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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/23/2008 11:47:33 AM
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magdaleine
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That's sad, Lexie, and must be so difficult for your mom (and for you to watch).
Dh and I have been to a couple of pre-retirement seminars sponsored by his employer. If you have access to that sort of thing somehow, I strongly urge you to attend, even if you're no where near retirement. Most peole in attendance said they wished they'd learned these things years ago. Dh could retire any time and keeps waffling about whether he should do it now or wait. But even though he will have a good pension and we've got RRSPs, it would be difficult to manage financially. I don't know how retirees do it. We want to keep the home we have so that we have space for our kids to visit as they get married and have kids of their own (plus we really like our home) but it's a large home and we may not be able to afford to keep it. That's kind of discouraging. And yet, I know and have experienced that God meets our needs--especially when we most need that help.
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Maggie
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/23/2008 3:05:38 PM
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lexie
Posts: 3037
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From: Toronto
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Maggie - did you stay home with your kids at any point in time? If you did, there is some form you can fill out and the government will add that to your CPP contributions so you can get more. They treat it as if you paid into CPP during that time for up to 7 years. I know it's not a big help, but every little thing each month helps.
We've been helping my FIL with all of his retirement stuff. He receives CPP, OAS, and the GIS from the government. He doesn't get a pension from his work, so it's tight for him, but he lives with one of his daughters. He wouldn't be able to live on his own with the money he receives.
So I don't understand either how some retirees manage to get by either.
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/23/2008 4:38:38 PM
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purejoy
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We think about it, but not too seriously. At my work I have 4% matching on my 401K. So right away when I started working there (at age 22) I started putting in 4%. When I cut my hours after the baby is born, that will obviously go down. Dh is self employed, and we're really not planning on social security. At all. We could always up what we're putting in my 401K if we wanted to save more. Sometimes I struggle with finding the right balance in that though. I have a hard time putting a LOT of money away, one because we're young, two because I know no matter what the Lord will take care of us. I might die tomorrow, so what good did putting all that money away do me? But I also feel that we should be wise with our money. So for me, the 4% is an easy decision, because that gets matched. If we decided to put a lot more away, I would have to think about it hard. But, at this point, we have the benefit of time, too. Dh's parents are almost 60, and his dad just got a retirement account about 3 years ago. 
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/23/2008 5:04:40 PM
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magdaleine
Posts: 4547
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quote:
Maggie - did you stay home with your kids at any point in time? If you did, there is some form you can fill out and the government will add that to your CPP contributions so you can get more. They treat it as if you paid into CPP during that time for up to 7 years.
Yep! And it's 7 years per child (well, for the first 7 years of each child's life). I have four and stayed home until the youngest was 15 or so, so that will help.
quote:
So I don't understand either how some retirees manage to get by either.
I guess if both halves of the couple worked and earned a good income that would be helpful. Also, maybe some were more successful with savings and investments than others.
Joy, now, while you're young, is the best time to be saving for retirement, even if it's only a little bit because all the years between now and then, your investment has much time to grow and multiply. It's amazing how fast time slips by.
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Maggie
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/23/2008 5:28:48 PM
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TwinCityGirl
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See, I used to always think (when I was younger) that the Lord will take care of me, that it's not that big of a deal to save for retirement...
And let me say I *do* believe the Lord covers needs. I'm not down on the Lord, so don't read that into what I'm saying.
But I'm 42 now, and my parents and my in-laws are retired (well, my MIL is semi-retired and my mom was a stay-at-home mom and is now a housewife now that her youngest is 25).
And I'm looking at my parents and how hard it is for them to make ends meet. My dad was a pastor and has a pension, and a small pension from an employer from before he became a pastor, and some social security. And my mom gets a smidge of social security, but my goodness, it just seems like a car repair or anything like that can throw them off completely. They are always playing catch-up, and yes, the Lord has made sure their needs are met, and I cannot tell you the number of times that the Lord has prompted one of us kids or someone else in my parents' lives to do something wonderful for them.
