Does it have provisions for retirees, and is it likely to still exist during your retirement? That's the nut I can't crack. I have an HSA, and if I trend out my last 15 years of employment another 30 years it will have a modest sum in it, but dealing with high costs without regular income in a period where need is typically the highest sounds difficult. A friend in her early 50s has talked about having a slim savings, and that she needs her car to last until her house is paid off in a couple years. Most of my friends (mid 30s) rent, though most of my coworkers own. Growing up, middle class meant having a house and upper middle class meant a nicer house, a vacation in the summer, and a winter ski trip (even if only to the Upper Peninsula). Today middle class seems to be "month to month comfortable budget but no ability to budget for the future." Upper middle class is the same but with a budget for vacations and the future.my health insurance is cheap
Yeah, d00d. I'm in a strong union. The provisions for retirees are what's driving our aggression - IATSE came tearing out of the hills at every production in LA because they need dues to pay for retirement. Camera union? Local 600? They hit their guys up for $20k buy-in and $1100 a month. Our pension is underfunded but not as underfunded as some. It's lookin' better. And I mean, it's one of four or five avenues I have so I'm lucky as hell. I think that's my big note. I'm steadily realizing how fucking lucky I am.