It was after I got my girls out of college I was able to both make bank, but to sock it away.

Absolutely. It's crazy to penalize your retirement that much for your kids college education. You do what you can within the boundaries that are safe for your own well-being. Having to move in with your kids because you don't have enough for your own retirement is much worse than letting your kids tackle the debt of their own College Tuition, IMO.

It would appear that you are making it easy, providing a path of low resistance, (career wise). I've heard horror stories come out of scenarios such as this. Then again, I have 3 teachers in the family but none work together.

The older equipment was, then later it was all laptop controlled.

Actually you can start receiving SS at 62 - you won't get the full amount (I THINK it's like $200 less per month) but on the other hand, you'll live a lot longer - so it all evens out in the end I guess...

I don't think you understand how compound interest works. Lets go ahead and assume that your data is correct and that the average wage in 1965 was $6,900. An average person would still have to save 72.5% of their income in 1965 to make a $5,000 annual contribution to their retirement account hoping to get a 6.5% return on their money over 45 years to get the $1.4M for retirement. I'm willing to bet just about any amount of money that next to no people saved 72.5% of their income and put it towards retirement.

It is simple math. And if you can't do the math, just google "compound interest calculator" and plug the numbers in for yourself.

You also state that $6,900 in 1965 is the equivalent of ~$53,600 today. By that measure, if you are wanting the same purchasing power of $1.4M today 45 years from now, you need to be saving $38,753 every year for 45 years at a 6.5% annual compounded return. I really doubt a whole lot of Americans are doing that today (and I am pretty sure you aren't socking away that much money for retirement per year).

FWIW, here is where I got the data that said that the average income in 1965 was less than $5,000....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averag...nthly_Earnings

Same age and retirement goal age here. If it doesn't work out there's always my dream job at home Depot.

Americans spend 18 pct of their income on health care. Best system in the world my ass. Investing just half that would be enough for retirement.

"Life without kids is easier but life with kids is more fulfilling"

Don't believe in it. It's not healthy to stop working. Well, unless you're incapacitated. If that's the case, it's time to kick the bucket and come back again as a baby.

I'd like to retire someday, but I'll probably work until noon on the day of my funeral.

Oh jeez, come on dude. The world has never been a better place in which to live. In 1900 the life expectancy for an American was like 47, in 1935 it was 61 (which is why Soc Sec was set at 65 that year....they didn't think we'd live to receive it). Today it's almost 80.


There's no polio, there's little infant mortality, almost no influenza death like the one in 1917 that wiped out millions of people. No black plague. Cars are much, much safer (as are the roads), hospitals are superior, medical technology is insanely good.


And you're worried about teen bullying on the CrapNet?

So you don't think the world is over populated?

No, we’ve got room for more, AssEater.