My godmother is 92 years old this year. Great depression… world wars… one room school houses… livind on the dirt in the outskirts of Macon, GA… you name it.
She has been retired since 1974. Her mortgage (taken in 1951) was paid off in 1966, and she hasn’t taken any bank loans in over 20 years.
She collects a couple hundred dollars/mo from her husbands pension. She also collects a few bucks from SSI. The only other active income she has is $100/mo rent that a family friend pays her for the upstairs apt.
She can tell you nearly EVERY in & out of her two private health insurance policies, as well as the minimal part that Medicare kicks in. She doesn’t have ANY problems spending $100 - 200 / mo on groceries (i shop for her & deliver). Further, she’d been able to loan my generation of our family upto a few $grand in a few cases over the years.
Shes technically a hair above the poverty line… yet she has an incredible quality of life. Her house has been better maintained then most I’ve been in, anywhere, and alot of her belongings are old, but in fantastic shape.
Most of her friends (that are still alive) are in similar positions in life.
Why is this an exception, and not commonplace?