Thinking about it now you're probably right.Why go through all that if I didn't need to be there. Retirement was the best option for me and glad I did. Take care. Steve
How unbelievably it is that I can watch Steve talk about retirement. I needed his post today to calm my nerves by watching him chill in his back yard like I'm doing in mine. It's not just retirement talk It's a friend you never met in person. Keep it up Steve.
Just the way I feel or think when making them. Like I'm talking to a neighbor or my wife. Just spitting out thoughts on things and getting feedback. I've gotten over 2500 new friends since I retired I can just sit and chat with anytime I choose. I learn a lot and enjoy doing it. Life is good. Take care and thanks for the kind words. Steve
I’m fifty-five, widowed since 2012 and have chosen to stay single because to be honest with you I like just having to worry about me. I do exactly what I want, when I want. By most people’s standards it’s a boring life but I like it, I go to the gym every morning, I smoke a cigar most days as I enjoy a glass of bourbon with my dog on my little back porch and it makes me happy. As I am still working I may break down and buy myself a Vespa but if into my retirement I can continue to enjoy my simple lifestyle I think I will be perfectly content.
Fantastic comment boss. Thanks. It's not today's vision of retirement but we enjoy it. Things might change tomorrow but right now we're perfectly fine with it. Take care and enjoy. Steve
I won't be retired until 4 more years (Lord willing), but I tell people to spend money on the things they enjoy and scrimp on the things they don't enjoy (even before retirement). I am a brain cancer survivor and before my diagnosis I hoarded money just to save and said I would have my fun when I got older. I promised myself if I made it through, I'd spend some of my funds on things I loved and really wanted to do (like traveling). I still put as much as I can into my 457 and Roth so I can have a comfortable retirement, but I don't hoard money like I used to. Have a great day Steve and everyone else in the comments!
So glad to hear you made it through your cancer diagnosis and treatments. I have a niece dealing with brain cancer now. She's had one surgery and going through treatments now. Holding up as well as can be expected for now. I get similar comments from time to time. It's great for me to hear the perspective from someone that has been in your shoes. Really drives home my good fortune and to not put off today for tomorrow. Thank you so much for commenting. Take care. Steve
FLOP was the word. I tend to be hard to understand sometimes and I ain't got the best mic in the world. Others heard it the same way. Just "Steve Speech" sometimes it's FLIP or FLOCK. Glad you got a chuckle out of it. Take care. Steve
So glad I can make your coffee time a little more enjoyable. Having a little extra unexpected joy helps with the adjustment to retirement. Did me anyway. Take care. Steve
Buzz is good people. I enjoy watching and learning from him a lot. I appreciate you stopping by. I don't know a thing about retirement. Just learning and figuring out as I go. Take care and thanks. Steve
keep 'em coming... I really enjoy your perspective. I'm having a great time doing nothing, and seems like I stay busy all day everyday, doing nothing but living... Glad to see the warmer weather and longer days. I am looking forward to lots of outdoor activities for the next few months. I hope I have time ...LOL!
The ability to do nothing is an over looked benefit of retirement I believe. Sometimes it's the best thing we can do. I feel the same way. I stay constantly busy doing absolutely nothing and love it. With the weather moderating and longer days I'll be wore out come fall and need a break. Take care and enjoy the outdoors. Steve
Steve you are so right about, after a while, some things we just feel like we don't need to spend the money on. I drive a truck that is quite a few years old, and my kids are always saying, "dad why don't you buy yourself a new truck !?" I'm like, this one is still just fine, and a new one would not make me one bit happier. I'm am like the old "Elsie the contented cow" on the carnation cans of milk. Content. It's nice.
Exactly! Doing this or buying that just because I can wouldn't increase our happiness or enjoyment so why do it? Just don't have the desire to spend like that. To each his own but it just ain't us. I forgot about "Elsie" but do remember now that you brought it up. Perfect example. Should have mentioned it in the video. Thanks. Steve
I'm with you Steve...the wife and I have very few wants and are happy with our simple life. Like they say, contentment comes not from having everything you want but wanting what you already have. It makes me happy to watch your channel grow...you're doing a great job.
We're really not trying to spend less but there isn't much we really want. Feels like we're living large to us. Got a few things coming up this year we're going to give a shot I think. Nothing big just a bit different for us. Do what we want, when we want, Healthy, family close by, have what we need plus a little extra, plenty to do. What's not to love about being retired. Take care. Steve
Steve, I feel the same as you, I have more money then I could ever spend and there's nothing I really want or need, so i'm just investing it. And i'm lazy too, trips are just WAY to much work, LOL.
