over 55 can afford to do jobs like cashier because they likely don't have to rent (in most cases).
All our problems are laid at the door of land price ramping.
All our problems are laid at the door of land price ramping.
Anecdotally, I know an astounding number of people over 55 that still hold a mortgage. Hell, I've known people who retired with a mortgage.
So I'm guessing that in many cases they're a cashier because if they don't work they'll lose the house.
Heck no! Stop working, start dying.
The thing to do here is to sell the house and move to a lower COL area, like all the HN threads that mention SF housing advise.
Or for that matter, tell that to the person who already lives in Bumphuck, IN. My wife has high school friends in situations like that. There is no cheaper place to live, but that mortgage still needs to be paid.
IMO, a lot of this has to do with housing subsides keeping people near city's who don't need to be near city's. If your rent has not kept up with inflation for the last 20+ years then why move? You don't have any equity to liquidate and rent control is keeping the price stable so just stay.