Well, good news for me, oncologist is pleased with the latest results but in the last couple of months I've received phone calls from two very good mates telling me they have cancer And then today an old air force mate sends me a text saying he has pancreatic cancer .... f**k!!! Lost my best female friend just over 15 months ago to this cancer , took her 11 months from diagnosis to her early death (she was 55 with 3 teenage kids), knew her for 38 years and she was still just as beautiful when I met her as a stunning 21 yo Look after yourselves guys and Kaz, get checked often when you turn 60 All of the people I know personally that have died in the last 20 years have all been cancer related ................ you don't see it coming
I have been poked and prodded and invaded for the last 25 years for just that reason. And the loss of my sister last week reinforced that. Take the time to do all the hard (and easy) tests so it doesn't jump you. I was talking to my cousin yesterday who follows a similar regime and realised he is now, at 70, the oldest male in our family since the first fleet.
100%. Don’t **** around. There’s no prize for being an old school hero. There are no guarantees, but do your best not to be one of those people that didn’t get checked out when you should. Whom cares if it’s “nothing”? That’s what you want, right? “Nothing” is good, not a waste of time. Never be embarrassed to go to the doc and arrange for a check of any kind. **** me, most of us here are way in credit with our taxes. What would you rather - your taxes pay for the odd unnecessary cancer test or the ABC?
My advice -is if you can retire early, I retired at 51 years of age, and the last 14 years have been a blast, I retired early so I could do activities as I got older I would be unable to do, I could always go back to work -Yes I'm lucky financially due to hard work and smart investments and was in an industry that I still make an income from which I still do via my business partnership. If you can DO IT- 67 years of age IS way late TOO to retire!
Yep, a mates parents retired at 50, 20 years ago. Best thing they ever did. And they did alright, not multimillionaires or anything. My Father In-law could have retired at 50 also, but said it was "too early" and worked another 12 years to 62. He's 67 on the first of April this year, he retired 5 years ago and he told me he should have retired sooner, but was worried about running out of money. I told him Joe, my mates parents did it at 50 with less money you have and they are still retired and loving it. I told him 100 times to retire at 50 if he could, with the money he had invested at the time he would have been ok. But nope, don't listen to old financial advisor Pap aye Joe! Work another 12 years like a schmuck and then sit there and cry about it telling me should have retired 10 years ago lol lol lol But it's all good, Papa Joe just built up another 10 years worth of investments for me to take off him when he carks it. Thanks Joe!
Ok, so while we're on the topic, what is the consensus on the required amount of annual income to retire comfortably? The gov. says 67k, Jodi says 500k. I'd like to think it's somewhere in between. I've got friends that are retired and swear that they need no more than 130k a year, which includes a European holiday each year.
We are all different with our commitments be it rates, insurance, spending habits, health costs, or holidays. Just need to sit down do a budget and each year IMO add CPI figures. Then add what capital you are happy to spend P/A.and how long will it last So many variables children, and grandchildren. How much your super is generating in income, some continue to add to it others spend the full income stream. Your age as you get older one might dip into capital, while others don't as they have no need to. OR GO OUT OWING MONEY
Look at what you spent during your 'ordinary' working years - take out for no mortgage, no 'new' cars, no kid costs (schools etc), little to no big furniture or appliances etc purchases, probably far less tax liabilty, and you'll find you probably need way less than you think (but do keep in the travel budget ). I've taken big chunks of 'time out' since I was in my 30s and gradually building up to permanent retirement (still work 1 official day a week, plus various volunteer days). The older you get, the less 'stuff' you need/ want.