Just odd I spent all that time and years so I could have something to retire on and now I just don't have the desire to spend it. Got all we need or want and spending an extra dollar or 2 just because we could wouldn't increase our happiness in life. Take care. Steve
Hi Steve. I was going to retire from my job at 65, which would have been this year. Once I figured I be ok financially without the job I put my 6 month notice in and went out in April 2022. No regrets now that I did it when I did. Just knowing I don't need to report to a 8hr job anymore has reduced my stress level tremendously. Much happier now and content and just love the fact that I am my own boss now and can do whatever I please when I want. Retirement = freedom😊😂
You're coming up on 2 years. Congrats! I get comments like this from people a lot. Just nothing like the feeling of freedom you get when you retire. Thanks and enjoy. Steve
This is a great topic, Steve. I've been very fortunate, and blessed and am well positioned for my style of retirement. I feel safe and secure and what is better than that? I keep those who have lots less in my prayers and hope I don't come off self-congratulatory, because there, but for the grace of God, go I. If you know what i mean. There's folks living on the street in this town. I have enough extra to save for wants. Yesterday I sat down and tried to think of anything I might actually want to spend more on. I landed on repainting the front of the house, and buying a little ninja grill for summer because my old Weber rusted out last year. And I want new hardware for my front door because it's getting wiggly. 😂 Maybe go camping. Seriously. I can totally relate to being content with a simpler life. Best wishes to you and yours
"There but for the grace of God" Feel the same way constantly. Know exactly what you mean. Might be just the fact I'm getting older I don't know. Spending an extra dollar or 2 just because we have it wouldn't increase our happiness in life. Everybody is different but that's just how we are. Great comment. Thank you. Steve
Seems like a few had the same thought. Never thought how FLOP would sound on the video. Might need to use a script and plan something once in awhile. NAW! too much work. Take care. Steve
There are a lot more of us living what I call a "Normal Retirement" than it appears in the advertisements. Those visions of retirement are great for those that want them. We just don't. Take care. Steve
That's why making videos is easy and enjoyable for me. Just being my self. Not teaching, preaching or anything. I figure most people have similar thoughts and concerns about retirement. Maybe seeing a "Regular Steve" going through it, might be helpful to someone. Thanks and take care. Steve
Great Answer to "the question" Steve. Appreciate your candor. There is much wisdom to be gained from your comments. “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”― Socrates. You have in many ways reached the ultimate. Peace.
Got no problem at all with people doing things different but it's just not us. Our retirement would bore most to death and it doesn't fit today's vision of retirement. Retirement is a personal thing and we all need to do it how we want. Got all we need or want, family close by, healthy, happy and content. Spending a bit more really wouldn't increase any of that I believe. Could be wrong and your question got me to thinking. Hoped it helped a little. Take care. Steve
I do the things I like and most things cost little because I have the tools to do it. Over the years I stocked most of the parts. I fix my cars for the fun of it. My garden produces 50% of my food and on a nice day I take a ride to some Amish food stores and it happens to save more money. I love going out and picking blueberries. It just happens to cut my food bill to $35 a week. At the end of the day I enjoy what I do. I live on less than $20k a year. At this rate my 401k is going to double in 5 years! What I will buy I have no idea! Have a great retirement!
Steve, I understand a lifetime of saving and living below your means, effects a person's outlook, even in retirement. It's not your fault that your sights are set so low. Let me help your break out of that prison in your mind... * Contract with a fancy travel agent to take care of any vacation plans you have. All you'll need to do is set the time frame for the trip. The agent will take care of everything else. A driver will pick you up at your door and whisk you off to a new, exciting adventure. * Contract with a builder to find you a sweet parcel of ground and build that 4,000 square foot palace, you deserve. I guess the in-ground pool size is up to you. * Start that collection of vintage muscle cars you've been holding off on. Make sure and contract with a top notch mechanic in your area to keep them purring. * Start training now for that Mount Everest climb and English Channel crossing swim you've always dreamed of. Hint, the Everest climb will require some support staff. So the earlier you get on that, the better. * One destination the travel agent won't have to think up, is your trips to every Packers home game. There's just nothing like a playoff game at Lambeau Field in the snow. Hint, the Suites will get you and your party out of the snow. The "frozen tundra" doesn't freeze anymore since they heat the field. Even so, there's no reason you should freeze while enjoying the big game. * One last destination you'll want to experience is a cruse up the West Coast to Alaska. Now they've really got some crabs up there. 😜
Marketing has convinced us we have to spend money to have an amazing time, but it's not true. Some of the best times of my life have been hiking on a shoestring budget.
FANTASTIC NEWS! Get your passport in order, because Steve's going to be over the moon that one of his viewers is swimming the Channel with him and climbing Everest. I hope Steve gets some good action video from the adventure. Maybe his contractor will be done with his new house when you guys fly back to the States. Go Retirement!
Took me 2 days to read that comment. Not because of the length but I got tired and needed a nap.🤣 Maybe you could join me on a "Bucket List" adventure tour. Could be like the movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Or maybe "A Walk in the Woods" adventure. Always wanted to hike the AT. You could be Robert Redford the good looking one. Grow my beard and I be a bad example of Nick Nolte.🤣 Ideas and wants I got just no desire or energy. Take care. Steve
Just found it kind of odd I spent all those years working and saving for retirement but now we really don't have the desire to spend. Do what we want and have what we need what else is there? Maybe I'm just getting older.😁 Thanks and take care. Steve
I'm actually tired of spending money - not that we spend much, but, fortunately, we are at a place where we're happy/content with what we have/where we are (in life's passage) - when things crop up, no problem, but, in a sense, we've been there, done that and now are just enjoying retirement/life. Maybe I'll splurge and go to the annual reading of Moby-Dick in New Bedford, Massachusetts in January - Boy howdy!!! We sure know how to live life!!!! I really enjoy your talks - a lot o' fun!
Sounds a little like something we'd do. We lived a pretty full life up till now. There really ain't much we really want to spend on that we don't already have or did. Maybe it just comes with getting older. Take care. Steve
I think we spend a lot but in this day and time it ain't I guess. We have all we need or want and we're happy, healthy and contented. What more could we ask for? Thanks and take care. Steve
Same as you with the prep for that big vacation. Just too much. And then once you decide to get into it, so many selections to choose from. It’s like a food menu with 150 selections, I just go back to the hamburgers with everything on it, or pasta. And if the wife can’t figure that stuff out we it just never happens. But, I’m completely content coz I love my home, it’s plenty big enough, plenty of maintenance to keep me busy, if I want that. Nice veggie garden to enjoy, zero busy body neighbors, just nice neighbors. Heat in the winter, a/c in the summer, paid off. Plenty of nice home cooked meals. Life is good.
