What is Retirement? "65 Things to Do When You Retire"

I was going trough my files today and I found the paperwork and letter from the people that published 65 Things to Do When You Retire, 65 Notable Achievers on How to Make the Most of the Rest of Your Life asking me to read and review this book. I think this one is worth revisiting. It was published back in 2012 and I think this post may date back to then. BUT...the important thing in this book never change.

NOTE: THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS, ALL OF WHOM PROVIDED ESSAYS ON A PRO BONO BASIS, THE ROYALTIES GENERATED FROM THE sale OF THIS BOOK WILL BE DONATED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO PREVENTING AND CURING CANCER.

The package came last week.  It was a book called 65 Things to Do When You Retire, 65 Notable Achievers on How to Make the Most of the Rest of Your Life (Sellers Publishing. ISBN13: 1-978-4162-0654-5). I don't know what I expected but this was much better than whatever that was. When people the likes of ex-President Jimmy Carter talks, a person tends to listen. Other contributors included Gloria Steinem leader of the women's movement and Liz Pryor, life advice expert for Good Morning America and Bob Lowry, fellow blogger of Satisfying Retirement. The book is a compilation of short articles by 65 people, some retired and some not. The sage advise just drips off the pages. I found paragraph after paragraph I wanted to rip from the pages and save in a scrapbook somewhere. Here are a few:

• In order to fully live the kind of life we deserve, the steel walls that narrow our thinking need to come down. Walking into retirement we have an opportunity to reset our live, and that begins with resetting ourselves. (Liz Pryor)
• I have come to believe that when you're actually inside oldness, as opposed to anticipating it from the outside, the fear subsides. You discover that you are still yourself, probably even more so. (Jane Fonda)
• Quiet and quirky:  Take some quiet time. This will help you feel your way around all the "I can't because's" that come to mind as you think about all you truly wish to be and do...quirky? That's the core that's truly you, the idiosyncratic self, a force that now deserves a time to fly. (Richard Kimball)
• Results from a study at UCLA captured my attention. It stated that seniors who are socially active had few colds...who knew? "Immunity in the community" sounds like a good motto to me" (Susan RoAne aka The Mingling Maven.)
• As a Danish existential philosopher Soren Keirkegaard put it, "We experience life forward and understand it backward." (Ronald J. Manheimer, Ph.D.)
• The older I get...the more able I am to use my own voice, to know what I feel and to say what I think; in short, to express without also having to persuade. (Gloria Steinem)
• You can imagine that this was not an easy transition. (Jimmy Carter on losing his second run for president at age 50+ and returning to Plains Ga, pop. 700, to live the rest of his life.)

So here you have a book written by notable authors, retirement experts and people that have used the time in the third stage of their life to make personal dreams come true.  I have been writing about retirement for several years now.  Sometimes I think it has all been said.  Then I read a book like 65 Things to Do When You Retire I know that we have only scratched the surface.

The book is available at Sellers Publishing or on Amazon.  It is a paperback book with 400 page and was just released in March 2012.

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2017 Version of the Snowbird Lifestyle

Dining Area 

In a blog post I wrote several years ago about the world of winter living at a price you can afford, I gave you all the lists for things to do so that you could leave your home unattended during the winter. Then I gave you choices for how you might actually leave for several months without breaking the bank. That blog post was called How to be a Snow Bird...answers and lists. Much of the information there is still relevant. BUT there has been a shift in our RV Resort life financially.

Remember back when I touted the RV lifestyle and RV Resort living as the end all be all? I think the rules might have changed when the boomers came into retirement. 

See, during the recession housing prices fell dramatically and our life here in our park model remained much the same. So it was a convenient wash for us in that it was just easier and a little less expensive to live in the park model. Now it is 2017.

Our owner has raised our lot rent to over $5145 dollars a year. That works out to $428.75 a month. AND the value of the park models has gone through the roof. Just a couple of years ago models sold for less that $20,000. Those same park models have sold for up to $40,000 this past winter.

What has happened is that we are at that intersection where lot rent and park model values are rising faster than housing prices. It is a good time to make a change I think. We may be able to stop the rent bleeding that seems to be the new norm for RV resorts.

Boomers have more money and they are wanting to be mobile. The RV lifestyle is perfect for them. During this period of time life in the RV resort will continue to become more expense because there is such a huge demand.

