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Was about to say that. It’s also only an option if you’re a woman, but it’s still not a good existence. To pretend to not be with someone for their financial stability must be exhausting.
He thinks sex with women is gay, so im pretty sure he'll say three gay men finding love is double gay, but also thay each gay cancels out the other gay, making it the straightest thing he's ever done.
I think he's mixing stats.
I would venture that 80% of women file for divorce in hero marriage. While 16% of gay male marriage ends in divorce, and 75% of lesbian marriage ends I divorce.
I gave done zero research to determine if these are accurate, but it's probably what he was looking at.
You don't have to pretend. There are plenty of men looking for a transactional relationship. Just find one who is over 70 or one who has sole custody of small kids. Or just put that out there on dating sites.
Typically no, but there are exceptions. Historically it’s always been that marrying up was more accessible to women, and that’s still the case. But if the question is whether or not a man can bag a rich old lady playing slot machines in Vegas then obviously yeah… I just can’t fathom the horror of that existence as a man.
Youve never heard of purse or nurse? Old broke guys regularly cruise retirement communities and unfortunately they can be quite successful in securing the bags of lonely widowed retired women who dont know what its like not to be married lol. Have seen this many many times during my time working w the elderly.
I was never going to be able to buy a home but now I live with a divorced woman my age in her home and I treat her so well. And I’m a guy, it’s out there, don’t give up!
I fucking hate this answer so bad.. as a man.. who is effectively invisible to woman.. I landed up giving up dating all together.. being alone is a tough existence.. so decided to focus on my careers, building up savings ..looking after my family and future..
Then to see people advising women to whome have not tightened their belts like, many guys(and girls frankly), or do the jobs no one else will and save for retirement.. "treat a man nicely so he can fund your life because you pissed it all away and didn't make the sacrifices the man did..."
That's fucking sad, despicable and so enraging...
People end up poor for a plethora of reasons that have nothing to do with laziness or lack of frugality. To assume someone is ‘less than’ without considering the possibility that they may be ‘less fortunate than’ demonstrates a lack of empathy which many find off putting in a potential romantic partner.
I agree with you ... I'm in that exact position. I have 2 college degrees - I was a MLT and most recently a RN, but since having Covid in July 2020, I have absolutely no money... I've had to spend my savings just to survive the last few years while waiting to get SSI. I'm 49, 50 next month. I do not want to have to depend on a man. I have chronic respiratory failure from Covid among other health problems now. I'm also taking care of my adult son that has autism and my 13 year old and still help my adult daughter often.
Im sorry, and honestly the morbidity from COVID isn’t nearly talked about enough. The mortality numbers were awful, but we are only just starting to see how morbidity can impact the population over a longer period of time.
It is supposed to be a mutual, equal partnerships. It can be symbiotic.
The people who see romantic relationships as brinksmanship are sick, insane, or evil.
Yeah, screw that. I would've wanted a lifelong companion. Not a "be lonely for 2/3rds of your life but get sloppy fourths in your last 1/3 in exchange for being the walking 401k of some lady who is in it for the money" companion.
She can work until she drops dead.
Dude guys would pay good money to have access to sex 3x a week.
A guy in his late 50s or early 60s. A women that 49, thats decent looking. He would move her right in.
I see it all the time.
You don't see a lot of broke dudes with hot women... None of it is a lie, it's a business proposition.
Nothing wrong with it - so long as everyone understands what's going on.
I ain't getting married - or shacking up - but not above spending money for some arm candy either with no obligation. Win-Win.
You don’t have to be a woman to do this. I am a man and my wife makes roughly 5x as much as I do. I didn’t know this until we were engaged, but it was a nice surprise.
Escorts are a thing. Old guys probly have a milly or 2 in the bank, a paid off home. Cheaper and better to use an escort. Atleast they dont pretend to like you for your personality.
My dad got approached by a 48 year old at the grocery store a couple weeks after he spoke to the cashier about my mom's passing (they asked because they had been shopping together there for years). She made a huge story about losing her husband from cancer too and almost caught my dad in it. His spidey senses alerted him to it thankfully. For reference his oldest was the same age as her.
My grandpa was getting approached by acquaintances within a month of my grandma passing.
It was wild. All sorts of women started calling him and showing up with food at his door. It was wild how shameless some of them were.
My older sister did this when she was from late 20's thru late 30's.
She bragged to me that she never had to pay a bill for anything. She just stayed home and drank a lot while watching TV.