That's us also. Pretty basic. 50 years ago it was fine living but now a days it ain't much to a lot of people. Just what I was looking for in retirement. Just as happy as we can be. Thanks and take care. Steve
My wife and I should be able to pay for all of our NEEDS with Social Security and have our savings and investments for our Wants. I think you are exactly right Steve.
The more you can cover from fixed/guaranteed income the easier retirement is financially. It frees you up for so many opportunities and eases concerns. Take care. Steve
Yeah it’s tough to spend the money you have saved over the years. When your whole philosophy was to save and pinch pennies to get to retire. It’s ingrained into you to continue to do that in retirement. Now that I’m nine months into retirement the realization is beginning to creep in to enjoy it. As my wife always says “you can’t take it with you “! Take care! Robert
Smart wife you got. I got to admit last year was rough getting used to spending without a job. We're coming around to the idea Just ain't found the right thing yet. Take care. Steve
Hi Steve, nice to hear you made the trip to Lambeau. Come back if you get the chance, they've made a lot of improvements. It's a wonderful place. Take care, Brian
Yeah every stadium I've been to has been either torn down or improved. We had a great time. Would like to take the wife one day just to show her around. Just a neat place for a Packer fan to visit. Thanks. Steve
Not quite but close. FLOP. A couple others heard it the same way. Ain't got the best mic and I can be hard to understand at times. Just a little "Steve Speak" sometimes it's FLIP. Take care. Steve
It is but we have adjusted to that pretty good. Thing is for us we just don't have much we really want to spend on. Saving for us now happens all by itself. Take care. Steve
Love your words of wisdom. I'd love to start a business in retirement, but if i don't, I think I will be content just as well. I could see laziness wanting to sneak in. Work is just as stressful and unsatisfying as ever, so I'm just trying to hang in until I can get out! 🙃 😊
I thought I’d have a little business in retirement. Fortunately Covid stopped me before I started and now I realise that it would have just been annoying and would have stopped me doing nothing, which is much more fun.
Great way to look at it. The possibilities are endless in retirement. Start a business, take a class, teach a class or what ever. Not having a job just frees you up for anything. Hang in there you'll make it and love it when you do retire. Thanks and take care. Steve
Love your Video Steve! Thank you for making it! Keep the Videos Coming! 2 Questions: 1.) What do you mean by saying 1,000 Step 10? 2.) What Month or Season do you think is the Best time to Retire?
I think your talking about the end of the video. I said I was used to 1000 instead of 10. Meant I usually get about 1k views per video but last Friday's I got 10k views. Very unusual for me. I retired the first of Feb. I turned 57 the last of Jan. that one extra month gave me a few more dollars on my pension. Also at most I had about 6 weeks till the weather moderated and I'd still be feeling the rush of retirement. Gave me almost a full year till the Winter blahs set in to get used to retirement. I think when you go is probably more of a personal decision. Maybe the first of the year might be good for tax situation. One less W-2. I would tell anybody Spring or early Summer. The weather is nice and you can do a lot more. Helps reduce boredom early in retirement. Great question. Maybe a video coming in a week or so about this. Thanks and take care. Steve
Besides the extra work to fly somewhere and rent a car, there's an extra risk of accidents and health issues while away from home. Not many people think of it, but it happens.
Never thought about that myself. I've known family and co-workers it happened to still never came across my mind. Your right it does happen. Thanks and take care. Steve
I feel the same, made some decisions early on to save for retirement, and I was always looking to increase my wages throughout my life, didn't get started until 34, a few years after I got out of Navy for 19 years.
Good for you. Those decisions you made should payoff big time in retirement. Lots of people never think about it till just before they retire. Take care. Steve
Thank you for the answers to my 2 Questions Steve. Especially #2. Do you know why you got 10,000 views on that video? Just Curious vs your average 1,000 views per video. I have another Question for ya, how far time wise/mile wise are you from Linden Virginia? 😃
No idea. Just the way UA-cam algorithm works I guess. Don't pay much attention, I just post whatever comes to mind mostly. That's up near Manassas got a buddy of mine that runs an airport there. Around 140-150 miles and less than 3hrs. drive. I'm about 20 minutes south of Richmond. Take care. Steve
Steve, great answer, however, what would your wife like to do in retirement? Maybe she would like to take a DREAM TRIP or 2 big trips to have great memories for y’all? I think it is fair to at least ask your spouse what she would like to do with some of that $$$. I believe in Happy Wife, Happy Life! Just a thought for you to consider. By the way, love your videos as they are honest, from the hear, videos and I appreciate that from you. And will keep watching them, for sure.
Double checked all that before retiring. We're pretty much on the same page with all that. If anything she's worse than I am. Very important to have that discussion before you retire. Your retirement affects everyone around you not just yourself. Thanks for the help and take care. Steve
Steve! Is it you? Are you the other Oriole fan? Ha ha! Camden Yard is a beautiful stadium. My last game at Memorial Stadium was in 1983. We were moving on to Dad's next assignment (Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM) and were getting one last O's game in before we left. That night the team was honoring my all-time favorite player, Brooks Robinson, for his induction into the Hall of Fame. The O's lost 0-9 to the Tigers that night, but I kept that ticket stub in my wallet all year because it was Brooks' night. The O's went on to take the World Series 4-1 over the Phillies that year (the last time we won it all 🙁) I'd like to think it was me hanging onto to that lucky ticket that made it all possible but everyone else gives the team all the credit...sheesh!
