seriously pathetic!

[marcinstl]

A recent study by the National Institute on Retirement Security concluded 40 million, or 45%, of working Americans do not have a single penny saved for retirement. Those who do have money saved up have an average of $2,500 put away, a 16.7% drop from 2013. The statistics are particularly troubling for those nearing retirement, aged 55 to 64, as the median account balance for the group is just $14,500. "It's no wonder Americans believe the nation faces a retirement crisis [because] the evidence is irrefutable that the hope of retirement is out of reach for millions of middle-class Americans," noted Diane Oakley, NIRS executive director.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/finan...#ixzz3UryIuFSw

there's going to be 40 million old Americans standing on exit ramps begging change?
so almost anybody who worked is going to get some kind of Soc. Sec. (maybe $1200 a month or $14,400 a year. deducting $105 a month for Part B Medicare takes it down to $1095 or $13,140 a year.) so if a person makes $40k a year and wants to continue living like that from 65 to 85, they need ($40,000-13,140=$26860x20years=)$537,200 saved up. inflation, healthcare, deadbeat relatives, etc. not included. 45% of Americans can't do the math? WTF!?

[Bawanna]

That's me to a T. Looked at the pasture gate last year but it's still closed and locked with no sign of opening anytime soon for me.
One saving grace is my state disability pension, it goes on forever so might not be in a cardboard box under a bridge at least.

[ltxi]

Other than my having to deal with all the liberal fools running around trying to save them folks' dumb asses with my/our money, why would I care? In jocko language, fokk 'em. Not to be confused with antipathy wrt to helping the truly needy and unfortunate.

I come from a circumstance poor background. Though deserving of it, parent folk still refused to accept welfare. That be my values base and I'll have no sympathy truck with them that irresponsibly have created their own deep hole retirement crisis.

[ltxi]

That's me to a T. Looked at the pasture gate last year but it's still closed and locked with no sign of opening anytime soon for me.
One saving grace is my state disability pension, it goes on forever so might not be in a cardboard box under a bridge at least.

Well, Col....you sure as hell not be on my fokk 'em list. Anyone who'd put up wit 'dem Violets to put bread on the table....well.

[muggsy]

I have no problem supporting my wife and myself. It's the dead beats and illegals that are busting my balls.

[marcinstl]

"state disability pension" !!????? oh my! another ultra-conservative living the good life via some liberal, big government, socialist welfare program. hmmmph!
I guess confession is good for the soul, what next, you use coupons for McDonald's? still shooting taxpayer ammo? food stamp lobster?
(even as we speak, I'm investigating the possibilities of getting a free pair of medicade diabetic shoes. yep, that's me dancing the night away in my free commie shoes.)

(now, seriously folks, think/plan for this retirement thing. your "golden years" are going to suck, but suck a lot worse if your in the poor house. think!)

[b4uqzme]

^^^ +1

[Bawanna]

I used to feel the same way marcinstl. At the time of my injury I was working hard to get removed from the required mandatory L & I fees. We found that if I said I was in the office a certain percentage of the time I didn't have to pay or participate.

It's like forced gambling. The employer and the employee are required to pay for every hour worked based on what they feel is the danger level. They at the time of my injury had moved us up right next to loggers which according to them is the most dangerous profession. So like 15 bucks an hour that has to be billed or charged with virtually no benefit.

They of course like an insurance company they are, are hoping nobody gets hurt and they make lots of money. Then if somebody does get hurt they control your life from there on.
Anything I need that I don't just buy myself to avoid the hoops and rings of fire they make me jump through have to be approved.
At any given time they may send me to a doctor just to see if I'm still a derelict. One year early on, they wanted to put me in a hospital for 3 weeks. I asked what for and they said just observation. I said observation of what?
Just to see if I'm faking. I refused, spent enough time in the hospital already.
So they set up 5 different specialist doctor appointments between Christmas and New Years, without notice and not optional, downtown, all over the place. All paid for out of that forced gambling program we don't have a choice to pay for.
Not one doctor laid a hand on me, and everysingle one said they could tell by looking I was not faking.
The problem is ultra conservatives you mention trying to scam the system for a free ride.

