Few years ago I had a conversation with a coworker in their mid/late 50s. He was lamenting that he wasted his youth, got married late, had kids late, never saved and would be working through his 70s to just get the kids out of the house.
He claimed he’d never be able to retire. A familiar sentiment.
I mentioned my thought that retirement seemed strange. You work your best years to then spend down the money when older and not as able.
I mentioned my thought that retirement seemed strange. You work your best years to then spend down the money when older and not as able.
It seemed that there some be some retirement type thing in your early 20s that you pay back in your later working years. He said. “Yeah, we already have that. It’s called living on credit cards, welcome to my 20s..”
I have seen to many blogs/instagram people who are taking this route. Explore the world now on credit or on influencer dollars and then do adult things later. It looks fun, travel the world with no worries or obligations.
Yet the result is my coworker. The guy who was aging and desperately wanted to retire but “spent” that retirement early.
When I was in my 20s it seemed to make sense to push everything forward.
When I was in my 20s it seemed to make sense to push everything forward.
But now in my late 30s with kids I sometimes wish I had kids 3-4 years earlier. I would be younger when they graduate, and there is a better chance of grandkids etc. You don’t have that perspective when your young.
It will work out that I’ll be mid-40s when the first graduates HS and mid-50s when the fourth does.
Is that good/bad? I don’t know. But it will hopefully allow some time to travel/explore and not work if I’d like.
Is that good/bad? I don’t know. But it will hopefully allow some time to travel/explore and not work if I’d like.
When I was in college I floated the idea of quitting and being a ski bum. My mom said I could be a poor ski bum without a job living it up. Or I could get a good paying job and ski when I want.
I listened to my mom. And for years sort of regretted it. It was a very “mom” thing to say.
But now later I see the wisdom in it. I ski regularly with my kids, and have the freedom and ability to go when I like on bigger trips.
But now later I see the wisdom in it. I ski regularly with my kids, and have the freedom and ability to go when I like on bigger trips.
It’s that whole wisdom thing. Often being older gives a worthwhile perspective. But we have trouble internalizing it.
I have no clue if there’s a point to this thread. It will be interesting to see how these generational choices now echo forward.
I have no clue if there’s a point to this thread. It will be interesting to see how these generational choices now echo forward.