So, wouldn't you be asking yourself why you don't buy a townhouse using the park model selling price for a down payment and actually own something. I know we are. The payment might not be more than our monthly payment here in the park...maybe. I have looked at the appreciation that will be coming during the next year and it is very good. In fact flippers are all over it and buying things that need to be cleaned and repaired so they can cash in on the possible profit.

People our age will be making changes that suit our retirement lifestyle. It is all working out wonderfully for us.

So wait for the next episode. Anyone want to buy a park model? Let me know. :)

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Techniques that can cut your debts before you retire!

Debt has become the most common problem for almost all in the US. It is an evil which ruins your present and also your future. Therefore, it is extremely important to avoid debt as much as possible and work on eliminating the ones you already have. This is because, if you retire with debt, you will simply face problems and get harassed over unpaid debt. You will not have the money to attend to the everyday needs of life. So, it would be better for you totry to reduce payoff credit and eliminate debtsat the same time. It is not only about household or credit card debt, but it also is about mortgages and the student loan debt.

 

Reducing your debts

It is risky to retire with debt and that is the reason most of the baby boomers are planning to work more. So, some of the tips which can help you reduce your debts are as follows:

1. Be zealous about debt payoffs - You will have to take the initiative, so that you can actually go on to bring down the debt level. You will have to try and go on with the regular debt payments. You will also be required to manage your money such that you can make more than minimum payments on your debts. In fact, making more than minimum payment can help you in becoming debt free soon enough. This also helps you save money on the interest payments.

2. Avoid incurring additional debts - While trying to pay down your debts, you will have to avoid incurring any further debts. If you go on incurring debts, it may never be possible for you to become debt free. Again, if you cannot become debt free, it may not be possible to save up money for retirement.

3. Try to improve your income - You will also be required to try and improve your income. This can help you manage all of the expenses, without you having to borrow any money. This may help you to avoid debt as much as possible and you would also be able to save more money, than usual. However, while making the extra money, you will have to keep in mind that you should not simply use up all of the money, but rather save it for the rainy day.

4. Reduce all forms of extra expenses - You know that it is important to follow a budget. However, if you fail to stick to budgeting or lower your expenses, simply budgeting may not be of much help. Therefore, you will have to analyze your budget from time to time and try and lower the expenses, as much as possible.

5. Avoid using credit cards - Credit cards easily push you into debt. Therefore, it would be wise of you to avoid using the credit cards, as much as possible. These have been designed mainly for the purpose of emergency usage. So, it would be better if you could keep the credit cards only for emergency use. Use cash for everyday purposes.

Along with the above, you can put together some frugal living tactics, to make things easier for yourself. Exercising is good. So, if you exercise of your own or rather walk, you will be able to do away with the cost of gymming and buying gasoline. 

Bio: Anjelica Cullinis a resident of Kansas city, Missouri, a contributory writer associated with some financial websites and blogs. She has written forseveral articles for various financial sites and blogs. She is expertisedin debt related issues like debt management,credit card consolidation, how to get better debt relief.

Catching the Boomerang: Downsizing?

By Barbara Torris (b+). She is a retirement blogger talking about a beautiful life style.
I was visiting with a blogging friend the other day and the conversation turned to boomerang-kids. This seems to be a conversation I am having frequently. I suppose it is on my mind. The question is How does the extra adult in the house come into play when it comes to  retirement saving?

Can people catch the boomerang before it lands in their front yard? Some people are not happy living with adult children and some are. If they are not, they need to be looking at a way to prevent their children from boomeranging.

The blogging friend's wife and I started the conversation with boomerangs and ended it with downsizing in retirement. We looked at each other in amazement as it occurred to both of us at the same time that many mid-life and retired people are downsizing so that, when the children need help, coming home to live will not be a choice. They know it would not be a happy situation for them. Interesting huh?

Could it be people are saving enough money by downsizing so they are able to help children in trouble but not make them dependent on them totally? The family remains on good terms and the children continue to mature and be self reliant. Helping pay part of the grown child's rent is a lot different than them coming home to live rent-free. The child could still be responsible for most of the cost and be forced to live within their means.

So, give it some thought. If a person is in a position where saving during those last few years of work is very important to their retirement, supporting an adult child can break the bank. There really should be a way to do both. It could be that downsizing is one strategy that should be considered.

What do your think?

