tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post2354795536784663424..comments2024-01-23T23:07:00.959-08:00Comments on GRACEful Retirement: Lifestyles Vary, As Do GoalsGrace.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03557395027685855901noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-57450667281465612252010-03-23T14:42:54.808-07:002010-03-23T14:42:54.808-07:00I agree they do vary and change.I agree they do vary and change.Living Almost Largehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06594523259748625997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-13779609425682295002010-03-17T21:10:04.733-07:002010-03-17T21:10:04.733-07:00REALITY CHECK.
While it's good to plan things...<b>REALITY CHECK.</b><br /><br />While it's good to plan things out and always be frugal (regardless of which side of retirement you're on) the fact is whatever NET income you're living on the day you retire will at <i>least</i> be what you need when your are fully retired!<br /><br />It is probably the worst lie being told people that their expenses will drop sooooooooo much when they retire. That just isn't true in 99% of cases.<br /><br />Other than your friend who now lives in an RV, most people won't. Most people won't move out of the house they have lived in for decades.<br /><br />You still need food, clothes, energy, transportation, and probably a lot more for entertainment.<br /><br />Don't fall for the trap of "you don't need so much when you retire"!MasterPohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247333453805284751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-20799895542576681372010-03-14T14:18:16.919-07:002010-03-14T14:18:16.919-07:00OOPS! I'm sure Tony would be thrilled to mak...OOPS! I'm sure Tony would be thrilled to make $13,600 a MONTH! But it was a year, and I'm correcting the entry!Grace.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03557395027685855901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-8969579951365108422010-03-14T13:17:01.618-07:002010-03-14T13:17:01.618-07:00$13,600 a month?! I could be very happy on that. ...$13,600 a month?! I could be very happy on that. Perhaps it's a typo?Carolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-82307450722417051232010-03-14T12:25:53.681-07:002010-03-14T12:25:53.681-07:00Grace,
Thanks for the link. I think you mean Tony...Grace,<br />Thanks for the link. I think you mean Tony lives on $13,600K a year. Not per month. Right? If not, I want his phone number. LOL.<br /><br />I watched a recent episode of Suze Orman this morning (via my iPod) and she is most insistent that we Americans face our new reality. It is that our standard of living has gone down for everyone. We must accept it and it's tough to. We have to stop making excuses or finding justifications for our dropping a few pegs in life. It is what it is. Saying that we like or accept the 'new poor' is a fantasy. No one really likes it. Me especially. I've always been frugal but now I MUST be frugal. It's no longer an option. We clearly have no other choice.<br /><br />As a 9 year veteran early retiree, no matter how much money I have amassed, it has now become quite painfully realistic to me, that it wasn't enough. Because of the current economic condition. Not because of bad planning on my part. Things happen. I like to face reality head on and make the agile adjustments. I do not delude myself for one moment. If I made a statement that I was fine with the downturn, I'd be insulting my own intelligence. It's not OK. It's sad. Finding comfort that others are experiencing the same fate as me, doesn't make it better.<br /><br />I have to watch every penny now. Yes, it's upsetting. This isn't what I had originally planned. My early retirement now has to be partially funded through part-time work. No, I'm not downsizing anymore because I am already at barebones as it is. Yes, I may have to sell some assets in order to maintain myself. That's a full 10 years ahead of my pre-planning. (At least I'm thankful for the option).<br /><br />Lifestyles vary, of course. We all get to choose whatever we want. But as Suze Orman stated, we Americans should not delude ourselves. Even Ms. Orman has made cutbacks to her budget and she still continues to work. She's concerned about her Florida Condo & it's dropping value. She refuses to invest in the stock market preferring muni bonds instead and she dresses appropriately because she knows her audience is on the downslide. Even Suze Orman is watching her pennies, she is not happy about it but doesn't pretend her life is still peachy keen.<br /><br />That's the key. Life is different for all of us. We have to make the best of it, keep a stiff upper lip and move onward. And, as with what Ms. Orman does, we must be sympathetic to others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com