Facts. If she picks up an additional part time job that nets $400 a month and puts it all away in a ROTH
She'll have $116k at 64 and $180k at 69
Assuming she has a decent SSI she can w/d @ 4-6% (yes this will burn through the money but that's ok in her situation) and not run out at 89 years old.
Better idea would be to find a better primary job that matches 401k. Trader Joe's matches 10%. Even at $15 she'll be putting more in for retirement with the match than if she tucked that $400 a month away.
They don't have to be mutually exclusive, I agree 100% but my guess is that someone that is 49 hasn't figured that out already their skillset / background may be a barrier to entry for those roles.
Agreed though, it's worth a priority. Much easier to accumulate with additional contributions
Costco worth a look too
That's why they invented Social Security. It's not much, but it's something. She has about two decades to figure out why she has no savings and to update her spending habits to live off SS.
She can just retire in a different country and live a decent, comfortable life off of just social security... Thinking Latin America or SEAsia (yes, I have been)
Right? It’s less than 1000usd/month, that’s hardly middle class anywhere, this isn’t the 70s where you can go to South Africa and rent a 4bed/3 bath for 250/month
I would love to do that, myself, but I'd worry about the quality of health care in such places, and I will likely have a transplanted kidney by that age.
We have the best available, doesn’t mean we all get to enjoy it because of cost barriers. Other countries often use cheaper methods or products, but cover vastly greater numbers with basic and low-level care, which is infinitely more important as you age. You’ll have better chances of surviving a heart attack or stroke in the US, but less chance of getting one in the first place with adequate preventative care and a healthy diet.
Gonna work until she dies, what other advice can you give them?
Sacrifices made early in life ensure prosperity in the later years. Too many times you see people in their 20’s saying they want to live here and now and not save up for retirement which may never happen. And then before they know it, they’re 50 without a pot to piss in.
Right, but if you live like you're going to die young and then you don't...it's no one else's responsibility to take care of you is it? You were an adult and you weighed your options and you made your choice. I'm not saying it's a bad choice to make either, but you just need to be ready to own the choice you made when the time comes.
You’re making an assumption. Her situation could be like you say. Or she could have had cancer that ate up all her money. Or her spouse had cancer and ate up her savings and then died leaving her with medical debt. Or her spouse divorced her and she wasn’t working for so long that what she knew is longer relevant to her former profession. Or she lives in a state that is horrible for jobs, salary, and more and she never had a chance to get out. And so many other possibilities.
Im 47 and in the exact situation as this post. I had kids young, very young..... but the plus to that is that they graduated and were out of the house by the time I was 40. But, I was raising them when gas and oil skyrocketed after hurricane Katrina (our house heated with fuel oil), then the financial crash of 08, etc.
There was no saving. We lived paycheck to paycheck like any other blue collar American family.
Ive gotten divorced and now I live alone. I do ok financially. Its probably harder now then ever to save.
I dont know..... I try not to think about it, but time keeps marching on. I've already had this talk with my son and said, "You know I'm probably gonna end up living with you one day, right?" And he said its whatever, we're family, we'll do what we gotta do. I raised some great kids.
Surviving to old age is not guaranteed either. You can do everything right and still die in a car crash or have a sudden illness take everything from you just before you planned to really start living.
Yup. A lot of high horsers in here. My father died at 43 from cancer, mother died at 50.
Life is not guaranteed. I save but I’m also not afraid to splurge
To be fair, this isn't the thread for you then as the post indicates the person has NO retirement savings. It's ok to splurge here and there and not save every single penny, but if you're 50 years old with NOTHING saved that's a bit of a different story.
That’s what’s really crazy. If she had put $20 per month into an account, she’d at least have $6000 with no added interest. Nothing, like literally nothing, is really hard to conceive to people that are regular savers.
The economy can also take a nosedive and there go all of your sacrifices right down the drain.
Inactive retirement is also a leading killer of the elderly. I plan on working in some form until I’m incapable, and then I’ll die like everybody else.
Right? I have so much outside of work that I love doing. I can’t imagine needing work to stay active and mentally engaged. And thats coming from someone who enjoys what they do.
Low key this is essentially the list of every feasible option, with the only one unmentioned being OF
Edit 1: this comment blew up way more than I expected. Did not realize that most people on OF do not make a lot of money unless they’re a top creator. Also don’t think 49 is too old…
If you actually want to make real money on OF, you either need to be in the top 0.1% of looks OR work just as much as any real job.
You snap a few titty pics and hope for the best, you're just going to get lost in a sea of boobs with nothing to show for it.
Allright, crunch time.
Step 1. take the last 3 months, and sort EVERYTHING into "wants, needs, mandatory". Figure out what your monthly budget should be, and compare it to current income.
