anyone who wanted it, OK then. But for war and corporate self interest, it makes you bitter.

Carmalita Shreve of CA 2:22PM September 19, 2010

I agree with the thoughts of many of the post, however, if you don't belong to a lobbying group like NUMBERS USA or write or call your representatives, how are they to know how to vote your desires. Keep track of their voting record and be agressive with your statements so they will take notice of their constituents and be forced to vote your demands.
This country has given up the working men and womens rights for every stupid idealistic reason imaginable and penalized them for having a job, working every day at a job,having a home, sending their kids to college and paying for the tuitions themselves since they aren't of the "chosen group". If people don't stand up at the next elections and get these career politicians out of office and get some grass roots working people into these offices, we are screwed as a democratic, God fearing, working society. We might as pack our bags and move to another country, but unlike the USA, we cannot become citizens, they will not give us anything free, and we had better come into the country legally or we will be thrown in jail or shot.
In short, call, write or lobby your Senator or Congressman to the maximum because, as we all know too well, the squeaky wheel get the oil.

Jason of NC 7:09PM September 18, 2010

The military service members have Federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes taken out of monthly paychecks at the same rate as other American citizens.

B. Koedding, LTC (ret) of MI 11:27AM September 12, 2010

Not just Chinese, there are Russian, Iranian old folks that I know of, am sure many others taking advantage of the naive American and our generous government, committing the same act. They have tons of assets in their homelandn and/or transfer wealth to their children and live in low income housing, enjoying welfare food stamps & discounted utility rate while despise American as being dumber than dumb. I really don't understand why SS the money we contribute for our retirement has become entitlement system for other purposes, such as disability and welfare. My doctor friend has a MR son. He draws his full benefit upon retirement while the son draws over half of dad's benefit amount; it certainly is not carved out of dad's share. If disability and welfare are the society's responsibilities, then those many people on federal payroll including congressmen and military, and states/employer groups opted out of participating in SS sure are not sharing the burdens/responsibilities of helping these people supposedly in need!
How can we the contributors are forced to pay in but have no say so? Congressmen & senators won't looking after our interests because it doesn't affect their pocketbook. People can be very generous with others' money. We sure put up A LOT! May be those foreigners are right about us, we are dumb.

Julie of CA 1:39AM September 09, 2010

I'm sick of every article I read & TV financial advisor telling me I have not saved enough for retirement & to top it off to wait until I'm 66 to take SS.
I was downsized from my job last year a month before my 61st Xday after 30 years & have not found a job to date.
So I am forced to take social security early @ 62 & will have to start taking money from my savings to supplement my income because I cannot live on social security alone.
I want to work, but the economy sucks, so what am I to do. I'm also going to downsize my home & move south where is nice & warm & will cost less to live than in the northeast.
My advise: take SS ASAP. It might not be there later on.

Ann Marie of NY 1:07AM August 31, 2010