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Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

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Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#91

Post by JSONwebtoken »

knicholes wrote: post #41
rabbite wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd tend to agree, many of the critical decisions highlighted make her life much harder than it has to be. "Organic" labeled food is much more expensive than beans, rice, and basic chicken. She even decides to buy a $21 prime rib dinner from a restaurant! the article mentions that it would be good for 3 meals. $7 per meal is much larger than what it would cost to make that meal yourself from groceries. I feel for her…

I'd say even driving at all is a mistake if one is trying to save money. Insurance is costly, gas is costly, and so are speeding tickets. I recommend to struggling friends to buy a used bicycle (some non-profits will give bicycles away for free) or to ride public transportation.

According to the article her friend died, leaving her a $20,000 windfall to buy a car.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#92

Post by nkrisc »

porfirium wrote: post #64
nkrisc wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And those, like the woman in the story, who don't have children?

Everybody is supposed to have children despite what our hedonistic view of life might say.

No one is "supposed" to do anything. If we were "supposed" to have children we wouldn't have a choice in the matter. I can't tell if you're serious or not.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#93

Post by toomuchtodo »

parsnips wrote: post #53
toomuchtodo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mind if I expound on this? My mother died in July at 59 from a brain hemorrhage. I took her in 2 years ago, and I paid ~$1000/month for her prescriptions before the ACA kicked in. After it kicked in, her prescription costs dropped (thankfully, as I was going to Canada to get non-controlled prescriptions) but her provider costs increased. Only because I’m a tech professional in a top earning tier was I able to do this…

Those debts clear with her estate.

Thanks for pointing that out to people who might not know. I’ve already sent certified letters to all providers that there are no assets, no estate, and no payment will be forthcoming.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#94

Post by jstarfish »

turc1656 wrote: post #68

"...and faced yet another nasty choice between need and want. Should she go to the dentist, or take a guided tour of buildings designed by her favorite architect, Frank Lloyd Wright? Each cost $100. She picked Frank Lloyd Wright. Her teeth could wait." Wow, with decisions like that it's no wonder that woman is in a bad position. Honestly, though - am I supposed to feel bad for someone like this? You can bet that if I…

At the time the article was written, she was in the last few years of her life.

If they're spent doing nothing but hustling to pay bills, and there is no enjoyment to be afforded outside of that, why bother finishing the last few? Being old sucks enough as it is, with all your faculties failing and everybody abandoning you.

She's dead now. She got to enjoy the museum and a steak while she still had a chance. I don't begrudge her that.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#95

Post by quickben »

DigitalJack wrote: post #80
quickben wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends. Sometimes people can't, and that's about it. But lately, I have more and more friends that don't want to have children. The girls are in their 35s and guys in 40s, add or take five. They share and attempt to behave as if they are in their twenties. They enjoy the easy Toronto life, spend everything they earn, cluster together with others of similar lifestyle, and reinforce each own egos that they are doin…

Wow. Children as a retirement plan. And you are calling people who don't do that selfish?

I never wrote retirement plan.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#96

Post by quickben »

nkrisc wrote: post #88
quickben wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends. Sometimes people can't, and that's about it. But lately, I have more and more friends that don't want to have children. The girls are in their 35s and guys in 40s, add or take five. They share and attempt to behave as if they are in their twenties. They enjoy the easy Toronto life, spend everything they earn, cluster together with others of similar lifestyle, and reinforce each own egos that they are doin…

I'd say raising children to be your caretakers when you're old is far more selfish than simply not having children.

Family. Not caretakers.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#97

Post by nkrisc »

quickben wrote: post #95
DigitalJack wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. Children as a retirement plan. And you are calling people who don't do that selfish?

I never wrote retirement plan.

That's certainly what "investing in family" sounds like in context of the discussion.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#98

Post by taway_1212 »

cpursley wrote: post #8
macintux wrote: post #2

This and the "retail apocalypse" piece are quite sobering. There are going to be a lot of homeless elderly in the future.

Hum. Potential opportunity: Turn dead malls into senior centers with housing for the elderly.

I am not an architect, but are malls suitable for this? It seems to me that most of the space inside is too far from windows to get daylight. It would be more like storage for the elderly instead of housing.
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