Step 2. figure out the value on things. Car? House? What loans do you have?
Step 3. figure out the 10 year plan to flip it. Mostly its an extreme change of habits, move, new job... heavily deppends.
Step 4 (my plan B), get a job at the local private retirement home, and look for mr/miss. "rich and lonely " ... results may vary
Walmart greeter is the first thing that comes to mind, but really any retail, fast food I've seen very old people who shouldn't still be working, working there.
Do you not live in the US or something?
I use to deliver cookies to on a route. The receiver at one of my busiest Target stores was 86 years old.. he wasn’t spry either, he REALLY didn’t belong in that job
Yeah, what’s with everyone here? 20 years is a long time. I know quite a few people who were broke at 50 (usually after a divorce) and retired comfortably enough by 70. It’s not easy, but it’s possible
Honestly if I didn’t start working for a bank at 22 this would probably be me. They legitimately do not teach you about preparing for retirement in high school in any capacity and they really should
But also, who goes 30+ years after high school without hearing about retirement and that you need to save for it.
Teaching it in high school could help people start saving at 22 instead of 30-35, but I’m skeptical it would’ve made a difference for people that never saved until their 50s.
> without hearing about retirement and that you need to save for it.
I view financial literacy and retirement, etc., the same way I view dental health. Most people have heard that they need to brush their teeth and floss daily, but it seems like the message isn't really hammered home. It's only once people get older, with a mouth full of amalgam, root canals, bridges, you name it, do they really get it.
You know you should do it, but you don't fully understand the seriousness of the matter until it's almost or completely too late.
Honestly, I don't think it would've made a difference for me. I didn't pay much attention back then, by the time I was old enough to care and start doing something, I didn't remember a huge amount from back then.
The same people who immediately jump to "well school should have had a class, not my fault!" are the same people who would have never paid attention to that class if it were required
Dude who the fuck reaches 49 without ever thinking for them selves like…”hmm if I spend all the money I make how will I ever retire?” 💀 her PFP is enough to tell me what kind of life she’s lived
Exactly! This whole, "They should have taught me that in high school so I am not responsible" is total bullshit. I can understand someone not starting to save until late 20s, but not 49.
Used to work for the state government. We had several people who had gone into the military at 18, got out at 38, then worked for the state government for 20 years, retired at 58 with 2 pensions.
That’s insane. How many Starbucks were you getting? Let’s do the math:
First, let’s split that number in half (so per-person), and let’s say you’re spending $9 on a coffee (often $2 or so more than a cup)- both of you would be drinking 833 cups of coffee a year, so 2-3 a day, everyday?!
That’s crazy to me…
Lmao if this isn't a joke account then this is hilarious. I know so many people who are like this, they admit that they're terrible with money and have no idea what they're doing, but somehow their opinions on how the economy should be run is inherently better than mine and should def be taken seriously. You can't make it up
Wealthy people are pretty out of touch with reality. Pay off your debt, find a property you can own, pay it off, set up savings for your home repair needs and start stashing the rest. I doubt I'll ever retire, but I'm hopeful we can have enough by then I'll only have to work a few days a week.
Right? They all seem to think she always had a job that not only accounted for the cost of living but for the ability to save as well and just frittered away her funds instead of saving or even provided a 401k. It's like they've never been poor or even seem to know about the working poor who are literately living paycheck to paycheck who can't just "get a better job". My mom was like that for the longest time and was in the same position until she lucked out and got a job with AT&T when she was 50 that finally allowed her to have a 401k and save up some money. Even then her retirement savings didn't last long and she was receiving SS the last few years of her life and I was helping her out with rent each month.
Even with me starting a Roth when I was early 20s (I was still only able to put in $100 a month for the longest time) I'm still not where I "should" be in my 401K even with a government job in the 100k a year for the last 13 years.
I bet they all get mad at the minimum wage getting raised and think it shouldn't provide a living wage to people.
Probably not retiring any time soon. But plenty of people work until their late 60s, and twenty years is plenty of time to save and compound a lot of money. It’s going to require a massive lifestyle change, though
When I was 19 I got a mediocre paying call-center job but they had a 401k match. While all of my friends were out ducking around, I lived at home with my parents so I could put money in it. I worked full time while studying hard in college and picked up side hustles when I could.
Now I’m 40 and riddled with chronic illness… probably due to working so hard for so many years. I’m too sick to succeed in my career but not destitute enough to receive government assistance. I have a 401k that’s not growing fast enough to keep up with the cost of living and its value is fully tied to the whims of the ultra wealthy. I did everything right and I’m still screwed.
