Working to age 65 and beyond

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Nancy

Well-Known Member
On the radio today, I heard a speaker/writer (when I'm working around the house, I only catch parts of the radio commentary) suggesting that we should work to 65 and beyond, for both financial reasons and general well-being reasons. I stopped at age 60 because, although I didn't have a full pension, I felt that we older people needed to open up spaces for younger workers. I still 'work' as a volunteer, and as a LLWL, and occasionally at my brother-in-law's shoe store. Thoughts?
 
I am retiring at the end of August. I will be 61. My husband and I are both very ready and want to move on to new ventures. I will never get a full pension. I will though, have enough for what we want to do. Both my husband and I plan to pick up part-time or casual jobs along the way. I am not sure my work will be in my chosen profession. I don't feel I have it in me to continue in my current position until I am 65. If I could get a three or four day a week position I might be able to last longer.

I recently heard something somewhere. Not sure where I heard it, likely the radio. That person suggested that people who work longer die sooner. Interesting. I suspect there is something in between.
 
I retired at the age of 58. Had to take early retirement with a small financial penalty.

I was ready. Especially with Mr Paradox having retired six months earlier.
 
My husband didn't work anywhere long enough to get a pension, but he has Canada Pension and Old Age pension, which helps. We have lived frugally, so have house and car paid off. We have some savings, so feel we have enough to live on. My sister was telling me about a friend whose husband occasionally has to work despite two healthy pensions....because their lifestyle (home here, home in Arizona, motorhome) requires more money than their two pensions can provide.
 
My husband didn't work anywhere long enough to get a pension, but he has Canada Pension and Old Age pension, which helps. We have lived frugally, so have house and car paid off. We have some savings, so feel we have enough to live on.

Another thing we have in common. You could be describing our situation except Seelerman did work at the same place for many years - but he was laid off for several months each winter and the company didn't provide a pension plan.
 
I am in the position of having a much older spouse. Once she retires (not far off), then my clock starts ticking. I am thinking 60 but we shall see. With the team I have now, I could probably retire confident that I was leaving things in good hands and we definitely have the financial angle covered.
 
My father worked until he was in his 80's
He retired from his corporate job, then started up a small woodworking business, and also did general work for Zehrs. My mom worked there. It started with Dad being the "guy at the door" when they were starting up a new store. He also did general work for them, small deliveries, etc.
He became a marshall and starter, and continued doing that for a golf course until he couldn't see to drive, well, not too long after it.

My mother worked until she was 65, but, then volunteered a bunch.

I retired from corporate life 2 years ago. I am now consulting. There aren't many in my field, so not something that I am blokign someone younger from having a job. In fact, I am training people younger to do my job. Hoping that they will be ready in 3 years to step in., or step up.

My spouse retired from corporate life early, but then did corporate events, and also did professional photography. He has just hit 66, and he is busy in retirement items, as well as house hunting. He still has a business and does some contract work.
 
My husband and I just hit fifty. I am already encouraging him to begin thinking about retirement. He works as a lawyer in a brutal, old-boys, corporate structure where 80-hour work weeks are not at all unusual. I would like him out before he has a heart attack at his desk.

We started saving at a very young age. I had an RRSP by the time I was 21. We should be good.
 
My husband and I just hit fifty. I am already encouraging him to begin thinking about retirement. He works as a lawyer in a brutal, old-boys, corporate structure where 80-hour work weeks are not at all unusual.
Oh man. That must have been hard when you were the primary caregiver for Matthew! I can't even imagine.
 
And there are those of us who live by "seat of our pants" budgetting, and retire when we have had enough (once we have our 100% pension, anyway), then somehow make do after that.
 
I have lived most of my life, fairly precariously, as a member of the lower middle class, or the working poor as Jae might describe us. I own a little house on the edge of town with a fairly small mortgage, having bought my sisters out of their inheritance some years ago. I have a pension that scrapes me through from month to month and a boarder in the bed-sitting room/bachelor apt in the basement. I am never going to be a rich senior. I sell a bit of jam, a bit of salve, a bit of baking, occasionally, do a bit of dog walking, to supplement. Thanks to my parents, I know how to squeeze a penny.
 
I have lived most of my life, fairly precariously, as a member of the lower middle class, or the working poor as Jae might describe us. I own a little house on the edge of town with a fairly small mortgage, having bought my sisters out of their inheritance some years ago. I have a pension that scrapes me through from month to month and a boarder in the bed-sitting room/bachelor apt in the basement. I am never going to be a rich senior. I sell a bit of jam, a bit of salve, a bit of baking, occasionally, do a bit of dog walking, to supplement. Thanks to my parents, I know how to squeeze a penny.

Just for a giggle ... a mite tight as some of us have to be? Did Jesus respect the lady with two mites to give? That will bug some as a metaphor to the end of time ...
 
I have been the main breadwinner through ten years of married life and after Mr. Ex-Anteater did not contribute much to raising Junior, because he only worked part time and didn’t pay more than what he had to. So I didn’t have much extra to put in an RRSP and just hope to have the house paid off when I turn 62. Planing to save then for two years and maybe retire at 64.
Or earlier when I win the lottery. I feel close to ready to get out of the health system, but also see that I will have to find volunteer jobs to keep going. Somehow, I would love to work in a Cafe part time. I was talking to our Speech language pathologist who is going to retire in two weeks, but will still work something else. We both agreed that we were longing for a job where you just go home and can forget about it until eight o clock next morning.
 
Oh man. That must have been hard when you were the primary caregiver for Matthew! I can't even imagine.

Let's just say that there were many times I wasn't sure my marriage would survive. And I was often angry about the whole arrangement. But survive we did and things are better. I remind my husband regularly that I am a saint to have stayed with him. He laughs.
 
And there are those of us who live by "seat of our pants" budgetting, and retire when we have had enough (once we have our 100% pension, anyway), then somehow make do after that.
And then there's the opposite - those who don't have the choice to stay working, or lose their jobs and can't find employment easily.
 
Yes, although my job was hardly 'high end, paywise, I was lucky to be in a union environment, and get my full pension once I reached the 85 factor. I had two kids to bring up as well, pretty well on my own. Life doesn't really hand out even hands of cards, does it.
 
ps. Nancy, I have heard stats like yours, those who work longer, live longer...but, maybe it is type of work, and also volume of work.
Northwind, it may be that those who die young don't slow down or shift or ..whatever.

I second guess my decision to keep working every week...and I think if I wasn't doing it, i would 2nd guess that decsion.
Right now, the challenge and intersting work is winning.
 
We both agreed that we were longing for a job where you just go home and can forget about it until eight o clock next morning.

That's a factor for me. I've worked in healthcare for some time now. I don't know how many more Fentanyl overdoses or personality disorders I have in me. I will have to renew my professional registration at the end of June, so will have that for almost a year until I decide whether to let it drop. Working part-time in retail or maybe at RV parks is attractive many days.
 
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