The reason elderly women have less money than men is the reason younger women earn less money: in general women try to work regular hours, shorter hours, because they are taking care of children at first, and perhaps parents later. If you only work 9 to 5 because you have to drop kids off and pick them up from daycare, or you take days off to take them to the pediatrician and stay home with them when they’re sick, you’re not going to make as much money as the male colleague who may be no more smart or talented but can work late, travel on business, or pull all-nighters. That’s not discrimination, it’s just a fact of life, but it does mean that we don’t get the pay raises and promotions and we don’t accumulate the pensions and Social Security our male colleagues do.
I am a woman facing an old age of near-poverty. Being a dedicated mother who put her children first was indeed my decision, and I’m going to pay for it. I don’t see a solution to the problem.
Meanwhile, I might just gently point out that making bitchy remarks about shopping habits is not a helpful contribution to the discussion.
Exactly -
I’m a year away from 80 -
I worked to retirement age - which coincided with my doctor telling me I had to stop because of health.
I often worked one full time and 2 part time jobs - to make less than a man’s wage on one. And health insurance seldom came with women’s jobs.
When my children were little - in the ‘60’s, we traditionally stayed home and raised OUR OWN KIDS.
The gov’t didn’t used to punish us for that - but now they do. Instead of figuring soc. sec on your last or best 10 years of work, hey go back to age 15 - and add the child rearing years in a ZEROS - That takes the amount down drastically.
There’s an old Cherokee saying: “Unless you have walked in my moccasins many moons, do not judge.”
So I agree with you, ottbmare, the snarky remarks here are not needed.
For you younger gals, thank your lucky stars that employment for women today has done a 180 - I am ecstatic for my granddaughters, seeing them in great paying positions, knowing they won’t have the struggles my generation of women did...and do.
I miss the Freepers that were here 10 years ago - most of them have given up and moved on. I can see why.
At one time, families greatly valued decisions such as yours.
But I suppose these are different times. I hope your children understand the sacrifices that you made, and will be there when you need help. The best of luck to you.
I agree. Unfortunately, that has become the trend of FR over the years. I think it's supposed to pass for humor. Go figure. You just have to ignore those FReepers and make a note of the FReepers whose posts are worth reading.
I am in the same boat except that I spent a lot of my working years taking care of terminally ill family members (3) never giving a thought to the toll it could take on my finances in my senior years. Even so, I'd do the same thing again. You know how it goes. You rise to the challenge at hand.
It's difficult to get back into the work force when you've been out for a while. Now that I'm facing this very austere way of life, I really need a job. (Lost mine immediately after the ObamaCare Supreme Court decision was announced.) The trouble is, no one wants to hire an old lady. :'( Nobody warned me that I would be unnecessary by my 60s.
I hope for the best for you and I also hope your children you raised will help you as time goes by. God Bless you.
I agree kind of. My friends shopped and partied never thinking about tomorrow.
My choice was to spend my money raising my kids, some college, some tech school. It was a choice I willingly and consciously made. Don’t regret it.
Due to this decision life is gonna be a bit harder but my rewards are my here or now.
living a simple life sounds real good to me.
I just saw your tagline. Btw my son joined the army almost a year ago. I guess we did good lady.
talk about boo-hoo on parade. Any other excuses you would like to throw out why you are lazy? I am a single dad working 50+ hours a week, pulling all nighters working on the weekends and raising two kids while cooking for them every night and teaching them responsibilities. Sounds to me like you want a pity party. Go join the DEM party.
Good for you
Child care costs are unbelievably high. My 64 years of experience and observation has shown to me that women generally make less money and have higher expenses over their working years. Most women don’t have careers, they have jobs.
I understand completely...been there...still doing that.
Youngest is 17 and will be a HS senior next year...have a 20 yr old in college and three graduated out of college, grown up professionals, paying their taxes and contributing to society. I quite my good paying, county govt “office job” 30 years ago to stay home w/baby number one. And started my cobbled together “make ends meet” nighttime jobs of waitressing; inventory servicing and more years of retail than I care to admit to. I made (and still make) very little, but that “little” keeps us afloat. Like you, I know what the future holds.
I wouldn’t change any of my decisions career wise. I have seen, first hand, the trouble the “two big income” families have (raised by succession of babysitter types) so I know I did the right thing being home and being a professional “volunteer” (home room mom, Scout leader, Sunday school teacher) it shows in the end product.
I love the “wit” though that a “lifetime of shopping” has left “ us” in this position. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish FR from the DUmp.
It may be an old fashioned idea, but I believe the children should help out.
My ex wife never saw a dollar she couldn’t spend fast enough.
She never grasped the concept of a financial plan I had instituted with a a well known investment house.
When I was overseas she enjoyed a lifestyle that only a dual salary could provide. She could never seem to account for her own money. Spend spend spend. Beach condo weekends, travel, etc. when I was away.
I had the good sense to keep our finances separate - we shared the household expenses except when I had to pay for the new roof, redo the electrical, window replacement, car payments - you get the idea.
Now she is complaining that her SS isn’t enough and still whines about money the one or two times a year when she get the nerve to call and bemoans her station in life.
Meanwhile, I might just gently point out that making bitchy remarks about shopping habits is not a helpful contribution to the discussion.
I know you don't want to ask them, but can't the kids help? I'd like to believe that if something happened to me and our savings, our kids would help my wife as much as they could, not just as much as seemed convenient.
I work as a 3rd party contractor for a major corporation. I see older faces starting to be hired more often. The kids don't have the skill set. They can type on computers but they don't have social skills that the company wants. They also can't handle stress as well as older generations.
“Meanwhile, I might just gently point out that making bitchy remarks about shopping habits is not a helpful contribution to the discussion.”
If you can’t take a joke, I fail to see how that is my problem.
It’s strange when I look at those things the social security admin sends out. The years I stayed home with the kids I had zero income so although I’m making okay wages now - those years I had zero income I suppose will be averaged in as well?
P. S. I do not like to shop, neither does my mother and neither does my daughter. My ex however loved to shop and spent us out of house and home (well not literally out of home but he liked to spend more than we earned). I am an extremely frugal individuals as are my mother and my daughter.