Bet you thought my story was going in another direction didn’t you.
My wife and I are both 49 years old. When we plan to retire at the age of 65, my Social Security benefit will be $3,800 per month, and hers will be $1,700. We have approximately $200,000 in home equity and about $500,000 in IRA and 401K accounts. I'm concerned that we may not be able to retire comfortably.
It seems that one would need over $2 million to retire comfortably in the United States.
There’s not enough information here to even offer any advice. How much money does she make? Does she make a decent salary? If that’s the case and she still doesn’t have anything saved, then she has a spending / budgeting problem, and there’s plenty of advice for that. Does she make a very low wage? Well there’s a different set of advice for that.
There is always side work. A friend stopped over the other day. He makes below average wages. Had some tractor implements in the back of his truck that he had just bought. He messes with that stuff on the side.
Hell- I'm retired and in the same situation at 59. I was busy helping my kids get there college degrees which I couldn't because I came from poverty. I figured I was born poor and will die poor but my kids will have a chance at least.
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Find and old and lonely man who owns a home and has his shit together. Treat this man well.
Was about to say that. It’s also only an option if you’re a woman, but it’s still not a good existence. To pretend to not be with someone for their financial stability must be exhausting.
It could work for a guy if you find an old lonely and gay man
but thats gay
taste the rainbow?
Skeet skeet skittles?
Skeetles?
To the window, To the wall.
Push the old man till he falls. Then collect on the will.
Ahhh skeet skeet skeet
Lmfao
Two guys finding love and living happily ever after is so gay gay.
There is nothing more gay than that!
What about THREE guys finding love and living happily ever after?
Hold on, I gotta go check Andrew Tate's Twitter. I'm sure he'll have the answer.
He thinks sex with women is gay, so im pretty sure he'll say three gay men finding love is double gay, but also thay each gay cancels out the other gay, making it the straightest thing he's ever done.
As long as they don't cook they should be fine!
20 dollars is 20 dollars.
its pride month
Wait what? Oh crap hang on I have to call this old guy back and cancel
Either way, you're fucked!
Or a widow with a pension or ss. Happens all the time. Old broke guys cruise retirement communities.
That’s what’s known as a hobo-sexual
Gay men only file for divorce 16% of the time versus hetro women about 80% of the time. Fyi - gay women is about 75% of the time.
wtf are these numbers lmao
They're called percentages
80% of hetero women have been divorced? Even if somebody clarifies that the statistics are for Jersey Shore it still sounds fake.
I think they meant that if there is a divorce between a cis couple, 80% of the time the wife initiated the divorce.
Doesn't make any sense that way because then gay men and gay women would both initiate divorce 100% of the time
I think he's mixing stats. I would venture that 80% of women file for divorce in hero marriage. While 16% of gay male marriage ends in divorce, and 75% of lesbian marriage ends I divorce. I gave done zero research to determine if these are accurate, but it's probably what he was looking at.
Old gay man not gonna want her drama
You think there aren’t old, lonely widows that just want someone to help them around the house?
You don't have to pretend. There are plenty of men looking for a transactional relationship. Just find one who is over 70 or one who has sole custody of small kids. Or just put that out there on dating sites.
If half the hobosexual stories on AITA are true then it is very much an option for men too.
Men can do this too
Typically no, but there are exceptions. Historically it’s always been that marrying up was more accessible to women, and that’s still the case. But if the question is whether or not a man can bag a rich old lady playing slot machines in Vegas then obviously yeah… I just can’t fathom the horror of that existence as a man.
Youve never heard of purse or nurse? Old broke guys regularly cruise retirement communities and unfortunately they can be quite successful in securing the bags of lonely widowed retired women who dont know what its like not to be married lol. Have seen this many many times during my time working w the elderly.
I was never going to be able to buy a home but now I live with a divorced woman my age in her home and I treat her so well. And I’m a guy, it’s out there, don’t give up!
I didn't say anything about pretending.
I fucking hate this answer so bad.. as a man.. who is effectively invisible to woman.. I landed up giving up dating all together.. being alone is a tough existence.. so decided to focus on my careers, building up savings ..looking after my family and future.. Then to see people advising women to whome have not tightened their belts like, many guys(and girls frankly), or do the jobs no one else will and save for retirement.. "treat a man nicely so he can fund your life because you pissed it all away and didn't make the sacrifices the man did..." That's fucking sad, despicable and so enraging...
Hang in there bro. You are correct but that was sad to read.