But I'm not sure I can live that same way. At least as a pre-made choice.
My in-laws have it so much easier. My FIL took early retirement from his police job and still gets something like 80% of his last working year's income each year paid to him, full health insurance coverage, etc. I think pensions like his are rare. My dad's health insurance is outrageously expensive through his pastoral employer. It's just awful. My FIL doesn't have those costs, and my FIL's investments did well for him so they are comfortable.
And now I have a little newborn son who is NOT going to have young parents and I don't want to burden him. I don't want him to be 30 years old thinking "What am I going to do to help my parents? I need to work two jobs."
I think my brain swirls because I see so many angles of this. I don't (and have never) counted on the government for money. I want the government OUT of my family's life, not more entwined in it, so that leaves us with needing to come up with enough to get by as we get older. DH's employer has a great 401K plan and we pump a lot into that, and we have a good savings account, too. Recently we read something about people waaay underestimating the amount of money it takes to be retired.
It's just a really sobering thought. I do trust the Lord, but I also feel He wants us to work hard and to not just kick back and rely on Him -- like some big windfall on our 65th birthday. (I'm not saying that anyone here is implying that.)
I think it's more vivid for me right now with my parents going through things, and facing facts: DH and I are middle age. I wish we HAD been saving for retirement when we were 20 instead of 30, but oh well.
And I do know it is a LUXURY to be able to save money, or put money away in a fund for retirement. Despite what all the money experts will say, not everyone has "extra" to really put away. (But that's a whole 'nother topic.)
Jeanie
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/24/2008 4:47:23 AM
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ThursdaysChild
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I firmly believe that if there's any way you can put away into a retirement fund you should do it. We are to count on the Lord, but does He really mean for us to "freeload"? He's our heavenly Father. How many fathers do you know who want their children to not be somewhat self-sufficient.
If we're able to set aside money for retirement, we should. If our employers doesn't provide an opportunity for us to do that then we need to look around for something. And even if it's not a lot, at least a small amount outside of Social Security would be helpful.
But if we use poor judgement or don't have the information easily available to us, or the opportunities, etc. it's not like He's going to hold it against us. He did say that we shouldn't store up treasures on earth. We need to be sure that, when we're planning for our retirement, we don't do so with an attitude of entitlement. "Well, I worked hard for X numbers of years, so I deserve that {whatever}." We should be looking at having our needs meet and being able to enjoy our golden years. We should be able to not worry about every expense that comes up unexpectedly. But we need to make sure our expectations for those years are appropriate as well.
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Live your life in such a way that every morning when your feet hit the floor...Satan shudders and says..."Oh No...she's AWAKE!"
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/24/2008 1:22:31 PM
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danas_mom
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quote:
See, I used to always think (when I was younger) that the Lord will take care of me, that it's not that big of a deal to save for retirement...
Well, like we discussed in a different thread a few weeks ago - the same God that rained manna from heaven for the Israelites, prompted Joseph through dreams to have seven years' worth of grain stockpiled to feed the people through the famine.
Being prepared for the future in no way shows a lack of faith in God's provision.
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I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. ~ 2 Samuel 24:24
Avatar pic is Keith Wheeler.
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/25/2008 4:51:14 AM
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ThursdaysChild
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quote:
ORIGINAL: purejoy
I absolutely agree with this. The struggle for me, as I kind of said before, is how much to put away. Right now 4% is a no brainer for us because it's matched completely. I struggle with sticking a LOT of money (lot being very relative here  ) away now, when we do have so many more years to save up. I know that because we started so young, we have the benefit of time and interest. But just because right now we maybe could put away more doesn't mean that we necessarily should. I struggle with the fact that if I'm sticking all that money away for myself for later, I'm not using it for situations and people now that really could use it more.
Not sure if that makes sense...just the struggle in my head. And why I'm happy with 4%. 
