Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 5, 2017 20:23:36 GMT -5
So my mom's job was downsized due to a merger. She's 70. Not a highly skilled worker (no degrees or super special skills). Not much saved. Bad life choices. So big troubles (or so I would think). She knows she needs to do something for money. She was pretty broken up about losing her job.
short version- she got a job offer but not sure she wants to take it, because if she decides "it's not for her" (whatever that means) and if she quits then she won't be able to get unemployment insurance again (she is currently on unemployment insurance). She got the job offer mainly because a good friend of hers knows the business owner and recommended her.
It's a job she can do. It's not physically taxing. It's similar to what she did at the job she was downsized from.
I am like, uhm what other kind of opportunities do you think are out there for a 70 year old??
SMH
ETA- She was an "office manager"....really just a secretary that also used QuickBooks and called in payroll. Also she is in NYC
ETA 2- UPDATE: It looks like she will take the job and possibly look for another job while she works at this job (what she is thinking now).......more to follow (she has 2 days to decide)
ETA 3 New Update: looks like mom didn't get the job. The guy didn't call back. Of course my mom waiting so long and asking for so much time for her to "decide" (2 weeks from when he made the initial job offer) didn't help (IMO). She is going to try to call Monday again, but it doesn't look good, mom tried to call twice on Thursday and he said he would call back and hasn't. Also mom has to do an in person thingee with unemployment office on Monday, so from talking to her I think reality is finally starting to sink in.....more to follow
ETA 4 She got in touch with the guy about the job offer. He said for now he was going to keep the person he currently had working (They have someone they weren't happy with and were planning to fire them and replace with someone else (like my mom)). He said in the time they were waiting they had a heart to heart talk with the current worker and since then the worker has improved. But they will keep my mom in mind if things change. Also they get busier in the winter, so they may need extra help then.
She found the unemployment office and drove and found parking. It was more of a "class". It was a counselor and about 25 peeps with my mom. Going over the rules of unemployment, where they post a list of jobs in the unemployment office and stuff like that. She has to go in person again in 10 weeks.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Aug 5, 2017 20:29:50 GMT -5
Donald Trump was elected president at 70! You just never know!
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Aug 5, 2017 20:30:15 GMT -5
Flipping Burgers, Walmart, perhaps Walgreens. I see older women working at those places every time I'm in one of them. Target would be another place or a smaller grocery store as a cashier.
Truthfully, however, her options are limited.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 5, 2017 20:39:09 GMT -5
Yep, that's my point. This job pays lots better than those......
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quince
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Post by quince on Aug 5, 2017 20:48:44 GMT -5
She's not a highly skilled worker, this job pays better than the minimum wage positions normally available for people without skills/potential and time to be trained up and molded. I would jump on it if I were her.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Aug 5, 2017 21:06:04 GMT -5
What did she do at her other job. You say she isn't highly skilled. She must be skilled in something or she wouldn't have been working till she hit 70.
I don't know about where she lives but here we have agency that helps with "elderly" people find jobs and services if needed.
Don't sell her short. Especially if someone has recommended her for a job already. She must have something to offer.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Aug 5, 2017 21:08:19 GMT -5
Cat food? Seriously though, this sounds like she's trying to make another bad decision. I suspect her only other option is to downsize the lifestyle to receive as many benefits as she can. Pound for pound cat food is as expensive as all get out. That's why I became a vegetarian except for fish in my dottering old age!!!!!
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 5, 2017 21:10:14 GMT -5
She was an "office manager"....really just a secretary that also used QuickBooks and called in payroll.
Also she is in NYC
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 5, 2017 21:18:00 GMT -5
Cat food? Seriously though, this sounds like she's trying to make another bad decision. I suspect her only other option is to downsize the lifestyle to receive as many benefits as she can.
I agree on another bad decision......but I don't see her seeking benefits, it's not in her nature, at least until she gets really hard up
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Aug 5, 2017 21:18:08 GMT -5
Psst....she wants to retire. She knows she shouldn't, due to finances, but still.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 5, 2017 21:24:07 GMT -5
Psst....she wants to retire. She knows she shouldn't, due to finances, but still.
Oh trust me I know that....that was one of the other things she said. "well, I almost made it to 72, that was when I planned to retire anyway..."
again, in my mind I was like "How??"
And then the other thing she said to me was "I made a budget of what I would need, and if I could just work 3 days that would be enough, but all the part time jobs I have seen online are 9AM to 2 PM every day of the week.........
