Getting it all together

I have started working through the Your Money or Your Life exercises.  I am organizing the things I have to see which of them I can sell or trade for other, better for me belongings.  I am saving money to buy my retirement home, which will be near my sweetheart.  We do best living separate but pulling together.  We are both quite eccentric in many ways, each having hobbies which can take over our living quarters if we are not careful.  I mark up my books, he believes in a special hell for those who do so......in the books he wants to read.  So I have recommended he not read my books, and he knows his are off limits to my pens, pencils and highlighters.

Anyway, I digress.  I have gotten my social security statement.  It appears to be correct.  Get your own, and verify the numbers.  It is important as the value of your monthly payments is based on the top 35 years of your work history.  The value of your pay is weighted.  The weighting is different for each year, so it is a complicated thing, you can't just GUESS what the value will be from what you earned.  

If your statement is incorrect it is your job to correct it.  This can be complicated.  Even if you have paid taxes every year, the income may not be listed on it correctly.  Old tax records, 1099's if you have them, or perhaps an estimated income would help on this.  I hope that this will not happen for me, although 2 years are missing on one of my friend's statement.

Another thing recommended is to figure out your investments, the 401K or 401K's you have..  WHAT is coming in each month?  Of course you also need to know what you are spending.  Also figure out if what you are spending your life energy on is truly worthwhile.  Are you getting value for the money you are spending?

What do you already own?  Could you retire now with the items you have?  Can you earn a small income from your belongings or talents?  Could you sell excess items?  Do you own multiple homes or a vacation home that is underused?  Perhaps you have investments that can support you.  "Your Money or Your Life" could help you figure this out.  There are two versions, the author that is still alive rewrote it with milleniels in mind.  It still works for information and resources to direct you on your journey.