It absolutely makes sense. If you're young and thinking ahead, then what you're doing makes good sense. But if you're getting a late start on your retirement savings, then you probably want to put more in. It all depends upon what you and your (hopefully Christian) financial planner or guide work out is best for your situation.
quote:
Well, like we discussed in a different thread a few weeks ago - the same God that rained manna from heaven for the Israelites, prompted Joseph through dreams to have seven years' worth of grain stockpiled to feed the people through the famine.
Being prepared for the future in no way shows a lack of faith in God's provision.
Exactly! I love my childredn and love to do for them, but I also want them to work for what they want and get up and do things for themselves. What loving father wants deadbeat kids?
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Live your life in such a way that every morning when your feet hit the floor...Satan shudders and says..."Oh No...she's AWAKE!"
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/28/2008 10:29:59 PM
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TwinCityGirl
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I was driving around doing errands today and a thought crossed my mind:
Why is it that things like "Being a Republican" are considered "Christian" by so many people? Can't you be a Christian and be a Democrat? Or a Libertarian? Or an Independent?
I get really tired of the "Christians are Republicans and Republicans are Christians" mantra....
Is it just me?
Jeanie
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/28/2008 10:35:19 PM
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isaacsmom
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quote:
Why is it that things like "Being a Republican" are considered "Christian" by so many people? Can't you be a Christian and be a Democrat? Or a Libertarian? Or an Independent?
Sure. And there are plenty of Republicans who are not Christians. It frustrates me when people attach the "label" of "Christian" to things. "Christian" is not an adjective. It is a noun. It is what we are. You can BE a Christian. An example of what irritates me -- so-called "Christian" companies. . . . a company cannot be a Christian. . . only a follower of Christ is a Christian. A person.
Anyway . . . I don't really think it's what you were asking, though, LOL!
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/28/2008 10:55:56 PM
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TwinCityGirl
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Rachel, you're hitting the nail on the head.
During the months prior to the 2004 Presidential election, our largest Christian radio station up here used to play this Michael W. Smith song that they had tweaked by putting audio sections of some speech that President Bush had made in the middle of the song. It couldn't have been more obvious: Christian people vote for George Bush.
Now, whether you are a Christian and vote for GWB or not is NOT the issue in my book. The issue is the propaganda being so blatant...like if you chose to vote for someone else, well, clearly Christian people only have one choice: to vote for George Bush.
I suppose this year it's "Christian people vote for McCain" (because he's got the capital R behind his name...)
Why don't they just encourage Christian people to seek the Lord's direction on who they should vote for --- no matter who that might be? (Or maybe not to vote at all. That's a legitimate right NOT to vote, too.)
Ugh. I am not looking forward to all the campaign commercials that I *know* our state will be flooded with. We're usually a blue state (majority of Democrats) but the Republicans hit this state hard with commercials so we are bombarded with campaign commercials. I truly, truly HATE campaign commercials. I now turn the evening news OFF every single time they talk about Clinton, Obama or McCain. And it's only May. (I guess that's not a Christian thing either, huh?)
I wonder who Jesus would vote for, or if He would vote at all. (Don't answer that. I'll just wait for my local Christian radio station to tell me.)
Jeanie
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/29/2008 9:52:47 AM
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KatMack
Posts: 951
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From: Along the Canopy Roads
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quote:
I've been noticing the same thing. I can't stand companies and such that "brand" themselves as being Christian- I'd rather they show me than tell me, kwim?
I think this is the point I was trying to make when I asked about companies advertising using the Ichthus a few weeks back. It just goes back to that old saying "I'd rather see a sermon any day..."
--Kat
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/29/2008 6:30:55 PM
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TwinCityGirl
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quote:
ORIGINAL: isaacsmom
I hate the fake, propaganda-type and the nasty bashing commercials. Do they think we are complete idiots? I really feel like a lot of the commercials insult my intelligence
Boy, you are not kidding, Rachel! That is a huge part of it, isn't it....
