Re-Thinking Retirement

Most baby boomers that I know tried to do a good job of saving money for the future. However, the last few years have been rough on a lot of well meaning older workers. The well laid plans, that many baby boomers had for retirement, seemed to stutter or fail.

What Are Some Financial Problems That Baby Boomers Have Today?

The economy bled jobs, and unemployment was particularly hard on older workers who planned to keep their current position until they retirement. This meant that many older folks had to dig into their retirement accounts to pay bills, and they certainly were not adding any more money to their accounts.

Homes lost value. Many middle class people consider their house to be their largest asset. This disrupted plans to leverage a home's value for retirement income.

Market accounts also lost value, so the value of many retirement accounts have declined. Regular savings accounts and bank CDs are not paying a lot of interest. In fact, the interest that many of these traditional savings products offer will not keep up with inflation. It is hard for many baby boomers to figure out where they should put their money.

The cost of health care kept rising. Recent studies have demonstrated that this increase is mostly due to rising prices too. Baby boomers are very concerned about securing affordable access to good health care during their retirement years.

Solutions To Today's Retirement Woes

Many clever people from the baby boomer generation have begun to sort out their problems and look for answers. Many of these people had to drop their old visions of life after full time work. Some people replaced these old, and out dated ideas, with new goals and plans for the future. It is much easier to make effective retirement plans when you start early. But a lot of boomers are finding out that it is not too late to re-think their retirement plans.

There is good news. Today's older workers can expect to live longer and more productive lives than past generations. This may give them more time to act.

Some may just count on working a few more years in order to make up the gaps. Others still plan to retire from their current job, on time, but pursue some sort of semi-retirement. In fact, a lot of older folks look forward to starting a new chapter in their lives by entering a new field or starting a business.

Other baby boomers are trying to figure out if they can change their lifestyle in order to make do with less income and savings. They are trying to cut out waste, simplify their lives, and become more frugal. Done correctly, these changes do not have to be painful. In fact, sometimes learning to be more frugal can become a game!

Frugal steps may include different types of housing. The old family home may really be too costly to keep up. Others, who want to stay in their houses, are figuring out how to use those houses to provide income!

Can You Re-think Retirement?

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Preparing to Sell? De-Clutter to Make the Best Impression

Getting ready to sell your home? Before putting a 'For Sale' sign on the lawn, imagine the impression your home will make on potential buyers. They will be viewing many homes before making a decision and yours must be the one that makes the best impression.

Real Estate Agents and professional organizers will vouch for the importance of getting rid of clutter as one of the best things you can do for the appearance of your home. Clearing away clutter will maximize the space in your home and allow potential buyers to envision their furniture in each of the rooms. If it's tough to see your home objectively, ask a friend for advice on what items to remove and how to rearrange your furniture so that each room is as spacious and inviting as possible.

Start de-cluttering in the kitchen and bathroom
The best place to start de-cluttering is in the kitchen; it's also the toughest room to look at completely objectively. The items on your kitchen cabinets are the things you use daily but people viewing your home want to know that there's enough room for their things; that means neatly organizing not only countertops but drawers and shelves as well.

Preparing for your move is the perfect opportunity to downsize and get rid of items you haven't used in awhile. Start by labeling storage containers or boxes with 'sell', 'donate', and 'keep'. Next, make a list of things you'll need at your new place; the things you're keeping for the new place but don't need until after the move, can be boxed to make room in the cupboards for the things that have been cluttering the countertops. Sanitize the kitchen from top to bottom with attention to the area under the sink, making sure there are no leaks in the plumbing or water stains. Then apply a fresh coat of paint to give the kitchen a clean new look and feel.

Keep the countertops free of small appliances and clutter until the move by storing items you use daily in the space you've recently acquired as you filled the 'sell' and 'donate' boxes. This will also make the tidying-up process quick and easy when your real estate agent calls to schedule a viewing.

The bathroom is right up there with the kitchen in rooms that make a big first impression. Clean it so it shines; and like the kitchen, a fresh coat of paint will not be wasted in the bathroom. Put out a set of luxurious towels reserved for when people are viewing your home, and clear out drawers plus medicine chests as much as possible keeping personal toiletries in a shaving kit and cosmetic bag.

Relocating to a seniors' community
In deciding what you'll eventually do with your furniture, note the pieces that you'll be taking with you and the items you'll be selling or donating. If you are relocating to a seniors' community you may have met with an advisor and have an idea of the furnishings provided at your new place. Many apartments in retirement homes have room for your preferred furnishings and personal décor.

