to put hundreds of dollars on the plastic. Why? In hopes of gaining approval from various (plastic) people. That's why. If there's one advantage to covid, it's there won't be quite as many hands out, begging/expecting you to shell out money - money, for which you get up each morning and go to your job - the one you chose to do, and stay on in.
Have to give an extra tip to this person, and to that person...uh, no i don't ;) Haven't been inside a restaurant since last February, nor have been inside a bar since around September or early October of 2018 - and i miss bars and restaurants about as much as i miss having $10 to get to Friday - and it's Wednesday.
Where is it written that we are commanded to go gadding about, spending money that we might not really have? Stat i read somewhere - don't know if it's accurate, but i'll bet it mostly is. Anyway, nearly half the people retiring are doing so with less than 10k in savings. Does that include burial money? Oh, i don't know...eh, maybe that explains all th' crispy-critterin' goin' on these days.
Anyway, it's real easy to judge someone for retiring early, but there could be reasons. Some jobs are physically demanding - like standing on a cement floor, in front of a cash register for several hours; that business can draw on a(n older) person's back. Some jobs have the built-in benefit of an ergonomic chair, desk and keyboard, but by 5pm in December it's dark...and transporter beams are still the stuff of star trek.
How did our grandparents manage? Uh, many didn't...didn't live to see their 60th, let alone, 65th birthday.
All's i know is, there's really good reason to buck up and push back against the annual Saturna Shakedown. Years down the road, when ya can't work - or atleast work steady - are those people you spent lots of money on, over the years, gonna float you a $20, so you can put gas in your car and be able to keep that dentist appointment?
Wouldn't count on it.
My mother-in-law was like that. She'd shell out money on showers, graduations, birthdays, (what. a. heist!) and whatever other gimmee-fests making the rounds. When she died, her three children split up her burial bill; yep, you guessed it, no savings, no life insurance. Was a nice funeral, not extravagant, but nothing cheapoid about it either - some ten years ago, the total bill was 11k.
Many people can't afford Christmas. I celebrate the winter solstice. I trade presents with 1 or 2 friends, that's it. Husband gets presents all years and we probably will buy each other some treats and maybe I will cook a turkey. Most don't realize that many people can't afford Christmas, not the way you see on TV. That's for the middle class and above. If I bought presents like they show on TV, no other bills would be paid.
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