~ Depressed and scared, not making it financially ~

we too had a 401 K and was promised a nice pension since my husband worked 10 hr days , walked hard floors, rose up to plant supt. But the SOB's at Continental Can closed down and took most of his hard won pension. Thats how our xcountry works now...NO safe guards for workers, just billionaires , huge corps & lobbyists. GOP end all the safe vguards we had years ago Its true Look it up. GOP busts labor unins, loves low pay, keeps min wage L>LOW but gives billions to fat cats ..How is it we have trillions to waste on war Iraq for 14 yrs Only helped Cheney & Halliburton . and war mongers . We the People do NOT fight hard enough to end- stop wars that do no good . We still have homeless vets & elders who get poor care in nursing homes . Thats IMMORAL

I understand your need to vent sometimes it does make one feel better. But this isn't what I had in mind in regards to budgetting.

What I meant was I sat down with a professional financial planner. I put all of my bills (utility, phone, groceries) on automatic pay with my bank. I don't drive anymore, so that saves quite a bit of money on gas and insurance and car payments, and I put that money toward Uber and deliveries. So, I took my check statements and reviewed everything with a financial professional. We came up with a workable plan. I investigated senior apartments (I can't move into one yet, until I'm 55). I learned about the rules for senior living, and the financial planner went over everything with me. It was a good review exercise and I feel like now I have a plan. It's not the plan I always dreamed of, but it's a plan and I'm grateful to have made a new friend in the area, the financial planner.

Sit down, write it down, write down how much you receive from social security or other sources, then go through expenses like rent, utilities, transportation. It's was an interesting and essential exercise for me. I'm losing my eyesight and I'm not comfortable driving anylonger. I could sit and vent about it, but I don't. I understand your frustration with the economy and pensions, but we all have a similar fight that we are fighting, find gratitude for spending time with family , gratitude has been found to bring inner peace and happiness. I'm grateful that I gave up driving now, for example, I've enjoyed meeting the Uber drivers and Instacart delivery folks. They are so nice, along with my financial planner. Great people.

Another thing I did this year was that my primary care physician put me on a 'care management' type plan with Medicare , due to my disability. That means I can call my local care providers, my case managmenet nurse, a social worker, a pharmacist on the phone, when ever I need them. We have spent alot of time on the phone actually, with the input from my wonderful neurologists at mayo, to come up with a healthy living plan for me here in my area. My social worker gave me alot of wonderful information regarding housing. As I said, i'mlosing my vision, I was concerned that I couldn't care for my place here anymore, and my internist even suggested I look at assisted living. So, my social worker provided alot of information and I interviewed senior living apartments. Here is an outline of how senior living works. I'd recommend talking to your local pcp to see if your disability qualifies you for this Medicare case management like I have, its wonderful and essential.
https://www.seniorliving.org/hud-senior-housing-programs/
I think this is the plan I have with Medicare, my doctor calls it something different. I have Aetna for insurance. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/chronic-care-management-services

so sorry lack of money along with Aging can be so hard Especially when you miss where you used to live Any chance on moving back Best of luck

@smilies How was your day today? Did you get up and make a cup of tea or coffee? Perhaps water a few plants? Remember they need care, no matter how low you feel! Did you get outside to feel the sun on your face? Didn't it feel nice? Please let us know how you are doing? We care.
Ginger

I can understand that When my hubby died, then daughter had a stroke , my once sweet grand child became mentall ill My world fell apart . Just take one day at a time You are NOT alone. My dogs help me......They show love and expect nothing but Love and food.

Never give up You are worthy

Hi and thank you for your support!

Hi, I’m sorry for what you’re going through. Big hugs and prayers.

Hi. It took me a long time to get going but I got up and out of the house. Right now I’m in bed and not ready to get up. It’s 8:12 am in Toronto.

@smilie Good for you! Can you see me cheering from the sidelines? Repeat that today, please, get up and out of the house. Go to a park, sit outside, go to a library, just be. Don't give yourself a bad time for taking your time, the thing is you're participating in life. We care about your situation, and you.
Ginger