(Author’s Opinion)
What happens to old people who don’t save for retirement? Typically, responses to these questions tend to be pessimistic.
Why is this the case? Because so many people only see despair and deprivation when pondering this question. Unfortunately, they cannot see anything except misery, and lack.
Retirees, often bitter about their circumstances, offer discouraging feedback based on their lack of money. More than likely, these people are pessimists and lead negative lives. Their negativity blocks may have created their ineffectiveness with money.
Read: Live Longer With Positive Thinking – 7 Tips to Cultivate Optimism
Then you have the financial experts who are competing for your business. They gaze into their crystal balls and scare you with statistics and fear tactics, explaining how individuals who don’t save for retirement end up in dire financial straits.
Still, some are not yet retired and pop out of the woodwork, and feel compelled to criticize old people who didn’t save for retirement. These individuals offer their opinions on what could have been achieved if only these elderly folks had made retirement savings a priority.
Heartbreaking or Inspiring?
Consider the following example I came across on a forum by a person criticizing their grandmother:
An 80-something grandmother who lives alone is described as “having” to share garden vegetables with friends, kind of co-op style. The writer’s tone is such that Grandma growing her vegetables and having to share her bountiful harvest is a terrible thing – a result of her grandmother not saving for retirement.
It’s sad to think that this person views their grandmother as a loser.
In all fairness, I don’t know Grandma’s situation. Adding to this point, it can be difficult to obtain a complete understanding of someone’s response in an online forum.
Nevertheless, from what is described in a few sentences, Grandma appears to be an independent self-reliant octogenarian who tends her garden and has a network of supportive friends to share it with!
This quote from Frank Capra’s movie It’s a Wonderful Life comes to mind:
Remember no man is a failure who has friends.
What happens to old people who don’t save for retirement is not only dependent on their financial health but on their attitude about life.
Grandma’s Golden Years: Embracing a Different Path
It’s okay if Grandma’s golden years are different than what you or anyone else thinks it should be.
Money provides us with many comforts, but a truly rich life has nothing to do with money.
In my opinion, Grandma’s contentment in her old age has more value than her inability to live an extravagant lifestyle.
-People have lives.
-They live, love, and laugh.
-They have kids, buy houses, start businesses.
-Kids get sick, houses get foreclosed, and businesses fail.
For all we know, she couldn’t have saved for retirement even if she wanted to.
As a result of living life and the consequences of those circumstances, Grandma found herself without a retirement nest egg. Perhaps she may even require financial support.
However, it doesn’t mean that Grandma has a bad life because she didn’t save for retirement. It’s just different than the way life was before.
A Positive Perspective
Yes. I’m looking at it from a positive point of view. Because what is the alternative? To be a complainer and only see misery and lack when retirement turns out differently than planned?
It’s important to understand that if you dwell on negativity and scarcity, you may inadvertently attract more of the same. By consciously directing your thoughts and energy towards health, wealth, and happiness, you can manifest an abundant and fulfilling retirement.
In case you think this is some kind of New Age woo-woo, I strongly disagree.
Since the beginning of time, respected people from all walks of life have understood that our thoughts create our future.
Mahatma Gandhi, Earl Nightingale, Dale Carnegie, Dorothea Brande, and Jesus Christ to name a few all knew that the way we think about our circumstances controls the course of our lives and the outcome.
Mindset and Fears in Retirement
Mindset applies to retirement just like it does to everything else in life. A positive mindset will bring contentment and abundance. Thoughts of fear bring an unpleasant retirement experience into reality.
Read: How to Solve the Poverty Consciousness in Retirement
Are you afraid you will be an old man or old woman living in squalor? Are you scared you’ll be eating cat food for dinner?
Fearful thoughts indeed! However, the truth of the matter is that most people who live in squalor have a mental condition and are under the age of 65.
Hence, if you’re a middle-class boomer who is halfway sane, most likely you won’t become a statistic.
Yes, while it is rare, there are indeed poignant stories of elderly individuals resorting to consuming cat food as a consequence of financial hardship. With that in mind, if you know of anyone in this situation, please help them by providing them with some nourishing food.
Retirement will likely differ from your plans.
Whether you saved or didn’t save for your retirement, it will most likely look different than what you’ve planned.
Do you know anyone who has played the game of life and had it turn out exactly as planned? It’s reasonable to presume that your retirement will be a bit different than expected.
However, if you embrace change, have a positive approach to “old age”, and do some spiritual work on your attitude about money, you’re likely to make it through okay.
Disclosure: This article contains Amazon affiliate links to products we recommend. If you click through and make a purchase through these links, we’ll get a small commission, but you won’t pay any extra. Thank you!
Product Recommendation: If you have an interest in the metaphysical, I encourage you to read The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn. It’s a transformational, prosperity classic. And a quick and easy read.
And who is to say what the ideal retirement looks like? Only you can determine that.
If you would like some practical solutions for retirement planning, please check out the related articles below.
Related Articles You May Like:
- Just-in-Time Retirement
- How Much Money Should You Have to Retire? (Try Value-Based Planning)
- Solutions if You Didn’t Save Enough for Retirement
- How to Retire at 62 with Little Money (It’s About Value)
- Plan Now for a Healthy, Happy Retirement
This is my opinion. I would love to hear yours. Please leave me a comment below. And before you go, please take a moment to subscribe to our newsletter, and like us on Facebook!
I really need some advice how I can survive at the moment. I’m in danger of being homeless in couple of months. I’m waiting for a surgery and incapacitated to do anything. Not sure if you can help me but I’m really desperate for help now. I’m living on my own, no savings just relying on Centrelink benefits. I hope you can offer advice if not assistance to help me with my urgent dilemma and this is not a scam because I don’t have anything to be scammed for. Thanks!
Hello Evelyn,
I’m so sorry to hear you’re in such difficult circumstances. Have you reached out to the people at Centrelink? Their website says that they offer services for people in crisis and social workers for those going through difficult times. According to their website, they are there for people in need. I’m hopeful they can help you. My thoughts and prayers go out to you for a better tomorrow. Here’s the link to Centrelink’s social services, https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/social-work-services.
All the best,
Marlene, Yoga Woman