Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Pam B's avatar

I just turned 60 last week, and I'm not sure how old you are, but it's one thing to 'say' you can work past 67 and another thing to 'do' it.

I'm in retail sales, which is not overly physically demanding, but it is hard on your feet and back, and the random shifts mean you can be working until 9 or 10 at night and back the next day at 10 am. While I do work with women in their 70s and 80s, I'm not sure that I will want to continue at full time for another 7 years.

My husband works from home and travels a few times a year for work. His job is physically easier but more time intensive because he can always continue working long past an external cue to quit. But he will probably continue until 67.

I am thankful I contributed to 401Ks at all my retail jobs and was fully vested in two of them. I am fortunate that I was able to let them alone. If I had had to make a real choice of a house down payment, I might have done what you did, but my fear is that many people close them for non essential reasons and would regret it if they had known (although someone once told me you can take out a loan against your 401K and not pay a penalty?)

Expand full comment
Spacepastry's avatar

I've felt some shame in this area. I wonder how much of the shame is because of budget culture and the pressure to be totally responsible for something that, in reality, is difficult, if not impossible, for many people? Collectively, we lack so much imagination around this. I hope too for better policies so that everyone is supported throughout life and as we age.

Expand full comment
35 more comments...

No posts