There
is so much in the news lately about planning for retirement. We have at least
40 years to start putting some money away to take care of ourselves when we get
older. Yes but you say, what about the current house, kids and bills? There
just isn’t anything leftover. Well I disagree. I see how people spend their
money. The kids have to have candy and soda at the movies or the parents have
to have the next version of the iPad, cellphone or tablet. Perhaps it’s the
necessity of eating lunch hour or going to Starbucks…
Yes you can enjoy your life when you’re young but one must pay the piper when
they are finished playing as the saying goes. Whether its small change or dollars
saved, there are ways to do it. Something has to be given up in order to have
something later. Sorry but one cannot have their cake and eat it too. Why is it
the government’s responsibility to provide for all that a person can’t pay for?
I’m not talking about those truly in need. I give plenty to charity and believe
in helping those less fortunate. I’m talking t people that get caught up in
living the good life and then wonder why they are still working at 72 because
they can’t retire….as they don’t have enough money to live on.
Let’s break this down. Daily Starbucks is $25 A week just for the world week.
Then lunch is another $50 if it’s kept simple. What’s wrong with fixing a
teabag in the office or a cup of coffee? And there are a ton of options to save
money lunchtime from prepared meals from the store to actually making something
or even just sandwiches from home. If one adds up 40 years of teabags and
lunches from home we have lots of money. Ok not enough? Vacations once a year
versus every holiday.. staycations can be fun too. An event locally can be fun
and usually a lot less expensive than a quick trip to the Caribbean over four day break. An exaggeration? Perhaps, but
I know people like this…
I might be the exception but I took my lunch to work most days, ate a nice
salad at the salad bar otherwise, was careful about electronic consumerism and
was moderate about vacations. I paid extra on my mortgage to pay it off by retirement
and saved yearly. I can now reap the benefits of the savings that I slowly put
away year after year. In other words, I’m living the American dream. I worked
my 40 years in a normal corporate job, saved my money and now can pay my bills
and do a fair amount of travelling. I feel blessed that I have the money for
doctor bills, household expenses and a trip here and there. Being in abundance
by giving to charity means that God lets me keep the rest.
In summary, personal accountability is the way to go; slow and steady for 40
years not trying to screw the system in the last few years to make up for what
you did or didn’t do all along. We pay into social security and Medicare so
these are earned benefits not optional entitlements. That’s my version of the
story and I’m sticking with it! Comments are always welcome.
Posted by intuitivelifecoachjoanne 
I not only remember the days before the Internet, but I was actively involved in the messaging industry that attempted to address the issues of connecting disparate companies around the globe. There was a huge technical problem at the time. Every telecom company operated with their own data format necessitating a data format conversion if any one company could send messages to any other company; thus much of message was intra-company. So there were lots of people using a single provider such as AOL, MCI, etc. and anyone within that company could send messages to each other. Wow, but sending a message to someone not using that carrier was tricky and once accomplished, expensive. There was a service fee to connect. If you had friends among several different carriers, you had to pay this fee for each different one. It would be like paying tolls for using all the different toll roads to reach the homes of friends living in different locales in the metropolitan DC area. This is the best example I can provide to understand how it was back then.
Help, Don’t Hurt
October 15, 2018There are so many times that people are passionate about an issue but their rantings only hurt the situation rather than helping it. We have a word in Jewish, Kvetching! And it is the equivalent of bitching, moaning and complaining consistently. So whenever we open our mouths to state our opinion, I’d like to suggest that we make constructive criticism meant to help rather than hurt all concerned.
In this article, I’d like to commend Queen Latifah for her recent commercial extolling the benefits of a good higher education. Apparently, as she explains, she’s achieved great success in life, but without the added benefit of a college education. From the sound of it, she feels and conveys in this ad, that with such advanced study, she may have had a better life, an easier time moving forward, or made more money earlier on. Now, of course, she’s well known as a prominent acting/singing personality and is making the big money as they say. But inwardly she still feels that a degree would be beneficial. To me, establishing all these benefits for her community and others at large is a great service to her listeners.
I would also like to contrast her approach with the radio announcer typically on at the same morning slot. I listen to a morning radio show that caters to a predominantly black audience. The announcer of this show has a segment that he calls “a Racial Observation” during which time he refers to events of the day that point to the divide between the black vs. the white community. Perhaps a white policeman arrested a black kid and used force or a woman was assaulted and the perpetrator not prosecuted….in any case the situations are always where he is pointing to racial tensions in this country. During other parts of this show, people are making fun of multiple baby mammas and kids going home to empty houses, being raised by single Moms who don’t know where the father of their children are…. The point here is that neither accountability nor responsibility is discussed, rather just how awful things are and how unfair the system is to his group.
Well I’m a senior and there are a lot of things that are unfair to me too, but rather than kvetch, I’d rather give charity to help others and send positive energy to law makers to make it better for all concerned. In the end, I believe I will be taken care of by the powers to be because I live a heart centered life guided by my faith.
So back to Queen Latifah:. I salute her effort to extol the virtues of a higher education because it is the pathway to getting a good job and making something of one’s self. I had to work hard for my degree and in the end it has served me well throughout my career. So doing what it takes to go to school at night or by day if possible is a great way to be accountable and take responsibility for one’s life. So the next time you have something to say, keep it helpful and not hurtful. Comments are always welcome.
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