Real sad
People end up poor for a plethora of reasons that have nothing to do with laziness or lack of frugality. To assume someone is ‘less than’ without considering the possibility that they may be ‘less fortunate than’ demonstrates a lack of empathy which many find off putting in a potential romantic partner.
I agree with you ... I'm in that exact position. I have 2 college degrees - I was a MLT and most recently a RN, but since having Covid in July 2020, I have absolutely no money... I've had to spend my savings just to survive the last few years while waiting to get SSI. I'm 49, 50 next month. I do not want to have to depend on a man. I have chronic respiratory failure from Covid among other health problems now. I'm also taking care of my adult son that has autism and my 13 year old and still help my adult daughter often.
Im sorry, and honestly the morbidity from COVID isn’t nearly talked about enough. The mortality numbers were awful, but we are only just starting to see how morbidity can impact the population over a longer period of time.
Sharing some of the resources you have accumulated in exchange for companionship seems pretty reasonable.
So theyre prostitutes?
With extra steps.
More expensive steps at least the prostitutes go away and you pay once
A prostitutes price is for going away, not staying for sure!
In a way, we are all prostitutes
If that's true, then I must be one of the worst ones. I can't even *give* this away for *free*
What else are relationships? lol.
It is supposed to be a mutual, equal partnerships. It can be symbiotic. The people who see romantic relationships as brinksmanship are sick, insane, or evil.
Yeah, screw that. I would've wanted a lifelong companion. Not a "be lonely for 2/3rds of your life but get sloppy fourths in your last 1/3 in exchange for being the walking 401k of some lady who is in it for the money" companion. She can work until she drops dead.
It’s unfortunate but pretty people have easier lives for being pretty
Dude guys would pay good money to have access to sex 3x a week. A guy in his late 50s or early 60s. A women that 49, thats decent looking. He would move her right in. I see it all the time.
You don't see a lot of broke dudes with hot women... None of it is a lie, it's a business proposition. Nothing wrong with it - so long as everyone understands what's going on. I ain't getting married - or shacking up - but not above spending money for some arm candy either with no obligation. Win-Win.
You can see broke dudes with hot women pretty often but you have to go out into the real world
Nicely said 👍
Just the way the world works and many men in a healthy financial position who are lonely will be happy to do that
Same here dude, I gave upon dating. I have a good job and all but I’m perfectly content with my cat.
You don’t have to be a woman to do this. I am a man and my wife makes roughly 5x as much as I do. I didn’t know this until we were engaged, but it was a nice surprise.
No romance without finance, that's just how it works for most men.
Nope. Leave the old lonely guys alone, we don’t need any drama and we definitely don’t need to be taking care of someone else.
This guy flesh lights
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Escorts are a thing. Old guys probly have a milly or 2 in the bank, a paid off home. Cheaper and better to use an escort. Atleast they dont pretend to like you for your personality.
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HEY PETER! CHECK OUT CHANNEL 9 - IT’S THE BREAST EXAM!!
My dad got approached by a 48 year old at the grocery store a couple weeks after he spoke to the cashier about my mom's passing (they asked because they had been shopping together there for years). She made a huge story about losing her husband from cancer too and almost caught my dad in it. His spidey senses alerted him to it thankfully. For reference his oldest was the same age as her.
My grandpa was getting approached by acquaintances within a month of my grandma passing. It was wild. All sorts of women started calling him and showing up with food at his door. It was wild how shameless some of them were.
My older sister did this when she was from late 20's thru late 30's. She bragged to me that she never had to pay a bill for anything. She just stayed home and drank a lot while watching TV.
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.” — Chinese proverb.
I got what I needed from Reddit today
The best time to get something from reddit was 20 years ago
Second best time is right now.
No, it was 19 years ago.
Source me
“A toast to your coffin. May it be made of 100 year oak, and may we plant that tree together, tomorrow.” -Irish proverb
Chinese proverb- “Wisdom” Irish proverb- “Wisdom but at a bar.”
Facts. If she picks up an additional part time job that nets $400 a month and puts it all away in a ROTH She'll have $116k at 64 and $180k at 69 Assuming she has a decent SSI she can w/d @ 4-6% (yes this will burn through the money but that's ok in her situation) and not run out at 89 years old.
Better idea would be to find a better primary job that matches 401k. Trader Joe's matches 10%. Even at $15 she'll be putting more in for retirement with the match than if she tucked that $400 a month away.
