Retirement Targets

[dmclone]

Someone else can verify or reject, but welfare pays more than $1,000 month.

Well for starters

According to data from the CMS, national healthcare expenditure (NHE) grew by 2.7% to $4.3 trillion in 2021. That's $12,914 per person. This figure accounted for 18.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) that year. If we look at each program individually, Medicare spending grew 8.4% to $900.8 billion in 2021, which was 21% of total NHE, while Medicaid spending grew 9.2% to $734.0 billion in 2021, which was 17% of total NHE.3

What Percentage of Healthcare Spending Goes to Medicare?​

Medicare spending often plays a major role in federal health policy and budget discussions, since it accounts for 21% of national health care spending and 12% of the federal budget

 

[KnappShack]

For my whole life, I'm totally out of touch on the buried thing.

My sister goes and puts flowers on my dads grave a few times a year. Her and my mom make a big deal about it. I think I've visited his grave site one time since he died 20+ years ago, even though I've driven right past it 50+ times. I fake caring about it in front of my mother, because I know she would feel bad if she knew that I won't be visiting her grave either. I don't get anything out of the experience and they're dead so they don't either

My wife also hates that I'm this way. She asks me where I want to be buried and I tell her that I'll be dead so I don't care what she does with me.

I often think about the people that have died in my life, but I feel like visiting the cemetery does zero for me or them. I know this is weird for most people and I'm the exception.

In California it's not unusual to see families having a picnic at a grave. 4-6-8 people with a blanket down and having lunch with a dead relative. I guess I see beauty in that, but it's not something that really hits home with me.

They also show movies at some cemeteries there.

Not sure I've seen that in Iowa.

 

[bos]

Went to visit my grandpa and other family graves in Waterloo last year. There are some really old graves there that have long been forgotten and abandoned. Some crypts were broken and had trees growing out of them. Kind of sad that the family just left it or died out that no one will remember. Thats the kind of stuff that sticks with me.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Dude, goodwill didn’t want your old leisure suits

Leisure suits were a little before my time, that was the 70's and I was still in HS. We just had never gone through the closets and thrown out the clothes we did not wear anymore, and both our sons had closets with their old cloths. We had a lot of clothes that we took to a shelter that resells them to support women trying to get off of drugs and straighten out their life. They went for a good cause.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

My wife and I will be buried in a small country cemetery a few miles from where I grew up. My dads entire family is buried there, all my aunts and uncles, and now being filled with cousins and friends. 3 years ago a family turned in 3 spots that they were not planning on using, my mom told me about them and we snatched them up for $100 for the three of them. Little did we know that we would be needing one of them in less than a year with the passing of our handicapped daughter. The plan was always for me to be buried between our daughter and my wife, but when my oldest brother passed away, being divorced and his kids not living close we were allowed to purchase one spot beside us and had him buried there. So I guess I will now be buried beside him, and spend the rest of time listening to him complain about any and everything.

We try to visit every month or so and look after our daughters grave, take the weed eater over and make sure it looks good. When I was teaching, it was on my way home and I would stop for a few minutes every week. Just nice to see her stone and it reminds me how much I miss her laugh and seeing her everyday.

 

[BCClone]

My wife and I will be buried in a small country cemetery a few miles from where I grew up. My dads entire family is buried there, all my aunts and uncles, and now being filled with cousins and friends. 3 years ago a family turned in 3 spots that they were not planning on using, my mom told me about them and we snatched them up for $100 for the three of them. Little did we know that we would be needing one of them in less than a year with the passing of our handicapped daughter. The plan was always for me to be buried between our daughter and my wife, but when my oldest brother passed away, being divorced and his kids not living close we were allowed to purchase on spot beside us and had him buried there. So I guess I will now be buried beside him, and spend the rest of time listening to him complain about any and everything.

We try to visit every month or so and look after our daughters grave, take the week eater over and make sure it looks good. When I was teaching, it was on my way home and I would stop for a few minutes every week. Just nice to see her stone and it reminds me how much I miss her laugh and seeing her everyday.

Didn’t know she had passed. Remember you talking about her. I hope the memories and time have brought you as much peace as possible.

 

[clonechemist]

We have a couple years before the wife can retire. I have been pushing and think she may be willing to move to a lake town. She wants to be close to the kid/s so she can see grandkids if we get some. All I care is getting out of this inbred sheethole of a town. My kids have all said there is no way they are moving to this town so that frees that option up.

We moved to a lake town 3 years ago. Really can’t recommend it highly enough!!

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Didn’t know she had passed. Remember you talking about her. I hope the memories and time have brought you as much peace as possible.

