Thread: Any work is good work

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The average SS payout is $1200 per month. The stats are widely available. If many had their way that would not exist.I'm very grateful I worked for the Federal Govt and have a pension I can live comfortably on.

Tottaly untrue,my stats are for people that started drawing SS 20+ yrs ago.the elderly.

I've been collecting SS for 18 years plus a small pension from a state back east and keep my son's books part time. All that puts me just above the max for food stamps and other gov't programs. I have, despite all the addictons of this hobby of str8's, have become a penny pincher. I've also worked various part time jobs in the past 18 years but have decided no more at my age because of the disdain many younger co-workers have for the elderly "taking away their living". But I will say this. Within the community of straight razor users I have made several friendships with younger shavers who seem to value and enjoy the inane utterings of someone old enough to be their grandfather and can give as well as take in the exchange of ideas, methods and friendly poking.

Razorfeld

I am glad that you mentioned one of the problems that happens when a system does not work as it should. When the system worked as intended people could retire and not be too financially stressed making seeking work after retirement unnecessary. When it becomes a necessity to work in retirement you are literally taking jobs away from younger people trying to establish themselves and raise a family. Add to that a seemingly constantly shrinking job market and you really see how badly the system is broken. It is just a bad situation and neither the older or younger workers faults. Really sad.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Razorfeld

I am glad that you mentioned one of the problems that happens when a system does not work as it should. When the system worked as intended people could retire and not be too financially stressed making seeking work after retirement unnecessary. When it becomes a necessity to work in retirement you are literally taking jobs away from younger people trying to establish themselves and raise a family. Add to that a seemingly constantly shrinking job market and you really see how badly the system is broken. It is just a bad situation and neither the older or younger workers faults. Really sad.

Bob

Taking Jobs from younger people? Try to find younger people that will dig tree stumps,clean gutters,mow lawns,the list is endless

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Taking Jobs from younger people? Try to find younger people that will dig tree stumps,clean gutters,mow lawns,the list is endless

For sure there is that too. OTH I have watch 35 year olds at where I used to work being made redundant. They had a family, a home and all the other bills and responsibilities too. They did not sit on their fannies moaning and dripping but found other employment. What choice did they have. This was 10 years ago.

I retired early 4 years ago at 56 on a reduced company pension that luckily covers the bills and is supplemented by a government pension also drawn early this year and reduced. I have no major bills. Under these circumstances I am fortunate enough not to have to work, so far. I choose not but make no mistake, if I had to I would. All I am saying is that the system is broke. It is not the fault of anyone looking for work today no matter the age.

Bob

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I've been collecting SS for 18 years plus a small pension from a state back east and keep my son's books part time. All that puts me just above the max for food stamps and other gov't programs. I have, despite all the addictons of this hobby of str8's, [I] have become a penny pincher. I've also worked various part time jobs in the past 18 years but have decided no more at my age because of the disdain many younger co-workers have for the elderly "taking away their living". But I will say this. Within the community of straight razor users I have made several friendships with younger shavers who seem to value and enjoy the inane utterings of someone old enough to be their grandfather and can give as well as take in the exchange of ideas, methods and friendly poking.

People seem to resent frugal living... except for my mother, who used to say, "She's cheap, I'm thrifty!" (and meant it), and single old men.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Tottaly untrue,my stats are for people that started drawing SS 20+ yrs ago.the elderly.

My Dad is 98 and started drawing in 1978 or so. He gets $1200 or so a month. SS is indexed to inflation and goes up every year (mostly). Average increases have been around 3-5% a year. Only the last few years have they stagnated.

if you check the stats from SS itself the average check regardless of when the draw started is $1200. I believe the max you can get is around $1600 or so but that's just a guess.

When my dad started drawing it was of course way lower. Around the figure you quote but it has risen.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

My Dad is 98 and started drawing in 1978 or so. He gets $1200 or so a month. SS is indexed to inflation and goes up every year (mostly). Average increases have been around 3-5% a year. Only the last few years have they stagnated.

if you check the stats from SS itself the average check regardless of when the draw started is $1200. I believe the max you can get is around $1600 or so but that's just a guess.

When my dad started drawing it was of course way lower. Around the figure you quote but it has risen.

Our COLA has been less than 1.5% for the past 3 yrs, your dad probebly paid 100K into the system.I am fortunate in that I get about twice what your dad gets less medicare,but I paid 203K into SS since i was 13 yrs old, I get zero interest on the forced investment.
If I died tomorrow, my wife gets none of it.except a $250 death benifit.

Why does your wife get none of it? Under SS rules she can get either her own if she worked or yours, whichever is larger. Forced investment? It's not an investment it's social insurance. I worked for the Fed and paid nothing into SS and don't get it. I had a 401K and it was doing fine until 3 years before my retirement when it lost half of it's value along with a lot of other folks. You don't have that issue with SS. So maybe you're lucky and you come out ahead with investments over SS and maybe you're in big trouble and have to work till you're dying day. Your choice.