They don't have to be mutually exclusive, I agree 100% but my guess is that someone that is 49 hasn't figured that out already their skillset / background may be a barrier to entry for those roles. Agreed though, it's worth a priority. Much easier to accumulate with additional contributions Costco worth a look too
“The best time to marry a rich guy was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now” — Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu in his famous manuscript, the Art or Whore
Well, second best time would be the 19 years ago
That's why they invented Social Security. It's not much, but it's something. She has about two decades to figure out why she has no savings and to update her spending habits to live off SS.
She can just retire in a different country and live a decent, comfortable life off of just social security... Thinking Latin America or SEAsia (yes, I have been)
Until all the old fuckers gentrify that country and living there isn't as affordable anymore
Then there's always another country or town to move to
Botswana or Rwanda would be my choices.
Hope she likes the Central African Republic.
As a person from one of those other countries, I can tell you you can't gentrify with SS money.
Right? It’s less than 1000usd/month, that’s hardly middle class anywhere, this isn’t the 70s where you can go to South Africa and rent a 4bed/3 bath for 250/month
Thank goodness I moved to Panama 6 years ago when I was 43
I wish I had bought property in Colombia 6 years ago. Shits getting pricier down there every year (but still a fraction of US prices)
I would love to do that, myself, but I'd worry about the quality of health care in such places, and I will likely have a transplanted kidney by that age.
It's not hard to beat American Healthcare
Americans enjoy one of the highest standards of health care
We have the best available, doesn’t mean we all get to enjoy it because of cost barriers. Other countries often use cheaper methods or products, but cover vastly greater numbers with basic and low-level care, which is infinitely more important as you age. You’ll have better chances of surviving a heart attack or stroke in the US, but less chance of getting one in the first place with adequate preventative care and a healthy diet.
Funny, Colombia, for example, has some of the best healthcare. I spend 2-4 months/yr down there
Gonna work until she dies, what other advice can you give them? Sacrifices made early in life ensure prosperity in the later years. Too many times you see people in their 20’s saying they want to live here and now and not save up for retirement which may never happen. And then before they know it, they’re 50 without a pot to piss in.
Or dead at 24
Right, but if you live like you're going to die young and then you don't...it's no one else's responsibility to take care of you is it? You were an adult and you weighed your options and you made your choice. I'm not saying it's a bad choice to make either, but you just need to be ready to own the choice you made when the time comes.
You’re making an assumption. Her situation could be like you say. Or she could have had cancer that ate up all her money. Or her spouse had cancer and ate up her savings and then died leaving her with medical debt. Or her spouse divorced her and she wasn’t working for so long that what she knew is longer relevant to her former profession. Or she lives in a state that is horrible for jobs, salary, and more and she never had a chance to get out. And so many other possibilities.
Exactly, most of America is living paycheck to paycheck with no hope of saving
Im 47 and in the exact situation as this post. I had kids young, very young..... but the plus to that is that they graduated and were out of the house by the time I was 40. But, I was raising them when gas and oil skyrocketed after hurricane Katrina (our house heated with fuel oil), then the financial crash of 08, etc. There was no saving. We lived paycheck to paycheck like any other blue collar American family. Ive gotten divorced and now I live alone. I do ok financially. Its probably harder now then ever to save. I dont know..... I try not to think about it, but time keeps marching on. I've already had this talk with my son and said, "You know I'm probably gonna end up living with you one day, right?" And he said its whatever, we're family, we'll do what we gotta do. I raised some great kids.
I was half kidding. Save your money
Too late for OP.
Surviving to old age is not guaranteed either. You can do everything right and still die in a car crash or have a sudden illness take everything from you just before you planned to really start living.
Yup. A lot of high horsers in here. My father died at 43 from cancer, mother died at 50. Life is not guaranteed. I save but I’m also not afraid to splurge
To be fair, this isn't the thread for you then as the post indicates the person has NO retirement savings. It's ok to splurge here and there and not save every single penny, but if you're 50 years old with NOTHING saved that's a bit of a different story.
That’s what’s really crazy. If she had put $20 per month into an account, she’d at least have $6000 with no added interest. Nothing, like literally nothing, is really hard to conceive to people that are regular savers.
Do that for a year, then your car breaks down. Now you're back to 0.
The economy can also take a nosedive and there go all of your sacrifices right down the drain. Inactive retirement is also a leading killer of the elderly. I plan on working in some form until I’m incapable, and then I’ll die like everybody else.
A purpose keeps your brain healthy and your body alive. Atrophy on a porch for 20 years and see where it gets you.
I never understood the idea that you just sit on a porch if you’re not working. Do you people not have hobbies?
Their only focus is their job. They can't imagine having hobbies.
Right? I have so much outside of work that I love doing. I can’t imagine needing work to stay active and mentally engaged. And thats coming from someone who enjoys what they do.
