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Are you referring to a recent post from someone asking if a certain amount of money and a certain situation (decent pension, no bills, etc.) was good enough to retire on? If so, it was obviously a good enough situation to retire on, and so someone accused them of bragging. That kind of post does seem like bragging because the only apparent reason for them to ask if it is "good enough" is to point out what a good job they did in planning their retirement.
I wasn't involved in that post, but it did appear to me that the OP was bragging. I see that kind of post around here once in a while. (BTW, I do have a decent pension and no bills, am not living on my SS check; I don't ask for advice about my good pension and lack of bills because no advice is needed, obviously.)
Some of those posts are simply chest thumping, not actually asking for advice.
I couldn’t disagree more. His question was not well thought out, as it lacked details, but clearly a 50 year old person, PROJECTING planning to retire in 10 years, with little or no SS, and PROJECTING decent, but not great dividends, asks a question and gets accused of bragging? There is no “obvious” about it in the least. Clearly too many here are narrow minded and can only project their own current circumstances as the baseleine for how all others should consider the costs and needs of retirement.
I think the use of the word "hate" is inappropriate. Envy, jealousy, etc. come more to my mind. Or sometimes realizing the have-nots didn't plan very well for retirement. I have had those regrets myself and had to do a lot of self-talk to get out of that pit. Waste of time-- envy.
Why would any one of us get our trousers in a twist over any of it? We have what we have, good planning, bad planning, what does it matter. Sometimes it's luck.
Someone posted that the OP was working 80 hours a week. Maybe he/she was so busy making the money/planning for retirement he didn't realize there is a poorer sector out there. This is not a criticism of how hard he/she worked for her money. But if you are focused on what you are doing, there is no time to focus on what someone else is doing.
I think this blaming stuff is for the birds. We all have the right to post how we feel about something. If someone posts something you don't like, too bad. Get over it. Life is too short to constantly find fault with other peoples' comments.
FWIW, there are those who are so afraid they're going to run out of money that there seemingly isn't ANY saved amount they would consider safe and thus able to breathe a sign of relief that they've finally crossed the finish line. I know - I'm married to one of them! So far from bragging, they might be trying to reassure (and re-reassure) themselves that they aren't going to end up living in van down by the river in their twilight years.
Now that one is almost universal. Especially if the pension came from working in the public sector.
This ^^.
I think some of the most vicious, green-eyed monster, mean-spirited posts have concerned pensions.
Who's getting them... from where... how much...why can't I have one... you suck for getting one, no matter how-what-when-where-or why.
Pension envy. Yes, it's universal no matter what forum I happened to be reading C-D or otherwise. The absolute worst of human nature seems to come out in any discussion involving pensions, and yes you're right - especially if they're from public sector employers. The thread may start out positive, but then eventually it starts with one bitter, envious, nasty post. Then we're off to the races....
Regarding pensions, haven't some of them "disappeared" over the years?
I seem to remember something like that happening. Companies run out of money. I get a pension (not a big one) and I do wonder if I'll receive notification that it will end.
Regarding pensions, haven't some of them "disappeared" over the years?
I seem to remember something like that happening. Companies run out of money. I get a pension (not a big one) and I do wonder if I'll receive notification that it will end.
I don't think anything comes with a guarantee.
Oh dear! I'm getting nervous... I feel a pension discussion coming on.
I couldn’t disagree more. His question was not well thought out, as it lacked details, but clearly a 50 year old person, PROJECTING planning to retire in 10 years, with little or no SS, and PROJECTING decent, but not great dividends, asks a question and gets accused of bragging? There is no “obvious” about it in the least. Clearly too many here are narrow minded and can only project their own current circumstances as the baseleine for how all others should consider the costs and needs of retirement.
I didn't think it was bragging. I just thought it lacked perspective. I looked at the numbers the OP put up in that thread and concluded it's a 90th percentile retirement. In my only post in that thread, that's what I wrote. Great! Somebody who doesn't have to carefully navigate the shoals and avoid wrecking on the rocks.
There are obviously different retirees here and we are all commenting on the same things with different perspectives:
1. Retirees with pension, get or will get SS, and have savings
2. Retirees with no pension, but get or will get SS and have savings
3. Retirees on SS with minimal or no savings
4. Retirees with double incomes from 1-3 from being married.
There seem to be a lot of #4, and it does come across that some of those have more checks than they can spend; and can support lavish retirements and building or buying retirement homes.
Therefore it shouldn't be unusual for feelings of inadequacy, fear, worry, jealousy, envy, insecurity, superiority to surface no matter how much you have--because somebody always seems like they have more or less than you.
The best thing is not to compare yourselves with others because everyone has their own unique circumstances and needs.
In my own circumstance, I know I have enough to live on if I am careful with my investments and spend responsibly. Sometimes I do castigate myself for not saving more than I did, but what I did save is adequate for my needs.
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