You folks realize there is no plan now so anything is a improvement just keep it real or the point would be lost. I think I’m more realistic then some of the advice being given here as your talking retirement I’m talking survival what applies here really?

BOCO if it makes you happy I despise ignorant people bloviating about things they know nothing about you are in a worse situation than I thought. You talk about socialist(closet) and say you are conservative. You are no more conservative than Bernie Sanders. Maybe by Canadian standards but you would not make a pimple on an American conservatives but cheek. LLL

Why isn't it realistic? My autistic daughter works full time at wally world and made over 30 grand last year. Dave could go out and make 40 grand but he doesn't want to. If he would go out and make 35 to 45k a year until 66 and a half he'd increase his SSI distribution significantly.



No one can work for ever. That extra now sounds okay but what about the day he isn't physically able to work anymore? We'll all get there.Can he live on 1100 a month then?

Do I have it figured out for myself? Pretty much I do barring a life changing medical event or a dollar crash. Even then I like to think i'm lined out right.



I think I'm talking about survival. Any bets on if his house is paid for? How's he going to pay for a different trapping vehicle? Things are getting exponentially more expensive and the numbnuts in washington aren't even close to done printing more inflation.

Let me ask you this jerry, do you know or see people around you in their 80s who dont have enough money? Maybe have to scrimp on their medications or food? I watched my ex wife's parents go through it and gave them a bit of help and still helping the mom. Not a good situation to be in. Stinkypete hit the nail on the head, most people don't realize what's coming and what inflation does to their buying power.






You sure FDR wasn't smart enough to realize that SSI would become a slush fund for the gubbemint?

so ur saying no taxes on $1089 soacil security at all unless u make more certain dollar amount combined with ss? U get whole $1089? Except medicare gets subtracted? Definately sounds like old folks home unless something changes, those places are horrid

We can do all the planning we want unless coon man picks a path it won’t matter really if he won’t do it now will he do it later, how much help do you give your daughter in her daily life? He will need to do it on his own whatever path he chooses.

Could I live on $950 a month sure I’ve lived on less when I had to, that would of been heaven sent.

Careful - you are bloviating.
I bet you had to look up that word.
You claim to be a Christian-that is a bunch of BS.
You only wear that hat for some sort of monetary advantage no doubt.

To the subject of Social Security, its been somewhat difficult to navigate that agency since March of 2020. All the local offices have been closed for over a year due to CV-19. Trying to communicate with them by phone or through their website has been a challenge, especially for many older Americans.

Because the federal gov bureaucratic leadership--remember the people who are not elected or political appointees--are chickens**ts!! My group has now entered our 2nd year of banishment from the office and have to work from home. Most of the people such as the SS people are also working from home, and they have to help the public. I don't have to deal with the public so its a bit easier for everyone involved except I get dam bored of my basement. The criteria of "community covid activity" is so low that I don't think most of us would be allowed to return to the office unless we're vaxed. So far, the food chain has said (sort of) that getting vaxed wasn't the factor of returning to the office, but that was last year. I'm sure the Bidenites will make it a condition; why not, they've violated a number of the Bill of Rights, why should anything like HIPPA stand in their way. We'll see...

Jerry, I'd say it's been a long time since you tried to live on 950 a month.

Can it be done for 5 to 20 years? Not without assistance.

Your also not factoring in inflation. 10 years from now that 950 will be worth 700 if we are lucky.

I'm gonna spend all my money and let my kids take care of me.

Coonman sometimes fur prices are so low it is pointless to trap. Take a break!

Coonman .... I know you love to trap. The only place you might be able to make a profit trapping would be Alaska. You might be able to also to get a place in Alaska on Government land we’re you don’t own it but lease it or live on it free in the wilderness like the people on these tv shows do. If you could do that , build you a 600 sq foot cabin trap and hunt all your food. You might be able to make it on 1100.00 a month and still trap. No truck just a horse , snow machine and 18 foot v bottom boat with 50 hp motor. Plus maybe marry a Eskimo woman and then you would be set. It could be done in Alaska in the right place. MD

Yes Alaska is a socialites utopia. Every village is pretty much socialist.
One thing that you forgot is the prices are so high that $950 wont go far unless he likes moose meat and salmon six times a week. gas $6.50 a gln. A small jar of Mayo or peanut butter is $10

Forget all the naysayers and penny pinchers. How can a guy live like that. lol

What you want to do coonman is save up a few of this checks eating rahmen noodles and get on a plane to a third world country. (it will be better than this SH soon) they have cheap affordable medical, you will be rich with your SS check coming in every month, all the women will want you. Then when your broke down instead of giving all your life's savings to doctors and a retirement home, get a live nurse to take care of you for about $100 a month.

Your welcome.

As a Christian there is nothing I said that was not true. I am to discern right from wrong. You are ignorant which means you are unaware. You are definately unaware of a Christian life. Don't know if I am the one to help you with that. I guess I would be willing to try. LLL

If coonman takes his SS at 62 and got the full amount until they started taking out for Medicare he would be in the best shape he has been in a long time you would think. That would equal around $41,000 of guaranteed income plus what he’s making at work or on the side trapping or otherwise. Giving up $41,000 is just nuts when so much can be done with it.

This isn't a bad idea and actually my wife and I have talked a lot about doing just this. We have no kids so it makes it easier for us. I really like Mexico or one of the Caribbean countries. I haven't been there and am not interested in the Asian countries or somewhere like that. We honestly think the U.S. has gone past the point of no return.

It is pretty obvious that Coonman has worked most of his life. He has not stood in line with his hand out like so many have. But, unfortunately, like so many other Americans, he has lived hand to mouth and has not built up a nest egg for the future other than what the government forced him to do through Social Security. And now he is seeing that SS is not sufficient to keep him living in the style he has become accustomed to even if he stays healthy.

Arguments can and have been made on both sides about when to start drawing his SS. If he starts drawing it early and continues to live from pay check to pay check, he may be more comfortable for a few years as long as he is able to work. If he starts drawing early and puts most or all the SS away for the future and lives off of what he makes working, he can certainly extend his comfortable years. Or, if he continues to work or maybe even improves his work situation and waits until his retirement age, he will get a bigger SS check. But with any of these scenarios, he will probably need to keep working at least part time as long as he is able to make ends meet.

It is near impossible for us to know what is best when we do not have all of the background info to factor in as well. Owning or not owning a home or other assets certainly needs to be factored into any decision.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best!

The government LOVES those that DONT start collecting at age 62.Im retired and did all the math.Those that wait till 65 or 68 need to live well into their 90s to make up for what they lost not collecting at 62.Good luck with that.

I used to think Bozo was just busting our American balls.Now I realise hes actually just stupid.Lucky for him,,he even looks the part. PAKISTANADA

I prepared for retirement the house is paid off, I had no car payment then I installed a wood boiler and no credit card debt to drag me down. I did buy a new truck in 2018 so that’s the only payment I have. Far from rich but far from poor, with a little planning you just need to hustle a bit is all.