I started in the early eighties in the military at $30k per year and came off active duty 16 years later at $60K per year. I later retired from the reserves but have yet to see a retirement check. I went into industry and now earn 3x my exit pay and hold two other part time jobs. I have funded my own retirement with at least 15% of my income for the past 30 years or so. Hard work and service is not difficult to do when one has motivation. Good jobs are plentiful when you have skill and good attitude.
As to health care, Obama care screwed us all on that. Plans went from decent to crap after ACA went into effect. So now I just use minimal plan and fund an HSA to cover the deductables.
Few if any companies these days offer company funded retirement plans, and those were put in place decades ago as incentives to hire in, necessary for the company to attract good labor, not something that should have been seen as an excuse not to save and plan your own retirement.
Advice to people who cant afford nice things, cut up your credit cards and start living within your means and save at least 15% of whatever you make. If you started funding your Roth IRA or 401K at age 24 you can retire very comfortably at 60-65. 401k’s are not stupid-azz.
My grandparents lived through the great depression and gave birth to my parents coming out of the depression and going into WWII. I am so blessed both those generations didnt think like you.
“I am so blessed both those generations didnt think like you”
My wife and I own 3 co’s. I know what it takes. You got in a gov’t job at the right time and made yours before our system went South.
I work in employee benefits. I see the layoffs and downsizing of thousands of folks who are probably more educated and maybe even harder working than you. Not everyone is as lucky as you. And yes it is hard work but also plenty of luck and timing. Running 3 companies plenty of luck and timing helped us out as much as hard work...maybe more so.
Again it sucks for people just entering the job market over the last 15-20 years due to globalization.
The millennials and younger generation will not have it as nice or easy as we did or our parents. The stats prove it. Wait until automation kicks in.