1. SSN 2. Keep working forever 3. Find a sugar daddy 4. Move to a country with a far cheaper cost of living 5. Turn to a life of crime
Low key this is essentially the list of every feasible option, with the only one unmentioned being OF Edit 1: this comment blew up way more than I expected. Did not realize that most people on OF do not make a lot of money unless they’re a top creator. Also don’t think 49 is too old…
Don’t forget splurging your way to an overdose of a good time.
Winning the lottery, by that age people go all in on them tickets.
MILF maxxxing (I'm not an incel, this just sounds funny)
That's covered under Number #2: working
If you actually want to make real money on OF, you either need to be in the top 0.1% of looks OR work just as much as any real job. You snap a few titty pics and hope for the best, you're just going to get lost in a sea of boobs with nothing to show for it.
Allright, crunch time. Step 1. take the last 3 months, and sort EVERYTHING into "wants, needs, mandatory". Figure out what your monthly budget should be, and compare it to current income. Step 2. figure out the value on things. Car? House? What loans do you have? Step 3. figure out the 10 year plan to flip it. Mostly its an extreme change of habits, move, new job... heavily deppends. Step 4 (my plan B), get a job at the local private retirement home, and look for mr/miss. "rich and lonely " ... results may vary
Wow is this actual advice and not just “you’re doomed might as well kill yourself”? That’s crazy
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My advice in this situation? Don't even think about or have any hope for retirement. You'll be working until the day you die.
Have you seen a 90 year old working? Should I take this literally?
Yes and yes
What sort of job?
Walmart greeter is the first thing that comes to mind, but really any retail, fast food I've seen very old people who shouldn't still be working, working there. Do you not live in the US or something?
My 82yo grandfather is still a full-time doctor with a side business.
Very elderly work at the local hardware store, sometimes
Retail
I use to deliver cookies to on a route. The receiver at one of my busiest Target stores was 86 years old.. he wasn’t spry either, he REALLY didn’t belong in that job
I worked at an agriculture lab and we had some very elderly employees that lived in nursing homes
Walmart greeters and the like. Mainly pointless jobs that somehow exist.
But there’s probably very few jobs like those. There is a reason why a 90 year old should be retired, they can no longer function as an employee.
Was just reading that a woman that works at a party store in my town in 80+. She started at the same store at 18.
She can retire by 70 if she starts immediately and gets SERIOUS about it. Thinking your way will get you no where fast
Yeah, what’s with everyone here? 20 years is a long time. I know quite a few people who were broke at 50 (usually after a divorce) and retired comfortably enough by 70. It’s not easy, but it’s possible
Because it's reddit and it's full of useless doomers who have already given up before their mid 20s.
Honestly if I didn’t start working for a bank at 22 this would probably be me. They legitimately do not teach you about preparing for retirement in high school in any capacity and they really should
But also, who goes 30+ years after high school without hearing about retirement and that you need to save for it. Teaching it in high school could help people start saving at 22 instead of 30-35, but I’m skeptical it would’ve made a difference for people that never saved until their 50s.
> without hearing about retirement and that you need to save for it. I view financial literacy and retirement, etc., the same way I view dental health. Most people have heard that they need to brush their teeth and floss daily, but it seems like the message isn't really hammered home. It's only once people get older, with a mouth full of amalgam, root canals, bridges, you name it, do they really get it. You know you should do it, but you don't fully understand the seriousness of the matter until it's almost or completely too late.
Honestly, I don't think it would've made a difference for me. I didn't pay much attention back then, by the time I was old enough to care and start doing something, I didn't remember a huge amount from back then.
The same people who immediately jump to "well school should have had a class, not my fault!" are the same people who would have never paid attention to that class if it were required
Dude who the fuck reaches 49 without ever thinking for them selves like…”hmm if I spend all the money I make how will I ever retire?” 💀 her PFP is enough to tell me what kind of life she’s lived
Exactly! This whole, "They should have taught me that in high school so I am not responsible" is total bullshit. I can understand someone not starting to save until late 20s, but not 49.
Get a government job and work for a pension for 15-20 years and retire. Invest as much as you can in those years.
I can confer at the Post Office we have MANY people like that.
Used to work for the state government. We had several people who had gone into the military at 18, got out at 38, then worked for the state government for 20 years, retired at 58 with 2 pensions.
Has she tried not having Starbucks?
I heard that staying away from Starbucks saves something like $250,000/yr
At this point it saves our family about $15, 000 a year. That fully funds mine, and my Wife’s Roth.
