Patrick.net

Millions of retirees can't afford basic living expenses

By tovarichpeter   Follow   Thu, 1 Mar 2012, 12:27pm   886 views   8 comments
Watch (0)   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike  

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-retiree-living-expenses-20120301,0,2848072.story

Viewing Comments 1-8 of 8     Last »     See most liked comments

1. zzyzzx Follow Befriend (9) 410 threads 4,107 comments Baltimore, MD

   1   8:10am Fri 2 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   They have no business being "retired" if they can't afford basic living expenses. They need to get a damm job:

2. spicer77 Follow Befriend 2 threads 17 comments Woodbridge, VA

   2   7:39pm Fri 2 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Well, I keep seeing articles like this and I am flabbergasted. This generation lived and worked during the greatest, wealthiest, most generous, least unemployment years this country has ever seen. AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING? What a waste of a lifetime of work. My parents, inlaws, etc. made a fine living over these past decades, and THEY SAVED. And all came from very humble backgrounds and no college either. Other than tragedy in these peoples lives (and obviously most of them didn't), there simply is no excuse. Sorry, but I just had to vent.

3. jvolstad Follow Befriend (4) 988 threads 1,120 comments San Antonio, TX jvolstad's website

   3   8:45pm Fri 2 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I deal with Veterans waiting for treatment at our local VAMC (I'm a VA Volunteer) that have to sleep in their cars. These are veterans who drive up from Central California area to Palo Alto.

4. TPB Follow Befriend (1) 65 threads 1,209 comments

   4   6:58am Sat 3 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   spicer77 says Other than tragedy in these peoples lives (and obviously most of them didn't), there simply is no excuse. Dude we've had businesses who demographic has been targeting Retirees on a fixed income. What's so hard to imagine about it? From snake oil insurance, to financial vehicles all designed to pick Seniors up by the ankles and shake every dime into the hopper. And that's just the honest business, that's not even mentioning, the Illegal unlicensed, and unsanctioned Senior robbers. The confidence folks.

5. Mick Russom Follow Befriend (2) 7 threads 530 comments Belmont, CA

   5   12:26pm Sat 3 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   The USA is finished. We must all work until we die. The simple reason is the move we save in our 20s and 30s is worthless by the time we are 50 due to inflation. And the money we save at 50 is worthless by the time we are 70. Welcome to debt slave inflationist USA.

6. Mick Russom Follow Befriend (2) 7 threads 530 comments Belmont, CA

   6   12:29pm Sat 3 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   spicer77 says made a fine living over these past decades, and THEY SAVED. Inflation. Your friends saved a lot. Some save modest amounts in years past would be sufficient. But callous people like you, Gordon Gekko and Iwog, who drool over unearned income in the form of oppressive rents, have made living on a fixed income impossible.

7. spicer77 Follow Befriend 2 threads 17 comments Woodbridge, VA

   7   11:44pm Mon 5 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   No guys, I'm not buying it. TRAGIC CASES ASIDE (many Veterans included, and these are truly the people we should be most concerned about), inflation has not turned the wealthiest generation of retirees into near homeless people. Basic necessities? Most are people who simply didn't plan for their future. Between Medicare and SS, pretty much anyone can get by if they have made SOME attempt to be responsible and SAVE SOMETHING. And I said 'get by', not that high a standard, granted. And the vast majority of Americans are not investors who lost it all or got fleeced by ScottTrade. And DUH, all businesses seek to rip EVERYONE off. Decades of the good life WASTED--jobs, increasing wages, cheap gas, it was pretty good times and what Americans today wouldn't give to have another 40 years like those. Its today and future retirees who will have it bad.

8. zzyzzx Follow Befriend (9) 410 threads 4,107 comments Baltimore, MD

   8   8:22am Wed 7 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   spicer77 says Its today and future retirees who will have it bad. spicer77 says Basic necessities? Most are people who simply didn't plan for their future. Between Medicare and SS, pretty much anyone can get by if they have made SOME attempt to be responsible and SAVE SOMETHING. And I said 'get by', not that high a standard, granted.