Little Twinge of Fear and Uncertainty.
Every once in a while I think about how I should begin saving for retirement. How I should start planning. Though of course I haven't been able to find the little bit of extra money that would begin a retirement fund. Every time I save a little, some emergency comes up, because I haven't been able to save addional extra for emergencies, that takes away my savings.
These thoughts really began a couple of years ago when my brother got me the audio book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. This is an abriged version, I would suggest getting the book itself, even though the audiobook is inspiring in itself. A year later my mother gave me The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clayson, as well as The Money Book for the Young Fabulous and Broke by Suze Orman. These are all good books though at the time I began to feel overwhelmed by money advice and my feeling of hopelessness associated with it.
Today I took a call from an elderly woman who's 70. She is still working, telling me how she is working a double tomorrow and the next day, that she'll be able to pay the beginning of next week. It dismays me to think that at 70, I could be her. Working from 5:30am to 10pm then back at 5:30 the next day to pay my medical bills and living expenses. What happened to the "golden years"? Were we as a society not financially educated early enough, or perhaps we didn't know we needed to look.
Today though, there is no excuse. Just the reminder that I haven't been preparing. That I am still living paycheck to paycheck, knowing that a major emergency would devastate me. Since I was 17 I remember thinking I should start saving for retirment. I kept putting it off. Every birthday, I keep putting it off. Now instead of a far off reality, my 40th birthday is a gray shadow on the horizon. Sure, it may be 10 years away...but how much can I save or invest in that time so I can have my golden years when I'm 65, deciding if, when, and where I want to work to supplement my retirement fund.
*sigh*
Sometimes I hate reality. I suppose I wouldn't if I'd make my dreams into my reality.
**Edit: How would I save additonally if I had a child or were expecting one? I work 40 hrs a week plus extra sometimes, but I just don't know how families can do it? Or single mothers for that matter. It would be that much more difficult if I had more people to consider or care for than only myself.
These thoughts really began a couple of years ago when my brother got me the audio book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. This is an abriged version, I would suggest getting the book itself, even though the audiobook is inspiring in itself. A year later my mother gave me The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clayson, as well as The Money Book for the Young Fabulous and Broke by Suze Orman. These are all good books though at the time I began to feel overwhelmed by money advice and my feeling of hopelessness associated with it.
Today I took a call from an elderly woman who's 70. She is still working, telling me how she is working a double tomorrow and the next day, that she'll be able to pay the beginning of next week. It dismays me to think that at 70, I could be her. Working from 5:30am to 10pm then back at 5:30 the next day to pay my medical bills and living expenses. What happened to the "golden years"? Were we as a society not financially educated early enough, or perhaps we didn't know we needed to look.
Today though, there is no excuse. Just the reminder that I haven't been preparing. That I am still living paycheck to paycheck, knowing that a major emergency would devastate me. Since I was 17 I remember thinking I should start saving for retirment. I kept putting it off. Every birthday, I keep putting it off. Now instead of a far off reality, my 40th birthday is a gray shadow on the horizon. Sure, it may be 10 years away...but how much can I save or invest in that time so I can have my golden years when I'm 65, deciding if, when, and where I want to work to supplement my retirement fund.
*sigh*
Sometimes I hate reality. I suppose I wouldn't if I'd make my dreams into my reality.
**Edit: How would I save additonally if I had a child or were expecting one? I work 40 hrs a week plus extra sometimes, but I just don't know how families can do it? Or single mothers for that matter. It would be that much more difficult if I had more people to consider or care for than only myself.