What Are The Average Retirement Costs?

mathjak107 said:
...if we could magically double our budget it still would not cover all the things we want to do before we die .
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Isn't that the truth, LOL. We have friends who meant to retire in 2018 but cannot (family issues arose) so their new retirement date is 2020. Recently we had dinner with them and I mentioned our travel budget is now almost twice as much as it was when we began back in Jan 2010.

She was goggle-eyed at that! But I pointed out that we started traveling as the recession hit - hotels were trying to fill rooms, restaurants were seeing fewer diners so not inclined to raise prices, etc. Now times are booming. With Boomers retiring the places we go are often busy even midweek and off-season.

Inflation, higher wages, rent and tax increases, hard to find waitstaff now - a booming economy translates into higher prices all around. It's cheaper to go on a cruise or travel overseas than it is to travel around California, the way we like to do.
 

we love travel . we were in cuba recently and bermuda . i am going to Chicago next month . my little 5 year old started little league and his team is the cubs . he said he wanted to see the real cubs so my son , the little one and i are flying to Chicago for a guy trip to see the cubs play and eat steaks .

then in sept we are visiting ashville .
 
mathjak107 said:
unless one is frugal enough to live golden girl style just being frugal , those averages for many things would not even cut it in many areas . you would have to be living in a studio apartment in a less than stellar area here in nyc and the boroughs to get something in that price range . even studio's in decent areas run more than that average . one bedrooms in an apartment house are in the 1600-2k range outside of manhattan in less than top areas ..

all of us our going to have a different housing story .

medicare , a drug plan and supplement vary a lot by state . here medicare is 134 , 40 for a drug plan and 288 to 320 for a supplement . that includes no vision ,dental or hearing aids . that is 5700 per person .

sure , you can get cheaper advantage plans but those can be pay as you go with much higher out of pockets so they will vary case by case and plan by plan .
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Don M. said:
"Average" can vary all over the place. Someone who chooses to live in San Francisco, or NY City might need 6 figures per year just to get by. Others, who ignore their health, wind up spending most of their money on doctor bills. Being retired, and in debt...housing, etc., surely hampers a retirees quality of life. Those who have been wise enough to plan ahead, and live within their means, AND try to maintain their health, can enjoy their elder years.
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Of course both of you are right. What's average for folks living where rent or property taxes are reasonable is certainly not going to be the same for those living in San Fran or NYC where a studio apartment can run $3,000 or more. I see this "click bait" article elicited several replies from you Mathjak. LOL ;) Yeah, I know, some where to other respondents. Mrs. Mathjak in the black dress?
 

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It's disgusting how cooks in fancy high-priced restaurants individually manhandle and arrange every little piece of food on the plate.

One of my favorite restaurants is a nearby BBQ place. Except for the BBQ beef that is sliced to order in front of the customer [or ribs, or chicken, etc] the rest of the meal is serve yourself cafeteria style. I usually get BBQ beef, two vegetables [potato salad is yummy] , peppers/pickles and awesome rolls made on site, all for less than $11. Or sometimes I get sliced BBQ beef to go [as much or little as I want] to make sandwiches at home.
 
well just goes to show you , i like it when dealing with master chefs . i think the visual presentation is as important as the taste . i think it is disgusting when master chef's use their skills to make something that taste so good and drop the ball on making it visually attractive like they gave some thought to it
 
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Sometimes I like to watch "Chopped" on the Food Network. Some of those chefs manhandle the food on the plate so much before it is served to the judges, I don't know how the judges can eat it. I couldn't.
 
KingsX said:
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Sometimes I like to watch "Chopped" on the Food Network. Some of those chefs manhandle the food on the plate so much before it is served to the judges, I don't know how the judges can eat it. I couldn't.
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I know what you mean Kings. If most of us saw how our food was handled before it was served to us, let alone the condition of the kitchens, we probably wouldn't eat it. That plate pictured with the tomatoes and other colored fruit/veges (Mathjak's post) doesn't appeal to me at all. Looks like the tomatoes didn't even ripen enough to be used. And I've noticed that the pricier the restaurant, seems the less food is on your plate.
 
KingsX said:
.It's disgusting how cooks in fancy high-priced restaurants individually manhandle and arrange every little piece of food on the plate.
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I'm with you. I don't need "entertainment" when I go to a restaurant...just good food. Awhile back, we stopped at a Chinese restaurant, where they seated everyone around a large grill. The cook came out and "played" with everything, even to the point of asking people to open their mouths, and he would toss them a bite. Watching him was like watching a child play with a pile of toys...almost lost my appetite. We crossed that place off our list.
 
OneEyedDiva said:



I know what you mean Kings. If most of us saw how our food was handled before it was served to us, let alone the condition of the kitchens, we probably wouldn't eat it. That plate pictured with the tomatoes and other colored fruit/veges (Mathjak's post) doesn't appeal to me at all. Looks like the tomatoes didn't even ripen enough to be used. And I've noticed that the pricier the restaurant, seems the less food is on your plate.
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Not only is there much less food on the plate, it cost a fortune and every individual piece placed carefully on the plate has been touched by the chef... and yes, I also noticed in the photo that tiny bit of carefully placed unripe tomato.
 
