The human brain is a fickle machine ! Do enough work to keep your fun .......fun ! Otherwise your fun becomes work since you have nothing else to do .Gee that sounds like a Yogi Berra quote. I speak from experience , oh and congratulations !!!
Retirement, pros, cons, opinions and advice
- Thread starter nakneker
- Start date
dryhumor
When an old man dies, a library is lost forever...
Two years ago next month I retired. A LOT less stress….
Be aware of your spending. I tracked everything I spent for 3 months after retiring so I knew where it all went. I had an idea before I retired, but not a solid one. My job had me out of town a lot, and pretty much all meals and a good many snacks didn’t come out of my pocket. Money management is important if you absolutely don’t work after retiring.
Sit down and do a list of the things that you will need to replace or have work done on. Water heater, washer and dryer, well, septic, vehicles, tires, refrigerator, HVAC. Figure the high retail cost, allocate it, and don’t spend it till you have to. Put 6-8 months of money aside as an emergency fund.
Retirement is a good time to de clutter. Finding those buckets of motivation can be challenging. But they’re out there.
Be aware of your spending. I tracked everything I spent for 3 months after retiring so I knew where it all went. I had an idea before I retired, but not a solid one. My job had me out of town a lot, and pretty much all meals and a good many snacks didn’t come out of my pocket. Money management is important if you absolutely don’t work after retiring.
Sit down and do a list of the things that you will need to replace or have work done on. Water heater, washer and dryer, well, septic, vehicles, tires, refrigerator, HVAC. Figure the high retail cost, allocate it, and don’t spend it till you have to. Put 6-8 months of money aside as an emergency fund.
Retirement is a good time to de clutter. Finding those buckets of motivation can be challenging. But they’re out there.
ISS
Gold $$ Contributor
I was "retired" due to Type II Diabetes back in fall of 2008. I was overjoyed! Three months later I went to Zimbabwe Cape Buffalo hunting. Got a nice Bull. I have been too busy since, just shooting, load testing, building rifles, and trying to kill every Rockchuck in SW Idaho. Then I fell after having my appendix out. Compression Fracture of L3, as you all have read. I so gradually slid into the sedentary life I did not really notice. I've had two spine surgeries this Spring; and I am slowly easing off a walker to walking around the house, to getting my cane back. By September I expect to nearly whole again. I plan to take my Pre-64 OM 70 300 H&H out chasing Elk in October. Road Hunter in 2025.
timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
For myself, the loss of income was the biggest and toughest adjustment. If I could do one thing over it would be to have been employed where a nice pension is waiting at retirement. I have land and hobbies. My background largely involved repairing things. If I can't fix it, it's likely not broken. So my home and buildings are past 30 years old and things continually need repaired now. I volunteer my time to several things. I can't fathom how I used to get all the things done that I did when working. Stay busy. Help others, especially elderly and widowed. Hopefully you have a pension or enough money socked away. I started preparing financially for retirement in my 20's. However there wasn't any indication then of how much it would cost to live at today's prices. Bidenomics have put most of us old people in a bind. Not knowing how much we will need to make it to the end here in this life can be worrisome if you let it. Try your very best to have a little fun each day.
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
Retired about 12 years ago. My advice.... Stay healthy and active both phyically and mentally, watch your spending, keep at least 2 hobbies that you enjoy, and spend quality time with your family. Lastly and maybe most importantly, anything or anyone that annoys you, just stay away from it or them. Oh, and don't obsess over anything you can't control. JME. WD
moondog
Gold $$ Contributor
Congratulations! I retired 4 months prior turning 65. That was 6 years ago! I owned a specialty auto shop and planned for about 2 years before selling. I laid up 2 life times of powder and primers, 4 years of bullets and barrels. Plan ahead as much as possible for the obvious. Expect the unexpected. I'm type A personality and that made me nervous.
Cons: I do/did miss the relationship with a lot of my customers and employees. I kinda miss the disposable income from the un disclosed. But, you don't need to be the richest person in the graveyard. You don't know when your ticket is getting punched. Trust me on this one, I speak from experience! Cancer almost got me, and without Medicare, the cost could have been catastrophic.
Pros: Time to really spend time with family, friends and whatever hobbies you pursue. No more schedules, no more traffic, no more putting out fires with employees or the entitled "Karen"
Stay physically active! Stay physically active! The wife and I discovered Pickleball 2 years ago, we're obsessed. I'm enjoying Life more than ever.
Cons: I do/did miss the relationship with a lot of my customers and employees. I kinda miss the disposable income from the un disclosed. But, you don't need to be the richest person in the graveyard. You don't know when your ticket is getting punched. Trust me on this one, I speak from experience! Cancer almost got me, and without Medicare, the cost could have been catastrophic.
Pros: Time to really spend time with family, friends and whatever hobbies you pursue. No more schedules, no more traffic, no more putting out fires with employees or the entitled "Karen"
Stay physically active! Stay physically active! The wife and I discovered Pickleball 2 years ago, we're obsessed. I'm enjoying Life more than ever.
