Tired...Anyone retired this year, how has it been, any issues. Looking at 3 more yrs.

[QRTRHRS]

I may have missed it but I don't see anyone talking about care should you need to go into a nursing home. Medicare does not pay for that nor does medicaid for the most part. If that possiblility is in your future, you may want to evaluate your insurance coverage now.

Myself, I would just as soon be six feet under but sometimes you don't have a choice.

 

[kubota4me]

My wife and I both have decent jobs, with her bringing in most of the income. She doesn't have a problem with that and either do I. She has a grad degree and I have undergrad so that is how that works. We will have house paid for in about 4 years. Will retire in 4 years. We had an all paid for house but built the house of our dreams and paying 2.5 payments per month so things are going well. Everything else paid for. Have some savings. A very sizable deferred comp investment and best part we both have defined benefit pensions to look forward to in 4 years. We will use all accumulated sick leave to pay for health insurance to age 65. In addition, she has a second job out of our home on computer and we have a business together part time. Her second job and our part time business will pay for all our retirement living expenses. We figured it out and we will retire on just as much income as we currently bring in when you figure taxes in to the equation. We have very active hobbies and will not want for things to do. We both have decided to allow ourselves one indulgence: a nap every afternoon. And yes, we live on an acreage that has added to our happiness and less of a stress in our lives. We do have stressful primary jobs which we will happily walk away from but through those jobs we have given back to society and leave feeling proud of our accomplishments. I am most happy that at retirement I will get to spend ALL of my time with the woman of my dreams and travel to see our children. Sure, there are others with more, but we live simple lives on our acreage but look to what we have and not what we don't have.

 

[dmccarty]

I tell anyone who will listen it is the small stuff that gets you. If you are buying a car, truck or tractor, you spend months thinking about it. But a trip through the drive-thru every day of your life could cost you a million dollars. $5 a day put into a simple mutual fund over 40 years will grow to $1000000. Everyday at work I see people lined up to put dollars in the soda machine. To me that is plain dumb. It is all corn syrup and water, and it cost a dollar. Tracking what you spend will open your eyes to how the small stuff adds up.

Don't forget going out to lunch every day. I eat dried fruit and salt free nuts instead of going out to eat. I have been doing this for years but I wish I had started soon. I stopped eating out mainly because I do NOT need the calories and it does save quite a bit of money. I went out to lunch with coworkers recently and man was it tough. We went to a pizza place that had some great looking food but I somehow resisted and just had some water since I was not even remotely hungry. That lunch was $7-8 and one could easily spend over $10. Do that 20 times a month and you have spent a bunch of money and consumed a huge amount of calories.

I was shocked how much lunch costs now.

Later,
Dan

 

[MacLawn]

Mark, I'd retire overseas in a minute! I've been about everywhere, and lived in Asia many years, so I know it well and could easily live the rest of me days there. Panama and Costa Rica also look good, but I've never been there. Thailand is also good expat retirement place, Chiang Mae has many expats, but a bit more expensive now with dollar being so weak.

If I were you, I'd more seriously consider Philippines.

 

[dmccarty]

Anyway, this is a very important subject for us geezers.

But us non geezers need to be thinking about retirement too. The earlier the better. Course, at this point, I might be considered a PreGeezer. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

When IRAs first came out I was able to save a bit of money for retirement but not much, who has spare money when starting out in life? But every little bit saved helps, especially when you have a half a century to retirement.

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

I really need to get a VA review myself. I keep avoiding it as I feel fit and applying for medical would be a cheat - even though I'm banned from donating blood (did you know that you could earn $500 a month by donating blood components?) or organs due to service.

How can I sell blood for money? Wait, that sounds like one of my jobs! I sure ain't selling organs. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

If I sell my blood for money, do I have to pay taxes? :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Redbug]

Hello Jim,

Here is a pretty good calc to help put retirement into perspective...
Click on the "Start Here" button and go from there. The more you run the numbers and look at different scenerios the more confident you will feel.
FIRECalc: A different kind of retirement calculator

I am with the Feds and have my retirement packet, (all filled out), on my bureau as we speak. Less than 6 months for me to retire. I have to admit that I will be retiring with mixed emotions...ranging from both joy and pleasure!

For you Feds...this is one of the best calcs I have run across...
Government Employees - FERS / CSRS Calculator

Lot's of good articles here...
Recent Federal Retirement Articles CSRS - FERS - Thrift Savings - FEHB - FEGLI

How many of you guys are members of the ER forums? I have been posting for years...like here. A really good community of fiscally minded people...
Early Retirement & Financial Independence Community

 

[Larro Darro]

Mark, I'd retire overseas in a minute! I've been about everywhere, and lived in Asia many years, so I know it well and could easily live the rest of me days there. Panama and Costa Rica also look good, but I've never been there. Thailand is also good expat retirement place, Chiang Mae has many expats, but a bit more expensive now with dollar being so weak.

If I were you, I'd more seriously consider Philippines.

My cousin from Perry Fl has lived in Panama for 20+ years. His wife is from down there. He has always been a gardener, and you should see the stuff he can grow in that climate. In addition to his garden, there are huge fruit trees in his yard. They have a maid and a yardman for next to nothing. But as he is getting on up there in years, I heard he was moving back to Perry next year because of health care.

If any of you go the ex-pat way, keep a lifeline to the states. Like they say, there is no place like home.

 

[brin]

And there is Belize..........check this out...

Kanantik Beachfront Estates - BUY BELIZE

 

[Larro Darro]

How many of you guys are members of the ER forums? I have been posting for years...like here. A really good community of fiscally minded people...
Early Retirement & Financial Independence Community

Redbug, what is the deal with the dryer sheets over there? I thought I was going crazy for a minute until I figured out everyone had some kind of dryer sheet reference.