This 81-year-old still works at Home Depot to support herself and her 90-year-old husband
This 81-year-old still works at Home Depot to support herself and her 90-year-old husband
Welcome to what younger generations realized a decade ago or more. Most of us will never own a home or retire. I plan to end it when my life becomes unbearable in old age rather than be a slave to the system. That’s why, even though we (spouse and I) financially save for the future, I live for now. We (collectively) have no future. Accepting it is easier than being depressed about it.
Note: this doesn’t mean I don’t do what I can to try to save our (collective) future. It’d be selfish not to try.
My retirement plan is assisted suicide (in Canada, of course). Feels weird to be saving for death, but this is the reality we live in. What else can I do? Wait until I can't work anymore and can't pay my mortgage and hydro bill? And then what, hang myself in the barn? Fuck that, I want to go out high af and feeling no pain.
this just makes me wonder even more why people aren't more open to direct (violent) action. Seriously if this is the outlook, what is holding people back?
Genuine abhorrence of violence. Even though I think (know) it's the only way we can overcome the lying, cheating, violent bastards on the other side, growing up in an abusive home makes the idea nauseating to me.
I do believe we'll reach a point where we have no choice, though I fear that will happen when it's too late.
Also, conditioning by mass media over a lifetime.
Inertia
I'd say two decades ago, maybe even three. Pensions gone, social security inadequate, ira/401k sorta a joke.
You are in a dual income no kids situation and think you'll never own a home? Where do you live where a dual income can't support buying a house...
Ever been to Cali? I love it here but good god it's crazy
Californian here. Studios are starting around $3,200 where I live in socal.
This 81-year-old still works at Home Depot to support herself and her 90-year-old husband
Bay Area, California. And before you tell me to move to a place where I can afford a cheaper home, I don't want to live in any of those places. I've lived in them and I hated them for various reasons. This is the one place in the USA where I feel absolutely at home.
"I feel trapped working, but I can't stop working," Lydia says, sitting up to cuddle her basset hound, Brigette. Her husband, Bill, gives her a kiss but lets her be. The 90-year-old would like to get a job to help Lydia pay the bills, but because of health problems, there's little he can do.
"I feel so guilty that I can't work," Bill says.
"You can't work because of your age and your health issues," Lydia snaps back. "There's no sense feeling guilty about it."
'Murica
On Reddit this would be an uplifting story about how Home Depot employs the elderly to help them pay medical bills.
Most of the MSM outlets report it that way, and it always feels ghoulish as fuck to me.
Ditch the pet. As much as I used to love animals, I now see them as a ridiculous expensive hobby and unethical.
I don't picture myself at 80 scooping litter, stepping in vomit, brushing a cat every two days, having hair everywhere, having the cat take a crap while I'm preparing my food (every damn time), having the cat fart in my face every morning when I don't get up quick enough for its tastes, buying expensive food because the intense flavorings they use make the cat refuse store brand food, having to get expensive vet check ups, the medications, the city wanting medallions, etc
I can't even imagine having to drag a dog outside and picking up warm shits, the smell...
I feel sorry for the 81 year old and her husband. However, they have made nearly every wrong financial decision over most of their lives.
They've truly had some horrible timing and luck, however I truly hope their situation improves.
Who gives a shit? No one should have to spend their 80s working
I understand the sentiment but what he is saying is also important. Imagine, starting tomorrow everyone above 60 will get 5000 dolars every month. Will this couple in particular be able to live with it or will they make more bad choices.
I'm 100% pro supporting the retired community but Financial literacy is also very important, otherwise it doesn't matter how much money you give them.
It's so important to teach finamcial literacy from an early age
edit: just to add I'm not american. My.mother is 70yo and in my country retirement is supported by the government, but she still makes shitty choices from time to time.
Who gives a shit? No one should have to spend their 80s working
They are today still making choices which are forcing them to work. They might be able to not work if they move to a cheaper area and give up their expensive car.
this is the generation thats fucked us over and they're complaining about suffering through shit we all know we're going to have to deal with to an even worse extent.
I mean yeah this country is fucked. clearly, the powerful just want slaves. Even so, these people made their own bed to a large extent. Its hard to feel that sorry for them.
Dude im in my 30s and I hate moving. You cant just up and move to a different state that easily, especially at that age.
Dude im in my 30s and I hate moving. You cant just up and move to a different state that easily, especially at that age.
Everyone hates moving. The other option is living above your means, which is what these folks are doing which translates into an 81 year old having to work. This also didn't happen one day out of the blue. They've been living above their means for decades and they've had decades to see this would be the result of their choices.
Were they supposed to use their crystal ball to predict the 2008 grift and subsequent rebound?
In your list, nearly everything that comes after that is a symptom of trying to navigate financial hardship.l and being old enough to face age discrimination in the job market.
In your list, nearly everything that comes after that is a symptom of trying to navigate financial hardship
Which symptom cause the husband to quit his nearly $200,000/year job in 1994 and start a band without saving for retirement first?
A quick Google search of West Virginia 55+ one bedroom apartments go for $450-$900.
