why did you work at a job you hated for 4 decades+?

^^but you just made him worry about his money situation...

what is your procedure and plan for dealing with anxiety?

Everyone’s life leads them in different directions. Why they stay at one job they hate. Some people change jobs when the wind blows a different direction. All that I know. Worry is like interest in a bank you will never earn. Everything will work out. It always does. The sun will rise. The sun will set. Take one day at a time. Good luck. Enjoy your new life

A lot of good suggestions on here. I know a couple guys who recently retired and both of them started a small lawn care business. Buy a trailer, a lawnmower, and a weed whacker and I imagine you can find all the work and extra income you want. I know they can't even keep up with all the work they have. Find a couple clients, do a good job and in no time you'll be turning down work. Just don't take TOO many jobs... you're retired... enjoy it. Save time to go fishing and trapping.

This is a game changer! I am in the same boat with no wife and kids. I was able to draw a full pension with no survivor benefit and I make just about as much as I did working without touching my 401K. As a single guy and assuming you have made decent financial decisions, RETIRE! Don't look back and just do it. Work 3 partial days at the local hardware store to get out of the house, make your extra pocket money and enjoy your 10% employee discount.

Your addicted to the check is the problem Ive seen a lot of people living the life they hated to get that check. They made the move and have never been happier since they experienced the freedom. When I retired at 58 I did not owe anyone a dime just the usual monthly bills.

Don’t for get a lot of the work and back expenses are gone so just budget wisely, eat out less that saves on food costs most folks learn to live within their means.

Worry does nothing to benefit you and does a lot to harm you. If you didn't save enough in 42 years than 50 year would not make a difference realistically than would it?


Your spending will adjust to your income. You rent so could move to a less expensive place maybe somewhere you always wanted to try living. You can be happy living in a tent and miserable living in a rich man's estate. Life is what you make of it . You won't only do well but you will thrive with the right mind set.

I often get discouraged working a ton of overtime and feel like I'm not getting ahead fast enough. 80 hrs a week is common. I'm younger at 42 but been in the same ot trap 17 years. I do like my job.

Now my feeling about not geting ahead are base less. Not getting ahead as fast as I should is fact but I'm still moving the right direction. Recently I decided I don't seem to save as much as I think I should each month it seems to dissappear but the few i have payments also get made. So I got on line and added 1000 a month to go to principal on my rent houses payment. If I keep it at that it will be paid off in 17 months instead of over 9 years. Yes it cuts down on saving for other projects but I know I'm moving ahead and always have something to show for it. Sometimes you just need to try a different approach.


Do you have a good running trapping truck? Coonman could probably use a good roommate and trapping partner as long as your not lazy. Lol.

I'm hopeful in 2 years to be 100% debt free and have a rental income coming in. But I also really want fencing and a new building so that may not last. But it's a goal. When I fall short I just change it up reevaluate.


The best place I found to quiet my mind when it's in overdrive is in church and in scripture. If you find the right church you will be amazed the difference it makes in every aspect of your life.

There is no such thing as a $20,000 cap on your income!!!

Yeah, if you make more than the limit, they will tax you on it. So, what? You are still money ahead.

I ran a lot of numbers and decided to start drawing at age 62. Now, at age 76 i find that if I am lucky enough to die in the next six years, i win.

BTW, when I said I started drawing, that is exactly what I meant, I did not retire, still haven't. Now I work when I want and do what I want. Life is good.

With a few bucks coming in you buy yourself plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. Just do something. Doing nothing is a death sentence.

Yes my brother the CPA said Marty let’s say for some reason you THINK you don’t have enough money coming in you can always go back into Manufacturing Management any time with another company at probably your old salary or more but you will be taxed on it. He said that’s ok you would probably only want to do it 2 or 3 years at most anyways. I just need to look at the column of + ‘s and the Column of - ‘s I made made the last few months and realize it was a good decision I made last Friday and then be positive and go forward. Thanks folks. MD

If your in that bad of shape and qualify for disability that would be your golden ticket, a check and insurance all in one if that’s the way you need to go.

I retired last June at 56 and 7 months. I had 35+ years.

My expenses went down as I no longer have a commute (mine was 160 miles daily) or as much incidental spending; fast meal out, stops at the grocery store for something I wanted vs need, and other impulse buys..

I got a 6week old pup 3 days before my last day at work. He helps me with idle time ( there is little)

The first 3 months I put on shoes with laces and long pants 3 times...It felt great.

I have many small things that I work on when I feel like it.

You will be fine. It amazed me how much money I spent on different things that I no longer do,

A guy could spend a lot of time keeping busy fixing and selling the junk he has laying around his place. Find your passion the figure ways to make a living at it or whatever floats your boat.

In June I will be retired 10 years I was just a few days short of 56. Started collecting SS 4 years ago at 62. Hated my job.
I HAVE NOT MISSED WORKING FOR ONE SECOND IN 10 YEARS!!
That said I worked close to 100 hour weeks for years piling up money for retirement.
I hunt, trap, fish, or shoot nearly every day.
Just live within your income and you will be fine.
I stressed over retirement befor I retired. Not after!!

yes it COST money to work. Depending on what you do. MY wife for example got rid of a 50 buck a week dry cleaning bill when she retired from the highschool...That was 11 years ago. Can't imagine that bill today since they started taxing that service. PLUS bobo and putin's inflation.....

Hopefully maryd takes into consideration the source and summarily ignores it. Man, some people, I swear...

You are experiencing the new unknown, it's a relative short time to go through really

Once you are accustomed to your new way of life things will fall into place, takes a while for everyone to go through.

You said your health is bad, this say's to me your really worrying about your mortality and what life you have left
forget about that really just take the day's one at a time, about the funds coming in everyone adjusts to that as well.

About not saving thats hocus pocus, I hate it when some one chastises another for not saving, they do not know what your life is like or what you went through getting to where you are, and it's none of their business either, things work out they always do

I'm 69 took my SS when I turned 66 Medicare at 65 per the rules, waited on the full SS but I still work full time as well
I don't get penalized for working full time as I waited till my FRA makes a difference in attitude towards working as well. I'm looking to stop work this year at 70. I'm worried about doing it as well, as I've worked all my life since 16, and I have lots of things to take up the time, but still worry about it and I'm not even there yet, just saying you are not alone in your thoughts !! I get crap every day for still working at work from other people, it never ends, but I let it slip by, people just don't get it about life !

You got it in you to do what you need, you just have to realign your priorities is all.

Good Luck, there is always something to do

You will be fine! I'm betting you'll figure things out as you go and a year from now you will be happier and healthier.

Exactly what I have done at 54.

Martyd -- I think i have been where you are at -- worked one job that got me to the point that i didn't care whether i lived or died. i wasn't to the point of killing myself but if i saw a truck coming at me - i don't believe i would have made the effort to step out of the way. I now have 2 small businesses and a paying hobbie. At 54 - I am quite a way from retirement and have had to learn to be a housewife also. Definetely worth the change ---- there is a life out there and it is what you make of it. if you ever want to talk about it pm me.