Thanks, we had twin daughters, one that lives in Ames, she is the one dealing with cancer, and her older sister that suffered from CP. She passed 3 years ago this fall.

When you have a handicapped child, you end up having your life revolve around them, their health, and everything you do is so much harder. Just taking the family out to eat becomes a major chore because most eating places are not equipped to handle a wheel chair. Going away or doing things on the spur of the moment just does not happen, everything must be planned out well in advance for it to run smoothly.

With her passing I felt a burden had been removed from my life and I still struggle with the guilt of that thought.

 

[BCClone]

Thanks, we had twin daughters, one that lives in Ames, she is the one dealing with cancer, and her older sister that suffered from CP. She passed 3 years ago this fall.

When you have a handicapped child, you end up having your life revolve around them, their health, and everything you do is so much harder. Just taking the family out to eat becomes a major chore because most eating places are not equipped to handle a wheel chair. Going away or doing things on the spur of the moment just does not happen, everything must be planned out well in advance for it to run smoothly.

With her passing I felt a burden had been removed from my life and I still struggle with the guilt of that thought.

You’re definitely a stronger man than me, God bless you and with what you have done. Do not feel guilt. I worked for a non-profit that did everything for people with profound mental and physical needs. Many had parents that turned their backs on them and maybe visited once a year. You stood by your daughter as long as she was here. You have no reason to feel guilt, only pride in the love you showed your daughter.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

You’re definitely a stronger man than me, God bless you and with what you have done. Do not feel guilt. I worked for a non-profit that did everything for people with profound mental and physical needs. Many had parents that turned their backs on them and maybe visited once a year. You stood by your daughter as long as she was here. You have no reason to feel guilt, only pride in the love you showed your daughter.

I know what you are saying is true, and thank you for saying it, but I do still feel that this freedom that we have now, was only because of her passing. At least we never reached the point of having her being placed in a home or care center because we physically just could not do it any longer. She passed away in the place she loved most, that was in her bed at home.

 

[Tailg8er]

For my whole life, I'm totally out of touch on the buried thing.

My sister goes and puts flowers on my dads grave a few times a year. Her and my mom make a big deal about it. I think I've visited his grave site one time since he died 20+ years ago, even though I've driven right past it 50+ times. I fake caring about it in front of my mother, because I know she would feel bad if she knew that I won't be visiting her grave either. I don't get anything out of the experience and they're dead so they don't either

My wife also hates that I'm this way. She asks me where I want to be buried and I tell her that I'll be dead so I don't care what she does with me.

I often think about the people that have died in my life, but I feel like visiting the cemetery does zero for me or them. I know this is weird for most people and I'm the exception.

Glad I'm not the only one. I'll tell my wife/kids to do whatever they want with me when I'm gone - if it gives them peace to visit a grave (& they have the funds), go ahead & bury me. If not, don't.

 

[RLD4ISU]

For those that moved after retiring. Did you just sell off a lot of your stuff? How did you handle the move? Pods? Cost to move?

Would also be curious where you ended up moving and what the deciding factors were for that decision.

Retirement is about 5 1/2 year away and we've been (trying) to prepare for this part of it for the last 6 years. We've moved twice in that time (work related). It's given us the opportunity to get rid of what we don't use or need and has helped us take a good hard look at what we actually need or want. Not a big deal for the guys, but it's also helped me decide on things like decor & furniture.

We purposely bought the home we're currently in because of the location and style/type. It's in a fast growing area and although the house is much bigger than we need, we have viewed it as an investment.

We plan to move closer to our son - KC area - and plan to watch the real estate market. Since my husband works remotely, we may move prior to actual retirement. The hardest part for us is figuring out a happy compromise for me, my husband and son. I would be happy with a smaller home closer to our son and a condo with a boat slip at Lake of the Ozarks. My husband wants a lot more land for hunting, but I think might consider a smaller home closer to our son and some hunting ground a couple hours away. Our son has expressed he would like us to be close enough that he can come over to watch football games or just hang out together, plus help out as we age. So we're trying to figure out a good compromise for all. No grandchild and if that happens, it will be a huge game changer for my husband's wants.

Watching my parents age, seeing the care they need (Mom has dementia & now hospice visits their home daily), plus my son & his girlfriend cared for her mother that had & died from cancer last year. So that is also in our minds as we think about where to retire. Kinda morbid, but definitely an inevitable reality in life.

 

[RLD4ISU]

My sis & I are going to have a sit down with the folks about this whole thing over the summer. Want to go over their will, finances, what they want done with what stuff and money, when they plan to move out of the house, what to do with the house, PoA, end of life stuff... all of it.

