Thread: How NOT to retire:

You and James are getting too nasty. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by burrocrat

plus acorn could help structure the small business to avoid taxes and maybe get some grants too.

thread killer.seriously? that was innapropriate?there were financial ramifications littered throughout, you know get a job that pays, optimize taxes, avail yourself of available social services, plan ahead or end up on the street, things that normal adults objectively consider all the time.i appreciate the invaluable service you provide to this community, but the whole limit freedom of relevant speech for everyone else because your ears are sensitive is too much.i'm boycotting this site for a week just to register my displeasure with the whole churchmouse moral police defend/don't offend the ladies big brother crap even though they seem to defend themselves just fine.some knight you are. 'night.

Well, it is obvious that they will have to go back to work if they continue to live in the same area. If they don't want to do that, they need to move to an area of the country where the cost of living is less expensive. So we all agree on the basic premise that started this thread. But we don't agree on some other things. Someone said something about this thread becoming too coarse. So that means that I shouldn't add that as a small woman owned business the wife could qualify for federal contracts. So okay I won't add that. Someone started that particular sub-thread by saying that the woman should get a job pronto instead of pretending to be retired, and it was about time she got a job and went to work. That is certainly a valid opinion. Another valid opinion is that we don't know what this woman was doing to help support the family up until this time. Maybe she was working at odd jobs that she found each time they moved to a new area because of his career. Maybe they had an active family and they agreed that she should be the care giver, cook, housekeeper, laundress, chauffeur, gardener and medical tech of the family 16 hours a day while he worked 8 hours a day. We just don't know that much about their situation. This reminded me of a story I'd like to share with you. My mom is almost 80 and has severe foot problems so she's supposed to keep her feet elevated. But she still does all the cooking and cleaning. A few months ago I was at my parent's home for a visit. Mom had made us a big family dinner the night I arrived and her feet were swelling badly so Spouse and I were helping her to clean up. Dad mentioned something about how nice it was to be retired, so I asked Dad at what point in their lives did MOM get to retire. Dad informed me that Mom didn't want to retire and they both liked it that way. Mom just rolled her eyes at me. Now that was a different generation. Men protected the "little woman" by going in to the big bad world while she stayed home to do "women's work." And we are all much more enlightened than that, aren't we. Aren't we??

Originally Posted by Steel_Magnolia

And we are all much more enlightened than that, aren't we. Aren't we??

There is a point in most peoples lives (Married) when either party staying home is extremely hectic. It is that perfect storm of childrens ages, social activities and many other factors that make it very much like work for that individual.16 hour days, really. Highly doubt it. Other than the exception to the rules (Mentally challenged child) the hectic part of that life last about 5 years and in alot of cases those years are not consecutive.You are correct about not knowing enough about their situation. If she is the homemaker and there are still children in the house he needs to find another job for a few years. If it is just him and her in the house they both need to go get a JOB. Our son is gone and we eat out 3 days a week. My wife and I take turns cooking. I do the laundry she puts it away.As far as house cleaning (other than laundry and dishes) we can come and go all week and you would hardly know we were here with minimum cleaning. Of course with age comes experience.

Originally Posted by WorkFE

.... Of course with age comes experience.

Rep points. Your answer and your point of view were both refreshing.

Steel, I guess my main point, that to be honest with you I never got around to saying, is that there is no such thing as retiring from work. At least until literally you are physically unable. But then again, what is work.Work makes us:Self dependantStrongerImproves intellectCaring individualsStregthens values7 years in recruiting command. 6 day work week/ 60 hour week. I never considered it hard work.Last 2 years in the military. My wife and I both worked roughly 40 hours a week. We built our 2000sf home, with very little assistance (OJT ). Additional 40 hours a week in the home. Plus our son was in his prime social years that required our attention. You know, old enough to hang out / sleep over with friends, baseball, movies, mall etc. but unable to get there himself. Walk in the park and I would gladly do it all over again.Work challenges are easy. Lifes challenges, now thats work but it is not like we don't have any input into that.BTW. My wife loves your name. Strength and beauty.

Originally Posted by WorkFE

Steel,...BTW. My wife loves your name. Strength and beauty.

Thanks for passing that along. And it was nice that you called me Steel. The Magnolia part of me was an accident of genetics. But I feel like I have earned the Steel.

FERS: Otherwise known as retire no earlier than 62 (or forego an extra 10%).

If you can only save 77k in your TSP by the time you retire then you either have
1) poor saving habit
2) poor spending habit

For a lot of people this (77k) is less than 5 years of contributing to the TSP!

And what is he thinking to retire with a mortgage!

I plan to take out a new mortgage while in retirement because I need the tax deduction.

Originally Posted by Birchtree

I plan to take out a new mortgage while in retirement because I need the tax deduction.

I have to do the math on this one....I can't make sense of spending money to pay taxes on it just to get a deduction.