Consider renting a storage unit for large pieces of furniture; this will free up space in the home you're selling and will give you a place to store the things you'll be taking to your new home. It will also allow you to take the time you may need to decide which pieces you want to sell or donate.

Your goal is to convert a browsing customer into a buyer and the first few minutes they will spend in your home are the minutes that count the most. Making a good first impression means allowing them to visualize their family living in the home that you are selling and you'll know that your investment in energy and time to make it inviting, was well worth it when your home is sold.

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The Sandwich Generation: 4 Ways To Prepare Yourself Now

2011 was the year the term "sandwich generation" really hit home for the first time. It was the year I turned 51 and my son turned 5. It was the year my father-in-law entered the hospital and never came home, while my mother marked her two year anniversary as a widow. Her ex-husband (my father) would soon need round the clock nursing care.

Now more than ever, it was clear that my little boy wasn't going to be the only family member who needed me in years to come.

I was now firmly wedged between a child who would need nurturing and financial support for the next 20-odd years and a set of aging parents and in-laws requiring care and support as well; a perfect example of what defines the sandwich generation.

For anyone finding themselves in this position, or if you're pregant over 40 or considering pregnancy or adoption after age 40, here are some things you might consider in coping with your sandwich generation status:

1. You are going to need to rally support from sources other than your parents.

Even if you have parents or in-laws who are healthy and willing to help out, there's a good chance that situation could change, and sooner rather than later. So make sure you have some reliable baby sitters you can call on and look for support groups.

Ideally, find a group for older moms. But at least make connections in the community so you don't find yourself alone and at the end of your rope with no one who can lend a hand or a sympathetic ear!

2. You will need to plan your finances carefully.

There are going to be three major buckets to fill: retirement, college funding, and elder care. If you've planned well, this may not concern you. But if you aren't prepared then it's time to take stock of your financial situation.

Some compromises may be in order. Or a reality check. For me that means I'm not going to retire at 65! And my son might have to settle for a vocation or be prepared to qualify for scholarships; should we encourage him to be a star athlete or honors student? Time will tell.

3. You'll need to take care of yourself better than ever before!

When they say that having kids late in life "keeps you young", think of it the other way around. You MUST stay as young and fit as possible in order to keep up! Remember, you have lots of people counting on you. As you age, little transgressions like ignoring diet and exercise will take a much bigger toll.

For example, you might find that while younger parents stay up late after their kids go to bed, your bed time more or less matches your kid's. If that's what it takes in order to get enough rest, so be it! Be kind to your body and it will return the favor.

4. You will probably not be able to provide round-the-clock care for anyone other than your infant.

Had my son already reached college age (as would be the case for a typical 50-something parent) I would have been a lot more able to help out when my father became sick. But there was no way I could care for both my little one and my parent at the same time; and most likey neither can you.

So start thinking now about how you will handle it if one or more of your parents needs care. There are lots of options these days other than nursing homes. And if you have siblings, make sure they understand how being an older parent affects the role you'll play in the family dynamic.

My husband and I have been talking lately about finishing the attic or basement to provide additional living space should one or both of our mothers need to move in. That is, of course, if they're relatively independent. Because when the time comes, heaven help me, I'll probably be dealing with a rebellious teenager as I move into decade number six.

Such is the lot of the sandwich generation.

Niagara: Beautiful! Plus Age-Friendly

Niagara is a picturesque destination all four seasons of the year but it's particularly beautiful during the summer months when the city is literally in full bloom. If you've considered a retirement community in Niagara, why not spend a week or two visiting, touring around and getting a feel for the community.

The Falls
Horseshoe Falls attracts visitors for the famous photo ops year round and after filling your camera with magnificent shots of the falls, there's still much to see and do.

Tour Queen Victoria Park - the Floral Clock
The face of the time-keeping Floral Clock at Queen Victoria Park in the heart of the city is photographed nearly as much as the falls. Westminster chimes inside the back of the clock toll every quarter hour and its color comes from nearly 16 thousand beautiful viola flowers in spring and four cultivars of alternanthera plus green and grey Santolina Sage in summer and fall.

Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
A quick drive up the Niagara Parkway leads to the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens where students at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture are known to love studying. The rose garden alone features more than 2400 roses and the park is home to one of Canada's loveliest collections of ornamental shrubs and trees.