It's a little depressing, but the folks (and by extension, sister & me) are super practical and pragmatic. So we will get it done, and one less thing to worry or panic about.

Good luck.

My parents have wills, a POA, living will, burial plots and headstone. I have been on them for 15 years (they're now 79 & 81) to plan ahead. Pay for and plan their funerals. The last two they have put off until the past year. My sister finally told my Dad if they didn't have that done and they didn't have money set aside to cover the costs, they would be cremated. That spurred Dad into action. He's more reactionary than proactive.

My parents still live at home. Dad is always "working" on something outside and has said if he dies doing that, then know that he would rather die that way than sitting in a recliner in front of the tv. I keep reminding him to be safe. He has had too many falls & a couple ER visits in the past year. One was for a severed artery in his head when a piece of metal fell on him while he was working on a chicken coop. Thankfully it didn't knock him out or he probably would've bled to death. I swear some days he's worse than a toddler.

My husband & I will be buried next to our youngest son. Neither of us cares for a funeral service and we'll leave it up to our living son if he wants a visitation. Last year we attended a memorial celebration of life for a friend and that changed our minds on a lot of the traditional ways. Everyone was able to sit down, talk and enjoy memories & each other's company during the celebration of life. Seems like there's not much time for that with a traditional service.

 

[Stormin]

Bought a lot in our township cemetery. On a hill surrounded by CRP and lots of wildlife. Absolutely serene. Ancestors are buried there. Increases the chance of a flower being dropped on my grave. Lot cost $100. 4 plots per lot. That’s $25 per.

 

[qwerty]

You are not using life expectancy correctly though. If it was 63 then because lots of children were dying (polio, measles, etc.) it is a meaningless number as far as social security goes. What would actually be useful is maybe the life expectancy of a 40 year old then and now as they would be moving into their peak earning years. If a 40 year old's life expectancy was say, 70 then and 80 now, that would be a lot longer to be collecting benefits. My guess is the difference isn't nearly that much though.

Life tables from 1940 (page 15)

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/lifetables/life39-41_acturial.pdf

Life tables from 2021 (page 3)

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-12.pdf

 

[CascadeClone]

Glad I'm not the only one. I'll tell my wife/kids to do whatever they want with me when I'm gone - if it gives them peace to visit a grave (& they have the funds), go ahead & bury me. If not, don't.

I have posted this before, but my gf wants to be cremated, put into a fanny pack, and have me carry her around everywhere and use the Royal "We" when talking to folks, like its her and I both.

It's really funny, but I think she might be serious. Luckily I am older so will probably won't have to size a fanny pack.

 

[BCClone]

I have posted this before, but my gf wants to be cremated, put into a fanny pack, and have me carry her around everywhere and use the Royal "We" when talking to folks, like its her and I both.

It's really funny, but I think she might be serious. Luckily I am older so will probably won't have to size a fanny pack.

Tell her you will put her in your new girlfriend fake boobs so you can look at and touch her all the time.

 

[CascadeClone]

Watching my parents age, seeing the care they need (Mom has dementia & now hospice visits their home daily), plus my son & his girlfriend cared for her mother that had & died from cancer last year. So that is also in our minds as we think about where to retire. Kinda morbid, but definitely an inevitable reality in life.

Better to think ahead, plan ahead, and have the inevitable happen the way you want it to. As opposed to having it be a surprise mess for those left behind to deal with it. Is it morbid yes, but I think if we face it with a little humor and humanity its a great thing.

OTOH, I read an article yesterday that said in the next 5-10 years, AI-powered medical advances may start to increase avg life expectancy by a more than 1 year per year rate. Not exactly immortality, but could prolong life a LOT longer (and healthier). So maybe the folks buying cemetery plots are suckers!

 

[CloniesForLife]

I think you'd discover rather quickly that this would be false. It looks like the U.S. spends 1.2 trillion on welfare programs per year. There are 340 million people in the U.S. , which would give every person $3,500/year. This would not come close to replacing the services provided by these welfare programs......I can't believe I'm defending government welfare programs but the math doesn't come close to working. Also, medical is by far the biggest slice of this pie.

Wouldn't it just be 18 years and older though? Looks like that number is 260 million. Still a lot but it does change it a bit

 

[BCClone]

Wouldn't it just be 18 years and older though? Looks like that number is 260 million. Still a lot but it does change it a bit

I’d go 19 to keep kids in school and not have them dropping out because a grand is a lot to an 18 yo. It’s not as much to a 40+