I feel like I am IQ-wise just as smart (or smarter) than any of those people so I sure don't take it kindly when people try to pull the wool over your eyes. I do recognize that they maybe say things they INTEND to do with honestly good intentions to do those things, but their hands are tied or often blocked. I just wish people would be realistic in their claims:
"This is what I'm going to try to do..."
That would be far more palatable to me. In my personal life I try hard not to make promises I can't keep. Even small promises like "Let's get together sometime soon!" -- I don't say it unless I intend to make it happen. I want to be a person of my word. And I expect the same from government leaders.
Jeanie
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/30/2008 7:50:18 AM
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lexie
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The thing about politics for me is, there will never be one clear cut party or politician to vote for, where I can actually feel satisfied about who I voted for.
So slightly different system up here but I'll explain very quickly.
Conservatives - I'm told I'm supposed to vote for this party because I'm Christian. Yes I agree with them on most moral issues however, their economic policies do not benefit me and I do not agree with a lot of their foreign policies..
Liberals - Morally bankrupt, yet their economic policies, and their foreign policies are a little more favourable for me.
New Democrats - LOVE their economic policies, will benefit me greatly, awful social policies (gay marriage, abortion, etc.)
What am I supposed to do. Vote for a party whose policies are closest to Christian beliefs even though their financial and foreign policies I completely disagree with? Or do I vote for a party who can actually benefit me financially, and just turn a blind eye to things like gay marriage and abortion.
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/30/2008 11:09:44 AM
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magdaleine
Posts: 4547
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Lexie, what I have done is look at the individuals running. Which of them seems to be a honest, upright person with good character? And that's where I place my vote.
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Maggie
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/30/2008 1:45:46 PM
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lexie
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From: Toronto
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Maggie - That's a good idea. I started doing that when I moved into my neighbourhood. I tend to vote now for the representative in my area rather than the person leading the party. Since I've moved here, I've been more focused on the neighbourhood, and what the representative will do to make things better. At least that is how I vote for the mayor and the MP (haven't been here yet for a federal election.)
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/30/2008 7:27:30 PM
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TammyIsBlessed
Posts: 1617
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One of the problems I have with voting NDP federally is that realistically they don't have a snowball's chance, IYKWIM. It truly feels like a wasted vote. And, historically, the NDP has done nothing but spend money and get us more into debt.
One major reason I'd vote Conservative over Liberal is that they've actually done their best to do what they said they'd do and the Liberals have, like Lexie said, proven themselves to be morally bankrupt.
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I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. Helen Keller
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/30/2008 10:42:19 PM
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uponeagleswings
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Has anyone noticed that much of the mainstream media acts as though Obama has already won the election, or at least like his victory is a foregone conclusion? I just ran across a yahoo article that started with the perfunctory "if Obama wins," then went on to discuss how he has beat out Hillary, who supposedly had all of the advantages. Its like his victory is a foregone conclusion at this point.
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Stacy Singing in the Shower "When women are depressed they eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. Its a whole different way of thinking." -Elayne Boosler
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/30/2008 10:49:11 PM
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BrowneyedAL
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quote:
ORIGINAL: magdaleine
Lexie, what I have done is look at the individuals running. Which of them seems to be a honest, upright person with good character? And that's where I place my vote.
Only problem with this strategy Maggie is that it would prevent voting altogether
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Lisa
I have learned in whatever state I am to be content (Philippians 4:11)
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RE: Kicka, part 3 - 5/30/2008 10:54:22 PM
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magdaleine
Posts: 4547
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Naw. There are good people out there. Someone has started advertising himself as a candidate in this riding even though there are no elections on the horizon. I know the man. We worked together to get a porn shop kicked out of our neighbourhood. He's a good man. I don't remember what party he's representing but he'll get my vote regardless (when the time comes).
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Maggie
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