Oakes Garden Theatre
Events and concerts are a summertime routine at the Oakes Garden Theatre stage featuring the falls in the background. If you haven't seen enough of the city's unique parks yet, there's McFarland House and Old Fort Erie both boasting "kitchen" gardens where old fashioned horticultural favorites are grown today, just as they have been for generations.

Laura Secord Homestead and the Mackenzie Printery
Fall and winter at Niagara are breathtaking with the changing leaves and the many choices of hiking trails around the falls. Trails are from a quarter mile in length to two miles through spectacular forest and vantage points. During the cooler months Niagara has many stories to tell between the walls of the historic sites like the Laura Secord homestead and the Mackenzie Printery.

Whether you love exploring alone, with a tour group or with friends and family, you won't run out of options in Niagara.

Niagara is Age-friendly
An inviting reason to retire to Niagara is that it is an age friendly community with the fourth largest percentage of seniors in Canada. Seniors in Niagara are known for giving back to the community by way of volunteerism, staying active in politics, community events and second or even third careers.

Holiday Retirement at Stamford Estates
The Stamford Estates Holiday Retirement community in Niagara Falls, invites guests to set up a tour to include a complimentary dinner if you're considering the option to retire to Niagara. Their amenities include the option to entertain family and friends in the private dining area and community members enjoy craft rooms, fireside lounges, chapel, billiards room, onsite beauty parlor and barbershop. There's no reason to become bored at Stamford; the activity programs are geared to seniors of varying fitness levels and appear to be enjoyable to everyone involved!

After delving into the highlights of the Niagara area, I personally look forward to visiting, not only for the many gardens and parks and the historic stories that the city is built upon but also for the natural beauty of the surrounding areas all seasons of the year; and I particularly love knowing that Niagara is an age-friendly city.

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Pros And Cons Of Multi-Generational Housing

Can You Be Happy With Multi-Generational Housing?

Multi-generational housing is absolutely nothing new. It simply means that multiple generations of the same family decide to live together. Of course, it is very common for parents to live with minor aged children. This term refers to the less common situation when adult children live with parents and, sometimes, grandparents. Sometimes those adult children have their own minor children. This means that three or four generations of the same family could live together in the same home.

Combining families has become more and more trendy. In fact, it has become so popular that a new term has even been coined for it. Baby boomers, who may live with elderly parents and/or adult children, are called the boomerang generation. Actually, it may be the younger and older generations who are doing more of the moving in though.

Families may decide to combine households for lots of reasons. The most obvious reason is probably financial. Living together can be a great way to economize. It may help some family members save money or get back on their feet. Other times, some family members may need more help caring for themselves. Working parents may get child care help from retired family members. Elderly people may need assistance with some daily living activities. Sometimes, living with a family can provide companionship, and it is simply a remedy for loneliness.

Is the boomerang movement positive?

Actually, there are a lot of good reasons for families to live together. Companionship, economy, and child or elder care are a few of the best. If you look into the history of many other cultures, multi-generational housing was normal. It may be that our society's tendency to move off and live alone is odder.

Do families ever have problems combining households?

Are there every problems when more than one generation lives in the same home? Actually, that is like asking if families ever have problems. If your kids move back in, you may remember why you were so relieved when they went out into the world in the first place. Your elderly parents may have trouble adapting to living in a household where they are no longer the bosses. Hopefully, you can over come these issues, but you are probably prudent to expect some rough times.

It is very important to make sure everybody understands their rights and responsibilities if you choose to combine households. Grandma has the right to get to sleep without listening to the kid's music blaring at odd hours. On the other hand, young children do need a pleasant and safe place to play sometimes. Your adult children should become responsible about cleaning up after themselves. When they were you, you may have expected to find dirty laundry or dirty dishes in unexpected places. If they return home as adults, you need to make it clear that the rules have changed.

Is Combining Households A Good Idea For You?

I have known many families who enjoyed taking in adult kids, grand-children, and elderly parents. On the other hand, I have also seen situations where one party took advantage of another and things did not work out so well. I think that having clear expectations and open communication helped the successful families a lot.

