Excellent article. Thank you. This is me to a T - "It appears growing up in a family where money was scarce can create a lifelong scarcity mindset. Even after achieving financial security, the brain may not update — it still anticipates crisis." However, I am working on it :)
Retired 5 years ago and I did have some issues around the 6 month mark. Not to the point that lead to unhealthy patterns. On the contrary,I spent a lot more time exercising and hiking. There was a bit of boredom here and there from unscheduled time. One of my surprising realizations was that I missed the social aspect of working. I did have a lot of work friends and a lot of good times at the office. About the 1 year mark, all that had fallen by the wayside and it’s been a breeze since.
Excellent and timely for me as I recently turned 61, retired 4 years ago, and promised myself (and my wife) on my birthday that I would do a better job of just this "And whenever the cash outflow makes me a little uncomfortable, I reassure myself that such expenditures are indeed discretionary and, if necessary, we could eliminate them". We just booked a 2 week fall trip to Italy with flight and lodging expenses around 7 grand and I still have to mutter to myself " this is what the money is for, Brian, this is what the money if for". I don't think I'll ever get past my lifetime of frugality mindset but I am trying. Thank you for capturing this so eloquently
Excellent! Thank you for sharing. You very eloquently described precisely where my head went 3 years ago just after my wife and I exited the workforce. I still have a pang every now and then but for the most part, my spending anxiety has subsided, which has been good for my head and my marriage :). Great article.
Excellent article. Prior to retirement, I was on the 401K committee at my last corporate job. I used to get similarly frustrated with coworkers, who didn't take the time to understand their options or didn't want to take the time to understand, no matter how many times I explained things like the company match. Many of these folks were in their 30s and 40s, making a decent salary. It was astonishing
Excellent article.Thank you. Amazing that something so simple as walking has so many benefits. I also find it therapeutic- done some of my best thinking while walking. I, too, had my daily walks interrupted this year with ACL reconstruction surgery so I feel your pain, literally and figuratively. Now 5 months later, I am back to my daily 10-12 K and loving it. Best of luck with your upcoming knee replacement. You'll be back logging the miles in no time
Comments
Excellent article. Thank you. This is me to a T - "It appears growing up in a family where money was scarce can create a lifelong scarcity mindset. Even after achieving financial security, the brain may not update — it still anticipates crisis." However, I am working on it :)
Post: Why I worry about money. How about you?
Link to comment from October 16, 2025
Retired 5 years ago and I did have some issues around the 6 month mark. Not to the point that lead to unhealthy patterns. On the contrary,I spent a lot more time exercising and hiking. There was a bit of boredom here and there from unscheduled time. One of my surprising realizations was that I missed the social aspect of working. I did have a lot of work friends and a lot of good times at the office. About the 1 year mark, all that had fallen by the wayside and it’s been a breeze since.
Post: Wade Pfau has put me in a funk. Are you dealing with the stages of retirement?
Link to comment from October 12, 2025
Thank you
Post: Let’s Be Adults
Link to comment from April 23, 2025
Norway, the entire country including Lofoten Islands. Take our sweet old time visiting all the Fjords, cities.
Post: Where Next? What Next?
Link to comment from April 1, 2025
Yes!
Post: A Living Tribute
Link to comment from February 28, 2025
Excellent and timely for me as I recently turned 61, retired 4 years ago, and promised myself (and my wife) on my birthday that I would do a better job of just this "And whenever the cash outflow makes me a little uncomfortable, I reassure myself that such expenditures are indeed discretionary and, if necessary, we could eliminate them". We just booked a 2 week fall trip to Italy with flight and lodging expenses around 7 grand and I still have to mutter to myself " this is what the money is for, Brian, this is what the money if for". I don't think I'll ever get past my lifetime of frugality mindset but I am trying. Thank you for capturing this so eloquently
Post: Where It Goes
Link to comment from April 13, 2024
Excellent! Thank you for sharing. You very eloquently described precisely where my head went 3 years ago just after my wife and I exited the workforce. I still have a pang every now and then but for the most part, my spending anxiety has subsided, which has been good for my head and my marriage :). Great article.
Post: Withdrawal Symptoms
Link to comment from November 30, 2023
Excellent article. Prior to retirement, I was on the 401K committee at my last corporate job. I used to get similarly frustrated with coworkers, who didn't take the time to understand their options or didn't want to take the time to understand, no matter how many times I explained things like the company match. Many of these folks were in their 30s and 40s, making a decent salary. It was astonishing
Post: Think for Yourself
Link to comment from May 19, 2023
Excellent article.Thank you. Amazing that something so simple as walking has so many benefits. I also find it therapeutic- done some of my best thinking while walking. I, too, had my daily walks interrupted this year with ACL reconstruction surgery so I feel your pain, literally and figuratively. Now 5 months later, I am back to my daily 10-12 K and loving it. Best of luck with your upcoming knee replacement. You'll be back logging the miles in no time
Post: Walking Man
Link to comment from December 13, 2022
Bravo
Post: Man Overboard
Link to comment from July 8, 2022