How many $$ will you need when you retire to live on?

**homesteadmamma** · 01-24-2009, 08:38 PM

It's actually amazing what you can live on when you retire (if you have no debts).

What do you think you'll need to live comfortably?

**forHISglory** · 01-24-2009, 09:07 PM

Without going into actual numbers, we are living on about 1/3 of what we made while both of us were still working full time.

**3tomboys** · 01-24-2009, 10:25 PM

I honestly do not know. Of course the financial advisor thinks a million is a good number, but I think DH and I frustrate him because we don't agree. Of course he goes along with us and has for years. We have always been of the opinion that if we have no debts then we will live with what we have at the time we retire. This does not mean that we are not planning for it. It is a high priority for us. We have always wanted to retire early (due to health issues in dh's family and now my family) so we could enjoy a few nice trips. We will be very happy to have enough put away for that and to just pay are expenses as they come up and not be a burden to are dd's.

**scottVee** · 01-25-2009, 03:13 AM

I can't imagine that we'll have the luxury of retiring.

Hmm. I was going to say more, but that sums it up.

**sunshine** · 01-25-2009, 09:26 AM

We'll need approx. 1/4 of what I am currently earning. That's what we live on now - and we throw 3/4 of my income at debt.

**khjmom** · 01-25-2009, 10:03 AM

We haven't thought about it that much....since it is awhile away. but we have family that are living on aroun $1500 a month. They have no car payment, no morgage...but it seems medical & prescriptions eat up alot of that. It's something to think about...

**rainbowgc** · 01-25-2009, 12:34 PM

With over 1 million and no debt, not even a mortgage, we thought we were safe; then the value of our portfolio dropped drastically in the recent fall of the stock market and I have huge medical costs. (Dh is retired and on medicare) We are squeezing by hoping to hang onto our stocks until they recover. I can't work because I am disabled, and am in the waiting for a hearing hold; plus even when I get my check it will only offset the costs of my health insurance until I get medicare, then there is a 2 year wait for that. DH can't work because of his own disabilities. Now I think you can never know how much you truly need for retirement!

**dcompton** · 01-25-2009, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by rainbowgc

Now I think you can never know how much you truly need for retirement!

I agree with this. There are too many unknowns. I think all we can do is provide as much as we can and hope for the best. A friend, very knowledgeable financially, sent me last summer to her financial advisor to get his input. When he asked what my monthly expenses were, he just looked at me incredulously and said, "That's all?" I think that, aside from the killers like huge medical costs, we can live on a lot less than most of the experts think we can. For my part, I will be very happy to sit in a chair a crochet cheap yarn and read library books in my retirement, if that happy but increasingly unlikely day ever comes. It all depends on expectations and lifestyle choices.

**banana** · 01-29-2012, 01:34 PM

We haven't really thought about it and don't want to stress about it.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-29-2012, 01:42 PM

Well our mortgage will be paid off in 1-2 years and we will have 1 car instead of 2. And no kids here w/ 1/3 of all the animals we have now.
So I estimate 50% of take home. But Dh hopes to keep consulting anyway.

**zakity** · 01-29-2012, 02:13 PM

We are looking into part-time jobs to do after we retire. We would like to have 1.5 million put back, but reality is that it will most likely be less than a million.

**forHISglory** · 01-29-2012, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by banana

We haven't really thought about it and don't want to stress about it.

While I don't advocate stress, I do advocate thinking about retirement NOW.... and planning... and saving....

I'm a baby boomer, and sadly, I see many my age who never gave retirement a thought; they just thought that somehow it would all work out. But it's not working out, and they are facing disaster. Some have home and cars and debt paid off, but no savings, no pension.... Others are in hock up to their necks, and see absolutely no future for themselves except to fall on the mercy of their families or government. It's an uncertain economy, and all of our plans can change suddenly. But it's better to have planned and saved, than not to have anything.

Hubby and I began planning for retirement when we were about 30 or so. We weren't terribly serious about it, as at that age, it didn't seem possible for retirement age to ever come. But before we knew it, BOOM! We were retired. Thankfully, we were used to a frugal lifestyle, and did not have expensive desires. We had learned to be content with life as we could afford it. We also had been saving for many years, and time is on your side when you save and invest. If you wait, you lose on that aspect.

So.... don't stress unnecessarily now, but better now than to stress when you are 65 and realize that your prime earning years are behind you, and that you are going to have more and more medical needs, and that you have nothing more than $1000 a month social security to meet all your needs. Talk about stress....

**larabelle** · 01-29-2012, 02:35 PM

I am thinking 1/4 of what I currently earn. I have no kids and I am currently saving to pay cash for a house so no mortgage. I would like to work part time in retirement. I am saving...saving...saving for retirement.

**frugalfranny** · 01-29-2012, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by dcompton

I think that, aside from the killers like huge medical costs, we can live on a lot less than most of the experts think we can.

I agree!

I think what they are usually 'projecting' is living some sort of 'one size fits all' comfortable living experience and that just doesn't work. (not everyone wants to golf, cruise, or ??? everyday)

If I have lived on what I made all my life.........excluding medical---it should continue into old age. The medical is a whole other issue that you don't know and only have control over to a certain extent.

**bookwormpeg** · 01-29-2012, 06:47 PM

It really depends on your lifestyle and your health...I am frugal but I am not healthy (not my fault)......and remember, you can be healthy as a horse, get sick with a cold and end up having major medical problems.... As others have said, the medical will kill you...I will be on medicare in June....as of right now, my meds are very expensive....Thank God I was able to keep my insurance until I turn 65 in June.....the premium takes 1/2 of my ss check.....with medicare, I will fall into the donut hole the third month and then after paying $4700 (the gap- 4 months for me) I then go into catastrophic for the remaining 5 months...My premiums will cost close to $400 a month...then I have my drugs which will cost anywhere from the highest months of $650 to the lowest months of $187 ..it is mind boggling....One drug insurance I checked into wouldn't cover my most expensive med and they said my annual oop cost would be $29,000.00 a yr!!!!! I don't have to tell you I'm checking out other plans... No amount of savings is enough if you ask me...and pray for good health!!!!! I'm praising God I lived long enough to collect ss