SMH
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 22:02:38 GMT -5
So at what age do you approve her retiring?
She is an adult. She has maxed her SS. She can start collecting that now regardless of earnings. Remind her of that.
I'd help her work out a budget instead. She can find a 3-day a week part-time job. She just needs to look harder.
i'd be upset if my kids were pushing me to work full-time until the day I died.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 5, 2017 22:08:06 GMT -5
So at what age do you approve her retiring? She is an adult. She has maxed her SS. She can start collecting that now regardless of earnings. Remind her of that. I'd help her work out a budget instead. She can find a 3-day a week part-time job. She just needs to look harder. i'd be upset if my kids were pushing me to work full-time until the day I died.
Oh no...she started collecting SS at age 62, despite my advice against it, so an extremely lower SS check....
I'm really not going to put any real effort into helping her until she specifically asks me for help or she is in dire straights, as I believe those are the only 2 situations where she will actually listen.....
ETA- I'm not pushing her to do anything, she asks me for advice I tell her......
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Aug 5, 2017 23:05:55 GMT -5
Have her relocate and move in with you. Her social security will go further and she can get a PT job if she wants to remain active...
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 5, 2017 23:16:39 GMT -5
Have her relocate and move in with you. Her social security will go further and she can get a PT job if she wants to remain active...
Dude, she's not going to leave NYC until she absolutely has to (gets borderline evicted or too sick or something extreme)
and even then I wouldn't let her move in with us
If she was willing to follow some rules of mine, I would be willing to help her move near me and supplement her to be able to live in an efficiency apartment or something along those lines.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 6, 2017 6:07:46 GMT -5
Well, she's made her decisions and it's up to her.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Aug 6, 2017 7:46:05 GMT -5
Her life is up to her. And, yes, i understand that poor choices may leave you with the fall out, however, she is going to do whatever she chooses to do. If and when she cannot fund her own life, then she is going to have to look at her options. Does she have a sister she could go live with?
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Aug 6, 2017 7:56:00 GMT -5
Have her relocate and move in with you. Her social security will go further and she can get a PT job if she wants to remain active...
Dude, she's not going to leave NYC until she absolutely has to (gets borderline evicted or too sick or something extreme)
and even then I wouldn't let her move in with us
If she was willing to follow some rules of mine, I would be willing to help her move near me and supplement her to be able to live in an efficiency apartment or something along those lines.
There are senior apartments that are subsidized based on income. My MIL had to move into one after spending all her money (mostly on wants). I'd look into those, perhaps with your DM in tow some that she knows what's in store for her. Might shake some sense into her. On the other hand, she might really be feeling her age.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 6, 2017 9:14:41 GMT -5
Well, she's made her decisions and it's up to her. i agree.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 6, 2017 9:15:36 GMT -5
Her life is up to her. And, yes, i understand that poor choices may leave you with the fall out, however, she is going to do whatever she chooses to do. If and when she cannot fund her own life, then she is going to have to look at her options. Does she have a sister she could go live with? i agree. No sister. She has a worthless brother though.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Aug 6, 2017 9:18:02 GMT -5
I would just tell her point blank. Mom , if you run out of money, the ONLY option i have to offer you is my sofa in the basement. Or a spare bedroom or whatever. And, you will have to pay me rent from your SS check. That's all I got, sorry. So, you can either make it work now or that's all i can do for you.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 6, 2017 9:24:45 GMT -5
Dude, she's not going to leave NYC until she absolutely has to (gets borderline evicted or too sick or something extreme)
and even then I wouldn't let her move in with us
If she was willing to follow some rules of mine, I would be willing to help her move near me and supplement her to be able to live in an efficiency apartment or something along those lines.
