What emotions did you have when your first Social Security check arrived? (pension, retired)

[likable]

I am one year from collecting Social Security. My husband will start collecting in 2 years.


I suspect it will be an emotional experience. An electronic payment will come into my bank account with a 99% chance of it coming every month until I die. Those are good odds.


With my investment income and Social Security there is a 99% chance I will never have to worry about my financial needs. Those are good odds.


And there is a 99% chance I will never have to work again. THOSE ARE GOOD ODDS!


(This from a person who has struggled with bad jobs, layoffs, terminations, bad bosses, unemployment and many a financial crisis. When that first Social Security Check comes in it will be an emotional experience.)


How was it for you?

[NCN]

Is that all I get?

Now ask me how I felt on my first day of retirement. It was a joyous relaxed feeling. No SS was involved. Still love it.

You get up every day and decide what you want to do.

[Ghost Guy]

I'm almost in the same boat. I was lucky enough to get into Civil Service at age 21. Retired last month at age 46, and my first pension check should be here any day, now.

I'll let you know how it feels.

[likable]

Yes, I understand that many of the posters are people with millions saved or have a great pension and Social Security is not as big of thing as most people.

[NCN]

As a couple, we pay more taxes back to the government than I get in SS. However I retired at 61 with full retirement from my job and something that is called a separation allowance that I paid into that took me to the SS age of 62. My husband was still working so any money I received was like a bonus because he made enough to support me. I am right now looking forward to the mandatory amount I have to take out of my retirement accounts this year. It's a process. I would hate to try to live off SS.

[katie45]

Approximately five years before retiring I adjusted my budget as though I were already receiving s/s (was able to guesstimate the amount).

Not only did that prevent the "no paycheck" shock, it also provided a means to spend less and save more during the remaining years at work.

[124c41]

Living on a pension for 10 years, and FINALLY in June going to get some of my money back that Sam has been taking care of for me all these years. With emphasis on some of the money.

[NewbieHere]

I think it should be happy emotions but not an emotional experience. It's close to neutral. But the check is certainly smaller then the ones we receive when we are working. But not sad either.

[twins4lynn]

I was retired for over 10 years before qualifying for SS (I have a pension and income property). I knew how much I would be receiving in SS and the only words that describe how I felt are WOO HOO! It's ALWAYS nice to receive extra money each month!

[newcomputer]

I didn't really believe it would happen until the first deposit arrived. I found it hard to imagine that I was going to get a big lump of cash every month for the rest of my life, no strings attached, nothing asked or required of me from this point on. It still amazes me.


Until the money was in the bank, I had about as much faith that it would be there as I did in winning the lottery or having Publisher's Clearing House show up at my door with a big check.


I love it. I am happy every month. Seriously.