Retirement Surprises?

**forHISglory** · 01-23-2009, 09:50 AM

Just wondering if you have run into any surprises since you retired? Since you are a member of this forum, you probably did a lot of planning before you retired. Even so, surprises happen. Maybe it was a financial surprise: good or bad. Maybe a relationship surprise, or a surprise in how you use your time. Maybe your attitude took a surprising turn.

Or if you are not retired, but close, have you had any surprises as you do your planning?

I've had several surprises that I post a little later.

**Darlene** · 01-23-2009, 03:32 PM

Hubby is just about to retire (Feb27 is his last day) and not knowing when the retirement income will kick in totally has me really reining in spending in all areas. I usually don't worry so much about income but I am now.
To have just a little extra money we both have decided that we want to each work part time too. I'm looking forward to it but have a few butterflies about the changes ahead. Definately looking forward to a husband that isn't doing a job he dislikes. If he's happy it shows, he's a whistling fool.

Alot of whistling in our future.:woohoo1:

**forHISglory** · 01-23-2009, 03:43 PM

I'm back; had to make a trip to town.

OK. Now about the surprises. Like many of you, we planned and planned for retirement. We took a year of recording every single purchase, no matter how small, and categorizing it, so that we could see more clearly our spending habits. We already had no debt, so didn't have to worry about paying things off, but we looked at what new purchases might be needed in the near future. We sweat and agonized over health insurance and how to afford it. We had to make decisions about what to do with my 403b account. We had to give careful consideration to our hobbies, interests, charitable giving, etc. And then I held my breath. I just didn't see how it would work out. Hubby's pension was about 2/3 of his salary. I got no pension at all. I'm too young for social security, and Hubby will never get social security. Insurance was included for us when we worked, but was totally our responsibility after we retired. We're too young for medicare. So with both of us retiring, we were incurring the huge expense of insurance, while at the same time cutting our combined take home by 2/3. Could we make it on 1/3 of what we used to make together? Could we afford health insurance? Would we have to start using up our savings?

Here's the surprise. We are living pretty well. We are making it on the reduced amount. We are still debt free, and we have not yet touched our savings. And we can pay the health insurance. I was surprised at how some of our expenses went down. I was no longer driving an hour each way to work: big savings on gas and car expenses. No more professional wardrobes. I never did eat lunch out, so no real savings there. But I did buy more convenience foods when I was working, and now I don't. Insurance is our biggest expense. But we were fortunate to be offered group insurance through my husband's former job. So we are part of the group, but we have to pay the whole thing. We both have part time jobs, which helps to offset the lower salary, and hope to continue them until I can start social security. So that was our major surprise: that we could make it on a reduced income.

I was also surprised by how much I missed my job. I had serious withdrawal the first year. I was constantly thinking of where I would be at this time of the day, what I would be doing. I taught with a wonderful group of teachers, and I had great kids in my classes. I missed being with them.

I was surprised that I have become so busy, now that I'm in retirement. In fact, I turn down some invitations because I just don't have the time! And I'm doing things that I really enjoy, but never had the time to do before. I do volunteer work in several ways, and have taken up scrapbooking. I'm doing more photography. I have increased correspondence with distant friends and family. I'm keeping the cleaner than ever! I'm spending more time outside with flowers. I'm having fun planning and cooking meals, since I don't have to do them in a hurry.

So far, the surprises are good, and I'm grateful for that. How about your surprises?

**homesteadmamma** · 01-23-2009, 03:52 PM

Our surprises:

If you have no debt, you can live on very little income. I was totally surprised on just how little we live on and quite comfortably.

I was surpised how busy we are. I was surprised that dh isn't bored, always finding something to do. I was surprised he even got into gardening.

I was surprised I didn't miss working at all. I have a casual job (one day a month at the local library), however I wouldn't want to work full-time again.

I was surprised that neither of us have killed the other. We both love being retired.

**mombottoo** · 01-24-2009, 06:09 PM

The only major surprise (well not really) is that our IRA lost over $15,000 last year...what a bummer, sure hope the markets pick back up soon.

**rosey7415** · 01-24-2009, 08:27 PM

my dh is newly retired as of dec. 1st. we are in limbo at the moment with no health insurance. we are nervous wrecks about that. in mass. we will be covered by our state insurance. they told us it would only take a month for the transition.....yeah right! we keep calling and can't get a real person on the line and when we do they say this takes time. god willing nothing will happen to us while we are in limbo. my husband worked at a job for 25 years (polaroid) they went bankrupt. well, it was 2 years of slowly selling off the properties, laying off some, a bite at a time. the stress on the employees (who were all there for average 25-30 years.....was terrible.) they had an ax hanging over their heads.....every time there was going to be a layoff, there were scare tactics. it was a hell of a rollercoaster. thank god, dh was not there until the end. he had health problems and all of those that did went in the first waves. then he worked at t*** but was at the bottom of that ladder...(only 6 yrs.).......so he would be one of the first ones to go out on their layoffs. he went in the hospital, long story short is now on disability. we just found out that he would have been laid off just before christmas. phew!! my husband is enjoying the peace of mind that now he doesn't have to worry about any of that.

he still is working pt. somewhere else. he is loving retirement. we are making it, but when we get on medical depending on how much we have to pay.....still concerned on how high it will be. life is good.

**Jilly50** · 01-25-2009, 04:51 PM

I just turned 51 and my company is doing its best to fire me after I filed a workmens comp claim. so my "retirement" may be now.
health insurance? to hell with it...I cant do anything about not having it if i lose my job. I will use the local clinic that sees the "working poor" IF i can find a job that is at least 20 hrs per week (its a local charity and those are their particular rules)
I will of course be looking for another job , in fact I already am. The economy sucks of course and few are available. I will not work the rest of my life in a miserable company that sucks the life out of all its employees. I will live on a part time income if necessary. I will do anything I have to in order to survive (long as it aint illegal or immoral. I can eat peanut butter and beans a lot! There has to be more to life than this. Thank the good Lord, I am debt free and have about $150,000 in the bank. SO i will pray a lot and thank God for His mercies and see where this takes me....!

**rosey7415** · 01-25-2009, 05:14 PM

good luck to you jilly....jilly51 now?..lol you have a great attitude about it.....good for you!!!!

**Jilly50** · 01-25-2009, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by rosey7415

good luck to you jilly....jilly51 now?..lol you have a great attitude about it.....good for you!!!!

i will have to change my name now LOL......I worried myself half to death over this mess and finally let go...let go and let God as some say. I dont know what our generation will do about retirement and much of (in my case) is out of my hands. thanks!!

**Must-Stash** · 04-08-2009, 09:37 AM

How easily the personal adjustment came when DH lost his job in January and decided he'd probably have to retire prematurely is what surprised us the most.

We've been married almost 45 years and are loving the total togetherness 24/7 experience.

**rainbowgc** · 04-08-2009, 01:37 PM

We never expected the depth of my illness and the costs associated with it.
Health insurance eats a big chunk of "doing things' money.

**marjorie** · 04-08-2009, 05:52 PM

I am not retired, but ended up wondering if I'd have to take a medical retirement. After 8 months of being off, I am now working part time. My biggest surprise was how much liked having time off. I never really had any before, and I now know that retirement interests will not be an issue for me. $$ may, but not hobbies!