Stages of Life

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

cheapChic — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:05:43 GMT

gayla50:
Dh is " retired " he still goes out every day with the boys and works he doesnt want to quit to him nothing is better than being with the boys and out side he comes and goes as he pleases .. our potion of income for the business we have let build up for an upgrade in equipment our home is paid for ... has been for years we have inherited well so if he stiopped tomorrow like would be ok for us no changes .. I still teach sometimes but I donate the money back to the school Today was last day of school the Senior who had me teach them came by I have serveral who will be going to military and to college I am so proud of them and my DH give me money invested monthly and I have my own money ... I am spoiling my Grandchildren .

Dh still gives me and the grandchildren a bond a month not much but it adds up . I gift my DIlS and DDS monthly with money to save .. DD 16 became a college student today we took her to school today and paid her fees and books she starts in June she been 17 in June she graduate her Daddy will be 76 and I will be 60 then one more DS he will be 14 and graduate when I be 63 or 64 and Sweet Lord willing DD about 80 maybe then he will slow down .

Gayla uuuhhhh oh dh will be going somewhat nuts at first when it comes to retirement I feel sorry for him we are not that far apart in age but for retirement be prepared its a big income drop and hope you know that and he might go nuts I know I went totally nuts the first year when the dr. said nope your no longer working what a joke but had to do what they said or else but you dh is not me just one thing will be wired for him the first or secound month he may be feeling oh I need to work routine... good luck.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

cheapChic — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:01:16 GMT

zohnerfarms:
cheapChic:
I just jacked up savings to twenty percent started this year on that

That's great, CC!

Thanks zohn .

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

gayla50 — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:35:08 GMT

Dh is " retired " he still goes out every day with the boys and works he doesnt want to quit to him nothing is better than being with the boys and out side he comes and goes as he pleases .. our potion of income for the business we have let build up for an upgrade in equipment our home is paid for ... has been for years we have inherited well so if he stiopped tomorrow like would be ok for us no changes .. I still teach sometimes but I donate the money back to the school Today was last day of school the Senior who had me teach them came by I have serveral who will be going to military and to college I am so proud of them and my DH give me money invested monthly and I have my own money ... I am spoiling my Grandchildren .

Dh still gives me and the grandchildren a bond a month not much but it adds up . I gift my DIlS and DDS monthly with money to save .. DD 16 became a college student today we took her to school today and paid her fees and books she starts in June she been 17 in June she graduate her Daddy will be 76 and I will be 60 then one more DS he will be 14 and graduate when I be 63 or 64 and Sweet Lord willing DD about 80 maybe then he will slow down .

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

zohnerfarms — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:52:25 GMT

cheapChic:
I just jacked up savings to twenty percent started this year on that

That's great, CC!

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

cheapChic — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:21:48 GMT

Hey there you all'

I just jacked up savings to twenty percent started this year on that its like hard Im only allowed 2000.oo that is it so now saving a little more to reach that goal this year once my bad habbit goes of smoking again so be a tad easier.

Oh forgot to give an advice when I was working I did not do c-d's no percentage was that good back in the nineties so I put it in a 401k and stock well the stock fell bottem no savings from that one screwed there go talk to a broker or your cpa if you can talk about some security plan that is safe not for them to make the money make them earn thier money so you got some retirement coming instead of lost in some stock be wery of that one the 401k paid for my x screw ups of the bussines I had nothing left of that I had 10,ooo.oo in that one all gone now since no one bugs me from collection got all bad depts paid off nothing for x he is now screwed from his messy work never ne in bussines with a louse like I did so if your in bussines with spouse make sure where the money is coming and where it is going.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

zohnerfarms — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:58:46 GMT

tripletree:
He finally gave up and now is growing elderberries.

I just planted elderberries this year, & the plant is growing like crazy! I really like elderberry syrup, so I am looking forward to them.

It took 3 times for me to get it right with the blueberries. I tried peat moss & sulfur, but the sulfur killed all the soil microbes, & the peat only acidified it for one year. I realized that I usually find huckleberries up by the pines on the mountains, so I started using pine & fir needles, because they take longer to break down, so the acidity of the soil stays more stable. I also started picking up coffee grounds at the Starbucks I pass on my way to work. I actually dump them into 2 good sized planting pots I have, where the sun & wind help them dry out. When they are dry, I store them in empty Gatorade bottles. (DH drinks a lot of Gatorade). Evey week or so, I sprinkle some coffee grounds around my roses & blueberries before I water, & once a month, I sprinkle a few around the fruit trees. They seem to love it.

For 2 years, I cut up any citrus peels & sprinkled them around the blueberry beds as well, but now I candy the peels for us!

We planted 2 more dwarf fruit trees this year, along with the 3 blueberry bushes, the elderberry, and some blackberries. The red raspberries I transplanted are spreading nicely to fill their area, too. 4 of the 7 blueberry plants have little berries on them!!

