Sacrifices you've had to make as a driver

[moreluck]

I dream of the day I can retire and move into one of those communities. If I never see another teenager in my life it won't break my heart.

You know what I don't miss???
The sound of Big Wheels racing down side walks..............

 

[hellfire]

hd, I want you to take what I am about to write in the manner that I intend, which is to educate our younger members. In no way I am trying to disrespect you. Anyone who is able to work here for 30 years deserves all of our respect. Dave.

The above post by hd is exactly why it is so essential to properly plan for retirement, both financially and mentally. Mental preparation involves having a plan of what to do with all of your free time. My daughter asked me the other day what I am going to do when I retire as she knows how bored I can be if I don't have a plan. It is hard to go from a structured lifestyle dominated by work to one with no time clock. It is essential to have a life outside of work so that when the day comes you will be able to smoothly transition in to the next part of your life. Financial planning is much more than making sure the union has your direct deposit information for your pension. Depending on your union local, your pension may vary from as low as $2K per month to as high as $5K or more. The pension should not be the sole source of your retirement income, although in my case it will be the major portion ($5K/month). As UPSers we have access to a variety of investment vehicles, to include the 401k and DSPP, to supplement our pensions. With two kids I do realize that it is not always easy to contribute to our 401k's but it is possible to contribute while maintaining the same take home pay--all you have to do is adjust your withholdings. The more you contribute the higher your withholdings should be. Contributions to your 401k come right off of the top of your yearly pay when doing your taxes which reduces your tax bill. Investments within your 401k are an individual choice based upon your level of risk but should be focused on more stable choices as you near retirement. Finally, for those of us 50 or over there is a "catch-up" feature which allows us to invest an additional $5K/year in our 401k's. The catch up when coupled with the IRS mandated contribution limit ($16.5K for 2011) means you can contribute up to $21.5K each year.

You may laugh, but AARP has some excellent information on preparing for retirement.

To answer my daughter's question, I have several ideas for my retirement years. First, I love numbers and will take a tax preparation class. We have a local group that does taxes for free and I would like to volunteer. Second, I have always wanted to learn how to play golf. Third, I have always wanted to learn how to fly an airplane and plan on getting my private pilot license.

Retirement is our reward for 30 (or more) years of service. It is essential that you properly plan for retirement or you may end up as a Walmart greeter. Dave.

If you are in Central States,, you will have to work,,its about a 2 grand a month shortage

 

[toddbags]

Missing funerals because I was denied a PH or Split Op day. It's happened a few times over my 24 years. Most notably my wife's mothers funeral, which was before we were married, so the funeral time off wasn't guaranteed under contract. Try concentrating on work when you know your fiancee is burying her mother and you can't be there for her. One of the things I will never forgive UPS for.

 

[hypocrisy]

I'm no fan of Walmart but why knock the Walmart Greeter? Maybe I don't have enough Walmart experience since I have only shopped there 2 times in my lifetime, but it seems to me that should be a great no-pressure job for a retiree: just welcoming people and wishing them a great day. Of course, Walmart has screwed those people too. Read the story of Herman Teague.

I learned early on UPS was no place to have kids so I haven't. When you don't have a reason to be done early on Friday night it takes a lot of the stress away when management inevitably overloads your day. I have a side business that is doing pretty well and can only get better when I can devote more time to it. Other than that, I want to travel overseas as often as I can after retirement.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

It was not meant to be a knock--it's kind of a running joke on this forum.

I think that you have missed my point that properly planning for retirement should prevent the need to work during retirement. You mention that you have no kids and a side business. I would think that you should be all set for retirement, at least financially.

 

[packageguy]

It looks like we all have a story or 2, but we all do what we have to do to be there, my kids understand it can't be there all the time, but I try my best.

 

[uber]

hd, I want you to take what I am about to write in the manner that I intend, which is to educate our younger members. In no way I am trying to disrespect you. Anyone who is able to work here for 30 years deserves all of our respect. Dave.

The above post by hd is exactly why it is so essential to properly plan for retirement, both financially and mentally. Mental preparation involves having a plan of what to do with all of your free time. My daughter asked me the other day what I am going to do when I retire as she knows how bored I can be if I don't have a plan. It is hard to go from a structured lifestyle dominated by work to one with no time clock. It is essential to have a life outside of work so that when the day comes you will be able to smoothly transition in to the next part of your life. Financial planning is much more than making sure the union has your direct deposit information for your pension. Depending on your union local, your pension may vary from as low as $2K per month to as high as $5K or more. The pension should not be the sole source of your retirement income, although in my case it will be the major portion ($5K/month). As UPSers we have access to a variety of investment vehicles, to include the 401k and DSPP, to supplement our pensions. With two kids I do realize that it is not always easy to contribute to our 401k's but it is possible to contribute while maintaining the same take home pay--all you have to do is adjust your withholdings. The more you contribute the higher your withholdings should be. Contributions to your 401k come right off of the top of your yearly pay when doing your taxes which reduces your tax bill. Investments within your 401k are an individual choice based upon your level of risk but should be focused on more stable choices as you near retirement. Finally, for those of us 50 or over there is a "catch-up" feature which allows us to invest an additional $5K/year in our 401k's. The catch up when coupled with the IRS mandated contribution limit ($16.5K for 2011) means you can contribute up to $21.5K each year.

You may laugh, but AARP has some excellent information on preparing for retirement.

To answer my daughter's question, I have several ideas for my retirement years. First, I love numbers and will take a tax preparation class. We have a local group that does taxes for free and I would like to volunteer. Second, I have always wanted to learn how to play golf. Third, I have always wanted to learn how to fly an airplane and plan on getting my private pilot license.

