General Discussion

liberal N proud

(60,331 posts)

117. If they have money!

Sat Mar 9, 2013, 08:13 AM

Mar 2013

That is one key component. If you don't have it or if your employer is putting it in a 401K automatically, it leaves you with little extra cash to put away.

The squeeze on the middle class is preventing people from saving.

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Have Americans Given Up On Saving for Retirement? [View all] Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 OP

They never mention that people don't have money to put away upaloopa Mar 2013 #1

Hard to save... awoke_in_2003 Mar 2013 #2

Exactly. Grateful for Hope Mar 2013 #11

You mean "chained" inflation.... WCGreen Mar 2013 #44

Yep. nt awoke_in_2003 Mar 2013 #86

They're just trying to get by today. ananda Mar 2013 #3

When food is a luxury it's impossible to think about saving. VenusRising Mar 2013 #4

It takes an income of $150,000 per year, on average cheapdate Mar 2013 #5

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you Victor_c3 Mar 2013 #60

1,300 sq. ft PasadenaTrudy Mar 2013 #73

If you don't live in a cardboard box ... oldhippie Mar 2013 #75

Do you live in an expensive place? Or don't have insurance? Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #103

You call being alive in Dallas living? Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #104

Actually, Dallas is a blue oasis compared to most of the state. eom ChisolmTrailDem Mar 2013 #134

Referring more to the actual city and its inhabitants than the political environment. Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #136

No, I don't live in an expensive place. cheapdate Mar 2013 #113

Ahhhh....your wife doesn't work, and your vehicle is a truck. Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #122

My truck is not pricey. cheapdate Mar 2013 #125

Kids can be intelligent, well adjusted, and happy when Mom works. Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #128

Yes, two-income, working families can raise well-adjusted kids. cheapdate Mar 2013 #129

I see those ads, with serene, smiling early retirees on adventure trips to New Zealand CTyankee Mar 2013 #138

Times are tough. Zax2me Mar 2013 #6

I've cut back to "bare bones" on everything..so..yes..but KoKo Mar 2013 #7

It makes you think social security and medicare are going to be needed more not less Johonny Mar 2013 #8

No indeed. The center cannot hold. ananda Mar 2013 #58

First, one has to have excess to save. longship Mar 2013 #9

I am so f***ed smirkymonkey Mar 2013 #10

Where do you work? teenagebambam Mar 2013 #30

Its a start. daleanime Mar 2013 #55

Unfortunately I work for a large Fortune 500 corporation, so that's not an option for me smirkymonkey Mar 2013 #89

This one has. bluedigger Mar 2013 #12

"undersaved" according to "experts" means not having a million dollars or more by retirement. Matariki Mar 2013 #13

My parents' generation had pensions Matariki Mar 2013 #14

Given up or inability to have have anything to save? hobbit709 Mar 2013 #15

It's my #1 line item in the budget high density Mar 2013 #16

The giant sucking sound of student loans taking all excess income... tokenlib Mar 2013 #17

Not me. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #18

Well good for you..and I'm glad everything worked out for you... tokenlib Mar 2013 #19

It has been due to in large part to the choices I made, granted. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #20

Let's blame people for circumstances beyond their control. Lovely. duffyduff Mar 2013 #22

So you're extraordinarily lucky *and* you're selfish Orrex Mar 2013 #26

"Extraordinarily" lucky? Please...I'm hardly exceptional in this regard. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #32

Lots of people have made the same choices that you have made Orrex Mar 2013 #34

What "good fortune of circumstance" have I enjoyed? Peter cotton Mar 2013 #39

You haven't run into misfortune Orrex Mar 2013 #42

Right on Notafraidtoo Mar 2013 #45

Really? I survived stage 3 cancer last year. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #47

Put simply, I don't believe you. Orrex Mar 2013 #63

Simply put, I don't give a shit. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #67

The word that was mistyped enlightenment Mar 2013 #80

If that's the case, it was asserted that I make 4 to 5 times the median income in the US, Peter cotton Mar 2013 #93

You should probably know by now ... oldhippie Mar 2013 #109

Well....you could have Stage 4 cancer like me. Evoman Mar 2013 #96

My deepest sympathies. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #97

Oh, darn. Having kids was the "wrong" choice, I guess. Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #28

I never asserted that having children is a "wrong" choice. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #35

what wrong choices? CreekDog Mar 2013 #37

I never asserted that anyone made a "wrong" choice. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #41

I think you've caught on ...... oldhippie Mar 2013 #110

This message was self-deleted by its author HangOnKids Mar 2013 #118

You are absolutely right, you did not assert anyone made a wrong choice. bike man Mar 2013 #130

Lots of people made the right choices Le Taz Hot Mar 2013 #57

Your actions will also have "consequences"... OldDem2012 Mar 2013 #62

You appear to think that anyone who doesn't marry or have cihildren Peter cotton Mar 2013 #78

I've heard of both, but based on your description of yourself.... OldDem2012 Mar 2013 #84

