Nargh, I have a cold. I'd forgotten what they felt like.

msbelle, that sucks. I'm sorry.

It's turned abruptly cold here, mid-fifties with a little wind. Suddenly getting that jacket I liked from Penny's seems like a good idea...

Jesus, that's really horrible. Stupid companies. This is a reason I'm not sorry my job is switching from a classic pension plan to 401K style thingy with contribution. Although what's really stupid is I got into the pension plan when I started, so when I'm 65 or whatever, they're going to send me like ten bucks a month. Der.

I must have accidentally had too much Diet Coke yesterday, because I could not fall asleep last night for anything. It was really aggravating!

Although what's really stupid is I got into the pension plan when I started, so when I'm 65 or whatever, they're going to send me like ten bucks a month. Der.

My mom worked for the US military for 5 years before she got married and gets $54 US a month from them.

I must have accidentally had too much Diet Coke yesterday, because I could not fall asleep last night for anything. It was really aggravating!

I slept in yesterday, and then totally could not get to sleep last night. I also forgot to turn on my alarm last night so it's a miracle that I made it to work on time. I am cranky as hell, though.

For some reason I was glad when my alarm went off this morning. Whatever half dreams I was having were irritating me, I guess. I can't remember what they were.

Yeah, I went to bed. I want to stay there all day, but no.

So people, WRT retirement plans. Do not rely on what your company has set up, have stuff on your own. Like have more money going to your private IRAs and such.

My grandmother worked for Converse for a gajillion years, in a hot factory, all day long--had a heart attack there. Her pension was $33.00 per month. It makes me sick when they talk about messing with Social Security.

Hey, Vortex, when you come around, Gnarls Barkley has a video for Gone Daddy Gone. [link] It's craxy.

Yeah, when I went to the 401K guy here, he started talking about the pension plan that this place has, and I was like, yeah, I'm not counting on that at all. If it happens, great, I'll go on holiday with that money or give it to charity. Not counting on anyone other than myself.

We're lucky, though, because we know that now. Folks like your dad were suckered because they were told the lie, and felt confident enough to count on it. I'm so sorry. I hope that it was an error, or a temporary thing, or something. Ugh.

Do not rely on what your company has set up, have stuff on your own. Like have more money going to your private IRAs and such.

You mean above and beyond "normal" 401K plans? I thought that money was independent of your company once it had been deposited, and then it was just a fund issue, something you should watch in case the returns start showing a disturbing trend--but that it's the market you're worried about not just your (previous) employer.

Hmm. It seems I was really eager to get out of bed, because the last hour/half hour of time spent there was restless. Yet this is not translating into get-up-and-go, nor va-va-va-voom. Sitting up seems to be enough.

No, the 401k is what you think it is, ita. Not that it's a bad thing to have other accounts as well, if you're able to contribute more than what the 401k allows.

401K's are meant to replace the classic pension. Workers used to labor for a company for 40 years, and get a company funded pension. However, some companies decided that to play a shell game with their books, and legally did so, thanks to congress. They underfunded their pension plans and when the time came to pay out the money to their retirees, they found the money wasn't there.

Time magazine's cover story from last year detailed the abuses and shocking stories. Let's not forget to divide the blame equally between greedy companies and compliant congressmen/women.