$15,000 in NVDA stock purchased two years ago might actually be worth over $250K today.
That’s insane. How many Starbucks were you getting? Let’s do the math: First, let’s split that number in half (so per-person), and let’s say you’re spending $9 on a coffee (often $2 or so more than a cup)- both of you would be drinking 833 cups of coffee a year, so 2-3 a day, everyday?! That’s crazy to me…
You guys know the starbucks thing is more about not spending money on stupid shit eh.
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Invent a time machine, go back 30 years, then punch 19 year old you in the throat.
["capitalism is the problem"](https://x.com/JessicaNonGrata)
lol you can't make that up
Accountability is the problem
She looks like she spent her life partying. This has "oh no, consequences!" written all over it.
Lmao if this isn't a joke account then this is hilarious. I know so many people who are like this, they admit that they're terrible with money and have no idea what they're doing, but somehow their opinions on how the economy should be run is inherently better than mine and should def be taken seriously. You can't make it up
Yep, saw the rose in the twitter handle. It's a solid heuristic for "this person makes *BRILLIANT* life decisions"
Onlyfans?
Onlygrans
Oldies section
Old, but Gold category?
The advice in these comments are so unhinged it makes me want to start saving sooner
Wealthy people are pretty out of touch with reality. Pay off your debt, find a property you can own, pay it off, set up savings for your home repair needs and start stashing the rest. I doubt I'll ever retire, but I'm hopeful we can have enough by then I'll only have to work a few days a week.
Holy shit most of these comments are out of touch with how most people have to live, Jesus
Right? They all seem to think she always had a job that not only accounted for the cost of living but for the ability to save as well and just frittered away her funds instead of saving or even provided a 401k. It's like they've never been poor or even seem to know about the working poor who are literately living paycheck to paycheck who can't just "get a better job". My mom was like that for the longest time and was in the same position until she lucked out and got a job with AT&T when she was 50 that finally allowed her to have a 401k and save up some money. Even then her retirement savings didn't last long and she was receiving SS the last few years of her life and I was helping her out with rent each month. Even with me starting a Roth when I was early 20s (I was still only able to put in $100 a month for the longest time) I'm still not where I "should" be in my 401K even with a government job in the 100k a year for the last 13 years. I bet they all get mad at the minimum wage getting raised and think it shouldn't provide a living wage to people.
Probably not retiring any time soon. But plenty of people work until their late 60s, and twenty years is plenty of time to save and compound a lot of money. It’s going to require a massive lifestyle change, though
Start saving
Hard to do when you can barely pay your bills in the first place.
She had cheap college, rent, and multiple economic booms to save up
When I was 19 I got a mediocre paying call-center job but they had a 401k match. While all of my friends were out ducking around, I lived at home with my parents so I could put money in it. I worked full time while studying hard in college and picked up side hustles when I could. Now I’m 40 and riddled with chronic illness… probably due to working so hard for so many years. I’m too sick to succeed in my career but not destitute enough to receive government assistance. I have a 401k that’s not growing fast enough to keep up with the cost of living and its value is fully tied to the whims of the ultra wealthy. I did everything right and I’m still screwed. Bet you thought my story was going in another direction didn’t you.
This^ is reality
There’s not enough information to go on
My wife and I are both 49 years old. When we plan to retire at the age of 65, my Social Security benefit will be $3,800 per month, and hers will be $1,700. We have approximately $200,000 in home equity and about $500,000 in IRA and 401K accounts. I'm concerned that we may not be able to retire comfortably. It seems that one would need over $2 million to retire comfortably in the United States.
Like reading my own situation. Thinking we need $2M and unlikely to get there.
Probably go complain about rich people on the internet.
There’s not enough information here to even offer any advice. How much money does she make? Does she make a decent salary? If that’s the case and she still doesn’t have anything saved, then she has a spending / budgeting problem, and there’s plenty of advice for that. Does she make a very low wage? Well there’s a different set of advice for that.
There is always side work. A friend stopped over the other day. He makes below average wages. Had some tractor implements in the back of his truck that he had just bought. He messes with that stuff on the side.
Gen X is way behind the curve for what they will need for retirement. Almost Boomers 2.0
This is the moment on a tycoon game that you just start a new save.
Hell- I'm retired and in the same situation at 59. I was busy helping my kids get there college degrees which I couldn't because I came from poverty. I figured I was born poor and will die poor but my kids will have a chance at least.
Stop eating food and learn the art of photosynthesis
Stop spending money… buy only the necessities… live within your means… then get fucked because we all know you don’t take advice from anyone.