What crosses my mind is the level of responsibility a person has as they enter WorkLife. I was married while in college and had kids soon after. Working was a requirement for existence. Savings was a path to the future and every extra dollar went to a future that included a nice house and decent education for our children. We had experiences, and they included our children. Family gatherings, summer vacations, other travel, and job moves around the country filled us with experiences and people that stay with us. We didn't have to post these events on social media, we lived our lives and enjoyed the variety of events together. there may be a picture here or there that reminds us. Retirement is here now. My experiences including personal relationships and such revolve around the experiences we had along the way. We didn't have to create them. They occurred in real life (IRL) and still do through family, grandchildren and travel. there is value in appreciating what you have without feeling the need to create the memories.
This may be a variation on your question. How well do doctors communicate with us? I've hated my nephrologist since first meeting, but how does one select a specialist when it's not a common problem. He said our goal is to keep my kidneys functioning until one hour after my death (he was unable to provide a date for that). We tried a certain stabilizing drug; he took discontinued it within weeks. Since then, five other doctors, in and out of nephrology have advised me to stay on that drug, and advised on a biopsy to more clearly understand the disease and its damage to date. I've followed their advice. I'm quite healthy except for the kidney disease, so I'm exploring transplant. Many of my consults are quite positive about that, but not my original nephrologist. Oh, did I mention he makes money from people being on dialysis?
Interesting point here is "If I was not in a rush" What constitutes a rush when you have terminal cancer? Leave the mistakes for someone else that feels they can afford the time, it seems like a noble act to correct mistakes for others.
With regard to lower income people, the use of the term investment may not be practical. Savings should be what you choose to keep in your left pocket as you pay for other expenses from your right pocket. Keep stashing some into the left pocket because you never really know what's ahead. Then you're merging funds for the unexpected expenses rather than paying wasteful "warranty" costs or "insurance" on car repairs, electronics that will wear out anyway or additional phone damage fees. That's one way to take control.
Jonathan, to remind me of my life's financial accomplishments, when I moved out of my BIG house in 2019 following retirement, I disposed of tax returns dating back to my earliest jobs in 1968 and made a spreadsheet of the AGI and tax paid by year so as not to forget. Clearing space, while reminding myself of the journey was comforting and helped understand the reasons I can be so generous now, as you have been in sharing with us and your survivors.
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What crosses my mind is the level of responsibility a person has as they enter WorkLife. I was married while in college and had kids soon after. Working was a requirement for existence. Savings was a path to the future and every extra dollar went to a future that included a nice house and decent education for our children. We had experiences, and they included our children. Family gatherings, summer vacations, other travel, and job moves around the country filled us with experiences and people that stay with us. We didn't have to post these events on social media, we lived our lives and enjoyed the variety of events together. there may be a picture here or there that reminds us. Retirement is here now. My experiences including personal relationships and such revolve around the experiences we had along the way. We didn't have to create them. They occurred in real life (IRL) and still do through family, grandchildren and travel. there is value in appreciating what you have without feeling the need to create the memories.
Post: Is the “Experience Economy” Derailing Millennial Retirement Prospects?
Link to comment from June 21, 2025
This may be a variation on your question. How well do doctors communicate with us? I've hated my nephrologist since first meeting, but how does one select a specialist when it's not a common problem. He said our goal is to keep my kidneys functioning until one hour after my death (he was unable to provide a date for that). We tried a certain stabilizing drug; he took discontinued it within weeks. Since then, five other doctors, in and out of nephrology have advised me to stay on that drug, and advised on a biopsy to more clearly understand the disease and its damage to date. I've followed their advice. I'm quite healthy except for the kidney disease, so I'm exploring transplant. Many of my consults are quite positive about that, but not my original nephrologist. Oh, did I mention he makes money from people being on dialysis?
Post: Screw politics, let’s talk health. Are all surgeries necessary or have we become the college tuition bank for the doctor’s children?
Link to comment from April 19, 2025
Interesting point here is "If I was not in a rush" What constitutes a rush when you have terminal cancer? Leave the mistakes for someone else that feels they can afford the time, it seems like a noble act to correct mistakes for others.
Post: Getting Rolled
Link to comment from September 22, 2024
With regard to lower income people, the use of the term investment may not be practical. Savings should be what you choose to keep in your left pocket as you pay for other expenses from your right pocket. Keep stashing some into the left pocket because you never really know what's ahead. Then you're merging funds for the unexpected expenses rather than paying wasteful "warranty" costs or "insurance" on car repairs, electronics that will wear out anyway or additional phone damage fees. That's one way to take control.
Post: We can’t control what others do and we can’t stop misfortune from striking. But we can control our own actions. Those who are financially prudent will most likely enjoy success, even if events don’t always go their way.
Link to comment from September 14, 2024
Jonathan, to remind me of my life's financial accomplishments, when I moved out of my BIG house in 2019 following retirement, I disposed of tax returns dating back to my earliest jobs in 1968 and made a spreadsheet of the AGI and tax paid by year so as not to forget. Clearing space, while reminding myself of the journey was comforting and helped understand the reasons I can be so generous now, as you have been in sharing with us and your survivors.
Post: No Slowing Down
Link to comment from July 27, 2024