The nerve of somebody thinking it was actually the team and not your lucky ticket. I got to meet Brooks a few times over the years. He used to come around for autograph sessions at different places from time to time. Got my fair share of them. Great player. Johnny Oates actually lived in Colonial Heights the city next to me after he retired. Played his High school ball in Prince George county the next county over from here. I still got plans to see a game up there. Who knows this might be the year. Thanks. Steve
🤘some people think retirement changes you into a different person the day you quit i guess ? ........ if you were happy living your life two years ago having to go to work , why would the same life without a job not be 100% better without changing anything or doing anything new ? ......just more free time to do more of what you enjoy
Steve if you happy and content to be a home person there's nothing wrong with it...think about our Grandparents generation they live simple retirement life...and they semed happy...and you never now what's around the corner .
So true. That's exactly how I envisioned my retirement being. A 1950's retirement in 2023. Got just what I'd hope for. Tomorrow things might change but right now I'm just loving it. Thanks. Steve
To each there own.Some buy brand new vehicle or even sell the house buy a moterholme and travel. I opened a welstrade in 2004 I'm a year from retirement I took the money from that bought a used Infiniti payed cash and choose to invest my 401 k in an IRA(% rates are like 17 year highs)
What would you say your average annual expenses are? I hope to have my house paid off by 60 but I'd still have taxes and insurance, I really don't see my expenses dropping that much in retirement. Just curious what a realistic retirement looks like.
$40k/year. Includes everything but Fed and State income tax. This year will be around $45-50k probably do a little more this year. Tried to live last year just like we always had did nothing different. Checkout: ua-cam.com/video/7f-eRIUhW0g/v-deo.htmlsi=L0xZY6uZYFOAE2UM. Talk about what we spent for last year. Hope that helped a little.Thanks. Steve
NOISY! Early in the morning you can hear them inside the house just chirping away. About all kinds. Your standard song birds. Finches, Cardinals, Robins, Jays, Woodpeckers etc. Had a Red Tail Hawk in the back yard just yesterday. Watched him for about 20 minutes. Buzzards, Crows, Bald Eagles even have an Albatross nesting at the park I take my morning walk. A little of everything. Take care and enjoy retirement. Steve
There is more like us than we realize. So much today about "The new age of retirement" and "Retirement dreams" and things like that. Most retirees I know have just regular lives like everybody else except they don't have a job. Thanks. Steve
Yeah you need to think about something like a cruise, or trip to see someone or something before you can't carry the wife's suit case. So has it been a year now Steve, any surprises in the tax department being your first year. See your my guinea pig or Mikey. LOL.
Just what I need another chore to help the wife with.😁 Taxes will be next Friday flashback. Doing My SS today. Turned out pretty good this year, exactly how we figured. 12% effective tax rate. Should be pretty much the same until SS then the bottom will drop out to about 5% until one of us dies. Should never be over 12% though, even in the single bracket. Take care. Steve
6 P's Prepare or Ready to Retire ==== Prior, Planning, Prevents, Piss, Poor, Performance. Gas in California is $ 7.25 a gallon for unleaded. Min wage in CA.$ 20.00 an hour effected July 2024. So spend like the politicians in Washington. DC.
Couldn't put it better myself. $7.25 that's just outrageous. $3.30 here was less than $3 not more than a week ago. Whether I want to or not it gets spent one way or the other. Thanks. Steve
Not continuing to work when you don’t want to and don’t have to is perhaps the most rational thing you could do.
Bullshit
Thinking about it now you're probably right.Why go through all that if I didn't need to be there. Retirement was the best option for me and glad I did. Take care. Steve
@@sandblast5636 explain.
This is exactly where I am at right now.
How unbelievably it is that I can watch Steve talk about retirement. I needed his post today to calm my nerves by watching him chill in his back yard like I'm doing in mine. It's not just retirement talk It's a friend you never met in person. Keep it up Steve.
Just the way I feel or think when making them. Like I'm talking to a neighbor or my wife. Just spitting out thoughts on things and getting feedback. I've gotten over 2500 new friends since I retired I can just sit and chat with anytime I choose. I learn a lot and enjoy doing it. Life is good. Take care and thanks for the kind words. Steve
Life is Good !
Right on brotha...I didn't plan on retiring at 55, but I got ticked off and said I'm going to go as soon as I can and 55 said go....so I went!
Good for you. I was just fed up and tired so I went. Actually probably one of the best or most rational things I've done. Take care. Steve
I’m fifty-five, widowed since 2012 and have chosen to stay single because to be honest with you I like just having to worry about me. I do exactly what I want, when I want. By most people’s standards it’s a boring life but I like it, I go to the gym every morning, I smoke a cigar most days as I enjoy a glass of bourbon with my dog on my little back porch and it makes me happy. As I am still working I may break down and buy myself a Vespa but if into my retirement I can continue to enjoy my simple lifestyle I think I will be perfectly content.
