Report: Building a house as retirement provision? No way!

What do you consider to be a good retirement provision?

Something that generates a return + inflation protection on my invested capital and thus makes an income available to me later when I no longer work and receive pay.

Compared to other investments, a house can’t do that terribly well. Also, especially in old age, when the place has also aged a bit, you would have to put in more money for renovations/repairs.

Preservation of value only matters if you don’t live there until you are carried out feet first. Then you want to get your money back at some point to finance something suitable for old age.

A very good retirement provision would be the pay-as-you-go pension system, if it weren’t systematically destroyed and if a whole herd of lobbyists wouldn’t constantly keep telling you that there is a "demographic problem." But the silly German has voted against this pillar himself.

By the way, a house is better than nothing, so if someone doesn’t dare to touch other things, they should still do it if possible.

What Ms. Garten writes I can relate to. It is the mix of money, home, people, relationships. You cannot buy all of that.

You have to take care of people and relationships yourself; you cannot buy them. [Heimat], short distances, household helpers: money simply helps here. My contribution only concerned financial provision.

What do you consider a good retirement provision?

It clearly consists of several components: First, a paid-off house, plus some cash, a few stocks/ETFs; to mix in a bit of gold, some diamonds, a decent wine and whiskey collection, and a good cigar dealer so you can spend your last years without shopping stress. Oh yes: a nice 993 makes a lot of fun now and then and always appreciates in value when well maintained. Just blow the rest of the money, because memories are priceless...

a proper wine and whiskey stockpile and a good cigar dealer so that you can spend the last years without shopping stress. Oh yes: A nice 993 makes a lot of fun now and then and well maintained always increases in value. Just blow the rest of the money, because memories are priceless...

What was the name of that footballer who was once asked after his bankruptcy where all the money went? Answer: "I mainly spent it on women and alcohol. The rest I blew."

Had to think of that just now.

What you write is unreachable for most people for income and psychological reasons. What would be important is: to find the life that makes you satisfied - and then work on maintaining it. It can come with a lot of consumption, but it doesn’t have to. But you also need tasks in old age. Shaping yourself into a person who seeks out tasks and enjoys being active is also important. Probably protects better against dementia than anything else.

I fully agree with the whiskey stockpile. It has value, can be sold or drunk as needed. Charming.

When it comes to whisky, I'm in.

Hopefully the customs won't eat up the weak pound after 12.4.