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I'm not retired yet and like vickiegleitz, have been living frugally, as if I am on a $2000. a month income. It is totally self-imposed to see just how it would work and it is not difficult to do. Some months it totals even less and so I know living on $25,000. is very doable.
I've discussed this in another place and really not looking to rehash or new suggestions. It's something I've done to myself and need to take care of it.
I would live pretty well if I didn't have the bills I pay every month. Most are from medical expense and auto expense, but some directly caused by me through foolish spending.
When my loans are paid (4 more years) I can breathe easy (I hope) and do some of the stuff I would like to do.
So my warning for the younger people who are coming up on retirement. Be careful of your spending habits. When you retire and are on a fixed income (no pay raises, no overtime, etc.), it can be a big struggle to make those bills every month and have a little left over.
Retirement, like just about everything else in life will always be a ymmv situation.
You can plan all you want, then life steps in and changes the plan.
Sometimes for the best and sometimes not.
Yes, it is common. Until 1979, if a widow of any age remarried she automatically lost her survivors benefits. That was later amended to if you were over sixty when you remarried you did not lose them. Or if you were over sixty and divorced your current husband.
Retirement, like just about everything else in life will always be a ymmv situation.
You can plan all you want, then life steps in and changes the plan.
Sometimes for the best and sometimes not.
Very true. 10 or 15 years ago I didn't think I would be having this problem, but as you indicate, life happens.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PAhippo
ymmv?
not up on the latest alphabet soup.
what is ymv?
Quote:
ymmv
Literally means "Your mileage may vary" but is often used in forum talk meaning that your results will vary
"There is a great sale going on at the store, most under $10, but YMMV"
by Quintox July 18, 2006
For me I spend a lot of money maintaining our home, an old farmhouse built in 1900 on 5 acres. The rider mower just crapped the bed last night, another $3,000. Great. Put that with the 2 dogs, one over 100 pounds, that we won't have in retirement (Border Collie this time) and that will be a big reduction in our monthly expenses.
Things aren't good for a lot of folks here in 2015..Lots of folks turning to gardening and where possible raising chicken these days. Lots of folks of retirement age today were hit pretty hard from the stock market crash in many ways.I'm not in any spot, we live very much in the same way as working years. Many I know are on tight budgets and they know whats tight today will be tighter with every year going forward.There's a lot of ticking monetary time bombs out there......
But you know you can still be happy and content with your lot even on a tight budget. Living within your means, and not wasting time being unhappy that you can't afford to participate in the runaway consumerism that society tells us is essential for a good life these days, this, IMO is what being happy in retirement is all about.
A bit OT but thanks for the link to the Urban Dictionary. I am not up on all the abbreviations used on CD and elsewhere on the Internet so this is really helpful.
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