ladypatriot
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2008
- Messages
- 121
Before I get to the purpose of my post, I want to offer a few comments. I left off visiting these forums sometime in September 2008, partly because of growing snarkiness and incivilty from some posters (the looming election and financial doom and gloom provided an abundance of fodder!), and partly because DH and I needed to deal with some family and financial matters. When I returned early this month, I discovered that the Soapbox was closed, and one of my favorite posters both for humor and information (CuteFuzzyBunny) was gone (as in, the online presence sense). Apparently much has happened in these forums.
As to the financial matters, and the purpose of my post. Sometime in November, DH and I reviewed our portfolio and ran some numbers. Our financial sheet was rather bloodied, but we were still within our retirement zone. However, our comfort zone, the financial padding, was gone. In other words, DH could remain retired, but our future looked less comfortable and care-free, especially if we lived well into our 80's (as I hope we do!) and especially if this downturn proves rather more long-term than short-term. At roughly the same time, the company he retired from contacted him and asked if he'd be willing to come back to work part-time. Now, this company would contact him once or twice a year during the three years he had been retired, and ask him to return. DH had always refused, but this was the first time they had offered a part-time position. He decided he would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to restore our financial security. Now, he's back at work 3 days a week, at the same salary level (adjusted to 3 days a week, naturally) with the benefit of a company car.
We have calculated that working for 2 or 3 years will provide more than enough financial padding (barring Armageddon) for us. BTW, DH is 58 and I am 50. DH had retired early at 55.
Sorry this is getting so long. Here is a link to an article in the WSJ this weekend which reflects some of what we have experienced.
There Goes Retirement - WSJ.com
Has anyone else gone back to work just for "padding" the retirement numbers? Do you think it's worth it?
As to the financial matters, and the purpose of my post. Sometime in November, DH and I reviewed our portfolio and ran some numbers. Our financial sheet was rather bloodied, but we were still within our retirement zone. However, our comfort zone, the financial padding, was gone. In other words, DH could remain retired, but our future looked less comfortable and care-free, especially if we lived well into our 80's (as I hope we do!) and especially if this downturn proves rather more long-term than short-term. At roughly the same time, the company he retired from contacted him and asked if he'd be willing to come back to work part-time. Now, this company would contact him once or twice a year during the three years he had been retired, and ask him to return. DH had always refused, but this was the first time they had offered a part-time position. He decided he would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to restore our financial security. Now, he's back at work 3 days a week, at the same salary level (adjusted to 3 days a week, naturally) with the benefit of a company car.
We have calculated that working for 2 or 3 years will provide more than enough financial padding (barring Armageddon) for us. BTW, DH is 58 and I am 50. DH had retired early at 55.
Sorry this is getting so long. Here is a link to an article in the WSJ this weekend which reflects some of what we have experienced.
There Goes Retirement - WSJ.com
Has anyone else gone back to work just for "padding" the retirement numbers? Do you think it's worth it?