Back to work because I do not have my ducks in a row

Back to work again for now. Not having your ducks in a row before you retire is a big problem. To all the younger people reading my blog, please prepare for your retirement! Not only mentally but, most importantly, financially. Suppose you are living hand and mouth. Change that right now. Get a plan ASAP!

Lacking a safe financial net is the reason I need to go back to work. Sadly, I know I am not the only one. In the past, I lived hand to mouth because of my circumstances, lack of mentorship, and family history.

Survival mode no savings, so back to work

When I was growing up, my family was always in survival mode, on the edge of financial disaster. My mother divorced and worked extremely hard at a job she hated to pay the immediate bills.

 I quit regular school at 14 to help her financially, took a cashier job at the local Five and Dime to help out financially, attended night school to complete my High School credits, and took a day course in Advertising art. I had a plate full by the time I was 16. Graduating high school in July of 1973, I started working as a temp for the United States Postal Service in August of 1973. After taking the Postal Exam and passing with a 96% grade, I was a full-time Post Office employee.

I fully supported my family for the next 15 years. But no matter how much overtime I worked, we still lived hand to mouth. I worked 7-day, 12-hour shifts, which was exhausting, frustrating, and spirit-breaking for someone like myself who was creative and still young. However, I felt a moral obligation to help my family, so I stuck it out.

My saving grace was a steady job in a government career with a pension and other benefits. Once I was on my own, hesitant to leave, I stuck it out until I retired at 48 with 30+ years under my belt.

Living La Vida Loca

Back to work because mi Vida Loca

Since I had so many family obligations for so many years, once I was alone, I started to live in my Vida Loca, enjoying what I lacked for so many years: partying, traveling, spending money on clothes, and more. 

One more nail in my coffin, my co-dependent behavior, led to me trying to help everyone I took a liking to, feeling I had to save them. But I finally learned my lesson after two bankruptcies.

Buying my condo and paying off all my credit cards is how I prepared for retirement. But, unfortunately, I never got a large nest egg. 

So, here I am, having to go back to work, Per Diem, as a pediatric nurse to have a little extra cash just to do fun stuff like travel and catch some performances; I like musicals.

Please prepare for retirement; get advice outside if your family needs to learn.