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Emergency Contact Numbers

Think about all the different kinds of emergencies you experience in your everyday life. It doesn't have to be life threatening to be an emergency. Anything you have to take care of now, qualifies. And where are the emergency contact numbers for all those different people, businesses, organizations and distant relatives in your life? Some may be in your address book. Some, on your contact list. Others, the ones you never anticipated having to call, could be anywhere. Most likely, on a document you need right now. A contract, maybe. Or, an insurance policy. Maybe a medical specialist you haven't seen in years. Maybe your babysitter's friend's name and number for a last minute change of plans. So, you start searching. You know you put it away carefully so you could find it when you need it. Where did you put it?

Sound familiar? It happens all the time. You go years without thinking about all the people and companies you do business with or interact with. Then, when you need to reach them, you can't find the contact information. Worse yet, someone else in your family may have filed the information and he or she isn't available right now.

Manage your home and family better with personal record keeping software. You can store and maintain the whereabouts of important documents and keep track of emergency contact numbers all in one place. When the need arises, it's just a quick trip to the computer and there it is. The information you are looking for is at your fingertips.

Well organized family contact records start with a personal profile for each family member. In an emergency you can print it and hand it to medical professionals. Otherwise, you might have to compose one from scratch or waste time searching for details to fill out forms. Software is available that combines personal profile information with other fields in family medical records and emergency contact numbers to create a wallet-size medical alert card. It includes the kind of information emergency technicians say can help save a life.

When you have to contact somebody in an emergency it isn't just a number you need. You most often have to find a document, as well. It might be a contract or account statement or policy. Wouldn't it be best if you recorded the location of important documents in the same software programs you recorded emergency contact numbers? Where are your insurance policies, service contracts, financial assets, medical records, retirement and pension documents? If they're in the home safe, what's the combination? If they are in a safe deposit box at the bank, what bank? Where's the key? You can write emergency contact information in an address book, but it's not likely to be much use in an emergency if you can't find the documents and the rest of information you need.

Record keeping software gives you an organizing framework in which to record emergency contact numbers and the locations of important documents. Your emergency contact numbers can include all the people and organizations you may have to reach one day. Attorneys, bank managers, accountants, customer service people at companies you do business with, insurance agents and companies, mechanics, roofers, plumbers, congressmen, city councilors realtors, human resources people at former employers, the list can go on. You can't keep all your emergency contact numbers on your cell phone. Nor, can you record the location of important documents on your phone. For that, you need record keeping software.

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Tips for Living Aboard a Sailboat During Your Retirement

Tips for living aboard a sailboat during your retirement will assume that you know nothing about sailboats... There is a way for you baby boomers to go from zero knowledge to enjoying this lifestyle.

We know what we are talking about because we went from knowing nothing about sailboats to living on one in the Caribbean in four years... There are steps that made the process doable, we can show you how.

Taking baby steps in this process is especially important if one spouse or partner is somewhat reluctant about making such a drastic lifestyle change.

When I announced that we would be living on a sailboat, retired within five years, my spouse was most skeptical about being able to do so...yours may have some doubts too.

If both baby boomer spouses are enthusiastic about trying this lifestyle it will obviously be a much easier and faster process.

The steps in our process were as follows:

• We took a shore excursion on a cruise ship, six people from the ship with a Capt. and a mate for four hours, we sailed a little, we snorkeled, I became infatuated with the idea of living on a sailboat
• We signed up for sailing lessons to learn the basics of boat handling and navigation when we returned home...Houston
• We took vacations in the British Virgin Islands where we chartered a boat with a Capt. and cook to start
• We graduated to chartering a boat that we took out by ourselves
• The last step was a three-week charter boat vacation, by ourselves, to determine if we would really enjoy this process
• We then purchased our first sailboat in the Clear Lake Texas area... Spending most weekends on the boat
• Five months later we sailed the boat from Texas to the Caribbean ( Virgin Islands) and embarked on an eight year adventure

Who are the prime boomer candidates for living aboard a sailboat in retirement?

• Couples that can peacefully coexist in a small space
• Persons who have a desire for a simpler life
• Persons that are patient and laid-back
• Persons that are not risk takers... safety is priority one
• Non-type A personalities

If this sounds like you and your spouse/partner...living on a sailboat can be the experience of a lifetime... It certainly was the highlight of our 37 years of marriage.

Living on a sailboat is not as difficult as some would make it... The skills necessary are easy to learn, not complicated, and are basically common sense.

Because living on a sailboat is not considered a conventional way for baby boomer retirement... You should be prepared to get little encouragement from your friends.

However if you take baby steps like we did... You can go from zero to sailboat cruising in four years.

We can show you how... If we did it you can do it.

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