Skimpy retirement savings? Don't worry!

[Sojourner]

I came across this bewildering article on MSN and just had to share it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/bills-to-pay/why-im-not-worried-about-my-skimpy-retirement-savings/ar-BBOp4qq

I suppose it could be the typical click-bait nonsense that we're all used to seeing, but I'm curious to hear what others think of it. A few pertinent quotes:

I find it funny that we spend most of our lives “retirement planning” or planning for our deaths. How morbid.

Even if my original plan is not to work into retirement, I could always keep working if I needed to. We all have skills we can use to keep working or get a part-time job. I honestly see myself working indefinitely. Not at a corporate job, of course, but maybe as a writer, an artist, a photographer or, heck, maybe I’ll sell fruit at a roadside stand. Who knows?

When all else fails, I simply remind myself that things always work out in the end.

My favorite quote is that last one. Does this writer actually live in the same world as the rest of us??

 

[joeea]

She's 41 and isn't worried about her retirement. I guess at 41 I wasn't worried about my retirement either. Probably for a different reason than hers.

She says "I honestly see myself working indefinitely". Nope - she doesn't live in my world.

She says "When all else fails, I simply remind myself that things always work out in the end." I would just remind her that she hasn't yet seen the end.

 

[MRG]

I came across this bewildering article on MSN and just had to share it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/bil...about-my-skimpy-retirement-savings/ar-BBOp4qq

I suppose it could be the typical click-bait nonsense that we're all used to seeing, but I'm curious to hear what others think of it. A few pertinent quotes:







My favorite quote is that last one. Does this writer actually live in the same world as the rest of us??

I love that last quote. Perhaps the author had a little too much feel good juice whil writing.

Sure it w*rks out. Years ago ancient folks used to go off in the wilderness to die. We're all able to do that.

 

[mountainsoft]

I took the article as a positive spin on a situation that can feel a little depressing at times. Not enough savings, will social security exist, etc. It's also easy to focus on that future retirement and forget to enjoy the life you have now.

For example, a couple years ago we realized an early retirement was in our grasp. We got fixated on retirement, even though we were still five years away from actually being able to. Our current life somehow seemed less important. It was just the time we had to serve before our "good life" would begin.

Then my mom had a stroke and my wife nearly died from a heart emergency. We realized how short life is and there's no guarantee we'll even make it to the retirement promised land we are looking forward to. We're still planning for retirement and saving as much as we can, but we're remembering to enjoy the life we have now as well. It may be all we get.

 

[calmloki]

"Truly, this is the best of all possible worlds"

 

[Bestwifeever]

Bloggers. Enough said.

 

[aja8888]

"There’s always time to catch up."

Above quote is from the article.....yeah, right!

 

[nash031]

It always works out in the end because someone is there doing the work. It may or may not be the person making the statement. I have this frustration with my wife sometimes - "It always works out...", yes, because we make it so.

 

[nash031]

Above quote is from the article.....yeah, right!

I'm glad there are people out there living for the moment. It's important, when balanced. We are not planning to catch up. Instead, we may well be able to raise our standard of living in the future because we planned and sacrificed early. While we may miss out on that due to some unforeseen unfortunate event, odds are good we won't. I like to play the odds.

 

[NW-Bound]

Yes, it works out, but may not have you in the situation that you prefer.

The deeper the hole you get yourself in, the harder it will be to climb out. I never want to be in any hole, if I can help it.

"No hole!" That's my motto.

 

[may pop]

Or she will go on writing ignorant articles?

 

[Sojourner]

Yes, it works out, but may not have you in the condition that you prefer.

Indeed. The writer seems utterly oblivious to the harsh realities that could easily await someone who takes such a Pollyanna-ish approach to planning for their future. "Oh, no worries, I'm sure it will all work out fine" is precisely the misguided mentality that leads to lung cancer and early death for heavy smokers and will lead to an impoverished, difficult existence for the millions upon millions of old folks who didn't save for retirement and who aren't capable of working as writers, artists, or roadside fruit-stand operators once they "retire".

It wouldn't have surprised me if the writer had also suggested that, if all else fails, and you can't work into your 80s and 90s selling fruit by the side of the road, then switching to a diet of ramen noodles and cat food is always there as a viable backup plan.

 

[imoldernu]

I know this will go against the grain, but... I understand.

At age 53, in 1989 and starting my own new business, a disaster. Colon cancer.