Fantastic comment boss. Thanks. It's not today's vision of retirement but we enjoy it. Things might change tomorrow but right now we're perfectly fine with it. Take care and enjoy. Steve
I won't be retired until 4 more years (Lord willing), but I tell people to spend money on the things they enjoy and scrimp on the things they don't enjoy (even before retirement). I am a brain cancer survivor and before my diagnosis I hoarded money just to save and said I would have my fun when I got older. I promised myself if I made it through, I'd spend some of my funds on things I loved and really wanted to do (like traveling). I still put as much as I can into my 457 and Roth so I can have a comfortable retirement, but I don't hoard money like I used to. Have a great day Steve and everyone else in the comments!
So glad to hear you made it through your cancer diagnosis and treatments. I have a niece dealing with brain cancer now. She's had one surgery and going through treatments now. Holding up as well as can be expected for now. I get similar comments from time to time. It's great for me to hear the perspective from someone that has been in your shoes. Really drives home my good fortune and to not put off today for tomorrow. Thank you so much for commenting. Take care. Steve
that f' bomb you slipped in there had me laughing my ass off
FLOP was the word. I tend to be hard to understand sometimes and I ain't got the best mic in the world. Others heard it the same way. Just "Steve Speech" sometimes it's FLIP or FLOCK. Glad you got a chuckle out of it. Take care. Steve
You videos are some of the most enjoyable 10-15 minutes over coffee I have each week in early retirement.
So glad I can make your coffee time a little more enjoyable. Having a little extra unexpected joy helps with the adjustment to retirement. Did me anyway. Take care. Steve
Your channel was mentioned by Buzz and I'm enjoying the ramblings (Buzz's too lol!) and any tidbits I might get along the way - thanks!
Buzz is good people. I enjoy watching and learning from him a lot. I appreciate you stopping by. I don't know a thing about retirement. Just learning and figuring out as I go. Take care and thanks. Steve
keep 'em coming... I really enjoy your perspective. I'm having a great time doing nothing, and seems like I stay busy all day everyday, doing nothing but living... Glad to see the warmer weather and longer days. I am looking forward to lots of outdoor activities for the next few months. I hope I have time ...LOL!
The ability to do nothing is an over looked benefit of retirement I believe. Sometimes it's the best thing we can do. I feel the same way. I stay constantly busy doing absolutely nothing and love it. With the weather moderating and longer days I'll be wore out come fall and need a break. Take care and enjoy the outdoors. Steve
Steve you are so right about, after a while, some things we just feel like we don't need to spend the money on. I drive a truck that is quite a few years old, and my kids are always saying, "dad why don't you buy yourself a new truck !?" I'm like, this one is still just fine, and a new one would not make me one bit happier. I'm am like the old "Elsie the contented cow" on the carnation cans of milk. Content. It's nice.
Exactly! Doing this or buying that just because I can wouldn't increase our happiness or enjoyment so why do it? Just don't have the desire to spend like that. To each his own but it just ain't us. I forgot about "Elsie" but do remember now that you brought it up. Perfect example. Should have mentioned it in the video. Thanks. Steve
I'm with you Steve...the wife and I have very few wants and are happy with our simple life. Like they say, contentment comes not from having everything you want but wanting what you already have. It makes me happy to watch your channel grow...you're doing a great job.
We're really not trying to spend less but there isn't much we really want. Feels like we're living large to us. Got a few things coming up this year we're going to give a shot I think. Nothing big just a bit different for us. Do what we want, when we want, Healthy, family close by, have what we need plus a little extra, plenty to do. What's not to love about being retired. Take care. Steve
Steve, I feel the same as you, I have more money then I could ever spend and there's nothing I really want or need, so i'm just investing it. And i'm lazy too, trips are just WAY to much work, LOL.
Just odd I spent all that time and years so I could have something to retire on and now I just don't have the desire to spend it. Got all we need or want and spending an extra dollar or 2 just because we could wouldn't increase our happiness in life. Take care. Steve
Life is Good !
Hi Steve. I was going to retire from my job at 65, which would have been this year. Once I figured I be ok financially without the job I put my 6 month notice in and went out in April 2022. No regrets now that I did it when I did. Just knowing I don't need to report to a 8hr job anymore has reduced my stress level tremendously. Much happier now and content and just love the fact that I am my own boss now and can do whatever I please when I want. Retirement = freedom😊😂
You're coming up on 2 years. Congrats! I get comments like this from people a lot. Just nothing like the feeling of freedom you get when you retire. Thanks and enjoy. Steve
This is a great topic, Steve. I've been very fortunate, and blessed and am well positioned for my style of retirement. I feel safe and secure and what is better than that? I keep those who have lots less in my prayers and hope I don't come off self-congratulatory, because there, but for the grace of God, go I. If you know what i mean. There's folks living on the street in this town. I have enough extra to save for wants. Yesterday I sat down and tried to think of anything I might actually want to spend more on. I landed on repainting the front of the house, and buying a little ninja grill for summer because my old Weber rusted out last year. And I want new hardware for my front door because it's getting wiggly. 😂 Maybe go camping. Seriously. I can totally relate to being content with a simpler life. Best wishes to you and yours
"There but for the grace of God" Feel the same way constantly. Know exactly what you mean. Might be just the fact I'm getting older I don't know. Spending an extra dollar or 2 just because we have it wouldn't increase our happiness in life. Everybody is different but that's just how we are. Great comment. Thank you. Steve
My two cents if you reach contentment your good.
Sometimes two cents is worth a million. I feel the same way. Doing good and feeling good why change? Thanks. Steve
Howdy Doc. What you said at 2:45 killed me. Lol. Thanks again for sharing your journey with us. 👍🚨
Seems like a few had the same thought. Never thought how FLOP would sound on the video. Might need to use a script and plan something once in awhile. NAW! too much work. Take care. Steve
What real person is GREAT!! Thank you Steve for your hobby!! Keep them coming!!!