L&I has told me countless times if I don't spend the money, somebody else will. Lots of stupid stuff involved.

Take wheelchair tires and tubes. I can buy them at a bicycle shop or Wally World for probably 10 bucks. But they won't pay for those since they aren't a medical provider. So if I want them to pay, I have to wait probably 3 to 6 weeks for approval and they pay like 60 bucks etc. Same with a wheel, the list goes on and on.
Except for van stuff and hopefully a future power chair I usually buy everything myself.

Also any ramps or house modifications need to be done by a state L&I approved contractor. All this does is require the contractor to wait up to a year to be paid for work completed. Who wants to be a approved contractor.

Not a walk in the park and I am ultra conservative with the states money using my own over theirs most of the time.

Give me back the legs and they can have their pension. I'd have a healthy nest egg set aside by now if I was still building stuff.

[ltxi]

Col, you gots no need to justify to anyone who knows you....personally, cyberly, combination/both!

I'm fortunate to have rolled into retirement reasonably well off....squirrel storing nuts for the winter planned. For some it "man plans, god laughs" just don't work out that way. I could have easily been one of them. You have my enduring respect.

[Bawanna]

Thanks much Itxi. I sometimes fantasize about a long road trip to meet some of my cyber friends, many better friends than the ones I have in person. If it ever happens for real, you can count on a derelict stopping in Colorado for a spell.

I do plan to slip over the hill and visit Alfonse, not too far for that. Been figuring on it for a couple years now.

Wife always says what if he meets ya and hates your guts? Guess that could happen?

[GROTMAN]

Col, you gots no need to justify to anyone who knows you....personally, cyberly, combination/both!

For some it "man plans, god laughs" just don't work out that way. I could have easily been one of them. You have my enduring respect.

And big plus 1 from me as well. Can't begin to number the people I've seen over the years who worked hard, played by the rules and life threw them a unexpected curve ball. Many let it get them down and they don't even try to get back up. My hats off to you boss for your attitude and for doing all the things you do. You don't need to do no 'splainin" to nobody. P.S. Hope this doesn't make you want to throw up a little..

[Bawanna]

Thanks Grotman, no urge to throw up at all, we're good. I think the medication is working.

I have been reading about transgender and sexual surgical modification some lately and that does make me have the urge some.

I want to be a man so bad!

[ltxi]

Thanks much Itxi. I sometimes fantasize about a long road trip to meet some of my cyber friends, many better friends than the ones I have in person. If it ever happens for real, you can count on a derelict stopping in Colorado for a spell.

I do plan to slip over the hill and visit Alfonse, not too far for that. Been figuring on it for a couple years now.

Wife always says what if he meets ya and hates your guts? Guess that could happen?

And you'd be most welcome...

Seriously doubt that.....but there's always that other way 'round possibility...

[Bawanna]

Does that Coors water come from a crick near you? Could be a hysterical landmark worth looking at and getting a taste.

[marcinstl]

bawanna,
it may not be the best net and it sounds like you've found some holes in it, but there was a safety net to help you. now call me a starry eyed liberal, but in the America of my dreams there's nobody starving or homeless, no matter how disturbed or lazy they are(I don't even care if they're from Texas or points south). now if a guy worked all his life and got injured then he gets the deluxe treatment and the big motor van, w/chrome valve covers, etc.
when I got my CPAP machine, it came from an "in network" health care equipment provider and all said and done cost the insurance company $2000. I could have bought the same equipment online for $800. I talked to a supervisor at the insurance company about this and couldn't get a straight answer. when I started to question who was getting "greased" on these deals, he hung up on me. hehehehehehe.
when is this grand road trip? stop in STL and I'll take you to http://goodygoodydiner.com/ (the "Wilbur" is a classic, 3 egg omelete , wrapped around hash browns, onion and peppers, drowned in Chili, covered with gratted cheddar). then on to Metro and shoot a box of ammo(belch, fart and shoot). then all ya have to do is figure out how to get east, thru Illinois without getting busted for carrying.