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Basically if not qualified for Medicaid then ACA says you can afford subsidized coverage; plain and simple. No one here wrote the law either. Time to get back on track about what you did that was a mistake before retirement to prepare yourself better for retirement.
Topic is requesting how folks "screwed up" before retirement, which may explain why they may be having a difficult time in retirement at this point in their lives. Or, that they overcame the "screw up" to currently having a comfortable retirement. I would like to read stories as they relate to this topic.
I'm 48 and still working. I think the purchase of my current home in late 2007 was a screw up which will cost me in terms of housing for the rest of my life. I had thought that I would buy an upscale townhouse or condo for my final home. But unless something miraculous happens in the next few years, those homes will be out of reach for me. I'm going to have to look for a more modest development. The risk there is sometimes such developments deteriorate into not-so-nice places to live.
If I had continued renting and left my down payment invested as it was, I would be much better off today.
We did -- but my dad dying at 57, and throwing my stay at home mother and I into poverty had a great deal to do with it. Also why we will be retiring with a tidy nest egg. Also marrying a guy whose family had it's share of stretched thin times helped.
But, Tamin -- honestly, you sound more like a when life hands you lemons, make lemonade kinda girl.
Thanks, Tallys, I try to be. Sometimes I do get down but try to give myself an "attitude adjustment" real quick.
Quote:
Originally Posted by texdav
Basically if not qualified for Medicaid then ACA says you can afford subsidized coverage; plain and simple. No one here wrote the law either. Time to get back on track about what you did that was a mistake before retirement to prepare yourself better for retirement.
Huhn? How can you "fix" what happened in the past now? Can't be undone. I just live with what I have done to myself, that's all. Wish I could but can't be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Petunia 100
I'm 48 and still working. I think the purchase of my current home in late 2007 was a screw up which will cost me in terms of housing for the rest of my life. I had thought that I would buy an upscale townhouse or condo for my final home. But unless something miraculous happens in the next few years, those homes will be out of reach for me. I'm going to have to look for a more modest development. The risk there is sometimes such developments deteriorate into not-so-nice places to live.
If I had continued renting and left my down payment invested as it was, I would be much better off today.
But, it is what it is.
Sorry to hear about your home not being what you planned on, Petunia. What about your home makes you so unhappy?
Poo
This thread started out with people who had significant financial and health issues so my petty screw up seemed trivial in comparison. But as the stories are expanding in scope, I'll fess up. I screwed up my retirement by panicking during the recession and selling at the bottom of the market. Lost a few hundred thousand. I had tried to stick it out but was having problems sleeping and was also depressed at the time because a couple of loved ones had died unexpectedly. I'm recovering financially but it has required that I increase my savings, partly by living a simpler lifestyle, and delay my retirement a couple of years. Another potential screw up may be health as I struggle to exercise and maintain my weight while working. As I age, it seems to be a losing battle and maybe I should just downscale my retirement plans and retire now to focus on my health. I've known several people who died in their early 60's because of excessive drinking, smoking, eating, etc. that resulted in cancer, heart disease, or diabetes related issues.
I screwed up in a minor way by failing to shovel money in near the bottom. I'm not claiming I would have been able to see the exact "bottom" - that would be a ridiculous claim. But at a certain point the market was way down and I did nothing.
That failure to act did not really affect my retirement in any significant negative way; I'm just saying I would be worth more right now if I had been paying closer attention and hadn't procrastinated. But I am doing just fine and if I had more money I wouldn't know what to do with it, as I have everything I want and I can do all the things I want to do.
I don't want to have a $30 or $40 meal at a high-end restaurant because it would seem like such an utter waste of money. If I were a billionaire I wouldn't do it, as I really dislike waste. Ditto for designer clothes, staying at high-end hotels when traveling, and so forth. Days Inn, or even Motel 6, is just fine with me. I don't want a new car every four or five years - the one I have now is eight years old and there is nothing wrong with it. I'll probably keep it another eight years. I do have excellent seats at the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Master Chorale - not exactly cheap but worth every penny to me.