Bwah ha ha. This may surprise you, but one of the reasons apartments are so cheap in WV is that there are no jobs in WV. And definitely not jobs for octogenarians.
Bwah ha ha. This may surprise you, but one of the reasons apartments are so cheap in WV is that there are no jobs in WV. And definitely not jobs for octogenarians.
If they are living in WV, as an example, they don't need the additional income from a job to live. I'm suggesting they move *so they don't have to work.
Sorry but your last point is absolutely asinine. It ignores the hardships caused by relocating, the fact that rural hospitals like those available in WV are continuously shutting their doors as they are deemed unprofitable (the husband has health problems), and the fact that, based upon a wealth of international studies, the isolation from social support networks that they'd assuredly face, is pretty much a death sentence.
So, from that point alone, your statement could be paraphrased as: "They don't need to live in such an unaffordable place; they could just die instead."
Sorry but your last point is absolutely asinine.
....and...
is pretty much a death sentence.
What do you call being forced to work at 81 (with a 90 year old non-working husband), and only being able to work 4 of the 5 hour shift because you're exhausted? How about the fact that they are THIS CLOSE to being homeless if she doesn't work? They've had bad luck and made bad choices for most of the second half of their lives. We don't have any good solutions left only least worst.
You're saying that moving is a death sentence. I'm saying homelessness is, which is what is in their near future.
the isolation from social support networks that they’d assuredly face, is pretty much a death sentence.
They are THIS CLOSE to homelessness right now. Is homelessness for an 81 year old woman with a 90 year old husband not also a death sentence?
Pretty much all rural hospitals will close when the Medicaid cuts take effect after the next midterms.
Why is it that every comment chain about an unfortunate event has at least one callous person who is obviously victim blaming but trying their best to downplay it?
I'll ask you directly, why are you doing this, partial_accumen? Are you trying to convince yourself that this couldn't happen to you? Are you perhaps trying to convince yourself to stick with your soul-sucking yet decent paying job? What's your motivation?
Why is it that every comment chain about an unfortunate event has at least one callous person who is obviously victim blaming but trying their best to downplay it? I’ll ask you directly, why are you doing this, partial_accumen? What’s your motivation?
I can't speak for every comment chain, only this one. For this one I CAN respond to you.
For so much of life we are powerless. The forces and events are beyond us and we're simply swept away suffering whatever fate chances gives us. Its frightening and very real. As an example, someone born into a war torn country had no control over the geography of their birth. They are at constant risk of death. There are only a few small things a person can do in that situation and very few of them will result in meaningful change. They will likely be victim of the circumstances that were handed to them through no fault of their own.
None of that is what this 80+ couple is.
This couple has had opportunity after opportunity handed to them. They chose again and again to choose the risky, easy, or comfortable path. They are still doing that even today in a couple areas! This couple is NOT simply victims of circumstance. They had power and ability to affect massive positive change on their present and future existence throughout the second half of their lives (which is as far back as the article goes). Instead at many turns they chose options that point to THIS path. The one with the wife having to work at Home Depot at 81.
Conflating my prior example and this couple together as simply victims does a disservice to the former. It also paints a picture that the couple's path is inevitable for all of us, and it isn't! It is valuable to learn from the mistakes of others so that we do not make the same mistakes ourselves.
Are you trying to convince yourself that this couldn’t happen to you?
It won't. Something else will, but THIS won't. Others that look at and learn how this couple lived will also be spared their fate, because we can examine what mistakes they made and change course ourselves so that we don't end up in their avoidable situation.
I feel sympathy for them, as I have stated multiple times. I fully understand that we all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. Circumstances did a number on them, but they are not blameless for their situation. There are many in similar situations to this couple that are blameless. Those others have much more sympathy from me.
You might be able to make an argument for this grandma, but there are countless others. You can't deny we have a systemic problem that leaves seniors out in the cold
You might be able to make an argument for this grandma, but there are countless others. You can’t deny we have a systemic problem that leaves seniors out in the cold
My comments are only about the couple in the article. The reason that is important is that the couple in the article are not the archetype we need to solve for. Its, as you point out, all the countless others. In effect, we should not look at this couple to see how to solve the problem of our senior citizens not able to age/live gracefully.
boomers...
Cool. A majority of people my age are in the same boat without being cursed/dipshits.
Can’t give a fuck about a poor boomer. Fuck em.
in before a republican tries to sell this as excellent work ethics, patriotism and american dream
On Lemmy?
LOL
loser country
Whew. I'm so glad this couple wasn't subject to the horrors of socialism! Only capitalism can keep them gainfully employed until they are near-death. No other economic system can even compare!
Don't forget that capitalism is literally the only viable economic system, full stop. Before its advent in 1463 by Bernard H. Capital, nothing worked, anywhere, for tens of thousands of years. The world was in turmoil. Cats associated freely with dogs, the Keebler elves were not properly enslaved, and humans lived on a diet of pine needles, grubs, and sea water. Pure madness.
