For those who have retired, should you live to the age of, say, 95 - still able to be independent, do you have sufficient resources to live comfortably that long, without "earning" any other funds through that time? What is social security ceases in the next 5 to 15 years;could you live to be 95, comfortably, without social security or medicare/medicaid?

For those not yet retired - do you have plans to?
How much money do you think you would need to live comfortably to, say, 95? - without social security?

Be honest about the money part, taking into consideration a rate of inflation, if your current retirement dollars are worth .73 you will to double what you need to live on much sooner than most people expect.

I'll just be happy if I can wipe my own hind end at 95

according to what I read---S.S.I will be available for me until I reach the age of 78...and according to family heritage, I wont need to worry about making it that far...so as far as the money goes..." I'll be safe "...God willing !

Im retired, have little money (fixed income), but have made "livin on little" an art form. I don't worry about the future anymore, it always seems to work out ok. I just focus on having fun everyday, and tryin to quit smokin. Dennis

I will never truely retire, I believe work is part of what keeps us alive. Hope to continue doing what I do & just keep going.

and i'll be happy if you can too

I have to agree with oldsage. If I can't be rich and travel the world and spend my retirement helping others, then I will have to help others another way.

This is the reason I chose to go back to school. It's a long road and at the end, if I make it, I will have the ability to work the rest of my life in a field I love, and make enough money with short hours, so I can devote the rest of my time, using my education to help others.

I don't worry about retirement anymore, I worry about school, and all the things that go along with living a secluded life at an age when friends and family are more important to me than ever before. And I worry about my friends, if they are making wise choices for thier own retirements. That's what prompted my question here.

Thanks for your responces.

I just quit a couple of months ago after 37 years. Hang in there, it is worth it!!

I rarely worry about anything anymore. It doesn't do any good, just gives me more gray hairs to try and cover up. Try to roll with the punches, you will be happier.

I'm 54 and next month I will be out of work for 1 year due to our economy. Unemployment checks are not helping to pay bills, especially rent and heat. I've had to use my IRA which is almost gone. Don't know when I'll get back on my feet nor do I know if I'll ever be able to retire. It's very scary.

Wow Twitch, I am so sorry to hear that. I will keep you in my prayers. It is very scary what is going on in the economy now. I hope it gets better soon.

Thank you July that's comforting to be added in your prayers

Twitch

The small company I was managing went under, I was out of work for 2 1/2 years. The jobs available, the ones I was qualified for, the same jobs I had done in the past for $14 to $18 an hour were now going to new college graduates for $10 an hour.

I lived off my retirement savings, loosing 1/3 of it to penalties. I supplemented with odd jobs, mostly manual labor (which I had never done in my entire "office" career).

The farthest thing from my mind was going back to school (at my age). That's what I did.

I count myself among the most fortunate, I found a p/t job that attempt to work around my school, and after the first year I got paid insurance benefits. P/T work, supplemented by school loans and two room mates later, I'm on the fringe, but I'm making it - more than that - I'm making it better.

A two year associate with my experience would have put me back in the market for the pay I was used to, but no better and I never really liked what I did anyway, it just sort happened that way.

If you are using your retirement funds anyway, why not think about school. Technical degrees have a lot of benefit, associate degrees in any medical field have power, and four year degrees in the medical field offer any number of loan forgievness. All other degrees, usually mean you have to pay back the loans - but what the heck, when you're done, you'll be able to afford the repayment. AND you will be in field of YOUR choosing, not just another job.

just a suggestion.