Quest for over 40's Long term or Short term Plans?

[witches*wol]

What I mean is beyond paying your regular bills and mortgage do you put off doing things like O/S trips and stuff now thinking that with luck you'll have the money and good health to do it when you retire?  Thus making it a long term plan.

Or do you think "Well I am paying into Super with the share market the way it is etc I could retire with heaps or bugger all, there is only a certain amount of control I have over it so I may as well go O/S now and do the thing I'd like to do while I am healthy and have the money (or can save up the money for the trip)"

[nevynreally]

Where do you want to go?

I'm with the live for now crowd.

[spotweldersfriend]

I want to go to Brazil and meet the girl from Ipanema:-)

[witches*wol]

We are actually going to NZ in Jan.  To cut a long story short one of Mr Witches mates caught up with him a few months back to share the very sad news that his wife, who is younger than me, has Breast Cancer and it is the really aggressive type and her odds for survival are really poor.  It gave hubby a shock and a half and we'd been talking about going on another cruise, with the intention of celebrating our 25th WA which was in Oct but we kind of couldn't really justify the money - meaning there are other things we could/should do with it.  But after getting this news hubby said "Go Book It.  Life is too short"  (Because our eldest son did yr 12 this year and is currently away at schoolies and then it will be Xmas.... we decided to go in Jan once the rush is over)

We both have stuff all in Super to be honest but we do almost own our house.  We are seriously wondering if we should (after this trip) really plan for our long term future or just wing it and do the things we want to do while we are healthy enough to do it. Considering my mum was dead at 60, my dad was dead at 68.  I have a heart condition which means according to both my cardiologist I am not going to make old bones so I am just really trying to work out what to do aqnd was wondering what others planned.

[*crikey*mate*]

invest for the future, that is important. But I make sure that I do what I want to do now as well. Maybe I could do more for the future of my family, but I think I am doing enough, including for my kids, but you have to do stuff for now, in case all you have the chance to do later is have regrets.

Wol, put some money into your future, but your OS trip is important now, If you are planning for your future then $20 or $30k once you retire won't make too much difference, if any. 6 months to maybe a year of a pretty meagre existence when you think about it, and if you tack that 6 months onto the end of your life, you probably won't remember them much anyway and it won't matter if you have to be really frugal to get through.

I know that didn't come out right.

But there is no point in hitting 60 or 70 and ahving no memories and a mind full of regrets.

[nevynreally]

I agree with your hubby. Do it. People are important, memories are important. And it's calling you.

[witches*wol]

Yes My*Mum that is kind of what I think.  My own mother always wanted to go and see Perth, she was still working full time when she got cancer (she was 58) and she was dead at 60 and never got to see Perth.  In fact she never got to do a lot of the things she wanted to and I think that is sad.

My godmother and her hubby retired last year and they are due to fly over seas next week to see their son and his wife for Xmas and have about 6 or 7 weeks touring around.  This has cost them 10's of thousands of dollars and today my Godmother was diagnosed with Cancer (Again - she had breast cancer 5 years ago and had a full mastectomy)  Now she has a different type of cancer and she sees a surgeon on Thursday to see what needs to be done and to see if she can go overseas at all 😞  This couple are both pushing 70 now and it is sad to think it might be too late for them 😞

[*crikey*mate*]

witches, if you are in your 40's and have nearly paid off a house, have raised a couple of kids and can still pull off an overseas holiday at reasonably short notice, then you are one of the very clever ones.

I always remember that those people that make a lot of money, make the most significant part of their wealth in under 10 years - ie the wealth that provides the foundation for the rest.

so even if you spend every last cent on that holiday and still have a nearly paid off house, and the means to generate more money on your return, you will have plenty of time to get on with planning for your future.

hope that makes sense.

sorry to hear about all the yucky news you have been receiving, we've had a bit this last few weeks that is really driving home the message too, before that I was blaming a mid life crisis LOL - but I am working through my bucket list now.

So far, my plans are working and my future is planned for, yeah, bumps and setbacks on the way, but for now as good as can be whilst beiong able to live and do stuff, but if something happens, like my business going broke or investments flounder, I guess I will deal with that then, but it'll be a lot easier dealing with whatever the future brings, if I've got some pretty awesome memories to reflect on when times are rough.

Make a bucket list wol and start today, there may not be a tomorrow, and if there is, just call it a mid life crisis LOLOL

and those last few years of your life that you may be depriving if ya make it to "old age", meh - they're the ones when you wear your bright fushia lipstick outside the lip line anyway - that'll be enough excitement

[witches*wol]

LOL at the bright fushia lipstick.  I already wear purple and I am only 45 LOL

Our youngest child is Year 9 (age 15) our eldest is 18 next month so I guess we are doing ok.  Two years ago we took the whole family on a South Pacific Cruise which was our first real holiday as a family.  Usually we drive up to QLD and stay with dh's sister and her family which we do love but it was nice to go on a real vacation.

Neither hubby nor I are really into material things,  We have a nice house - not a masion by any means but it is big enough for the 4 of us and we are happy here.  We both have descent cars  (I love my Subaru and wouldn't change it for anything)  So for us I think experiences and making memories is something we like to do.  Afterall as we all know ya can't take it with you when you die, no matter how big your house is or how flash your car is!

I went back to school last year to get a qualification so I can return to the workforce next year (still studying my 18 month course)  So I will have the ability to earn a good living once I am qualified so I guess that will help with the long term retirement plans.

[danger.will.robinson]

Too many of my mates have died in recent years aged mid 50's. Don't put it off. If you can afford to do it now, do it.