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Leslie Doyle's avatar

I recently, at 63, left my NTT full-time teaching position, to write full-time and spot babysit my grandkids. I too resist the word "retired"-- even though I haven't pulled in much from writing yet, it's still my WORK, and saying I'm "retired" doesn't reflect where I am in my life. Love this essay!

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Bette's avatar

I think I agree with your mother's advice -- "stop being afraid, look money in the eye, and claim your worth." I like to use Glassdoor.com to check salaries in my field of expertise -- and the IRS site that tells you what to charge for mileage has been available for years. We have to be proactive because no one else will do it for us, that's for sure!

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Digispeaker's avatar

Thank you for addressing this important issue. Talking about money and self worth go hand in hand. I am 66yrs. old and it has taken me this long to ask for and receive what I deserve to be paid.

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TED's avatar

Living life is work

Enjoying living life is work

Enjoying work is living life

The moment you were created you start working

Working at living life is enjoying your work

Living life is work that retirement cannot stop

Work is enjoying living life in retirement

Your old stories and memories have collided

And blended together showing you your next steps

Your worth has been built on previous steps of living life

Working at living life is enjoying your work and will increase your net worth

Just a ramble of thoughts could be a 70 thing !

Turned 70 April 24 it all goes by way to fast

life is like the RPM for disc records 16 , 33 , 45 , 78

The RPM’s go faster as we get older

You are a great investor in living life

You have consolidated your worth

Into “living your life” stock that will provide a great return on investment.

Enjoy your dividends

Enjoy each day it is great investment in living life

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Jerry Portwood's avatar

talking about money remains the biggest taboo. I've made some bold decisions over the years (some may say idiotic) like sharing my tiny salary with the world at the age of 22 in the pages of Parade magazine and later in my editorial letter of an alt weekly in my 30s. both time people thought I was bonkers but I was happy to see it caused others to question their worth and demand more. I finally demanded to be compensated fairly as an editor in my 40s... and then was laid off soon after so... is that a cautionary tale?

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Louise Julig's avatar

I just subscribed to Oldster recently, and what a treat to find you here! Good luck on the new path.

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Geeta's avatar

Thinking about leaving my full-time, non-tenure stream position, and thinking a lot about productivity, self worth, and money. Thanks, Jessica. Come back in a year and let us know how it's going.

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Nina Gaby's avatar

Almost 72, not afraid of asking questions but of course no way to get the answers, until I'm gobsmacked to find that a male doing the exact same job may still be making more...(and of course as a Nurse Practitioner, I've always known that an MD will make at least twice as much for the exact same job) and having to accept that I likely won't see any of this change in my working lifetime. Good luck with the career change and I can't wait to see what you do next!

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Joan DeMartin's avatar

Beautifully written piece. It's difficult, as we know, to place a money value on what we bring to the table. But even politely asking for what you're really worth — say as a college adjunct, can backfire.

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Dr. John C. Nardo's avatar

It has been an honor and a privilege to be your faculty colleague over the last decade! Though I am sad for our students and myself that you’re going, I am ecstatic for your next chapter and honor the strength it took to start it. Love you, John

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marcia aldrich's avatar

Great topic, not discussed enough, and handled with straightforward and admirable candor.

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Tatyana Sussex's avatar

Such a great facedown of the complicated way we think about money and earning. When I started working in NYC in the mid '80s, everyone talked about what they were making as they went from job to job in the magazine industry. Then I moved west and no one said a thing. It's hard to navigate in a salary vacuum. Thank you for your piece!

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Julia Franks's avatar

Thank you for this, Jessica! I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't even know about the IRS website that gives you mileage rates. I too could do much much better at this!

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