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About Retirement: Don't Do it if you don't have to - Keep your brain active

Posted: Apr 03, 2015

I'm not saying to stay on at a horrible job that you hate. Do something else if you need to, but retirement is not always as great as we've always told it would be.

When I look around me, I see all the retired people wishing they had something to do, somewhere to go, and a little bit of money to spend. Their brains don't get a very good workout.

Stay active! Don't retire unless you have to.

I just want to have it as an option even! - Sleepy

[ In Reply To ..]
Nest egg gone due to health crisis, unable to save hardly anything, never mind enough, and I can't imagine social security will even exist when I get there.

I can only dream of retirement but the reality is I will die working and that really blows.

The older I get, the less horrible it sounds to - work until I die

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I used to look forward to retirement. Now I'm not so sure it's as wonderful as I've always thought it would be. The older I get, the less in a hurry to retire I am. I will probably work all my life, as long as I am physically and mentally able, because I guess I just like to work.

My Take - see msg

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I don't think one has to "work" at a paying job to keep their mind active. One can stay active and alive by doing any number of types of volunteer work, taking classes at their local community center, having hobbies, doing word/mind puzzles and games, etc.

I think those who retire then have "nothing to do" are those who had no hobbies and no dreams of what they could do when they do retire.

My husband and I saved our money, did without a lot of things we wanted, never, ever spent above our means--and that includes not having children I couldn't afford--and I most certainly do plan on retiring very soon.

I may not have an I-phone, tablet, or other so-called necessities (LOL), but I have security and don't regret one minute of not staying up with the Joneses.

I left MT 2 years ago, and have just been doing clerical work in an office and will most definitely be able to retire very soon.

No, I'm not lucky. It took hardship and planning, starting when we were in our 20s. I just turned 60, so 40 years of planning paid off.

My thinking on retirement. Now that I have gotten - to that age, yes that age

[ In Reply To ..]
being way past the usual age of retirement, now in my 72nd year, still working part-time. I started actually working my first job at the age of 14 and to be truthful working to me is so natural cannot see about giving it up. I no longer have to work because other income, social security and a pension. I have always loved to make money more than I think spend it. I have some money in the bank, not enough to so called retire on if no other income but have extremely good SS of over $2000 per month and then a pension every month. With part-time I can travel when I want which I do. I don't really have many hobbies other than travel. I think if I retired probably would not do much of anything and see no glory in that. If I had to work outside the home doubt would keep work up but here in my little abode the change comes in handy every once in awhile. Let me see, have worked total of 58 years now with hopefully more to come, just not that much! Husband works full time as he is not old enough for retirement yet. He has talked about it, unlike me so I think he might wait until full retirement but not sure. He has a knee issue that might bring on retirement earlier than he wants.

Nix on that - Counting the days

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I started working when I was 20. I'm 60 and planned to go at 62. I have a nice nest egg and can draw SS. I got a new car that I plan to have paid off by the time I retire. I want to volunteer at the animal shelter or library and spend time seeing my family. There are also a lot of places in the US that I've never visited that will not necessarily be expensive trips. I can see myself working at a no-brainer job a couple of days a week. There are a lot of ways to keep ones mind active. Sad but true but as we get older we start having health issues which job stress only make worse. I say a person needs to do what they think is right for them.

From My Take - Yup

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We sound very much alike. When I left MT 2 years ago, I just took an easy-ish office job making $10 an hour, and I work 30 hours a week. It's enough to pay my health insurance with a little left over for fun. All of our debts (car, house) were paid off quite some time ago.

Young people these days seem to think that saving money doesn't make any sense. I say it makes a lot of sense. You have to look at the bigger, long-term picture. There were times I wanted to have a temper tantrum when I was in my 20s because I didn't want to "do without," but I am thankful every day that I had some foresight and wasn't impulsive. Gosh darn, I drove a 1966 clunker until I actually saved enough to purchase a newer car.

We chose the stock market and a few other goodies, and it has enabled us to be in a position where I could retire now (age 60) if something happens to my current job. I do plan on going until I'm 62, but I feel good that I won't have to pound the pavement again if this job doesn't work out.

Everyone is different. Some people feel they have to be making money to feel useful. Others feel that helping others is plenty useful. I can't wait until I can volunteer as a companion for the elderly in nursing homes. So many of them don't have anyone coming to visit or even phone them.

