How do you feel if you are over 60 and need to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Everyone I know in their 60s wanted to keep working but got laid off because they were too old (cost too much). Middle class people in good health anticipating they would need their retirement money to last a good while.

consulting is the only way to go at that stage as long as what you do is in demand.

I became a consultant in my 50s. I got two gigs and doubled my income. It is also a lot of fun working on new projects and learning new technologies. I wish I left my corporate job earlier.

[Anonymous]

I'm 46 and plan to "retire" from public school teaching at 55. But, I plan to teach in some capacity part time as long as I'm able after that. I'd love to tutor and do part time work 20 hours a week for 5-8 years (which will feel like nothing compared to the 60 hour work weeks I put in now) and then maybe 5-10 hours for another few years after that. I'm very frugal and retiring at 55 will only yield about 50% of my final salary. I could work longer if it turns out I need to do so. We'll see. My spouse is also a teacher and he says he'd like to work til he's in his late 60's. But his area of teaching is much easier and less physically demanding than mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Everyone I know in their 60s wanted to keep working but got laid off because they were too old (cost too much). Middle class people in good health anticipating they would need their retirement money to last a good while.

consulting is the only way to go at that stage as long as what you do is in demand.

I became a consultant in my 50s. I got two gigs and doubled my income. It is also a lot of fun working on new projects and learning new technologies. I wish I left my corporate job earlier.

What do you consult on and how do you find clients?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm over sixty and just working for health insurance. Would retire otherwise.

+1. This is what the younger people who dream about retiring don't seem to comprehend.

[Anonymous]

I'm turning 49 and hope to "retire" in 10 years. Meaning leave my full time job, and likely my field, and work a few hours to pay for health insurance. I will have at least 1.5m, likely 2 m, plus a paid off home by then, and will be done paying for college. But I'm not the type to sit around at home. I'm sure I will fill my days doing volunteer work, being involved in my community, taking exercise classes, and pursing hobbies. In fact, that's why I want to retire early, so I have more time to do what I find pleasurable.

[Anonymous]

I'm 66 with a college freshman so hoping to be able to keep working until I am 70+. I adopted my DD after being widowed so, although have planned financially for retirement, and DD got generous scholarships, things are still too tight to retire sooner. Until this year, actually never wanted to retire. Now longing for it. Am fortunate to be able to telecommute some days, but the work week takes an increasing toll and business travel getting harder. Have always managed complex chronic health conditions,so this is a big part of the toll, but there is also some other intangible shift that is making retirement attractive. Never thought that would happen.

[Anonymous]

I like to work and am fortunate that my work is meaningful to me. So, why would I retire? FIL just retired after turning 90-he's my model!

[Anonymous]

I will have 30-years with the Feds when I turn 55. Though I will likely continue working. I don't even classify for full retirement until 67.

My father retired at 62 years old with 37 years of service. He always said he didn't want to be one of those people who was too old to enjoy retirement or die right after. He had a fantastic 15-years of tons of vacations to Europe and around the world with close friends and my mom, get togethers/dinners with friends, and so much time being a fantastic and incredibly involved grandpa. I am so glad my mom and he had all of those happy years post-retirement.

I think about this a lot. My husband and I really planned well and saved, invested properties, etc. I also don't want to work until I die. I know I will likely work to 62-65.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm over sixty and just working for health insurance. Would retire otherwise.

+1. This is what the younger people who dream about retiring don't seem to comprehend.

I'm surprised there have not been more comments on this issue.

[Anonymous]

My dad hated his teaching job and retired at 59, as soon as he qualified for his pension. I’m two years younger than that now, with a kid still in college, no pension and health issues that ate into retirement savings.

My dream would be to quit and not have a micromanaging boss hanging over me, but I don’t know if I could make as much freelancing, and paying for health insurance at this age is daunting. I will likely have to stick it out till 67 or so. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

You sound like you are in good health and working will likely keep you going. I'm financially able to retire but not personally interested in not working at all in my 60's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like you are in good health and working will likely keep you going. I'm financially able to retire but not personally interested in not working at all in my 60's.

To which poster are you commenting? If you are commenting to poster immediately preceding you, what evidence do you have that they are in good health?

[Anonymous]

My two cents: hop on over to Bogleheads and read threads there from people that are retired. Almost all of them are very happy and enjoying life. Notably, very few people on this thread have themselves retired early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound like you are in good health and working will likely keep you going. I'm financially able to retire but not personally interested in not working at all in my 60's.

To which poster are you commenting? If you are commenting to poster immediately preceding you, what evidence do you have that they are in good health?

If you are talking about the PP, that's me, and I am healthy. But after cancer and working full-time for 35 years, I just want a break from the daily grind. But that's not going to be possible until I'm 67...and hopefully still healthy. Even then I will probably still do freelance work for the money and to use my brain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will work until I am 70 if I can. I see too many people who retire early, thinking they will live the high life and perhaps they do for a short time, but the only result I see is diminishing faculties at an astonishing rate. At first I thought it was an aberration and person-specific but now I see a noticeable trend in our set and I don't want that for me.

Yes. My mom went from being a fairly active person, retired, her husband died - she began to lose her faculties and shot herself in the head.