I never made a lot of money but my dad told me at 18 to put a little bit of money into a growth mutual fund every month no matter whether it went up or down. I followed that advice for 52 years no matter what. I'm glad I did and was able to retire comfortably at 70.
I am still working at 72. I have an 80-year-old friend who's still working and trying to care for her even older disabled husband. Personally, I'm kind of ashamed of it. Thank you for pointing out that I am not the exception that I thought I was.
Terrific piece, Claire. As you know, my husband retired in less than a month and we're lucky that, barring a disaster, we will be able to live a reduced, simpler, but pleasant life. We've been preparing for this moment for years, moving to the smaller house, paying off the mortgage, carrying no credit card debt, and saving like a couple of little squirrels (frankly, I'm more squirrel than he is, which won't surprise you). In a country where people idolize billionaires, what you buy is who you are, and a single bad illness can wipe you out, everything is stacked agains the average person. Poor people struggle with constant shame and people who have to keep working all their lives are, too. I read our parents' copy of Animal Farm when I was 12, and the character that impressed me most was Boxer, hard workimg, strong, and loyal draft horse. I determined back then to never become Boxer, no matter what.
I never made a lot of money but my dad told me at 18 to put a little bit of money into a growth mutual fund every month no matter whether it went up or down. I followed that advice for 52 years no matter what. I'm glad I did and was able to retire comfortably at 70.
I am still working at 72. I have an 80-year-old friend who's still working and trying to care for her even older disabled husband. Personally, I'm kind of ashamed of it. Thank you for pointing out that I am not the exception that I thought I was.
Terrific piece, Claire. As you know, my husband retired in less than a month and we're lucky that, barring a disaster, we will be able to live a reduced, simpler, but pleasant life. We've been preparing for this moment for years, moving to the smaller house, paying off the mortgage, carrying no credit card debt, and saving like a couple of little squirrels (frankly, I'm more squirrel than he is, which won't surprise you). In a country where people idolize billionaires, what you buy is who you are, and a single bad illness can wipe you out, everything is stacked agains the average person. Poor people struggle with constant shame and people who have to keep working all their lives are, too. I read our parents' copy of Animal Farm when I was 12, and the character that impressed me most was Boxer, hard workimg, strong, and loyal draft horse. I determined back then to never become Boxer, no matter what.