this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2023
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[–] [email protected] 96 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Lol 10-15% of our income? I'm sorry... But who can afford that? We're getting so fucked right now by greed in this country...

My power bill was $500 last month for a two bedroom apartment. This is because I live in a city with the highest energy rates in the nation, all because the company and our local governments are absolutely lousy with corruption. They have posted obscene record profits for the last half a decade while everyone in the city suffers.

My rent was also 21% higher this year than it was in 2020. My landlord bought this place a decade ago at a bankruptsy auction, but like, fuck me right? Gatta keep those rates up when the rest of the city goes up.

I also haven't saved money since around 2019, since I went four years with a 0% raise due to the company I work for struggling. We were bought out by another company with tons of money, but they decided we were overpaid, since they live in a cheaper city.

My story is not unique. My story is not special. I hear a similar one from people every week. Retirement is a luxury most post-boomers will never experience, no matter how hard we work.

[–] ericbomb 60 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So you're supposed to do 50-30-20 Meaning 50% on needs 30% on wants 20% investing

You might be thinking "Ericbomb, how does one keep their needs below 50%, when the median rent in the US is $2,000, and median household income after taxes/withholdings is near 40k?"

Wonderful question!

[–] pHr34kY 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Australia has a Superannuation Guarantee. It's currently at 11% and will go to 12%. Employers get fined if they don't pay it to their workers.

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/key-superannuation-rates-and-thresholds/?anchor=Superguaranteepercentage

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Conservatives in Canada are trying to cut it. Conservatives in the USA are attacking social security. Conservatives are vultures. Never vote for conservatives.

[–] pHr34kY 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Conservatives here are the worst at picking and choosing. They'll happily borrow America's racism, anti-socialism, hypercapitalism, nationalism, mysoginy, gun culture and mass surveillance... but holy crap do they make noise when you put a pumpkin on your front lawn in October.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter 2 points 1 year ago

What's wrong with pumpkins? As an atheist who enjoys festivities and decorations, pumpkins are my go-to this time of year. I get pretty ones from the produce section and cook them at the holiday they were being decorations for. It's fun and it works for Halloween, thanksgiving and solstice.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've never owned a gun in my life. The day I go to buy one is the day I start planning for my "retirement."

I'm still doing the 401k thing and trying to save on the side, but just like homeownership, retirement is for "other people," not me :/

[–] afraid_of_zombies 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I work in heavy industry. One day I am going to get back medical tests results that I don't like. The next week there is going to be an accident at a job site and my family gets a few million.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Unless of course the insurance company uses GPT-9 to read your entire post history online and finds this comment.

[–] afraid_of_zombies 1 points 8 months ago

In that case they deserve to win because that would be utterly insane. We are talking like +30 years from now and if they have the ability to find one comment on one social media site and prove in the court of law that I wrote it...well fine.