Jeff Porter
Gold $$ Contributor
I was forced out of a job at 58 when my company sold our factory. I put out my shingle as a consultant and have worked as much as I want since then. Keeping busy with hobbies and honey do’s is plenty enough sometimes, but it is nice to be able to have a project to work on that keeps you engaged and bringing in a little cash flow.
As a contractor, perhaps very selectively, pick up some small jobs or sub contracts that interest you and fit into your new schedule ?
As a contractor, perhaps very selectively, pick up some small jobs or sub contracts that interest you and fit into your new schedule ?
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
Retired at 57. It's been three years. Cons? LOL!!!!
next you must learn to say I'm on a fixed income and barely making it lol and ask for a discount
Lot's of great responses
Pro's - no more holding my toungue each and every day as I went into work, not enjoying what management became.
Con's - Better have hobbies, theres a lot of hours in a day to use up.
Live by your means. enjoy life what each and everyday the good lord gives to you. Thank god for our friends, family, life and fellow shooters.
Myself I have a hobbie farm. 6 acres, a 50x50 shop with in floor hoist, all the tools, etc, tire changer, balancer, rotor lathe.
I enjoy helping fellow farmers in the summer with haying, planting etc. I seem to enjoy helping others more than getting things done on my own place lol Have a great friend whos a mastermind with lathe and mill work.
Pro's - no more holding my toungue each and every day as I went into work, not enjoying what management became.
Con's - Better have hobbies, theres a lot of hours in a day to use up.
Live by your means. enjoy life what each and everyday the good lord gives to you. Thank god for our friends, family, life and fellow shooters.
Myself I have a hobbie farm. 6 acres, a 50x50 shop with in floor hoist, all the tools, etc, tire changer, balancer, rotor lathe.
I enjoy helping fellow farmers in the summer with haying, planting etc. I seem to enjoy helping others more than getting things done on my own place lol Have a great friend whos a mastermind with lathe and mill work.
Downhill
Gold $$ Contributor
I work with an Electrical Engineer. He has retired twice. At 76 he is my most active Instrumentation and Electrical Inspector. I asked why he still works and he replied "Got bored fishing, golfing, vacationing and leisurely life. Just not geared for it." Wish I worked with more like him.
Just turning 64 I am in the same boat as far as when to pull the plug. The wife says now, but I really enjoy my part time job, to say the least. I work 3 to 4 partial days a week. About 20 to 25 hours a week. I just really enjoy machining, and it is still very much in my blood. I have a great customer base so really don't have to look for work. Maybe next year! Lol. I consider myself very lucky and blessed to have a nice little business and many friends/business aquantices. One thing I have done is to never take it or my customers for granted. I have been very fortunate in my little part of the world. All that to say, I am not sure when to sell the business! Or not! Lol.
Paul
Paul
I'm also a retired contractor. First off congrats and the best of luck to you. Odds are if you've been in your own business you'll work from time to time, I do with a few friends in the business and some select customers. The Pros for me are I can now do whatever I want, whenever I want, within reason..... Not too many Cons to be honest, aside from less money coming in, but if you planned for retirement accordingly things seem to workout OK. We get to travel more now, and I have time to do things like shoot, walk, work on small projects and hobbies, and keep active. Age does put a damper on somethings though, that to me is the biggest Con, but an unavoidable reality. Closing thoughts, I like retirement a hell of a lot more than working!!!!!!!!!!
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
Retired 3 times, like like bad glue just didn't take. I made it to 79 and still going.
The trick for me always have something in the hopper down the road one too two years ahead.
I had a FFL did Gun Work, shoot Palma and F/class. We have a small Ranch the Animals are gone.
The Barn and a Man Cave is a plus.
There is always someone up or down the road that needs help.
The Very Best in your Retirement
The trick for me always have something in the hopper down the road one too two years ahead.
I had a FFL did Gun Work, shoot Palma and F/class. We have a small Ranch the Animals are gone.
The Barn and a Man Cave is a plus.
There is always someone up or down the road that needs help.
The Very Best in your Retirement
Lee Whitsel
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm retired carpenter also at 75 years of age. Keep active I got more things to fix around the house then ever. Had no dog for 13 years . Doc said get a pup we did. That dog has to go for a long walk 2 times a day. He loves me more than my wife. The problem I have is a lot of my hunting and fishing buddies are all passed. Have to keep looking for new buddies. 5 good friends all died in a little 0ver a year. Want t0 drive t0 Alaska again this summer and fish and sight see I have no 0ne wh0 can go and the wife said she's to old t0 d0 it any more. Watch your weight my wife's c00king is so good it's tough to keep weight of. She's killing me not with a gun or knife but a knife, fork, and spoon. That's the legal way she doesn't go to jail and gets everything.
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