For The Win! HangOnKids Mar 2013 #119

Getting married and having kids is a wrong choice in life? gollygee Mar 2013 #65

I didn't say that. It's *a* choice, not (necessarily) the wrong choice. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #69

You're delusional. llmart Mar 2013 #72

While I Agree RobinA Mar 2013 #85

"Hell, anymore, I don't even know what a smart choice is." Brigid Mar 2013 #105

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Mar 2013 #91

you sound very republican Skittles Mar 2013 #106

The solution is clear, then. Let's all work for the government! Doremus Mar 2013 #132

How odd; I don't recall asserting that government jobs were easy to acquire today... Peter cotton Mar 2013 #133

Peter cotton loves him some whale steaks, yee hah! Doremus Mar 2013 #135

It isn't a matter of "making the right choices." The truth is you have VERY little control duffyduff Mar 2013 #23

Testify! Orrex Mar 2013 #27

More important than your $200k is your double coverage for health care. dkf Mar 2013 #24

My health benefits will continue to be subsidized by my employer after I retire. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #38

It's $11,000 a month here. dkf Mar 2013 #40

"subsidized by my employer after I retire." Lordquinton Mar 2013 #52

that guy does not get it Skittles Mar 2013 #107

No, he doesn't Lordquinton Mar 2013 #114

you can also have many pairs of boots Skittles Mar 2013 #115

Wow - people are beating you up OutNow Mar 2013 #48

No, Orrex Mar 2013 #71

Most members here don't like John Galt Capt. Obvious Mar 2013 #79

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Mar 2013 #90

Virtually every poster responds to the OP with, "My situation stinks. Here's why." Peter cotton Mar 2013 #94

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Mar 2013 #95

CORRECT Skittles Mar 2013 #108

We don't like your kind ..... oldhippie Mar 2013 #111

LOL HangOnKids Mar 2013 #120

No money, no savings. No job, no money, no savings. Low-paid job, little money, no savings. duffyduff Mar 2013 #21

Retirement? HoneychildMooseMoss Mar 2013 #25

It used to be that you could "save" for college if you had modest means. Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #29

I'm trying to go through the motions madville Mar 2013 #31

what a stupid article. yeah, for some reason people just 'threw in the towel'. idiotic propaganda. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #33

I plan to work until I die. killbotfactory Mar 2013 #36

......Muffy and I....... olddots Mar 2013 #43

I lived like I was poor Go Vols Mar 2013 #46

Pretty much every problem America has or is facing, including this one . . . HughBeaumont Mar 2013 #70

I lived like I was poor... and succeeded! Eleanors38 Mar 2013 #127

OK, now what? OutNow Mar 2013 #49

College isn't a guaranteed money maker Go Vols Mar 2013 #50

College is still the single best statistical investment one can make economically mythology Mar 2013 #98

I am sure that is true for some Go Vols Mar 2013 #100

Not sure what money you are talking about. Live and Learn Mar 2013 #56

Somebody will take care of us ...... oldhippie Mar 2013 #112

"More than half don't trust anyone's advice", sounds about right as they shouldn't just1voice Mar 2013 #51

+1 nt Live and Learn Mar 2013 #59

I have. Live and Learn Mar 2013 #53

Retirement was a nice dream and even reality for the last 2 generations. Live and Learn Mar 2013 #54

Yet more proof to anyone who.. sendero Mar 2013 #61

There has to be something to save LWolf Mar 2013 #64

Nobody's giving up, but let's face it . . . HughBeaumont Mar 2013 #66

The takeaway... sendero Mar 2013 #68

A few of PasadenaTrudy Mar 2013 #74

Given UP? - NO it is just that it is nearly impossible to save for retirement liberal N proud Mar 2013 #76

Most kinds of investments don't get "wiped out" in a recession unless they get sold low. slackmaster Mar 2013 #92

And if you are forced to retire during a recession? liberal N proud Mar 2013 #99

My IRAs are in the same boat as your 401k. I am reallocating to less volatile investments now. slackmaster Mar 2013 #131

anybody can put money into an IRA hfojvt Mar 2013 #116

If they have money! liberal N proud Mar 2013 #117

That was a very good explanation of the benefits .... oldhippie Mar 2013 #123

To many people sold low, and now are buying high JPZenger Mar 2013 #77

Oh, for Pete's sake. There isn't any money to "invest" for the vast majority. duffyduff Mar 2013 #81

Yup - sell low, buy high OutNow Mar 2013 #87

Story during the Depression JPZenger Mar 2013 #137

For a Long Time RobinA Mar 2013 #82

Chapter 7: Retirement and Education Savings FarCenter Mar 2013 #83

I am already retired, but it was not my choice. RebelOne Mar 2013 #88

Many boomers don't have a choice. We are also having to help our children and grandchildren. southernyankeebelle Mar 2013 #101

Wages stagnate, prices rise..... so I have devised a new plan for retirement DJ13 Mar 2013 #102

The meaning of "retirement" will change supernova Mar 2013 #121

Save what? Octafish Mar 2013 #124

Retirement plans are raided by Wall Street, the banksters and the politicians. peace13 Mar 2013 #126