It was a great question and made me think. That's all I was doing. Thinking out loud. Thanks for watching and take care. Steve
I watch several people like you that are genuine living All over, it's amazing how similar we are, Thanks
There are a lot more of us living what I call a "Normal Retirement" than it appears in the advertisements. Those visions of retirement are great for those that want them. We just don't. Take care. Steve
Your a happy man Steve - love it 👍🏻
Generally always have been. I didn't think retirement would increase it but it sure did. Thanks and take care. Steve
I always loved hearing Howard Cosell say The frozen tundra of Lambeu field when I was a kid
He definitely had a way of saying things. Keith Jackson and "Whoa Nellie" the same thing. Take care. Steve
Your a cool guy Steve, I like your attitude towards life. Let life be good to you.Dont sweat the small stuff. Wize man. Stay cool Steve.
That's why making videos is easy and enjoyable for me. Just being my self. Not teaching, preaching or anything. I figure most people have similar thoughts and concerns about retirement. Maybe seeing a "Regular Steve" going through it, might be helpful to someone. Thanks and take care. Steve
Great Answer to "the question" Steve. Appreciate your candor. There is much wisdom to be gained from your comments. “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”― Socrates. You have in many ways reached the ultimate. Peace.
Got no problem at all with people doing things different but it's just not us. Our retirement would bore most to death and it doesn't fit today's vision of retirement. Retirement is a personal thing and we all need to do it how we want. Got all we need or want, family close by, healthy, happy and content. Spending a bit more really wouldn't increase any of that I believe. Could be wrong and your question got me to thinking. Hoped it helped a little. Take care. Steve
I do the things I like and most things cost little because I have the tools to do it. Over the years I stocked most of the parts. I fix my cars for the fun of it. My garden produces 50% of my food and on a nice day I take a ride to some Amish food stores and it happens to save more money. I love going out and picking blueberries. It just happens to cut my food bill to $35 a week. At the end of the day I enjoy what I do. I live on less than $20k a year. At this rate my 401k is going to double in 5 years! What I will buy I have no idea!
Have a great retirement!
That sounds fantastic. You've got this retirement thing wired. Congrats. Take care and enjoy it. Steve
Steve, I understand a lifetime of saving and living below your means, effects a person's outlook, even in retirement. It's not your fault that your sights are set so low. Let me help your break out of that prison in your mind...
* Contract with a fancy travel agent to take care of any vacation plans you have.
All you'll need to do is set the time frame for the trip. The agent will take care of everything else. A driver will pick you up at your door and whisk you off to a new, exciting adventure.
* Contract with a builder to find you a sweet parcel of ground and build that 4,000 square foot palace, you deserve.
I guess the in-ground pool size is up to you.
* Start that collection of vintage muscle cars you've been holding off on.
Make sure and contract with a top notch mechanic in your area to keep them purring.
* Start training now for that Mount Everest climb and English Channel crossing swim you've always dreamed of.
Hint, the Everest climb will require some support staff. So the earlier you get on that, the better.
* One destination the travel agent won't have to think up, is your trips to every Packers home game.
There's just nothing like a playoff game at Lambeau Field in the snow. Hint, the Suites will get you and your party out of the snow. The "frozen tundra" doesn't freeze anymore since they heat the field. Even so, there's no reason you should freeze while enjoying the big game.
* One last destination you'll want to experience is a cruse up the West Coast to Alaska.
Now they've really got some crabs up there. 😜
Marketing has convinced us we have to spend money to have an amazing time, but it's not true. Some of the best times of my life have been hiking on a shoestring budget.
True, money can't buy you happiness.
But Steve will have a blast, swimming the Channel and climbing Everest.
Great comment! I’m 64 and in Steve’s position and you have motivated me to start acting! 😊
FANTASTIC NEWS! Get your passport in order, because Steve's going to be over the moon that one of his viewers is swimming the Channel with him and climbing Everest. I hope Steve gets some good action video from the adventure. Maybe his contractor will be done with his new house when you guys fly back to the States. Go Retirement!
Took me 2 days to read that comment. Not because of the length but I got tired and needed a nap.🤣 Maybe you could join me on a "Bucket List" adventure tour. Could be like the movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Or maybe "A Walk in the Woods" adventure. Always wanted to hike the AT. You could be Robert Redford the good looking one. Grow my beard and I be a bad example of Nick Nolte.🤣 Ideas and wants I got just no desire or energy. Take care. Steve
I love it. I am lazy as well. Also, the 9-5 pissed me off and 58.5 years old was the soonest that I could get a pension.
A lot of people get to the same point I believe. Just fed up and tired of it all and retire. Congratulations and enjoy it. Thanks. Steve
Love the honesty! The Snow-Go made us laugh. Keep these coming Steve.
Just found it kind of odd I spent all those years working and saving for retirement but now we really don't have the desire to spend. Do what we want and have what we need what else is there? Maybe I'm just getting older.😁 Thanks and take care. Steve
I'm actually tired of spending money - not that we spend much, but, fortunately, we are at a place where we're happy/content with what we have/where we are (in life's passage) - when things crop up, no problem, but, in a sense, we've been there, done that and now are just enjoying retirement/life. Maybe I'll splurge and go to the annual reading of Moby-Dick in New Bedford, Massachusetts in January - Boy howdy!!! We sure know how to live life!!!! I really enjoy your talks - a lot o' fun!