Retirement is our reward for 30 (or more) years of service. It is essential that you properly plan for retirement or you may end up as a Walmart greeter. Dave.

Are you going to flood the board with even more of your worthless thoughts when you retire? Tell your daughter your going to double your post load on the UPS forum.

 

[packageguy]

Are you going to flood the board with even more of your worthless thoughts when you retire? Tell your daughter your going to double your post load on the UPS forum.

WOW,
I guess he gave you an answer you did not want to hear. Give Dave credit, he has a plan for retirement.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Are you going to flood the board with even more of your worthless thoughts when you retire?

Unlike our Really Old Driver, the day that I retire will be the last day I post on Brown Cafe. I will have no problem moving on. Dave.

 

[Catatonic]

Unlike our Really Old Driver, the day that I retire will be the last day I post on Brown Cafe. I will have no problem moving on. Dave.

Ohhhhh!!! We'll miss you Dave!

 

[edd_tv]

Third, I have always wanted to learn how to fly an airplane and plan on getting my private pilot license.

I just got mine in July this year. I figure I have another 25 years to go at brown, so im working on all my other ratings to become commercially certificated to try and become a CFI after I leave UPS

 

[hypocrisy]

It was not meant to be a knock--it's kind of a running joke on this forum.

I think that you have missed my point that properly planning for retirement should prevent the need to work during retirement. You mention that you have no kids and a side business. I would think that you should be all set for retirement, at least financially.

I didn't miss your point at all. Working after retirement doesn't have to actually be work in any sense that we have been accustomed to. Being a Walmart greeter is a good example of that: it gives you a reason to get up, gets you out of the house, adds to your feeling of self-worth, part-time and no stress. Think of it as the way some kids limit themselves to 15 hours of work when they are full-time high-school or college students. Everything comes full circle. Volunteering could be a better alternative to some people, but it would be nice to at least get a paycheck to cover your costs getting there.

I'm very well set for retirement, but I'm always interested in learning new things so if my side business becomes more like real work I'll be selling that and doing other things. I've been working full-time since I was 16 so I'm overdue for a rest.

A better fit for me than Walmart greeter would be the cranky Camp Host at a National Park or a pit boss at a casino.

 

[sortaisle]

I didn't miss your point at all. Working after retirement doesn't have to actually be work in any sense that we have been accustomed to. Being a Walmart greeter is a good example of that: it gives you a reason to get up, gets you out of the house, adds to your feeling of self-worth, part-time and no stress. Think of it as the way some kids limit themselves to 15 hours of work when they are full-time high-school or college students. Everything comes full circle. Volunteering could be a better alternative to some people, but it would be nice to at least get a paycheck to cover your costs getting there.

I'm very well set for retirement, but I'm always interested in learning new things so if my side business becomes more like real work I'll be selling that and doing other things. I've been working full-time since I was 16 so I'm overdue for a rest.

A better fit for me than Walmart greeter would be the cranky Camp Host at a National Park or a pit boss at a casino.

Haha...I get what your saying and I totally agree with you, but I think the state and US government have a small say in why high school students work 20 hours and less.

 

[kdogg788]

I'm no fan of Walmart but why knock the Walmart Greeter? Maybe I don't have enough Walmart experience since I have only shopped there 2 times in my lifetime, but it seems to me that should be a great no-pressure job for a retiree: just welcoming people and wishing them a great day. Of course, Walmart has screwed those people too. Read the story of Herman Teague.

I learned early on UPS was no place to have kids so I haven't. When you don't have a reason to be done early on Friday night it takes a lot of the stress away when management inevitably overloads your day. I have a side business that is doing pretty well and can only get better when I can devote more time to it. Other than that, I want to travel overseas as often as I can after retirement.

Absolutely true! Anyone wanting to be financially secure should not have kids. That's why my wife and I have not yet. I joined up at UPS for the benefits and have no delusion that it will be a first choice career for me. I work at an engineering company during the day, which is what I went to school for, work UPS loading at night, and help my father with his foundation repair/pile installation business. Most everyone we know has kids, some with three, and we have no idea how they make it happen financially.

-k

 

[moreluck]

"we have no idea how they make it happen financially."

-k

Macaroni & Cheese !!

 

[menotyou]

I love Mac and Cheese!

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Absolutely true! Anyone wanting to be financially secure should not have kids. That's why my wife and I have not yet. I joined up at UPS for the benefits and have no delusion that it will be a first choice career for me. I work at an engineering company during the day, which is what I went to school for, work UPS loading at night, and help my father with his foundation repair/pile installation business. Most everyone we know has kids, some with three, and we have no idea how they make it happen financially.-k

You make some very good points, but I can't imagine how different my life would have been had it not been for my two tax write-offs, I mean, children. Money is nice but there is something about watching a baby grow up, become a young child, go off to school, become a pain in the butt teenager, graduate high school and college and start their adult lives. Life is something money can't buy.

 

[Jones]

You make some very good points, but I can't imagine how different my life would have been had it not been for my two tax write-offs, I mean, children. Money is nice but there is something about watching a baby grow up, become a young child, go off to school, become a pain in the butt teenager, graduate high school and college and start their adult lives. Life is something money can't buy.

That sounds like one of those comforting narratives that parents tell themselves because, well, I guess you gotta tell yourselves something .
j/k (sorta)

I knew long ago that I didn't want kids, and nothing that I've seen my friends and siblings go through has made me even remotely consider that I might be happier otherwise. It ain't for me. When I met a girl who felt the same way, I married her (that wasn't the only reason , but it sure was some nice icing on the cake).

 

[brownmonster]

When I retire my wife is going to get another job so we can continue to be a 2 income family.

 

[RockdaleEddie]

I'm on vacation.