This is not as simple as it sounds. Deep into planning, raising financial support, and with all of my meagre life savings on the line... what to do? Operation and 6 months of recovery. Leaves a lot of time for looking at the future.

50/50 chance of recurrence. Even cancelling expansion plans, not enough money left to look ahead 10 years, never mind the nearly 30 years that early retirement has now happened.

Yes... much planning on paper... agonizing worries about leaving DW with no future, or at least, years of poverty.

Decision made to retire, and try to enjoy whatever life might be left.... but... at that age, IF things didn't work out financially, there would be time to go back... to wo*k.

The rest of the story is today. Life is good. Alive and well. And so, while I respect everyone who makes plans for the future, when it comes to the end game, I'd have to agree with the subject of the article.

When all else fails, I simply remind myself that things always work out in the end.

 

[GravitySucks]

Things do always work out in the end. As in we all get to feed the daisies someday.
I got to agree with the author in that I enjoyed my money while I was working while we saved a decent amount.

I see things like the MMM post that a dog is a waste of money. While I couldn't afford ponies for my girls I'm not denying them the simple pleasure of a dog.

 

[GR111]

I’m not fired for a few months and still view the world through the eyes of a mega Corp survivor- primary plan, alternate plan etc. - but there is something real about the subject... it all works out. End game seems to provide perspective.

 

[joeea]

It wouldn't have surprised me if the writer had also suggested that, if all else fails, and you can't work into your 80s and 90s selling fruit by the side of the road, then switching to a diet of ramen noodles and cat food is always there as a viable backup plan.

Cat food is expensive. But there is always ramen.

 

[MRG]

Cat food is expensive. But there is always ramen.

What kind of cat food? The cheap dry stuff doesn't cost so much, but it's rough on the gums.

 

[Choices]

What kind of cat food? The cheap dry stuff doesn't cost so much, but it's rough on the gums.

Add water, hot if you got it., it will soften right up.

Little Friskies with reconstituted dry milk..yum

 

[Choices]

Just grumpy, am reading “Nomadland”, stories of many to whom life just happened, illness, job loss, old age.
The writer may be wrong about just finding another job, as an artist or fruit stand worker...Hell, I wanted to be a princess...
I guess I could establish my own kingdom

 

[Mdlerth]

So you're going to hell... be glad!

When all else fails, I simply remind myself that things always work out in the end.

“There are only two things to worry about, either you are healthy or you are sick. If you are healthy, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you are sick there are only two things to worry about, either you will get well or you will die. If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you die there are only two things to worry about, either you will go to heaven or to hell. If you go to heaven, then there is nothing to worry about. And if you to go hell, you'll be so darn busy shaking hands with your friends you won't have time to worry.”

Wolfgang Reibe, 100 Quotes to Make You Think

 

[Teacher Terry]

Nomadland was sad. Nickeled and dimed is also a good book on this topic.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

“There are only two things to worry about, either you are healthy or you are sick. If you are healthy, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you are sick there are only two things to worry about, either you will get well or you will die. If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you die there are only two things to worry about, either you will go to heaven or to hell. If you go to heaven, then there is nothing to worry about. And if you to go hell, you'll be so darn busy shaking hands with your friends you won't have time to worry.”

Wolfgang Reibe, 100 Quotes to Make You Think

Unfortunately, in America today, the difference between being sick and being healthy, and the difference between dying or recovering, is often dependent on the quality of care that you can afford.

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

Indeed. The writer seems utterly oblivious to the harsh realities that could easily await someone who takes such a Pollyanna-ish approach to planning for their future. "Oh, no worries, I'm sure it will all work out fine" is precisely the misguided mentality that leads to lung cancer and early death for heavy smokers and will lead to an impoverished, difficult existence for the millions upon millions of old folks who didn't save for retirement and who aren't capable of working as writers, artists, or roadside fruit-stand operators once they "retire".

It wouldn't have surprised me if the writer had also suggested that, if all else fails, and you can't work into your 80s and 90s selling fruit by the side of the road, then switching to a diet of ramen noodles and cat food is always there as a viable backup plan.

If all else fails, it wouldn't surprise me if she was selling "something" by the side of the road

 

[mystang52]

I found it to be a silly, high school level, essay.

 

[gauss]

"Oh, no worries, I'm sure it will all work out fine"

Well there are no debtor jails in the US -- currently.