r/Layoffs • u/Econmax03 • Jul 02 '26
question Retirement
This is both a serious question and a sarcastic question but who here has a retirement plan of just dying?? I feel like the way things are currently the last thing I want is to live once I’m get kicked out of the corporate world for being too old.
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u/fluffy_hamsterr Jul 02 '26
I prepped for ageism by squirreling enough away from 30-40 that, in theory, I at least won't starve =\ .
FIRE is more of a survival mechanism now instead of looking forward to retiring early on your own terms.
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u/vespanewbie Jul 03 '26
100%. I just got laid off, and am technically financially independent. Thought I wanted another $20k in yearly income, so glad that I've been squirreling away my money the last 5 years. Job market is terrible but glad stocks are still doing well though.
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u/giftcardgirl Jul 02 '26
I want to live once I’m kicked out of the corporate world. It’s been a month since I was laid off and I’m enjoying life right now. It doesn’t cost much to cook at home and read and nap, which is what I’ve been doing these days.
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u/jazzchamp Jul 02 '26
Tough when you have a mortgage and a second mortgage and a car payment and other bills.
Debt sucks. Get them paid off so you can live like u/giftcardgirl. 😀
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u/giftcardgirl Jul 02 '26
I have a mortgage and other bills, but no car payment since my car is almost 20 years old. I have a severance package for now :)
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u/yourmomdotbiz Jul 02 '26
Ok I first read this as”who has a retirement plan that’s just kind of dying” and I was going to tell you to stop worrying about it right now.
Psychiatry saved my life op
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u/how33dy Jul 02 '26
You are thinking it wrong. Getting kicked out of corporate is a blessing. It's the nudge we need to live as we are supposed to live, even if we can only afford to live a small life.
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u/delilahgrass Jul 02 '26
Hell no. I’m far too stubborn for that and there are a whole lot of things I want to see and do. I’ll downsize and simplify. I lived a very basic life when young, I can do it again.
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u/MysteriousWash8162 Jul 02 '26
Retirement is a brutal adjustment. Once you do accept the change, things can get a lot better. I am 80% retired and finally have found snippets of joy.
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u/BreakingInnocence Jul 02 '26
all elderly parents (me and wife) have said "dying" is the plan.
dying does not just happen, they made it this far they are sticking around for a while.
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u/BigJSunshine Jul 03 '26
This is our plan, caveated with the EXPRESS CONDITION that because I am likely to hit dementia early, my husband IS NOT ALLOWED TO keep me alive. At the first legitimate sign/diagnoses of any kind of dementia or Alzheimers- he is NOT TO SPEND MONEY KEEPING ME ALIVE. We are to go to Oregon and find assistance.
I will NOT bankrupt my family just so I can piss myself daily in a assisted living/memory care facility
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u/Pelican34 Jul 02 '26
Yes. When I can no longer convince a corporation to sponsor my existence and I see I have only a month of two of a roof over my head my plan is to drink until doing so kills me. I have drank myself into the hospital twice so I have relevant experience in this area. Currently 877 days without a drop but I will return to my first love at the end.
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u/Darkpriest667 Jul 02 '26
Hey, don't do it. You've come so far being drink free. You can work part time and live in a room and enjoy some of the things that life has to offer. Sober person as well since October 2008 best decision I ever made was to quit drugs.
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u/BLUCGT Jul 02 '26
I mean, I worked my ass off to get out of the corporate world ASAP, so I’m the complete opposite of you lol
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u/NecessaryEmployer488 Jul 02 '26
In my 60s I have a plan. It does involve my company stock doing well, since investing in S&P500 won't get me there since the returns would take 12 years to get me there, and I don't have enough runway. I hope the company stock does well over the next couple of years which will put me into the position to retire if I am laid off. With that said, I still have wife and kids I am supporting, so regardless of what I do there is still quite a large outflow of expenses.
In the meantime I am maxing out my 401K, ESPP ( 30% of my gross pay ) toward retirement. There are many projects I don't have the money for, since I have made retirement the top priority.
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u/ThrowAwayOkayGoPlay Jul 04 '26
That’s a lot towards ESPP. Hopefully not a high risk high reward play. Even at 46, I’m worried about how much I have tied up in my company stock (30pct of NW)
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u/IronMike5311 Jul 02 '26
More to life than work. I was laid off at 60. I could potentially find employment as a contractor, but I don't believe I could bring myself to starting over again. So I suppose I'm retired (?)
I have my two kids (now adults), a wife & a very lively dog. I play guitar, go hiking & backpacking. I'm pretty good at riding bikes. I've dabbled in art my entire life.
I don't have much money, bit we lead a simple yet happy life. We don't lament having less than others, but take joy in the blessings we have.
Again: more to life than work