In recent months I've had the opportunity to visit many seniors. I noticed that the quality of one's life in old age is heavily dependent on how they planned for retirement while young and able. You have no one to blame but yourself if you squandered away your youth. It really made me realize that I must really plan while I am still able-bodied. Who knows what my health condition will be like in the next 5-10 years? I don't want to be like the people who make excuses. "I didn't think I'd injure my back, my hands, my legs, etc."
Exactly! Because I don't know, that means it's even more detrimental that I plan today in order to have a quality of life tomorrow. I'm not trying to live in the hood as a senior citizen.
Some of these people aren't even all that old. They're in their early 50s to mid 50s and yet, they're hoping they qualify for disability because they literally have nothing much saved up. They're on a wait-list at government-backed housing for seniors 55+.
I've been prepping for this pretty much since I started working years ago but didn't think much of it until I came upon these people.
OLD AGE IS A REALITY!
I don't think I can give up my current lifestyle to go live in the hood. And that is the other thing. I bought a house in a nice, safe, and affluent area with the top school district. But of course, that means that property taxes is sure to increase in the future. My real concern is not being able to afford that payment despite having no mortgage payment. On the other hand, friends and relatives who bought homes in middle income neighborhoods are starting to see that their sub divisions are going down fast. So even though they have significantly less property taxes, it's unlikely that they will want to reside there in their old age. I've seen that, too. A long time ago I rented a house in the hood. Rent was very cheap. I noticed that the block only had one old white guy who probably bought his house 50 years ago. He stayed because it was his home but boy, that neighborhood was horrible. And it's not just the crime. It's the fact that these ghetto areas are food deserts. That is not a good thing for the elderly who often don't drive after a certain age.
With a lot of Hmong people, they are counting on their children. They're also having to cut back on expenses. Some of them are stuck living in less desirable neighborhoods and areas. Those who do well are those who saved, invested, and planned.
Having said all of this, my point is that homelessness, poverty, and going broke hits especially hard if you're with the wrong person. NEVER EVER LET YOUR SPOUSE STEAL FROM YOUR FUTURE. It is not worth being in a marriage with someone who doesn't plan and put effort into securing a comfortable future for the both of you.
Cut them loose, lest you find yourself living under the bridge, begging for financial help from family, or burdening your children, ALL BECAUSE YOU ALLOWED THIS PERSON TO STEAL YOUR FUTURE.
