Social Security was never meant to be a direct income replacement for retirees. Kind of like how minimum wage jobs were never truly seen as a career path. I am for self sufficiency. Those of us who were fortunate enough to have worked for 50 or so years should have been responsible enough to plan for the eventuality we all face. Obviously, there are people who, through no fault of their own, were not able to do that. But, for the majority of folks in our age bracket, they should have been planning for their retirement a long time ago. No one will be able to enjoy a lifestyle they had during their working years on Social Security alone. It was never meant to work that way. If someone failed to adequately fund their own income stream for retirement, it's a little late to change it now.
At my retirement party from my previous, long time job, my boss asked me if I had any advice for a group of young new hires. He was thinking I might offer some tips related to the work. Instead, my advice was simple: Put money away every month until it hurts. Consider that money spent, and never touch it. You'll thank me in 30 years.
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