Remember: Capitalism came about from rich merchants and lords realizing that citizens were starting to get murdery about their tyrranical monarchs so they basically said “hey, what if we make a system based on money that technically everyone has but where the shear amount of wealth we have in comparison means that we’re basically still monarchs without monarchy?”
Which, to relate to your comment, is to say that the system hasn’t meaningfully changed and we’ve had “capitalism” for a long, long time(and it’s sucked the whole time it was happening!)
At least its not being presented as a feel good story. Still remember bush brining up the person with three jobs as inspiring.
Gotta love it when nepo babies tell us how virtuous working is.
I hate seeing old people working at establishments like grocery stores. It is the saddest representation that our system does not work. They should be living their life traveling, spending time with family, or gardening. No one should have to work into their 60's.
I'm about to turn 52 and I've known my whole life that I'd never get to retire.
Yup 42 prob die at work. Lucky its just me and I don't have to worry about anyone else. Just turn wrenches til I croak haha.
Similar boat here but I'm only here until my parents go, then I'm done. I don't have any intention of continuing this bullshit until I can't anymore. I didn't ask to be here, I don't want to be here, I just don't want to break anybody when I go.
This generation needs to pick itself up by their bootstraps and remember that work dignifies. 81 years young! /s
Man that sucks.
However I have to be that person and say I know people who wasted tons of money on stupid shit and made dumb choices even though they had advisors helping them, and are working at Walmart in their 70s because of it. Those people shouldn't be rewarded with regular Joe's money. Now, billionaires can foot that bill, like they should everything. But dont punish the 99.9% (which is what will actually happen. And why people are afraid of liberals in office. No one seems to get that, and thats why the right keeps winning. It needs to be clearly stated in the lefts playbook that anyone making under a billion dollars will be left alone. Then they may have a chance.)
Keep in mind these are not my thoughts, these are my observations of the Common Person in red states.
Hi,
Welcome to the Universe. You get to exist for a comparatively extremely short blip of time before you return to the nothingness forever. Despite incredible advances in technology and subsequent major increases in productivity we're going to need you to continue working right up until you return to the nothingness. Thanks for your cooperation!
This is what countries without a good social support network look like. It's either government or younger generations that take care of elders. The US used to be government with retirement and social security but there's a shift and US kids were not raised in a social situation that supports elderly, so it's going to be a hard transition. The US has forgotten what the government was established for.
She's obviously selling her scripts if she's surviving at that job.
Their monthly income is $4600 including SSI and a pension.
Surprised they don't have a paid off home at that age.
Not sure why they need a $625/month car (instead of something with a monthly payment less than half that amount).
Much as that car doesn't make sense out of context, that's not what's fucking up their finances. They get a little over 4k a month. Their car, apartment, and medicaid cost about 2k.
They're getting fucked on the medical bills, guarantee it. Worse, the car might also be considered to be a 'medical bill' in that it's required for them to get around at all.
Used car prices have shot up over the last few years. Add on the increasing price for new ones nd it is not hard to see why. People not paying of their cars and rolling over the remaining balance is the new norm.
older people simply don't know how to save money. they don't know how to navigate the internet like we do and they're not savvy enough to locate deals or negotiate like younger people are.
I'm really not surprised they're getting ripped off. Everyone in this country wants to rip everyone else off because thats what capitalism has taught us we need to do to survive. Being old lowers your defenses against it. Hell, its why so many older people are victims of scams.
Their monthly income is $4600 including SSI and a pension.
They could move to a cheaper country and finally retire.
Damn I can't even imagine making that monthly.
Yeah well old people are the reason old people have to work like this
To be fair, oppression has existed in every generation. We are not immune, polling makes that very clear. As another example, the leaders of the generation that made the post world war 2 boom did everything in their power to prevent black people from benefitting. Just like the leaders of the baby boomers and silent generation decided to fuck over poor people and begin the regression to another gilded age in the 1970's.
And too be fair we have the responsibility to stop our peers in our generation. And if we fail to do so or hold them accountable we've kicked the can down the road again. It is what it is
And when you're old you'll be the reason why other old people get blamed for the shit state of the world by the younger people.
And it will have been my and their fault. As if the kids of billionaires and the new wealth of my generation won't continue to destroy everything. As their peer I have the responsibility to stop them. Anything else is an excuse tbfh.
If anyone locates a gofundme for them, please let me know. Couldn’t find one myself.
Edit: what kind of ghoul downvotes this?
wow if i was biz insider i would be really nervous about printing stuff like this
My eighty year-old parents are driving for DoorDash. In my car.
If they don't, this supposedly 'free' country of ours will allow banks to force them onto the streets where they will be left for dead.
Fuck capitalism.
Isn't that an America problem?
Also randomly wasn't this how we lived before pensions?
I suspect you're making a point here, but I'm not sure what it is.
Remember that the silents were born in an age where unions were far more prevalent. I'm not sure whether that addresses the point you were trying to make, but maybe.
I know plenty of people in Canada and Mexico that still work much later than they should have to to support family members. Might not be a problem in more socialist countries but definitely not uniquely an American problem.
Most of the world has and to a large degree still relies on relatives to support them when they can't work anymore
Pensions are a roman invention