We live in challenging times, not only for seniors but for everyone. Some say our economy is failing; costs of groceries and housing are rising, gas prices are steadily increasing every week, and everything is getting more expensive by the day. Depression for many members of our society are at an all-time high. More people are unwell, and our healthcare system is falling even farther behind. Fewer healthcare providers means wait times for important treatments are constantly getting longer.
My husband, Bill, retired in 2015 after 43 years of driving trucks long-haul, and for a few years we lived comfortably on our pensions. Then along came Covid, and the cost of living started its steady upward climb. By the end of 2021, our pensions were no longer sufficient, and Bill had no choice but to return to the workforce. Not a nine-to-five job, but shift work, which we were not accustomed to, but we are managing. We live comfortably enough, for now, yet I can see every week when we purchase groceries, the crazy increase in prices.
Obviously, the increases affect us, but I worry about the next generation trying to afford the basics of life that our generation took for granted. This is not what I thought life would be like in our golden years. I can only assume it’s got to be so much tougher for the younger folks trying to raise a family.Thankfully, we’re not in any danger of becoming homeless or turning to our children to beg for food, but I have to admit it’s really depressing to have to watch how every penny is spent. I know we’re more fortunate than many, and for that, I am truly grateful. But so many seniors are facing tough decisions, like whether to buy groceries or pay for their prescriptions.
This wasn’t the ‘golden years’ vision we had, but returning to the workforce has taught us a lot about the resilience needed for these times. For younger folks trying to build a life for their family, I truly believe a solid budget is your most important tool. It’s a sobering reality, but with costs likely staying high for the foreseeable future, the math often comes down to finding ways to increase your income or finding new ways to live within your means. It’s a tough balance to strike, but seeing exactly where every dollar goes provides a small sense of control in a world that feels increasingly out of hand.
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Marilyn and Bill met and married in 1972. Having raised 3 boys and accumulated a respectable number of grand-children and great-grand-children, she wrote her first book and published it in 2024. A collection of short stories titled The Kendricks of Glasgow Junction. She contributes short stories about growing up in Nova Scotia to this website and has recently published a collection of them on Amazon.
Both of her books are available at https://amzn.to/4vRe4iy