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

tripletree — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:09:40 GMT

I'm glad they're doing well. I have a co-worker who tried to grow blueberries here, but our soil is too limey around here and it was a constant battle to try and acidify the soil. He finally gave up and now is growing elderberries.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

zohnerfarms — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:04:23 GMT

tripletree:
zohnerfarms, did you end up planting blueberry bushes? How are they doing?

Last year I planted 3 bushes, 2 regular size & one half-high. All three lived & two of them produced a few berries as well. This year I have ordered 3 regular size & another half high. The regular size bushes will go into a raised "blueberry bed" that I prepared last year, & the half-high bush will go on the other side of the bay window bed from the half-high I planted last year. I cut up another 4 Christmas trees to keep the soil in the beds acidified, since Utah soil is overwhelmingly alkaline.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

tripletree — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:48:45 GMT

zohnerfarms, did you end up planting blueberry bushes? How are they doing? Edible landscaping is a wonderful idea. I applaud your efforts towards becoming more self-sufficient and healthy.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

zohnerfarms — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:54:29 GMT

One of the things I have been doing lately is trying new soups - mostly vegetable based soups, from Depression era cookbooks. They are thrifty, & most are filling. Most are also gluten- free, which DH needs. I am trying to expand our diet with things we can produce ourselves from the garden, so that when we do retire, living off the garden & pantry (put up from the garden) will not be much of a change. My parents raised all the food we consumed, except the meat, & mom traded with her brother for beef. We have gotten away from that somewhat, but it was a very thrifty lifestyle, & a healthier way of eating.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

cheapChic — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:40:24 GMT

My parents prepared from the start for retirement they didn't ask to be low income like this but they are doing ok dad and I still crawl under the house and fix things like plumbing just to keep it frugal and do theyard work do electrical and mechanic crap just to keep the farm running its not fun I wake up in the morning and go to bed very tired got to keep this place running now dad is down for the count recovering from the heart attack he had in december its harder yet he is not doing the farm work I am not to bad but they didn't ask for the labor in the old age like this I am gonna die with that goofie wrench in the hand one arm coffee i.v and a diet coke in the other arm i.v wearing a john deer tracker hat and wires in the hand is this the way to do it no but helping parents for me is cheap rent and I didn't ask for this and forced medically retired so you stach money away and work your butt off to make it frugal on this farm and no one is helping me and Im not asking for help just helping even in my retirement farm and very little savings.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

Lori Blatzheim — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:55:04 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading your incredible and amazing posts on how you prepared for retirement. I am impressed by the knowledge and creativity you expressed, and I congratulate you for your flexibility and resourcefulness.

I just retired, Thurs. Feb. 16, 2012 and I was surprised by the emotions I felt prior to and on that day.

My name is Lori Blatzheim. I am a wife, mother, writer,Thrift advocate and retired nurse.I have decided that Retirement is a life changing event. It may take patience, work, and a change in perspective to result in success. For discussion and comments, check out this blog:

http://retireandrenew.com

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

DelfinaManotas — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:50:17 GMT

As more women have pursued rewarding careers, retirement has grown more complicated. Many working women are younger than their husbands; many deferred their careers to raise children or care for parents. When their husbands have completed their career arcs, or been pushed into early retirement, these women are often still on the way up or accruing seniority for a pension or retirement package. Some, too young for Medicare, need to work for the health insurance.

The status now is I am spending and enjoying my senior years. My husband worked hard for our money, I took care of it and gave up what a lot of people had to be comfortable now. I am not about to leave anymore than I have to anyone else. Then there was the funeral home director who advised us to prepay our funeral expenses, then if one of us dies while on vacation just call your funeral home in your city and all will be taken care of for you. He did not tell us a prepaid funeral is just an insurance policy and you can go to any funeral home and they have to honor it.

Regards

Delfina Manotas

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

musicmom — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:06:39 GMT

Our house is paid for. We have some money in savings. The children and I are almost through college. We do have a couple of small student loans to pay off after college is done. I am going to dust off some of the skills I used when I stayed home with the children that have gone by the way during the time of commuting to college three times a week and writing term papers. Getting straight "A"s in college definitely paid in scholarships!

So, our plan is to increase our self-reliance skills, cut expenses, and maximize our savings. We do have some money built up from being frugal for years. I am going back to cooking from scratch, clipping coupons, refunding, garage saling, hanging clothes on the line to dry, recycling things like old sheets into pillowcases, and gardening. I still use rags instead of paper towels and cloth napkins in place of paper napkins (those wash up quickly and easily) These are the things that made it possible for me to stay home for 23 years. We weren't very good consumers during that time, but we did have what we needed.

Re: How are you preparing for retirement?

zohnerfarms — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:28:44 GMT

We are continuing to save as much as we can,& pay down the mortgage so we own our home before we retire.

I continue to plant more fruit trees & berry bushes. I added a planting bed this summer & will continue to grow as much of our food as possible. The food we grow is free, and we know what went into it, when I am the one putting it up. No mystery additives in the home bottling!