www.theotherpress.ca OPINIONS. The test of time longer life expectancy means less financial stability in the latter years Same Elliot | | Chan Opinions Editor opinions@ theotherpress.ca or those still in their roaring 20s, let’s think longterm for a moment—say, 40 years from now. The world has changed and so have you. You have a family, a mortgage, car payments, a stable job, ailing parents, credit card debt, medical bills, and multiple other financial responsibilities to worry about, yet retirement is around the corner. You ask yourself, “Am I ready for it? Have I saved enough? Or will the next 20 years be as gruelling as the first?” Don’t act so surprised when I tell you that most millennials aren’t thinking about retirement—not because they don’t want to, but because they might not get one. We have been crippled by so many different factors, including increased taxes and cost of living, disappearing pensions, high educational debt, and a There are simply too many financial burdens, so every extra year of work adds a buffer to the savings account. If baby boomers are having such difficulty retiring, what about the millennials? I’m not saying that we should call for a crisis or have the government hold our hands it’s critical that we learn to take care of ourselves, lest we become burdens on our family, friends, and society. This will break our fears and reluctance of taking out the “retirement calculators” and finding out how many dreadful zeros we'll need in order to survive. Retirement funds aren't Don't act so surprise when | tell you that most millennials arent thinking about retirement, not because they dont want to, but because they might not get one. competitive job market. At this point, it’s hard to imagine life as a 40-year-old, let alone a 70-year-old. It’s rare to see people hang up their work clothes at 55 nowadays. According to Statistics Canada, the average retirement age in 2011 was 63.2 for men and 61.4 for women. through this lifelong ordeal, but what would benefit us is a bit of systematic assistance. I suggest a mandatory test every decade to help with the retirement mathematics. The test would examine multiple factors, including financial stability, health, and family status. Although privacy is important, a problem we millennials can solve now. What we can do is stay the course, and even if there aren’t any implemented tests to assess our stability, we can still manage that ourselves. Don’t waste your youth worrying, but it never hurts to consider the necessities of your long life. A survey done by Pentegra Retirement Services found that 62 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds think $500,000 is enough for their retirement. The consensus is that number is too low. According to Statistics Canada, the current annual spending cost of a couple over 65 is $51,000, but for an enjoyable retirement theyll need as much as $60,000 a year. The price will undoubtedly increase for us. It might seem completely bleak at the moment, but allow us to go back to the short-term; we're still young and we have full control of our lives. We're packed with potential and opportunities are still knocking. If we don’t want to be eating peanut butter and jelly everyday in our old age, we can change that. Now is the time to get the upper hand. Rainy days and debts are inevitable, but hey, there’s a silver lining to those looming golden years. Quit your ‘wine- ing —its just beer } Chan opinions@theotherpress.ca WwW". drinkers are often associated with At one point or another, we have heard a wine snob tolerate the sweetness of Chardonnay. Well, it looks Elliot 4 Ba Opinions Editor distinguished sophistication— and a bit of pretentiousness. complaining about Merlot’s dry taste, or how they can’t What's on tap? than not, I just want to be financially responsible and go for the “Honda Civic” Molson Canadian or “H&M” Kokanee. On average, booze prices in BC are some of the highest in Canada, and it isn’t even worth comparing to our neighbours down south. Whether the government decided to tax alcohol so heavily to help funding or to discourage drinking is irrelevant—the point is that if we want to enjoy a beverage, it’s going to cost us. The truth is, I’m a beer- lover and J enjoy the fancy craft beers and microbrews as unaware of their snobbery, because they’re blinded by their passion. That way most music snobs think only alternative music is relevant? Beer snobs feel the same way about beer. Instead of being snobby about others’ choices, beer snobs/ aficionados should share their knowledge and explain why they made like alcohol snobbery affects more than just wine. Since the rise in craft beer’s popularity, beer snobs have taken the judgmental reins in house parties, bars, and poker tables all across the country—and they need to put a cork in it. Ever since J acquired the taste for beer, it has been my go-to choice at most social events. There’s a simplicity to beer drinking. You don’t need to mix, or shoot, or anything like that—whatever is in the glass, bottle, or can is good to go. Sure, there are fancy choices, like the “Rolls-Royce” Wild Rose, or the “Louis Vuitton” La Fin Du Monde; but more often much as any other enthusiast, but the same way I don’t go and have a medium-rare steak at The Keg every night, I don’t splurge on the “la-dee-da” imports every time I order a drink, either. Whatever is on tap will be just fine for me. After all, I’m on a student the premier or the unconventional choice. Be generous and offer others a sip. The diversity of beer is astounding and it shouldn't be a solitary budget. I don’t need you to exploration. remind me about that.So stop Not everybody acting so high and mighty— can afford to be it’s just a drink. adventurous Some people consider drinking a bad habit; I consider it a relaxing way to pass the time with friends. Snobbery and unfair judgment, on the other hand, I do consider a bad habit. Truth is, beer snobs are usually every time they go out, so be respectful. After all, good beer doesn’t equal good times, but good friends do. Cheers. 15