Sounds a little like something we'd do. We lived a pretty full life up till now. There really ain't much we really want to spend on that we don't already have or did. Maybe it just comes with getting older. Take care. Steve
I don’t spend a lot either, but still manage to have a good time!🎉
I think we spend a lot but in this day and time it ain't I guess. We have all we need or want and we're happy, healthy and contented. What more could we ask for? Thanks and take care. Steve
Great video.
Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Take care. Steve
Same as you with the prep for that big vacation. Just too much. And then once you decide to get into it, so many selections to choose from. It’s like a food menu with 150 selections, I just go back to the hamburgers with everything on it, or pasta. And if the wife can’t figure that stuff out we it just never happens. But, I’m completely content coz I love my home, it’s plenty big enough, plenty of maintenance to keep me busy, if I want that. Nice veggie garden to enjoy, zero busy body neighbors, just nice neighbors. Heat in the winter, a/c in the summer, paid off. Plenty of nice home cooked meals. Life is good.
That's us also. Pretty basic. 50 years ago it was fine living but now a days it ain't much to a lot of people. Just what I was looking for in retirement. Just as happy as we can be. Thanks and take care. Steve
My wife and I should be able to pay for all of our NEEDS with Social Security and have our savings and investments for our Wants. I think you are exactly right Steve.
The more you can cover from fixed/guaranteed income the easier retirement is financially. It frees you up for so many opportunities and eases concerns. Take care. Steve
Yeah it’s tough to spend the money you have saved over the years. When your whole philosophy was to save and pinch pennies to get to retire. It’s ingrained into you to continue to do that in retirement. Now that I’m nine months into retirement the realization is beginning to creep in to enjoy it. As my wife always says “you can’t take it with you “! Take care! Robert
Smart wife you got. I got to admit last year was rough getting used to spending without a job. We're coming around to the idea Just ain't found the right thing yet. Take care. Steve
Hi Steve, nice to hear you made the trip to Lambeau. Come back if you get the chance, they've made a lot of improvements. It's a wonderful place. Take care, Brian
Yeah every stadium I've been to has been either torn down or improved. We had a great time. Would like to take the wife one day just to show her around. Just a neat place for a Packer fan to visit. Thanks. Steve
Wait....what? Did I hear you drop an F-bomb......😮😂😅😂
Not quite but close. FLOP. A couple others heard it the same way. Ain't got the best mic and I can be hard to understand at times. Just a little "Steve Speak" sometimes it's FLIP. Take care. Steve
Thanks!
Thanks for your continued support. Appreciated more than you'll ever know. Take care. Steve
You have to completely change your mindset from save save save to spend
It’s harder to do than you realize
It is but we have adjusted to that pretty good. Thing is for us we just don't have much we really want to spend on. Saving for us now happens all by itself. Take care. Steve
Love your words of wisdom. I'd love to start a business in retirement, but if i don't, I think I will be content just as well. I could see laziness wanting to sneak in. Work is just as stressful and unsatisfying as ever, so I'm just trying to hang in until I can get out! 🙃 😊
I thought I’d have a little business in retirement. Fortunately Covid stopped me before I started and now I realise that it would have just been annoying and would have stopped me doing nothing, which is much more fun.
Great way to look at it. The possibilities are endless in retirement. Start a business, take a class, teach a class or what ever. Not having a job just frees you up for anything. Hang in there you'll make it and love it when you do retire. Thanks and take care. Steve
@@mydanshi9683 I'll bet doing nothing is a lot of fun! I look forward to trying it! 🙂
Love your Video Steve! Thank you for making it! Keep the Videos Coming! 2 Questions: 1.) What do you mean by saying 1,000 Step 10? 2.) What Month or Season do you think is the Best time to Retire?
I think your talking about the end of the video. I said I was used to 1000 instead of 10. Meant I usually get about 1k views per video but last Friday's I got 10k views. Very unusual for me. I retired the first of Feb. I turned 57 the last of Jan. that one extra month gave me a few more dollars on my pension. Also at most I had about 6 weeks till the weather moderated and I'd still be feeling the rush of retirement. Gave me almost a full year till the Winter blahs set in to get used to retirement. I think when you go is probably more of a personal decision. Maybe the first of the year might be good for tax situation. One less W-2. I would tell anybody Spring or early Summer. The weather is nice and you can do a lot more. Helps reduce boredom early in retirement. Great question. Maybe a video coming in a week or so about this. Thanks and take care. Steve
I appreciate your honesty!
Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Take care. Steve
Besides the extra work to fly somewhere and rent a car, there's an extra risk of accidents and health issues while away from home. Not many people think of it, but it happens.
Never thought about that myself. I've known family and co-workers it happened to still never came across my mind. Your right it does happen. Thanks and take care. Steve
I feel the same, made some decisions early on to save for retirement, and I was always looking to increase my wages throughout my life, didn't get started until 34, a few years after I got out of Navy for 19 years.
Good for you. Those decisions you made should payoff big time in retirement. Lots of people never think about it till just before they retire. Take care. Steve
To each their own. If you're happy, you're good. Enjoy the videos, thanks.
Exactly! Everybody's retirement is different. Ours just happens to be a little more low key than most. Thanks. Steve
Thank you for the answers to my 2 Questions Steve.
Especially #2.
Do you know why you got 10,000 views on that video? Just Curious vs your average 1,000 views per video.