Top Vacation Destinations for Active Travelers

Note:  I was thrilled when I received this article from a guest today. We are near Cancun in Mexico for two weeks and this is the kind of information you need to heed. Travel will bring you a lot of joy but you really must pay attention to the details.

Top vacation destinations for active travelers

In past times, retirement meant moving into the twilight years after a lifetime of work and indulging in a well-deserved rest.  Today, 50 is considered the new 40 and active individuals on the verge of retirement can look forward to some equally active future years, including a vacation or two (or more).

Active retirees literally have a world of destinations to choose from when planning their vacations.  There is a wealth of superior facilities and activities, opportunities for adventure and excitement, education and enrichment, good food and fun.

A loaf of bread, a bottle of wine…

Wine and food tours and excursions are very popular trips for over-50 travelers, with a wide variety of structured and independent trips available throughout Europe, Asia and North America.  One of the best destinations is the Loire Valley in France.  Beautiful scenery and a warm climate serve as the backdrop for countless tours of vineyards and wineries and, with the addition of delicious regional French cuisine, medieval chateaux and peaceful French villages, the Loire Valley offers the perfect locale for wine aficionados to enjoy many times over.

Life’s a beach

Beach vacations always have great appeal to travelers, and active retirees are no exception.  From the seaside towns and fishing villages of the Italian Riviera to the many unique islands and culture of the Caribbean, an extensive variety of beach resorts and destinations exist.  For a fantastic beach destination a bit closer to home, many Americans choose Florida.  The Sunshine State is home to two coastlines with splendid beaches, from soft sandy shores along the Gulf Coast to the drivable expanses of Daytona and Flagler on the Atlantic Coast, with plenty of car rentals available to complete the experience.  If travelers tire of the beach, this home of the legendary Fountain of Youth boasts a host of activities and natural attractions, from theme parks and zoos, to urban excitement and the expanse of the Everglades.

Tips and advice for 50-plus travelers

Active senior travelers should carefully research any prospective holiday destination, checking for seasonal weather issues or travel advisory information before going.  Travel warnings for specific foreign countries should always be taken seriously.  In case of an emergency, travelers should be sure to have the address and phone number of their closest consulate or embassy.

It is vitally important for travelers to safeguard their money and important documents before and during any trip.  Before visiting other countries, vacationers should advise their bank they will be accessing their account from a foreign destination.  Many financial institutions will assume that bank cards and personal data have been stolen if international transactions are recorded, unless they have been informed otherwise.  Travel insurance is also important, whether the destination is local or international.  Purchasing travel insurance ensures protection in the event of illness or injury, and is easily arranged before departure through a travel agent.  Be sure to list all planned trip activities and any pre-existing medical conditions when purchasing the policy.  Also remember to carry any necessary medications and medical paperwork in case of emergencies, and to make sure all health vaccinations are up-to-date.

5 tips to Make Your Money Stretch in Retirement

What can be new under the sun...have we talked about money and retirement so much we have worn the subject out? Well the answer is a resounding NO. It turns out that the technology sector is very creative when it comes to saving us money. The nerds are working for us again. You all know you need to be to sure to check your bank account regularly. That is a given. But you need to check your smart phone too. S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G your income is getting to be easier and easier thanks to those little devices and the people that write applications for them.

Here are 5 downloads you can use on your smart phone to save you money and time:

QR Code for my blog!
scan it and see what it says!

1. QR Readers:  Shopping can be very tricky these days. The better armed you are, the better you are at finding what you need and at the right price. That is where the QR Code works for you. QR stands for Quick Response. The little square actually contain a world of information.  You can find out more about a product, a store or even the movie advertised on a poster.  You will see them in magazine and online at blogs like mine.  Being informed is always better and can save money.
2. Barcode Scanners: I have an app on my phone called RedLaser -Barcode Scanner, Shopping... It is an eBAY Inc. product. The applications allows you to walk into a store, any store and find out if the product you are about to buy is priced right. You simply open the RedLaser app, scan the barcode and the phone will tell you where else that product is available in the area and at what price. This so simple and just smart.
3. Golfing App: My husband is a golfer and was given a gps device that helps him on the golf course. It was expensive and a yearly subscription was necessary. It was called Sky Caddie and he will probably never pay a fee to Sky Caddie again. Why? It turns out that our iphone has an app available called Sky Droid that only cost a $1.99 one time fee that does the same thing. There is another one called GolfLogix that is free. My husband is actually going to start using my iPhone because he wants to use these applications. Stretching the golf dollar is very important these days.
4. Maps and GPS: My husband and I became the proud owners of a Garmain GPS for our car last year. I don't know why we have it but my husband earned it filling out surveys online so I guess almost free is good. HOWEVER, we have been using the mapping gps on my iphone since I bought the very first iphone several years ago. We have gone through Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the dark and found our way to our destination. I have gotten to be very proficient at operating it. My app was on my phone when I bought it but a search on the Apple App Store would probably give me lots of other choices.
5. Around Me: I hate to waste gas searching for a place to eat or buy groceries when I am in a strange place. Even down town Portland befuddles me sometimes. Where is that.....? That is when I use the app called Around Me.  I can find the bank, hospital, restaurants and even the motel when we are traveling. It links back to my maps application. When I am traveling, finding the bank can be a real problem. This application has saved our bacon many a time.   

