I *KNOW* some of us need this, suspect others might.

[Spiky Bugger]

I love TED talks.

 

[Munchkin]

I get this! I live here too. I knew I was trading financial security for a chance to retire early. Every day in my adult life I promised myself the reward for working so hard was to retire early and either do nothing or just have 'fun' jobs. I wanted to leave the workforce before I was all used up. And I did! Then I went through a lot of financial reverses, eldercare, the big recession, the death of my husband who died without a will. But I survived.

The best education I ever got didn't come from any institution of higher learning. I learned how to do poor well during my starving student days and I am grateful every day. I know how to live on the cheap and budget. I know how to squeeze a penny, HARD. Money makes a lot of things easier. If you are poor you have to work harder and smarter.

Most of those 'fun' jobs are hard physical work. I am glad I got a job at Williams-Sonoma. The 40% discount got me a wonderama kitchen. But the pay is so low I don't understand how anyone could actually live on it. Or have any long term financial goals. Las Vegas has tons of jobs. But they all pay nothing and have zero benefits. It's a great place to live but a terrible place to make a living.

I will just fake it as best I can for as long as I can!

 

[JackieOnLine]

I made myself watch it - I know I have been needing to "get off my throne" for example - but it's depressing. and I put a lot of thought into what I needed to do and decided it was to Team Up with somebody, that was exactly what I needed. so I asked everyone I knew: can I move in with you? team up and live more cheaply? one person said yes, and it's been a disaster.

now I am looking back at home much money I spent (well, put on the credit card) to get here and will have to spend now getting somewhere else.

the original idea was good, I think, but I maybe just did it too fast before I knew enough....I don't know.

I am looking at "roommate wanted" situations in OR besides trying to rent a small place on my own. not sure if I'm sacrificing my mental health for trying to save a few bucks or not. time will tell!

but, SB, please share some TED talks that are less depressing, can you?

 

[JackieOnLine]

Las Vegas has tons of jobs. But they all pay nothing and have zero benefits. It's a great place to live but a terrible place to make a living.

that's exactly what it's like in Colorado Springs. Great for tourists and retirees and those people who have good jobs - I see them, I know they are here - but trying to make a living? no way.

 

[JackieOnLine]

I learned how to do poor well during my starving student days and I am grateful every day. I know how to live on the cheap and budget.

I never learned that - I wish I had. I am trying to, now.

there is a woman I only know on FB who is a friend of a friend, I "friended" her because she is an artist and I like her stuff. I thought she was my age but instead she is 80, I just found out.

she was posting on elder orphans she can't keep living in Houston, where she has a house. she is living on the rent from two renters but it's hard to find/keep good ones and she says she is one problem away from broke (like needing a major repair on the house).

it's a scary time and country to get old in.