I agree. My mother took an early retirement at - age 60. Five years later

[ In Reply To ..]
she was diagnosed with dementia. Now, who knows if it was caused by early retirement or not, but I suspect it did. She was happy to retire, loved just "lounging" around as she called it. Maybe if she would have done something else like volunteer, taken classes, done SOMETHING besides "lounge" things may have been different. Now here I am only 50 and I have had to move back home as she can no longer take care of herself. I will definitely be working as LONG as I can. I can't trust myself to keep active otherwise!

I think you're equating job = interesting activities? - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you have good intentions, but a job is certainly not be the only interesting mind-engaging thing you can do. Especially if you don't enjoy it. I find VR can be monotonous, and have worked for MM, which was soul-sucking. I'm grateful that I found work at a small family-owned company I really enjoy. However, while I've always loved the research and constant education our job entails, I also have interests outside of this - I love to cook, garden, entertain, and travel and I do write for magazines and websites on the side (paid). I'm 50, so not retiring soon, but if I could afford to, I would.

Planning for retirement--not so easy - see message

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I am worried about outliving my retirement savings. Sometimes I think I am being too frugal, other times I get very worried about not having enough.

Thinking about long term care insurance, reverse mortgages, etc. I did find a very good website geared toward women retiring.

http://www.wiserwomen.org/index.php?id=1&page=Home

Anyone have suggestions, good resources, etc?

If you can delay retirement until age 72 your SS benefits are - Much Higher!

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are married, at least one of you could delay getting social security benefits until age 72 if possible. After that, there is no benefit to waiting as far as getting higher monthly payments. It isn't always possible, I know, but if you can wait until 72 to collect social security, the money is much better.

No money between 62-72 - government BS

[ In Reply To ..]
Do the calculations for all circumstances. For many people, you are better off retiring at age 62 or 65. The government are the only ones promoting not retiring until 72. It means that you don't receive any SS funds all those years and the government keeps that money.

If a person can, retire as early as possible. Enjoy hobbies, family, friends. Do volunteer work.

We've had many friends who never lived to see age 72 and therefore never received one SS check.

We're taking our SS checks at 62 -- we put our money into that fund, as well as my husband's employers, and I put both halves in for way too many years as an IC.

I used my husband's and let mine (the higher one) - wait until 70 (highest)

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The difference is huge switching from my husband's, which I took earlier and then mine is available at 70, getting higher all that time. That's the best of both worlds.

about retirement - kitty lady

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I retired at age 62 to get out of this God forsaken company. Don't need to work but still work 2 days a week for mad money at a grocery store. I am so glad I retired at 62. Have time to travel, cook, read, and we just installed a gazebo which I enjoy reading in and watching nature (I live in the country), working 2 days a week keeps me in contact with others and I have tons of friends. Enjoying what life I have left (not ill but you never know). Worked from the age of 13 until 2 years ago. Do not regret retiring.

Mother is retired - marge

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My mom retired at 61. I don't think seh has ever just sat around and watched the world go by. :) She is now 70. She is traveling the world and is busy doing all sorts of things. The best part is... she's doing things she loves. NOT work. She is involved in a service organization called Zonta. She is active in her Friends of the Library group. She is on the board of the Intermediate School District. She is on the board of The Community Foundation. Last year she traveled to Machu Pichu, the Galapagos Islands, Ireland, England, Scotland, Hawaii, France, and Switzerland. No, she's not rich. She planned well for her retirement (never even made $30,000 a year) and has her SS. She is living a wonderful life after retirement. :D I'm jealous!

You do not have to make a lot to travel, take - nice trips and travel the world

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if you like. I have 3 trips planned for this year, several each years and work part and draw social security and a retirement check. I am taking my friend, her 2 kids to Orlando, not to WDW but already have paid for all except for the gas and food. I have a trip planned for the fall to the eastern part of the US on escorted tour that will be for 12 days and then at Christmas have a trip for NYC to see Broadway show, take in the sights. Last year went on 4 trips, to Alaska, took some friends to Myrtle Beach and Florida, went to Texas for awhile. All my trips are paid prior to my going. About 2 years ago I took my friend, her 2 girls and me to WDW, 2 days each in each of the kingdoms, waterparks 2 each, plus dinner shows, etc. and that all paid for prior to my arrival. I pay in installments. I start planning trips early and by the time we go everything is paid up front. Club Med out of the country also paid this way. Easy breezy. Anyone can travel this easy way.

Had to retire at 63...SM - Old Anon

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My hospital job got outsourced and salary slashed in half at a MTSO. I would have waited until 66 (my full retirement age), but had a mortgage I needed to pay. I think some of you can relate to that.

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