Don M. said:
I'm with you. I don't need "entertainment" when I go to a restaurant...just good food. Awhile back, we stopped at a Chinese restaurant, where they seated everyone around a large grill. The cook came out and "played" with everything, even to the point of asking people to open their mouths, and he would toss them a bite. Watching him was like watching a child play with a pile of toys...almost lost my appetite. We crossed that place off our list.
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I would have walked out.

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KingsX said:
Not only is there much less food on the plate, it cost a fortune and every individual piece placed carefully on the plate has been touched by the chef... and yes, I also noticed in the photo that tiny bit of carefully placed unripe tomato.
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I think the snobs of this world like this kind of stuff. Makes 'em feel more superior. To my way of thinking...what a waste of money and I don't care if the guy is a "Master Chef"....he's still just placing bits of overpriced food on a plate.....and do you know if he actually washed his hands before he did so?? No thanks...even if I could afford it.

We don't eat out much any more. I've gotten to the point I think it's ridiculous what a basic dinner costs nowadays...and besides...I don't know what's happening behind closed doors before I get that dinner!! I'd rather cook at home. Sometimes when we've gone in to town for groceries and we've been running around doing this and that, my hubby will ask if I want to stop and get lunch. I used to say yes more often than not, but not now. Not only do I not want to spend $20-$30 for lunch...I don't know how clean a place is when I get food. It really bugs me. I think every state should have to display a rating, like CA, how that particular restaurant is rated on cleanliness, etc.
 
Yes, in Hawaii we have those ratings after inspections on any place at all that sells food. The placards are displayed on the front of any restaurant, etc. And there have been places that have failed, and some places that have taken down the placards that gave them a failing rating, and then they get severely fined.

About prices, though, I'm wondering about those services that deliver a box of all you need to cook a meal. On one such service they advertise that you can get $30 off on a first order. Makes me wonder how much it costs for just one regular meal delivery. And then you still have to cook it yourself. I think it's more for what they used to call "yuppies".
 
we have been retired for 8 years and living on about half of our funds......this month I started remolding our bathroom and holy smokes it's not cheap.
 
you should see what it can cost to make a house livable so you can age in place if you are not very mobile .

that is why it is a good idea to always have your money growing efficiently . more money can buy more choices .

i know i would sure like to have the dough to modify my home with in home care rather than have medicaid ship me off to a nursing home up to 100 miles away from loved ones which they can do .
 
mathjak107 said:
we all earned different amounts when working. we all live different lifestyles with different spending priorities in different areas .

anything that uses the words average or median when relating to the above are nothing more than click bait articles because retirement is no different .

anything beyond a tent in a warm climate is a lifestyle choice . depending on budget the choices of how to live and spend is endless . it is like asking how long is a rope ?
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Yeah, I’d skew the heck outa that average
Our income is six times our expenses
‘Course I live with the squirrels……
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I’m still not comfortable, or at ease with the assurance of my retirement income

…but takin’ it
 
I'm surprised that so many consider artful plating by highly trained (plastic-gloved) master chefs to be "manhandling" the food. Expensive restaurant dining is intended to be a treat for all the senses. Upscale restaurants strive to provide a delightful ambiance, excellent service, elegant apparel of the waitstaff as well as the diners, and food that's beautifully presented as well as delicious. All these contribute to a memorable experience that many find worth the price. Dining out isn't always about satisfying hunger.

If you think peering into a commercial or restaurant kitchen would be off-putting, try visiting a factory farm or slaughterhouse. Talk about filthy and disgusting.
 
Gary O' said:
Yeah, I’d skew the heck outa that average
Our income is six times our expenses
‘Course I live with the squirrels……

I’m still not comfortable, or at ease with the assurance of my retirement income

…but takin’ it
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Money is just one of the important ingredients needed to create a happy life.

It's a wonderful feeling when you finally realize that you have enough money and can devote your time to some of the other important things in life.

[FONT=&quot]"Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail." - Kinky Friedman[/FONT]
 
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Early on, my reference was to the Food Network TV show, Chopped, where the chefs prepare the plates for the judges bare-handed, unless there has been a bloody mishap.
 
Once in a lifetime event
mathjak107 said:
it was a gift certificate from all our kids for christmas .

this was such an experience that i would classify it with going to a broadway show . the restaurant and interaction with the chef's provided 4 hours of entertainment by them plus great food far beyond the norm .

while i doubt we would spend more than 1/2 that amount ourselves i thought it was fabulous .

typically a fine steak house runs about 225.00 or so .
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StarSong said:
I'm surprised that so many consider artful plating by highly trained (plastic-gloved) master chefs to be "manhandling" the food. Expensive restaurant dining is intended to be a treat for all the senses. Upscale restaurants strive to provide a delightful ambiance, excellent service, elegant apparel of the waitstaff as well as the diners, and food that's beautifully presented as well as delicious. All these contribute to a memorable experience that many find worth the price. Dining out isn't always about satisfying hunger.

If you think peering into a commercial or restaurant kitchen would be off-putting, try visiting a factory farm or slaughterhouse. Talk about filthy and disgusting.
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i agree 100% ..
 

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