AUTHOR: bbbobbins on 10/11/2024 FIRST: Ben Rodriguez on 10/11/2024 | RECENT: Billy McKelvy on 10/15/2024
Comments
It's interesting that you say it's retirement and sub-conscious for you. Maybe that's a result of having a very packed schedule when you were working and not the asset of time to make the cheaper alternative choices? I'd guess for many reaching a comfortable level of savings for retirement means having hardwired those more affordable alternatives in many areas of their lives. I've done a lot of work with branded consumer products companies and will always buy the store brand where it's available because I know most of the premium is for the marketing and "name" if I buy the recognised brands. Result = money I have for something else. Everyone is different. People are social animals and attach status to objects and experiential services. I'd say people who take a Cunard cruise think, in general, they are "classier" than those on a Carnival, whereas the younger demographic on the latter probably think the former is like the waiting lounge for the funeral home. If you let go of a lot of status attachment then you can be free to make the choices which give you most personal utility whether that's cheapest, best value, most convenient or a bit challenging but worth it for the experience. I recently went to Hamburg at shortish notice. The risk averse traveller option would be to book a name brand hotel in the centre at whatever the cost and take a taxi directly there. I booked a capsule hotel near to the station that involved walking through a fairly diverse neighbourhood. It gave me a new experience, a greater appreciation of what the city was and a lovely roof terrace for breakfast even if I did have to go down to the basement for an (excellent, clean) shower. Lots of friends I would not recommend it to, but others I would because it would be right up their strasse.
Any modern retirement advice needs to focus on the "what do I retire to" question rather than the "retire from" or the money. Any number of calculators and/or your own modelling can answer the money questions to a reasonable degree (and there is no precise answer to the money side because of unknown and unknowable future events both macro and personal).
Speaking as someone from a less affluent country (which virtually everywhere is relative to the US). I could personally have afforded to fly to the US and even attend matches. But the extraordinary price gouging by FIFA, local hotels, even public transport was something I would have deemed to make it exceptionally poor value . Would I have got $10,000 of value from attending a couple of matches? Highly unlikely. In any event I have a "home" Euros in 2 years which will likely be much more affordable if I really want to see top level international football.
Surely the problem is ultimately in thinking of it as a "widow tax" at all? Isn't it just the reversal of the extraordinary benefits that married couples have been lucky enough to enjoy for the duration of their partnership. Single people have never had the same perks (and likely many other things like higher per capita cost of housing, household bills etc etc)
Along the lines of what has already been said. Reframe your situation. This is not a problem it is a glorious, gold plated opportunity to try out "retirement" or the future you. So plan some travel. Catch up on some chores that you've been too busy for. Spend quality time with friends and loved ones by making yourself available on their schedule and location. Expand an interest into a hobby. Try a community college course in whatever. And spend some days just doing "nothing" and noticing and breathing in the small things in life. If you do it right you'll have no desire to return to work at the end. If at the end you still want the stimulation, camaraderie etc of work then seek something new with a conscious perspective of what you are giving up. Oh and definitely involve your wife in whatever you plan, make it a partnership project even if there are things you go do alone.
The gym membership would not be the thing that jumped out at me there but rather the age and readiness for transitioning to retirement, given the external environment. But yeh once you have the budget, spend it how you wish, Ideally in a way that gives you and people you care for most utility rather than because it keeps up with the Joneses or is in some way performative. My own red line is holidays/trips - they needn't be flashy, indeed I often delight in tracking down the cheapest hotel./b&b rooms in a given location but I derive more pleasure in the planning, the doing and the remembering than in any number of material goods or everyday luxuries.
I'm trying to be less judgmental about how others spend their money and manage their finances. Huge ticket prices for sports aren't for me. I've seen some great sports events for modest prices (part of growing up with the 2 of the best pro sports teams in the world at the time just down the road from me). But I think a lot of in person sports watching has become performative rather than a labour of love, more about showing you were there than the enjoyment or disappointment of being there. But I see how some people derive great enjoyment from "blowing the budget" on big one off events. No one can deny that the Tartan Army will not have lifetime memories from their US adventure that won hearts and minds.
Are there not ways to earn fewer of those billions of dollars and at the same time reward those along the way who are helping you to your payday. And I don't mean the exec board I mean the everyday rank and file?
Where's the defence of the car dealers there? Bad behaviour produced on the basis of some other bad behaviour ( possibly quite tenuous). Would be far easier to have a contract that said courtesy car was billable at x per day if work didn't end up being contacted at the garage.
