I realised, probably for the first time, just how my thinking differs to others. I went to a Focus Group for a Market Research Company just the other day. The sort of thing where you all sit around the table and give your opinions. As I entered I had to get my name badge from the list, I noticed that there were tags next to each person. They had this on a separate piece of paper and I don't think anyone was supposed to see it, but I did.
There were various tags, "just starting out" "immenent retirement" as well as a few others that I can't recall. There were several people with each tag, but only one for mine "high net worth" The topic was finance.
The first thing they asked us as a group was "As you are getting older, and gearing up for retirement, what are you doing, or preparing to do?
As they asked everyone around the room what their focus was, the usual replies were "Get out of debt" "Help out the kids" etc. Until it was my turn to speak. "Get more debt"
Of course, all mouths dropped open and stared at me. I didn't want to be the centre of attention, that wasn't what I was there for. So I simply said that I wanted to buy another home before I retired.
The presenter slowly directed the questions towards super. Again, everyone had plenty and were concerned about how they had performed. I, alone, had next to nothing - around $2.5k. Of course, Hubby has some, but it is nothing really as he has only re-joined the workforce for around the last 10 years. Prior to that we were self employed.
Everyone asked me how I could be so at ease with the fact that I would have nothing much to retire on. Again, I didn't want to give too much away.
They spoke about the various plans that you can have with the Company that they were promoting as they all said that they didn't see the need for an agressive fund. Apparently nobody in their right mind would use that option. Of course, I piped up that that was exactly the option I would put my measly amount into. I might as well gamble that it would make enough returns to at least match the fees.
I can't recall what a lot of the questions were. They went in one ear and out the other. I remember that for each and every option my opinion alone was different to every single person in the room. Much of the time, I didn't say anything, or just nodded agreement, so that I would not have to justify my answers.
That's when it dawned on me. I'm just not normal.
There were various tags, "just starting out" "immenent retirement" as well as a few others that I can't recall. There were several people with each tag, but only one for mine "high net worth" The topic was finance.
The first thing they asked us as a group was "As you are getting older, and gearing up for retirement, what are you doing, or preparing to do?
As they asked everyone around the room what their focus was, the usual replies were "Get out of debt" "Help out the kids" etc. Until it was my turn to speak. "Get more debt"
Of course, all mouths dropped open and stared at me. I didn't want to be the centre of attention, that wasn't what I was there for. So I simply said that I wanted to buy another home before I retired.
The presenter slowly directed the questions towards super. Again, everyone had plenty and were concerned about how they had performed. I, alone, had next to nothing - around $2.5k. Of course, Hubby has some, but it is nothing really as he has only re-joined the workforce for around the last 10 years. Prior to that we were self employed.
Everyone asked me how I could be so at ease with the fact that I would have nothing much to retire on. Again, I didn't want to give too much away.
They spoke about the various plans that you can have with the Company that they were promoting as they all said that they didn't see the need for an agressive fund. Apparently nobody in their right mind would use that option. Of course, I piped up that that was exactly the option I would put my measly amount into. I might as well gamble that it would make enough returns to at least match the fees.
I can't recall what a lot of the questions were. They went in one ear and out the other. I remember that for each and every option my opinion alone was different to every single person in the room. Much of the time, I didn't say anything, or just nodded agreement, so that I would not have to justify my answers.
That's when it dawned on me. I'm just not normal.