I have another Question for ya, how far time wise/mile wise are you from Linden Virginia? 😃
No idea. Just the way UA-cam algorithm works I guess. Don't pay much attention, I just post whatever comes to mind mostly. That's up near Manassas got a buddy of mine that runs an airport there. Around 140-150 miles and less than 3hrs. drive. I'm about 20 minutes south of Richmond. Take care. Steve
Sometimes, you just know when you have to take the leap. It eats you up inside until you take action.
Totally true in my case. Got to the point I was just fed up and tired so I retired. Best decision I've made in a long time. Take care. Steve
Steve, great answer, however, what would your wife like to do in retirement? Maybe she would like to take a DREAM TRIP or 2 big trips to have great memories for y’all? I think it is fair to at least ask your spouse what she would like to do with some of that $$$. I believe in Happy Wife, Happy Life!
Just a thought for you to consider. By the way, love your videos as they are honest, from the hear, videos and I appreciate that from you. And will keep watching them, for sure.
Double checked all that before retiring. We're pretty much on the same page with all that. If anything she's worse than I am. Very important to have that discussion before you retire. Your retirement affects everyone around you not just yourself. Thanks for the help and take care. Steve
Steve! Is it you? Are you the other Oriole fan? Ha ha! Camden Yard is a beautiful stadium. My last game at Memorial Stadium was in 1983. We were moving on to Dad's next assignment (Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM) and were getting one last O's game in before we left. That night the team was honoring my all-time favorite player, Brooks Robinson, for his induction into the Hall of Fame. The O's lost 0-9 to the Tigers that night, but I kept that ticket stub in my wallet all year because it was Brooks' night. The O's went on to take the World Series 4-1 over the Phillies that year (the last time we won it all 🙁) I'd like to think it was me hanging onto to that lucky ticket that made it all possible but everyone else gives the team all the credit...sheesh!
The nerve of somebody thinking it was actually the team and not your lucky ticket. I got to meet Brooks a few times over the years. He used to come around for autograph sessions at different places from time to time. Got my fair share of them. Great player. Johnny Oates actually lived in Colonial Heights the city next to me after he retired. Played his High school ball in Prince George county the next county over from here. I still got plans to see a game up there. Who knows this might be the year. Thanks. Steve
🤘some people think retirement changes you into a different person the day you quit i guess ? ........ if you were happy living your life two years ago having to go to work , why would the same life without a job not be 100% better without changing anything or doing anything new ? ......just more free time to do more of what you enjoy
Exactly the way I saw it. A job was getting in the way of my enjoyment of life so I retired. Just made everything that much better. Thanks. Steve
Steve if you happy and content to be a home person there's nothing wrong with it...think about our Grandparents generation they live simple retirement life...and they semed happy...and you never now what's around the corner .
So true. That's exactly how I envisioned my retirement being. A 1950's retirement in 2023. Got just what I'd hope for. Tomorrow things might change but right now I'm just loving it. Thanks. Steve
To each there own.Some buy brand new vehicle or even sell the house buy a moterholme and travel.
I opened a welstrade in 2004 I'm a year from retirement I took the money from that bought a used Infiniti payed cash and choose to invest my 401 k in an IRA(% rates are like 17 year highs)
Exactly! Retirement is totally a personal thing. No wrong or right way to do it. Thanks. Steve
What would you say your average annual expenses are? I hope to have my house paid off by 60 but I'd still have taxes and insurance, I really don't see my expenses dropping that much in retirement. Just curious what a realistic retirement looks like.
$40k/year. Includes everything but Fed and State income tax. This year will be around $45-50k probably do a little more this year. Tried to live last year just like we always had did nothing different. Checkout: ua-cam.com/video/7f-eRIUhW0g/v-deo.htmlsi=L0xZY6uZYFOAE2UM. Talk about what we spent for last year. Hope that helped a little.Thanks. Steve
I hear birds in the background. What species you have round them parts?
NOISY! Early in the morning you can hear them inside the house just chirping away. About all kinds. Your standard song birds. Finches, Cardinals, Robins, Jays, Woodpeckers etc. Had a Red Tail Hawk in the back yard just yesterday. Watched him for about 20 minutes. Buzzards, Crows, Bald Eagles even have an Albatross nesting at the park I take my morning walk. A little of everything. Take care and enjoy retirement. Steve
Me to
There is more like us than we realize. So much today about "The new age of retirement" and "Retirement dreams" and things like that. Most retirees I know have just regular lives like everybody else except they don't have a job. Thanks. Steve
Hi Steve.
Hey Boss man! How's retirement treating you? The weather is turning decent here and I've been busy knocking around. Take care. Steve
Yeah you need to think about something like a cruise, or trip to see someone or something before you can't carry the wife's suit case. So has it been a year now Steve, any surprises in the tax department being your first year. See your my guinea pig or Mikey. LOL.
Just what I need another chore to help the wife with.😁 Taxes will be next Friday flashback. Doing My SS today. Turned out pretty good this year, exactly how we figured. 12% effective tax rate. Should be pretty much the same until SS then the bottom will drop out to about 5% until one of us dies. Should never be over 12% though, even in the single bracket. Take care. Steve
6 P's Prepare or Ready to Retire ==== Prior, Planning, Prevents, Piss, Poor, Performance. Gas in California is $ 7.25 a gallon for unleaded. Min wage in CA.$ 20.00 an hour effected July 2024. So spend like the politicians in Washington. DC.
Couldn't put it better myself. $7.25 that's just outrageous. $3.30 here was less than $3 not more than a week ago. Whether I want to or not it gets spent one way or the other. Thanks. Steve