I have only exposed the tip of the iceberg here.  You get a free Kindle application on your iPad. You can also download Nook for free. Skype is a free calling service available on the pads.  Think of how much that saves you. I don't have a hard wired phone in my house. I just use my iPad and iPhone.  You can do your banking without getting in your car. The list goes on and on. Managing your money in todays world means you need to be not only aware of how much money you have in the bank.  You need to be able to manage it and access it.

Just a thought.

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Related articles

• Making your ipad pay for itself or free is good! (retireinstyleblog.com)

The Circles of Life...a different look at financial mangagment

When James Barnett approached me with this infographic on investment, prosperity and financial management, I asked him for a supporting article to go with it.  Really, one picture is worth 1000 words. However, I found his words to be worth 1000 pictures.

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note:  Please be aware that this article is written by an employee of Pannone Law.I am not receiving any money to publish it.

The Circles of Life

Family Life is often tied between the equilibrium of divided wealth and investment management, which correlates the success of ones ambitions, influencing manoeuvrability in a competitive capitalist society. The Circles of Life, managed through a professional and structured financial arrangement can provide incredible opportunity and the essential building blocks to provide future prosperity for your families aspirations.

Employment features at the heart of life’s circle as it is the most significantly influencing factor for wealth creation and self-determination. It will often provide the financial means and investment opportunities in addition to becoming the source of generation for new relationships and lasting connections. Each career step, whilst layering responsibility within employment provides an external provision to invest in home assets and your family’s future.

The company employing you is likely to offer various perks through insurance, pension and financial planning, or in some cases be an offset of your personal management should you be able to negotiate a better deal with private lenders and market players.  The crucial elements to succeed within this financial cauldron lay within an understanding of the legal boundaries and market movements that controls the financial relationships within contemporary wealth management.

Trust funds can be used through different accounts to provide higher interest, conveyance knowledge can provide you a successful property sale, and tax levels can be reduced whilst retaining a fair contribution to compulsory earnings through a successful knowledge of the legal requirements to manage your income. Financial management often comes to a peak at the time of retirement, which should remain a highly rewarding and dramatic release from years of hard work and planning across life’s evolving circles. Upon reaching this stage, maximising your investment return will allow you to kick back for a much needed break.

Author Bio – James Barnett offer financial financial management and planing advise on behalf of Pannone Law and researches innovative ways to connect with families through new social channels.  Google +: James Barnett

Huffington Post Thoughts: When Does the Parent's Checkbook Voucher Expire?

Huffington Post Article:  Help!  My Partner is Giving Our Life Savings Away...

So at what age do your children outgrow the need for financial help? It may be older than you think. Recent research indicates that a whopping 93 percent of Americans who are a part of the baby boomer generation have provided some sort of financial help to their grown Gen X or Gen Y children.

This is just to make you think.  When does the Parent's Check Book Voucher expire?  Are parents forever the go to people when things get tough?  Would things even get tough if there was no parental open checkbook...do children get in a financial bind because they know the parents will help them out?  You tell me.

Barbara

When does it start feeling like work? Work vs Play!

As for accomplishments,
I just did what I had to do
as things came along.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Read more 

There are two sides to every coin. There is not a right side nor is there any wrong side.  Just two sides...opposite and equal.  The coin I tossed in the air this week was the one with work (for financial gain) on one side and play on the other.  Here is how it went...