So my screw-up, my failure to act at the right time, did not really change anything in the long run.
I screwed up in a minor way by failing to shovel money in near the bottom. I'm not claiming I would have been able to see the exact "bottom" - that would be a ridiculous claim. But at a certain point the market was way down and I did nothing.
That failure to act did not really affect my retirement in any significant negative way; I'm just saying I would be worth more right now if I had been paying closer attention and hadn't procrastinated. But I am doing just fine and if I had more money I wouldn't know what to do with it, as I have everything I want and I can do all the things I want to do.
I don't want to have a $30 or $40 meal at a high-end restaurant because it would seem like such an utter waste of money. If I were a billionaire I wouldn't do it, as I really dislike waste. Ditto for designer clothes, staying at high-end hotels when traveling, and so forth. Days Inn, or even Motel 6, is just fine with me. I don't want a new car every four or five years - the one I have now is eight years old and there is nothing wrong with it. I'll probably keep it another eight years. I do have excellent seats at the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Master Chorale - not exactly cheap but worth every penny to me.
So my screw-up, my failure to act at the right time, did not really change anything in the long run.
I think your third paragraph says a lot about you. I have to admit, I admire it. Good for you!
I screwed up in a minor way by failing to shovel money in near the bottom. I'm not claiming I would have been able to see the exact "bottom" - that would be a ridiculous claim. But at a certain point the market was way down and I did nothing.
That failure to act did not really affect my retirement in any significant negative way; I'm just saying I would be worth more right now if I had been paying closer attention and hadn't procrastinated. But I am doing just fine and if I had more money I wouldn't know what to do with it, as I have everything I want and I can do all the things I want to do.
I don't want to have a $30 or $40 meal at a high-end restaurant because it would seem like such an utter waste of money. If I were a billionaire I wouldn't do it, as I really dislike waste. Ditto for designer clothes, staying at high-end hotels when traveling, and so forth. Days Inn, or even Motel 6, is just fine with me. I don't want a new car every four or five years - the one I have now is eight years old and there is nothing wrong with it. I'll probably keep it another eight years. I do have excellent seats at the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Master Chorale - not exactly cheap but worth every penny to me.
So my screw-up, my failure to act at the right time, did not really change anything in the long run.
Same here. Hubs and I are self employed janitors, and I have nice clothing so as not to look like a slob, but I have no dress up clothing. I have no need for dress up clothing, as we do not travel in dress up circles.
My car is 12 years old and will hold me for another 3-4 years. Hubs truck is 13. I'd rather eat more homestyle cooking out, than something fancy and spend way too much for way too little that I cook better at home.
I'm 48 and still working. I think the purchase of my current home in late 2007 was a screw up which will cost me in terms of housing for the rest of my life. I had thought that I would buy an upscale townhouse or condo for my final home. But unless something miraculous happens in the next few years, those homes will be out of reach for me. I'm going to have to look for a more modest development. The risk there is sometimes such developments deteriorate into not-so-nice places to live.
If I had continued renting and left my down payment invested as it was, I would be much better off today.
But, it is what it is.
Petunias, I made the same mistake. Bought a small fixer-upper when I was 50, thinking I had a 'lifetime' Job. I did enjoy working on it, especially since I'd been living in apartments for over 40 years. But, then came the recession & a lot of us were laid off. I did have long-term temp jobs for the next few years but no one wanted to hire a 55+ woman. Or man, for that matter. There were a lot of us elders at the workforce center every day.
I ended up losing my house & declaring bankruptcy & moving in with family. Life is what it is.
And, one of the things I've been doing is having smoothies; greek yogurt, fruit, 1/2 avacados, ice & soy milk. This fills me up in the morning. Evening is fish or chicken with whatever vegetables I want. When it's hot like this I will make a pasta salad with veggies & tuna fish. I'll also usually add some type of bean, black or pinto, etc. This gives me fiber, protein & vitamins & again, fills me up.
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