Comments
It's interesting that you say it's retirement and sub-conscious for you. Maybe that's a result of having a very packed schedule when you were working and not the asset of time to make the cheaper alternative choices? I'd guess for many reaching a comfortable level of savings for retirement means having hardwired those more affordable alternatives in many areas of their lives. I've done a lot of work with branded consumer products companies and will always buy the store brand where it's available because I know most of the premium is for the marketing and "name" if I buy the recognised brands. Result = money I have for something else. Everyone is different. People are social animals and attach status to objects and experiential services. I'd say people who take a Cunard cruise think, in general, they are "classier" than those on a Carnival, whereas the younger demographic on the latter probably think the former is like the waiting lounge for the funeral home. If you let go of a lot of status attachment then you can be free to make the choices which give you most personal utility whether that's cheapest, best value, most convenient or a bit challenging but worth it for the experience. I recently went to Hamburg at shortish notice. The risk averse traveller option would be to book a name brand hotel in the centre at whatever the cost and take a taxi directly there. I booked a capsule hotel near to the station that involved walking through a fairly diverse neighbourhood. It gave me a new experience, a greater appreciation of what the city was and a lovely roof terrace for breakfast even if I did have to go down to the basement for an (excellent, clean) shower. Lots of friends I would not recommend it to, but others I would because it would be right up their strasse.
Post: Subconscious Frugality
Link to comment from July 31, 2026
Any modern retirement advice needs to focus on the "what do I retire to" question rather than the "retire from" or the money. Any number of calculators and/or your own modelling can answer the money questions to a reasonable degree (and there is no precise answer to the money side because of unknown and unknowable future events both macro and personal).
Post: What I Retired To
Link to comment from July 29, 2026
Speaking as someone from a less affluent country (which virtually everywhere is relative to the US). I could personally have afforded to fly to the US and even attend matches. But the extraordinary price gouging by FIFA, local hotels, even public transport was something I would have deemed to make it exceptionally poor value . Would I have got $10,000 of value from attending a couple of matches? Highly unlikely. In any event I have a "home" Euros in 2 years which will likely be much more affordable if I really want to see top level international football.
Post: FIFA Financials
Link to comment from July 28, 2026
Surely the problem is ultimately in thinking of it as a "widow tax" at all? Isn't it just the reversal of the extraordinary benefits that married couples have been lucky enough to enjoy for the duration of their partnership. Single people have never had the same perks (and likely many other things like higher per capita cost of housing, household bills etc etc)
Post: Widow Tax
Link to comment from July 27, 2026
Being at Anfield could just as easily traumatize him for life as give him precious memories based on last season's variability.
Post: FIFA Financials
Link to comment from July 23, 2026
Along the lines of what has already been said. Reframe your situation. This is not a problem it is a glorious, gold plated opportunity to try out "retirement" or the future you. So plan some travel. Catch up on some chores that you've been too busy for. Spend quality time with friends and loved ones by making yourself available on their schedule and location. Expand an interest into a hobby. Try a community college course in whatever. And spend some days just doing "nothing" and noticing and breathing in the small things in life. If you do it right you'll have no desire to return to work at the end. If at the end you still want the stimulation, camaraderie etc of work then seek something new with a conscious perspective of what you are giving up. Oh and definitely involve your wife in whatever you plan, make it a partnership project even if there are things you go do alone.
Post: Fear of the Unknown…
Link to comment from July 23, 2026
The gym membership would not be the thing that jumped out at me there but rather the age and readiness for transitioning to retirement, given the external environment. But yeh once you have the budget, spend it how you wish, Ideally in a way that gives you and people you care for most utility rather than because it keeps up with the Joneses or is in some way performative. My own red line is holidays/trips - they needn't be flashy, indeed I often delight in tracking down the cheapest hotel./b&b rooms in a given location but I derive more pleasure in the planning, the doing and the remembering than in any number of material goods or everyday luxuries.
Post: One Person’s Luxury, Another’s Necessity
Link to comment from July 23, 2026
I'm trying to be less judgmental about how others spend their money and manage their finances. Huge ticket prices for sports aren't for me. I've seen some great sports events for modest prices (part of growing up with the 2 of the best pro sports teams in the world at the time just down the road from me). But I think a lot of in person sports watching has become performative rather than a labour of love, more about showing you were there than the enjoyment or disappointment of being there. But I see how some people derive great enjoyment from "blowing the budget" on big one off events. No one can deny that the Tartan Army will not have lifetime memories from their US adventure that won hearts and minds.
Post: FIFA Financials
Link to comment from July 23, 2026
Are there not ways to earn fewer of those billions of dollars and at the same time reward those along the way who are helping you to your payday. And I don't mean the exec board I mean the everyday rank and file?
Post: Peter Cancro from age 14 to 69 covered in oil and vinegar
Link to comment from June 3, 2026
Where's the defence of the car dealers there? Bad behaviour produced on the basis of some other bad behaviour ( possibly quite tenuous). Would be far easier to have a contract that said courtesy car was billable at x per day if work didn't end up being contacted at the garage.
Post: In defense of car dealerships
Link to comment from December 23, 2025