I have always know that I do things because I can see a reward of some kind.  I clean because I like the satisfaction of a task completed.  I plant flowers because I love flowers in bloom.  I take care of my grandchildren and children because I love them.  And I write this blog because it is a way that I can express myself creatively.  All of these things are much like eating my dinner...I need them to feed myself in some way.  But I ask myself occasionally about how much is fun and when does it become like a job I don't want to do.

The yard can become a chore, too much child care can wear me down and sometimes I just don't care if my house is clean or not.  Most of these things I do by choice because they give me joy.  Even this blog, my hobby and creative need, can begin to look like a job.  Is that good?  I don't know.

It seems that it is all in how we describe a job.  Is a job something that needs to be done or is it something that pays money so we can live.  In my world it is the latter.  And this blog is working for me financially.  Within the last year I have started to earn some money for writing and for the use of my little "blog store" to sell other peoples ideas and products.  It is all good and it still is fun.  That is good!

But now people are starting to take me seriously...imagine!  I like that but I am being very careful.  I don't let just anybody use this space. I only display ideas that I find useful and the question I always ask myself is "would you do this for free if no one paid anything for this type of thing?"  If the answer is yes then I discuss the idea with the person that has approached me.  But I decline if it doesn't light my fire or if it feels like I would be spinning my wheels.

See I am 70 and I have been retired for 15 years.  I like to work hard and be tired at the end of the day but if a job would make me anxious or worried I am going to say no thank you.  This is a hobby. I am trying to keep the joy and passion for this room in my life.  I don't want it to start feeling like a work place. There you have it!

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Could I ask a favor?  If you would click google+ button it would help.  Don't forget to become a follower...I like that!

Life in Shanghai...I wish I had a paper map! 2012

Shanghai 2011

Here is just a thought...why don't I have a paper map of Shanghai, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?  Really, I know I am a technology geek and like to to get my gadgets out but this is just silly.

Yesterday we went into the city to buy pearls at a market located in Pu Xi.  I would love to tell you where that is but I really do not know.  Back in the day I would have had my nose in a map located us and even telling the person that live here year around how to get where we are going.  But now?  My goodness do you think I threw out the baby with the bath water?

We wondered what we were doing out yesterday at all really.  The girls asthma is acting up and the air quality was so bad you could have cut it with a knife.  After a drive across the city, lunch at Blue Frog and a walk to the market to buy a scarf ($12 today) I commented that it was the perfect day.  Lunch, shopping and fresh air.  My daughter-in-law was hysterical at the "fresh air" part.  Really, when you looked out the windows of the car, you wanted to hold your breath.

Rural China

I wonder about Shanghai, maybe even worry a little.  They say the China is experiencing the largest migration on the planet right now as the Chinese migrate from rural communities to their cities.  When I look out across the landscape, I wonder if one day it will all fold in upon itself and sink into the muddy ooze that lies beneath this city surrounded by water.  It seems like a Sim City built with Legos on a paper raft!

We drove by the small cove nearby my son's home.  Boats dock here at night.  The people's road was being used by fishermen to repair nets and scooters drove on both sides of the road.  We had seen rice being dried on the road earlier in December.  The road had been recently paved so it was much improved in the time we were in Vietnam.  At least the pot holes were gone.  This small community is near the airport and Chinese hotels line the way.  When we were here before I saw a dog being slaughtered either for it's meat or fur.  I have not seen that this time.

Online map of Hanoi

We do not drive through the migrant village just outside the gates of this private community anymore but my son took that route one day when we first got here.  He commented about the improvement on that road but it was not evident because the village is growing everyday and people filled that people's road from curb to curb. Some sewage problems have been taken care of but it is still the most basic of lives for those people.  Small gardens line the canal that borders the road.

The Outer Ring Roads that circle the city were constructed the year before the Expo was held here in the city. If I had a big paper map I would be very certain about how it looked. The Chinese completed it in less than two years we were told.  It is a miracle for traveling from this location near the Pu Dong airport into the center of the city.  This freeway proves that all things are possible when you have such a large labor pool and a communist government with a goal in mind.

Watch China very carefully in the coming years.  The inflation we see here is bound to seep down into the market that produces goods we buy in the United States.  I cannot imagine that the cost for labor is not going to explode one day soon!

In fact if I had a paper map, I would want it to include a path not only geographically but economically as well!  Just a thought!

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