Are you still a working stiff or retired ?

[Thomas]

Morning Willl.
9 more years my goal to retirement,but its looking more like another 12 years.

 

[MikeD74T]

I'm 56, been at my present job for 18 years. Currently working 75 hour weeks on a rotating shift (all 3 shifts) basis. Am elligible for pension now but plan to work another 18-24 months. I worked out my retirement income last year (at age 55) and calculated my best return to be starting at 58 & living to 75. Starting earlier means less per month, living longer is mostly luck, not genes. I've been pushing my 401k pretty hard for the last 5 years & have two homes with no morgages. Will sell the most valuable & move to the farm while my grandchildren are still children. I fully expect to work 'till I drop but am hoping to be more flexible in my schedule, working when & for whom I want. I just don't want to work 40 hours per week at someone else's convenience only to drop dead 1 week into retirement. Only time will tell. MikeD74T

 

[Bird]

Just turned 50. I am on "no medications".

It does seem that most older folks are taking several different prescriptions so it all may change any time, but I'm 66 and on "no medications".

 

[MarkV]

Mid fifties and 30 years self employed in the construction trades. Thought I had it all figured out for us to retire about now. The wife and I have saved, invested and paid off everything so we would be ready. Even sold the Mac Mansion in the city and bought the retirement home in the country. The wife has 25 years with a major airline that decided to go bankrupt and is fixing the problem by cutting her salary and benefits by 47%, not funding pensions any longer and taking health bennies away from retires. There doing better now, they must be because the execs are getting bonuses again.

Oh well, guess a few more years won’t hurt much more than the last few. May be by then our expenses will go down by 47% and doctors will all work for free.

You younger guys and gals better start putting away for yourselves. The days of the gold watch and lifetime pensions from corporate America will soon be part of history lessons.

MarkV

 

[EddieWalker]

]You younger guys and gals better start putting away for yourselves. The days of the gold watch and lifetime pensions from corporate America will soon be part of history lessons.

MarkV

Scary, but all too likely to happen. Right now we have a Goodyear plant in town that's on strike. One of the biggest concerns is the benifits for retired workers being discontinued, or reduced. What could be more scary than to be in your 70's, 80's or older and to find out your retirement may be reduced or eliminated?

I had 13 years in with the Teamsters and was on course to a decent retirement if I'd stuck around, but decided that it wasn't a sure thing and that if it didn't work out, I would be left with nothing. I'd rather rely on myself and know what I'll have or not have.

Eddie

 

[Slamfire]

I retired 1 week before having 30 years as a power system dispatcher for the county's largest municipal electric system. Held that position for the last 15 years of my career, previously being an operater for a minimum of two years in every type of station the Dept. owned. Deregulation spurred the "great skedaddle" as they struggled to get below 10,000 employees. My incentive package amounted to a bit under $57K, and I'm getting a bit less on my monthly check. I'll break even IF I live to 89, otherwise I'm money ahead.
My DW refused to move to PA where I had 8 acres, so I swapped it for 32 here in the Smokies.
The health insurance company signed me up for Medicare part B and prescription benifits so now I have an official "Old Timers" membership card and get a bill every quarter for the danged Medicare coverage.
Other than that I do ALL the work!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Mid 40 something here so will be working a good while, unless someone wants to donate to a good cause
Am an Electrical Engineer, PE / computer geek, worked 20 yrs for one company, now doing engineering/consulting work for telcom industry.
Grew up on a farm, so learned to do about everything.
I have also ran heavy equipment, drove snowplows/dumptrunks, taught CAD classes at a community college, built my own house while working full time, and I teach bible classes.
If I ever get to retire, would consider moving to north/central TENN, maybe north of Nashville area. Maybe someone here could steer me to a nice friendly area.

 

[Skerby]

You guys that are older and not on any meds.. do you have coverage? I can't believe you should'nt be prescribed something... Wow! count your blessings i say!

 

[IslandTractor]

You guys that are older and not on any meds.. do you have coverage? I can't believe you should'nt be prescribed something... Wow! count your blessings i say!

A tractor ride a day keeps the doctor away.

 

[scesnick]

After reading a few of these posts I am really grateful for the retirement plan and my job in general. It pays really well for the area.

I am a powerhouse operator ( boilers, chillers, generators ect..) for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I basically keep the lights and heat running for the convicts inside the penitentiary. I started here when I was 29. I am now 36 and only have 14 more years. Luckily we have a Thrift savings plan here sort of like a 401k but it will allow me to retire at 50. Along with my regular retirement.