There are senior apartments that are subsidized based on income. My MIL had to move into one after spending all her money (mostly on wants). I'd look into those, perhaps with your DM in tow some that she knows what's in store for her. Might shake some sense into her. On the other hand, she might really be feeling her age. yep. When she first told me she lost her job i looked at apartments like that near me (online). Then she told me about this new possible job and i lost interest. mom isnt open to anything unless she asks (or gets real hard up) so i am not going to try to drag her to see apartments. 12 years ago I offered (without her asking my advice) very nicely (worded carefully) to pay for her to see an elder financial planner. I told her i would go with her if she wanted or she coukd go by herself. No she said. 15 years ago, I knew she was "afraid" of investing. I offered to set up an IRA account for her and my wife & I would put $1,000 in it to start her off (back then that was the minimum to open an account) and she could watch it for a year or 2 to gain experience and maybe she could put $20 a month in it and wife and I would put $100 or so in it on christmas & again on her birthday--again her answer is "no" she is an EXTREMELY stuborn person. So was her mother.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Aug 6, 2017 9:34:30 GMT -5
My mom is 77. She retired as office manager for medical office many years ago. She kept her side gig as assistant for a single dr ( psychiatrist) and picked up another one person psychiatrist. She goes in one day a eek pick up paperwork and pays bills. There are things to do just have to find them. They pay $40 per hour part time as needed
My mom does not need money. She says she will work until the sea retire, but they are still going strong and they are older than her.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Aug 6, 2017 9:49:27 GMT -5
Just because some people want to work forever , doesn't mean the business or company wants them around forever. A lot of businesses don't want elderly people who may be viewed as slower,not as up to date, etc. That's the real world whether that is right or wrong. Yes, some businesses maybe that works but in other businesses, it does not. And, the minute you aren't keeping up, you are going to be out the door.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Aug 6, 2017 10:08:11 GMT -5
Doesn't unemployment end? She needs to think of that.
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Rob Base 2.0
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Post by Rob Base 2.0 on Aug 6, 2017 10:11:48 GMT -5
Doesn't unemployment end? She needs to think of that.
That's my thoughts exactly.........
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Aug 6, 2017 10:51:07 GMT -5
So at what age do you approve her retiring? She is an adult. She has maxed her SS. She can start collecting that now regardless of earnings. Remind her of that. I'd help her work out a budget instead. She can find a 3-day a week part-time job. She just needs to look harder. i'd be upset if my kids were pushing me to work full-time until the day I died.
Oh no...she started collecting SS at age 62, despite my advice against it, so an extremely lower SS check....
I'm really not going to put any real effort into helping her until she specifically asks me for help or she is in dire straights, as I believe those are the only 2 situations where she will actually listen.....
ETA- I'm not pushing her to do anything, she asks me for advice I tell her......
Hey, give her points for still having a job up until now! My mom started collecting at 62 and quit her job, sorry, retired. She barely had any money when she was working, and she certainly doesn't have any now!
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Aug 6, 2017 12:09:25 GMT -5
That's my younger sister. Retired from the phone company when they offered her early retirement and never worked again except when they asked her to come back for a short time to fill in at about $20 hr. She could have gotten in with them again but didn't "want to". She was always crying poor, but I have a hard time feeling any sympathy when she doesn't have money to do things due to poor life choices. She now collects SS so it's a little better, but not much since she only worked about 25 years if she even worked that many. I don't know what will happen if she needs to go into assisted living. It will be one of the Medicaid homes probably. She's a hoarder too and lives on the second floor. I can't imagine having to clean out her apartment if she dies before me.
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milee
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Post by milee on Aug 6, 2017 12:49:32 GMT -5
My mom started collecting at 62 and quit her job, sorry, retired. She barely had any money when she was working, and she certainly doesn't have any now!
The first time I ever encountered this concept was with my in-laws. FIL had always been a farm laborer; in many ways that was similar to migrant workers over here. Small amount of income and a farm-provided house. MIL was a SAHM, never even learned to drive - would have been horrified at the idea of working at a paid job. They were one of those very poor but happy couples and although DH grew up in near-poverty conditions, it sounded like a loving, happy childhood. He'd tell stories about how every vacation was planned to the last pound and if anything went wrong, they had adventures getting home since there was never a pence to spare. Again, lots of love but absolutely no money. In the early '90s, DH told me his dad had inherited some money and was going to "retire". The inheritance amount wasn't tiny, but it wasn't substantial, either - 30,000 pounds. Row houses, condos or apartments within an hour of where they lived (very nice area - Winchester) were over 100,000, so they couldn't afford to live anywhere near where their friends and family were. FIL's plan was to buy a very inexpensive place about 4-5 hours away (not nice area) where they didn't know anybody and live on the British equivalent of social security. Didn't sound like fun to me, but that's what they did. And of course FIL died less than a year later, leaving MIL alone there.
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Aug 6, 2017 13:24:28 GMT -5
My grandma worked at a cologne counter until she was 81 years old. She only retired because she fell and broke her hip and never fully recovered.
i work with quite a few 70 year olds and I am always surprised how old they are. They look no older than the 50 somethings. So if your mom is a young 70 year old, nobody will likely realize she is 70. Let us know what she decides.
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